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

[MUFFYCAT]

Grand? We stayed GF Concierge Main Building last year and wasn't all that crazy about. The room was beutiful and the bed was very comfortable. But the atmosphere was stuffy and non- disney feeling. I got the feeling that people stayed there only because they have to go to WDW because of the kids and they would rather be somewhere else.

I know WDW has different theme hotelS to meet everyone's taste.
But now I know I don't need to try GF again.
I feel more relaxed at the Poly, WL & Yacht. I haven't tried the other ones yet.

 

[newholidayx2]

When we were last at WDW (Oct 04) twice I took the boat from WL to Contemp, walked to MK, boat to GF, walked to Poly, monorail to Contemp and boat back to WL
We love the WL (thats why thats our "home"), I like the Poly 2nd, Contemp for Chef Mickey's and the GF does nothing for me.
But different people like diff themes - the GF just doesnt have the theme for me.

 

[dmslush]

I've never stayed at the GF, but it does appear to have a 'stuffy' feeling about it. It is just so.. I don't know, perfect looking. I have avoided going there for meals because I don't feel like I would be confortable, or maybe I might be slouchy looking or something.

 

[BCV23]

I love it there but can appreciate that the theming isn't for everyone. We feel that way about the Boardwalk area....too busy for our taste. And although WL is beautiful, when we want rustic, we go to a resort in Wisconsin....every year in fact. We do enjoy admiring the lobby on our way to dinner at AP.

Our favorite is the Polynesian however. Last summer, we spent 3 nights at the GF and then 5 I think at the Polynesian. When we first arrived as we drove past the Polynesian on our way to the GF my husband actually whimpered!

But isn't it great that there are so many options at WDW.

 

[kellymouse]

I agree too. I think the rooms are all basically the same at all of the resorts, but the GF didn't feel Disney to me either. It is beautiful, but just not my style. We did think the pool area was very nice and the beach too, but inside its too perfect and just not Disney enough for me.

 

[MAGICinMYHEART]

Over the years the Grand Floridian has grown on me, I'm at a point in life that I would enjoy the luxurious serenity that the resort offers. So I am planning on an adult only stay there soon.

 

[TigrLvsPooh]

I love the GF, but I also love the Poly, YC, and WL. That's the best thing about WDW resorts, everytime you go you feel like you're making a totally different trip. When we look back through old photos it's neat to see all the different themes and styles... I don't think I could ever pick just one. Besides, wouldn't it be boring to stay in the same place everytime?

As far as the GF being stuffy, I wouldn't use that word, I would say classy. But IMO it's not nearly as fancy as a lot of other hotels I can think of. If you travel to big cities like NY, Chicago, LA, etc, you will find hotels that are way more stuffy.

 

[WDWLVR]

I love the Grand Floridian and it will always hold special memories as we had our honeymoon there.

We've sampled everything from All Star Movies up to the Grand Floridian and have enjoyed them all.

Now that we are DVC we love our Boarkwalk home but we still try other resorts as well. That's why I love Disney so much!

 

[Ilovestitch]

I think the Grand Floridian is a beautiful resort, but its not my first choice. I like tropical/island theme resorts like Poly and CBR better.

 

[disneyisfun]

We just stayed there over the holidays and I really believe it was beautiful. However, for the price we payed I could have stayed at the Ritz...I would rather stay at AKL or WL for much less, still deluxe and have more $$ to spend on other things. I am glad we stayed there, but, unless we get a really great rate we probably won't be staying there again.

 

[wdw4us2]

Grand? We stayed GF Concierge Main Building last year and wasn't all that crazy about. The room was beutiful and the bed was very comfortable. But the atmosphere was stuffy and non- disney feeling.

I agree. I have stayed in concierge at AKL, YC, BC and Polynesian and the Grand Floridian was my least favorite because of the reasons mentioned above.

I was so excited about staying there because it was the only Disney resort I had never been a guest of. One time was enough for me.

 

[newcomer52]

I haven't stayed at the GF, but I agree that it is so wonderful that Disney has something for all tastes and budgets. What could be better!! I've enjoyed every resort that I've been at so far and hope to do more.

