A Grand Vacation: The 2012 Grand Floridian FAQ!

[bethclayton]

JoBird, I want to thank you for your honest opinions on this thread. I stayed there last April and shared similar opinions on here about the construction (in a nutshell, i thought it was ridiculous and was shocked at how obtrusive it was). And I am most certainly a fellow GF lover.

If I am understanding correctly, the situation is even worse than I realized, as it looks from pictures that the area with the hammocks is completely gone forever? I had no idea. When I visited it was just blocked off.

While I hope to visit again I do not think things will ever be the same there.

 

[JoBird]

So just so I understand this right (we haven't been since last Feb) the area right across from the main building, closer to BPK, where the hammocks were that was covered with sand is completly gone??? Or am I missing something? I think that may be a deal breaker for us as my kids LOVE the sand.

Where the hammocks used to be, is now the Alice Splash pad. As of December when we were there, blue walls were behind it that blocked beach access, so there was no sand and no hammocks right now. It might return later but for now, no sand.

In the first picture here http://www.diszine.com/content/new-...sh-pad-open-at-disneys-grand-floridian-resort
you can see the walls a little.

Holycow! That is just crazy... It wasn't like that in the beginning when they had the beach pool bar taken apart. I saw pictures and the sand looked fine. I wonder why Disney made the bone head move of removing the beach on the resort side. Then on top of that they don't mention it in any construction listings......

I'm guessing they blocked the beach bc of DVC access? IDK. It's all so close together now, all squished in with the walls blocking it. I'm hopeful that once they finish the outside of the DVC portion they will somehow make more beach with sand bc that is what my kids loved.

JoBird, I want to thank you for your honest opinions on this thread. I stayed there last April and shared similar opinions on here about the construction (in a nutshell, i thought it was ridiculous and was shocked at how obtrusive it was). And I am most certainly a fellow GF lover.

If I am understanding correctly, the situation is even worse than I realized, as it looks from pictures that the area with the hammocks is completely gone forever? I had no idea. When I visited it was just blocked off.

While I hope to visit again I do not think things will ever be the same there.

Thanks. I think maybe people who have stayed before would understand but for first timers, they might be ok? IDK.
I'm not sure about the sand being gone from there forever. IDK what they would have to do to make a beach beyond where the Splash pad is now. Surely they will do something to bring back the beach, even if it's just a bit of it. It's just taking a long dang time to do it.

 

[glovergirls]

WOW!!!!! Thank you so much for clarifying that, I am total shock, I didn't realize that was where the splash pad went. I completly missed that. That was the most relaxing area my kids would play in the sand and while we relaxed in the hammock. So sad, I'm so glad I know this ahead of time as I would have been really bummed to find out when we arrived . Thanks you so much, I really appreciate it!!!

I am going to have to think long at hard on what to do. But with it as expensive as the GF is (even with a discount) I'm just not sure it's worth it ((( I think I'm more sad then anything because my family had never even considered another resort before. I think we will prob switch to BC or YC.

 

[JoBird]

You are very welcome! As I said, I wanted everyone to know fully my opinions on it. Before we went, I couldn't understand how it could be right there, but it is.

I think it's a terrible placement for the Splash Pad. It's too close to the Main building, and it took over what I thought was one of the best parts of the GF-the hammocks and sand.

Maybe one day the sand will return, but that area and the wonderful peaceful feeling it evoked is long gone I'm afraid.

Good luck in your decison with the resort.

 

[JoBird]

Okay one more picture before I enjoy my Friday evening...

This was a post from Dec 23 - check out the first picture-

http://disboards.com/showpost.php?p=46979423&postcount=226


Hope that shows it to you a little better.

Have a good night everyone! Happy planning, and changing and rearranging to you.

 

[Chrisrokc]

So it is basically like this minus the splash pad? Red being the walls...

 

[CaliforniaDreaming]

So it is basically like this minus the splash pad? Red being the walls...

Roughly, yes. I don't recall it being that imposing on Big Pine Key, there may actually be a small strip of beach left. It's been a couple months since I've been down so my memory is a little fuzzy.

 

[glovergirls]

Have a great weekend!!! Can't thank you guys enough!!

 

[bethclayton]

i feel like when it is all done, when you are anywhere on the beach pool side of the resort, you are going to have this big imposing building looming over you. i really hope i'm wrong.

 

[Momof2Disneyboys]

Here are a few pics from last month that may help you all understand a little better...

This is where the beach entrance by the pool used to be.

I took this one from about half way up the stairs to the slide, looking back towards the GF.

And the walls extend over by the pool bar, so no beach access there.

And the walls extend the whole way along the new Alice in Wonderland splash area.

Just no beach access at all. I knew there was construction and walls before we went, but no idea it was so much and that there was no beach access at all. As much as we liked our room and our stay there, I would not stay there again until the walls come down and hopefully there is beach access again.


There are even more pics in my GF review here ~ http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=3035236


Hope that helps.

 

[JoBird]

Thank you so much Shelly! I knew I could count on you!

Your pictures are perfect for everyone to visualize how it actually looks with the walls.

The one picture you took from the stairs of the slide is a great one. It looks like there is sand behind the walls, and at some point they will open it back up. Seems to be taking such a long time though.

Hoping that it hurries up and is finished soon.

Thanks again for posting them.

 

[autumnpalm]

Thank you so much to all of those who have posted recent and honest reviews of the construction at the Grand Floridian.

I am in such a state of conflict with whether to switch our upcoming reservations for late August/September 2012. It has always been our dream to stay at the GF and this trip is a college graduation that has been planned for five years. During every previous trip, during a meal or a visit to the GF, we eagerly anticipated being able to actually stay there for the graduation trip.

