Hotel stays have been part of Disney World from the very beginning. The Contemporary and the Polynesian opened with the rest of the resort on October 1st, 1971. In the last 50+ years, Disney has opened nearly 30 hotels on property in 3 resort categories – Deluxe, Moderate, and Value.

The Monorail INSIDE Contemporary Resort

However, not every Disney World experience can be perfect. In fact, we’ve run into some issues even at Walt Disney World’s most exquisite resorts.

Let’s begin at the Contemporary, one of Walt Disney World’s most famous and most expensive Deluxe Tier Resorts, with prices often hovering close to $800 a night. However, even with those prices — and the perceived benefit that goes along with it — the hotel still falls victim to an issue that plagues many Disney resorts: Thin walls.

Bedroom at Disney’s Contemporary Resort

AJ has dubbed the resort the worst hotel rooms in Disney World to take a nap after a recent stay saw her in a room that was smack dab in between Chef Mickey’s and the pathway to the resort’s pools, meaning that all the noise bled through the walls of her room.

Chef Mickey’s

It’s not just AJ and the Contemporary, however, as we’ve heard countless noise complaints from guests over the years. For example, a guest staying at the Polynesian once shared a story about a malfunctioning exit door that would automatically open every few seconds, which kept their family awake.

Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort

These noise complaints aren’t limited to Deluxe Tier Resorts, however, as we’ve heard similar things about the Moderate and Value Tier resorts as well, with the latter’s “paper-thin walls” and open motel building structures often said to amplify loud noises right into their guest rooms.

Pop Century Room 5161

Issues aren’t isolated to simply noise, however, as several members of our team have a bone to pick with Walt Disney World transportation. Specifically, they find it frustrating that some of the Deluxe Tier Resorts share bus stops with other hotels (Grand Floridian and Polynesian or the Wilderness Lodge and the Contemporary, for example), with the idea being that their arguably exorbitant price points should include direct transportation.

Wilderness Lodge Bus

These are just a few of the issues that crop up at Disney World’s hotels, even the most expensive ones. Stay tuned to DFB for more Disney World hotel takes.

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What’s the most frustrating experience you’ve encountered at a Disney World hotel? Let us know in the comments below.