Beach Club or Grand Floridian? (honeymoon)

[BradleyAM]

Hi everyone,

My fiance and I are getting married during the summer and are planning our honeymoon. We are going on a 4-day Disney Cruise and then plan to stay for a few nights in Disney World. We are trying to decide between the Grand Floridian and the Beach Club. We've seen and heard how elegant the Grand Floridian is, but we're wondering if perhaps it's too "stuffy" for us for our honeymoon, with the Victorian decor and all. We want to feel relaxed and think perhaps the Beach Club would be more our style. We also like the fact that it's walking distance from Epcot. But we also like the idea of the afternoon tea and spa at the Grand Floridian.

We would probably stay in a regular room in either hotel. We want to stay in one hotel for the 4 nights we are in Disney.

I am wondering if anyone can give us any insights on the differences between the two hotels and what your experience has been with either one of them. Any information anyone can share with us on the Beach Club or the Grand Floridian, their amenities, the atmosphere, location, etc., would be greatly appreciated!!!

Thanks so much,
Brad

 

[DisneyFanatik]

First of all....Congratulations! I absolutely love the Yacht & Beach Clubs. The location is great, the pool is outstanding. I would probably lean more towards the YC rather than the BC. Every room has a full balcony and it just seems a little calmer for honeymooners. That being said, the GF would be a great choice too. In the future if/when you have children, you might be less inclined to stay there. Your honeymoon would be a great time to enjoy the luxuries of this resort. I guess I am saying that no matter where you're staying you'll have a great time.....you'll be at Disney! Good Luck!

 

[palmtreegirl]

I vote for the Yacht Club with a waterview! Like DisneyFanatik said above you get a full balcony in every room there.

We stayed at the YC this past August and it was wonderful. Great location, beautiful grounds, the Boardwalk across the lake, plus the YC is less hectic then the BC without feeling stuffy.

I love the Epcot resorts, it's so nice being able to walk over to Epcot, take a stroll around the lake, or walk back from MGM at night. It's all very romantic.

Good luck with your decision!! The Grand Floridian is beautiful too so you really can't go wrong!

 

[BibbidyBobbidyBoo]

Personally I'd vote for GF for honeymooners.... but I've stayed at neither GF nor BC/YC so I can't really give great advice on that. LOL I've seen them all though.... I'd be more inclined to stay at GF on honeymoon- and take advantage of the spa and V&C's for a nice dinner, etc. I'd be more inclined to stay at BC with the kids later on- can't beat the pool Stormalong bay!

GF is expensive- but I'm not sure if it's much more (if any?) expensive than BC? So I'd stay GF for a short trip- which is what we are going to do for a few days before our future cruise. We do have children- but want to take advantage of some of the children's activities at GF (with them close by- not trekking via transportation from another resort) plus the spa, Cindy dinner, and possibly V&C. There's a reason for that though- we're only going to spend one day at the parks and it will be MK. If we were doing Epcot only or the majority of our trip- we'd be more inclined to stay at BC. It really IS a short walk- even with our youngest in a stroller that we left at epcot to go to BC to eat- it was a breeze! And our oldest won't be able to participate in the kids club and kids activities on future trips because of her age- so that trip will be the ONLY time.. since our youngest was too young until our upcoming trip/cruise.

But after that? We plan on trying to stay at BC- they'll love the pool!

Have you been to GF? It looks "stuffy" and all that in the pictures and such- but although we are not the rich/dressed up type of people we felt totally comfortable the times we've gone to GF to eat/etc. It's just beautiful... but not enough to make you feel out of place or like you couldn't relax.

I guess it really just depends on what you want from your honeymoon. Personally for myself- I'd want a honeymoon to feel "special"- and I'd feel that at GF. But I might feel more "fun and relaxed" at BC. YC with balcony sounds nice too though...

 

[The Duchess]

We honeymooned at Disney in 1997 and people thought we were crazy! It was fantastic. My vote is for Boardwalk Inn, and try to get a room right over the Boardwalk....stress loudly and often that you are on your Honeymoon!
I have always wanted to stay at GF, but seems not as convenient as Epcot resorts and yes, seems a little stuffy to me. Now that we have DS, we stay at YC, little quieter than BWI!
We always get a Town Car to take us to V&A for a romantic dinner.

 

[SamanthaL]

We spent our honeymoon at the Beach Club and it became our favorite hotel!
They upgraded us to a water view. We had a first floor room off in an alcove. It is the room you see right next to the volley ball net. It was beautiful, secluded, and quiet. It had a king bed and a daybed with the table right near the window.
They had a heart shaped basket in the room when we got there. It was filled with bath stuff and soaps. The basket is now in the nusery holding our son's diapers!
JMO

 

[hmp2z]

It sounds like you are leaning towards the Beach Club, so I would go there if I were you. You'll be happiest where you feel most comfortable. You can always schedule an afternoon to go to tea at the GF and then the spa there. I have heard some pretty bad things about the GF spa, though, from the Disneymooners group that I was on while planning our WDW wedding. I read that the Disney Institute Spa (now Saratoga Springs Spa) is much, much better, because it's actually Disney owned, as opposed to the GF spa, which is part of a chain not owned by Disney.
If you have been to a "real" tea experience in London, you'll be very disappointed in the GF's version, but I've read reviews from several people who have not been to London, who enjoyed it just fine. It's all in your expectations - don't go in thinking that you're going to get an authentic experience, with the 3 tiered presentation, but if you have never experienced that, then you won't have any frame of reference, so probably won't find it disappointing.
Cheers!
Heather W