Anyone have a good/great recent GF stay (non-concierge)?

[LadyTrampScamp&Angel]

Hi

I just made a ressie at the Grand Floridian for Oct 2005. I have read several reviews of GF concierge that are not very positive. I didn't book a concierge room and I'd like to hear if anyone has had positive experiences at the Grand Floridian in general recently. It is so hard for me to decide on a resort - I'm hoping I don't have to rethink this!

Thank you

 

[Misti]

I've always found the GF to offer exceptional service, overall. You'll hear about bad experiences at every resort from time to time. So, I wouldn't worry about it.

I stayed in the RPC once and that was enough for me. I thought it was overpriced and the experience less than memorable (similar to what you may have read). But, it didn't discourage me from returning. I just stay in the regular Lagoon View rooms now.

I hope you enjoy your stay!

 

[pirateofthecarolinas]

We had 3 rooms at the GF earlier this month. We had a wonderful stay. We didn't want to pay CL prices for 3 rooms and all of the suites were booked. We decided to spend the money on great meals and room service. Our rooms were Lagoon view so we didn't miss out.

Room service was impressive and private dining arranged a birthday cake and balloons for my husband. They took care of every detail. I'm going to stay CL in Dec. and I'm looking forward to experiencing concierge at the GF.

We've always enjoyed our GF stays.

Lori

 

[LadyTrampScamp&Angel]

Oh thank you! I feel better now

We didn't go anywhere for our 10th anniversary a few months ago so I'm kinda considering this our anniversary trip (I guess by that time it'll actually be an 11th anniversay trip but that's ok)!

 

[sharonk]

We stayed in a regular room in Big Pine Key this summer. We were upgraded (didn't even ask) from Garden View to Lagoon View and had a lovely view of the Poly across the lake.

Our room was spotless and the service was great (not excellent, but we had no complaints.)

SharonK

 

[johnsonet]

I have stayed at GF 7 or 8 times, most recently this past July. It is an awesome resort! I'm going back for part of Spring Break. It's also my DD(8)'s absolute favorite! And the ONLY place my husband will stay!
I like Garden or Lagoon View in Boca Chica Bldg. It is beautiful and FABULOUS resort!

 

[DisneyMomx7]

We love GF. Our most recent stay was July 2004 and it was great. We usually stay in Sago Cay, marina view. It's very peaceful and relaxing there. Service has always been terrific and I don't think it's at all stuffy, which I know is a very prevalent impression. Go ahead and enjoy yourself. BTW we stay with our three little ones and they LOVE GF.

 

[Goofy's Muse]

We stayed at GF from 12/9 - 12/13 for a quick pre-holiday trip and really loved the resort! Booked a garden view non-CL room, but were on the 4th floor in Conch Key overlooking Narcoosee's and the lagoon beyond that -- took gorgeous sunrise photos from this room!

Though the weather turned coolish on our trip, our kids did enjoy the themed pool (which I imagine might be crowded at other times of year). We also enjoyed the Grand Floridian Cafe for lunch, the Garden Tea, and found Gasparilla's to be very convenient. Watching Wishes from Gasparilla's was beautiful and both the monorail and boat transportation were wonderful. We found the staff very willing to provide services such as printing our PS listing and our boarding passes for our return flight (things I would have asked of Concierge during our BC trip last summer). Would love to return!!

 

[micmacmissy]

We stayed at the GF in a 2bdrm concierge suite a few weeks ago (sugar loaf building). I'm the person who wrote the other post wondering about why concierge at GF is so lacking!

Don't second guess your decision--other than our troubles with the concierge staff, the hotel itself is excellent. Our kids loved it, the rooms were beautiful, the beds were amazing (I want one now!), and the restaurants at GF (Citricos,
Narcoosees) had exceptional food and service. I wonder why people say the hotel is "stuffy". We didn't feel that way at all.

Despite the staff, we do plan on returning to the GF. And due to the sheer convenience of the food service, we probably would even stay concierge again.