 

[TammiMcMan]

The Grand is our favorite and we've always had wonderful experiences in the main building. I'm a victorian girl at heart and the theming definitely suits my taste. I love to people watch here too. You can see wedding guests in designer dresses standing alongside folks in their park attire. Neither group looks out of place to me.

I totally agree with the others who've posted about Disney having something for everyone. We recently tried out the Yacht Club, but we're from New England and many of our Cape Cod resorts look just like it. It had a very relaxed feel about it, but I like trying something different. I felt more Disney at the GF simply because I could see Cinderella's castle.

It's hard to get by preconceived opinions though. I have this thing about the Contemporary and the Poly. All they remind me of is the cartoon for the Jetsons and the episode of the Brady Bunch goes to Hawaii. I've heard nice things about both resorts, but I just can't get past my own perceptions.

 

[Davids-Coco]

We stayed at GF for our honeymoon last year and are staying there again this year. We loved it and didn't think it was stuffy... we met the most wonderful peple (CM and guest alike) in the RPC concierge. We also visited a lot of hotels when we were there and just didn't see any other ones that appealed to us for our next visit. WL is just too much like the beautiful old lodges here in Oregon (but not as cozy and warm). And, honestly, Poly was just not up our alley.

But that is the beauty of disney. It hassomething for everyone.

 

[EsmeraldaX]

I've never had any desire to stay there. It's pretty but I'm not crazy about the theming. It's just not me.

 

[Lil_Tink]

Havent been there. .But the Beach and Yacht club autmosphere was bad. They looked down at me and my brother when we got out of the elevator in dry swiminsuits (we had coverups on) walking to the pool wispering stuff

 

[awatt]

We loved the GF and very much felt the Disney atmosphere there i,e when they took Cinerella's pumpkin carriage out for a spin, when we watched the fireworks during dinner at Narcoosee;s where they pipe in the musice,and looking at the castle from our room every night. Staff were very good,and I did not find them stuffy at all. If you think they are stuffy,try me favorite resort The Breakers- LOL.

Anyway,I would not hesitate to stay at the GF again,it was a lovely trip.

 

[Cinderella37]

I love the theming of the GF and think the facilities are wonderful. Our problem with the resort is the service. In our opinion that's what causes it not to be grand. Our stays have been extremely Disney - our view of Cinderella's Castle from our balcony each trip solidifed it. I really miss the resort itself (though I love the BWI), but not the service (or lack of).

 

[SeaSpray]

As far as the GF being stuffy, I wouldn't use that word, I would say classy. But IMO it's not nearly as fancy as a lot of other hotels I can think of. If you travel to big cities like NY, Chicago, LA, etc, you will find hotels that are way more stuffy.

VERY well said!! I never felt that the GF was stuffy or snobby or any of the other adjectives I've seen people use to describe it. It's just the theming of the resort; it's not as "casual" as some of the others. That doesn't mean that you can't be casual, as a guest there. We are not a formal type family, we are definitely casual and laid-back. DH and I thoroughly enjoyed our stay there, and so did our DSs.

 

[eeyore0062]

I think that the Grand Floridian is a absolutely GORGEOUS resort with awesome amenities and many activities to entertain kids.

That being said, would we be comfortable staying there? Probably not! Everytime we visit, we are made to feel as if we are underdressed. We have seen families heading out to the parks on the monorails getting on from the GF station in their button down shirts and Khakis, sundresses with heels and the kids looking like they are going to church instead of a theme park.

When we went to Mizners one night for a drink after dinner at Narcoosee's, because we had on "park attire" we were made to feel like second class citizens by the other clientele. Actually, the bartender was great, very friendly and personable, and seemed thrilled to have someone he could engage in conversation. We talked to him quite a bit and he was the only saving grace of that lounge. We haven't had the unwelcoming feeling from the staff, it was from the guests.

I wish I wasn't made to feel that way, because I have always wanted to stay there (it would HAVE to be without DH, he doesn't even like to visit). But that's OK, because I still have the friendliness and relaxing atmophere of the Polynesian, the family feel of the Beach Club, and of course PO-FQ and PO-R, which are beautiful and welcoming!