Now it is coming up quickly and I am so concerned about the construction. Perhaps I have built this trip up too much in my mind, but we have been anticipating it for so long I don't want to be disappointed by a resort that is just a shell of its former self.

Right now I am considering moving our entire stay to the BC- or even switching the GF for AKL or the Poly.

I know the courtyard pool will be finished by late August, but I am still worried about the DVC building and the beach...

I know how blessed I am that one of my worries is which beautiful Disney resort to stay at but I'm just not sure what to do!

 

[Chrisrokc]

I would bet that all the out side construction on the DVC would be done by Mid Summer. They might still have some walls up, but I would imagine things would look much much better.

 

[JoBird]

Autumnpalm- We will be there almost around the same time. Honestly, at this point, I can only assume that 1) the CY pool will definitely be open, 2) The DVC construction portion will have moved indoors and 3) Hopefully a lot (most) of the walls that are up now will be down with possibly just a small portion of them up nearest to the DVC building itself.

I may have missed you saying it-- what type room are you in? If you request Sago Key, either side, you will be away from construction.
If you are in Outer CL in Sugar, assuming that the CY pool is completed by then, you will not have construction views. Same goes for Conch Key. Any of those would be fine to be in.

Honestly I really am hoping for things to return to a *new* normal at the resort -- everything to be beautiful again, but with a few adjustments by August/September. Otherwise I NEVER would have made reservations there after this last trip.

If it has always been your dream to stay there, and you are arriving at SUCH a slower time, I say keep your reservation. In 2011, when we went the week of Labor Day (we arrived the Thursday before), the resort was only at 45% capacity, and it was wonderful.

If you get there and are not impressed with the Beach Pool area bc there is still construction going on, you can always go to the CY pool. That is what I did during our Sept trip anyway b/c it was less crowded than the Beach Pool.

This past trip just was a perfect storm for us with the CY pool blue walls being up and the Splash pad-Beach pool-DVC construction walls causing it to be so ugly.

I would keep your reservation, for now at least, and keep an eye on this thread for any delays in construction.
AND-- book a spa treatment there. You'll be so happy!

 

[DetTigsGal]

We did not stay at the GF for our Thanksgiving trip because of Gasparillas and CY pool, we stay Sago. ( we did WL CL and had a wonderful experience) Unexpectedly, we are going again 6/25- 7/5...my husband said we are staying GF, right? I mentioned the mess over by dvc and he said I don't care we don't need the beach. So, I guess it's the Grand!

 

[jd99]

Thank you so much to all of those who have posted recent and honest reviews of the construction at the Grand Floridian.

I am in such a state of conflict with whether to switch our upcoming reservations for late August/September 2012. It has always been our dream to stay at the GF and this trip is a college graduation that has been planned for five years. During every previous trip, during a meal or a visit to the GF, we eagerly anticipated being able to actually stay there for the graduation trip.

Now it is coming up quickly and I am so concerned about the construction. Perhaps I have built this trip up too much in my mind, but we have been anticipating it for so long I don't want to be disappointed by a resort that is just a shell of its former self.

Right now I am considering moving our entire stay to the BC- or even switching the GF for AKL or the Poly.

I know the courtyard pool will be finished by late August, but I am still worried about the DVC building and the beach...

I know how blessed I am that one of my worries is which beautiful Disney resort to stay at but I'm just not sure what to do!

We were at the GF in June of last year when construction on DVC was just beginning. Yes it was ugly but the GF did a pretty good job of masking it for the most part. We were back at WDW in November (not at the GF but we went there for dinner) and walked around. I think you will be fine. The construction is truly "off to the side" and is part of the growth that we all mostly embrace at WDW. We were in Sugarloaf last June and really had to go out of our way to notice the construction. We are returning (just DD and I) for a daddy-daughter trip in two weeks and I have the GF booked but I am really a bit concerned because of the Courtyard Pool construction. That area is so pretty it is such a big part of the resort that I fear we are going to miss it a lot. Not worried about the swimming part because it looks like it is going to be cool while we are there. And the GF is where DD wants to stay. I was thinking of switching to BC/YC but she just loves the GF. Sticking with it for the moment but our timeframe to make a change is closing quickly. Bottom line for us I guess is that on a quick 3 day weekend trip we aren't at resort THAT much so to have the feel of the GF that we really love and to be that close to the MK should be enough. I hope.

 

[Chrisrokc]

After talking with my girlfriend, we are sticking to our guns and braving the Grand Floridian. We figure that if we want to head to the pool, we can just head to the big pool (Typhoon Lagoon) on our park hoppers.

 

[dragonfly57005]

DH and I have been debating the timing of a trip this year. We thought about May but aren't sure the construction will be completed. We thought about our traditional Late September/Early Oct timing. now we are leaning towards the January marathon time. DH usually goes by himself for the goofy challenge, but we are leaning towards him running the 5k with our older girls and then the marathon. I think by then all construction will be settled.

I think the dvc will be open by then. Now off to decide if we want to try that or if we would rather stay club level. Not sure.

Trying to keep up on the construction.

 

[nalia]

I really want to thank everyone for their honest opinions and the photos. It really gives me a better sense of what to expect. I think we are going to stick to our Grand plans for now and see how things go over the next month.

We are thinking of upgrading to TPV. Do all of these rooms have unobstructed views? Any particular building we should request for a good view and away from the construction?

 

[MommyGina]

After reading about the courtyard pool and the beach access, I contacted the IPO at the GF. Their response was that the CY pool will be done by February. We'll see. Also, at this point, they don't know if there is going to be any beach access! I find that hard to believe, but you never know. Wanted to keep everyone in the loop.