Where Is Disneys Contemporary Resort
I love looking at a map of the Orlando / Kissimmee area and seeing just how huge Walt Disney World is. Disneys Contemporary Resort is located in north central portion of its 27,000 acres, or 42.47 square miles. Yes, its an enormous area of magical fun! The Contemporary Resort is closest to the Magic Kingdom, which you can easily walk to.
Being one of the original Walt Disney World Resorts, along with the Polynesian Village and Fort Wilderness Resort and Campground, the Contemporary has seen the parks expand and the overall area boom into the Disney World we know today. The original hotel itself has expanded, and now has the new Bay Lake Tower on its property.
Speaking of Bay Lake, Disneys Contemporary Resort is set between Bay Lake and the Seven Seas Lagoon . This means that there are water views on both sides of the property and the perfect setting to relax.
Are Magicbands Free If Not How Much Do Magicbands Cost & Where Can I Buy Them
For many years, solid colored MagicBands were free to on-property hotel guests for every trip. But things changed effective January 1, 2021. All guests who wish to use a MagicBand must now purchase a new one or reuse one from a prior trip.
Disney explained the reason for this change over the previous summer as follows:
In 2021, we plan to unveil an innovative new offering as part of the My Disney Experience app that will bring features of a MagicBand to your smart devices, building on the apps existing digital key feature. With this new offering on the horizon, we will be retiring our complimentary MagicBand distribution to Disney Resort hotel guests for new reservations with arrivals beginning Jan. 1, 2021. Disney Resort hotel guests will continue to have the option to purchase new MagicBands at a discount, and well be introducing even more colors and designs featuring favorite Disney characters in the future. Guests who prefer not to purchase a discounted MagicBand will be able to use the My Disney Experience app or a Key to the World card during their visit. We will still offer MagicBands in retail locations and on shopDisney.com, and guests will be able to continue using the wearables throughout Walt Disney World Resort.
Ordering discounted premium MagicBands has been a very popular option. That means many of the premium choices have fluctuating availability. I recommend checking early and often for the premium choices, as bands come in and out of stock.
Use Mobile Ordering To Skip Food Lines
Rides and shows arent the only places where Disney has created a way to skip the line its true for most food orders, too. While mobile ordering was a suggestion prior to the pandemic, it has become virtually the only way to order at many Disney World counter service restaurants now. That may change when pandemic restrictions are lifted, but there really is no better time to familiarize yourself with ordering food with the My Disney Experience app.
Pretty much all quick-service restaurants offer whats called mobile ordering through the My Disney Experience app.
The process is simple: When youre starting to get hungry, load up your My Disney Experience app, order food at the quick-service restaurant of choice and then pick up the food at the counter when its ready. You order and pay in the app and never have to wait in line for your Dole Whip from Aloha Isle, barbecue from Regal Eagle Smokehouse, hot dogs from Caseys Corner or breakfast wraps from Ronto Roasters.
These days, you are wise to order well in advance of when you actually hope to sit down with food. Expect hefty delays to order food on busy park days.
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The Search Is On For Disney Magic Makers
by Shelby Grasser, Assistant Manager – Corporate Citizenship, Disney Parks, Experiences and Products
Do you know someone who makes magic by bringing comfort, support and joy to those around them? Nows your chance to recognize all of the positivity and happiness theyve brought to you or your community and they may just win a trip to Walt Disney World Resort and a one-year subscription to Disney+!
Starting today through Oct. 1, 2021, you can nominate any person who inspires you for the Disney Magic Makers contest by visiting disneymagicmakers.com and sharing the positive impact they have made. You can further share their amazing story with a public post using #DisneyMagicMakers on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter or TikTok. Fifty nominees whose inspirational acts of kindness, compassion, and creativity best exemplify the values of a Disney Magic Maker will win a trip to Walt Disney World Resort to join The Worlds Most Magical Celebration during the 50th anniversary and a one-year subscription to Disney+.
All of us at Disney have been inspired by the countless acts of goodwill by people across the country throughout the pandemic, said Josh DAmaro, Chairman, Disney Parks Experiences and Products. These magic makers and their stories have changed us in ways we never imagined. Thats why were so proud to celebrate those who continue to make everyday magic a reality.
For more examples of inspiring acts of goodwill from #DisneyMagicMakers, check this out:
Rules
How To Get Around Disney World
When it comes to transportation, Disney World has a network of options to move you between the parks, resorts and Disney Springs. Over the years, most vacations to Disney World started and ended with Disneys Magical Express. Magical Express provides a free ride to and from Disney World from Orlando International Airport for those staying at a true Walt Disney World resort. Unfortunately, Disney World announced that Magical Express will cease operations at the end of 2021. Mears, the company that operates the buses for Magical Express, has launched Mears Connect to mimic Magical Express.
