Deluxe-Off: Wilderness Lodge vs Grand Floridian

[Royal Consort]

Planning for next year is giving me a headache. We're going in Nov '14 and were originally booked into Animal Kingdom Lodge - decided this is beautiful but too far from the central areas and monorail resorts we like to dine at.

We then thought the Poly was a good idea - until helpful DIS'ers reminded me of the refurbishment.

I contacted the TA to see about the Contemporary - no availability for my dates.

Which leaves me with two choices: Wilderness Lodge or the Grand Floridian.

We like to stay at different resorts each time and stayed at French Quarter last year. THIS year we're staying at Wilderness Lodge. I love WL but I'm not sure staying two years in a row is as exciting as somewhere new.

Then again I'm not sure I'm a GF person either.....yet, never stayed there.
I like the grounds but the room and lobby don't 'fit'.

We will be staying for two weeks so I want somewhere with enough space that it feels like home and ease of access to dining and the parks. I just don't know which to choose?!

PS: a split stay is out of the question as it ends up being more expensive ironically (as this is under the UK offer)

 

[Princess Disney Mom]

How about one of the Epcot area resorts?

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[Royal Consort]

How about one of the Epcot area resorts?

Sent from my iPhone using DISBoards

All gone. I asked about them. All I've got available in deluxes are these two.

 

[Mousemommy1]

My vote would be WL. Though, it is my favorite resort!!!

I dunno, I know GF is the flagship resort and all, but I just can't get excited about it. I considered it for next year and my DH said that it looks like a "glorified nursing home" and my DD's think it smells...

My family is all in agreement about WL though. It's heaven!

 

[mickeynut1]

Planning for next year is giving me a headache. We're going in Nov '14 and were originally booked into Animal Kingdom Lodge - decided this is beautiful but too far from the central areas and monorail resorts we like to dine at.

We then thought the Poly was a good idea - until helpful DIS'ers reminded me of the refurbishment.

I contacted the TA to see about the Contemporary - no availability for my dates.

Which leaves me with two choices: Wilderness Lodge or the Grand Floridian.

We like to stay at different resorts each time and stayed at French Quarter last year. THIS year we're staying at Wilderness Lodge. I love WL but I'm not sure staying two years in a row is as exciting as somewhere new.

Then again I'm not sure I'm a GF person either.....yet, never stayed there.
I like the grounds but the room and lobby don't 'fit'.

We will be staying for two weeks so I want somewhere with enough space that it feels like home and ease of access to dining and the parks. I just don't know which to choose?!

PS: a split stay is out of the question as it ends up being more expensive ironically (as this is under the UK offer)

We've stayed at both (WL twice and GF 3 times) and they are both great resorts. With that said, since you're staying at the WL this year, I would give the GF a try next year. I have read that the GF is next in line for room refurbs. I can't remember where I read it and I'm not sure when it's to take place, but I'm thinking sometime after the Poly rooms are completed. Some posters have reported not being able to book a room in the main building (RPC) for next July, so not sure if that has something to do with it or not. We had visited the GF many times before staying there and the more we visited, the more I thought I didn't want to stay there. I always got a "stuffy" feeling walking around the lobby and shops. With that said, my whole perspective changed once I had my first stay. I had a whole different feeling actually staying there vs just visiting. The rooms at the GF are quite a bit larger than at the WL, most rooms come with a daybed, and (IMO) there's no bad room/view. If the GF is of any interest to you at all, I don't think you'd be disappointed. Good luck .

 

[Babsy]

November of 2014 is sold out for deluxes except for WL and GF???? Are you sure that your agant wasn't checking 2013? That seems really strange to me. When are your dates When I check November, 2014 - all dates - I find availability at all three monorail hotels.

I wouldn't discount the GF. I never wanted to stay there until I did. I was won over! It is a lovely resort. We didn't find it stuffy at all!

 

[Wood Nymph]

I would stay at the GF rather than WL. It is a gorgeous resort and convenient to parks and dining at the other monorail resorts. Don't worry about any possible room refurbishments. They are done quietly and in a way that guests seldom notice they are being done. Construction has been completed now at the GF, which is good.

 

[Royal Consort]

November of 2014 is sold out for deluxes except for WL and GF???? Are you sure that your agant wasn't checking 2013? That seems really strange to me. When are your dates When I check November, 2014 - all dates - I find availability at all three monorail hotels.

I've checked through Disney's UK site too and they aren't throwing up my first options so I think the UK availability is exhausted for some resorts. They still have availability on the US site.

