GF main concierge or BWI deluxe?

[2vets]

Hi, all - It's been forever since I've posted.

OK, so DH has been to WDW once - with me for a convention during FWF. he loved it, but we stayed at CSR, and I think he was a bit underwhelmed with the room. I really like CSR for a moderate, but I have stayed at the Poly, WL, AKL, BCV, CSR, (each a few times) and OFFSITE (never again), so I knew what to expect...I think he had just built up WDW resorts as the end-all, be-all...which they clearly are, but you have to take each category for what it is. I think he needs to see what the Deluxes are like!!!

Anyways, since he enjoyed WDW so much, I thought I'd book us a long weekend down there - we may go with his sister in March, if we do, we'll do 2 standard rooms at WL to accomodate her - he'd love it there, so no biggie.

But...if she can't go, it is just the two of us, and I will splurge on something special for a long weekend during the FWF. I have never done a concierge room before, but I figured, why not give it a try? The BWI deluxe rooms look nice, and the BWI has the convenience of being close to Epcot...but I have to admit, the GF main building concierge sounds great...and those rooms look amazing, more my personal taste...and I'd love to be on the monorail again, I always loved the Poly. Cost is about the same, and I can swing either one with a bit of saving. Now there's just the matter of decisions...

I'd love to hear thoughts from people who have stayed at BWI and GF - I've read some recent reviews that lean me towards GF...but what about the views in the GF main building rooms? We will get there late on Friday night, and experience tells me that getting there late usually sticks you with a room or view that someone else didn't want...I guess the view isn't that big of a deal, but I'd rather not pay that much to look at a dumpster...

Anyone?

Thanks and happy holidays/Christmas/Hanukah, Kwanza, etc etc etc...

 

[Ladyhawke10]

I can't give you specific feedback on staying in the main building...while I've tried to book stays here before it always ended up being sold out for my dates, or else I ended up opting for something less expensive at the last minute because of sticker shock or other last minute expenses...however, it is still my DREAM to stay there someday and definitely plan on one of those turret rooms should I ever marry and have a honeymoon!

That said, having stayed at both the GF and BWI several times, and seen BWI's concierge area, I would vote for the GF main building. The resort is sublime, the lobby is gorgeous, the monorail is great fun, and I think it would be fabulous to relax in the lounge overhearing the music in the lobby. I think it's the best resort experience to be had at WDW

 

[Lives4Disney]

I second the vote for GF RPC. It is WONDERFUL. I just stayed at the BWI in a concierge deluxe room over Thanksgiving (#3227) and service was a major let down. There was nobody to take us up to concierge. We were told to wait in the front desk line. Took 2 phone calls (after 20 min wait) to get somebody - anybody - to take us up. They were so rushed, we didn't get any hotel info or concierge lounge info. It was just a mess. The room was nice & large, but the staff, housekeeping, and God forbid you have any problem there because management is screwy and awful. I would NEVER stay there again. The things that happened to us during our stay there made for aggravation and lots of laughs it was so weird. I know others love the place, but we had the worst stay of over 30 WDW deluxe stays. I think we ran into problems because the BWI was busy, which may also be the case during FWF.

I have stayed in the GF main building several times and that resort has my heart! I love it there. I know what you mean about that late check in, but I think all the GF concierge rooms are nice and have nice views. You can't beat the ambience.

Good luck with your decision & happy planning!

Lives4Disney

 

[lark]

No brainer. Really. The only issue is money, and I think you'll find the GF is considerably more expensive.

But if money is not a concern for you, then (1) congratualtions! ;0), and (2) stay at the GF.

You should note that I say this even though I like BWI a little better overall than the GF if staying in a regular room.

 

[Tinks]

I'm very interested in these responses! I am planning a girls trip (with 3 friends) in August and I'm looking at exactly these options! Is RPC worth it? Should we request a MK castle view and is this an option in the main building? Do they have deluxe rooms like BWI with the extra space?


