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A Magical Day at Disney’s Monorail Resorts

Do you want to spend a day outside the Disney Parks, but you aren’t sure exactly what you want to do? One of our favorite non-park day experiences is spending the day at the monorail Resorts. These Resorts include Disney’s Polynesian Resort, Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa, and Disney’s Contemporary Resort.

These three deluxe Disney Resorts make up the monorail loop that takes Guests around Seven Seas Lagoon with stops at the three Resorts and Magic Kingdom. For a magical day, you can enjoy a whole day at these Disney Resorts.

We will look at the dining, shopping, exploring, and more you can experience while visiting these three Disney Resorts. Get ready for a magical day as you enjoy the Disney monorail and the Walt Disney World Resorts.

Ohana Character Breakfast _ disney world _ disney fanatic
credit: Disney

Breakfast

A non-resort day should always start with a fantastic breakfast. Luckily there are numerous options throughout these three Resorts for a great breakfast experience.

Ohana- Disney’s Polynesian Resort

You can start your morning by visiting Lilo and Stitch at ‘Ohana. Located in the Great Ceremonial House at Disney’s Polynesian Resort, this family-style breakfast offers all the favorites. From Stitch waffles to exceptional Hawaiin-flavored items, there is much to enjoy at Ohana for breakfast.

Chef Mickey’s- Disney’s Contemporary Resort

Another popular character meal is Chef Mickey’s at Disney’s Contemporary Resort. Here Guests can hang out with Chef Mickey and his friends while enjoying a classic breakfast buffet. This upbeat, energetic dining experience brings a lot of magic to the day.

Disney Contemporary
Credit: Disney

Exploring

After breakfast, it is time to explore these fantastic Disney Resorts. Start by exploring the Disney Resort, where you ate breakfast. Each of these deluxe Resorts has a unique shop artwork, like the fantastic mural at Disney’s Contemporary Resort that Disney Imagineer Mary Blair created.

Take time to walk around both the indoor areas as well as the outdoor grounds. You can enjoy beautiful views from the beaches of Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa and Disney’s Polynesian Resort. Disney’s Contemporary Resort provides breathtaking views of the Magic Kingdom from multiple areas. Grab a coffee or snack and enjoy taking in these magical views.

Steakhouse 71- Paula Kennedy
credit: Paula Kennedy

Lunch

Just as there are numerous options for breakfast at these three Disney Resorts, there are a handful of great dining locations for lunch. Depending on your preference, you can choose from table service meals or quick service meals.

Contempo Cafe- Disney’s Contemporary Resort

One of our favorite quick-service locations is Contempo Cafe. Located next to Chef Mickey’s Contempo Cafe offers a great selection of entrees and snacks that are perfect for lunch. We enjoy the sandwiches and the flatbread pizzas that we can order. Remember to use mobile ordering, so you don’t have to wait for your food.

Grand Floridian Cafe- Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa

Another favorite dining location for lunch is the Grand Floridian Cafe. This table service location is ideal for a nice, relaxing meal away from the Parks. We love having breakfast items such as Mickey waffles and french toast throughout the day. If you have a burger fan, make sure they try out the lobster burger.

Steakhouse 71- Disney’s Contemporary Resort

If you are looking for a nice sit-down meal for lunch, we would suggest Steakhouse 71 at Disney’s Contemporary Resort. Guests can enjoy classic American favorites while taking in the history of Walt Disney World with artwork and photographs celebrating the opening of the Park in 1971.

If you want to experience Steakhouse 71 but don’t want a whole sit-down experience, consider looking into the lounge. You can enjoy many of the same entrees, a more flexible option.

Disney's Enchanted Rose
Credit: Disney

Lounges

Once you have enjoyed a nice lunch and more time exploring these Walt Disney World Resorts, visit some of the great bars and lounges.

Enchanted Rose- Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa

For an elegant experience, stop by Enchanted Rose at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa. This Beauty and the Beast-themed lounge is enchanting. There are multiple seating areas, including an outdoor patio that overlooks the Resort. This is a beautiful lounge with some fantastic specialty drinks.

Tambu Lounge- Disney’s Polynesian Resort

Looking for some tropical feels? Head to Tambu Lounge at Disney’s Polynesian Resort. Here you can enjoy some fun tropical drinks and small plates from Ohana. We love the Lapu Lapu that is offered here.

California Grill Fireworks
With sweeping views of Magic Kingdom fireworks from atop Disney’s Contemporary Resort, the re-imagined California Grill also features a new design inspired by mid-century modern California, and a new menu showcasing seasonal ingredients and a lighter touch. Known for its stellar wine list, the restaurant now boasts about 250 wine selections, 80 by the glass, an expanded sake list, eight kinds of craft beers and ciders and signature cocktails created by staff mixologists. Disney’s Contemporary Resort is located at Walt Disney World Resort in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. (Kent Phillips, photographer)

Supper

These three Disney Resorts offer top dining options for dinner. Guests can choose from numerous signature dining locations for a beautiful evening.

California Grill- Disney’s Contemporary Resort

One of the top dining locations in all of Walt Disney World is found at Disney’s Contemporary Resort. California Grill is a signature dining location that provides elegant entrees and beautiful views of Magic Kingdom. Time your meal right so you can enjoy the fireworks during your meal.

Citricos- Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa

Guests can dine at the newly reimagined Citricos. With touches from Mary Poppins Returns, this elegant dining location has excellent entrees and beautiful views.

Trader Sam's at Polynesian
Credit: Disney

Evening Drinks

To wrap up your evening at the monorail Resorts, head to Trader Sam’s at Disney’s Polynesian Resort for fun and entertainment. Grab a specialty drink and enjoy all the magic throughout the night.

Having a day outside of Disney Parks can be hard to plan, but it can also be so much fun. During your next Walt Disney World vacation, consider enjoying the monorail Resorts. These three Disney Resorts offer great entertainment, food, and atmosphere that shouldn’t be missed.

 

 

 

Jennifer Retzlaff

Jennifer became a lifelong Disney fan during her first trip to Walt Disney World in 6th grade. From that moment, Disney became a big part of her life. She quickly started to introduce her love of Disney to her family with a Disney honeymoon and then family trips when her youngest was 18 months old. She loves the magic that Disney brings to people through theme parks, cruises, and adventures. As a teacher, she tries to bring Disney magic into her classroom to help kids believe that “If You Can Dream It, You Can Do It.” She is also part of the Magic Vacation Planner team as a personal travel advisor. With this team, she can now help others plan magical vacations. She loves bringing her love to Disney to readers with How to Disney.

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