Disney World spans 43 square miles. With four different theme parks, restaurants, water parks, campgrounds, and more, staying on Disney property isn’t necessarily enough for everyone. Some families want to be able to hop on a monorail or Skyliner to get to their favorite theme park. Others prefer to be within walking distance.
For resort guests who want to be within walking distance of the Magic Kingdom, Disney’s Contemporary Resort is the ideal place to stay- and yes, you can walk from the Contemporary to the Magic Kingdom Theme Park! The walk takes about 10-15 minutes from the resort to the theme park entrance. In addition to walking, there are other transportation options available.
About the Contemporary
Disney’s Contemporary Resort is one of the first Walt Disney World hotels. Although it’s one of two original resorts on Disney property, it’s incredibly chic and futuristic. It is commonly referred to as the hotel that the monorail goes through. Most guests that have ridden the monorail from Magic Kingdom have seen it on the way to the TTC.
Despite being incredibly close to the monorail, the resort isn’t loud. The Contemporary’s rooms are very well insulated and the monorail is very quiet. Award-winning restaurants, white sand beaches, and sparkling pools can all be found at the ultra-modern Disney’s Contemporary Resort.
Contemporary Pools
Choose from one of two pools that are conveniently located along Bay Lake’s shore to cool off.
Relax in one of the two whirlpool spas or slide down the main pool’s 17-foot-high, curved waterslide. Children can even splash around in the kid-specific water playground!
Bay Pool, an all-ages tranquil pool that protrudes out over Bay Lake, is another option for escape. Enjoy the sun from a lounge chair on the deck, or for even more comfort, reserve a private cabana.
Restaurant Dining
The Contemporary features the California Grill, a famous restaurant with an amazing view of fireworks, on the top floor.
Chef Mickey’s character dining is family-style, all-you-can-eat breakfast or dinner that allows for one-on-one interactions with beloved Disney characters like Mickey, Donald, and Goofy.
Steakhouse 71 is a delicious new American steakhouse open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Steakhouse 71 Lounge is the perfect place to grab a drink and enjoy the atmosphere celebrating the early days of Walt Disney World Resort.
About the Monorail
Since 1959, Disney theme park resorts have used the monorail system to provide free transportation to the theme parks. By monorail, you can reach Magic Kingdom Park, EPCOT, and some Disney Resort hotels in just a few minutes.
Three distinct lines of the Walt Disney World Monorail System run throughout the Walt Disney World Resort.
The following stops are made by the Resort Monorail:
- Magic Kingdom Park
- Grand Floridian Resort & Spa by Disney
- Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort
- Transportation and Ticket Center (TTC)
Express round-trip service is provided to EPCOT and Magic Kingdom park via the EPCOT Monorail and the Express Monorail, both of which start at the TTC.
From 30 minutes before the earliest park opening until an hour after the latest park closing, the Walt Disney World Monorail System is in service. Please be aware that glass of any kind is not allowed on the monorail. For visitors with disabilities, medical strollers and wheelchairs are welcome on the monorail. There’s no need to fold strollers for small children or babies.
Although the ride itself once the monorail departs is only about three minutes, the entire process of boarding and waiting to take off adds several minutes to the trip. It takes about 15 minutes to get to the Magic Kingdom via monorail from the Contemporary.
How to Use the Monorail System
Riding a monorail makes it simple for guests to get to where they need to go. Here’s how it works:
Guests will wait at one of the convenient pickup locations that are marked throughout Walt Disney World Resort. Then, usually within minutes, the monorail arrives ready to take guests to a variety of locations.
It’s important to note that some places are not accessible directly; guests may have to transfer to another mode of transportation to get there. For example, Contemporary guests can take a monorail to Epcot but will need to take a shuttle bus to both Animal Kingdom and Hollywood Studios.
Also keep in mind that all monorail lines are easily accessible from Disney’s Contemporary Resort, Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa, or Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort hotels.
Cast Members are happy to help answer any questions or help guests find the monorail entrance.
Disney Buses
For guests that may not want to walk due to the Florida heat or rain, buses are another mode of transportation offered by Disney World. Some buses go to Downtown Disney, Epcot, Animal Kingdom, and Disney’s Hollywood Studios from the Contemporary Resort bus stop. About every 20 minutes, buses depart. Relax in an airconditioned bus while Disney does the driving. Guests can use Disney bus transportation to get to waterparks as well, including Typhoon Lagoon.
In front of the Contemporary, on the right, are bus stops (facing Seven Seas Lagoon). Strollers must be folded before boarding the bus. To get to some locations, guests may need to take multiple buses.
Water Ferries and Taxis
Those that have been to the Magic Kingdom’s Ticket and Transportation Center, they are likely familiar with the ferry option to get to Magic Kingdom. Since the Contemporary Resort bypasses the TTC, the ferry boat option isn’t available from the resort.
Disney Skyliners
The following Disney Resort hotels are conveniently connected to Disney’s Hollywood Studios and International Gateway at Epcot by this magnificent, cutting-edge gondola system: Disney’s Art of Animation, Disney’s Beach Caribbean Resort, and Pop Century Resort. Although you can experience the Skyliner at Epcot to take you to another resort on property, the Contemporary is not a Skyliner resort.
Additional Help and Information
For additional assistance, guests can ask a Disney Cast Member or call (407) WDW-RIDE or (407) 939-7433. If under 18 years of age, guests must have the permission of a parent or guardian to call.
More about our TFVG Author
A seasoned traveller, Dad, and avid sports tourist, James foundered The Family Vacation Guide to share his expert vacation experiences- especially when it comes to being a travelling family man.
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- James Brockbankhttps://www.thefamilyvacationguide.com/author/james/
- James Brockbankhttps://www.thefamilyvacationguide.com/author/james/
- James Brockbankhttps://www.thefamilyvacationguide.com/author/james/
- James Brockbankhttps://www.thefamilyvacationguide.com/author/james/