I really like the set up of the BWI deluxe room. I also like the ability to watch Illuminations from the concierge lounge.

What makes RPC better? Sell me, please, cause I think we are going to stay there and I want to be excited!

 

[Lives4Disney]

I'm very interested in these responses! I am planning a girls trip (with 3 friends) in August and I'm looking at exactly these options! Is RPC worth it? Should we request a MK castle view and is this an option in the main building? Do they have deluxe rooms like BWI with the extra space?


I really like the set up of the BWI deluxe room. I also like the ability to watch Illuminations from the concierge lounge.

What makes RPC better? Sell me, please, cause I think we are going to stay there and I want to be excited!

I think GF service is just MUCH better - from housekeeping to the lounge staff, concierge staff, everyone. The lounge at GF is larger and so spread out - the BWI is tight and cramped and not enough seating - the GF lounge overlooks the lobby and in the afternoon and evening you can sit in the lounge and listen to the live piano or jazz band music. You can request a castle view in the main building. I have always done it and always had it. There is a deluxe concierge room available at the GF. It is larger, but I have a family of 5 and oddly enough the deluxe room only has 2 queen beds, not the daybed we need, so I have never stayed in this room category.

The BWI does not compare at all. We had so many housekeeping issues during our stay and they just dropped the ball over and over again. Our BWI stay was so disappointing. If something is not right at the GF, they WILL make it better for you - so unlike my experience at BWI.

Good luck with your decision, but from my experience the GF is the BEST.

Lives4Disney

 

[Chip 'n Dale Express]

I'd love to hear thoughts from people who have stayed at BWI and GF - I've read some recent reviews that lean me towards GF...but what about the views in the GF main building rooms? We will get there late on Friday night, and experience tells me that getting there late usually sticks you with a room or view that someone else didn't want...I guess the view isn't that big of a deal, but I'd rather not pay that much to look at a dumpster...

For Concierge, rooms are assigned the day prior, so it doesn't matter when you arrive. Not that it matters, there isn't a bad view from the Royal Palm Club.

(Even the lowest category rooms at GF, none overlook a dumpster or parking lot)

 

[Lives4Disney]

For Concierge, rooms are assigned the day prior, so it doesn't matter when you arrive. Not that it matters, there isn't a bad view from the Royal Palm Club.

(Even the lowest category rooms at GF, none overlook a dumpster or parking lot)

The only problem is if somebody checks in earlier in the day, doesn't like their room for some reason and requests to change to another. I have checked in late several times and have actually got a bum room almost every time. (bad view, location, etc.) This most recently happened at my BWI concierge stay. We didn't check in until after 8 pm on Wednesday before Thanksgiving. We got the last room available and it was not so great for many reasons. On one GF stay, (another late check in Tues before Thanksgiving) they actually put my family of 5 in a room for 4 - must have been a bedroom off a suite because it was SMALL. They had problems with other guests checking in earlier in the day and this is what was left by the time we arrived. They comped us that night, and we moved the next day, but I am VERY leary of late check ins.

Lives4Disney

 

[princessesrule4]

We just got back from GF Main Building Concierge and it was wonderful! It will be hard to stay anywhere else! We are booking it again for summer. We had a fabulous castle/MK view and we had a few minor glitches but they happen and were taken care of promptly. The Concierge CM were great and very helpful. One Concierge CM was even able to get us tickets to a sold out event. We really enjoyed the food and loved sitting in the lounge and listening to the band,hand bells,pianist,etc. It was a zoo in the lobby and it was nice to be upstairs! You will love it - we sure did!

 

[MrsTink04]

Grand Floridian! I'm a bad one to ask though...I wouldn't want to stay anywhere else. We have stayed in the RPC, but I LOVE the lagoon view rooms!

 

[JulyGirl]

I have never stayed GF concierge, but I love the resort in general. I've stayed at BWI concierge this past spring and the service was wonderful. I don't think you can lose with either choice.

