BAD review of GF--please comment, did we make a mistake?

[micmacmissy]

We booked a suite at the GF for this coming Dec...it cost a small fortune and now i've read an awful review on another website...it said:

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It is interesting to have stayed at the Grand Floridian some years ago (it was breathtakingly beautiful) and then to revisit recently. It has changed. Even though this is the so-called hallmark of the Disney hotels, this one is being neglected. The paint is peeling, the gardens looked shabby and the rooms are worn. Our balcony was so full of bird dung that we were appalled and had to ask for a cleaning, recleaning and a last *clean this or we're moving out* cleaning. The room had candy wrappers under the furniture and the bathroom floor wasn't clean. The restaurants were dirty and the floors coming in and out were littered. Profit has triumphed over pride at Disney.

Sadly, all of Disney has gone downhill. It used to be the gold standard for hospitality and cleanliness. Not so anymore. The park itself is dirty and smoking is again permitted. And don't even ASK me about the abomination that they still call Tiki Birds, which has been perverted from a sweet experience to a New York street brawl.

I used to be Disney's most vocal fan. Now I think I will never return. Truly, the magic is gone.

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Can anyone comment on this? This review was from someone who visited two weeks ago...now i'm worried....

 

[tiggersmom2]

Go to GF and have a GRAND time!!! It is a lovely resort and this report is way off base. I was there last year and it was beautiful. I have yet to be in a WDW resort that I did not think was beautiful. Don't let someone's sour grapes spoil your vacation.

 

[schweig]

Don't worry - we stayed in December 2002 - my husband and daughter visited th GF January 2003 and we are also going back December of 2004. You will hear good and bad about every resort at Disney. It is just personal opinion. You will love the GF. Anyway, how can you take anyone seriously who doesn't find humor in the Tiki Birds???

 

[Deb & Bill]

We stayed at GF last summer ('03) and loved it. We'd like to stay there again and we are DVC members.

 

[BCV23]

We were at the GF this summer and it was in fantastic shape, I thought. The main lobby was recently renovated and while we were there, the carpet on the stairs was being replaced...not that I had ever noticed it needing that by the way.

We were in Conch Key, 3rd floor facing the MK and our mousekeeper was great. Balcony was immaculate, too.

At the parks, smoking is limited to a few designated spots. This review is certainly not factual there.

Have a great trip!

 

[RoLaren]

It is a glorious resort. Go, stay, and have a magical time!

 

[rngrblu9]

my parents were just there right before frances & they absolutely loved it!!!

 

[jessiangel]

We have not stayed at the GF, but went for dinner at 1900 Park Fare. The restaurant was very clean and I don't know about the rooms, but the lobby was impeccable. We (hopefully) will be staying there on our 2nd honeymoon after our vow renewal at Disney next June.

 

[luvpooh]

we stayed at the Grand Floridian, and enjoyed, it but not more so than any other resort. IMHO, there were some nice touches, like the hamper in the bathroom to put your towels in, the turndown service, and of course, the wonderful view of the MK that our rooms gave us. But our personal experience didn't give us outstanding service, just fine service, which wasn't more than I was expecting. There wasn't anything wrong with GF, per se, I just don't mark it in my favorites column. I'd much rather stay at the Boardwalk or Beach Club, but again, this is only my opinion...

BTW, I have to agree with the bird poop on the balcony, but what is the GF supposed to do, station a mousekeeper on every balcony to clean every 'misdeed' every time it occurs? I mean, it's nature, deal with it!!

P.S. - we did also splurge $80+ on room service breakfast for the four of us one morning and had it overlooking the Castle (including Mimosas using the champagne from the mini bar!), which is one memory that is wonderful and we won't forget!

 

[WDWRC]

If you are looking for a AAA 4 Diamond Award Resort for 2004, then GF is not where you want to go. They lost a Diamond this year versus 2003 due to service and cleanliness, and they are trying REALLY REALLY hard to get back in shape. Don't get me wrong, it's a beautiful resort, it just has hit a few bumps in the road.

