Last updated on February 12th, 2024 at 05:51 pm
Trying to decide whether to book a stay in Disney’s Contemporary Garden Wing vs Main Tower?
I’ve got you covered with the full pros and cons of each to help you determine which is best for your Walt Disney World vacation!
An original Walt Disney World hotel, Disney’s Contemporary Resort has evolved over the years. Through it all – whether you stay at Disney’s Contemporary Resort Garden Wing or the Main Tower – the hotel’s most enviable feature remains its location. Here is an honest review of the Contemporary Resort and a comparison of the two buildings.
Iconic Disney Resort
When Walt Disney dreamed of a magical new theme park experience in Orlando, Florida, part of that vision became reality with Disney’s Contemporary Resort. With the Monorail running right through its A-frame tower, the resort became an instant icon – a tribute to the future of imagination and progress on the shores of Seven Seas Lagoon and Bay Lake.
Opened on October 1, 1971, Disney’s Contemporary Resort – along with Disney’s Polynesian Resort – is notable for both its design and history. Staying at this Disney resort is a bucket list experience for many Walt Disney World fans!
Disney’s Contemporary Resort is comprised of three distinct buildings: the Garden Wing, the Main Tower, and Bay Lake Tower, a Disney Vacation Club Resort.
For the purpose of this article, we’ll be looking at Disney’s Contemporary Resort Garden Wing vs. the Main Tower.
After many years of traveling to Walt Disney World and staying in the Main Tower, we finally had the chance to stay at Disney’s Contemporary Resort Garden Wing on a recent trip. The differences are pretty vast! Following is a detailed look at the property.
Disney’s Contemporary Resort At-A-Glance
- Monorail stop inside the Main Tower
- Three distinct buildings
- Walking path the Magic Kingdom
- Supervised children’s activity center
- Great pool area and daily pool activities
- Onsite marina and boat rentals
- Volleyball court
- “Movies Under the Stars” play nightly on the beach
- Watch the Electrical Water Pageant from shore of the Seven Seas Lagoon
- Bus service to Disney’s Animal Kingdom, Epcot, Hollywood Studios and Disney Springs
- Numerous restaurants and quick service dining options
- Sleek, modern theme
- Free parking
Disney’s Contemporary Resort Garden Wing vs. Main Tower
Whether you’re staying in the iconic A-frame Main Tower or the nearby Contemporary Garden Wing, you can walk to the Magic Kingdom or catch the Monorail.
The Main Tower is where you will find all of the hotel’s restaurants and retail shops. It is also where the main check-in desk is located, regardless of which building you are staying in, as well as the concierge.
The hotel lobby inside the Main Tower has been recently updated. It features a collection of modern art pieces as well as historical, behind-the-scenes photographs of the resort in development. Custom artwork along guest corridors is modern and futuristic.
Also inside the Main Tower is a beautiful 90-foot-tall mural by Disney Legend Mary Blair. She is responsible for the distinct look and feel of the “it’s a small world” attraction.
If a Club Level room is in your budget, you’ll find them in the Main Tower. Atrium Club and Tower Club Concierge level rooms are located on the upper floors of the tower. These Club Level rooms include access to concierge lounges with complimentary food and beverages, as well as nightly turndown service.
If it sounds like all the cool things that make Disney’s Contemporary Resort so worthwhile are located inside the Main Tower, you wouldn’t be wrong. The Main Tower is truly the heart of The Contemporary and what makes this Disney resort so iconic.
However – that doesn’t mean the Garden Wing should be written off! Located adjacent to the Main Tower, Disney’s Contemporary Resort Garden Wing (sometimes called the South Garden Wing) is a sprawling, three-story tall building. While some reviews say the Garden Wing is inconvenient or far away from the Main Tower, it truly is no more than a 3-5 minute walk.
Hotel Rooms
Standard rooms in the Main Tower and Garden Wing are comparable, all recently upgraded and reimagined.
Rooms now blend a sleek Monorail motif with some favorite characters from Pixar Animation Studios’ Incredibles films. We found the room light and airy, with plenty of space for everyone and everything!
There are a few differences in room styles. Mainly, all nine floors of guest rooms in the tower include balconies, most with views of the lake or a theme park view. You can also see the monorail, and watch the fireworks from your Main Tower balcony if your room faces the right direction.
Disney’s Contemporary Resort Garden Wing is a little less awe-inspiring. You’ll still get the same comfy beds, big bathroom and fun, fresh décor, but most Garden Wing rooms don’t feature balconies.
Rooms on the first floor of Disney’s Contemporary Resort Garden Wing have furnished patios, but second and third floor rooms do not. They have sliders that open up to a rail, but no space to step outside.
Views from the Garden Wing include grassy areas, the parking lot or the lake, but you won’t get those coveted views of the Magic Kingdom.
