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

[mrsap]

Wanted to cross post from the VGF Thread. You can see original post HERE.


“Someone reported in a Facebook group that Grand Floridian is scanning magic bands and giving out bracelets to use the pool today and that it’s a permanent change. So excited for this change and I hope they start doing it at all pools!”

If anyone is there, or will be there, can you confirm this, please? Thanks!

 

[Cfabar1]

Thrilled about this! Especially with summer coming, this is a necessary change....

 

[GADisneyDad14]

Pics from Saturday 5/24. FWIW.

 

[mrsap]

Pics from Saturday 5/24. FWIW.

Thank you for sharing!!

 

[RD-SOX]

Wanted to cross post from the VGF Thread. You can see original post HERE.


“Someone reported in a Facebook group that Grand Floridian is scanning magic bands and giving out bracelets to use the pool today and that it’s a permanent change. So excited for this change and I hope they start doing it at all pools!”

If anyone is there, or will be there, can you confirm this, please? Thanks!

I hope this is true, we were just there at the beginning of May and we watched a family of 5 take over multiple chairs with their stroller and balloons. Said they were at MK for the day but came over here to use the pool for a break. They werent even trying to hide the fact they were not resort guests. I mentioned it to a cast member and they said there is nothing they can do but are aware of this problem and are working on it, I hope this is the beginning of scanning in. This is not the first time we have seen it at GF. Funny how virtually every resort on property you have to scan in for the pool but not the one right next to MK..

 

[Cfabar1]

Funny how virtually every resort on property you have to scan in for the pool but not the one right next to MK..

Yes, and funny too because the flagship resort doesn't even have all that great of a pool... Most Disney pools are underwhelming, and these (with the possible exception of the splashed) certainly live up to that reputation....

 

[PinkPixel]

I hope this is true, we were just there at the beginning of May and we watched a family of 5 take over multiple chairs with their stroller and balloons. Said they were at MK for the day but came over here to use the pool for a break. They werent even trying to hide the fact they were not resort guests. I mentioned it to a cast member and they said there is nothing they can do but are aware of this problem and are working on it, I hope this is the beginning of scanning in. This is not the first time we have seen it at GF. Funny how virtually every resort on property you have to scan in for the pool but not the one right next to MK..

Countless Instagram and tik tok posts also proclaim the Resort amenities are “free” to anyone and how to spend a “non-park day” at deluxe resorts. Movies, games, fireworks viewing etc. Really makes me question the safety of the resorts.

 

[trishadono]

Wanted to cross post from the VGF Thread. You can see original post HERE.


“Someone reported in a Facebook group that Grand Floridian is scanning magic bands and giving out bracelets to use the pool today and that it’s a permanent change. So excited for this change and I hope they start doing it at all pools!”

If anyone is there, or will be there, can you confirm this, please? Thanks!

I saw it at both pools Sunday. We took boat from MK to gf then walked to poly tower.

Since I’m nosy I watched. It was random. It wasn’t upon entering the pool. At courtyard pool a girl walked around and randomly gave them out. Only about 1/2 the guests appeared to have the bands.

Then walking past beach pool again no one at the gate but some guests had a band but as many did not.

Did not make sense. Looked like covering themselves by trying (yet not succeeding) to limit access.

 

[dansdad]

Looked like covering themselves by trying (yet not succeeding) to limit access.

Which is what I was afraid would be the case. Disappointing, but not surprising.

 

[foodiddiedoo]

Sorry if this has been answered somewhere in the 343 pages of the thread: Is GF going to do any Christmas decorations this year? I booked a 4 night girl’s trip with my best friend for November 14-18 in the BPK DVC studios. I was super excited since I own BLT and a DVC CM basically told me “you want to stay at GF during Christmas time?? GOOD LUCK!”, so getting a room was super exciting. The day after I made my reservation (and borrowed points that I can’t put back for 2025) the news broke for the Gingerbread house not coming back this year. This was about 90% of the reason I wanted to do GF for this trip since I’ve never seen the Christmas displays and the gingerbread. The other 10% was that my BFF has never stayed at GF once. So we’re both pretty sad that we won’t get to see the awesome gingerbread house. Does GF decorate in other ways? Will the lobby of each of the buildings have anything? I was hoping there’d be something festive!

 

[Dave006]

Did not make sense. Looked like covering themselves by trying (yet not succeeding) to limit access.

Looks like pool access control theater aka just like TSA at the airport. It might just be due to the holiday weekend. Hopefully we will get additional reports of recreation CMs checking guests and providing wrist bands.