Tracy

 

[patsvette]

Go and enjoy it,we did and had a great time,absolutley loved it,will stay there again someday.

 

[jockey]

We love it and I am sure you will also!!

 

[DisneyMomx7]

We stayed at GF in AUgust 2003 and July 2004 and can't wait to go back July 2005. Mousekeeping was excellent, the hotel was beautiful and all the CMs were very friendly. Go and have a wonderful time!

 

[susy]

Go! Some people are REALLY picky. When I am at WDW I would not notice a candy wrapper if it jumped up and kissed me!

 

[long4disney]

We have stayed at the GF over 10 times, most recently Oct. 2003. We are going back again this December and we can hardly wait!!! We have never experienced anything negative about our favorite resort. We have stayed in every building, concierge and all and everything has been perfect!!! We wouldn't dream of staying anywhere else!

 

[J.C.&ALI'SMOM]

Did this review happen to come from the trip advisor site? It sounds like one that I have read there. I wouldn't seriously consider one bad review over all the glowing ones. The arguements that the reviewer raises are not very convincing to me.

I was at the GF last winter and it was great! As for the reviews of the parks and their condition, if you have been to WDW in the past 3 years, the condition of the parks is still pretty much the same. Not as spotless as it had been in the early days, BUT the best condition of any park in the USA!

Go and have a great time, and if there are any problems, state it to someone immediately! We had some difficulty with our rooms at Cont. this summer and before we sat down I called the front desk and we had new rooms immediately. The customer service is still there.

 

[Dawnflower]

some people are never going to be pleased! The person wrote that review may have started off bad and it effected the entire vacation! They could not get out of the office till late, the spouse was grouchy because they where rushed to the airport and the security lines where way backed up! The couple 2 seats back had twins with colic and there was a mix-up at the luggage terminal with identical bags! Any one of those things could set some people in a crabby mood and then EVERYTHING is wrong!

My neighbors nit-picked WDW to death!! It was their first trip, and they hated all of the things we loved! Hated Chef Mickey's said it was the worst food in the world, said the CR was a low budget Motel 6, on and on they went, however--they bought into the time share at SSR! Go figure, some people also just like to complain!

So chin up and go enjoy yourself at one of my dream resorts! Some day I hope to get to stay there!!

 

[Terry S]

We stayed at GF last month and we are normally BC people. We really enjoyed the GF, it is a beautiful resort with wonderful CM's. Don't let someone else bad experience spoil yours and don't have thier bad experience cause you to start looking for stuff you otherwise would not have seen.

 

[wdisneyaholic]

I haven't stayed at the GF but I will tell what happened to my family at the YC this year. I have heard so many good things about the YC, how nice and clean and friendly everyone is. That was not exactly what happened to us. When we checked in and finally got into out room I started to notice a few small things about the room that indicated it was not clean. Little candy wrappers on the floor, crumbs, etc. I knida brushed it off and let it go, went out to eat and then came back to get ready for bed. I started noticing more things like the bathroom, no towels, so soaps. So I decided to take a walk to the front desk and expland the situation to them. They cound;t have been nicer. The gentleman found me a room the look right over the wedding gazebo(which was an upgrade for us) and he took me up to the room and check it out with me personally.

I go on vacation with the understanding that these are large hotels with lots of people in them. Some people make more of a mess than others and I beleive they try there best on keeping things clean. Sometimes they miss things, to be expected.

I have yet to encounter a place that trys to keep things up to a high standard like Disney. That is one reason I have trouble goina to any other park or staying off site. I compare everything to Disney and nothing can compete.

So, I say, go to the GF and enjoy your stay and then you make your own opinion of it, don't let others discourage you from taking a majical vacation.

Oh, and by the way, I have already booked my trip for next year at the YC - my new favorite.

 

[kda]

Hmmmmm........ haven't stayed at the GF in years because we bought ito DVC, but we do visit it and haven't noticed any problems.

Some people do have bad experiences --- it happens. And everyone has their own opinions. But the Tiki Bird comment seems way over the top. If an innocuous attraction like that can bring on that much criticism, that person obviusly looks at things differently from me.