 

[wiigirl]

I would stay at the GF rather than WL. It is a gorgeous resort and convenient to parks and dining at the other monorail resorts. Don't worry about any possible room refurbishments. They are done quietly and in a way that guests seldom notice they are being done. Construction has been completed now at the GF, which is good.

 

[Mousemommy1]

I would stay at the GF rather than WL. It is a gorgeous resort and convenient to parks and dining at the other monorail resorts. Don't worry about any possible room refurbishments. They are done quietly and in a way that guests seldom notice they are being done. Construction has been completed now at the GF, which is good.

Room refurbishments - no, I wouldn't worry about that, but the OP is referring to the DVC construction at the Poly, along with the pending GCH and possibly pool construction that will go along with it next year.

That will be difficult to hide.

 

[bedogged]

Planning for next year is giving me a headache. We're going in Nov '14 and were originally booked into Animal Kingdom Lodge - decided this is beautiful but too far from the central areas and monorail resorts we like to dine at.

We then thought the Poly was a good idea - until helpful DIS'ers reminded me of the refurbishment.

I contacted the TA to see about the Contemporary - no availability for my dates.

Which leaves me with two choices: Wilderness Lodge or the Grand Floridian.

We like to stay at different resorts each time and stayed at French Quarter last year. THIS year we're staying at Wilderness Lodge. I love WL but I'm not sure staying two years in a row is as exciting as somewhere new.

Then again I'm not sure I'm a GF person either.....yet, never stayed there.
I like the grounds but the room and lobby don't 'fit'.

We will be staying for two weeks so I want somewhere with enough space that it feels like home and ease of access to dining and the parks. I just don't know which to choose?!

PS: a split stay is out of the question as it ends up being more expensive ironically (as this is under the UK offer)

I have stayed at both and much preferred the WL. It has, in my opinion, much more reliable transportation because the Monorail is always breaking down. Also, if the Christmas decorations are up, the GF lobby is just mobbed with visiting people. WL is beautiful at Christmas and since it is off the beaten path, it is not so crowded.

 

[Sappermont]

Can you switch from WL to another resort for this year (maybe the Poly) and then stay at the WL in 2014?

Have a great trip!

 

[sonofanarchy]

Wilderness Lodge is my favorite resort, however given the rare chances to stay at the GF, it's in the running. I've stayed there twice and all the stuffiness talk is nonsense. It's a beautiful resort, with wonderful service and great pools. Then again, I truly believe no resort at Disney is maintained as well as the WL.

 

[pepe of ohio]

We've done both ...over 10 stays at WL.... Only once at GF...

Have to agree with a PP, it was like an asylum, all white, pastel colors and many out buildings.... If you're in an out building ( like we were) might have just stayed in a value and saved money... Nothing fantastic about them....and a long walk to lobby, monorail food etc... wasn't impressed at all.... Not going back there..

 

[Skywise]

If you're in an out building ( like we were) might have just stayed in a value and saved money... Nothing fantastic about them....and a long walk to lobby, monorail food etc... wasn't impressed at all.... Not going back there..

Are the out buildings for the Poly closer than the out buildings of the GF?

 

[Robbi]

We'll only stay at the GF in the main building. One year we stayed in Sugar Loaf and didn't like it at all. I do love RPC.
WL is a wonderful resort too. If you're going about the 3rd week or so of Nov, I'd recommend staying there because during the holidays, it's hard to beat the Christmas decorations and homey holiday feeling.

 

[Robbi]

Are the out buildings for the Poly closer than the out buildings of the GF?

The Poly has 11 outer buildings whil the GF has 4 outer buildings. Here are links to maps of the two resorts:

Poly:
http://www.wdwinfo.com/resortmaps/polymap.htm

GF:
http://www.wdwinfo.com/resortmaps/grandflomap.htm

 

[Jennygt]

Lol some of these descriptions of the gf cracked me up!

 

[mum2four]

My vote would be WL. Though, it is my favorite resort!!!

I dunno, I know GF is the flagship resort and all, but I just can't get excited about it. I considered it for next year and my DH said that it looks like a "glorified nursing home" and my DD's think it smells...

My family is all in agreement about WL though. It's heaven!

Too funny! I know a lot of people love the GF, but I still think it's funny.

 

[Robbi]

My vote would be WL. Though, it is my favorite resort!!!

I dunno, I know GF is the flagship resort and all, but I just can't get excited about it. I considered it for next year and my DH said that it looks like a "glorified nursing home" and my DD's think it smells...

My family is all in agreement about WL though. It's heaven!

This is what I think about the Yacht Club. When we stayed there, I was 50 and felt like I was practicing for when I turn 95.