Dave

 

[PolyRob]

Looked like covering themselves by trying (yet not succeeding) to limit access.

We need Y&B Club level policing of pool access!

Looks like pool access control theater aka just like TSA at the airport. It might just be due to the holiday weekend. Hopefully we will get additional reports of recreation CMs checking guests and providing wrist bands.

Dave

This was my thought... just for the holiday weekend. It will be interesting to see if it continues.

 

[PolyRob]

Sorry if this has been answered somewhere in the 343 pages of the thread: Is GF going to do any Christmas decorations this year? I booked a 4 night girl’s trip with my best friend for November 14-18 in the BPK DVC studios. I was super excited since I own BLT and a DVC CM basically told me “you want to stay at GF during Christmas time?? GOOD LUCK!”, so getting a room was super exciting. The day after I made my reservation (and borrowed points that I can’t put back for 2025) the news broke for the Gingerbread house not coming back this year. This was about 90% of the reason I wanted to do GF for this trip since I’ve never seen the Christmas displays and the gingerbread. The other 10% was that my BFF has never stayed at GF once. So we’re both pretty sad that we won’t get to see the awesome gingerbread house. Does GF decorate in other ways? Will the lobby of each of the buildings have anything? I was hoping there’d be something festive!

GF has decorations all over the resort including white light up reindeer, garland, wreaths, etc. Each outer building typically receives a MUCH smaller tree than the main lobby. Disney has not said anything about the main lobby tree, but specifically noted no "gingerbread display" so we still see the tree!

 

[gottalovepluto]

Sorry if this has been answered somewhere in the 343 pages of the thread: Is GF going to do any Christmas decorations this year? I booked a 4 night girl’s trip with my best friend for November 14-18 in the BPK DVC studios. I was super excited since I own BLT and a DVC CM basically told me “you want to stay at GF during Christmas time?? GOOD LUCK!”, so getting a room was super exciting. The day after I made my reservation (and borrowed points that I can’t put back for 2025) the news broke for the Gingerbread house not coming back this year. This was about 90% of the reason I wanted to do GF for this trip since I’ve never seen the Christmas displays and the gingerbread. The other 10% was that my BFF has never stayed at GF once. So we’re both pretty sad that we won’t get to see the awesome gingerbread house. Does GF decorate in other ways? Will the lobby of each of the buildings have anything? I was hoping there’d be something festive!

I too believe there is hope for the other decorations. Disney knows holiday decor is important, even the Poly Tower that didn't open until mid-Dec last year received holiday decor.

That said- you are not traveling during the holiday season for hotels. The Gingerbread house was an exception, it goes up quite early even when the rest of GF isn't decorated. Disney hotels randomly get their decor in the couple weeks leading up to Thanksgiving week, so with a departure of 11/18 I am sorry to say it is rather possible GF will not have been decorated yet. I travel this time of year to Disney often, I never take holiday decor into account. Sometimes it's there, sometimes it's not, sometimes the resort is decorated while I sleep (that's cool!). For these dates I highly encourage you to pick the resort you two want to stay at based on amenities, location, etc.

 

[foodiddiedoo]

I too believe there is hope for the other decorations. Disney knows holiday decor is important, even the Poly Tower that didn't open until mid-Dec last year received holiday decor.

That said- you are not traveling during the holiday season for hotels. The Gingerbread house was an exception, it goes up quite early even when the rest of GF isn't decorated. Disney hotels randomly get their decor in the couple weeks leading up to Thanksgiving week, so with a departure of 11/18 I am sorry to say it is rather possible GF will not have been decorated yet. I travel this time of year to Disney often, I never take holiday decor into account. Sometimes it's there, sometimes it's not, sometimes the resort is decorated while I sleep (that's cool!). For these dates I highly encourage you to pick the resort you two want to stay at based on amenities, location, etc.

There’s no changing with the amount of points I used. Still want to be at GF to treat my friend and I love it there! It’s fine if there’s no decor, we’ll just do a Christmas Party.

 

[mrsap]

Sorry if this has been answered somewhere in the 343 pages of the thread: Is GF going to do any Christmas decorations this year? I booked a 4 night girl’s trip with my best friend for November 14-18 in the BPK DVC studios. I was super excited since I own BLT and a DVC CM basically told me “you want to stay at GF during Christmas time?? GOOD LUCK!”, so getting a room was super exciting. The day after I made my reservation (and borrowed points that I can’t put back for 2025) the news broke for the Gingerbread house not coming back this year. This was about 90% of the reason I wanted to do GF for this trip since I’ve never seen the Christmas displays and the gingerbread. The other 10% was that my BFF has never stayed at GF once. So we’re both pretty sad that we won’t get to see the awesome gingerbread house. Does GF decorate in other ways? Will the lobby of each of the buildings have anything? I was hoping there’d be something festive!

