Here we are on our ELEVENTH Disney World Hotel post! For our 4th of July trip we snagged an evening at Bay Lake Tower at Disney's Contemporary Resort for only $289. Had we booked through Disney's website instead of renting Disney Vacation Club points we would have paid $762.75, whoa! 

 Now back to the Contemporary Resort! 

Our stay was on July 3rd which is a very popular day to be at Magic Kingdom because they do one of their two Fourth of July fireworks shows. Magic Kingdom does 4th fireworks on the 3rd and 4th while EPCOT does their special fireworks only on the 4th. This makes most people choose to see Magic Kingdom's fireworks on the 3rd and EPCOT on the 4th, which was our game plan as well.

We were extra excited to stay at Bay Lake Tower for a couple reasons. First because they had Extended Evening Theme Park Hours at Magic Kingdom that night so we were able to enjoy shorter lines for 2 hours after official park close and another opportunity to join the Virtual Queue and ride TRON Lightcycle / Run. The second was the fact that you can walk to and from Magic Kingdom from the Contemporary Resort. This meant we didn't have to wait in crazy lines for a bus (if we were at a different resort) or the monorail. We did use the monorail once on the way back to the hotel for lunch because there was no line.

I don't usually go to Disney in the Summer becasue it is so hot and sticky but since we were already going to be down in Florida for a family trip with Christian's Mom we HAD to tack on a Disney trip, ha ha. Our plan was to spend the hotter hours of the day back at our hotel or in air conditioning. So for July 3rd we spent a lot of our day at the Contemporary Resort, but not as much as we planned because of the way Virtual Queues worked out for us.

Transportation

Monorail

Many guests stay at the Contemporary Resort because of the convenience of the Monorail. It is the quickest way to get to Magic Kingdom and EPCOT. You can also visit any of the other Monorail Resorts (Disney's Polynesian Resort and Disney's Grand Floridian Resort & Spa) this way.

If you're heading to EPCOT and want to start your monorail journey at the Contemporary stop you'll have to switch monorails at the Ticket and Transportation Center.

Buses

Buses are the only way (besides rideshare or driving) to get to Hollywood Studios and Animal Kingdom. There are no buses to EPCOT or Magic Kingdom because you can use the monorail. However, if the monorail goes down they will provide buses as an alternative.

Walking

Dining

Steakhouse 71

Steakhouse 71 is one of my favorite spots, mostly because they have one of the best appetizers - Sea Salt-dusted Potato Brioche.... YUM! They also have what many call the best burger on property: The Stack Burger. I must agree it is delicious and is currently Christian's favorite burger. I have dined here for lunch and dinner multiple times and always have a great time. I even went by myself solely for the brioche. I sat by myself and enjoyed both rolls with a nice cold Coca Cola. One day we'll try breakfast, just haven't found the perfect time yet, planning park days and restaurants is like a puzzle.

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The theming of this restaurant is really fun becasue it shows some of the history of the Walt Disney World Resort. There are old photos of Walt during the construction along the walls and some pretty murals. Be sure to walk around and check it all out! The 71 in the name is to celebrate the opening of Magic Kingdom and Disney’s Contemporary Resort in 1971.

 

California Grill

Christian and I had one of our favorite restaurant experiences here in March 2023. It was during the 50th anniversary celebration so they had a special menu. We will have to go again to try the new menu! At $89 a person it’s pricey, but the experience, fireworks and food made it feel worth it.  It is a Disney Signature Dining experience so you will be expected to dress the part - try not to wear your "park clothes."

 

California Grill is located on the 15th floor of the Contemporary Resort with panoramic views of the lagoon, Magic Kingdom and even EPCOT from some tables. If you are dining during fireworks they dim the lights in the restaurant and play the music so you can watch the fireworks while you eat. If you don't have a window seat you can get up from your table and go out to the observation deck to watch the fireworks and go back in to complete your meal after.

Currently they are only open for dinner, but in the past you could have a breakfast or lunch reservation and head back up to the restaurant to view the nightly Magic Kingdom fireworks as long as you had your receipt as proof. We'll see if they bring back other meal times as an option.

 

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Chef Mickey's

One of the more popular restaurants on Disney property because it is a great way to meet Mickey Mouse and friends without having a theme park ticket! This is a character dining buffet so you can eat your heart out while meeting your favorite characters. They are currently open for breakfast and dinner. We have not dined here yet because Christian isn't big on character meals and I'd rather try others first.

