Grand Floridian- bad changes with cutbacks

[BELLA1]

Let me first say this about myself. I own 2 Disney websites...I go to disney soooo often my husband begs to go someplace else just once....all my friends and family have been "converted" to love disney.....I just share my passion for all things Disney and it is contagious.
SO, i am not someone just looking to bad mouth Disney. I am very saddened by this lack of Quality!

We Stayed for 8 nites in Orlando. We spent the first 3 nites at the Marriott Orlando World Center. We got that room through Priceline for $70.00. 5* Resort. Absolutley fabulous! The accomodations and Service were beyond Wonderful. (not to mention the Starbucks in the lobby)

We then switched over to the Grand Floridian for 4 nites. Dec. 8-12th. This was our 4th year in a row...staying at GF for the Holiday festivities. Our room was is Sago Cay...2nd floor(Monorail station)

Upon entering the room...I ran to the Bathroom...the toilet paper roll holder was on the floor and empty...I had to replace it.
There was a stain on the daybed comforter...about the size of a half dollar, THere was a stain on the bed comforter...the color of blood...could have been nail polish- whatever....There was a stain on the bathroom carpet in front of the sink dark...the size of a man's foot.....THe two bathroom sinks backed up whenever the water was running, AND best of all...there was mildew all over all 3 walls of the shower.......... for the prices that are charged here...NONE of these are really acceptable.

...we went out on the balcony and within 10 minutes.....there were 3 SEMI TRUCKS pulling in to make deliveries or whatever...the monorail was a stones through from our window. That was not as upsetting as the noise from the trucks. Now the hotel was operating at 60% occupancy and i felt that this was the WORST possible location available in the entire hotel. NOT to mention my father is disabled and i asked for a room close to the elevators...His was the last one at the end of the hall. They really should only put people in those rooms when they have none else available.

I of course called down to the front....asked to be moved...THE womand who answered...was LESS than friendly...and NOT at all accomodating. They only had rooms next to each other not connecting....well....my 60 year old disabled father and my 3 year old son were in the room next to me....Not having a connecting door was not an option for us. SHe suggested we call back tomorrow and see if she MIGHT have something better.

Any of you who have had to move your rooms ...Knows what an inconvience it is and that it takes out time from your DISNEY DAY.


WEll, to summarize my trip....DISNEY>>>>WONDERFUL OF COURSE...already planning my next trip. But, i have been won over by the price and quality of hotels that i have gotten thrgugh priceline for a fraction of the cost of the DELUXE hotels and LESS than their VALUE hotels. They are Just as close as driving to AKL. And, Disney has taken away ITs benefits to staying on property....The one hour 2 days a week they have re-opened MK early....do not make it worth it to me.

I am very very sad to have had this experience at the Grand Floridian...and left at the end of our stay with a heavy heart ...knowing...I would NOT be back to stay in that Hotel.

We also went to early entry at MK...went right to Peter pans flight....there was all kinds of garbage on the floor in the que...a melted ice cream with the stick....a candy wrapper...a water bottle top.... FIRST thing in the morning....whats up with that?

Nothing will ever stop me from going to OR loving DISNEY....WE are already planning our next trip. But these changes....are upsetting!

I am going to send a copy of this to DISNEY executive offices.

 

[Dreamfinder2]

Bella1, yours is the kind of post that makes me take notice - I tend to really listen to "true believers" who have bad experiences, moreso than I do the malcontents that can't be pleased with anything. I also appreciate you giving specifics as to what you found wrong.

So sorry about your experience, but thankful you aren't shucking all things Disney. Was this a one-time incident for you, or is this a pattern you've seen developing at the GF?

We were at the AKL lodge New Year's, and everything was pristine and spotless, the CM's were uniformly courteous -and the crowds were horrific (no surprise there.)

From what I've heard about the Universal resorts, Disney might do well to realize that, in many folk's eyes, they aren't the only show in town anymore. Ditto Marriot World Center, the Peabody, the new Gaylord property (breathtaking!), etc.

Please, WDW ... don't break our hearts!

 

[BELLA1]

When we went in October we stayed at the Hard Rock Hotel...IT was FANTASTIC! I would stay there again in a heartbeat. We then switched to the Poly...which was also wonderful.
I was very SUPRISED and Disappointed to see this at the GF. I expect a higher level of CONSTANT quality from a resort of that caliber. I can overlook...one...maybe 2 incidences in the room that arent as should be...but this was too much.

THe GAYLORD.....IS OUTSTANDING...as is THE PORTOFINO BAY...and with FRONT OF THE LINE ACCESS>....well...DISNEY really should open their eyes.

One other thing i forgot to say in my earlier post was...at christmastime there is always a man outfront roasting chestnuts...he is usually there EVERYday....This past time he was only there on 2 nites...I was at Disney for 8 days....even though i didnt stay at GF the whole time...we still ate dinners there and visited the Lobby...cant beat that tree.

