DVC at Grand Floridian

[wasabi girl]

I've just come from the thread about the bride (s) who are having issues with the Wedding Pavilion due to the construction. It made me wonder about the guests at the Grand Floridian. Likely, they are not being informed either about the noise and view of the construction. At Disney's flagship, premier resort? I would be quite annoyed if I'd paid for the Grand Floridian and I got construction, that is far from a four star experience. I was unlucky enough to have planned an extended family trip in 2008, we chose to stay in the AKL with a Savannah View, and were not informed that AKL was being converted to DVC during our stay. We had jackhammer (sounded like it) noise from 9AM until 5 PM, every single day (9 day trip). Our usual habit was to return to the resort for a shower, a drink on the balcony and a nap before returning to the parks at night. With all of the noise, on that trip, it did not happen. I did explain the situation to the front desk and they appeared baffled as to what noise I could be referring to as the construction was 2 floors above me. They offered nothing, no apology, nothing. I felt I should have been given some notice of the construction and an offer to move our reservations to another resort. Obviously this is all about money
Now I think Kidani Village is beautiful, and I enjoy Sanaa, but I also feel that AKL is not the resort it once was. I think it has been lessened by turning it into DVC. I feel that the Grand Floridian too will be lessened. Is a four star resort compatible with a timeshare? It doesn't seem so to me, what do you guys think?

 

[notaclue]

As someone who has spent a LOT of money buying DVC weeks, I feel your remarks about DVC lessening a Disney resort a tad insulting. Several of the deluxe resorts have both DVC and cash accomodations. In fact DVC is only at the deluxe resorts. I'm sorry you didn't enjoy AKL, but I seriously doubt you can blame it on DVC. You can find construction at any Disney resort.

 

[wasabi girl]

Sorry, wasn't meant to be insulting. I just feel that as a resort guest my experience at AKL post DVC is not the same as my experience pre DVC. There is no longer enough capacity at Mara, the waits for the busses seem much longer than they once were. I think they've increased occupancy without stepping up all of the amenities. I wonder if they will "cheap out" on an addition to the Grand Floridian and add occupancy without adding enough extras...seems to be the way things are being done these days, the experience with the DFW seems to be along the same lines, it is all about squeezing out every penny of profit with ever decreasing concern for the quality of the total experience.

 

[jemgumby]

I agree. I feel that making Disney's Flagship resort into DVC will take away from it's charm and character. If I am staying at The Grand I don't really care if I have a full kitchen......misses the whole point to me. That's just my opinion but I totally see what you are saying OP.

 

[Mazz519]

As a DVC owner I think Disney does a great job adding DVC accomodations at all their high end resorts. we stayed at AKV before DVC was added there and just this last July. Honestly we felt no difference in the service or overall feel of the new resort. The fact that DVC is adding at the Grand Floridian only strengthens my view of DVC and makes me secure in the product that I bought

 

[mariamouse]

OP- I agree with you! I do not mind the DVCs at other deluxe resorts, but do not think Disney's flagship resort should have it. The resort is going to feel much more crowded now and I agree that I do not equate a luxurious resort with apartment-style accommodations.

 

[padawans]

I also agree with op. If they weren't building it on the beach maybe I would be ok with it. I think it may ruin the beauty of the GF.

 

[CoachBagFanatic]

I completely understand what the OP and others are saying but I have to say for our family that we love the GF no matter what. We are also looking forward to the DVC. Once we stayed at BLT in June 2010, going back to a regular size room is going to be very hard for us. This is why we are returning to BLT in 2012. I always said that when I am on vacation I want nothing to do with my daily chores that I do at home. Well, I have since changed my mind. Having the kitchen for DH and DS is great and being able to have clean clothes to go home with, for me is

 

[♥♥LittleSeaRose♥♥]

I see what the OP is saying as far as not adding any additional amenities to the resort if they are adding more people. I could completely see being irritated by that especially when you are used to a previous standard of service and amenity usage.

Buuuuuuuut.... I think it's great that they are building. I think the buildings are really neat that Disney makes. Also it is not taking away from the number of original accomodations so your chances of getting a room are the same.

I agree with a PP who said it's kind of defeating the purpose of staying in DVC at GF when the main point is service... kind of funny you'd be cooking and cleaning when in the next building over the guests are sending out for laundry service and their dinner is served by the staff...

BUUUUUUT.... on that note I love having a full kitchen and laundry in my hotel room... lots of space and convenience you don't have to use it but it's there if you do! (Plus DVC gets hot tubs in the rooms! )

I'm for DVC and if I could I'd buy into every single DVC they have....

 

[roliepolieoliefan]

I totally agree with the OP. Disney's flagship resort should have stayed just that, a resort without DVC attached onto it.

Part of the beauty of the GF was the way it was originally built with the lagoon and beach. Its a shame Disney has to take away from it , but I guess the almighty dollar speaks . We've all seen it plenty of times, especially lately though, IMOP.

 

[Lynne M]

I agree with a PP who said it's kind of defeating the purpose of staying in DVC at GF when the main point is service... kind of funny you'd be cooking and cleaning when in the next building over the guests are sending out for laundry service and their dinner is served by the staff...

I gotta say, I've owned DVC for 11 years, and not ONCE have I cooked or cleaned or done laundry in a DVC villa. And I've had my dinner served by room service on many, many occasions.