 

Contempo Cafe

This is the hotel's quick service location where you can grab easy breakfasts, lunches and dinners. We did not eat here on this trip, but on a solo "resort hopping" day last year I grabbed a fruit cup as a snack.

 

Bars/Snacks

The resort also has a few bars and snack locations:  Contemporary Grounds for coffee/pastry/smoothies,  Cove Bar private pool bar/lounge at Bay Lake Tower, The Sand Bar pool bar for drinks and snacks and Outer Rim cocktail bar within the main building. Since we only stayed one night we didn't partake in any of these lounges (we also don't drink so we would have just tried snacks.)

 

Recreation

Pools

We are not pool people on our Disney trips but the Contemporary has a Feature Pool and then a quieter Bay Lake Pool where loud noises and splashing are discouraged. The feature pool has a 17-foot-high, curving waterslide!

Activities

The Contemporary also has a lot of other recreation activities for those who want to spend more time at the hotel. There's an arcade, community hall for crafting and other activities, playgrounds and running trails. You can also play volleyball or tennis and even rent bikes! Take part in evening campfires and make some s'mores. Don't forget about Movies Under the Stars where they will show a Disney movie outside.

 

Main Building

The main building of the Contemporary Resort is iconic. It opened along with Magic Kingdom in 1971 and contains all the amazing restaurants, some gift shops and even a convention center!  To make it even cooler, the monorail drives right through it! 

 

Another iconic part of the hotel is the Mary Blair Grand Canyon mural. Mary is a Disney legend responsible for many beautiful pieces of Disney concept art as well as the It's a Small World ride theming. Make sure to look for the 5 legged goat which symbolized the idea that nothing man-made is perfect.

At Christmas-time this resort is one of the few that get a Gingerbread creation! I had the pleasure of meeting the chef in charge of the 2019 display.

 

Bay Lake Tower

We stayed at Bay Lake Tower on this trip which is the DVC building connected by a sky walkway. Our room was on the first floor and we have a view of the water as well as the main building. The main building rooms are themed with The Incredibles but these DVC rooms are Mickey themed.

View from room

View from Room

Walkway from Bay Lake Tower to the main building of the Contemporary Resort

 

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I did it. I ran a 5K even though I hate running. This is what happens when you love Disney Theme Parks and want to experience all they have to offer. At the beginning of this year my friend Caleb convinced me to do a 5K during runDisney Wine & Dine Half Marathon Weekend - he ran the half marathon. We booked our hotels in February by renting DVC points. Because we were splitting the room we splurged on the Villas at Disney's Grand Floridian Resort & Spa for one night and Disney's Polynesian Villas & Bungalows for three nights.

Super delayed post, incoming! Ha ha. After our last trip in September 2022 (when our annual passes expired) we said we were going to "take a year off" Disney. Fast forward to March when Christian had to go to Orlando for work and they offered to fly me down too so we could do a day at Disney before he had to work (they know I'm obsessed.) We flew with Avelo airlines and discovered how easy it was to fly from New Haven vs Hartford so Christian "joked" that we should just take random trips to Disney on the weekend with the $50 and under flights. 

Next my friend convinced me to do the Wine & Dine 5K this November so we planned on doing that as a quick weekend trip with minimal park days. THEN when annual passes went back on sale in April Christian and I said screw it, bought them and planned a Labor Day weekend trip the same day. So technically we did take a year off official Disney trips, just not all of 2023. Finally, I have a December trip planned so Christian can see Disney decorated for the holidays! That trip is still up in the air as I may have a conflict for the days we booked (I have a backup hotel booked for a couple weekends later, but we'll see.)

TLDR; Christian and I weren't going to go to Disney this year, but then we threw that out the window and planned 3 trips from September - December, haha! Technically we did take a year off, our last official trip was September 2022. 

I was recently introduced to Day Owl, a sustainable company that makes bags out of recycled plastic bottles and other landfill-bound materials. In each product description you can see what sustainable materials were used to create it. Christian has been really into backpacks lately, researching pros and cons for hours, so he was excited to be able to test this out as well!

