Grand Floridian Big Pine Key Studio Was Eh

[sagosto]

I am a huge Riviera fan boi so please don't take offense, but my 1st time visit at GF Big Pine Lake wasn't as impressive as I had hoped given some consider it the flag ship. It was nice but it didn't have the WOW factor I have read/heard from others who have stayed there. I LOVED the location to MK so I am planning to do 2-3 days at GF / Poly (the others don't do it for me) for Halloween and then 6-7 days at Riviera. Is the new Poly considered an upgrade over GF? Going through security at GF and then right onto monorail was glorious so not sure if an extra stop would lose that magic.

 

[tx911]

I am a huge Riviera fan boi so please don't take offense, but my 1st time visit at GF Big Pine Lake wasn't as impressive as I had hoped given some consider it the flag ship. It was nice but it didn't have the WOW factor I have read/heard from others who have stayed there. I LOVED the location to MK so I am planning to do 2-3 days at GF / Poly (the others don't do it for me) for Halloween and then 6-7 days at Riviera. Is the new Poly considered an upgrade over GF? Going through security at GF and then right onto monorail was glorious so not sure if an extra stop would lose that magic.

VGF and Poly tower are just so different it's hard to compare. For me they are both awesome in their own way. Poly tower is obviously brand new and feels that way. The room layouts are top notch. But VGF still feels like home. I love the location relative to MK. I prefer the OG DVC villas to BPK, as many do. I think you should try PIT, it's really great.

 

[prncssjas]

I am a huge Riviera fan boi so please don't take offense, but my 1st time visit at GF Big Pine Lake wasn't as impressive as I had hoped given some consider it the flag ship.

I can appreciate this sentiment! I have always been such a huge VGF fan but just got back from a week long stay in a 2 bedroom at RIV and I am completely sold! I loved it! It was gorgeous and felt so luxurious. Don't get me wrong, you cannot beat the location of the GF in proximity to the MK but right now, RIV has become a nice, new option for us.

 

[sagosto]

The wife wants VGF so the 2 daughters don't fit over the bed and it's closer to monorail. I guess even brand new doesn't win sometimes.

9-10 days with a split stay at RIV is lovely. I realize everyone has different tastes but some hate towards RIV is odd to me.

 

[AstroBlasters]

The wife wants VGF so the 2 daughters don't fit over the bed and it's closer to monorail. I guess even brand new doesn't win sometimes.

9-10 days with a split stay at RIV is lovely. I realize everyone has different tastes but some hate towards RIV is odd to me.

Plop RIV down next to the France pavilion and most of the negativity would probably evaporate…..

 

[walt34]

Plop RIV down next to the France pavilion and most of the negativity would probably evaporate…..

It’s so close already. Build a bridge and an entrance near Germany’s Biergarten and you are done.

 

[AstroBlasters]

It’s so close already. Build a bridge and an entrance near Germany’s Biergarten and you are done.

But it’s not themed to Germany. My wife said that “it’s a nice hotel that could be a Grand Hyatt anywhere”. If it were right off the France pavilion then you would feel like you were at Walt Disney World.

Now compare that to the Grand Floridian, Polynesian, Contemporary, Wilderness Lodge, Boardwalk, Animal Kingdom, Grand Californian…. much more immersive…

 

[walt34]

But it’s not themed to Germany. My wife said that “it’s a nice hotel that could be a Grand Hyatt anywhere”. If it were right off the France pavilion then you would feel like you were at Walt Disney World.

Now compare that to the Grand Floridian, Polynesian, Contemporary, Wilderness Lodge, Boardwalk, Animal Kingdom, Grand Californian…. much more immersive…

I don’t disagree on the theming (or lack thereof) but logistically it would knock it out of the park. And the Skyliner would run much smoother at night if they didn’t have to stop it for an ECV to get off at RIV every 10 seconds.

 

[sagosto]

But it’s not themed to Germany. My wife said that “it’s a nice hotel that could be a Grand Hyatt anywhere”. If it were right off the France pavilion then you would feel like you were at Walt Disney World.

Now compare that to the Grand Floridian, Polynesian, Contemporary, Wilderness Lodge, Boardwalk, Animal Kingdom, Grand Californian…. much more immersive…

Subtle Mediterranean theming but yea it is slightly muted. I wish it had 'more' of that but location/skyliner makes it an easy decision for me. The key for us has always been easy/speeds which is why I'd take BLT over some other 'nicer' resorts.

