travel united states florida walt disney world resorts contemporary resort

ARCHITECT: DAVID WEXLER (1971)

When I first traveled to Walt Disney World in November of 1973, it was while I was working for WED Enterprises, the architectural arm of Disney.
While working there, we were lodged in the Contemporary Resort... the only time I have stayed there.
The original "A-frame" portion of this hotel, where the monorail travels through the central lobby, was unique because of its architecture.
Because Disney was in a great hurry to get ready for the openig of WDW, the A-frame structure was built first to act like a shoe rack.
The individual rooms were constructed off-site similar to transportable shoe boxes, already finished and furnished to "plug" into the A-frame.

TRAVEL:
1973 - January-stayed
1985 - visited
1986 - visited
1990 - visited
1999 - visited
2006 - visited
2012 - visited
2015 - visited

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This location has earned a five star (excellent) rating for construction methods from
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*****

unless noted otherwise all images copyright d. holmes chamberlin jr architect llc



Arriving from the boat dock, Contemporary Resort, Walt Disney World, Florida, 2015.



Mickey artwork on the grounds, Contemporary Resort, Walt Disney World, Florida, 2015.



Grand Canyon, Contemporary Resort, Walt Disney World, Florida, 2015.



Grand Canyon as it looked in 1971, Contemporary Resort, Walt Disney World, Florida, 1973.



Contempo Cafe in the Grand Canyon, Contemporary Resort, Walt Disney World, Florida, 2015.



My room taken from the balcony, Contemporary Resort, Walt Disney World, Florida, 1973.
Bathroom (rear) featured a sliding mirror that allowed views out through the room to the lake beyond.
This is feature I have used a couple of times in homes I have designed.



Evening view of the lakeshore from my room, Contemporary Resort, Walt Disney World, Florida, 1973.



View of the lakeshore rooms from my balcony, Contemporary Resort, Walt Disney World, Florida, 1973.
In 2015, it looked like this wing had been replaced by the highrise structure seen in the background of the second picture.



Monorail station inside the Grand Canyon, Contemporary Resort, Walt Disney World, Florida, 1973.



Boat dock, Contemporary Resort, Walt Disney World, Florida, 2015.





copyright d. holmes chamberlin jr architect llc
page last revised february 2016