GF and AKL

[jtlover]

Hi

We are looking to stay mainly at the AKL resort but hubby has always liked the idea of GF and I wondered whether to stay there for a few nights.

Somone has said that they felt uncomfortable there though with how you dress (any dress code?) and is it really worth paying to stay there in comparison to staying at the AKL for the whole stay?

Sorry I cant decide what to do - but I cant afford to stay at GF for the whole stay!

 

[SeaSpray]

Don't worry about the Grand Floridian being too "formal". It is a beautiful resort, but remember you are at Disney World, after all Our boys were 13 and 10 when we stayed there and we really enjoyed it. We didn't see anyone who was dressed formally, except for a wedding party that was having pictures taken in the lobby. Stay there if that is what you want, and have a great time

P.S. I think AKL/GF is a great split! You can experience two totally different themes and locations, in the same vacation.

 

[eeyoreiscool]

I don't think the dress code applies to the resort in general. We have always seen lots of people wearing the too short summer attire when we are there. As usual there is the mix of dress but we don't see too much dressy items when just wandering around the resort. We would love to stay there for a little bit, but just can't afford it right now.

 

[ducklite]

We dress the same for a stay in either resort. Three of the six restaurants at the GF have a dress code that ranges from business casual to jacket required, but in the lobby areas and around the grounds there's no dress code.

Anne

 

[Marimar]

I say go for it! We are splitting our stay between AKL and GF as well Don't get too hung up on the dress code. My understanding is it only applies to restaurants, and not all of them.

 

[jtlover]

So GF is worth staying at a few days as opposed to staying full time at AKL?

 

[LukenDC]

I recommend that you stay at the AKL first and then transfer to GF for the remainder of your stay. That way you will be transferring from a resort with medium sized rooms and limited transportation options to one with large rooms and many transportation options. I wish that I had done that when I did my Poly/AKL split stay in September.

As for dress, nearly everyone that I saw at GF was casually dressed, meaning shorts, t-shirts, sandals. The guests at the GF certainly did not seem snooty.

 

[graygables]

I recommend that you stay at the AKL first and then transfer to GF for the remainder of your stay. That way you will be transferring from a resort with medium sized rooms and limited transportation options to one with large rooms and many transportation options. I wish that I had done that when I did my Poly/AKL split stay in September.

As for dress, nearly everyone that I saw at GF was casually dressed, meaning shorts, t-shirts, sandals. The guests at the GF certainly did not seem snooty.

We had the opposite experience (just to show how different people/times are) We won a trip from Kellogg's and they put us in GF for that portion of our trip, then me moved to AKL for the days I was paying for. Everyone in my family (3 DDs, DH, and me) all felt that GF (CMs and guests) were a bit too much for us. Mind you, I grew up in Europe and have travelled extensively and am NOT intimidated by snootiness, but when I'm at WDW on vacation, I have better things to do than be looked down upon b/c I was wearing denim shorts and hikers in the lobby. The check-in CM was probably what started us on the wrong foot...LORD, he was a snot! I was using traveller's checks and Kellogg's had sent us Disney Dollars and he acted like it was SUCH an imposition to put them on our room. We were in Sago Cay and it was still a hike to the monorail (although that was nice for the MK) Getting anywhere else was still pretty much a bus.

By comparison, when we switched resorts and walked into the AKL lobby, everyone in my family visibly relaxed and DH looked at me and said, "Why couldn't we have stayed HERE the whole time???" The GF had really affected how he looked at WDW and NOT in a favorable light! Our stay at AKL was so nice that we returned a year later for 10 days there and it is by far, our favorite place to stay. We are value-oriented, so for us, this is the deluxe resort with the most value: pool, activities, restaurants, savannas.

I think it really depends on your personality. Are you going to be put off by the frou-frou (as DH calls it) of GF? Are you more down-to-earth? Then you will probably feel your vacation dollars are better spent at AKL and then spend some time dining or visiting GF. Do you like Victoriana? Is there something at GF you feel you won't get anywhere else? Then give it a go. You won't know until you try.

 

[HMeyers]

Our family stayed there last month for the 1st time. I was worried also about feeling uncomfortable. We are plain, country-living people. But I have always wanted to stay there since the 1st time I came around the turn on the monorail and saw the GF! I was afraid we wouldn't fit in. But from the time we checked in until check out we were treated great! And besides, you're paying just as much to stay there as anyone else so they are no different than you! I say GO FOR IT!!!! By the way, we have already picked next years dates and we'll be back at the GF

 

[Marimar]

I recommend that you stay at the AKL first and then transfer to GF for the remainder of your stay. That way you will be transferring from a resort with medium sized rooms and limited transportation options to one with large rooms and many transportation options.

That is what we are doing, but mainly because I wanted the last leg of our trip to be MK....out w/a bang type of thing LOL! I don't forsee us visiting MK well into our third or fourth day (unless there is some type of event that we can't catch any other time we are there); we are there for quite a bit of time though. Even if we were only staying there four days, we would not be doing MK until the last two.

 

[Got Quattro?]

I don't think the dress code applies to the resort in general. We have always seen lots of people wearing the too short summer attire when we are there. As usual there is the mix of dress but we don't see too much dressy items when just wandering around the resort. We would love to stay there for a little bit, but just can't afford it right now.

MOST of the people who stay at GF "have money" and generallly those type folks dress up a little more for most every occasion as compared to the "average joe vacationer". I think that's what the poster was reffering to.

It's no big deal. Everyone there is very nice and no one looks down at anyone because they are in vacation mode.

 

[TammiMcMan]

The GF is a very popular resort for weddings and it's not uncommon to see vacationers in shorts and sandals standing near wedding guests in very formal attire. The theme is Victorian and I'm a huge fan, so I love it there. Have never felt out of place and my kids have stayed there from infancy right up through teens. If the theme appeals to you, I'd say go for it.

 

[MrsTink04]

We love the GF and we are about as down-home as they come! DH was worried that we would feel out of place, but we NEVER have and even he loves it! Yeah, you see brides and wedding parties there (we were married there!!!) but after the wedding was said and done, we wore our shorts and T-shirts (I don't get dressed up). You will be fine. Go and enjoy it!!!

 

[Brina]

We just today returned from a split stay, AKL and GF. My kids and my dh all wish that we had stayed at the AKL. I liked our room at the GF - we had an awesome view of the castle (sago cay - 5344), could watch the fireworks and the electric water parade from our balcony. I did the switch mainly to make it easier to get to MK. Overall, the service in AKL was much better than it was at GF. When we wanted to get our car from valet we called down, they answered the phone promptly and the car was ready for us when we got outside. At the GF we were left on hold for over 10 minutes before giving up and going out to ask for the car, which took another 10 minutes. On another occasion they picked up after only 2 or 3 minutes, but then the car was not ready when we got outside - which considering we were walking from Sago Cay, they had plenty of time. We also had a problem when we called the bellman to bring our luggage down when we were checking out. I think he must have been sleeping (it was 5 am). It took 25 minutes for him to get to our room and he looked like he had just thrown his clothes on. At AKL cast members were helpful and cheerful and just really did their jobs wonderfully.

Overall, the monorail to MK was great, and the view of the castle was spectacular (although the rest of the family did not seem to be as impressed as i was) but given the choice between the two hotels, AKL wins hands down.