(2014-2020) Disney's GRAND FLORIDIAN RESORT & SPA + VILLAS Information & Questions

[DisneyTwins5thBDay]

Could someone please explain the following question for me? I don't understand why someone would want to spend $300-$500 (or more) US dollars per night on a deluxe room "just for the experience", when they could save a ton of money on a value or moderate resort, for the same experience? I've stayed off-property (which I will never do again) and I've also stayed on-property many times, and I find that if I stay in either a value or moderate resort, I think I would get the same immersion as in a deluxe. That is not to say that one day I'd love to stay in the Grand Floridian, Wilderness Lodge, or Boardwalk, but that'll have to wait until I win the lottery. What is your reasoning behind spending so much money on a hotel room?

Location, location, location... and enough room for 5 people.

 

[Parker Clan]

ose based on the experience and budget that fits our needs and tastes and I do not feel the need to compare it to someone else's vacation decision.

Couldn't have said it better myself! We do the same thing. To each their own

 

[trishadono]

This is something I missed in my research. Is this something you can reserve? Is it mentioned on the first page? Thanks.

It is available to book in the Disney dining section. Hours usually like 2-5pm except sometimes Tu and Th they start at 12. We did the 12p this trip and called it lunch.

There was a plate of tea sandwiches too. The cheese plate was $17 extra. For $ 35 you got tea, sandwiches, and 2 dessert options. The plate of scones is one option. The pastries and chocolate covered strawberry was our 2nd choice.

We do this every year and is a nice hour to sit and enjoy gf especially when not staying there and miss it. You can get dressed up,or casual too.

Garden view tea room or sometimes just tea at the grand Floridian .

 

[GPC0321]

Yep you will be spoiled staying at GF! After many years of thinking the GF wasn't for us, we finally stayed there last March and absolutely fell in love with it. We felt completely opposite of how we thought we would. Since this is your first deluxe, you won't be able to compare it to the other deluxes, but I have a feeling the GF will set the bar pretty high for the other deluxe resorts! Have fun!

I know. I feel like I've already been there because I've watched so many videos and looked at so many pictures. But I've honestly never stepped foot on the resort (well, I've ridden through on the monorail loop, obviously). When we were there last Easter, I just remember every time we got off the bus at MK and were walking to the entrance, I'd stare longingly over at the Grand Floridian and comment on how pretty it looked and how I wanted to stay there some day. And now that is actually going to happen!

I do want to stay at the Boardwalk someday and Animal Kingdom Lodge. Those both look like a lot of fun to me.

 

[GPC0321]

Had our usual mom and me tea at the GVTR
View attachment 217085View attachment 217088 View attachment 217086View attachment 217090 View attachment 217089

Gosh, I have got to work tea time in when we go. We're only there three nights, and it's going to be fairly packed, but I want to do this sooooo badly. I'm thinking we can swing it on arrival day. Does it fill you up? Seems like a decent amount of food.

 

[Grace&Carolinesmom]

Parker Clan Hey--looks like we are going to be at the Grand at the same time How are you doing on the planning? I am stalking the Disney website for the August park hours to be released so that I can plan our itinerary. I so wish they would release park hours 9 months ahead for early planners Also waiting on SW to publish flights which looks to be on Feb 23....sigh

 

[DizDaD7]

@TJA you are not kidding! Our first stay at the GF came about this way. We booked CBR in late May for an October stay. In late August I got a call from someone in guest relations....due to maintenance issues, they would like to move us to the GF for only $100 more. My response, I don't want to spend an extra $700, they said "no, that's not per night, that's in total." Great marketing idea...we've stayed at the Grand 5 times now. Once you get a taste, it is hard not to go back.

Tom

LoL. This is me exactly...But the only difference is that as DVC, I'll be using all my points because I'm in fear that we'll go--> for this place.......A good dilemma to have for sure.

