Photos & Review: Contemporary’s Hit & Miss Makeover
Contemporary Resort’s overhauled “Incredibles Injection” guest rooms have started to debut and it has debuted up its lobby reimagining. This review share photos and our thoughts on Walt Disney World’s latest hotel upgrades, how they compare to the old ones, and other recent redesigns to Deluxe Resorts.
Let’s start by quickly recapping what’s happening with Disney’s Contemporary Resort. This was actually the first Deluxe Resort to reopen at Walt Disney World last summer, with many guests being relocated to it since their chosen hotels were closed. That became even more common as resort reopenings were delayed due to lack of demand or refurbishment projects elsewhere.
As other Deluxe Resorts came back online, Walt Disney World quietly began moving guests from the Contemporary to other resorts for stays early this year through Fall 2021. Then came the official announcement from Walt Disney World that the A-Frame Tower of Disney’s Contemporary Resort would take its guest rooms out of commission in phases for room overhauls. That announcement was followed up with confirmation of the long-rumored Incredibles Injection, plus an overhaul to the lobby inspired by Walt Disney World history.
The target date for completion of these projects at Disney’s Contemporary Resort was late last month, shortly before the start of Walt Disney World’s 50th Anniversary. We began to suspect work might be behind schedule about a month ago, noticing a sudden spike in construction contractor vehicles and workers around the resort. Inside the Grand Canyon Concourse, there was much more visible activity than in any of the prior months, suggesting a race against the clock.
Even though the lobby is finished and some (many? most?) of the Incredibles rooms have reopened, construction continues. In addition to hearing and seeing this for ourselves, we’ve also been told stories by several others who have stayed at the Contemporary in the last two weeks and have heard construction at early/late hours, been directly adjacent to work-in-progress rooms, or even found themselves assigned to a room that hasn’t been totally completed. Just something to consider if you’ve booked one of these non-discounted rooms for $802 per night (and up) in the coming weeks.
You can tell we’re off to a great start already!
Per Walt Disney World, the Incredibles-inspired guest rooms at Disney’s Contemporary Resort feature characters including Jack-Jack, Frozone, and Edna Mode, plus a Monorail motif and retro-modern aesthetic evoking Tomorrowland.
That’s more or less accurate. While Walt Disney World indicated the rooms would feature a “dash of something Incredible,” that was probably just an irresistible pun. If anything, these are Incredibles rooms with a dash of retro-modern and monorails.
Walt Disney World offered a pretty thorough photo tour of the Incredibles rooms back when they were announced, so this wasn’t exactly our first exposure to the redesign.
Upon seeing the sneak peek images, we were cautiously optimistic.
My take at the time was that these aren’t my favorite rooms ever, but the preview photos made them look like a Disney-meets-contemporary room design.
These photos made the new rooms appear bright and airy, and balance an array of colors without looking overly busy. The swooping lines and stylization are clean and evoke a mid-century modern aesthetic. The integration of characters is a bit more than I’d like to see, but it’s fairly tasteful and at least some of those details are “hidden.” Again, this is all from the photos posted by Walt Disney World.
After seeing the Incredibles rooms in person, I’m a little less positive.
While the rooms are lighter and brighter with a crisp look and mid-century modern aesthetic, they also look cheap.
Whereas other new rooms have used a variety of textures and higher-end finishings to convey quality alongside the character infusions, the new rooms at the Contemporary are really lacking in that regard.
From the flooring to the furniture to the surfaces, these rooms simply feel and look lower end. I’m not saying they’re Pop Century quality, but they’re also not on par with the Riviera or Polynesian, which thread the character-meets-quality needle far better than the Contemporary.
Although a lot of the character components are hidden, I don’t think those do these rooms any favors. There’s a sense that the details have been reserved for these stickers (or whatever they are).
That would be more forgivable in a cheaper room–or in a pricey room like this where there’s actual sophistication and quality elsewhere. For rooms being sold at luxury price-points, they don’t look like it. There’s simply no polish.
My ultimate problem with the Incredibles rooms is that a lot of the stylization is one-dimensional. The look falls flat, because it is flat.
The rooms are also lacking in subtlety, and are arguably tacky.
I’m not against integrating characters into Walt Disney World hotel rooms, even on the higher end. That’s one of Disney’s few options for differentiating itself from real world competitors, and justifying ever-increasing price points.
However, my view is that characters either need to be subtle and cleverly-integrated aspects of otherwise upscale designs or over-the-top character themed rooms. This is in no man’s land, between those two extremes in a way that’s neither going to appeal to people who want sophistication nor full character immersion.
