Difference between GF Resort and The villas at GF please?

[Ninabeano]

We currently have a standard room booked at Grand Floridian, but I have noticed that there is very little price difference between a standard room and a studio at the Villas.

We are a family of 4 adults and I wondered whether anyone can tell us whether we should upgrade please? What are the benefits? Are the rooms any newer or nicer? Or are they too far away from transport? Any advice would be greatly appreciated thanks

 

[Marionnette]

We currently have a standard room booked at Grand Floridian, but I have noticed that there is very little price difference between a standard room and a studio at the Villas.

We are a family of 4 adults and I wondered whether anyone can tell us whether we should upgrade please? What are the benefits? Are the rooms any newer or nicer? Or are they too far away from transport? Any advice would be greatly appreciated thanks

The VGF studios have a queen bed, a pull out sofa and a small Murphy bed. You get a kitchenette with coffee maker, toaster and microwave. The bathroom is split - a sink & shower on one side, a toilet and tub-shower combo on the other. The villas are in their own separate building off to the Poly side of the GF, near the wedding chapel.

There is a covered walkway between it and the main GF building where you can catch the buses or monorail. The boat launch to the MK is on the other side of the GF from where the villas are located.

The villas pool, sometimes called the beach pool, is close to the villas and is the one where you will find the slide and poolside activities. It's also where the cabanas are located.

As far as "freshness" of the rooms is concerned, be advised that the VGF villas are scheduled for a soft goods refurb this year. DVC villas run at close to 100% occupancy, so they show their age quicker than regular hotel rooms.

 

[mrsap]

Everything at The Grand is within a short walking distance! @Marionnette covered most of the good points, but what I’d like to add is to suggest you look up videos on YouTube and see which room type you prefer. You can also check out the Grand Floridian thread for more information about the resort HERE. Good luck deciding!!

ETA: with 4 adults, I would recommend at least a 1 bedroom at the VGF, it would definitely give you more space!

 

[MomOTwins]

With four adults I think you are better off with the standard room as you will have two “real” beds instead of one bed and a sofa bed.

 

[rick1zoo2]

With four adults I think you are better off with the standard room as you will have two “real” beds instead of one bed and a sofa bed.

This is true, except when the two of the 'adults' are your grown sons (age 26 and 20) and would rather have their own bed. I did a trip in Dec with them and we stayed at Boulder Ridge, wish I knew how to post a picture of my oldest son in the fold out twin bed with the painting of Bambi - too cute...

 

[Best Aunt]

We currently have a standard room booked at Grand Floridian, but I have noticed that there is very little price difference between a standard room and a studio at the Villas.

We are a family of 4 adults and I wondered whether anyone can tell us whether we should upgrade please?

I don't think switching to the villas is really an upgrade.

I personally prefer a studio to a regular room, but I am never staying with 3 other adults.

 

[Marthasor]

We currently have a standard room booked at Grand Floridian, but I have noticed that there is very little price difference between a standard room and a studio at the Villas.

We are a family of 4 adults and I wondered whether anyone can tell us whether we should upgrade please? What are the benefits? Are the rooms any newer or nicer? Or are they too far away from transport? Any advice would be greatly appreciated thanks

We love the villas at VGF, though the building is a little further away from the main building, restaurants, monorail, etc. than the resort room buildings. With 4 adults, I would stay in a standard resort room so you will have 2 queen beds and a comfortable day bed. The bedding in the standard room is much more comfortable than the bedding in the studio, IMHO.

 

[nm107]

We just stayed in a villa over Easter and thought the sleeping area of the room was small in comparison to the rest of the room. Our 10-year old slept on the Murphy-style twin bed, which was mere inches off the floor. It was fine for her but would be pretty laughable for an adult. We did not pull out the couch bed, but there would not be a lot of room in the sleeping area if it were pulled out. We have stayed in the regular rooms at the GF and prefer those over the villas.

 

[Deb & Bill]

If you go with VGF, I'd book a one bedroom before I'd book a studio for four adult persons.

 

[Ninabeano]

Thanks everyone. Think we will stick to the standard room for now. No bigger villas available online for our dates just yet.