 

[Parker Clan]

Parker Clan Hey--looks like we are going to be at the Grand at the same time How are you doing on the planning? I am stalking the Disney website for the August park hours to be released so that I can plan our itinerary. I so wish they would release park hours 9 months ahead for early planners Also waiting on SW to publish flights which looks to be on Feb 23....sigh

Hi there!
I am anxiously awaiting our ADR day too! I saw this link posted on a thread on the Dis which is supposedly the same as the official Disney website
https://media.disneywebcontent.com/StaticFiles/ParkHours/WDW_TAC_2017Aug.pdf
Ugh on the flights, that is so annoying!
We still need to finalize our itinerary and ADR's.. Something to keep us busy on the long wait til 180. We are at 203 days.
Happy planning!!

 

[MaryLovesPoohBear]

Could someone please explain the following question for me? I don't understand why someone would want to spend $300-$500 (or more) US dollars per night on a deluxe room "just for the experience", when they could save a ton of money on a value or moderate resort, for the same experience? I've stayed off-property (which I will never do again) and I've also stayed on-property many times, and I find that if I stay in either a value or moderate resort, I think I would get the same immersion as in a deluxe. That is not to say that one day I'd love to stay in the Grand Floridian, Wilderness Lodge, or Boardwalk, but that'll have to wait until I win the lottery. What is your reasoning behind spending so much money on a hotel room?

As others have said, location, location, location.

Each person or family decides what is important to them. For our family, it is important to have inside hallways and transportation that isn't always a bus. Available table service at my resort is also a nice perk.

As a side note, our last trip we did what is commonly called a split stay. We were at the Floridian and at French Quarter. When we returned from our trip, my husband told me, "No more mods. Okay."

 

[dan40]

Thank you all for your kind replies about why you'd pick a Deluxe over a Value or Moderate! I really liked the comment from Lisann, who said, "one man's $500 is another man's $5000". That is entirely true! I guess I'll have to save up my pennies, dimes, nickels, and quarters to get to a Deluxe some day.

 

[Grace&Carolinesmom]

Hi there!
I am anxiously awaiting our ADR day too! I saw this link posted on a thread on the Dis which is supposedly the same as the official Disney website
https://media.disneywebcontent.com/StaticFiles/ParkHours/WDW_TAC_2017Aug.pdf
Ugh on the flights, that is so annoying!
We still need to finalize our itinerary and ADR's.. Something to keep us busy on the long wait til 180. We are at 203 days.
Happy planning!!

Thanks for the link! I printed up the the two pages I needed to start the itinerary. Now.... if I could just get someone to do my vacuuming and cleaning today so that I could concentrate on planning....

 

[DisneyTwins5thBDay]

I know. I feel like I've already been there because I've watched so many videos and looked at so many pictures. But I've honestly never stepped foot on the resort (well, I've ridden through on the monorail loop, obviously). When we were there last Easter, I just remember every time we got off the bus at MK and were walking to the entrance, I'd stare longingly over at the Grand Floridian and comment on how pretty it looked and how I wanted to stay there some day. And now that is actually going to happen!

I do want to stay at the Boardwalk someday and Animal Kingdom Lodge. Those both look like a lot of fun to me.

Good for you! You'll love it!

 

[GinnyBear's_mom]

Can someone please point me in the direction to find info on how kid friendly GF is? Or would love to hear your opinions. We booked a week in early August 2017 using the Military discount yesterday. My husband is deployed and when I was able to tell him where we were booked for his welcome home trip he said he didn't want to stay at GF because it is "not kid friendly". So my travel agent called to book the Poly with the Military discount and it was booked. (it was available yesterday) So I need some info to help convince him that GF will be great for our 6 and 10 year old. Thanks so much for your help!!

We've stayed here 3 times and our kids love it! We have 3 children - a 2 yr old son and 2 daughters 5 & 8. We treated my family on our last trip to some of our VGF DVC points, my nephews who are 8 & 9 came along and they fell in love with the resort as well. They've all repeatedly asked when we can go back and ask for GF by name . My kids and nephews have stayed at between 3-5 different Disney resorts each and this is by far their favorite (even beating out all star movies and art of animation suites which both have great kid friendly theming). They practically drool when they see the Disney commercial featuring the Grand on TV.