I’d assume the other decorations will be up. Holiday music is usually played around the resort, as well as from the piano player in the lobby (who will hopefully be there as well.) The past few years the decorations went up as follows:


2019:

Gingerbread House

*Construction Began - 11/1

*Opened - 11/13

Christmas Tree/Resort Decorations

* Tree/Resort Decorations - 11/22


2020:

Gingerbread House

*Construction Began - N/A

*Opened - N/A

Christmas Tree/Resort Decorations

* Tree/Resort Decorations - 11/13


2021:

Gingerbread House

*Construction Began - 11/1

*Opened - 11/10

Christmas Tree/Resort Decorations

* Tree/Resort Decorations - 11/12


2022:

Gingerbread House

*Construction Began - 11/1

*Opened - 11/9

Christmas Tree/Resort Decorations

* Tree/Resort Decorations - 11/21


2023:

Gingerbread House

*Construction Began - 10/31

*Opened - 11/8

Christmas Tree/Resort Decorations

* Tree/Resort Decorations - 11/20


2024:

Gingerbread House

*Tile Floor Set/Lobby Cleared - 10/28

*Construction Began/Siding & Shingles Added - 10/31

*Gingerbread House Completed - 11/1

*Gingerbread House Treat Stand Opened - 11/6

Christmas Tree/Resort Decorations

*Tree/Decorations - 11/12



Feel free to check out the Resort Holiday Decorations Thread HERE to see pictures or you can go back on this thread to November/December dates. It will still be amazing. I’ll still be there!! Enjoy!

 

[foodiddiedoo]

I’d assume the other decorations will be up. Holiday music is usually played around the resort, as well as from the piano player in the lobby (who will hopefully be there as well.) The past few years the decorations went up as follows:


2019:

Gingerbread House

*Construction Began - 11/1

*Opened - 11/13

Christmas Tree/Resort Decorations

* Tree/Resort Decorations - 11/22


2020:

Gingerbread House

*Construction Began - N/A

*Opened - N/A

Christmas Tree/Resort Decorations

* Tree/Resort Decorations - 11/13


2021:

Gingerbread House

*Construction Began - 11/1

*Opened - 11/10

Christmas Tree/Resort Decorations

* Tree/Resort Decorations - 11/12


2022:

Gingerbread House

*Construction Began - 11/1

*Opened - 11/9

Christmas Tree/Resort Decorations

* Tree/Resort Decorations - 11/21


2023:

Gingerbread House

*Construction Began - 10/31

*Opened - 11/8

Christmas Tree/Resort Decorations

* Tree/Resort Decorations - 11/20


2024:

Gingerbread House

*Tile Floor Set/Lobby Cleared - 10/28

*Construction Began/Siding & Shingles Added - 10/31

*Gingerbread House Completed - 11/1

*Gingerbread House Treat Stand Opened - 11/6

Christmas Tree/Resort Decorations

*Tree/Decorations - 11/12



Feel free to check out the Resort Holiday Decorations Thread HERE to see pictures or you can go back on this thread to November/December dates. It will still be amazing. I’ll still be there!! Enjoy!

Thank you. Feels as if it’s a crapshoot if it’ll be up like a PP mentioned. 11/12 would be great 11/20 not so much!

 

[Dave006]

Thank you. Feels as if it’s a crapshoot if it’ll be up like a PP mentioned. 11/12 would be great 11/20 not so much!

The Christmas decorations are done on a lottery system, and each resort gets assigned a date based the lottery results. The work is done by a single team that moves from resort to resort, and make Christmas decorations appear overnight.

No specific dates are never announced but maybe this year since the Ginger Bread house is not happening, the GF might get a boost but who knows at this early date.

Dave

 

[Leight19]

Countless Instagram and tik tok posts also proclaim the Resort amenities are “free” to anyone and how to spend a “non-park day” at deluxe resorts. Movies, games, fireworks viewing etc. Really makes me question the safety of the resorts.

One thing to clarify is to me it’s clear the pool is resort guest only. However the rest of stuff you mention (movie, games, and fireworks) I never viewed as resort guest only. I always presumed those were open to anybody who visits resort (especially dining guests). Is it Disney policy these are only for resort guests staying at that resort?