Are Theme Park View rooms at GF worth it?

[Corryn]

Hi all
We're thinking of staying at the GF, but I would really like to stay in a room with a view of the castle or Space Mountain.
Have you done this?
Is it worth the extra money?
Can you post your photos?

While checking out prices for GF on the Disney site, they listed Theme Park View as one of the options and it cost a little more, so I'm guessing if you book that certain room, you're guaranteed a room with a view.

Any other suggestions for GF?

Thanks!!!!

 

[Corryn]

ump

 

[TammiMcMan]

We're thinking of staying at the GF, but I would really like to stay in a room with a view of the castle or Space Mountain.
Have you done this?

A theme park view is the only one that will guarantee you a view of either the castle or Space Mountain. So, if it's important to you, then it's probably worth the extra money to book it. Courtyard views overlook the interior gardens and pools of the resort and lagoon looks out towards Epcot, the old Discovery Island and Polynesian. The way the buildings are situated on the property, you'll see the top 1/2 to 1/3rd of the castle poking through the trees. It's not quite the same view that the CR offers, but it's pretty.

Here's a link to a castle view, http://www.allearsnet.com/acc/gfa_5.jpg and Space Mountain, http://www.allearsnet.com/acc/gf147.jpg.

You may want to post a question over on the GF FAQ thread. It's quite long, so you probably want to skip right to the end, but there's a lot of helpful people who hang out there as well.

 

[milkshake]

I started a trip report on the trip report page :
Grand Floridian /wildlife safari/P&P quick trip report

Here are some pictures you can take a look at on my page. I don't have too many of the hotel but unless you will be in the room for the fireworks, I wouldn't spend the extra for the park view. The whole resort is beautiful.
Have fun!
you may have to cut and paste for the link:
file://C:\Documents and Settings\spee\My Documents\Picasa HTML Exports\Disneyworld 2007\index.html

 

[TammiMcMan]

you may have to cut and paste for the link:
file://C:\Documents and Settings\spee\My Documents\Picasa HTML Exports\Disneyworld 2007\index.html

Just to let you know, this link points to items on your own computer hence the C:\ notation. In order to make them available for public viewing, you need to have your website hosted on the internet or pictures published on a public site like photobucket. The technical forum folks can probably help you with that.

 

[disneyholic family]

i'm not sure it's worth it, but i've had MK views from our concierge rooms -
if you go to my website www.myspace.com/bethandbuffy you'll see views from our rooms at the CR and the GF....

the GF view is from our concierge room in the main building - it's a nice view but i wouldn't have paid special just for the view (whereas i would for the RPC concierge)...

 

[micmacmissy]

I can tell you that we could see the castle from our room (we had a suite, not a specific theme park view room)...but the castle is definitely in the distance. It won't be looming out your window, huge and up close. I don't have any photos of it, sorry.

I personally wouldn't pay extra for that view...if the GF were closer to it, maybe, but it is just too distant from the resort. The GF is a nice hotel, and I'm sure you'll enjoy the garden view rooms...in my opinion, at WDW you're not in your room much!

Have a great trip.

 

[salmoneous]

Here's a link to a castle view, http://www.allearsnet.com/acc/gfa_5.jpg and Space Mountain, http://www.allearsnet.com/acc/gf147.jpg.

That first picture is zoomed in and overemphasizes the view. I think the second one is more realistic.

Theme park view at GF means, "see that small little thing waaaay over there? That's Cindy's castle". No way I'd pay extra for the veiw. But I'm a cheapskate and wouldn't pay extra to stay at the GF in the first place. If you are spending all the money you are paying for the GF, it might be worth a little bit more for the best possible view.

 

[rwdavis]

How much time will you actually spend gazing at the MK?
BD

 

[rcraw45425]

In Spring of '05 we were upgraded to that view, Boca Chica Lodge, back then it was a lagoon view room. I'm searching but so far can't find to pictures taken. We saw Space Mountain and the castle.

