Resort Thread Disney's GRAND FLORIDIAN Resort & Spa + Construction Updates!! **LOBBY REFURB STARTED 4/14**

[KittyQ]

Hi! We (the boyfriend and I) will be traveling to Disney for a week in late September. I booked the hotel(s) yesterday. We will be spending 3 nights at POFQ and then 3 nights at the Grand Floridian. I read some very mixed reviews about the deluxe resorts and wether they are really worth the money. Since the boyfriend really liked the look of the Port Orleans resorts I decided to book the French Quarter but only for half of our trip (this he doesn't know). It looks lovely on the outside and the small size appeals to us. I'm also excited to check out the jazz club, the beignets and the boat to Disney Springs. The rooms however seem a little meh. I don't think the boyfriend actually looked at them in detail. Two queen beds (not paying 100$ extra for a king), kind of dark and dated, window that looks out onto the walkways, that weird curtain separating the sleeping / bathroom area, tiny toilet & shower room, a shower curtain (those always end up sticking to some part of your body, all cold and wet). Now I'm aware that these things will likely bother us just a bit but we'll be totally fine for 3 nights. But I don't see us being happy for an entire week in that room so I went ahead and booked a deluxe for the next 3 nights as a surprise for my boyfriend (I'll probably tell him the night before). Also thought it would be a great way to compare the moderate and deluxe category for possible future stays. I don't mind paying more but want to make sure that it is actually worth it. After checking out reviews for all the deluxes I decided to go with the Grand Floridian since it had consistently better reviews than the others (besides AKL but that seems too far away from everything else).
What I am looking for is a real lovely upgrade from POFQ (however nice that one might be). I'd like fantastic service, a stunning room and a beautiful pool (I don't mind that there might be some construction still going on in the main building) and ideally a 'Wow!' from the boyfriend. Did I make the right choice?
Also:

1. Is there daily housekeeping at the GF? Apparently for the moderates housekeeping every other day is a thing?
2. Do they provide turndown service for all rooms? We'll be in a standard resort view room. Or do I have to request it?
3. How likely are we to get a room with a king bed if I ask for it? I'd really love one after the two queen beds at POFQ.

Whew, I hope that wasn't too long! It was SO hard to decide on a resort and I just really hope that going with the GF will turn out to be the right choice!

 

[QueenofPrideRock]

Hi! We (the boyfriend and I) will be traveling to Disney for a week in late September. I booked the hotel(s) yesterday. We will be spending 3 nights at POFQ and then 3 nights at the Grand Floridian. I read some very mixed reviews about the deluxe resorts and wether they are really worth the money. Since the boyfriend really liked the look of the Port Orleans resorts I decided to book the French Quarter but only for half of our trip (this he doesn't know). It looks lovely on the outside and the small size appeals to us. I'm also excited to check out the jazz club, the beignets and the boat to Disney Springs. The rooms however seem a little meh. I don't think the boyfriend actually looked at them in detail. Two queen beds (not paying 100$ extra for a king), kind of dark and dated, window that looks out onto the walkways, that weird curtain separating the sleeping / bathroom area, tiny toilet & shower room, a shower curtain (those always end up sticking to some part of your body, all cold and wet). Now I'm aware that these things will likely bother us just a bit but we'll be totally fine for 3 nights. But I don't see us being happy for an entire week in that room so I went ahead and booked a deluxe for the next 3 nights as a surprise for my boyfriend (I'll probably tell him the night before). Also thought it would be a great way to compare the moderate and deluxe category for possible future stays. I don't mind paying more but want to make sure that it is actually worth it. After checking out reviews for all the deluxes I decided to go with the Grand Floridian since it had consistently better reviews than the others (besides AKL but that seems too far away from everything else).
What I am looking for is a real lovely upgrade from POFQ (however nice that one might be). I'd like fantastic service, a stunning room and a beautiful pool (I don't mind that there might be some construction still going on in the main building) and ideally a 'Wow!' from the boyfriend. Did I make the right choice?
Also:

1. Is there daily housekeeping at the GF? Apparently for the moderates housekeeping every other day is a thing?
2. Do they provide turndown service for all rooms? We'll be in a standard resort view room. Or do I have to request it?
3. How likely are we to get a room with a king bed if I ask for it? I'd really love one after the two queen beds at POFQ.

