Disney's GRAND FLORIDIAN RESORT & SPA Information & Questions + Construction Updates

[jenjersnap]

Dearly hoping they’re on time with that refurb, we check in on the 18th…

We check in on the 14th in the early afternoon and planned to immediately head to Poly on the boat.

 

[Dave006]

It's truly insane. At Disney's flagship resort, there is no direct transportation to one of the parks.

Hmm it is the same for the Polynesian and the Contemporary. Not sure that it is insane but is asking guests to take the resort Monorail from the Polynesian to the TTC to catch the Epcot Monorail also insane?

Dave

 

[gregskellington]

Hmm it is the same for the Polynesian and the Contemporary. Not sure that it is insane but is asking guests to take the resort Monorail from the Polynesian to the TTC to catch the Epcot Monorail also insane?

Dave

Neither are Disney's flagship resort. The Polynesian you could argue has direct transport since the resort is small and has a walking path to the TTC.

The Contemporary is the worst Deluxe resort IMO so I'm not one to ask whether it's insane that they don't have it. To me, yes, it is.

 

[Dug720]

It's truly insane. At Disney's flagship resort, there is no direct transportation to one of the parks.

How exactly would you suggest they do refurbishments and repairs that take more than one overnight?

 

[kylenne]

Neither are Disney's flagship resort. The Polynesian you could argue has direct transport since the resort is small and has a walking path to the TTC.

The Grand was built in the 80s, long after the core transportation system was designed and built. WDW is the size of a city. It is just not realistic or reasonable to expect any one resort to have direct access to all four parks, even the “flagship”.

 

[mrsap]

*Construction Notes*

Updated 9/9/24

​

*9/9/24 - Dock Refurbishment Between Grand Floridian and Magic Kingdom - Temporarily Unavailable until 9/14/24.


*8/27/24 - Gaspy’s Patio Construction has begun. Photos can be found HERE and HERE.

*Work on the Lobby has NOT STARTED to date.

*7/25/24 - M. Mouse Mercantile has REOPENED!

*6/25/24 - Announced Refurbishment of the Convention Center from Summer 2025-Fall 2025.

*M. Mouse Mercantile STILL CLOSED for Refurbishment at Disney's Grand Floridian Resort. Expected to Reopen July 13.

*Work on the Lobby has NOT STARTED to date.

*6/1/24 (estimated) - Construction outside of Porte Cochere/Monorail Platform area has now been completed. Scaffolding has been removed from the area.

​

*5/20/24 - M. Mouse Mercantile NOW CLOSED for Refurbishment at Disney's Grand Floridian Resort. Expected to Reopen July 13.

*Work has NOT started on the lobby as of today.

*4/29/24 - M. Mouse Mercantile Closing for Refurbishment at Disney's Grand Floridian Resort Starting May 13 to Mid-July

As of 4/17/24, the only visible construction at The Grand was located outside the Main Building. Pictures taken during my trip last week can be viewed below. According to emails sent to guests, as well as blogs, work on the Lobby should begin soon. NO DATES HAVE BEEN GIVEN AS FAR AS START OR COMPLETION DATES. As information becomes available, I will be sure to update this thread (Page 1 included). No information has been given regarding any additional work at this time. I’d appreciate anyone who has trips coming up, if they’d kindly post any new construction indoors or out. I’d love to keep this thread as up to date as possible. Thanks so much!!!

Current Lobby State: REFURBISHMENT HAS NOT STARTED.

EMAILS SENT TO GUESTS

Letter Sent to Guests:

Dear Guest,

In an effort to continually enhance the Guest experience here at the Walt Disney World® Resort, we often refresh our offerings and atmosphere. In preparation for your upcoming stay, we would like to make you aware of renovations that will be taking place during your visit. While we work our magic, you will see or hear construction around Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa – including our lobby – during daytime hours.

Letter sent to International Guests:

"Dear Guest,

Since March 2022, Disney's Grand Floridian Resort & Spa has been undergoing a period of enhancement to continuously improve the magic of this fantastic Resort.

Walt Disney Travel Company International have just been made aware that some aspects of this ongoing period of enhancement will continue to take place during your stay through 2025. This will include some minor work where the lobby will be undergoing some enhancements but will remain fully accessible. We would like to take the opportunity to assure you that these minor enhancements will not deter from the comfort and luxury of your stay at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa.

We wish to confirm that all amenities, including dining, shopping, spa, and recreation including all pools and water play areas will be open for your enjoyment. We’d like to remind you about just some of the many incredible experiences at this Resort."

 

[gregskellington]

How exactly would you suggest they do refurbishments and repairs that take more than one overnight?

The Grand was built in the 80s, long after the core transportation system was designed and built. WDW is the size of a city. It is just not realistic or reasonable to expect any one resort to have direct access to all four parks, even the “flagship”.

