Hiya, Linda! I'm thrilled you came here as you plan an evening at the Most Magical Place on Earth and one of the most magical resorts. I have an upcoming girls' trip with a few planDisney pals, staying at Bay Lake Tower and cannot tell my kids. Going to
Walt Disney World without them is bad enough, but staying at one of the Contemporary resorts without them... that's next level in their books.
With its dining options, shopping, views and everything so close, this resort is a dream! One of my favorite finds is
Bayview Gifts. When I can't make it to the
Magic Kingdom or want to pick up a sweet souvenir before dashing home, I stop here. Their candy counter has many of the baked goods and other treats you find at the
Main Street Confectionery. Yum!
I totally understand wanting to arrive early and spend time here before your dining reservation. Typically, you are allowed to park about 30 minutes to an hour before your dining time. Resorts, especially those with access to the Disney Monorail, are popular and have high-demand parking. Friends who have gone recently have been given a placard to place on their car's dashboard, indicating a 3-hour parking window.
Although the time limits may put a snag in your plans, you may have options to spend extra time here. If you are staying at a
Disney Resorts Collection hotel or coming from a theme park, you can use
Disney Transportation to arrive as early as you would like. With a resort stay, you also have complimentary parking at the theme parks. You could park at the Transportation & Ticket Center (Magic Kingdom's parking lot) and take the Monorail to the resort.
I hope you enjoy your time at the Most Magical Place on Earth during the most wonderful time of the year! I am excited about the gingerbread house, or rather, Gingerbread Castle. The pastry chefs are magicians!
If you have any other questions, please come back to
planDisney. We'll do our best to help make your vacation plans a dream!
Thinking of the Happiest Things!
Jana