 

[Sammie]

We have stayed concierge and non, the last 3 summers. We have never had anything but a wonderful experience at the Grand.

 

[kpm76]

We stayed at the GF the first two nights of our honeymoon in September and LOVED it!! We were in Sago Cay, Lagoon View....very nice room and super quiet. Honestly, we didn't even know there were other guests in the hotel. It is an absolutely beautiful resort and quite an experience. We'll most certainly return.

 

[LadyTrampScamp&Angel]

Thanks to all of you for posting. I do feel so much better. I can see how it would be disappointing to stay concierge and have CM's that don't seem to care much about you. I honestly have never had a bad stay at a WDW resort but when you hear things from several different people - I was concerned. I'm going to relax now and trust it'll be wonderful. I just wish it wasn't so far away!

Have a good evening!

 

[Janet2k]

I stayed in the main building for a week at the end of October in 2003. I stayed in Conch Key for a few days at the end of May of 2004. I stayed in the main building for 3 nights at the end of October of 2004. All three stays were wonderful. If you'd care to read about them, I do have a few trip reports posted in which I mention the GF and my stays:
October 2003 Trip Report
May 2004 Trip Report
October 2004 Trip Report
(I apologize that I haven't gotten around to posting about my GF stay yet in that last trip report -- that trip report is "on hold" until I finish my FTW Planning Session trip report.)

I hope you have a wonderful stay at the GF. My family has stayed there many times over the years. We adore the GF and will definitely stay there again in the future.

 

[LadyTrampScamp&Angel]

Janet2K, thanks so much. I'm going to read all your trip reports and I appreciate the links. So happy to hear your family enjoyed staying at the GF!

 

[jeepgirl30]

I stayed at GF last year. I booked the resort for a sales meeting followed by a sales incentive trip. After the meetings the company flew spouses of those qualifying for the incentive trip.

I choose the GF for three reasons, mainly the event manager I had worked with at CSR had moved to GF and I really wanted to stick with her. 2, the resort is beautiful and we wanted an upscale choice 3, we got a rate we could not pass up!

The resort was amazing. I had a Lagoon view room that had a little balcony. At night the view was breathtaking. DH came and was very impressed.

The pool was great also. Very relaxing.

My reasons for not really raving about GF are: Too expensive! I would never pay the rates I see for it on my own. Also for our next trip we are taking our two kids, our kids are typical kids, sometimes loud and unruly! I don't think GF is the place for them.

I also just prefer a more casual environment for personal trips. If I had the choice for another business trip I'd do it but for personal no. That is just me.

All of the attendees by the way LOVED the trip and property. While we went to other resorts for meals the people that ate their really enjoyed the food.

 

[LadyTrampScamp&Angel]

Janet2K - what amazing posts! I still think you must be a professional writer - you do it so well. I've learned so much from what you've written and I still have much to read Thanks again!

 

[LadyTrampScamp&Angel]

Thanks for posting jeepgirl30. After looking at some pictures I'm tempted to change to a lagoon view room - the views do look amazing. We have stayed at many WDW resorts, I want to try them all! I have to say that I've enjoyed each resort for what it had to offer and I've not been disappointed. Maybe I'm just happy to be at WDW - my family gets into the magic . . .

 

[TammiMcMan]

We've had numerous stays at the GF. Last January, DH and I celebrated our anniversary in the main building. We were upgraded to a honeymoon suite and had a magical stay there. In May, we booked a quick trip after our Disney cruise and had a garden view room in Conch Key. We did have a few problems, but my guess is the fact it was Memorial Day weekend had a lot to do with it. The resort was packed and the parks were packed. CM's there were on the grumpy side, which surprised me. I don't think we've ever witnessed that before. I chocked it up to the law of averages, that if we stayed in one place long enough, we were bound to encounter a problem. We would absolutely stay here again and plan on booking the main building in the summer of 2006.

Tammi

 

[LadyTrampScamp&Angel]

Glad to hear you'd go back. We aren't going at a holiday time so hope that helps. Thanks for the review