The main difference to consider when deciding between a Main Tower or Garden Wing room is price. Room rates in the Garden Wing are typically around $200 per night cheaper, but you’ll still pay a premium for staying at Disney’s Contemporary Resort.
Contemporary Resort Perks & Features
No matter which of the buildings you stay in at Disney’s Contemporary Resort, there are fantastic shared features everyone gets to enjoy.
1. Monorail Access
We’d be remiss to start anywhere else, as Disney’s Contemporary Resort is known for the Monorail that zips right through the building. No other hotel allows you to dine, shop or even walk down the hall to your room while catching a glimpse of the Monorail.
And more than the novelty of seeing the Monorail (which kids love, by the way) is your ability to hop on it and easily travel to the parks or other Disney Monorail Resorts.
The Monorail stop inside The Contemporary will take you to the Magic Kingdom, Grand Floridian Resort, and Disney’s Polynesian Resort. You can also take the Monorail to Walt Disney World’s Transportation and Ticket Center (TTC), where you can transfer to the Monorail to Epcot.
2. Location
Above everything else, the resort’s location is what makes staying here so desirable. You can hop on the monorail that famously zips right through the Main Tower. Disney’s Contemporary Resort is also just a short walk away from the Magic Kingdom. We did it in less than 10 minutes from our room in the Garden Wing.
3. Disney’s Contemporary Resort Restaurants
As with all Disney Deluxe Resorts, there are a number of quick service and table service restaurants at Disney’s Contemporary Resort. You’ll also find some nice bars and lounges.
Here are the restaurants at Disney’s Contemporary Resort.
Contempo Café is the resort’s main quick service restaurant, open for breakfast, lunch and dinner. They serve all the basic menu items plus some special treats – like Mickey-shaped waffles and a nice array of desserts. The Contempo Café is also where you can purchase your refillable mug.
For a cup of coffee or quick pastry, Contemporary Grounds is the place to go. This coffee stand is located just off the hotel’s main lobby. It is also convenient to the Contemporary Resort’s Convention Center, if you happen to be visiting Walt Disney World on business.
The Sand Bar is located at the Contemporary Resort’s main pool. They serve casual meals along with the usual array of pool bar cocktails.
Easily one of the most popular restaurants not just at Disney’s Contemporary Resort but in all of WDW, Chef Mickey’s is the place to go for a Character Meal. They serve a full buffet breakfast and dinner. But the real stars here are Mickey, Minnie and the rest of the gang! You can meet the characters and take photos while enjoying your meal.
Part of Chef Mickey’s popularity is due to its location just a quick monorail ride away from the Magic Kingdom. This makes the restaurant popular with both guests and non-guests of Disney’s Contemporary Resort.
Named for the year the resort opened, Steakhouse 71 is a fairly new restaurant (it replaced The Wave) serving breakfast, lunch, and dinner. They offer amazing steakhouse specialties in the evening.
Located on the top floor of the hotel, California Grill is The Contemporary’s signature restaurant. Savor delectable, market-inspired cuisine as you take in the Seven Seas Lagoon and Magic Kingdom. You can even watch the nightly fireworks show from here!
4. Amazing Pools & Activities
Disney’s Contemporary Resort has two pools conveniently located along the shore of Bay Lake.
Glide down the 17-foot-high, curving water slide at the main pool, or relax in one of two whirlpool spas. There is also a water playground designed just for kids!
You can also escape to Bay Pool—the all-ages quiet pool that juts out over Bay Lake. Soak up the sun from a lounge chair on the deck, or rent a private cabana for added luxury.
Located adjacent to the main pool is the Contemporary Resort’s marina. You can rent a boat and explore the lakes and islands surrounding the resort on your own – which is what we did and had a blast!
5. Extended Theme Park Hours
Guests at all Disney World Resorts get extra time to play every day. Early theme park entry – available at all four Walt Disney World theme parks – allows you to enter 30 minutes before regular park hours.
For guests staying at Disney’s Contemporary Resort and all other Deluxe Disney Resorts and Disney Deluxe Villas, extended evening hours are available.
Final Thoughts: Disney’s Contemporary Resort Garden Wing vs. Main Tower
So is Disney’s Contemporary Resort Worth the Cost?
As a Disney World Deluxe Resort, Disney’s Contemporary Resort is pricey…regardless of whether you choose a room in the Main Tower or Garden Wing. But if you want to be close to the action and enjoy the experience of staying at this iconic resort, it is worth the splurge!
If you want the iconic experience of staying at the Disney hotel monorail runs through, then go for a room in the tower. But if you like the idea of saving a few bucks while enjoying all the sublime location and amenities at the Contemporary Resort, then the Garden Wing will do just fine.
When you consider all of the resort’s amenities and the fact that both Epcot and the Magic Kingdom are just a monorail ride away, you’re definitely getting your money’s worth! The Contemporary Resort earns its reputation as one of the Best Disney Deluxe Resorts.
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