 

[Disneyfan1977]

Hello,
I stayed for the first time at the GF this past May. Prior to staying her I have stayed mostly at the poly, but we have also stayed at the WL and the BC. My favorite is the polynesian....it is beautiful.

We paid extra for a view of the MK because my logic was that if my son fell asleep early (as he always does), we could still see the fireworks. When we got there our view was obstructed by a tree. My daughter was so disappointed that I called down and the switched us. They were wonderful with us about switching. However, the switch wasnt' so great either. We were off the side. I didnt' want to move again, so I let it be.

My opinion is that the MK is rather far away in the distance. I would never pay extra for a better view of the MK again.

 

[rcraw45425]

Our view of Wishes from the balcony (even the bedroom itself) was great, we felt it was a lot closer than the view we had from the Polynesian.

 

[cara loves the poly]

Hi all
We're thinking of staying at the GF, but I would really like to stay in a room with a view of the castle or Space Mountain.
Have you done this?
Is it worth the extra money?
Can you post your photos?

While checking out prices for GF on the Disney site, they listed Theme Park View as one of the options and it cost a little more, so I'm guessing if you book that certain room, you're guaranteed a room with a view.

Any other suggestions for GF?

Thanks!!!!

We always get a castle view at the Poly. It is gorgeous watching the castle change colors at night and getting a "private" fireworks show everynight right from your own bed or balcony. That is the main reason we go! Yes, to us it is worth it! Good luck with your decision.

 

[DisneyHolidayFan]

We requested a lagoon view room in 2005 and ended up with a view of the MK. It was terrific but I don't know if I would pay extra for it since we are not in our rooms that often. But, I wouldn't pay extra for concierge either. We were upgraded to concierge at the BC and what a disappointment. I would much rather eat the food at the parks.

 

[HockeyMomR]

Here was our view from Conch Key Theme Park View room in July, posted these on other threads, but thought you would be interested. Is the view worth the price?...I think that is an individual choice. I am a "view" person. So, for our first stay at GF, we really liked it. The castle did appear to be closer than our Poly Lagoon View Concierge (Hawaii building from last year, which was awesome as well).

 

[rcraw45425]

Found the photos:

Cinderella's castle from Boca Chica

Space Mountain from Boca Chica

 

[milkshake]

I logged onto Photo bucket so maybe this link for my photos will work..
http://s213.photobucket.com/albums/cc115/milkshakefor3/

RCraw..your puppy looks like my Milkshake!
VEry cute...

 

[sportears]

As another poster said, how much time do you really plan to stay in your room and look at the Magic Kingdom. You will see it from every angle possible during your stay. We like to try request rooms as close to the bus line, and or monorail, convenience is much more important to us.

 

[G8r4evr]

A theme park view is the only one that will guarantee you a view of either the castle or Space Mountain. So, if it's important to you, then it's probably worth the extra money to book it. Courtyard views overlook the interior gardens and pools of the resort and lagoon looks out towards Epcot, the old Discovery Island and Polynesian. The way the buildings are situated on the property, you'll see the top 1/2 to 1/3rd of the castle poking through the trees. It's not quite the same view that the CR offers, but it's pretty.

Here's a link to a castle view, http://www.allearsnet.com/acc/gfa_5.jpg and Space Mountain, http://www.allearsnet.com/acc/gf147.jpg.

You may want to post a question over on the GF FAQ thread. It's quite long, so you probably want to skip right to the end, but there's a lot of helpful people who hang out there as well.

Yikes, that is pretty far away. I dont think I would pay extra for that...I think I would rather have a lagoon view.

 

[Florimel]

We did lagoon view when we last stayed at the GF as it was our first trip - could see MK through the trees in the distance but probably not worth the extra money. We liked watching wishes from the boat dock when we were in the hotel anyway - and didn't have any time to watch the castle from the room!

We're going back to the GF but have booked GV this time.