The History of the Contemporary Resort!

Did you know that the Contemporary's modular construction was supposed to be the building style of the future?
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You see, back in the late 1960s when Disney was gearing up to build Walt Disney World, they looked to partner with a number of companies for both financial and operational help. This was before the era in which Disney tried to do everything by itself.
That's where US Steel comes in. A few years prior, the company was accused of price gouging by President Kennedy and as a result they had what you would call and image problem.
So the two companies made a deal. US Steel would pay around 50 million dollars to build two of the first hotels on Walt Disney World property. They would own the building while Disney would own the land it was on, and Disney would continue to lease out the land to US Steel as well as run the hotels.
US Steel, or more specifically, their subsidiary American Bridge, thought this would be a fantastic showcase of what they called modular construction, which they thought would be the construction technique of the future.
The technique called for building an empty frame on site, and then building all of the rooms for the hotel in a factory. Each room would have it’s own floor, walls and ceiling, and then the completed room would be shipped off to the site, slipped into the frame and permanently secured.
US Steel thought this would not only be quicker and cheaper, but it would help with noise and heating since every room would have it’s own set of walls. If one team were on-site building the frame while another team was at a factory working on the rooms, you’d be able to, in theory, build the hotel twice as fast.
So US Steel got to work and built a factory 3 miles away from the site of the Contemporary, and by the time they were running at full speed, they were able to manufacture 40 rooms a week.
More often than not, the four and half ton rooms wouldn’t easily fit into the frame as designed, and would have to be refitted, adding time and cost to the project. US Steel originally estimated that each room would cost 17 thousand dollars, but in the end each room ended up costing around 100 thousand dollars.
On top of that, in order to keep the A-frame building from falling off balance, they had to alternate between sides when adding the rooms, just to keep the weight of the hotel even.
The monorail was also an issue. Originally the plans called for the monorail to run through the center of the hotel, but the engineers weren’t able to properly design the building to offset all of the vibrations the monorail would cause. Ultimately they settled with running it off to the side of center, and had to anchor the monorail to the ground instead of the building.
Ultimately the hotel ended up being a construction mess. Disney had to fly in six carpet layers who would rush to add carpet to the 1.5 million square feet of the hotels floor. This team often ended up sleeping in the very rooms they were carpeting to stay close to the job, and would sometimes work up to 16 hour days!
The night before opening day, the hotel was still weeks behind schedule. Disney had already decided that the rooms would not be ready for guests, and the hotel would open later on, however the exterior still needed to look presentable.
So with less than 24 hours before the crowds and press would arrive to cover the opening, Disney ordered four and half acres of sod, and literally anyone on site, from construction workers to executives in suits were called upon to help lay down the sod so that the landscaping outside the hotel would look finished.
And it worked! That morning, even though it ultimately wasn’t, the Contemporary Hotel looked finished. Modular construction would never catch on as the wave of the future, but Disney’s Polynesian Resort, also built by US Steel, would also use the technique. The technique still exists today, but isn’t as widely used as some would have hoped.

[@deadzedcomics]

actually in the case of cruise ships this method works very well, on modern cruise ships they build each cabin separately and then install the completed sleeping cabins during the fitting out process.

[@cwdefouw]

Just some additional information... The warehouse/factory where they built the rooms was near where Port Orleans is today, but not exactly on that site. it was north and a little east of that location, a little less than 3/4 of a mile Northeast from the central buildings at Riverside. The building still exists today, between Bonnet Creek Pkwy and Vista Blvd. If you look at the Yesterland article on the Contemporary there is a photo of the outside of the room construction facility. A close examination of any of the mapping sites aerial photos shows that the building still exists at, 3335 Bonnet Creek Parkway, Lake Buena Vista, FL 32830. Cool!