Weve done a bit of exploring on the Mears Connect website. The interface is fairly easy to use. Mears Connect offers two services, standard and express. Standard service appears to be similar to the existing Magical Express. Your bus will leave within 20 minutes of boarding and may make a stop or two along the way. Express service is quicker, with no stops on the way to your hotel.
We built a fictional trip to and from Animal Kingdom in January. The price for standard service was $118 round-trip for a party of four, with two adults, two children and four bags. Thats less than the typical Uber round-trip to Disney World. Express service was $200 for a family of four, round-trip.
We found it very easy to book the service and plan to test it in the near future. Its a bummer not to have a free option for transportation any longer. But Mears Connect seems to be a viable paid alternative.
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How Do Magicbands Work As Park Tickets
For guests who use MagicBands, perhaps the most convenient feature is that they store your park tickets. No more worrying about forgetting or losing your park tickets. A simple tap of the band on a reader at park gates are all you need to enter the theme parks every day of your vacation.
Remember also that you can get legitimate, discounted park tickets for your Disney vacation from Trips With Tykes partner and authorized ticket broker Get Away Today. Their tickets work seamlessly with MagicBands and give you all the same privileges as the ones you purchase from Disney directly. Dont purchase direct from Disney and pay more! Book your Disney World park tickets from Get Away Today here.
Can Magicbands Get Wet
Yes! MagicBands are fully waterproof. You can take a shower with them or swim with them in your hotels pool with no worries. They are perhaps the most convenient at Disneys water parks, Typhoon Lagoon and Blizzard Beach, because guests now no longer have to carry money or credit cards.
If you do choose to take them off to shower or swim just remember to put them back on. I find its sometimes easier to keep them on for the entirety of your vacation so you dont risk leaving them on the nightstand or bathroom vanity.
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How Do Magicbands Work
The magic of MagicBands is enabled by a tiny RFID chip embedded in the center puck of the band. The bands transmit at both short range and long range distances to communicate to the Disney computers and allow you to access all the features of your Disney vacation.
As for what MagicBands do, the answer is a LOT! The bands can be used in the following ways:
- to scan/tap into the theme parks, acting as your park tickets
- as room keys to access your Disney on-property hotel room
- for redeeming Fastpass+ reservations as you enter the Fastpass queue at each ride
- to book Fastpass+ reservations at any of the freestanding kiosks in the parks
- for charging purchases to your Disney hotel room at stores all over Walt Disney World resort
- to load Photopass photos into your My Disney Experience account
As you might guess, the goal of MagicBands is to make all aspects of a Disney vacation as seamless as possible. There is no need to fumble with a hotel room key, risk losing a separate park ticket, or pull out a credit card every time you make a purchase. As a mom who is juggling young kids, I really appreciate the hands-free aspect of it all!
Are Park Hopper Tickets Worth It
If your goal is to do everything Disney World has to offer from sunup to sundown, thats when you should consider Park Hopper tickets. For around $65 to $85 more, the Park Hopper add-on to any multiday ticket lets you go from park to park as often as youd like that day.
Thats not a huge cost in the grand scheme of Disney, but the fact is most families especially those with little kids dont need access to more than one park per day.
Amid the pandemic, park-hopping got even more complicated. There used to be no limitations on how many parks you could visit, or what times you could hop. Currently, you need to start with a park pass reservation for one park and enter that park. Park-hopping officially begins at 2 p.m. each day and is capacity-controlled. If time permits, you can hop to a third or fourth park assuming those parks have capacity as well.
To find out if there are any restrictions on park-hopping, guests can call 407-560-5000 to check availability, though on most days it should work out.
Before you dole out that extra cash, be sure you and your family have the stamina for it: You can easily walk eight to 10 miles per day at Disney World in just one park. Generally speaking, older kids or adults without kids benefit more from Park Hoppers, but even then its not essential. You can also hold off on the decision until you get there and simply have guest services help you upgrade to Park Hoppers if needed.
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Unlock The Magic Giveaway Begins Today On Shopdisney
This post may contain affiliate links please read the disclosure for more information.
ShopDisney has launched the Unlock the Magic giveaway. This giveaway runs now through 11:59 pm. PT on August 31, 2021.
Fans can enter using their email every day for the chance to win a prize. All participants will get downloadable digital Disney+ posters. The giveaway is open to legal residents of the U.S. who are 18 or older.
Four different entry periods throughout the month will give away a variety of shopDisney merchandise. A full prize list can be found here.
What are you hoping to unlock in this magical giveaway? Let us know in the comments.
For more Disney Parks news from around the world, follow WDWNT on , , and .
