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Today, I want to discuss whether Disney’s Contemporary Resort is worth the cost, and how you can save money on the cost to make the price more worth it.
Disney World onsite hotels can get expensive (let’s face it; none of them are cheap), but Disney’s Contemporary Resort has some of the highest prices. It is one of Disney’s “deluxe hotels” and one of its most expensive. So let’s talk about some of the reasons why Disney’s Contemporary Resort is so expensive to help discuss whether or not the hotel rates are worth it.
Why Is Disney’s Contemporary Resort So Expensive?
It Is Within Walking Distance Of Magic Kingdom
Not every Disney World onsite hotel is within walking distance. In fact, only a select few are. But I’ve found Disney’s Contemporary Resort to be the closest. It’s a pretty easy walk and in many ways it feels like a shorter walk than from the busses. Magic Kingdom is my favorite Disney World theme park, so for me, that makes staying at the Contemporary so wonderful.
The Monorail Runs Through It
But even if you don’t want to walk to the Contemporary, they have great transportation to Magic Kingdom. In fact, you can talk a monorail to it because a monorail literally runs through the hotel!
This is a really neat feature and it is the only Disney World hotel like this.
Monorail Transportation
The monorail running through the Contemporary is cool, but what’s even better than that is how convenient it is. You can take a monorail to Magic Kingdom if you prefer not to walk. Then you’re dropped off very close to the entrance of Magic Kingdom.
You can also take a monorail to Epcot.
Personally, I much prefer taking the monorail to busses. In addition to the fact that the monorail is a more unique experience than riding a bus, it doesn’t feel quite as crowded and stuffed. I also get less motion sick on the monorail.
The Rooms Are Nice
The rooms at Disney’s Contemporary Resort are nice, and larger than some of the other Disney World hotel guest rooms. They are around 394 square feet giving your family plenty of room. Compare that to the value resorts at Disney World that are around 260 square feet.
It Has Plenty of Dining Options
Disney’s Contemporary Resort has tons of dining options. My favorite is the character dining, which you can read about in our Chef Mickey’s review. We’ve also talked about breakfast at Steakhouse 71, Contemporary’s quick service restaurant Contempo Cafe, and their poolside grill, Sand Bar.
Extended Hours
As one of Disney’s deluxe hotels, guests get two extra hours in select theme parks after the parks close at night. This is a wonderful way to get shorter lines for popular rides. This is only available on select nights, but it is a great perk.
So Do These Reasons Make The Contemporary Resort Worth It?
For me, the main reason why the Contemporary is worth the higher price rate is the walk to Magic Kingdom. It just makes my trips so much better. For example, let’s say you’re attending Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party this year. It is so nice to be able to just walk back to your hotel room rather than taking a bus.
But guess what? You can get the convenience of walking to Magic Kingdom from the Contemporary Resort without the impossible price tag. And that is if you stay at Bay Lake Tower.
Disney’s Bay Lake Tower is a building located right next to Disney’s Contemporary Resort. They are conveniently connected by a Skywalk, so you can enjoy all the amenities of staying at the Contemporary Resort. You also get the same perks, like the extended park hours. And Bay Lake Tower is actually a closer walk to Magic Kingdom!
Disney’s Bay Lake Tower is part of the Disney Vacation Club. Luckily, you do not have to be a member to get a room there, though. Non-members can rent points and stay there at far more affordable rates than staying in the main Contemporary Resort. My family has done this many times to stay at Bay Lake Tower and we’ve saved a lot of money. Every time we’ve done this, we’ve paid around the same rate we would pay at a Disney moderate hotel. We talk about the process of renting DVC points here. We also talk about why we love Bay Lake Tower here.
There are a couple areas where you might find a stay at Bay Lake Tower not as good:
- If you stay in a studio, the rooms are a little smaller (339 square feet versus 394 square feet). You could get a larger room, such as a one-bedroom villa, but then you’re not saving money (you do get a lot of room though – it is 803 square feet) – without having to pay much more than a standard room at the Contemporary
- The monorail does not run directly through Bay Lake Tower. So if you’ve ever dreamed of walking out your hotel and watching the monorail whiz by right in front of your eyes, well, you are out of luck
So what is our recommendation? Our recommendation is staying at Bay Lake Tower. You get a lot of the same perks but for way less money. And for me personally, I don’t think the room size difference is enough of a reason to stay in the main building. Plus, if you really want extra space, you can splurge and get a one-bedroom villa, which is a lot of room (and has two different rooms, which could give you privacy if you are say bringing kids along).
But as far as the monorail running through the hotel, if that is something you really like, then you can read our Contemporary Resort money saving hacks. We have some other ways you can save money on a stay that could help you afford staying at the hotel.