[@theutopianoutopioan464]

Disney's Contemporary Resort is basically an example of the futuristic utopianism that was prevalent in the mid 20th century. People thought we'd have rotating space stations and cities on the Moon and Mars! People also thought there'd be towns under the ocean, and that we'd have robotic slaves, teleportation, wormholes, flying cars, etc. And Disney got in on the action by building the Contemporary Resort and future themed attractions like, space mountain, Innoventions, Disney Horizons, half of EPCOT, and CommuniCore. These attractions show Disney's enthusiasm for the future that still exists today somewhat ( as evidenced by the Disney shows ' Miles from Tomorrowland' and it's spinoff series ' Mission Force One ' ) I admire Disney's utopianism for the future, Despite the predictions not coming true. The Contemporary Resort is a great example of that. The rooms are nice and the main building has the monorail traveling right through it often! Just about the only downside of the Contemporary Resort at Disney world are the room rates, often between $680- $1000 per night! The latter price is more than what most people pay in rent or mortgage!

[@lupevelazquez8138]

The contemtpory resort is my favorite due to it's futuristic design, even though I don't go to it a lot since it's expensive.

[@juliaea2012]

i always love hearing the story about the contemporary on opening day, it really makes you think and realize no one is above or below anyone in theory

[@StorytellerStudios]

Interesting video. I believe modular construction is still quite popular in the ship building business- especially cruise ships.

[@sfjay777]

Hey Rob 👋🏻 A suggestion: Many Disney world fans love their hotels 🏨. Why not create a hotel series in which you do a short video on each of the hotels and any history on their themes and side stories? Just a suggestion for more content for those of us that like to listen to your stories. Thanks 🙏🏻 😀

[@Adven4U1]

I'd LOVE that.

[@dwellspompano]

Great history lesson. I knew much of the Contemporaray story, but I didn't know the Polynesian used a similar process.

[@HistoryUnwound]

I was expecting the full history of the hotel, and not just the construction of it. For example, Richard Nixon's famous "I'm not a Crook" speech was given in one of the conference rooms within Disney World's Contemporary Resort Hotel.

[@MikeFuryTech]

Didn't the Beatles disband in there also?

[@MikeFuryTech]

@Michael Dolan what was at the polynesian?

[@bedazzled64]

@@MikeFuryTech The dissolution of the Beatles happened at the Polynesian. John Lennon was vacationing there and they brought the papers to him at the hotel. He was the last Beatle to sign the papers that officially ended the band.

[@gregdreisewerd5438]

I think cruise ships might use this type of construction now to save them time in dry dock

[@Eblank3218]

That funhaus shirt

[@lilliandonaldson8121]

Great episode as always. Quite the info on the landscaping! Nothing stressful there!

[@RCassinello]

At around the same time, US Steel built the Court of Flags resort in Orlando (near to where Universal Studios is now). Later the Delta Court of Flags, then eventually Delta Orlando Resort, it was a fantastic hotel - We spent every Florida holiday there in the early 90s! www.bigfloridacountry.com/courtofflags/cof/hdelta.html

[@DisneyMarkUK]

Great video, we stayed there last week and this fun stuff is interesting to know 👍🏽

[@thenormanator9379]

Most to not all of the prisons built today in the United States are built using Modular Construction. They can make the concrete more strong by pouring it in a large open space and then stacking them rather than pouring the concrete in place which can leave weak points

[@theutopianoutopioan464]

TheNormanator, That's because jails and prisons are meant to be as depressing as possible, and escape needs to be made almost impossible!

[@jamesestes809]

Though this constuction technique did not work for the Contemporary Hotel at Disney World it did in San Antonio for a Hilton Paseo del Rio Hotel built in 1967 for Himisfair, San Antonios Worlds Fair. Zackery Constuction built a world class Hotel in 200 days flat hellacraneing each room in place with everything including the towles in place. It made the Guiness Book of World records for its speed of constuction.

[@JCole78]

It's kinda funny that it wasn't actually open when the park opened. when they aired the grand opening special Bob Hope did a segment from the lobby, and it was presented as being open. Just goes to show that you really shouldn't believe what you see on TV.

