Contemporary Resort vs. Grand Floridian at Christmas

[MyPrince&Princess]

Hi! Wondering if you could provide your thoughts/opinions/advice on the two resorts at Christmas time. I booked the RO BB and had my heart set on the Contemporary Resort TPV, but it is not available???!!?!!? So I was offered the GF, GV. This is for December 2018. We have stayed at the CR with TPV and absolutely LOVED it. We loved the location, the proximity to our favourite park, the pools, the lobby, the restaurants, the huge rooms and especially the fireworks that we enjoyed from our balcony and bed. My kids refuse to go anywhere else now. Our trip next Dec. will be our first winter trip to Disney so I suspect that we won't be using the pools, and won't likely be closing the parks as we usually do.

Sadly, we could not book the CR and "settled" for the GF, GV. Our very close friends stayed there last spring and really did not like it. They were in the main building, CL and said it paled in comparison to their favourite, BC.

Are the rooms smaller at GF? Are they "stuffier" meaning is it over the top Victorian?

Do you have a recommended outer building that is closest to the main building yet still quiet? We absolutely need quiet so any help with room suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

One thing that I would look forward to is the Christmas decorations at the GF, but that's really it.

Thanks!

 

[AdamEfimoff]

Pick the Four Seasons sorry just had to. have not stayed there i have eaten at v&a . I would say its 'gatsby' architecture.

 

[got15]

We love GF! I dont think its stuffy at all- its very relaxing and understated. The rooms are some of the largest on property and about the same size, if not a little larger, than the Contemporary. As for location- a lot is close to the main building- but we like Big Pine Key and Boca Chica. Big Pine Key is the closest and we liked staying there when we had infants- it was close to both pools, main building, and quiet.

I think Christmas at Disney is so special- and at the GF, i hope you fall in love. That lobby at atmosphere can not be beat!

 

[AdamEfimoff]

the lobby is nice and it has many good fine dining options and senses. You should get the unofficial guide for the resort for you

 

[BriLovesDisney]

GF at Christmas is lovely! If you have the chance to stay at the GF - take it. I would if I could!

 

[DisneyWishes14]

Hi! Wondering if you could provide your thoughts/opinions/advice on the two resorts at Christmas time. I booked the RO BB and had my heart set on the Contemporary Resort TPV, but it is not available???!!?!!? So I was offered the GF, GV. This is for December 2018. We have stayed at the CR with TPV and absolutely LOVED it. We loved the location, the proximity to our favourite park, the pools, the lobby, the restaurants, the huge rooms and especially the fireworks that we enjoyed from our balcony and bed. My kids refuse to go anywhere else now. Our trip next Dec. will be our first winter trip to Disney so I suspect that we won't be using the pools, and won't likely be closing the parks as we usually do.

Sadly, we could not book the CR and "settled" for the GF, GV. Our very close friends stayed there last spring and really did not like it. They were in the main building, CL and said it paled in comparison to their favourite, BC.

Are the rooms smaller at GF? Are they "stuffier" meaning is it over the top Victorian?

Do you have a recommended outer building that is closest to the main building yet still quiet? We absolutely need quiet so any help with room suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

One thing that I would look forward to is the Christmas decorations at the GF, but that's really it.

Thanks!

The resort is "Victorian", but, since the refurb, the rooms aren't over the top Victorian at all. I think they were very tastefully done. The rooms are large and you will get turn down service every night. There are lots of great restaurants and we love to listen to the live music in the lobby. It is absolutely stunning at Christmas.

If you want a room closer to the lobby, I would probably request Big Pine Key, but none of the outer buildings are too terribly far from the lobby. I would simply request a "quiet room" (have it noted on your reservation). Maybe put "high floor" as well. That's our typical request because we need a quiet room as well. IMHO, there are no bad rooms in the outer buildings at GF.

In regard to your friend's comment, I have to agree. I was not impressed with main building CL at GF and actually much prefer to stay in the outer buildings. If your heart is set on CR, you may also want to keep checking to see if it becomes available.

 

[FSU Girl]

I love the Contemporary and did not like staying at the Grand Floridian at all. It just wasn't my style and I hated having to go outside to get to my room, made it feel not deluxe to me. I would keep checking to see if a room becomes available at the Contemporary, people cancel rooms all the time so don't give up.

 

[GADisneyDad14]

The resort is "Victorian", but, since the refurb, the rooms aren't over the top Victorian at all. I think they were very tastefully done. The rooms are large and you will get turn down service every night. There are lots of great restaurants and we love to listen to the live music in the lobby. It is absolutely stunning at Christmas.

If you want a room closer to the lobby, I would probably request Big Pine Key, but none of the outer buildings are too terribly far from the lobby. I would simply request a "quiet room" (have it noted on your reservation). Maybe put "high floor" as well. That's our typical request because we need a quiet room as well. IMHO, there are no bad rooms in the outer buildings at GF.

In regard to your friend's comment, I have to agree. I was not impressed with main building CL at GF and actually much prefer to stay in the outer buildings. If your heart is set on CR, you may also want to keep checking to see if it becomes available.

Just FYI, there have been some recent reports on the GF thread of turndown service now being by request only. I was surprised by this and didn’t really believe it until I saw this recent post from someone who was staying in an outer building (BPK I think): https://www.disboards.com/threads/d...tion-questions.3336950/page-476#post-58390871

 

[DisneyWishes14]

Just FYI, there have been some recent reports on the GF thread of turndown service now being by request only. I was surprised by this and didn’t really believe it until I saw this recent post from someone who was staying in an outer building (BPK I think): https://www.disboards.com/threads/d...tion-questions.3336950/page-476#post-58390871

That's unfortunate. Another cost-cutting measure, I suppose

 

[GADisneyDad14]

OP, I think my preference would be GF around the holidays. I do not find GF to be “stuffy” at all, despite how it may seem from the outside. People tend to think of GF as Disney’s “flagship resort” but it’s really no different in terms of quality, style, and service than any other resort.

Rooms are of similar size and the bathroom configuration is similar, if not superior (no flat sinks!).

Location wise, I like how GF is one monorail stop away going to MK and one boat stop away coming back. It’s the next best thing to the walkability factor you have at CR.

Otherwise, GF does a much better job decorating around the holidays than CR.

I will concede that GF does not really appeal to me or my style, but I do enjoy staying there.