You both seem to be misunderstanding. Direct access to all four parks can be as simple as bus access from that resort, not needing to make your way to the TTC and transferring to the Epcot monorail. Which is exactly what the original post I responded to was indicating.

 

[focusondisney]

We were in a 2nd floor Club Level room just over Gasparillas. Grabbed a few photos of the construction yesterday & this morning.

 

[mrsap]

We were in a 2nd floor Club Level room just over Gasparillas. Grabbed a few photos of the construction yesterday & this morning. View attachment 893354View attachment 893355View attachment 893356View attachment 893357

Thank you so much! Hope you had fun and hope you are feeling better soon!

 

[kylenne]

You both seem to be misunderstanding. Direct access to all four parks can be as simple as bus access from that resort, not needing to make your way to the TTC and transferring to the Epcot monorail. Which is exactly what the original post I responded to was indicating.

I understood you perfectly fine. But you seem to misunderstand the logistics of the transportation network. Disney’s multimodal transit system is designed with an eye towards reducing bus usage, not increasing it—that’s why they built the Skyliner. The bus fleet is enormous and requires a lot of resources to maintain. IMO the reason the buses are treated as a contingency option at every resort with alternative modes of transport is largely because every route that gets added would require more resources than Disney believes would be worth for a redundant mode. Every bus route requires investment in staff, actual buses, and the real time tracking and predictive scheduling systems they use. When the Skyliner first opened, Pop still had buses running to Epcot and HS for a very brief time. That was very quickly done away with.

As well, the flip side of your “it’s the flagship!” argument could very well be, “why am I paying all this money to stay at the Grand Floridian just to take a bus to the parks when I could do the same from the All Stars!” These things are so subjective. A lot of people also scoff at the deluxes not having food courts like the values and mods do, but I don’t see too many people clamoring for the Garden View room to get converted into one. The monorail is clearly positioned by Disney as an amenity, it’s the most iconic mode of transportation on property, and a large part of the premium rates charged for the MK resorts.

But this conversation like many I see on here about Disney Transport is just a reminder to me that many Disney guests simply aren’t used to public transportation and its quirks. No shade or disrespect intended. I just don’t find it onerous or inconvenient to transfer lines (walking around a ramp is considerably less effort than transferring from the 4/5 to the 2/3 at Fulton Street in Manhattan). If I need to get somewhere on property fast for whatever reason, I just rideshare. If others do find it annoying, there’s 18 other resorts you can stay at that will let you take a bus directly to Epcot. I would prefer Disney spend bus resources on lines that are actually necessary and not redundant.

 

[gregskellington]

I understood you perfectly fine. But you seem to misunderstand the logistics of the transportation network. Disney’s multimodal transit system is designed with an eye towards reducing bus usage, not increasing it—that’s why they built the Skyliner. The bus fleet is enormous and requires a lot of resources to maintain. IMO the reason the buses are treated as a contingency option at every resort with alternative modes of transport is largely because every route that gets added would require more resources than Disney believes would be worth for a redundant mode. Every bus route requires investment in staff, actual buses, and the real time tracking and predictive scheduling systems they use. When the Skyliner first opened, Pop still had buses running to Epcot and HS for a very brief time. That was very quickly done away with.

As well, the flip side of your “it’s the flagship!” argument could very well be, “why am I paying all this money to stay at the Grand Floridian just to take a bus to the parks when I could do the same from the All Stars!” These things are so subjective. A lot of people also scoff at the deluxes not having food courts like the values and mods do, but I don’t see too many people clamoring for the Garden View room to get converted into one. The monorail is clearly positioned by Disney as an amenity, it’s the most iconic mode of transportation on property, and a large part of the premium rates charged for the MK resorts.

But this conversation like many I see on here about Disney Transport is just a reminder to me that many Disney guests simply aren’t used to public transportation and its quirks. No shade or disrespect intended. I just don’t find it onerous or inconvenient to transfer lines (walking around a ramp is considerably less effort than transferring from the 4/5 to the 2/3 at Fulton Street in Manhattan). If I need to get somewhere on property fast for whatever reason, I just rideshare. If others do find it annoying, there’s 18 other resorts you can stay at that will let you take a bus directly to Epcot. I would prefer Disney spend bus resources on lines that are actually necessary and not redundant.

If you understood me from the jump, then your first response makes no sense. At either rate, I don't particularly care if every other WDW guest agrees with me or not, it's clearly not a unique sentiment that direct transportation should be offered from the flagship hotel. I responded to a poster that was unhappy about it, don't like it when I'm at the Grand Floridian, and have seen other guests frustrated by it.