 

[2vets]

Thanks to all of you - looks like GF wins, hands down. It wasn't an expense issue since we were looking at BWI deluxe concierge vs GF main concierge. It is just the two of us, we don't have kids, so we can manage the splurge...not that I don't love the little ones, but that certainly changes things!!!

Tinks - the room size for the BWI deluxe is about the same as the GF main building concierge, unless they put you in a GF dormer room, or at least that's what I read somewhere...

OT, I agree with Lives4Disney, though - despite the fact that I am ALWAYS a late arriver (I work the full day and catch an evening flight down when I go to WDW), one does tend to get...um...a bit pushed around when one arrives late. You can wind up getting whatever room is left after everyone else in the free world gets there at noon and doesn't like the room they were originally assigned... I posted a few years ago about a weekend trip to BC, where I arrived really late, around 11:30 pm. I booked a waterview room on a code, we had wanted standard view (it was cheap, like $179 a night versus $249 or something for waterview), but none was available. So I put into my ressie that if a standard room on that code became available, go ahead and move us and give us the lower rate. Well, we got there, and we OK'd the waterview code rate, took our keys, and went up to our parking lot view room (!!), made up with a king bed and a crib (it was an ex and I, and my sister was staying with us one of the nights, so the king bed was NOT OK...and they didn't even reduce the rate for the very standard view!!). It was very, very clear that a couple with a baby had seen the room and promptly gone downstairs to complain about it and been given another room, perhaps ours??? I went downstairs and proceeded to sweetly argue with the moron at the desk, who told me that since I was paying less than the rack rate, he could give me any room/view, there was nothing else available, and they'd bring in a cot the next day for my sister. I asked for a manager. We wound up eventually being given a 1-bd BCV for the waterview code rate, but it took until 1 am. And frankly, I don't like to have to argue with someone at the front desk!

Anyways, the bottom line is - THANKS! I have my new AAA card in hand and will be booking this week...

 

[Tinks]

Tinks - the room size for the BWI deluxe is about the same as the GF main building concierge, unless they put you in a GF dormer room, or at least that's what I read somewhere...

Really?? The BWI Deluxe room has a decent sized sitting area with a couch, extra t.v., and table...
I think the RPC concierge rooms are just regular rooms (without that additional seating space).

Am I wrong?

I know that RPC also has deluxe rooms. Do these rooms also have the same floorplan of the BWI deluxe?
I'm still confused after reading the entire GF FAQ thread!

 

[2vets]

Hi -

It's that the BWI standard rooms (380 sf) are smaller than the GF regular rooms (440-448 sf) - so the BWI deluxe at 434 sf is more the size of the GF room. i think the layouts of the GF rooms vary a lot, though.

Once I start looking at the RPC deluxe rooms, the price begins to get obscene for the 2 of us!! And I have the feeling they're not bigger...I thought they slept 4 rather than 5???

Now I'm just confused...

 

[LvsTnk]

For anyone worried about LivesForDisney's posts about the BWI I just got back from a stay last Mon. in a deluxe room and the service and room could not have been better. I was on the look out after her less than stellar stay there.

While I have no doubt that her experience was real, but moments after we were in our room a housekeeping manager knocked on the door to check on us. I was able to get my bed rails and extra towels/pillows without even calling. My room request (for a specific room) was met as has all our room requests for different resorts and we arrive after midnight ALOT! Could be just luck but who knows. As far as the CM's at the BWI I just cannot say enough good things about them.

As a side note the offerings in the evning now come from the BW restaurants and is MUCH improved.

I also like the fact that all the deluxe rooms have a BW view.

Now, I do like what I am hearing about the GF and mybe I will be able to talk DH into a stay there. He is extremely sour about the GF after an experience with the concierge staff he had before we even checked in. So, that's how we ended up with the BWI. Believe it or not DH shops the the resorts concierge staff and lounge before he will book a stay there.