Here is Why You May Want to Avoid the Contemporary Garden Wing

If you are looking for a luxurious place to stay in Walt Disney World, you might want to avoid the Garden Wing at the Contemporary. See the details surrounding what makes it one of the worst deluxe options in Walt Disney World.

Disney’s Contemporary Resort

Disney’s Contemporary Resort is a true original. It was one of the Walt Disney World resorts open to the public on opening day.

One of the best things about the resort is that it is convenient to Magic Kingdom on foot, by boat, or by Monorail and offers Monorail transfers to EPCOT.

The resort has 3 separate areas that share its amenities. You can stay in the DVC resort: Bay Lake Tower, which is connected to the main building by a bridge. If you are not a DVC member, there are often cash rooms available for booking. You can also read about renting DVC points HERE.

Or, you stay at the original Contemporary Resort itself. The resort has 2 areas: the main A-frame building and the Garden Wing. While the main building is a fun place to stay, you might want to avoid the Garden Wing.

The Garden Wing

The Contemporary Garden Wing can seem like an attractive option for Walt Disney World Guests who want the deluxe experience and all the benefits that come with it at a reduced price tag. The Garden Wing’s room rates are often significantly less expensive than rates for comparable rooms in the main building.

However, you may want to take your money elsewhere. While the Garden Wing does have its pros, it has some very distinct disadvantages as well.

The Good

Before we get into the negative aspects of the Garden Wing, you should know that it does have some good things about it. For one thing, the Incredibles-themed room decor is pretty adorable.

If you like the Incredibles, you will like the room decor. There are touches of the famous Pixar family in the artwork and on the bedding.

You will even find a little surprise in the closet! The super suits are painted on the wall.

You also get all the same benefits that Guests in the main building get including Extended Evening Hours for Deluxe Resort Guests and Early Entry to the parks.

And, you can utilize all resort amenities. This includes the pool, restaurants, and the Monorail.

Location

The location of the Garden Wing is pretty good if your main goal is Monorail access or walking access to Magic Kingdom. Unless you are in the very furthest out rooms, It is also a relatively quick walk to the main building.

While it is less convenient to get to the Monorail or the buses from the Garden Wing than it is from the main building, I wouldn’t necessarily call it a con. The walk to the Magic Kingdom is about the same as it is from the main building depending on where your room is located.

The rooms do not have the noise of the Monorail or the hustle and bustle of the Main Building. However, you will get the noise from the boat docks. So while they seem more secluded, they aren’t always quiet.

The Cons

However, the Contemporary Garden Wing might be off-putting if you are expecting top-of-the-line Deluxe Accommodations. While it is part of the Contemporary, it lacks the charm of the main building.

You might find the Garden Wing or at least parts of it tired and dated, stuffy, or uncomfortable. And, it might even unleash a few phobias.

The Contemporary Garden Wing might not be the best bet if you want the best Deluxe experience.

One thing I (Kate) noticed right away was the Garden Wing didn’t have the pleasant, refreshing scent most Disney Deluxe Resorts have. Maybe it was an off week, but it was noticeable. And, perhaps that set the tone for the rest of the not-so-great features.

Claustrophobia Inducing Hallways

For one thing, the buildings in the Contemporary Garden Wing have narrow hallways with unusually low ceilings. While some of the hallways have windows, many of them have frosted glass or are just plain solid.

This might not bother some people and might even sound a little silly. However, if you are particularly tall or if you are even a little bit claustrophobic, you might have a hard time walking the halls. They feel very tight.

Plus, they are super stuffy. So they tend to feel hot and a little icky during warmer months, which doesn’t help with the tight space.

Odd Room Quirks

While the rooms in the Contemporary Garden Wing do indeed have cute decorations, they also have some odd quirks. It could be off-putting considering the cost of the room.

For example, the floor-to-ceiling windows are actually sliding doors that open out into… well nothing. There is a rail across the opening, blocking anyone from walking out of the room. Still, there is an awkward gap between the room and the rail with a view straight to the ground.

These might not be the best spaces for those who could become anxious about the idea of a fall. The buildings are not that tall, but they are tall enough for it to be worrisome for some.

It also begs the question: why do these sliding doors exist at all? They don’t make a lot of sense. Perhaps there was at one time a plan for the rooms to open onto balconies. The fresh air is nice, but a window would have done the trick and made a little more sense.

Moreover, the showers are wildly leaky. This is not usually a problem at Disney resorts I have stayed at. Perhaps it was just isolated to the particular room my (Kate’s) family occupied, but we found it really hard to keep the water from leaking out of the shower and all over the floor.

Is it For You?

If you are looking for a place to sleep and shower with Deluxe benefits and a great location, and you want to get it as cheaply as possible, the Contemporary Garden Wing might be your best bet. These rooms, standard rooms at Saratoga Springs, and standard view rooms at Animal Kingdom Lodge tend to have the lowest rates for Deluxe accommodations. Sometimes the rates can rival moderate resort rack rates if you can catch the right discount.

But, if you are planning to spend time enjoying your resort while you are visiting Walt Disney World, and you want to feel like you are getting all the bang for your buck, you might want to stay in the main building or pick another place to stay altogether. This is especially true if you are anxious about heights or tight spaces. You may find yourself wishing you’d splurged a little more for something better or saved the money and gone with a value or a moderate resort.

For me, the Garden Wing at the Contemporary is one of Disney’s weakest offerings in terms of Deluxe accommodations. However, if the price is right, it’ll do for a park-heavy trip.

Have you stayed in the Garden Wing at Disney’s Contemporary Resort? What did you think of it? Let us know in the comments. And, be sure to share this information with friends and family members who are planning a trip so they can make informed decisions about where to book.