Disney’s Contemporary Resort Transportation Guide

Contemporary Transportation Options List

Disney’s Contemporary Resort offers the following transportation modes:

• Monorail
• Resort Watercraft
• Disney Buses
• Walking

We’ve highlighted the locations where you can access transportation on the map below.

You can travel directly to and from Disney’s Contemporary to the following Disney Destinations:

• Magic Kingdom
• Epcot
• Disney’s Hollywood Studios
• Disney’s Animal Kingdom
• Disney Springs

Additionally, you can use Disney transportation to travel to Typhoon Lagoon, Blizzard Beach, and other Walt Disney World Resorts. However, most of these destinations require multiple forms of transportation. We’ll discuss specifics for traveling to some of the more popular destinations below.

Resorts Gal Disclaimer: All of the photos and information provided (including travel times) are from our experience, time spent at the resort, and expenditures.

How to Get To Magic Kingdom from the Contemporary

First, we’ll review how to get to the Magic Kingdom from the Contemporary.

Take the Monorail to Magic Kingdom from the Contemporary

For starters, you can take the resort monorail from the resort to Disney’s Contemporary. To access the monorail, you’ll need to head up (or possibly down) to the fourth floor, commonly known as the Grand Concourse.

If you’re coming in from the lobby, Bay Lake Tower, or the Garden Wing, you can take the stairs, escalator, or elevator up to the monorail. You’ll have to walk through a security screening on the Grand Concourse level to access the monorail.

Tip: Security always says to hold any significant metal objects out in front of me when I walk through. I try to have my camera and umbrella in my hands before I get to the area. Then, I hold them out as far as possible when I walk through the metal detector.

If the metal detector alerts and security can’t visibly identify what caused it, you’ll be asked to step to the side for further screening. They will go through your personal belongings to identify the cause.

So if you don’t know, you don’t know. But if you know what’s causing the issue, it’s much easier to have it held out in front of you. Security is there for a reason. That reason is not to give you a hard time. On a side note, cell phones and car keys typically don’t alert the detectors.

After going through the security checkpoint at the Contemporary, you’ll take an escalator to the next level. An elevator is available for those who need it and wait for the next monorail.

Walkway to Magic Kingdom from Disney’s Contemporary

In addition to the monorail, you can also walk from Disney’s Contemporary Resort to Magic Kingdom. This direct route is often the shortest for those who don’t mind a few extra steps. We have a separate article in our routes series that compares both options and how long they take.

Disney’s Contemporary and Bay Lake Tower guests can access the walkway beyond the resort bus stop. The walkway from Disney’s Contemporary to Magic Kingdom is a little shy of half a mile and takes approximately 10 minutes.

Along the way, you will cross a few intersections in the parking lot and one moderately busy road. However, a crosswalk is provided. You’ll run into a security clearance area about halfway to Magic Kingdom. So you will not have to go through security again once you reach the Magic Kingdom.

How to Get to Epcot from the Contemporary

Traveling to Epcot from Disney’s Contemporary Resort requires a few extra steps. For starters, you’ll take the resort monorail to the Transportation and Ticket Center. There, you’ll exit and board another monorail to Epcot.

*Bus service to Epcot is only provided during inclement weather or when the monorail goes down.

Thankfully, the Transportation and Ticket Center (TTC) is the first stop after leaving the Contemporary. So you don’t have far to travel. After you exit the resort monorail, you’ll usually have the option to go left to the exit, or you can take a separate walkway to the right that leads directly to the Epcot monorail platform.

Both ways will get you to the right place. But if you remember to follow the signs, the ramp to Epcot will save you a couple of extra steps. (It’s also covered.)

It takes approximately 11 minutes to travel from the TTC to Epcot. It’s a pleasant ride that loops through Epcot before arriving back outside the park’s gates. One good thing about this route is that you only have to go through security at the Contemporary. During your travels, you’ll remain in a secure area.

When you arrive at Epcot, you’ll exit the platform and head straight to the ticket turnstiles. You do not have to go through security here because you went through security when you first boarded the monorail and remained in a secure area the entire route.