I find the DVC villas to be very luxurious, with amenities you just don't get in a regular resort room. Jacuzzi's, separate bedrooms, multiple TVs, DVD players, multiple bathrooms. And I think most members believe that the GF villas will be a step up, in keeping with Disney's flagship resort.

 

[ElizabethG]

I gotta say, I've owned DVC for 11 years, and not ONCE have I cooked or cleaned or done laundry in a DVC villa. And I've had my dinner served by room service on many, many occasions.

I completely agree with this. I don't understand the sentiment that because the kitchen is there, it would be a shame not to slave over a hot stove for each meal. I love having the kitchen. It is nice to have some cereal there in the morning. We sometimes get take-out from the quick service and bring it back to our room and eat at the dining table in peace and quiet. But, we always get the DDP.

I think that DVC is about luxury living and fits right in with GF.

 

[ElizabethG]

I just had to add this. There is now a post on the touringplans blog about this. The DIS is even mentioned.

http://blog.touringplans.com/2011/0...ruction-shuts-down-wedding-pavilion/#comments

 

[ClareH37]

I'm not a DVC member as it just doesn't work for me based on the resort/room category I enjoy staying at, but see it as a great opportunity to pre-pay all your vacations and have change left over. I have no problem at all with DVC resorts being built at the deluxes, but the exception is the Grand Floridian. I tend to have a view, that others do to, that as the flagship resort it has a certain ambiance and to build a DVC complex, or just to add more rooms DVC or not, would 'spoil' that ambiance, i.e. it will increase guest numbers and therefore the resort will not appear as tranquil as it does now.

That is of course just my opinion, but I'm glad I changed my mind and moved my reservation this November, I wouldn't have been happy paying $$$$ to stay CL there whilst all the construction is going on.

 

[DisneyBride'03]

I am all for DVC at GF....just my 2 cents.....now if thats what the price point was....LOL

 

[ElizabethG]

I'm not a DVC member as it just doesn't work for me based on the resort/room category I enjoy staying at, but see it as a great opportunity to pre-pay all your vacations and have change left over. I have no problem at all with DVC resorts being built at the deluxes, but the exception is the Grand Floridian. I tend to have a view, that others do to, that as the flagship resort it has a certain ambiance and to build a DVC complex, or just to add more rooms DVC or not, would 'spoil' that ambiance, i.e. it will increase guest numbers and therefore the resort will not appear as tranquil as it does now.

That is of course just my opinion, but I'm glad I changed my mind and moved my reservation this November, I wouldn't have been happy paying $$$$ to stay CL there whilst all the construction is going on.

I think the impact on the resort ambiance remains to be seen. In the plans, the new building looks very small. It looks similarily sized to one of the GF satellite buildings. Since the DVC rooms are larger than standard rooms, the total number of guests added will be a small percentage. It is located between the current hotel and the wedding pavillion, so the visible appearance of the resort will be very nice. It will not affect the view of the theme park for anyone at the current resort. The wedding pavillion is closing because they are changing the shoreline around it. (Which I think is just terrible for the poor brides booked there). There will still be construction going on in November, but I don't think it will have much of an impact on anyone staying at GF.

 

[hannahdrewmom]

Overall the people who are buying into DVC are the people who can afford to live luxuriously. (They have to be if they are going to fork over $10,000 plus the maitnance fees and such.) They are the people who can afford to stay at GF. (DVC is not a cheap investment by anymeans.) It makes sense to me that they would have something upscale at GF and offer those accommodations to members who are going to repeatedly come back. Why would they choose to allienat a client base? One of the drawbacks to why we hadn't purchased was that we enjoy the MK resort properties. We like the access and we love the high end deluxe accommodations.

As far as accomodations lacking when DVC was added I have to disagree.... if anything it give resort guests more options. At AK you used to be stuck there with few choices that were close... everything was a bus ride. Now you have an extra property to explore, an extra restaurant, and an extra pool. I don't see this as an issue at all. Bus service is also more consistent... they have more buses running so while the buses might be more crowded they are also more often.

 

[ElizabethB]

We just returned from a stay at GF RPC. I was concerned about the construction, but all we saw was the fence from the GF property to the wedding pavilion. It's still possible to walk to the Poly, as we did one night after dinner.

We did not hear any construction noise at all. It may be that the noisy work hasn't started yet. It looks like the construction will take place a good distance from the current hotel, so it may not be too disturbing for guests.

As for DVC, that seems to be the really profitable part of the Disney hotel business -- nothing like making people pay for a lifetime of vacations in advance! DVC is all Disney has built in the deluxe category for a very long time, which suggests to me that it's a real "cash cow" for Disney.

So, I'm not at all surprised to see DVC being built at GF. I suspect it won't be long before Poly DVC is on the drawing boards! Adding DVC units certainly increases the number of guests at a resort, but if Disney includes another restaurant and a pool or two for the new DVC units, it will probably work out okay. We enjoy Sanaa and think it's a nice addition to the AKL dining line-up.

 

[DebbyLof428]

Sign me up if the Poly offers DVC

 

[tartemis]

I detest the plan to build a GF DVC. The GF is the only resort that my family will stay at BECAUSE it has such a remote and tranquil feel -- I need that break after dealing with the crowds at the parks. And we especially loved the beach by the family pool -- especially at night when we would watch movies there.

We will be there in October, but I'm betting this is the last trip we make to the world for a long time (we previously would go once a year). The GF is BARELY worth the money as is, and if they make it more crowded and take away that tranquility it will push me over the edge into heading to a different yearly vacation.