Disney is raising prices and lowering quality. I am a diehard...and i will stick through thick and thin.....But, i would like to see them keep the Pristine Sparkle throughout that Disney has been able to pull off like Magic!

 

[s&k'smom]

I have to agree with the cutbacks or maybe they are having trouble hiring. We stayed at GF last Oct and loved it. Would absolutely do it again but the one thing I did notice by the pool area that there was no one to clean up after guests. What I mean is when folks were done with their lunch and just left all their trash it would literally stay there for hours. Now my mom would kill me if I left my trash like that but it is the GF and you would expect a little higher quality. I do have to say all the CM's we dealt with were great and our room wonderful but for some reason this bothered me. I hope that doesn't sound to snobby.

 

[wdwnutze]

Sad to read your post since we are planning our 1st GF trip for Dec 03. I am glad to see though, that you will continue to visit Disney. We had a problem on our last visit with an on-site resort and switched hotels to solve the problem. The original hotel offered to switch our room the next day but we figured if we had to packup and move, we might as well go to a resort that we knew we love. Thanks for the heads up.

 

[Mrs. Snowgod]

It is really dissappointing to see these experiences happening at WDW. Hopefully these are unfortunate isolated incidents and not a developing trend. Regardless, it is frustrating when these incidents tarnish the magic of anyone's trip.

Let's hope the complaints are addressed and things return to living up to our expectations!

 

[TreeOfLife]

I actually do not condemn these kinds of posts, as hiding things with pixie dusts backfires, eventually.

You certainly should contact Disney directly, so they keep record of your complaint. And I agree with the previous poster, USF and other local businesses know how to cater to their guests very well...

 

[Mickymark]

I stayed at the GF (main bldg concierge) this past July/August. While we had a great time, without exception, I would have been very upset if i had encountered some of the problems mentioned above. I don't care about the "towel animals" or people not making eye contact, or even the automatic thermostat that seemed to cause so many problems for so many people, but after paying so much money for the entire experience, I would have been mad about stains on the carpet or bed spread, and unfriendly or discourteous behavior of any kind is unexcusable in such a place as that. I too can't get enough of Disney and I find that I sometimes turn a blind eye to some of the things I see or overhear in the parks and resorts.
On the other hand, I think that there is a breed of people that will try to take advantage no matter what the circumstances and try to get something for nothing. I further think that this has steeled some of the CMs into this not-so-freindly-behavior, thinking that anyone with a complaint is looking to get comped or ugraded, or otherwise placated.
I have been going since '89 and dont intend to quit, but it does pain me to hear of a fellow Disney inthusiast, satying outside for a better deal and becoming a "day guest".

 

[SSSneezy]

I hate to add to this thread but when we went to 1900 Park Faire (sp?) for brunch on 1/1 we stuck to the floor by the buffet. We also noted that the selections seemed to be loaded toward the pancakes, french toast and waffles to the exclusion of what used to be there. (Don't ask us what because none of us (4) can remember) This has been our families' favorite brunch since my oldest was 2. Now, we all agree that we will be going to Chef Mickey's.

 

[freediverdude]

Just giving my two cents LOL. I hate to hear about some of these experiences, but I also think part of the problem is the rise in caliber of some of these resorts being built just outside the Disney gates. The Disney resorts have stayed the same, and gotten a little older, while some other companies have built resorts that are literally just outside the gate that are fancier for half the price or less. I stayed at the Gaylord recently, and it surprised even me, who usually won't stay offsite. It completely blows away the Disney resorts. That atrium makes the Contemporary look like a little cottage LOL. And the theming, with the different areas of florida, was just as good, if not better, than any Disney resort theming. Plus all the extras that are free there compared to being nickel and dimed to death at the Disney deluxes. Don't get me wrong, I love the Disney resorts and will still stay in them, but it really is getting to the point where people have a tough choice between a real 5 star resort just outside the gate, or paying double or triple the price for something not even quite as fancy, just to be on the monorail or next to Epcot. The Gaylord was in sight of the Disney gate, it was so close- if the bridge going up and over the freeway weren't in the way you could see the back of Pop Century, it's that close. It even had the "Zip-A-Dee-Doo-Dah Tip for Today" channel! I turned on the tv and did a double-take, like wait a minute, I didn't think I was in a Disney resort! I guess they must lease their tv from the Disney cable or something, they're certainly close enough. The place even had a mall inside, with a Ben & Jerry's ice cream shop, Harley Davidson shop, Godiva Chocolatier, etc etc. I was completely blown away. I guess my point is, Disney is getting those prices solely because of the location and being inside Disney, but with Gaylord and Marriott and others, and with a Four Seasons arriving soon, it's possible Disney might have to wake up a little to keep some of their deluxe resort guests coming.