They sent me "The Backpack" which is made from waxed canvas made from 25 recycled post-consumer plastic bottles, plus 100% recycled polyester lining and trim, algae based foam, water repellent neoprene, and conflict-free metal YKK zippers. It has 18L of space, can fit up to a 16in laptop and a 750mL water bottle in a side pocket. There's even a pocket on top where you can store your phone or keys for easy access. (They also have a Slim Backpack if you want a smaller option.) Day Owl also sent over their Pouch for storing cords, electronic accessories and other small items. You can buy The Backpack + The Pouch together for only $156.40!

Packed with some room to spare for a couple souvenirs

Let's use the Day Owl backpack and see what we can pack for a weekend at Walt Disney World! The bag is technically a little big to use as an Avelo personal item measurement-wise, but I may risk it! I read they don't always check the size as long as it looks like it will fit under the seat. It will definitely work for Southwest, which we fly with pretty frequently. 

It fit everything I need to bring with me for our 4 days (5 if you count our departure day.) My plane outfit is jeans, a tee, sandals and a sweater that I probably won't even need. I always like to have a sweater in case the evenings get cold. I packed pretty light - 3 tees (I may buy one there,) 2 pairs of shorts, another pair of sandals and my small Mickey bag to carry around the parks. I also fit in my toiletries, makeup, other necessities and packed up The Pouch with my various charging accessories, small portable charger and airpods.

Packing for a long weekend at Disney in a backpack [Mickey tie-dye shirt, Sword in the Stone Tee, EPCOT Food & Wine 2022 Tee]

Bottle Pocket - using for an extra pair of sandals

Flat Front Pocket. Putting my toiletries in for easy access at security.

The Pouch

The Pouch full of phone and watch accessories. Still room to spare!

Two more things to add, easy fit!

There is a space for a laptop in the back but, since this is such a short trip, I won't be bringing mine.  As seen above, I used the water bottle pocket on the side for my extra pair of shoes since I won't need a water bottle. Pretty handy! I also won't be using the luggage strap this trip, but that is another super handy feature!

Spill-Resistant Bottle Pocket lined with water-repellent neoprene (this is an 18oz Yeti Rambler)

“it’s big enough for a wine bottle and strong enough for a wet umbrella.”

Padded Laptop Pocket (fits up to 16" laptop)

Luggage Strap

Organized Interior

Cord Straps

Various sleeves for organization

Grab handles with button closure for easy pickup

Floating Top Pocket for glasses, chapstick, etc! (my slim sunglasses storage case)

 *I was gifted the backpack & pouch but was not required to post about it. Purchases made through links in this post will earn me a small commission. My opinions are my own. *

Photo fun at the California Tunnel Tree.

Earlier this year, my husband and I went to California for a week. It was my first time visiting so I had a lot of places to check off. Our trip started with a day in Los Angeles, a day at Universal Studios Hollywood, two days at Disneyland and our last 3 days was spent visiting a couple National Parks.  It was the end of April, meaning there was lots of melting snow creating rivers on the paths. While the parks are certainly less busy this time of year, and not boiling hot, there's more of a chance of certain areas being closed due to road conditions. That was true of many of the areas we would have visited had there been more time to explore.

Now that I've shared my few quick tips for a Disneyland trip, here are all the tasty treats and meals we had on our trip! Since we only had 2 days and 3 nights we had to be very strategic about where we ate. While I would have loved to do 3 sit-down meals a day to try as much food as possible we also wanted to prioritize all the rides that we don't have over in Disney World.  

Disneyland Eats

Disneyland Popcorn Carts

 

Mickey Beignets

Normally the Mickey-shaped Beignets with powdered sugar are found at Mint Julep Bar but it is currently closed to make way for Tiana's Restaurant so we picked ours up at their temporary location - Hungry Bear Restaurant. They're messy, but oh so good! The perfect snack to have while you sit in the shade and rest. I wish Disney World had the Mickey beignets in-park too so we didn't have to take a special trip over to Port Orleans Resort - French Quarter.

Cafe Orleans

When choosing our Disneyland sit-down restaurant we were torn between Cafe Orleans and Blue Bayou. Blue Bayou is definitely the more popular of the two, but it's also more expensive so we opted for Cafe Orleans because the menus are very similar. I really enjoyed it, especially sitting outside with a nice breeze. 

I had the Roasted Chicken and a Mint Julep while Christian & Caleb had the Battered & Fried Monte Cristo. Caleb had the Triple Cheese version and Christian went for the classic.

 

My Ratatouille Dooney & Bourke bag featuring Remy & Emile was ready for tasty food!

