Welton Becket - Disney's Contemporary Resort - Lake Buena Vista, FL USA
Posted by: 
Rayman
N 28° 24.888 W 081° 34.460
17R E 443747 N 3143287
Disney's Contemporary Resort is a hotel and conference center designed by architect Welton Becket in Walt Disney World.
Waymark Code: WM1CYV
Location: Florida, United States
Date Posted: 04/08/2007
Views: 143
Disney's Contemporary Resort, more commonly known as simply "The Contemporary", was one of two original resort hotels when Walt Disney World opened in 1971. The most recognizable part of The Contemporary is the large, 15-story A-frame tower which was designed by Welton Becket in conjunction with Disney Imagineers and US Steel Corp.
Construction occured by erecting steel frames on-site then inserting precast furnished rooms into their proper space by crane. The original intention when time came to renovate the rooms was to simply remove the precast module and replace it with another. Unfortunately, the soft marshy soils of central Florida allowed the building to settle, and the rooms can no longer be removed.
500 rooms line the outside of the A-frame portion of the building, with the entire inside an open space. The Grand Canyon Concourse, located on the 4th floor, is home to Chef Mickey's character breakfast restaurant, the Concourse Steakhouse, and also the monorail station. Disney's monorail actually travels through The Contemporary on the way to the Magic Kingdom and two other Disney resort hotels. At the top of the Contemporary is the California Grill, which features California inspired cuisine, and offers great panoramic views of the Seven Seas Lagoon and the Magic Kingdom nightly fireworks show.
Traveling by car to The Contemporary can be a bit of a hassle, as you have to go through the Magic Kingdom parking gate then through Contemporary security checkpoint, where you may have to answer as to why you are visiting the resort if not staying as a guest.
Architect: Welton Becket
Building Type: Other
Date Built: 1971
City building is located in: Lake Buena Vista, FL
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