 

[jmarie]

The main thing that has always separated Disney from other theme parks and hotels was its cleanliness. How many times have you heard someone mention the spotlessness of its parks with such admiration? If Disney insists on cutbacks, it would behoove them to find another area to cut instead of housekeeping and training of these staff. When will they realize that people will not continue to pay over $400/night to stay in anything less than perfect? Unfortunately, these stories are becoming all too common. And yes, the CMs are probably becoming immune to the complaints because they're hearing it on a more regular basis.

 

[lisajl]

It's very interesting to read these posts. This past Dec. is the first time we stayed onsite. I was very impressed with our room at POR. It was clean and kept clean by our mousekeeper.

I am trying to talk my husband into going in another two years and was actually thinking of a deluxe hotel. Maybe we should stay off site and see what the difference is.

Lisajl

 

[Janet2k]

Bella1, I am glad that you haven't lost your love of Disney, even if your GF stay was less than stellar. I hope that if you choose to stay at a Disney resort again, it will surpass your expectations.

Like S&k'smom stated, I have seen the messes left by guests. Just this past October, one evening I was having dinner out by the GF’s new pool. I was appalled to see the amount of garbage that was left at the tables by the guests. From what I saw, not one person knew how to clean up after himself/herself that evening. The garbage was overflowing at both the tables and the nearby trash container. I actually bussed a few of the tables myself because I did not want my daughter to see that horrible mess while she ate her dinner. Since the nearby trash container was overflowing, I had to make room on the ground next to it for all the garbage that I was clearing from the tables. Just as I was going to pick up the House Phone and ask for someone to come out to the new pool area in order to help me clean up the place, a Room Service Cast Member walked by and saw what I was doing (I was actually searching for another trash container to put the garbage into when he spotted me). This wonderful gentleman immediately began helping me clean up the area and he was able to get the trash container emptied so that he could finish up the cleanup job and I could eat dinner with my daughter. Like S&k'smom, I was surprised by how messy and unclean the GF's pool area had gotten. The GF is supposed to be the Flagship Resort of Walt Disney World. Someone was obviously asleep at the helm that evening.

 

[TeenaS]

I've been staying at the Grand Floridian since it opened. I was just there in October 2002 and again December 14-18, 2002 (4 weeks ago). We always request Conch Key and always get it. In October and December, our room was spotless, the service was as always - fantastic, nothing different. The CM who checked us in (Dec. 14) was a hoot and I mentioned it was my birthday coming up and 2 minutes after entering our room, the phone rang and it was Goofy singing happy birthday to me. When our towncar dropped us off on the 14th, as every December in the past, they were roasting chestnuts outside and gave us ours as we entered the resort.

When we visited in October 2001 (a month after 9/11) and in December 2001, we saw a big difference in the cleanliness (should say "lack of") in the restrooms at the different parks. However, in October 2002 and again in December 2002, every restroom we went into was clean - like the good ole' days.

So I strongly disagree that the quality of the GF has gone down. I would be the first to complain if I saw that during any of my visits. I do know that once (I believe it was December 2001) I saw a spot on a comforter on one of the beds - - I called the number you are suppose to call for mousekeeping and within 5 minutes two maids were there to change it and apologized over and over again. Nothing is perfect 100% of the time. Do I think this was caused by cutbacks? No. Just mousekeeping missing a small spot. No biggy. It's still the most magical place in the world to me and I'll continue going back quarterly, year after year, until I personally see a difference MYSELF.

I read raves about Canada's restaurant. I've tried it twice and will never try it again. Both times lousy steaks, lousy service, the place was dirty and noisy. However, lots of guests love it and just because I had two bad experiences there doesn't mean it no longer is a great restaurant for those who love it and have only had wonderful experiences there.

I hope no one cancels their reservation or decides not to go to the GF just because a few might have had a bad experience there. I think 95% of the time people love it. If not, the place would be empty. Who pays that kind of money if it isn't wonderful? And if you talk to guests there, most of them are repeat GF guests. They wouldn't be back all the time if everything there wasn't as great as ever! I certainly wouldn't be back!

 

[BELLA1]

I have stayed at almost every disney hotel there is. And I most likey will stay on property again. The Grand Floridian WAS my favorite hotel. We went and stayed there every Holiday season. It was not our first time.

Personally at 400.00 per nite. There should not be mildew on every wall of the shower....pubic hair (not ours) on the floor upon arrival..No toilet paper ...OUT of 3 beds in the room....2 comforters were stained.....and a big stain on the floor in the bathroom and the sinks backing up.

THis is a whole lot more than mousekeeping missing a little stain.......especially with 40% of the hotel EMPTY. Close the room and clean it for goodness sakes.

