Grand Floridian Club Level cutbacks

[Shanti]

We also stay CL for the lounge/location of rooms rather than the food offerings.

Good point about the more desirable room locations. I've never stayed club level (much prefer table service dining), but the ideal room locations of CL rooms do tempt me at times.

 

[disneynutz]

Management changes, cut backs, increased prices seems to be the new norm across property.

Bill

 

[magical4us4]

Management changes, cut backs, increased prices seems to be the new norm across property.

Bill

Yes. I feel bad for the people who work in the club lounges and cast members who work there. Don't feel their jobs will be too secured...they are one of the most important reasons we pay extra to stay in concierge at the Grand Floridian. They always make our stays very special with their attentiveness and hospitality.

 

[Nancyg56]

Yes. I feel bad for the people who work in the club lounges and cast members who work there. Don't feel their jobs will be too secured...they are one of the most important reasons we pay extra to stay in concierge at the Grand Floridian. They always make our stays very special with their attentiveness and hospitality.

They really do make the difference in my opinion! I think that the CM's are the face of Disney and are the reaso we continue to go back.

 

[saintrob]

I sent an email to the IPO at the GF and their reply was that they do have a form of curbside and escort to club level depending on cast member availability. They also stated that the cordials had been removed from SL but that wines were available however that this may again change before our stay in July!

 

[Eastern]

Pretty soon they will cut it down to bottles of Dasani and packets of Ritz cheese cracker sandwiches but as long as the (last remaining) CM is perky and chatty people are going to pay the $200 extra per night.

*edit-my mistake, Kroger-brand cheese&cracker packs.

 

[Hisgirl]

Your comment about the CM job security, interesting. I do wonder what they are doing all day. We can get our own extra fast passes, dining ressies are a click away, what do they actually do? They aren't walking us to the room for sure. Husband just stated no more wasting the money. In case anyone from GF is reading this, I do hope you are paying attention. Personally I don't believe a GM has any power to make sweeping changes. WDW is a giant machine and they are taking their cues from higher up.

 

[magical4us4]

Your comment about the CM job security, interesting. I do wonder what they are doing all day. We can get our own extra fast passes, dining ressies are a click away, what do they actually do? They aren't walking us to the room for sure. Husband just stated no more wasting the money. In case anyone from GF is reading this, I do hope you are paying attention. Personally I don't believe a GM has any power to make sweeping changes. WDW is a giant machine and they are taking their cues from higher up.

Not sure if they read any of these forums. Guest services is the place to vent, but I feel that is after a stay. Too bad they don't see those who would have booked, but don't, because of getting information ahead of time before wasting their money making reservations.

 

[mickeynut1]

Good point about the more desirable room locations. I've never stayed club level (much prefer table service dining), but the ideal room locations of CL rooms do tempt me at times.

We don't stay CL every trip and while it is tempting to do all the time, the rates are getting so ridiculously high (especially for RPC). Discounts and CL perks keep decreasing while room rates continue to increase, which makes it easier to go with a regular room (and even then, those rates are sometimes still high ).

Management changes, cut backs, increased prices seems to be the new norm across property.

Bill

So true!

 

[MKMK]

After reading this thread, took a look at the TripAdvisor reports for Grand Floridian. Perhaps I am a conspiracy theorist, but there does seem to be an unusual number of over-the-top 5 star reviews of late. Last time I checked TripAdvisor (maybe a couple of years ago) it seemed pretty balanced. Back then there were a good amount of 5 stars ("beautiful/convenient"), lots of 4 stars ("very nice but very expensive") and a good showing of 3 stars ("this ain't no Four Seasons for the price you pay"). Have always heard there are reviewers you can "hire" to give you good TripAdvisor reviews. Who knows if that is an urban legend or not.

Back to the thread topic ... GF CL isn't the same -- it is a shame as it used to be one of our favorite perks of our trips.

 

[MaleficentRN]

Your comment about the CM job security, interesting. I do wonder what they are doing all day. We can get our own extra fast passes, dining ressies are a click away, what do they actually do? They aren't walking us to the room for sure. Husband just stated no more wasting the money. In case anyone from GF is reading this, I do hope you are paying attention. Personally I don't believe a GM has any power to make sweeping changes. WDW is a giant machine and they are taking their cues from higher up.