Whew, I hope that wasn't too long! It was SO hard to decide on a resort and I just really hope that going with the GF will turn out to be the right choice!

I LOVE the GF (staying there at the end of August!), but be aware construction will be happening in the main building and lobby while you're there. Still a lovely resort but adjust your expectations accordingly. There are lots of great photos and info in both the main GF thread on the resorts board and the Villas thread on the DVC resorts board. (Edit: duh, this EXACT thread. Sorry, too many tabs open and I thought I was replying elsewhere! Sorry!)

As far as moderates ... it has admittedly been years since I've stayed in one, but I know there is a lot of love for POFQ on this board. I'm trying Caribbean Beach next which I am excited about. They have a sliding door separating the bathroom area vs just a curtain (didn't even realize some mods still had this...) and the entire Trinidad section has recently-refurbed Little Mermaid rooms that look amazing. Disney Tourist Blog has a great overview of the rooms and how to get a shot at staying in one: https://www.disneytouristblog.com/new-little-mermaid-rooms-caribbean-beach-resort/

I have read that CBR's other rooms are hit and miss, with a very slow refresh crawling its way through the resort. I don't mind the look of the current rooms (they feel very vintage Polynesian to me, which appeals to my nostalgia), but it is a bit of a matter of luck on whether you get a new room with hardwood or an old one with carpet.

I'd check out the threads for the mods you're considering too!

 

[QueenofPrideRock]

Hi! We (the boyfriend and I) will be traveling to Disney for a week in late September. I booked the hotel(s) yesterday. We will be spending 3 nights at POFQ and then 3 nights at the Grand Floridian. I read some very mixed reviews about the deluxe resorts and wether they are really worth the money. Since the boyfriend really liked the look of the Port Orleans resorts I decided to book the French Quarter but only for half of our trip (this he doesn't know). It looks lovely on the outside and the small size appeals to us. I'm also excited to check out the jazz club, the beignets and the boat to Disney Springs. The rooms however seem a little meh. I don't think the boyfriend actually looked at them in detail. Two queen beds (not paying 100$ extra for a king), kind of dark and dated, window that looks out onto the walkways, that weird curtain separating the sleeping / bathroom area, tiny toilet & shower room, a shower curtain (those always end up sticking to some part of your body, all cold and wet). Now I'm aware that these things will likely bother us just a bit but we'll be totally fine for 3 nights. But I don't see us being happy for an entire week in that room so I went ahead and booked a deluxe for the next 3 nights as a surprise for my boyfriend (I'll probably tell him the night before). Also thought it would be a great way to compare the moderate and deluxe category for possible future stays. I don't mind paying more but want to make sure that it is actually worth it. After checking out reviews for all the deluxes I decided to go with the Grand Floridian since it had consistently better reviews than the others (besides AKL but that seems too far away from everything else).
What I am looking for is a real lovely upgrade from POFQ (however nice that one might be). I'd like fantastic service, a stunning room and a beautiful pool (I don't mind that there might be some construction still going on in the main building) and ideally a 'Wow!' from the boyfriend. Did I make the right choice?
Also:

1. Is there daily housekeeping at the GF? Apparently for the moderates housekeeping every other day is a thing?
2. Do they provide turndown service for all rooms? We'll be in a standard resort view room. Or do I have to request it?
3. How likely are we to get a room with a king bed if I ask for it? I'd really love one after the two queen beds at POFQ.

Whew, I hope that wasn't too long! It was SO hard to decide on a resort and I just really hope that going with the GF will turn out to be the right choice!

Oh, and hopefully someone can confirm but I am 99.9999% sure daily housekeeping is a thing in the non-DVC rooms. I think turndown is back too, upon request?

 

[SkyGuy]

Oh, and hopefully someone can confirm but I am 99.9999% sure daily housekeeping is a thing in the non-DVC rooms. I think turndown is back too, upon request?