Never should you have to clean up other peoples messes around the pool at a Resort like the Grand Floridian. NEVER should a mess be left sitting for HOURS in a public place.

Do i still love the hotel........YES.....It is beautiful. I am just very very saddened by my last experience.....and NEXT time i will go and enjoy the hotel....Have my Grand Tea....and then go to sleep in a CLEAN hotel.....with Very comfortable pillowtop beds, down pillows, down comforters, nightly turn down service, coffee in my room (free), Nutrogena products to bathe with....(GF left us toiletries only once in 4 days) and at 70.00 per nite.........I can stay 3 nites for the price of ONE nite.

I will be the first to stand up and defend DISNEY ......But they need to pick it back up .......Keep the level of quality consistent.
And at 400.00 per nite....level of quality needs to be kept high.

 

[Fantasia Sam]

I cannot comment on whether or not standards have gone down in accomodation at GF as I have never stayed there but I just wanted to add my two pennies worth. I'm sorry to hear some of the reports above and can only touch wood that so far my expectations of a WDW room have not disappointed me and I have been more than happy with my accommodation.

If I had just a small spot on my comforter then yes I would agree that Mousekeeping perhaps needed to be pulled up but not that the hotel had gone downhill. However had I experienced what Bella1 had in her Grand Floridian Room (you know THE most prestigious WDW hotel) then yeah I'd be venting somewhat a lot as you're paying to stay in what is supposedly upmost luxury and you'd expect standards and no-one should be regarded a snob for expecting that. That said regardless of what level of hotel I stayed at if I encountered some of the things I've read above then I think anyone would have valid reason to be disappointed with the WDW experience and the standards of WDW accommodation.

So I'm sure that we've all had some great stays in WDW hotels whether they be Value, Moderate or Deluxe but it is sometimes the bad points that people remember (more so than the good points) and it is these that some people want to know about - not so much to decide on cancelling accommodation but more to get a heads up.

 

[TeenaS]

Bella1, I do totally agree with you. If my last stay there had been the same as yours, I'd never go back and stay there for sure! I would have raised so much noise .... everyone would have heard about it especially if they hadn't made it totally right in a very short period of time. But because each and every one of my visits there (and again I was there just 3-4 weeks ago) were wonderful, I feel as strongly about it being a wonderful resort as you feel about being so badly treated.

There was no excuse for your room being in that shape and you should have been immediately moved to a suite at least! When I was there 12/14-18, the place was 95% full (at least a friend of mine who is a CM at the Poly told me that) and as I said before the housekeeping service was perfect. I left a note for more washclothes the first day and I had about 30 of them there when I got back. We got all the toiletries every day. Normal first rate treatment. Paper outside our room in the mornings, etc.

I hope with all my heart that your experience was one of the very few bad ones that occur there and that the service isn't going downhill. Perhaps lots of maids were out sick, who knows? As far as guests being sloppy and leaving stuff all over around the pool, the lifeguards should immediately have put in a call for clean-up to get down there. But our last time at the pool, there were loads of CMs around cleaning up towels, trash, etc. I'm keeping my fingers crossed you were just unlucky and experienced bad after bad that last trip.

I'll be heartbroken if I ever experience anything like that you experienced. However, until it happens to me, I'm sticking with my belief that there are bad days everywhere, even at the GF. And I continue to believe that Disney won't the GF cut corners. They can't expect to have the kind of experiences you experienced happen frequently and guests to come back. People will not pay that price if those things happen frequently. I'm going back again in about 8 weeks and I'm hoping it will be as magical and wonderful as it always has been and it was 3-4 weeks ago.

 

[CaliforniaDreaming]

I also had an issue with a worn room in Sago Cay, very similar to your's. The bedspreads and daybed were stained, broken draperies, clogged bathtub drain, etc.

It was not was up to GF standards!

 

[DisOrBust]

You guys are not making my day,lol! On my Dads request we are staying at the GF in 7 days!! I have read posts like this CONSISTANTLY over the years on the dis and went against my better judgement and booked the GF. My Dh and DD's wanted the poly but I thoought who knows how many more times the Grand parents will come along so for my Dads 72 birthday I went with the GF. I personally don't care about a spot here or there but am there for the majic. My Dad has been in awre of all the flower arrangements and the orchestra since we have been going to WDW. I just hope we aren't too let down.

 

[eeyore0062]

I am so sorry that you had problems with your room. After you couldn't be moved to another location with connecting room, did you request to go to another resort? This usually gets their attention better than anything else!

I would definitely write a letter, and say exactly what you said here. Disney needs to know that experiences like this are upsetting their repeat guests, and that those repeat guests have had better experiences outside of "the World"..

Actually, to be honest, I hate these posts... not because of the original complaint ( as you are entitled), but because everyone then has to drudge up every bad memory that they have ever had at Disney.

I look forward to hearing how your problem was resolved.