 

[AstroBlasters]

Subtle Mediterranean theming but yea it is slightly muted. I wish it had 'more' of that but location/skyliner makes it an easy decision for me. The key for us has always been easy/speeds which is why I'd take BLT over some other 'nicer' resorts.

The great thing about all of these fantastic resorts is that there is no wrong answer. It really is all about personal preference… and it’s allowed to change over time!

 

[tidefan]

The wife wants VGF so the 2 daughters don't fit over the bed and it's closer to monorail. I guess even brand new doesn't win sometimes.

9-10 days with a split stay at RIV is lovely. I realize everyone has different tastes but some hate towards RIV is odd to me.

I don't "hate" RIV, but it is at the bottom of the WDW DVC ladder for me.

This is for a few reasons, and like anything else, they are just specific to us.

First, we stayed in a RIV GV once and it was nice. We went back to get a GV last summer and the GV at SSR was 300 less points for the week. Also, and I know this is not the consensus opinion, but we actually liked the renovated SSR GV better. IMHO, when comparing point levels, SSR rooms are just about as nice as RIV rooms. Again, that's just my opinion (as an aside, if any of you have not stayed at SSR since the renovations, you will be shocked at how different the rooms are compared to previous).

Second, we always drive to WDW, so we prioritize properties where access to the car is easy. In this sense, nothing beats CFW. That is amazing. However at RIV, it's a haul (though admittedly, not near as bad as BWV) to get to your car. Properties like SSR, OKW, AKV(Kidani), VGF1(Original Building), BLT, and Poly are much more convenient for parking.

Third, I'm just not a fan of the galley style kitchens.

Again, we are all different and that is what makes the variety of properties great. Our minuses may be someone else's pluses.

 

[beccasmom]

We love the RR and would absolutely purchase points there if we were younger. However we didn’t feel that way until after we stayed there. The rooms are spacious and beautifully furnished and we enjoy the restaurants. A purchase now just isn’t in the cards for us, but we will continue to stay there on occasion. There really isn’t a DVC property we don’t like, but some just resonate more than others.

 

[Girlstar30]

I am excited to try the other vgf buildings, big pine key didn't do it for us and I love Mary poppins

 

[Dakota731]

“ I prefer the OG DVCvillas to BPK, as many do. I think you should try PIT, it's really great.”

What do these abbreviations stand for?

 

[CarolynFH]

“ I prefer the OG DVCvillas to BPK, as many do. I think you should try PIT, it's really great.”

What do these abbreviations stand for?

OG = original, referring to the standalone VGF building
BPK = Big Pine Key, the GF building that was flipped to D.V.C.
PIT = Poly Island Tower, the new D.V.C. building recently added to Poly D.V.C.

 

[Dakota731]

Thank you. We are considering Poly DVC. I’ve heard that the Tower isn’t as nice as the OG long buildings? Is this true?

 

[Sandisw]

But it’s not themed to Germany. My wife said that “it’s a nice hotel that could be a Grand Hyatt anywhere”. If it were right off the France pavilion then you would feel like you were at Walt Disney World.

Now compare that to the Grand Floridian, Polynesian, Contemporary, Wilderness Lodge, Boardwalk, Animal Kingdom, Grand Californian…. much more immersive…

Part of why we love it is that it is not in your face Disney theming.

And, we love the theming of CBR when sitting at the lakes edge…reminds us of a cruise ship in the Caribbean and then turn around and it’s luxury!

Which is why, as you said, it’s great DVC offers so many options.

 

[TheDailyMoo]

There really isn’t a DVC property we don’t like, but some just resonate more than others.

This is absolutely the truth...for me anyway.

 

[sagosto]

Part of why we love it is that it is not in your face Disney theming.

And, we love the theming of CBR when sitting at the lakes edge…reminds us of a cruise ship in the Caribbean and then turn around and it’s luxury!

Which is why, as you said, it’s great DVC offers so many options.

And, you can walk over to Sebastians

 

[atthebeachclub]

And, you can walk over to Sebastians

Which would be my fave part of a CB stay!