The 2 pools are great and the slide is one of my favorites at Disney. Some of the activities the kids really liked- roasting marshmallows outside, making sand castles, sitting in the lobby and listening to the band play, shopping in the stores (basin is their favorite, we let them buy a bath bomb on each trip and some Mickey bars of soap to take home), renting the boats, taking part in the pirate adventure which leaves from the dock, watching fireworks from our room or the beach, taking the boat to MK and being on the monorail line (on non-park days they ask to ride the monorail around!).

We have both walked and taken the monorail to the Poly during each visit because we like that resort as well. But the GF definitely isn't stuffy and there are tons of activities for kids. Good luck with your decision!

 

[Avery&Todd]

We stayed at the GF last summer (our first time at GF) and had the BEST time - and the best room - an "Outer building, Garden view, Deluxe Room" - it had 2 queens and a flip down couch for our 2nd son. Does anyone know if the flip down couch was a "standard" size and all flip down couches in all of the deluxe hotels would be the same size or are they smaller/larger?

It fit him great and we loved having the turret area with the 2nd tv which gave us a ton more room and with 2 (very large) teenage boys we need all the extra room we can get.

I was specifically looking at either the Poly, Contemporary or Yacht Club..

THANKS!!

 

[DizDaD7]

Thank you all for your kind replies about why you'd pick a Deluxe over a Value or Moderate! I really liked the comment from Lisann, who said, "one man's $500 is another man's $5000". That is entirely true! I guess I'll have to save up my pennies, dimes, nickels, and quarters to get to a Deluxe some day.

I'm not so sure it was meant like that....It's basically some people(Me included) don't have as much as others so that has to last as long as someone with more $$$.

If I had the money to spend like that then it would mean I'd be down there several times a year at a deluxe....So we did the next best thing...We bought DVC, which allows us to afford what we would have never would've.

 

[Lovinallthingsdisney]

Had our usual mom and me tea at the GVTR
View attachment 217085View attachment 217088 View attachment 217086View attachment 217090 View attachment 217089

One of our favorite "traditions" too!

 

[WishesQueen]

Good Morning All!!

Just returned from our first adult only trip to WDW!! The weather was amazing, a cool in the morning and nights but nothing a sweater and loafers couldn't take care of. We tried for the first time in years an EPCOT hotel (Yachtsman) and although it was very nice we found ourselves 2 of the 4 days back at the GF. First day was planned for drinks and dinner and the last night we just couldn't stop ourselves...lol lol!! Need to go to Mizner's quick and see Cindy and the princess do their thing before go to EPCOT for dinner.

I didn't multi quote of anything because you guys answered everything so well, but their is a difference and for us, with or without the kids I am content to spend much of vacation time at the hotel. I love the parks and love our favorite rides and restaurants, but we could easily spend time just at the bar, pool or lobby and not feel like we were wasting precious vacation time. I bounced back for late May with the kids and my DH is already saying he wants to bounce back in October at the GF just adults again. Which is another question we get asked too often....How could you go to Disney again??? Aren't you tired of that place??? I absolutely hate having to answer that question!!!

Have a great day my GF friends, I am sure to be hanging around to hear about all the trips coming and past.

BTW - My kids are big now, but they ALWAYS loved the GF. I have a boy and girl, its child friendly with lots of activities. We even say activities on the lawn this week by the courtyard pool which I never saw before.

 

[DisneyTwins5thBDay]

Location, location, location... and enough room for 5 people.

Ugh! Wrong countdown, trying again!

 

[trishadono]

Gosh, I have got to work tea time in when we go. We're only there three nights, and it's going to be fairly packed, but I want to do this sooooo badly. I'm thinking we can swing it on arrival day. Does it fill you up? Seems like a decent amount of food.

We have to take some in a to go container, yep its filling!

You get a whole pot each of tea too!

 

[WishesQueen]

Good Morning my Grand friends!!

Very quiet around here...where is everyone??? At the Grand?


Getting excited for May and hopefully a bounce back for October. Hope everyone is having a Grand Monday!!