What Is The Garden Wing at the Contemporary Resort?

The Contemporary Resort is the original Walt Disney World hotel, undoubtedly an icon, and a dream location for many on their vacation to see the mouse. Many dream of being able to walk out of the hotel room door and see the Walt Disney World Monorail whiz by as it glides through the building. That is why it is important to carefully make your reservations here, and avoid the Garden Wing at the Contemporary Resort if you want to be in the Main Tower with the Monorail. 

The Garden Wing at Disney’s Contemporary Resort is a separate building next door to the main A-frame tower that the monorail runs through. The Garden Wing rooms are about a 6 minute walk from the Main Tower via a covered walkway on the ground floor. 

The Garden Wing rooms at the Contemporary Resort are usually about $200 per night cheaper than the Main Tower rooms, though they do come with their own trade-offs as well of course. Keep reading for everything you need to know about staying in the Garden Wing at Disney’s Contemporary Resort including its differences, best rooms, and things to watch out for. 

The Garden Wing at the Contemporary Resort is Totally Separate From the Main Tower Building

The Garden Wing at Disney’s Contemporary Resort, sometimes referred to as the South Garden Wing, is a separate three floor building next door to the Main Tower of the resort which contains all of the dining, shopping, and transportation services. Though it is a separate building, the hotel rooms in the Garden Wing are furnished and laid out in the same style as the rooms in the Main Tower, except for just a couple differences.

What To Be Aware Of When Booking a Garden Wing Room at the Contemporary Resort

• 5-10 Minute walk from the Garden Wing to the Main Tower for food, shopping, park transportation, etc. 
• The Garden Wing building is only three floors high so your room will not be on a high floor like some in the Main Tower. 
• No full balconies on most rooms on the second and third floors. The majority of rooms on these floors have french balconies that open up, but can not be stepped out onto. There are a couple rooms on the end of the building on the second and third floors with full balconies that you could try making a request for with the front desk. 
• Small patios are available on all first floor rooms. 
• The view from the rooms in the Garden Wing can vary. Most are garden view rooms with landscaping views, but some are views of the parking lot, and some are views of Bay Lake and the marina. None of the Garden Wing rooms have theme park views.
• There is a self-service laundry room available in the Garden Wing on the second floor. Cost for laundry is $3 per wash cycle, and $3 per dry cycle; credit cards are accepted. Laundry supplies are sold there as well, and you can monitor your laundry remotely through the on-site service. 
• Because the Garden Wing is slightly out of the way here, it tends to be quieter overall. However, it is right by the boat channel and you can occasionally hear the boat horns, even through closed windows/balcony doors. 
• There are no food or shopping options in the Garden Wing itself (other than vending machines). So you will need to walk next door to the Main Tower should you want or need anything. 

How Long it Takes to Get From The Garden Wing at the Contemporary Resort to Main Tower and to The Magic Kingdom

One of the main reasons people tend to choose to stay at the Contemporary Resort is its ease of transportation to and from the theme parks, especially Magic Kingdom which is within walking distance. Here’s a breakdown of the traveling times from the Garden Wing at the Contemporary Resort: 

• About 6 Minutes (0.3mi walking): Garden Wing to the Main Tower
• About 15 Minutes (0.75mi walking): Garden Wing to the Magic Kingdom via Contemporary Resort walking path

Traveling to Other Parks or Disney Springs from the Garden Wing at the Contemporary Resort

• About 6 Minutes (0.3mi walking) + Time waiting for and riding the Monorail (~30 minutes): Walking from the Garden Wing to the Main Tower, then taking the monorail to the Magic Kingdom or EPCOT
• About 8 Minutes (0.4mi walking) + Time waiting for and riding the Bus (~30 minutes): Walking from the Garden Wing to the Contemporary Bus Stop to get to other theme parks

The Best Rooms In The Garden Wing at the Contemporary Resort

Like all hotels, there are some rooms that are more desirable than others. Whether it’s the view, or the location, or something else, that is important to you. Keep in mind that you can always call the resort front desk in advance of your stay and make a request for a specific room or location. These requests are not guaranteed of course, but Disney tries their best to make them happen.

• Quietest Rooms Closest to Bay Lake, But Away From Boat Noise: Room numbers 6116–6123, 6216–6223, and 6316–6323.
• Rooms with Bay Lake Views, But More Noise From Boats: Room numbers 5128–5151, 5228– 5251, and 5328–5351.
• Rooms with Easy Ground Floor Patio access to the Pools, Playground, and Marina: Room numbers 5105–5125. These rooms are great for families. 
• Rooms to Avoid due to Parking Lot Views: Room numbers that end in the numbers 52 through 70.

Room Types and Average Nightly Cost of the Garden Wing at the Contemporary Resort

The Contemporary Resort is unique in that it has some of the largest standard hotel rooms on property, and is therefore great for families. Most standard rooms here, even in the Garden Wing, average about 400 sq ft total. And unlike the Main Tower at the Contemporary Resort, the Garden Wing has a few different room types to choose from if you decide to stay there. This list covers all available room types, average nightly cost, and room descriptions: 

• Garden Wing – Standard View: Average $500 – $700 nightly. Views of obstructed areas or parking lot; 2 Queen Beds and 1 Day Bed.  
• Garden Wing – Garden View: Average $500 – $800 nightly. Views of gardens, pools, marina, or Bay Lake; 2 Queen Beds and 1 Day Bed. 
• Garden Wing – King: Average $500 – $700 nightly. Views of pool or parking area; 1 King Bed and 1 Day Bed. 
• Garden Wing – Deluxe Room: Average $600 – $900 nightly. A larger size than the standard rooms; views of gardens, pools, marina, or Bay Lake; 1 King Bed and 1 Queen Sleeper Sofa. 
• Garden Wing – Hospitality Suite Access: Average $900 – $1,200 nightly. Views of obstructed areas or parking lot; sleeps up to 7 people. 1 King Bed, 1 Queen Sleeper Sofa, and 1 Day Bed; OR 2 Queen Beds, 1 Queen Sleeper Sofa, and 1 Day Bed. Includes Club Lounge Access.
• Garden Wing – 1 Bedroom Suite Access: Average $1,300 – $1,900 nightly. Views of gardens and Bay Lake; sleeps up to 5 people. 1 King Bed, 1 Queen Sleeper Sofa, and 1 Twin-Size Sleeper Chair. Includes Club Lounge Access.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t40k9dQXHvc&ab_channel=SmartMouseTravel

Garden Wing Suites and Club Lounge Access

If you decide to splurge for either of the Garden Wing Suites that include Club Lounge Access, keep in mind that the lounge is located in the Main Tower building. That means you will need to walk over there and take the elevator up to the 14th floor each time you’d like to visit the lounge. 

Despite Being Next Door to the Main Tower, The Garden Wing Can Still Be a Good Value

Even though staying in the Garden Wing at Disney’s Contemporary Resort means you won’t step out of your hotel room door and see the Monorail right in front of you, it is still magical nonetheless. For many, the cost savings of the Garden Wing is enough of a reason to commit to it over the Main Tower. 
Garden Wing rooms are typically about $200 per night less than staying in the Main Tower. And when you’re talking about an expensive vacation like visiting Disney World, any cost savings is significant. Let me know in the comments below if you have any other questions about the Garden Wing at the Contemporary Resort, or if you plan to stay there next!