Resort Thread Disney's GRAND FLORIDIAN Resort & Spa + Construction Updates!!

[mrsap]

Progress on the lobby bar (09/07 - 6 AM)View attachment 1002347

Thank you! Hope you have a great time!

 

[TexanInTheMidwest]

I can totally see why no one shares about their "great visit" to the Gym at the Grand Floridian. It's a HIKE from the main building



It's a fairly basic hotel gym - and I know people rarely want to run on a treadmill while at Disney but you'd expect the gym to be "nice" for the flagship hotel. It's a step down for sure from the Dolphin (the only on-property gym I've used regularlly)







The "capacity" say 95 people in the gym



There are towels (and a fridge with cold towels). however there is ONE bathroom - a single stall. I know that the spa is next door, but there's no access to the spa and if you need to go and someone is in there - there is no where else to go. And with nothing else nearby, you are truly....sunk ... ;-)

 

[Cfabar1]

Every time I stay at VGF I pack clothes for the gym, but never seem to make it there...

 

[TexanInTheMidwest]

Every time I stay at VGF I pack clothes for the gym, but never seem to make it there...

It's so funny - when I travel solo I always work out but if I'm with my husband or meeting friends those workouts magically don't work out

 

[TexanInTheMidwest]

Thank you! Hope you have a great time!

Thank you! I will say our check-in / first day was pretty rough - I'll share details and some overall observations once we're back home - I just want to see if impressions on Saturday were a series of cast members having bad days or the "new norm".

 

[2vets]

I can totally see why no one shares about their "great visit" to the Gym at the Grand Floridian. It's a HIKE from the main building

View attachment 1002352

It's a fairly basic hotel gym - and I know people rarely want to run on a treadmill while at Disney but you'd expect the gym to be "nice" for the flagship hotel. It's a step down for sure from the Dolphin (the only on-property gym I've used regularlly)

View attachment 1002353

View attachment 1002354

View attachment 1002355

The "capacity" say 95 people in the gym

View attachment 1002356

There are towels (and a fridge with cold towels). however there is ONE bathroom - a single stall. I know that the spa is next door, but there's no access to the spa and if you need to go and someone is in there - there is no where else to go. And with nothing else nearby, you are truly....sunk ... ;-)

This is great info. Thank you! When I go to WDW during hot months, I usually lean towards staying at CR because there is a great gym with nice showers on the 3rd floor, which gives me a chance to get de-stinkified/de-sweatified before I fly home in the evening. This certainly solidifies that thinking! I know you can shower at the pool restrooms at GF and elsewhere, but I prefer to avoid those as they will inevitably be more used/more crowded.

 

[memgrizz]

Question for everyone…..hope I didn’t miss this in the thread already. Will there be any Christmas decor going up at GF this year? I know there will be no gingerbread house but was curious if they abandoned the decor altogether in the lobby due to construction.

Thanks

 

[Dave006]

Will there be any Christmas decor going up at GF this year?

Yes it will be decorated for Christmas this year it has not been cancelled due to work in the lobby including a large Christmas tree as normal.

Dave

 

[foodiddiedoo]

Yes it will be decorated for Christmas this year it has not been cancelled due to work in the lobby including a large Christmas tree as normal.

Dave

Each of the out-building lobbies has decorations too right?

 

[Cfabar1]

Each of the out-building lobbies has decorations too right?

I think so. I know the villas building does.

 

[PolyRob]

Each of the out-building lobbies has decorations too right?

Each outer building gets smaller trees. This was Conch Key pre-refurb.



Outer buildings are not as extravagant as the main building.

You'll also see poinsettias and white light up reindeer throughout the grounds. It can vary from year to year.

 

[mandy200587]

It looks like from the monorail even the wedding pavilion is getting some Tlc with paint on the outside

 

[TexanInTheMidwest]

This is great info. Thank you! When I go to WDW during hot months, I usually lean towards staying at CR because there is a great gym with nice showers on the 3rd floor, which gives me a chance to get de-stinkified/de-sweatified before I fly home in the evening. This certainly solidifies that thinking! I know you can shower at the pool restrooms at GF and elsewhere, but I prefer to avoid those as they will inevitably be more used/more crowded.

You're welcome. I was shocked there was no shower, no changing room, and only a single toilet and sink in the whole place.

 

[mrsap]

Disney Plans Grand Floridian Entrance Updates in Connection With World Drive Improvements

Disney has submitted a new permit application for the Grand Floridian Modification Project C, according to records available with the South Florida Water Management District.

The application, filed under Application Number 250908-56755, outlines significant updates to the entrance and parking areas at Disney's Grand Floridian Resort & Spa.


Disney Files Permit for Grand Floridian Modification Project C

Project Overview​

The filing describes modifications that will affect both the main entrance and back-of-house operations:

• The main entrance to the Grand Floridian will be reconfigured to connect two of the new roundabouts built as part of the separately permitted World Drive Phase 3 (WDN3) project.
• The entrance to the existing Wedding Pavilion parking lot will be altered due to the WDN3 roadwork. A new driveway further south is planned to maintain access to the pavilion.
• A new back-of-house employee parking lot is also part of the plan.

Connection to World Drive Improvements​

The World Drive Phase 3 project, currently underway, is reshaping the northern gateway into Magic Kingdom and nearby resorts. By tying into the new roundabouts, the Grand Floridian entrance will see changes aimed at better integrating with the updated traffic flow along World Drive.

As with other permits filed through SFWMD, this application marks the start of the review process. No timeline for construction has been included in the filing, but modifications to both guest and employee access at the Grand Floridian are expected as part of the broader infrastructure changes happening around World Drive.

 

[mandy200587]

I snapped these quickly on the way to the monorail, the stairs look to be close to done too

 

[mickey0930]

I did a quick search but could not locate the answer. Anyone knows when the lobby renovations are expected to be complete? TIA

 

[focusondisney]

I did a quick search but could not locate the answer. Anyone knows when the lobby renovations are expected to be complete? TIA

I don’t think they have said a date for completion. The emails about our current stay have said “continuing throughout the year”.

 

[mickey0930]

I don’t think they have said a date for completion. The emails about our current stay have said “continuing throughout the year”.

We are booked there for Feb