The concierge at the Contemporary Resort is ready and at your service to help you make dining reservations, entertainment arrangements or to give guidance to how best to spend your evening. But here are some other quick, easy, and FREE ideas:
Hours: 10 a.m. -12 a.m.
World-class restaurants, dazzling entertainment and unique shops line the waterfront at the Downtown Disney area, a fun-filled district that includes The Landing, West Side and Marketplace! Here, you can shop in the world’s largest Disney store, dine amid prehistoric creatures, bowl a game at the 30-lane alley and so much more—over 80 venues and counting, featuring complimentary parking and admission.
Currently undergoing its largest improvement project ever, Downtown Disney will soon be known as Disney Springs.
FREE and easily accessible via direct bus from the Contemporary Resort.
Experience the timeless charm of Disney’s BoardWalk, a quarter-mile promenade of exquisite dining, unique shops and exciting nightlife. Stroll along the water’s edge, play afternoon midway games and discover evening street performers. Evoking turn-of-the-century boardwalks in such coastal cities as Coney Island and Atlantic City, Disney’s BoardWalk is a short stroll to Epcot and a breezy boat ride to Disney’s Hollywood Studios. FREE and easily accessible via bus from the Contemporary Resort.
Watch the Electrical Water Pageant
This floating parade is visible nightly, usually starting at 9:00, from Disney’s Magic Kingdom-area resort hotel docks and beaches. The pageant takes about an hour to move slowly around the lake, stopping at each resort in order: Polynesian, Grand Floridian, Wilderness Lodge, Ft. Wilderness and Contemporary. FREE.
As a Walt Disney World Resort guest, you are welcome to use complimentary Disney’s transportation. Ride the monorail to Epcot or the Magic Kingdom or to visit other resorts such as the Polynesian Resort and Disney’s Grand Floridian. Or take a boat ride directly from the dock at Disney’s Contemporary Resort to visit the Magic Kingdom, Wilderness Lodge hotel, or Ft. Wilderness campground. FREE and easily accessible from the Contemporary Resort.
Disney’s signature fireworks event over the castle at the Magic Kingdom. View the fireworks from the Contemporary, or visit the Polynesian or Grand Floridian resort beaches for another great view. FREE
Visit Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge
At Animal Kingdom Lodge, you can walk out to the viewing areas and see the exotic African animals roaming free. Note that the animals come out around dusk — you won’t see any during the day. (Please keep in mind that hotel guests’ rooms open right out onto the viewing areas, so quiet is very much appreciated.) FREE. Recommended transportation: walk to the front gate of the Magic Kingdom and take the bus to Animal Kingdom Lodge.