How To Reduce Your Time In Line At Disney
Standing in line is just about the least fun thing you can do in a place as great as Disney World, even in a non-pandemic world.
Disney does a good job of providing themed elements while you wait in line, even if theyre not the best at protecting you from the hot Florida sun on some attractions. Standing in line is a fact of life when it comes to theme parks , but some strategies can reduce your wait. As Disney World has evolved and added items like virtual queues , the optimal strategy has also evolved.
But, keep in mind that things are different right now.
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Magickeepers The New Retractable Magicband Holders
DaniellePlease note: some posts may contain affiliate links which means our team could earn money if you purchase products from our site
You can find a new way to unlock the magic at Walt Disney World! Disney now has MagicKeepers! These are new retractable MagicBand clips, that also come with a MagicBand 2 puck!
The first design launched is a sparkly White and Rose Gold Minnie Mouse style! It has a clip with rose gold, that says Im here for the ears. Which, lets be honest is exactly my style, ALL THE EARS! This one comes with a grey puck, but it is interchangeable, so you can swap it for one of your other puck colors. These are great if you dont want to wear the MagicBand on your wrist, or lanyard. You can clip these anywhere, and use the retractable cord when you want to scan the band.
The new MagicBand holder retails for $29.99, and can be found throughout the Walt Disney World Resort where MagicBands, and MagicBand accessories are sold.
What do you think of the new MagicKeepers?
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Parking Your Own Car At The Contemporary
Easy. Set your map for Disneys Contemporary Resort and then park in its lot if youre a guest. Super easy, and its the same cost as parking at the different theme park parking areas. If you are going to the Parks on your arrival day and your room isnt ready, thats fine. Do the Check-In steps in the My Disney Experience app and youll be able to access the parking area, even if your room isnt ready or if youve even stepped foot inside the lobby.
Steps for accessing the parking area:
- Check-in for your reservation in the MDE app
- From the MDE app HOME screen, choose UNLOCK DOOR
- When the Mickey ears appear, hold your smartphone to the RFID reader
- Proceed forward when the gate lifts and park your vehicle in the designated area
If you have questions, you can drive in via the gatehouse line, but you shouldnt need to. Should there be a problem with your UNLOCK DOOR working to open the gate, see the gate attendant. The overnight parking fee is $25 and will be automatically added to your room folio when you scan in to park. Having your own car is ideal if youre choosing both Disney World and Universal Orlando for your vacation.
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The Best Disney World Splurges For Night Owls
If you have the budget for some VIP experiences but dont like early mornings, Disney World still has you covered.
Ultimate Night of Adventure VIP Tour at Animal Kingdom: To avoid both lines and FastPasses for Pandora and other Animal Kingdom rides, spend $249 per person to get expedited FastPass+ access to Expedition Everest, Kilimanjaro Safaris, Dinosaur, the Rivers of Light nighttime spectacular and, most important, Avatar Flight of Passage. This four-hour evening tour also includes snacks and a specialty nonalcoholic or alcoholic beverage.
Rivers of Light Dining Package: Choose breakfast, lunch or dinner, and score premium seats to the Animal Kingdom nighttime light show. Packages start at $50 for adults and $26 for children.
Fantasmic! Dessert and VIP Viewing Experience: Thirty-nine dollars per person will get you a buffet to satisfy your sweet tooth and VIP seating at Fantasmic!, the nighttime spectacular at Hollywood Studios.
Frozen Ever After Sparkling Dessert Party: If your little princess or prince loves the Frozen ride at Epcot, this one is for you. It includes a great seat for Illuminations! the nighttime fireworks show at Epcot a buffet of sweets and afterward, Frozen Ever After without waiting in line. The experience is $99 for adults and $59 for children.
The Best Deluxe Disney World Resorts
The cream of the crop is the three resorts on the Disney monorail: the Contemporary Resort, Polynesian Village Resort and Grand Floridian Resort & Spa. They usually cost more than other Deluxe resorts, but the convenience may be worth it if you need to sneak back to your room in the middle of the day for nap time .
The Polynesian Village Resort is wrapping up a pretty extensive renovation. The Moana-themed rooms are sure to be a hit, but know that the monorail stop at the resort is still closed for renovations.
There are other Deluxe resorts with unique characteristics.
They include Animal Kingdom Lodge, where you see native African animals right outside your window, and Disneys Beach Club, which includes a 3-acre waterpark with a lazy river and a 230-foot slide from the top of a pirate ship.
These top-tier Disney Deluxe resorts generally run from $300 to $500 per night, with rates occasionally dipping to the $200-$299 range.
If you are ready to really blow out the budget, the Copper Creek Cabins at Wilderness Lodge might be our absolute favorite.
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