GF vs Contemporary

[zoo2tycoon]

With new discount a CL stay at GF is $1000 less than Contemporary. We have stayed at Contemporary and like walking to MK. Know they are working on path from GF but doubt it’ll be open in January.
What is GF like
We are outer CL access standard room

Thanks

 

[DisneyWishes14]

GF is gorgeous. It's WDW's "flagship" resort. IMHO, great service, beautiful rooms, lots of dining options. I would most definitely take a $1000 discount and stay GF!

 

[cwestpvb]

I prefer GF over CR (especially since CR is feeling a bit run down and not as "deluxe" as it should be). GF is immaculate throughout, and the rooms are nice. The only downside is having to walk outside to other buildings for your room, but other than that its a great place to stay. The monorail to MK is super easy, and the boat is there too. Of the monorail resorts I think it's the best.

 

[zoo2tycoon]

I prefer GF over CR (especially since CR is feeling a bit run down and not as "deluxe" as it should be). GF is immaculate throughout, and the rooms are nice. The only downside is having to walk outside to other buildings for your room, but other than that its a great place to stay. The monorail to MK is super easy, and the boat is there too. Of the monorail resorts I think it's the best.

How loud are the rooms? Saw most face the open CL lounge which is lower level?

 

[cwestpvb]

How loud are the rooms? Saw most face the open CL lounge which is lower level?

At the GF? I never heard sounds from the hallway really. Our room wasn't right along the mini "lobbies" of the buildings, but down a hall. Even if we were along that area I never really found the lobby areas to be that loud (with the exception of the main building).

 

[Mainsail Minnie]

They're both nice resorts, both on the monorail, both close to MK, and you're going in winter when it doesn't rain very much, and when pools don't matter. With that criteria, I'd choose the resort that saves me $1,000.

 

[JoJoGirl]

How loud are the rooms? Saw most face the open CL lounge which is lower level?

When I stayed in Sugarloaf in May, my room was fourth floor facing the atrium. When the club was busy at breakfast time and during the evening appetizer service, I could hear a little noise in the room. It wasn’t bad, and I was up anyway during those times so it didn’t bother me.

The noise is probably worst for the first floor rooms facing the atrium. If it is a concern, you can add a request like “away from the atrium lounge, please” The building is small so every room is still close enough to offer easy access to the club.

 

[GADisneyDad14]

With new discount a CL stay at GF is $1000 less than Contemporary. We have stayed at Contemporary and like walking to MK. Know they are working on path from GF but doubt it’ll be open in January.
What is GF like
We are outer CL access standard room

Thanks

Would you be CL at CR too?

I hate to say things like this because it’s not my style to be too negative (and since this is all so subjective), but GF Sugarloaf is probably my least favorite CL option of the Deluxe resorts. If I were choosing between GF SL and CR CL, CR CL would win for us 8 times out of 10.

I do like GF, the grounds, the pools, the rooms. The dining options are better. A lot of things about GF as a resort are “better” than CR, in my opinion.

At GF SL, we had a room that was around the middle atrium and you could hear quite a bit of noise from the lounge - dishes, plates, conversation, etc. We had another room down one of the hallways and it was perhaps the quietest room we’ve ever had at WDW. So, room location can impact things, in my experience. (If you’re a commando and out/about a lot, everything I said about room noise may be N/A to you)

Both CR and GF aren’t my favorite resorts for access to Epcot given the monorail transferring involved.

At GF, we enjoy being able to walk over to Poly for a Tiki drink or other dining options. At CR we enjoy the boat to WL and FW for dining and amenities.

So many pros/cons. Good luck deciding!

 

[zoo2tycoon]

Would you be CL at CR too?

I hate to say things like this because it’s not my style to be too negative (and since this is all so subjective), but GF Sugarloaf is probably my least favorite CL option of the Deluxe resorts. If I were choosing between GF SL and CR CL, CR CL would win for us 8 times out of 10.

I do like GF, the grounds, the pools, the rooms. The dining options are better. A lot of things about GF as a resort are “better” than CR, in my opinion.

At GF SL, we had a room that was around the middle atrium and you could hear quite a bit of noise from the lounge - dishes, plates, conversation, etc. We had another room down one of the hallways and it was perhaps the quietest room we’ve ever had at WDW. So, room location can impact things, in my experience. (If you’re a commando and out/about a lot, everything I said about room noise may be N/A to you)

Both CR and GF aren’t my favorite resorts for access to Epcot given the monorail transferring involved.

At GF, we enjoy being able to walk over to Poly for a Tiki drink or other dining options. At CR we enjoy the boat to WL and FW for dining and amenities.

So many pros/cons. Good luck deciding!

Yes CL Contemporary... decided to stay there. Too many noise posts about GF CL.

We decided we like walking to MK. I stayed at Contemporary first year it opened...
Thanks!

 

[Babsy]

Yes CL Contemporary... decided to stay there. Too many noise posts about GF CL.

We decided we like walking to MK. I stayed at Contemporary first year it opened...
Thanks!

I think that you made a good choice. We love GF CL - even the SL CL, but I do agree that the CR CL is arguably 'better.' We have been fortunate to always be in the hallways in SL where noise is not a factor at all, though.
We like that everything is under one roof at the CR, the central location of the lounge, the friendly CM's, the view of the MK from the lounge (especially nice if you choose lake view) and the great transportation options - especially walking to/from the MK!

Enjoy your stay!!!!

 

[Deb & Bill]

Several years ago we were in Sugarloaf on the 2nd floor towards the end of the building. So we weren't far from the lounge, but not directly opening to the lounge. We didn't hear any noise from the lounge.

 

[DisneyRobin]

We used to stay at the GF a lot when our kids were little but once we stayed at the contemporary with a mk view and short walk to the park, We haven’t wanted to go back to the GF. The CR is just too perfect! With the mk view it makes it feel like we’re staying right in the park and we love the easy access to the California grill and chef mickeys.

The grand flo is too spread out and it just doesn’t have that fun, magic kingdom party feel to it. Maybe we’ve been spoiled with the easy walk from the CR but I just don’t like waiting for the monorail or boats anymore. We Uber to the other parks.

Once they build the walking path, maybe we’d try the GF again. It is a beautiful hotel but it seems best for people traveling with infants or retired people.

As far as club service goes, it kind of annoys me because it makes me want to go back to the hotel to take advantage of the cocktail hour or desserts when I’d really rather be at the parks going out to dinner and having fun. When we don’t take advantage of it, I feel I’m missing out... While the breakfast is convenient, I prefer to pick up some fruit, eggs and Mickey waffles to go at the contempo cafe while the kids are still sleeping or getting ready. Then we have a good breakfast in the room - better and cheaper than what they offer at the lounge.

The only thing good about club level rooms now is that you can buy extra fast passes. We almost did that for our trip next month but club level theme park view at the CR wasn’t available and we weren’t willing to give up the theme park CR room.

Whatever you choose, it will be amazing! Have fun!

 

[TaraWasHere]

We were just at the GF last month CL in the Sugarloaf building. Depending on the time of year you will be there my advice would be to request an upper floor room. We were on the 3rd floor and hardly saw/heard anything outside oh housekeeping. I love the GF it's one of my favorite resorts for sure. Honestly though, I think I would take a MK View room at the Contemporary over a CL room at the GF. Sitting on the balcony at night watching the Fireworks and water pageant across the lagoon beats bagels any day of the week! (Unless you are someone who plans to spend a good deal of time at the resort to take advantage of the services of course.)