The new rooms at the Contemporary also feel smaller. At first I thought this was all in my head–it’s the same space, just redesigned. And that’s largely true.
However, this archway has been added in front of the balcony for some reason, and it presumably does eat up a bit of space.
On a positive note, I think most guests are going to view the bathrooms as an upgrade.
The sinks are more practical, the visually-busy design has been decluttered, the mirror is fun–even the ceiling looks better.
There are versions of this bathroom with walk-in showers and bathtubs. I’m unsure of the allocation, but that’s pretty consistent with other hotel rooms around Walt Disney World.
I’d personally prefer less overtly Incredibles art, but perhaps that’s just me. Otherwise, we’d call these bathrooms a nice upgrade over their predecessor.
Above is the old room and current Garden Wing room until those are similarly renovated. I’m not going to claim this was anything special–it could’ve passed for a generic Hilton or Hyatt–but I thought it was perfectly fine.
I assume Walt Disney World has survey data indicating that guests want lighter, brighter rooms that are more “Disney,” so I’m not going to question the motivation for making the change. Nevertheless, I think the execution misses the mark. I’d add that none of this even addresses the biggest issue with the Contemporary, which is the cluttered, dated and discordant Grand Canyon Concourse.
Moving outside the guest room, there’s also new artwork and carpet in guest corridors that features the Incredibles.
This mostly looks fine; I don’t have strong opinions on it one way or the other.
One thing I really do like is this art across from the elevators in the hallway.
The team behind the redesign should’ve put this at the center of their mood board or whatever. It’s exactly what I envision as the perfect Incredibles-inspired mid-century modern redesign of the Contemporary–something subtle that weaves the characters into tasteful and appropriate design styles.
Continuing on that positive note, let’s head down to the lobby.
This has seen its own refresh with a new collection of modern art pieces as well as historical, behind-the-scenes photographs of Disney’s Contemporary Resort in development and under construction.
If you compare before and after photos, nothing significant has changed to the layout of the lobby. The space has been opened up a bit and there’s new decor and furniture, but that’s about it.
And yet, this makes a world of difference.
The Contemporary’s new lobby looks exceptional.
Our hope prior to seeing the finished product was that the Contemporary would emulate Disneyland Hotel, as the latter’s use of nostalgia and mid-century modern stylization is pitch-perfect.
That’s exactly what Walt Disney World has done.
The Contemporary Resort’s lobby now has personality. Instead of looking like a vaguely modern design from the last decade, it now is imbued with a sharp mid-century modern style.
That style is further punctuated with Mary Blair-designed visuals that not only offer a nod to the history of Walt Disney World, but just flat out look fantastic. The art really makes the lobby pop, and is a great first impression for guests to what was previously a very subdued space.
This marriage of a timeless modern aesthetic along with distinctly Disney art and decor makes for a winning combination. This is the perfect rebuttal to all of the talk about how the Contemporary is a conceptually-flawed hotel (a variation of the Tomorrowland problem) that cannot be “fixed.” Yes, it can–and here’s how!
The furniture, lighting, concept art, historic photos–all of it–is perfect. I cannot say enough positive things about what Disney did here.
So much of this is relatively simple and not a dramatic departure from what was here before, but it makes such a stronger first impression. (Even though we visit Contemporary regularly–including a couple of weeks before the lobby renovations began–I had to consult photos of the old lobby to refresh my recollection as to how it looked. Suffice to say, very forgettable.)
I also love that Mary Blair is featured so prominently in this design. Her art is truly what makes the difference, and it’s a testament that–even decades later–her unique unique creative style and visual identity can still resonate.
My sincere hope is that the lobby is simply a trial run for grandiose plans for the Grand Canyon Concourse. (Maybe Disney wants to see how regular guests react to this before proceeding?)
My ultimate opinion on the Contemporary’s overhaul is complicated and unsettled. It’s nice that the hotel is seeing long overdue love, and the lobby looks absolutely fantastic. If it really is a preview of what’s to come in the Grand Canyon Concourse, this will be a fantastic overhaul on balance. If such an overhaul comes to fruition, I can completely forgive and overlook all other components of this project. Unfortunately, there’s not yet any indication Disney intends to do anything with the Grand Canyon Concourse, which continues to befuddle me since that’s so overdue.