[@saabrailfan310]

Nice, did not know everything about this hotel! I olny know US Steel builded this...

[@vteknique]

Great channel man

[@colormedubious4747]

In the late 1970s and early 1980s, Texas A&M used the stacking method to build several modular dorms. Zachry (iirc) built the rooms near San Antonio and shipped them to College Station (about 2 hours by road). They were held together by the plumbing and advanced adhesives, then the buildings were clad with brick. When new, they were among the most desired dorms on campus (mainly due to the fact that each room had its own bathroom instead of sharing a bath with another room). They were also spacious enough that, when A&M overbooked itself into a housing shortage, residents of these normally double rooms were tripled up. I have no idea how well these dorms have aged (my guess would be "not as well as the Contemporary").

[@silvio2372]

Very interesting.Nice vid.

[@wdisneyw71]

Nice episode. Thanks.

[@madelinedittmer2995]

This hair cut, I like it, ANOTHER

[@lilliandonaldson8121]

Any episodes on the construction of the Animal Kingdom Lodges and the various details and reps inside? Or what about the evolving night shows at Epcot through the years.

[@Novusod]

The contemporary hotel was also built in what is called the "Brutalist style." en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_brutalist_structures Brutal is not the first word most people normally associate with Disney. Perhaps is the brutal legacy of US steel rubbing off on Disney.

[@tutituuuu]

Rob Plays That Game Hey Rob, i'm a big fan of disney old rides, especially epcot ones (Horizons, Body Wars, Captain EO...). And maybe you could make a series of videos talking about all the former atractions at Walt Disney World!! (Sorry for the bad english, i'm brazilian :/)

[@MidwaytoMainStreet]

Tutituuu Great idea! Especially considering how big of a Horizons fan I am! :D

[@THEGrammaChronicles]

Very interesting

[@bricebokesch]

How about a did you know monorail system? Or did you know downtown Disney?

[@MidwaytoMainStreet]

Brice Bokesch Definitely want to do a DYKD on Downtown Disney/Pleasure island! :)

[@pupprinateacup660]

Did you know Disney's Grand Floridian Resort & spa or Did you know space mountain?

[@bricebokesch]

I'll be there in 19 more days!!

[@Eblank3218]

Nice just went to disney for my first time yesterday

[@Brydude87]

4 years later, how did it go?

[@drdewott9154]

I mean I've seen modular construction with my own eyes though on a much smaller scale project. You see, back when I was in around 6th grade the school I was attending at that time had decided to build a new building to house 2 new classrooms and guess how it was gonna be made? Modular exactly. A bottom frame was made, cemented to the ground and soon after that 5 containers came by truck which in the end would become the building structure. They just needed to be lined up and insulated. And kaboom kapow! They now had 2 new classrooms

[@bonniehazelwood7274]

DrDewott and

[@rct3isepic]

So rob have you seen the stuff that was just announced about shanghai Disneyland? And what are your thoughts on it?

[@TheMinerZ3]

Hey rob your q&a's and did you knows really make me want to learn more about walt disney, the disney company, and all its ceos and i was wondering if you knew any books like biographies or disney history books or documentaries that are good to read/watch. Thanks and have a magical day!!!

[@MidwaytoMainStreet]

Ragnarok Productions Oh definitely! For Walt's biography, I suggest Walt Disney: An American Original by Bob Thomas (and Building a Company by Bob Thomas for Roy's biography). For the construction of Disney World I suggest Realityland by David Koenig. Finally, for the Eisner era I highly suggest Disney War by James B Stewart. There are plenty of more books, but I think those are great foundations. Enjoy!

[@Nohesenbeaureg]

Make some videos about the Disney Cruise Line

[@ZmanPMC]

Rob, what are your thoughts about the new Shanghai Disneyland plans? Specifically the Tron ride

[@AJCrown111]

Oh man! is that a Funhaus shirt!?