Upon leaving Epcot, you’ll reboard the monorail to the Transportation and Ticket Center. Then, you’ll take the exit ramp and join the line for the resort monorail. (There are no special ramps on the way back.)

You’ll then have to stop at the Polynesian, Grand Floridian, and Magic Kingdom before returning to the Contemporary. Therefore, the return route will take longer with the extra stops on the resort monorail.

Monorail Hours at Disney’s Contemporary

Per Disney, “The Resort Monorail and Express Monorail begin operating 30 minutes prior to when Magic Kingdom park opens and stop one hour after Magic Kingdom park closes.”(Reference: Disney’s website)

Hours include the extra half-hour early theme park benefit offered daily. Additionally, the resort monorail continues to run for deluxe resort extended evening hours and extra-ticketed parties at Magic Kingdom.

How to Get to Hollywood Studios from the Contemporary

You’ll need to use Disney’s complimentary bus transportation when traveling to and from Disney’s Hollywood Studios. The bus stop is to the immediate right when you exit the Contemporary’s main entrance, as shown in the photo below.

Bus service at Disney’s Contemporary is shared with Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort. Buses travel in the following order: Disney’s Contemporary Resort, Disney’s Polynesian, Disney’s Hollywood Studios.

So, if you’re leaving the Contemporary to visit Hollywood Studios, you’ll stop at the Polynesian. When you leave Hollywood Studios, the Contemporary will be the first stop.

*We have found that the buses do not always share routes first thing in the mornings when more guests are headed to the parks.

How to Get to Disney’s Animal Kingdom from the Contemporary

Those traveling to Disney’s Animal Kingdom will also want to take the resort bus service from Disney’s Contemporary to the park. This bus will also stop at the Polynesian on the way.

How to Get to Disney Springs from the Contemporary

Disney’s Contemporary also provides bus service to Disney Springs. It takes approximately 25 minutes to reach Disney Springs with the bus stop at the Polynesian. The bus drops guests off at Town Center, the middle entrance to Disney Springs.

You might encounter traffic on the way, especially around the Disney Springs area. We would recommend leaving an hour before any reservations to account for the stop at the Polynesian and other potential delays.

When you leave Disney Springs, you’ll want to locate the bus stop for the Contemporary. As a reference point, there’s a walkway to the bus stops near the Coca-Cola Store that leads directly out to the bus stop. The Contemporary’s stop is usually on the front row.

Over the years, we’ve tracked of our average travel times to and from the resort. See our guide to the bus schedule at Disney’s Contemporary Resort for details.

• Disney’s Contemporary
• Disney’s Fort Wilderness
• Disney’s Wilderness Lodge

or

• Disney’s Contemporary
• Disney’s Wilderness Lodge
• Disney’s Fort Wilderness

Typically, two boats are running in opposite directions. Either boat should get you where you’re going. This is known as the Blug Flag service.

How to Get from the Contemporary to Other Disney Destinations

Here are a few tips for traveling to other popular destinations from the Contemporary.

• Take the resort monorail to Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort and Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort and Spa.

• Take a bus to Disney’s Animal Kingdom. From there, take a bus to Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge. Note that the first stop at Animal Kingdom Lodge will be Kidani Village, and the second stop will be Jambo House.

• If you visit Disney’s Boardwalk from the Contemporary, take a bus to Hollywood Studios. Then you can walk or take a Friendship Boat to the Boardwalk. (Check to ensure that transportation is within operating hours if you have an early breakfast or late dinner.)

• If you want to ride the Disney Skyliner, take a bus from the Contemporary to Disney’s Hollywood Studios and board the Skyliner. We have a separate guide that details Disney’s Skyliner’s route. Stops include Caribbean Beach, Art of Animation, Pop Century, Riviera Resort, and Epcot’s International Gateway.

Final Thoughts

Ultimately, a Disney vacation requires a lot of planning. Here at Resorts Gal, we like to focus on the time you’ll spend at the resorts, including getting to and from them. For more on transportation, our beginner’s guide to Disney World transportation is a good place to start. Make sure to get a copy of our free PDF below. You can print it or save it to your phone for a quick reference during your trip.

Resorts Gal Disclaimer: All photos and information provided (including travel times) are based on our experience, time spent at the resort, and expenditures.