As for the Incredibles rooms, they’re okay. I’m not bothered by the character integration in theory, but I do think the execution is sloppy and doesn’t really excel at either of the things it’s presumably trying to do. As a character-themed room, it feels weak and uninspired. As an upscale hotel room, it’s over the top and unsophisticated. Maybe–hopefully–the target audience (whoever that is) will disagree with my perspective, though. I guess we shall see.
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YOUR THOUGHTS
What do you think of the new Incredibles-inspired rooms at Disney’s Contemporary Resort? Are these appropriately luxurious and/or character-centric? Disappointed that nothing was announced for the Grand Canyon Concourse? Still hopeful that the GCC will receive an overhaul akin to the lobby? Or do you fear that it’ll get one more in line with the Incredibles room? Have you stayed at the Contemporary in the last few years? Do you think the resort is dated and tired, or still has a contemporary atmosphere? Think the Grand Canyon Concourse, guest rooms, or both need(ed) an overhaul? Do you agree or disagree with our assessment? Other thoughts or concerns? Any questions we can help you answer? Hearing your feedback–even when you disagree with us–is both interesting to us and helpful to other readers, so please share your thoughts below in the comments!
The Contemporary was on our Disney bucket list for our trip in 2022. I’m sad that I didn’t we didn’t stay there on an earlier trip before the refurb. While hate is a strong word, I really, really, REALLY do not like the new look. Disney-in-your-face isn’t so bad in a Value resort; it’s expected there. It shouldn’t be in your face in an expensive Deluxe resort. But I wouldn’t stay there even if it was a Value. I can understand the allure for boys who get tired of all the Disney princess theming, but these rooms are awful. The Contemporary was always criticized for being too sterile; yet now they’ve upped the notch on that a lot.
I don’t see the monorail influence in the room at all. I do like the bathrooms except for the artwork. Nothing creepier than sitting on a toilet with a bunch of eyes staring at you. Yuck! Hard pass!
Thanks for your review. I LOVE the new lobby! It is so much better than the last rendition of mid century modern with the clean lines and art. I haven’t seen the rooms up close and in person but being of the age where I lived through mid century modern for real I have to say I think Disney hit it out of the park with the design. They kept the lines stark and simple which was the design element of that time and added Incredibles theming in surprising spaces as not to interfere with simple lines. The couch and side table reminds me of my grandma’s who had a spot on mid century modern house. All in all I like it MUCH better than the previous 2 designs for guest rooms at the Contemporary.
Love the Incredibles movies. The overall aesthetic in the movies from visuals to music gives such a sleek “Aren’t the 60s cool?” vibe. These rooms do not in any way achieve that effect. Wasteful use of IP. This looks more like an attempted offsite Incredibles themed AirBnB, but in that case $800 would get you the week instead of just a single night. Hard pass.
The furniture in those revamped rooms look like it’s straight out of a Rooms-To-Go showroom. Cheap.
If they really wanted to add an Incredibles building to Art of Animation, they should have just done that instead.
Feels like you just don’t like Incredibles honestly. I think they did a good job with this, and as a person who loves the monorail I’m 100% on board. I think the two ideas go together perfectly. It’s a shame to hear the furnishings are poor quality, but I love the way it looks overall.
But then I wasn’t super crazy about the Moana rooms which so many people loved (found the color palette too muted for my taste, given how bright and rich the Moana movies are). So it’s all personal taste.
The fact they’re even doing themed rooms again is, in my view, a hugely positive development.
I can’t speak to the redesign because we stayed at Contemporary for the first and only time last Christmas. We were on the first floor in the garden wing and adored the decor of the room. But we were highly displeased with the noise coming from upstairs rooms all night. I don’t recall ever hearing another soul when we stayed at Poly! Anyway, we eventually complained and were moved to a different room. At that price point, the rooms should feel quiet, secluded, and well-appointed, with no crazy theming. There are plenty of over-the-top themed hotels to pick from. We were also terribly disappointed in the pool deck last Christmas. It is in need of repair badly! With peeling and chipped paint and uneven bricks, it was downright dangerous.
“Where…is…my….super…suit!?!?” Please tell me you shouted this when checking out the wardrobe! 🙂 Completely agree, the rooms are really underwhelming in general, other than the bathroom. The lobby however is blow away and right on point!
As an adult with no kids, I really don’t need or want Disney characters in my hotel. While I’m attracted to the retro modern design of the Contemporary, I would never stay there now.
FYI…The pre-registration for the DAS program started yesterday -Tuesday ( Oct. 12th) with the video chat and able to pick 2 rides each day from the genie + list (not the top 2 rides in each park). Program starts on October 19th.