[@MidwaytoMainStreet]

AJCrown111 D-d-d-d-d- DEMO DISK!

[@PatoSwag]

Yes

[@joetantillo3731]

Rob Plays That Game do you have a funhaus shirt on?

[@TheZakimus]

Joe Tantillo that's the first thing I noticed

[@amy_soucy]

Funny, I think of concrete not steel when I look at the contemporary.

[@WilliamSchmidNetwork]

Awesome to see a Pittsburgh company helping make Walt’s dream come true. #PittsburghInnovation

[@ElementofKindness]

How could they ever have had the monorail go through the center? Like, uh, right through the elevator shafts?!?!?! Does that mean the elevator shafts were to be offset at some point? When was the decision to offset the monorail made? Because the elevator shafts were the first thing constructed, and they were centered all along.

[@robbiefarabee6954]

Could you do a did you know Disney about Roger Rabbit?

[@matheusbonini8106]

Hey Rob! Why don't you do a Did You Know Disney episode about the original MGM Studios/early Hollywood Studios park era? It would be cool to see how the park has been developed throughout the years (also knowing that Hollywood Studios is now going for a big reboot). Thanks !

[@MidwaytoMainStreet]

Matheus Machado I have something similar on the list of topics to cover! Definitely want to do a DYKD on the MGM/Disney partnership.

[@philrabe910]

Did you know that when they went to renovate the Contemporary, they wanted to slide out the old rooms, but they had frozen or rusted into place.

[@chartle1]

that's sort of an urban legend where they could update the rooms overnight by bringing in a crane. Yes the room modules slide in but they were never meant to slide out without major demolition on the outside. I've even had a Cast Member tell me that they were told this at orientation.

[@chainsawbarbarian]

If you ever want to work on a vid about Freemason symbols all over Disneyland....please let me know, haha! its more fun than Hidden Mickeys!!

[@FuchsiaMuffin]

Wow...... Lol, why you must plan a lot before making a mistake....

[@RussellD11]

I wonder how much those hotels would sell for by themselves today? I wouldn't think each one would go for more the $50 Million today would you? So that must have been a very generous offer IMO

[@REVW196]

Yeah I was at the contemporary last year and they kept having problems with their plumbing I guess the place is showing it's age .. @ ye old Tempo Bay ..

[@loranddeka]

I wonder what happened to United Steel after this fiasco. Was this the final nail in the coffin? Or did they rebuild their reputation in spite of this and the price gouging accusation.

[@Kodachrome40]

After Roy bought the 2 hotels he died.

[@w98forever]

is that a rune and a steel pickaxe on your wall?

[@MidwaytoMainStreet]

Yup! That was from back when I did some Minecraft videos as well.

[@w98forever]

i thought they were runescape items.

[@solweiser]

Ships use this technique

[@HD4amian]

What microphone does Rob use ? ;o

[@MidwaytoMainStreet]

HD4amian I use a Blue Yeti, which has worked well over the years!

[@HD4amian]

Rob Plays That Game Ah thanks Rob, just one more question, which stand do you use ? :P

[@MidwaytoMainStreet]

I use a Rode PSA1 studio arm along with a a generic pop filter.

[@HD4amian]

Ok thank you Rob ;)

[@danielmullins9953]

+Rob Plays That Game is that a Fun Haus t shirt?

[@Lordylbc]

Wow what a disaster hotel

[@FM7Studios]

Rob What do you think The Disney Company would be like if Walt was still alive and what do you think the parks would look like if Walt was still managing them?

[@MidwaytoMainStreet]

Fluffy Mailman7 Honestly, I don't think most of the parks would exist if he was still in charge. Walt was not a fan of doing the same thing over, and he felt that Disneyland was THE themepark. The Magic Kingdom was planned for Disney World, but that was more of a financial source to meant to draw people to, and to fund EPCOT (the city). So I guess if he were in charge I imagine the parks would just be MK and Disneyland.

[@MrCrazyProject]

37th view!