I *believe* turndown on request is only available in CL rooms - but I easily could be wrong. I loathe the Ghirardelli chocolate they leave, so even though we generally stay club, I’ve never requested the turndown since 2020 regardless of what category I’ve booked.

 

[QueenofPrideRock]

I *believe* turndown on request is only available in CL rooms - but I easily could be wrong. I loathe the Ghirardelli chocolate they leave, so even though we generally stay club, I’ve never requested the turndown since 2020 regardless of what category I’ve booked.

Oh that's a bummer ... I miss when turndown was more a standard practice in hotels generally. I feel like it's not as much a thing anymore even in nicer resorts.

 

[Guest Mode]

I *believe* turndown on request is only available in CL rooms - but I easily could be wrong. I loathe the Ghirardelli chocolate they leave, so even though we generally stay club, I’ve never requested the turndown since 2020 regardless of what category I’ve booked.

I thought I was the only person who didn't enjoy a mouthful of chocolate after brushing my teeth!

 

[PolyRob]

I thought I was the only person who didn't enjoy a mouthful of chocolate after brushing my teeth!

I loved turndown, even when it got to the point where you had to request it. Regular cleanings were more timely and would happen while my family and I were in the parks for the morning. We'd take our afternoon break to rest and shower before heading out for the night. It was lovely coming back to a refreshed room with the resort TV channel playing, curtains closed, lights dimmed, more fresh towels/toiletries, fluffed pillows, and a GF chocolate! I would just save them for the next day or take them home. Pretty sure I still have some of those chocolates somewhere.

 

[Guest Mode]

I loved turndown, even when it got to the point where you had to request it. Regular cleanings were more timely and would happen while my family and I were in the parks for the morning. We'd take our afternoon break to rest and shower before heading out for the night. It was lovely coming back to a refreshed room with the resort TV channel playing, curtains closed, lights dimmed, more fresh towels/toiletries, fluffed pillows, and a GF chocolate! I would just save them for the next day or take them home. Pretty sure I still have some of those chocolates somewhere.

I loved it too. Sometimes we'd only be away from the room briefly and they would come in and go back out without being noticed. Kind of like the tooth fairy only they'd take the trash and used towels with them

 

[Grace&Carolinesmom]

Hi! We (the boyfriend and I) will be traveling to Disney for a week in late September. I booked the hotel(s) yesterday. We will be spending 3 nights at POFQ and then 3 nights at the Grand Floridian. I read some very mixed reviews about the deluxe resorts and wether they are really worth the money. Since the boyfriend really liked the look of the Port Orleans resorts I decided to book the French Quarter but only for half of our trip (this he doesn't know). It looks lovely on the outside and the small size appeals to us. I'm also excited to check out the jazz club, the beignets and the boat to Disney Springs. The rooms however seem a little meh. I don't think the boyfriend actually looked at them in detail. Two queen beds (not paying 100$ extra for a king), kind of dark and dated, window that looks out onto the walkways, that weird curtain separating the sleeping / bathroom area, tiny toilet & shower room, a shower curtain (those always end up sticking to some part of your body, all cold and wet). Now I'm aware that these things will likely bother us just a bit but we'll be totally fine for 3 nights. But I don't see us being happy for an entire week in that room so I went ahead and booked a deluxe for the next 3 nights as a surprise for my boyfriend (I'll probably tell him the night before). Also thought it would be a great way to compare the moderate and deluxe category for possible future stays. I don't mind paying more but want to make sure that it is actually worth it. After checking out reviews for all the deluxes I decided to go with the Grand Floridian since it had consistently better reviews than the others (besides AKL but that seems too far away from everything else).
What I am looking for is a real lovely upgrade from POFQ (however nice that one might be). I'd like fantastic service, a stunning room and a beautiful pool (I don't mind that there might be some construction still going on in the main building) and ideally a 'Wow!' from the boyfriend. Did I make the right choice?
Also:

1. Is there daily housekeeping at the GF? Apparently for the moderates housekeeping every other day is a thing?
2. Do they provide turndown service for all rooms? We'll be in a standard resort view room. Or do I have to request it?
3. How likely are we to get a room with a king bed if I ask for it? I'd really love one after the two queen beds at POFQ.

