GF vs. BC need help please!

[hookedup]

This my first official post here - I have been lurking for quite a while and I have to thank you all for educating me so well. Sometimes I feel I have information overload!
Well my family is getting our first WDW trip at the end of this month and we are SOOOOOOOO excited! Me, DH and our 2 year old are coming from California for a magical week with Mickey!
Okay, could use some input here - we decided to splurge and I booked the GF. I have always dreamed of staying there. I have read some negative things recently and I am wondering if we should have booked the Beach Club (which was my 2nd choice but the WDW vacation res agent talked me into spending a little more and doing GF).
Have I made a good decision? Any other considerations I should have made or other deluxes that would have been better?

 

[Janet2k]

Hookedup, welcome to the Dis (officially!).

The GF is a gorgeous resort. Even though we have had some problems with the concierge staff there in the past, it is still my husband's favorite resort (go figure!). With that said, we actually had a GF stay planned for this Fall, however, I just cancelled it due to the fact that my son & husband will be staying back on the West Coast now (my son doesn't want to miss high school) while my daughter & I forge ahead with the vacation anyway. She & I will be staying at the newly opened Beach Club Villas, and I am very excited about that. Every time I see someone's photos of the GF, however, I still feel a little tinge of sadness that we won't be staying there this time (I can't believe I am saying that!!). So, if I were you, I'd stick with the GF. You haven't stayed there before, so it is your chance to experience that resort to its fullest. Of course if you get there and you decide that you are miserable, then by all means see if you can switch your reservations over to the Beach Club. But I have a funny feeling that you will enjoy your GF stay. The resort is beautiful and very relaxing. Plus, the new pool is very nice and your child will enjoy the zero-entry area of it (it is an excellent place for the little ones to splash about in).

 

[Janet2k]

By the way, I have some GF photos here in my on-line photo albums. Here is the link to Dreams Unlimited Travel's "Grand Flloridian" Webpages. And here is the link to some photos of the GF on the Dis Website.

 

[WilmaBud]

Welcome to the DIS! I've never stayed at the Grand Floridian, but I'd love to. I've stayed at the Contemporary, the Polynesian, and the Yacht Club. The only one I didn't care for was the Polynesian, but I'm still glad I tried it. I don't think I'd switch from GF to BC if I were you. The BC is undergoing renovations starting this fall, so I'm guessing that many of their rooms may be showing some signs of wear at this time. I'm sure it's still a wonderful, clean resort (I LOVED the YC), but I don't think it'd be worth switching form the GF to the BC. If you end up with a problem, just let your feelings be known, and I'm sure they'll try to help remedy it. I doubt there'll be a problem, though. Overall, people rave about the GF.
Have a great time, and let us know how it goes!

 

[melbatoast]

We stayed at the BC for 3 nights and the GF for 3 nights over spring break and have to say we liked the BC a lot better! I have also been dreaming of staying at the GF for about 10 years, and finally got the chance. We liked the service better at the BC (2 resturants by the pool in which to order food etc) and also the pool was much more fun at the BC. Maybe split your stay then you can experience both!

 

[CaliforniaDreaming]

While I had some problems at the GF on my recent stay, it's still my favorite resort. The resort is beautiful, and the staff is great. Plus, they have large rooms and great views.

I've heard bad things about room conditions at the Beach Club. It'll be renovated early next year.

 

[minniesota]

We will be splitting our stay between the GF and YC this Oct. - we did the same thing four years ago. If you can do that I highly recomend it. The resorts are different and special in their own way. We love the GF grounds and lobby and love being on Seven Seas lagoon. The monorail to MK and the other monrail resorts is such a convenience. And looking out at the castle and fireworks from the resort just says Disney to our family. But then there's YC! The location to Epcot and MGM can't be beat. There is so much going on at the boardwalk and Stormalong Bay is the best. No need to do a water park for us, though my kids are getting older (8 and 10) and have expressed a desire to try a water park this time. You really experience two different vacations when you split your stay - we love to do it. And Disney makes it really easy. They handle all the luggage transfer. We just head to a park for the day and then return to our "new" home. We tend to spend more time at the resorts - DH is not in love with WDW like me and the kids are. So a change of scenery is welcome for my clan. BTW, we are usually there 7 or 8 nights so I'd take that into consideration. If we were only going for 4, I probably wouldn't change. You might want to consider YC instead of BC because renovations there should be complete first (by Oct.?) It has all the same amenities and actually, we like it better than BC which we stayed at in 2000. Good luck with your decision!

 

[disneyholic family]

we just spent the weekend at the BC concierge...
we stayed at the sugar loaf concierge at the GF the week before last....
we'd never stayed at the GF before, while we've stayed at the BC or YC at least 20 times....
i have to say the BC is looking really long in the tooth....
the room number signs were falling off the walls (and that was on the concierge floor)....
of course, the YC/BC have the better swimming pool, but still we are now committed GF fans....
our 4 day stay there (right before the 4th of july) was absolutely perfect....

 

[wdw47]

we have never stayed at the gf but have stayed at the bc on our last 4 or 5 visits likr other replyers we would suggest a split on your stay you child is way to young to really enjoy the pool at the bc our 18 ds and 16 ds love the pool anf the walk to epcot is great also being close to miniture golf again we would suggest a split on your stay we have done this our selves at many disney resorts