I live in a big city. I'm not ignorant to public transportation. But, IMO, it's insane to compare public transportation to what Disney is doing. They are charging luxury prices without offering real luxury. They should be offering something to make up for that, not telling their highest spenders to kick rocks and figure it out at the TTC. If you don't care, don't care. That doesn't bother me. Telling me not to care is strange.

 

[trishadono]

Finally! I keep checking for a BB offer and never find anything we want. Sunday dh said let’s go visit my mom next week in Florida. Ok JetBlue is cheap Monday -Friday 9/16-20.

So I said maybe do a night a Disney? Sure let’s do Thursday.

I checked out of POFQ 9/4 so yesterday at 7 days I had my TA call. Both CR Resort View CL and GF RPC resort view were 40% off.

RPC? Yes please!

Honestly I prefer the food at CR but I love the blue rooms at GF and the enormous 3 level lounge space of GF. We also prefer the lovely grounds of GF.

*copied from my post on CL thread

 

[kylenne]

Finally! I keep checking for a BB offer and never find anything we want. Sunday dh said let’s go visit my mom next week in Florida. Ok JetBlue is cheap Monday -Friday 9/16-20.

So I said maybe do a night a Disney? Sure let’s do Thursday.

I checked out of POFQ 9/4 so yesterday at 7 days I had my TA call. Both CR Resort View CL and GF RPC resort view were 40% off.

RPC? Yes please!

Honestly I prefer the food at CR but I love the blue rooms at GF and the enormous 3 level lounge space of GF. We also prefer the lovely grounds of GF.

*copied from my post on CL thread

That’s so cool! Hoping this bodes well for us being able to get a BB for our post-cruise Poly CL night from our pre cruise GF stay. And maybe see you around!

 

[Grace&Carolinesmom]

Finally! I keep checking for a BB offer and never find anything we want. Sunday dh said let’s go visit my mom next week in Florida. Ok JetBlue is cheap Monday -Friday 9/16-20.

So I said maybe do a night a Disney? Sure let’s do Thursday.

I checked out of POFQ 9/4 so yesterday at 7 days I had my TA call. Both CR Resort View CL and GF RPC resort view were 40% off.

RPC? Yes please!

Honestly I prefer the food at CR but I love the blue rooms at GF and the enormous 3 level lounge space of GF. We also prefer the lovely grounds of GF.

*copied from my post on CL thread

That's a score! What are your dates for the 40% off?

 

[trishadono]

That's a score! What are your dates for the 40% off?

Just a single night 9/19-20. I have a friend that has also gotten 40% in September.

 

[TeamSy]

Random question - if you're staying on the villas side can you still utilize in room dining? We really enjoyed having breakfast delivered every morning but want a bigger room for the next trip and are thinking of doing a villa.

 

[mrsap]

Random question - if you're staying on the villas side can you still utilize in room dining? We really enjoyed having breakfast delivered every morning but want a bigger room for the next trip and are thinking of doing a villa.

Yes, you can! This flyer should be in your room upon arrival.



Here is a link to the full menu HERE.

Enjoy!

 

[OlliePop27]

Does anyone know the best way to access the monorail platform with a stroller? Is there an elevator bank in the lobby? Is there typically a wait during busy times?

Excuse my ignorance - I have not stayed at GF in 20 years and that was without strollers! Thank you.

 

[mrsap]

Does anyone know the best way to access the monorail platform with a stroller? Is there an elevator bank in the lobby? Is there typically a wait during busy times?

Excuse my ignorance - I have not stayed at GF in 20 years and that was without strollers! Thank you.

Yes, there are 2 elevators. One directly across from the grand staircase and one directly across from that one (across the lobby.) Platform is on the 2nd floor. Definitely waits for the monorail during busy/holiday seasons, but nothing excessive. If you do a quick search on YouTube, you should be able to find walk-through videos of the lobby, which will provide a better visual. Enjoy!

 

[mrsap]

Boat Transportation Between Magic Kingdom and Grand Floridian Temporarily Unavailable - expected to be completed by Saturday, September 14​

Boat service between Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa and Magic Kingdom is suspended this week for a refurbishment of the Grand Floridian’s dock.


Grand Floridian Watercraft Transporation Unavailable


We visited the closed dock on Monday, September 9. An A-frame sign directs guests to other transportation options.


The refurbishment of the dock is expected to be completed by the end of this week, on Saturday, September 14. The transportation service should return to normal operations once the work is complete.

We didn’t see any crew members out at work on the dock due to the weather (as you can see by the dark clouds in the photo above), but some of their equipment was stationed outside of temporary green barriers blocking access to the area.

In the meantime, guests are encouraged to take the walking path between the resort and Magic Kingdom or utilize alternative means of transportation, like the resort Monorail.
Click to expand...

Dock Refurbishment should be completed today. Is anyone there that can confirm the boat is back in service to The Grand? Thanks!