For our super quick two-day trip to Walt Disney World (yes, two days), we chose to stay at the Bay Lake Tower at Disney's Contemporary Resort. Check out the video below and read on for more details!
This is a Disney Vacation Club property but it is open for “regular” guests. There are two great advantages of this property.
1. Proximity. Magic Kingdom is a 10-minute walk away. The monorail at the Contemporary Resort is under five minutes. Since we had such a short time to visit, being this close to MK and the monorail was a huge time-save.
2. Kitchenettes. The starting room categories are the deluxe studios and these have kitchenettes, complete with microwave, toaster, a tall mini-fridge, disposable utensils and cups, and plenty of shelving to store your snackies. I found this to be great for refrigerating my cold-brew coffee, making my morning oatmeal and stashing all the snacks and leftovers. And since breakfast at Contemporary Resort is very lackluster, you're better off using the kitchenette to make your own quick meal.
Another advantage that families will appreciate, but which we didn't get to use, was the “community center” where kids can partake in several activities throughout their stay. Some are additional charge, some are not.
However, there are a few disadvantages. The rooms are tiny with a queen bed and a sleeper sofa squeezed in. It worked well for myself and my two tween daughters but I think two adults and two kids might feel cramped.
For a family of five or more, you'll need to upsize to the Villa categories which start at a one-bedroom villa with a pullout couch and sleeper chair, and go up to a three-bedroom, which will be insanely expensive (and if you have that kind of cash, why would you spend it at Contemporary? Lol.)
The pool is also disappointing. The water was very warm during our visit in July and the waterslide was a little ricekty. It did have a Mickey Mouse shape though.
Atop the hotel is the Villains Lounge which is only accessible for DVC members. But it's advertised in the lobby which is a tease. Since Bay Lake Tower costs a bit more than regular Contemporary, having access to a rooftop lounge would have been nice.
BOTTOM LINE:
Sadly, I would book this sub-par hotel by any other hotel standards again purely because of its proximity to Magic Kingdom. Oh Disney, you really know how to work it. If you're spending more than a few days in Walt Disney World, there are better hotels to enjoy.
Guests at all Disney Resorts like this one receive Magical Extras when booking through a Disney Travel Agent, such as myself, like shopping discounts, early theme park hours, some extended theme park hours, and little souvenirs (in this case it was a luggage tag and we forgot to pick it up. Doh.) Interested in booking a trip with Disney? I'm happy to help. 😊
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