Walt Disney World, Contemporary Resort Hotel

Designed by Welton Becket and Associates in collaboration with US Steel, this 1,050-room hotel was built with a 14-story A-frame steel structure. Towering 90-foot glass walls supported by the steel frame enclose the end walls of the hotel. Modular guest rooms were assembled, finished, and furnished on the ground, then lifted by crane with their doors locked and inserted into the structure. This idea was to give Disney the ability to rapidly “un-plug” and re-furnish rooms at will. However, complications in the settling of the frame resulted in an unsuccessful realization of the plug-in concept. Becket’s other work at Disney World includes Polynesian Village Resort, which also utilized the modular room concept.

A monorail system links the hotel with other hotels and attractions within Disney World. The monorail enters the hotel at the concourse level, which contains restaurants, lounges, and specialty shops. Another restaurant and cocktail lounge is located at the skyroom level. Beneath the concourse is a grand ballroom and convention hall accommodating up to 2,100 guests. The hotel has three tri-story garden annexes, which extend toward the lagoon.