Disney's Contemporary Resort

Walt Disney World


The granddaddy of Disney resorts, the Contemporary's futuristic A-frame opened Walt Disney World® in 1971 but feels uninspired and disappointing by today's standards. Yes, it's cool to see the monorail zip silently through the lobby, and its withering grandeur evokes melancholy sentimental attachment, but the years have faded this iconic hotel's sparkle.

On the upside, you can't beat the location. Balcony rooms front Magic Kingdom; an excellent top-floor restaurant lures folks with its drop-dead views of Disney's fireworks; and renovated streamlined suites in Bay Lake Towers sleep five and are some of the most handsome digs at Disney.


Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

Nearby Walt Disney World attractions

1. Main Street, USA

0.35 MILES

Fashioned after Walt Disney's hometown of Marceline, MO, Main Street, USA, is best experienced with an aimless meander. Peruse the miniature dioramas of…

2. Tomorrowland

0.36 MILES

Though the theming as a Jetsons-inspired peek into the future falls flat, Tomorrowland holds a few wildly popular Disney highlights. Come first thing or…

3. Magic Kingdom

0.41 MILES

When people think of WDW, they picture the Magic Kingdom, from the iconic Cinderella's Castle to Space Mountain, the Haunted Mansion and Pirates of the…

4. Fantasyland

0.48 MILES

Quintessential Disney, Fantasyland is the highlight of any Disney trip for both the eight-and-under crowd and grown-ups looking for a nostalgic taste of…

5. Liberty Square

0.52 MILES

The ramblin' 19th-century mansion houses Haunted Mansion, another classic favorite piece of low-on-thrill and high-on-silly fun, and the only real ride in…

6. Adventureland

0.56 MILES

Adventure Disney-style means pirates and jungles, magic carpets and tree houses, and whimsical and silly representations of the exotic locales from…

7. Frontierland

0.66 MILES

Wild West Disney-style. Splash Mountain depicts the misadventures of Brer Rabbit, Brer Bear and Brer Fox, complete with chatty frogs, singing ducks and…

8. Walt Disney World®

2.02 MILES

This mega-scale park, with its own monorail, sections of eight-lane highway, and thousands of acres of rides, amusements, parks, and hotels, is larger…