Whew, I hope that wasn't too long! It was SO hard to decide on a resort and I just really hope that going with the GF will turn out to be the right choice!

You chose our 2 favorite resorts! We love them both for different reasons. Yes, POFQ rooms are a bit basic but they are a decent size and clean. The resort grounds are quaint and have completely different "feels" between day and night that are just lovely. Enjoy the food and the boat to DS.

GF will be a great fit for enjoying more relaxing time around the pool and hanging out on the balcony enjoying the sights and sounds of the resort with MK sounds in the distance. Not sure how many king beds there are in the outer buildings but it doesn't hurt to ask.

Have a great trip!!

 

[KittyQ]

Thank you all for your replies!
I've actually already booked both hotels. I saw a youtube video posted yesterday that showed scaffolding all around what I think must be the main building. There was also a disclaimer when I booked. I think it'll be fine. All the outer buildings + standard rooms are done, right? It's just the club level rooms in the main building now, isn't it? I will say I'm confused about the lobby. I read somewhere they would get to it in early 2024 but then in the pictures it looks like they've already started? Either way I think it'll be fine
Is there anyway I can request a king bed (and inquire about the turndown situation) before we get there? I just saw you can request upper or lower floors and distance to elevator etc.
Also has everyone been happy with the service?

 

[mrsap]

Lobby Repainting Underway at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort

 

[leiaorgana]

In case anyone wants the July recreational calendar

 

[gottalovepluto]

Any idea what it’s like dining at GF Cafe? I’m looking to do an early dinner there but weary of feeling like I’m dining in a construction zone.

 

[leiaorgana]

We ate dinner there on Wednesday night around 7:20pm and had breakfast there yesterday around 9:00am and it was perfectly fine. They had the blinds pulled down so that you couldn’t see out since all of the construction walls are there atm (I think this is a permanent thing for now) but it still felt light and airy to us. If you didn’t know you wouldn’t be able to tell tbh

Honestly, I was really worried about all of the construction going on before arriving but aside from having the construction people around who are working and hosing down the paths every now and again to clean up all of the debris so guests don’t have to walk through it and then having some scaffolding/walls up around some of the main building and the cranes in the lobby yesterday morning, it was hardly even noticeable any work was going on. We didn’t use the pools in the day though so can’t speak on that but we had a great stay and now I feel very spoiled from staying there these last couple of days.

 

[mindy20]

Does anyone have current pictures of the 2 Bedroom Club level Suite ? All I can find is really outdated looking pictures.

 

[sdk1231]

Thanks for your input! I've never stayed at GF, so I am very unfamiliar with the various views. I'm just looking for a nice comfortable room with a pleasant view and a nice pool. It sounds like resort view will be fine, so I think I will switch to that. Have stayed at Swan and Dolphin many times, but this trip is going to be more resort centered since September is so hot. I have an AP, so going to a park every day and staying open to close is not on my agenda. Thanks again!

I almost always stay Resort View at the Grand and just take my chances. I've stayed in most of the buildings at this point and have never been disappointed with my view.

 

[DisneyHardin]

Does anyone have current pictures of the 2 Bedroom Club level Suite ? All I can find is really outdated looking pictures.

The Club level rooms are getting refurbished right now, so there aren’t going to be pictures yet of the updated rooms.

 

[WishesQueen]

So curious what's going on in the lobby....Is anyone there or going?

Do you think the stores will be refurbished?

 

[GADisneyDad14]

There are 2BR Suites in the outer buildings that are done. I know I’ve seen some pics somewhere although it may have been a 1BR, but they would be similar. It may have been on the CL thread.

 

[sdk1231]

There are 2BR Suites in the outer buildings that are done. I know I’ve seen some pics somewhere although it may have been a 1BR, but they would be similar. It may have been on the CL thread.

I posted some pictures of a refurbished 2 bedroom Villa in the GF Villas thread in Nov 2022. While probably somewhat different in layout than the Outer Building Suites, those photos might provide a kind of "sneak peek".