Mint Julep

Battered & Fried Monte Cristo - Sliced Turkey, Ham and Swiss with Seasonal Preserves and choice of Pommes Frites or Petite Salad

Roasted Chicken with Mashed Potatoes, Citron-Orange Salad and Coq Au Vin Jus

 

Ronto Roasters - Galaxy's Edge

A friend had posted about the Meiloorun Juice (Pineapple Juice, Minute Maid Lemonade, with Blueberry, Cranberry Juice, Lemon Juice, and Desert Pear) a couple weeks before our trip so we had to try it out! We picked it up on our way to get our Mickey Beignets. They don't have this in Disney World (at least not yet) so it was fun to try an "exclusive" drink.  It's not my usual flavors but I enjoyed it for a change.

Café Daisy - ToonTown

WE had a super quick snack/lunch at Cafe Daisy on day 1 when my friend Caleb joined us. Christian and I shared the Pepperoni Pizza Flop-Over (Pepperoni, Mozzarella, Provolone with Tomato Sauce) and I stole a Daisy's Goody-Goody Donuts (House-made Mini-Donuts with Cinnamon Sugar) from Caleb. (didn't snag a picture because we ate super fast, ha ha.

Downtown Disney Eats

Naples Ristorante e Bar

 

Disney California Adventure Eats

Jack-Jack Cookie Num Nums - Pixar Pier

One of our favorite eats of the trip was the famous Jack-Jack Cookie Num Num which is a very large chocolate chip cookie served nice and warm. They have these at Disney World as well but we hadn't gotten around to buying one yet. Next trip to Hollywood Studios we'll be grabbing one to see if they're just as good.

Mickey Pretzels

Can't go to Disneyland without getting something Mickey shaped so I needed a Mickey pretzel! Yes, I know I had Mickey beignets too, shh!  I got mine at Pacific Wharf Distribution Co. in Pacific Wharf (soon to be San Fransokyo) next to Pixar Pier.

Corn Dog Castle - Paradise Gardens Park

We were told we had to have an Original Corn Dog (dipped in Corn Batter and fried to a golden Brown served with Cuties® Mandarin or Small Bag of Chips) so we grabbed one for breakfast on day 2 of the trip. Meal times don't matter at Disney, ha ha! 

Disney California Adventure Food & Wine Festival

We're spoiled by EPCOT's food festivals so both of us were a little disappointed in the DCA Food & Wine Festival. I don't like cheese and almost everything on the menus had cheese, so the only thing I got was the Celebration Chocolate Fudge Brownie (Gooey Chocolate Brownie with Pecans, topped with Chocolate Pecan Glaze and finished with Chocolate Pearls and Silver Stars.) Christian got the Carbonara-Garlic Mac & Cheese with Nueske’s Peppered Bacon from the Garlic Kissed booth and loved it. Sadly he was disappointed by the Kenny’s Family Cheesecake topped with mixed berry compote from the Berry Patch booth.

Lamplight Lounge - Pixar Pier

I was very excited to eat at Lamplight Lounge but ended up disappointed.The restaurant is full of Pixar memorabilia on the inside and the outside has a beautiful view of Pixar Pier. Unfortunately we got seated at a shared raised rectangular table in the middle of the patio with a view of the people across the table from us. If we had known we would have asked to wait for a single table. The way we were seated, all next to one another, made it impossible to talk while eating, someone was always left out. The service was also pretty slow.

However, Christian and Caleb did enjoy their meals. They got the Kung Pao Bao and Al Pastor Pork Chop, respectively as well as the Donuts, a special cookies & cream version for the Food & Wine Festival. My Roasted Chicken wasn't as satisfactory, especially after the roast chicken I had the previous evening at Cafe Orleans. It lacked flavor even though it looked like it would be loaded with it.  I would maybe try eating here again but request a normal table and try the pork.

Al Pastor Pork Chop - Marinated Al Pastor Bone-in Pork Chop, Oaxaca Cheese Polenta, Pineapple Relish, Charred Onions, Roasted Red Chili Butter and Green Chili Sauce

Kung Pao-glazed crispy Pork Belly, soft Bao Bun, Red Peppers, toasted Peanuts and Green Onions

Ale and Citrus-brined, Dry-rubbed Half Chicken with Seasoned Couscous, Pickled Red Cabbage and Smoked Almond Romesco

Warm fluffy Donuts with cookies & cream dipping sauce