I grew up in the 50’s and was in college during the early 70’s. I hate mid-century modern. I also don’t like Mary Blair designs. But I love the monorail going through the building . If I had $802. I would stay there.
I think a survey is in order. What do those who don’t like the Incredibles guest rooms feel about the movies? Starting at the beginning (before they undeservedly end up living in a mansion) they live lower middle class with tiny cars outside to everything cheap plastic inside. Super heroes yes, rich ones like Tony Stark, no way. So to match the Contemporary at it’s price point to a movie or movie series, it should have been done Tony Stark’s Avengers style. As the pictures show, most of the ‘characters’ are hidden in or behind stuff. Easily ignorable. The little big out & about is basically pops of color which is much better than today’s gray on gray with lots of white that won’t stay white.
Tom, thanks for the pictures of both ends of the bathtub & the info on accessibility. That was FAST. 🙂
We thought the new lobby looked great last week. It is a much needed improvement! We are still mourning the loss of Steakhouse 55 but at least we feel some of the Disneyland Hotel vibe has moved east. There was also a gorgeous floral display including five tall contemporary vases filled with magenta orchids and orange birds of paradise on a side console near Tom’s first photo. The lobby is getting some love! The rooms look awful. I stayed in them years ago as a kid on a family trip. I have fun memories of the hotel including my little brother’s look of horror and despair as the elevator doors closed on him separating him from us but I don’t need to book those rooms at any price!
When we are at Contemporary, we always stay at Bay Lake Tower, and hopefully they will not change those rooms to the Incredibles theme. We were there just last week, and I was absolutely BLOWN AWAY by the lobby. I spent a good 30 minutes taking pictures of it late one night. We are getting ready to move into our new house, and this lobby reminds me of the decor we selected for our mid-century modern design! I really hope they extend this theme to the Grand Canyon Concourse area because right now it reminds me of a 1990 arcade.
As much as the Contemporary cost I would think it would be more of a classier place. I have stayed at that hotel about 12 times and loved it the way it was but it did need upgraded.
I have no issue with subtle character integrations into deluxe resorts, but these rooms felt too much for me even from the official Disney images that were released.
Personally, I would have much rather they leaned into the monorail theming over the Incredibles theming. That was the intriguing part to me. Or, better yet, the Mary Blair theming from the lobby redesign. Tie the entire resort together with, I don’t know, Contemporary art!
I keep hoping Disney will realize that characters do not equal theming but we aren’t quite there yet.
Tom, as always, your photos are gorgeous. Wow, that lobby!! The furniture strikes a perfect balance between modern quality and retro silhouettes and color palette. I feel like true WDW geeks would have been more excited for similarly Mary Blair-themed rooms than for these Incredibles influences. Coming at a time when nostalgia should reign, the lobby art is striking all the right notes. I don’t think the Incredibles touches are over the top enough to wow casual fans, so Disney may as well have leaned into a theme that long-time Disney World enthusiasts feel more connected to. I think there is also a big opportunity right now for Disney to engage young people with stories of the strong women who shaped iconic parks and film experiences. My daughter loved seeing so much of Mary Blair in the “Behind the Attractions” episode on “It’s a Small World.” (She was equally offended that there was no mention of Alice Davis’s heroic efforts on the attractions’ costumes.) I’m not feeling compelled to stay in a Contemporary room, but can’t wait to visit the lobby and eat at Steakhouse 71!
I love the lobby, too bad they didn’t continue that aesthetic into the Guest rooms. I do not like the Incredibles theme at all. I agree, the rooms look so much smaller with that archway by the sliding doors. It looks a lot more like a value resort room, I think I actually prefer that design! The Contemporary is a big convention hotel, not sure the Incredibles will be appealing to convention attendees. I think it’s a huge miss.
“if you’ve booked one of these non-discounted rooms for $802 per night (and up) in the coming weeks.”
Wow. Maybe getting folks to pay that rack rate is part of the “incredible” injection, because that is truly unbelievable.
Looking at the stickers throughout the room made me think of how they papered over the creepy clown pool vs. creating something w/ depth.
Criticism aside, I’m still bending over backwards to squeeze a MK day into our upcoming UO trip b/c I’m a sucker for the Disney parks. At least I know I’m a sucker :-).
I think it looks great overall. The rooms, through picture, look nice but seems to be lost in translation when you are there in person. The lobby is gorgeous!! I love midcentury modern so this just does it for me. It always felt like a giant convention center to me so I’m so happy to see it get some love as well.