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One of the first hotels to open on Walt Disney World property was Disney's Contemporary Resort. This hotel opened in the fall of 1971 along with only one other hotel on the property for that year. Its construction was innovative for the time, designed with the assistance of US Steel. The shell of the building was erected while the rooms were constructed off site. The rooms were then trucked to the hotel and slid into place with a crane, much the same way large cruise ships are constructed today. US Steel called the construction design revolutionary.
Eating At The Contemporary Resort
Chef Mickey finds time to make the rounds and greet guests during their meal. Photo by Donald Fink.
Our information tells us that the menu at The Wave changes about four times during the year. This is somewhat unusual for a "moderate" table service restaurant at Disney, but necessary because of their emphasis on sustainable choices, another unique choice for a moderate restaurant.
You can see a menu from The Wave here. We've eaten here, but it was several years ago. Our memory of the experience is favorable and we will probably visit this restaurant again. There's just so many choices on property that it's difficult to repeat a restaurant with so many other tempting options.
You may notice that images of the California Grill are conspicuously absent from this Photo Tour. It's not that we didn't want to include this famous restaurant, but rather, that it simply wasn't open or available both times we were at the hotel shooting for this story. Entrance for the California Grill is from the second floor at a check-in desk. After checking in, guests are escorted via elevator up to the fifteenth floor. It's on our list for dinner one day simply because of the view it has to offer for the Magic Kingdom fireworks. Of course, reservations for that time are most likely at a premium. There's also a dress code for entering this establishment, but it's not quite like formal night on the Queen Mary 2 during an Atlantic crossing. Instead of cut-offs, they draw the line by allowing "dress shorts."
Merchandise
We're making fun of the giant coffee cups in the Fantasia Market, but this is where you can pick up any snack items or minor groceries you might need for your room while you're here. It's located in the northwest corner of the Grand Canyon Concourse, just across from the walkway to Bay Lake Tower.
A welcomed addition to BVG is this dessert counter. Photo by Donald Fink.
Gaming
Transportation
Transportation to and from Disney's Contemporary Resort is as good as it is at any other Disney resort on property. There are busses to all the parks and Disney Springs, boats to various places around Bay Lake and Seven seas Lagoon, and of course, there's monorail service from within the hotel, from the Grand Canyon Concourse.
Other hotels around Seven Seas Lagoon include Disney's Polynesian Village Resort and Disney's Grand Floridian Resort and Spa.
Outside
There are advantages to staying at a hotel that has access to such a large body of water on Disney property. Bay Lake is one of two lakes in the area of the Magic Kingdom. It is connected to the artificially made Seven Seas Lagoon by a water bridge that travels over a road. It's one of only a few places we know of where boats routinely cross over cars, busses, and trucks as they go about their business.
The marina at Disney's Contemporary Resort has several activities that can certainly entertain pretty much anyone. There are small boat rentals that guests can pilot themselves around both lakes with a two-person outboard. Another activity is water skiing, or parasailing. If the fishermen in your family can't miss an opportunity to get out on a Florida fresh water lake and catch some bass, there are bass fishing trips available too. Or, you can just laze around the pool.
Mary Blair
It's not appropriate to present a story about the Contemporary Resort Hotel without mentioning one of the most influential female artists in the history of the Walt Disney company, and probably the history of art.
Mary Blair, a modernist artist, is the designer of the murals in the Grand Canyon Concourse in the Contemporary Hotel. One of her murals reaches over 90 feet high. They all feature a modernist impression of southwest scenes, including Native American children, goats, and overall scenes from the American Southwest.
Ms. Blair, originally from McAllister, Oklahoma, went to work for Walt in 1940, and quickly became a driving force to much of the art and animation that made Disney what it is. She worked on films like Peter Pan, Alice in Wonderland, Cinderella, The Adventures of Ichabod and Mr. Toad, and The Three Caballeros. She also designed the concept art for "it's a small world," and maybe just to show that she wasn't a one trick pony, she wrote for Walt Disney's Wonderful World of Color and Once Upon a Wintertime.
Google recognized Mary Blair on her 100th birthday on October 21, 2011 with a Google Doodle. Although she died in 1978, she was awarded a Disney Legend Award in 1991 and received a Windsor McCay award from ASIFA-Hollywood in 1996. She is one of very, very few women to receive this award since its beginning in 1972, and shares the list with other notables like Steven Spielberg (2013) and Tim Burton (2009).
We've never stayed at Disney's Contemporary Resort, but we've spent time here shooting for this Photo Tour, and we've also had occasion to be here while friends stayed in Bay Lake Tower as Disney Vacation Club members. We've interacted with cast members on several visits, and always found the service and friendliness of everyone we've spoken with to be exceptional.
Why haven't we stayed here? It's like Disney restaurants. There are so many great choices that it simply hasn't made its way to the top of our list, yet. We think that someone who wants a treat to a higher level of quality, or maybe wants closer proximity to the Magic Kingdom—possibly even a room where you can step out on a balcony and watch the fireworks—should give this hotel serious consideration. It may take a bit more saving to make it happen, but we think it will be worth the effort.
 
Comments
The Contemporary and Grand Floridian have never captured my interest as resorts where I'd like to stay for my vacation. They are both lovely and I've enjoyed visiting them, but I prefer the other deluxes. Their theming just appeals to me more.
I've been to WDW twice, the first time Shades of Green put us in the Contemporary while they were doing renovations.
I just wanted to comment on two things. First you showed the metal Mickey structure that was a photo op. My son and daughter sat in the ears and posed for pictures in it in 2003 while we were staying there. In 2008, we were headed back from the Hoop Dee Doo Revue, and the ferry brought us back to the area, so we retook the photos.
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And I loved your comment about the mugs, in the picture I saw the mug that I got at Disneyland last year. It was castle shaped. It's not functional, but it looks great on my Mickey Mouse shelf.
We were lucky enough to stay there for our honeymoon, which was our first visit ever to WDW, not because we could afford it, but because, at the time, (13 years ago?) shades of green was undergoing a renovation, and we got the military rate at the contemporary. It pretty much ruined us for staying at any non- monorail resorts. We had a room in the two story annex off to one side so we had a great view of the water pageant each night. I had always wanted to stay there Ever since it opened, and it meant "WDW" to me.
And I have to agree with you about the mug size. What is up with that? I've given up buying mugs that just aren't practical to have in the cupboard and actually use..
Nice review!
Was that a trivia challenge?
The other one that comes to mind for me is Epcot Resorts Blvd between Boardwalk and Beach Club. Are there others?
I've not yet stayed at the Contemporary either, though I have been to Chef Mickey's and California Grill. Every time I look for resorts with passholder deals over the last several years, the Contemporary seems to have a much higher rate than the other deluxes (at least when I look, which is admittedly on somewhat short notice sometimes).
I get that the higher rate is because of it's unique location and being the only resort that allows you to actually walk to the MK, but for me that's not worth the added expense over the others. I think I enjoy the theming of resorts like Wilderness Lodge, Animal Kingdom Lodge or one of the Epcot resorts more than I would get a benefit of the proximity to MK.
I have a generic question for resorts offering watercraft: Do they offer training at those facilities, or is it assumed you are a competent boater to begin with? I've never owned my own boat, but I would love to someday consider taking a small vessel out for a slow cruise around one of the lakes where they offer this if training is available.