Anyone Else Think The Grand Floridian Isn't So..

[RobinMarie]

My point is no one can do this do you, unless you allow them to. Smile and enjoy yourself.

Amen to that Sammie! You and Eleanore Roosevelt have a lot in common!

I think the Grand Floridian is fabulous and never understand why all the criticism. I love the new themed pool, the atmosphere and lobby! I like to think of the Grand Floridian as the resort the princesses would stay in if they were booking a stay.

I love just sitting in the lobby, listening to the piano player, the floral arrangements, the doorman, the shopping, the carousel horses ... I love it all! I never feel out of place here.

If you don't like Victorian themes, then this place isn't for you. It's my favorite resort, and while we cannot justify the cost every stay, it's a luxury we look forward to!

 

[bytheblood]

I love just sitting in the lobby, listening to the piano player, the floral arrangements, the doorman, the shopping, the carousel horses ... I love it all!

Aaahhhh....this is one of the best things about GF resort.

 

[Yacht Club Guy]

I honestly do not think you are getting any Disney Magic there... The lobby looks very 'Grand' though! If I go to disney, I will stay at a resort that fits my personality better.
( classic, yet magical, yet fun!)

 

[DebbieB]

I've stayed there twice and loved it. I never felt out of place and wasn't dressed up either. I usually make a point to stop there almost every trip just to look around or have a meal. Love the "grand lobby". Now that I own DVC I probaby will not stay there again, the points required are outrageous.

 

[MinnieM21]

I think it really depends upon when your there. I've seen all over these boards different opinions on different resorts. Thats great that you had a great time there and were able to be yourself, however I vividly remember while I was there that one family actually called me a "stupid kid" because I said hello to them while waiting in line with my family to check into the resort. The whole reason I felt like we were treated like "second class citizens" is b/c of the horrible, HORRIBLE service we got, the frowns during dinner that we got, and the odd looks we got. I still can't fathom why though considering we dressed normally for a vacation in my opinion, (Jeans and T-shirts or tank tops, and skirts and blouses for dinners), and didn't exactly go out of our way to bother anyone. I suppose I am just used to other resorts, where people just come up to you when your sitting in the lobby or by the pool and strike up friendly banter and conversations, and that was really absent from the GF for us. I did notice a lot of that being done b/w other strangers however, and most of the talk was about what buisness they owned or what they did for a living. I just remember feeling that that was a bit of an odd conversation toipid for vacation if that helps clarify some things. I do agree that no one can make you feel like a second class citizen unless you allow them to. That being said I suppose it's not that we allowed ourselves to be made to feel like this, but the lack of friendliness and the horrible service we got there, while noticing that other families did not have that problem, made us feel like that.

I'm sorry you if you had a bad visit. I've encountered rude people all over and I don't really think it has to do with the particular resort you stay at. I've met rude people at Disneyland, WDW, where I live and almost every place I've went on vacation but I just ignore them because I'm not going to let them ruin my day. I had a bad experience with dinner one night also at the GFand the waitress was rude. But I know that it's not because of the way I dressed and I didn't let it get to me. Sometimes people are just rude and there is no excuse for that but sometimes people just are and you have to ignore them. My other experience with dinner was great though. Don't let people get to you, just ignore them and enjoy yourself. I'm sorry you had to deal with people who weren't friendly and your stay at the GF wasn't enjoyable.

 

[dsneygirl]

DH and I stayed there last Christmas because my sister was a CM and we used her holiday discount. It was great to stay there once but wouldn't go back. For a deluxe we would far rather stay at WL or BC or AKL.
Nothing really wrong but it didn't blow our socks off.

Little things like the self park being across the street. I know many people don't mind paying for valet but if I'm paying $300 a night for a room I don't want to have to park a mile away.

 

[Kuzco]

We stayed there during the summer of 2002. I personally loved the theming and space. My parents, on the other hand, didn't like the GF at all. They are huge WL fans, so I think they missed the unique themeing. It also just seemed much more busy than the other resorts we've stayed at, I suppose.

We also have some friends that stayed at the GF in early 2002 and weren't impressed either. I just think that some people are expecting much more than they actually get for the price.

I personally loved it, though.

 

[eeyore0062]

If someone had treated me the way you described, I would have gone right over and said, "Hello I am Sammie, do we know each other as I noticed you have been acting like you do".

/QUOTE]


I have to say, I like your style... I will have to remember that!

 

[Jcricket Fan]

I like the victorian theme and the grounds are lovely but the service we received over our 11 day stay was less then we would have hoped for.

Poor service from valet, poor attitudes at check in desk, problems with poor/no housekeeping. I did expect better from a hotel that is touted as the "flagship resort".

The last topping issue was my bed sheet the last night of our stay....it was full of holes! Not a little hole but HOLES that were several inches wide all along the full length of the top of the sheet. What made this even worse was that housekeeping turned the bed down and unless the housekeeper was blind they had to see that this sheet did not belong on someones bed but folded it down anyway. We were in shock! I took photos but with the late hour that we returned to the room and with all the other poor experiences we had and we were checking out in the AM I just slept in the bed and brought the sheet to the lobby in the morning to share it with the desk staff.

For all those who think GF is stuffy you should try standing in their lobby holding a bed sheet! The reactions on peoples faces were priceless! I made sure to show it to anyone who asked about it.

The front desk called for the housekeeping manager who promptly told me that the sheet "belonged in the rag bag"! NICE.

As I have said, for our stay consistant GOOD service was lacking so in spite of the beauty of the hotel and grounds, Disney offers several other resorts that we found the service to be much better in. I understand many people have nothing but positive experiences at the GF but this was a first time trip for my mom and I was embarrassed that this was what the GF had to offer during our visit.

We most recently have stayed at BCV and we can't imagine staying anywhere else at this point but we continue to visit the GF and love to have tea at the lounge or breakfast at 1900 Park Fare we just won't stay over again.

Colleen

 

[RobinMarie]

DH and I stayed there last Christmas because my sister was a CM and we used her holiday discount. It was great to stay there once but wouldn't go back. For a deluxe we would far rather stay at WL or BC or AKL.
Nothing really wrong but it didn't blow our socks off.

Little things like the self park being across the street. I know many people don't mind paying for valet but if I'm paying $300 a night for a room I don't want to have to park a mile away.

I have to say that I agree about this issue. During my first stay in 1990, parking across the street wasn't the case. I believe because of the unusual circumstances they should not charge for valet at all here.

 

[Cinderella37]

Jcricket Fan,

I felt like I was having deja vu as I was reading your post. This exact thing happened to us in July 2003, our 8th stay in 7 years. The front desk manager actually went to our room to look at the holes in the sheets, the foreign objects on the floor, the filthy balcony; I could go on and on. The problem was that nothing was taken care of and our room continued to be in this condition. This is why we've moved over to the BWI and love it. I'm glad it's not just us.