No other Disney World hotel is closer to the magic than Contemporary Resort.
Its location on the doorstep of the Magic Kingdom park and its monorail station at the very heart of the hotel are major factors that make Contemporay a top, ‘deluxe’ Disney Resort.
Getting to the theme parks is as quick and easy as it gets on Disney’s Orlando property.
Here, we take a closer look at guest’s transport options between the Contemporary Resort and the rest of Disney World.
Walk
Yes! You can walk. Disney’s Contemporary Resort is one of very few Disney World resorts where you can start your day with a stroll to the gates of one of the theme parks.
A relatively short walkway connects the Contemporary resort directly to the Magic Kingdom park.
The walk can take about 10 minutes. It is a safe and straightforward path, perhaps best of all, it is well lit which means at night guests can comfortably avoid the post-fireworks rush (and queues) for buses and monorails.
Monorail
It’s hard to think Contemporary Resort and not immediately also think about the monorail. The iconic Disneyworld transportation system goes straight through the middle of the hotel after all.
Besides the iconic design, in a practical sense, it also means that guests staying at the Contemporary Resort get some of the best theme park access of all of Disney World.
The monorail will take guests to Magic Kingdom, one stop away, in a matter of minutes.
Going the other way, with a change at Disney’s transportation centre, guests also get a convenient route to EPCOT.
Monorail services run frequently, departing every 10 to 15 minutes or so.
Buses
Just like every other ‘on-site’ Disney World resort, guests can travel by complimentary bus to the theme parks like EPCOT, Disney’s Hollywood Studios, or Animal Kingdom.
The buses typically leave every 15 to 20 minutes, so guests will be on their way without much delay.
A bus to EPCOT takes about 15 minutes, while Disney’s Hollywood Studios and Animal Kingdom are around 20-25 minutes away.
Guests can also take a bus from the hotel to Disney Springs to enjoy its vast number of shops and restaurants.
Minnie-van
‘Minnievans’, a partnership between Lyft and Disney, are granted wider access to Disney World drop-offs compared to regular ride-hailing services.
For example, a Minnievan will take you right up to the Magic Kindom drop-off area near the park entrance, rather than an uber only taking you as far as the Ticket and Transportation Centre.
The Minnie-mouse inspired vehicles - Chevrolet SUVs adorned in iconic red with white polka-dots - are a fun touch too.
Minnievans can be booked using the regular Lyft app whilst on Disney World property.
Offering something of a guarantee of great service, it’s notable that all Minnievan drivers are actually Disney ‘castmembers’. Many of the Minnievan drivers have years of experience and can be a great source of knowledge for guests in the backseat.
Water Taxi to nearby resorts
The Contemporary resort also offers a water taxi service, connecting the hotel to the Wilderness resort area across the lake - which comprises the deluxe Wilderness Lodge and the more adventurous Fort Wilderness Campsites.
It is an extra, enjoyable and scenic mode of transport connecting Contemporary.
Or you could just Uber or Lyft
Guests can, of course, choose to hail a ride from Uber or Lyft if waiting for a scheduled bus doesn’t suit their itinerary.
Disney allows Uber and regular Lyft drivers to pick up and drop off guests at designated spots at the resorts and at the parks.
Ride-hailing apps use dynamic pricing, so the price of your journey changes depending on the time of day and how busy it is. This is something worth remembering at peak times i.e. first thing in the morning, and especially at night after the fireworks.
Thoughts …
Quite simply, location and easy theme park access are pretty much what sets Disney’s Contemporary Resort apart from Disney World’s other resort hotels.
Guests who pay the premium to stay at this ‘deluxe’ level resort will not be disappointed by the transportation options available to get around the park.
