If You Are Staying at This Disney Resort Tomorrow You Need to Read This Warning

Disney’s Contemporary Resort holds a specific place in the Walt Disney World hierarchy that goes beyond its status as one of the original hotels that opened alongside the resort in October 1971. The A-frame tower design, the monorail running directly through the building’s Grand Canyon Concourse, the unobstructed views of Magic Kingdom and Bay Lake, and the combination of walking distance access to the Magic Kingdom entrance with monorail connectivity to EPCOT and the other monorail resorts all contribute to a hotel experience that is genuinely difficult to replicate anywhere else on Walt Disney World property. Guests who have stayed there tend to have strong opinions, and those opinions are almost universally positive, keeping the Contemporary at the top of Walt Disney World Resort wish lists for returning guests and first-timers alike.

The monorail access, in particular, is one of the most discussed perks of a Contemporary stay and one that extends well beyond getting to Magic Kingdom quickly. The resort monorail loop connects the Contemporary to Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort and Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort and Spa, creating a three-resort circuit that guests can ride at leisure regardless of which of the three properties they are actually staying at. A monorail resort crawl, stopping at each property to explore the lobby, grab a drink or a meal, and experience the dramatically different theming of each resort, is a Walt Disney World activity that requires nothing beyond a willingness to board the monorail and a few hours of unhurried resort exploration time. It is the kind of experience that defines what staying on Disney property offers over staying offsite, and it is available to any guest who walks through the Contemporary’s doors.

For guests who are at the Contemporary this week, specifically, and who have a resort day planned or were considering the monorail crawl experience during the middle part of the day on June 3 or June 4, there is a specific and practical piece of information worth knowing before settling in for an afternoon at the resort.

The Fire Alarm Testing Schedule

Signs have appeared in the Contemporary Resort’s main building notifying guests of fire alarm testing scheduled on both today, June 3, and June 4. Testing is scheduled between 12:30 p.m. and 3:30 p.m. on both days. During the testing window, guests at the resort may experience strobe light testing and loud ringing tones. Cast Members at the front desk are available to answer questions or provide additional assistance for guests who have concerns about the testing or need support during the scheduled window.

The three-hour testing window falls squarely in the middle of the afternoon, meaning the majority of guests spending the day at the parks will be away from the resort during the scheduled testing and will likely be unaffected. The guests most likely to encounter strobe lighting and noise are those who planned a resort day, those who returned to the hotel in the afternoon for a break from the parks, and guests participating in a monorail resort crawl that brings them through the Contemporary during the 12:30 to 3:30 p.m. window.

For families with young children who nap during the early to mid-afternoon, the testing window is the most practically significant scheduling consideration. A nap scheduled between 12:30 and 3:30 p.m. at the Contemporary on either of these two days is likely to be disrupted by the alarm testing, and parents who know this in advance can adjust their timing, plan to be at the parks or elsewhere during that window, or shift the nap schedule to earlier in the morning or later in the afternoon to avoid the overlap.

What to Do During the Testing Window at Disney

The afternoon timing of the testing actually creates a natural opportunity to take advantage of some of the summer programming that is currently running across Walt Disney World. Cool Kids Summer is in full swing across all four parks, with limited-time experiences designed for families with younger children. At Magic Kingdom, Jessie’s Roundup has taken over The Diamond Horseshoe restaurant with a new limited-time experience featuring Jessie, Woody, Bullseye, and other Toy Story characters for songs, dancing, games, and playful activities. At EPCOT, GoofyCore at CommuniCore Hall offers a dance party with music, games, and Goofy himself.

For guests who want to stay in the monorail resort area without returning to the Contemporary during the testing window, the monorail loop provides easy alternatives. Both the Polynesian Village Resort and the Grand Floridian offer lobby environments, dining options, and resort atmosphere that make for a pleasant afternoon without returning to the main building where the alarm testing is occurring. Kona Cafe at the Polynesian and the various dining options at the Grand Floridian are worth considering as afternoon stops during the window.

The fire alarm testing is scheduled. The hours are 12:30 to 3:30 p.m. on June 3 and June 4. Cast Members at the front desk are available for any questions. For guests who know about it in advance, the impact on the overall Contemporary stay is minimal and easily planned around.