This is why I won't do club level at WDW any more.I can take care of things myself. Even if I sat in the lounge eating and drinking all day it wouldn't justify the cost anymore.

 

[Disneytam]

Yes. I feel bad for the people who work in the club lounges and cast members who work there. Don't feel their jobs will be too secured...they are one of the most important reasons we pay extra to stay in concierge at the Grand Floridian. They always make our stays very special with their attentiveness and hospitality.

If you were talking about the BWI CL I might agree with this statement but our last stay at the RPC in March I didn't feel the hospitality at all. We started out at check in feeling like a hot potato that no one wanted. No curb side greeting and when I asked I was pointed to the main check-in. Waited in line to then have the desk woman yell over to someone to take us upstairs. That person in turn brought us over to another CM and asked them to take us upstairs were at the upstairs check in desk that cast member was leaving for the day and asked us to wait for another cast member. Whew! See what I mean. The final CM then proceeded to tell me that the beach pool was closed and when I stated "don't you mean just the pool slide"? she laughed and said "They don't tell us much here". Really?? One evening the young woman pouring wine looked so miserable that my husband named here the prison guard. We were at the RPC for four days and never once after the first day check-in did we have a CM speak to us. They were around but stood together talking and never seemed approachable or even very interested in interacting with the guests.

I love Disney and have stayed over the years at several CL resorts but the RPC has really dropped the ball on customer service.

 

[magical4us4]

If you were talking about the BWI CL I might agree with this statement but our last stay at the RPC in March I didn't feel the hospitality at all. We started out at check in feeling like a hot potato that no one wanted. No curb side greeting and when I asked I was pointed to the main check-in. Waited in line to then have the desk woman yell over to someone to take us upstairs. That person in turn brought us over to another CM and asked them to take us upstairs were at the upstairs check in desk that cast member was leaving for the day and asked us to wait for another cast member. Whew! See what I mean. The final CM then proceeded to tell me that the beach pool was closed and when I stated "don't you mean just the pool slide"? she laughed and said "They don't tell us much here". Really?? One evening the young woman pouring wine looked so miserable that my husband named here the prison guard. We were at the RPC for four days and never once after the first day check-in did we have a CM speak to us. They were around but stood together talking and never seemed approachable or even very interested in interacting with the guests.

I love Disney and have stayed over the years at several CL resorts but the RPC has really dropped the ball on customer service.

I'm sorry you had a bad experience. It does happen though.

 

[magical4us4]

After reading this thread, took a look at the TripAdvisor reports for Grand Floridian. Perhaps I am a conspiracy theorist, but there does seem to be an unusual number of over-the-top 5 star reviews of late. Last time I checked TripAdvisor (maybe a couple of years ago) it seemed pretty balanced. Back then there were a good amount of 5 stars ("beautiful/convenient"), lots of 4 stars ("very nice but very expensive") and a good showing of 3 stars ("this ain't no Four Seasons for the price you pay"). Have always heard there are reviewers you can "hire" to give you good TripAdvisor reviews. Who knows if that is an urban legend or not.

Back to the thread topic ... GF CL isn't the same -- it is a shame as it used to be one of our favorite perks of our trips.

I agree about the conspiracy theory!! I know a family that posted a "not so good" review and it has yet to be shown on Trip Advisor.

 

[eastendlights]

After reading this thread, took a look at the TripAdvisor reports for Grand Floridian. Perhaps I am a conspiracy theorist, but there does seem to be an unusual number of over-the-top 5 star reviews of late. Last time I checked TripAdvisor (maybe a couple of years ago) it seemed pretty balanced. Back then there were a good amount of 5 stars ("beautiful/convenient"), lots of 4 stars ("very nice but very expensive") and a good showing of 3 stars ("this ain't no Four Seasons for the price you pay"). Have always heard there are reviewers you can "hire" to give you good TripAdvisor reviews. Who knows if that is an urban legend or not.

Back to the thread topic ... GF CL isn't the same -- it is a shame as it used to be one of our favorite perks of our trips.

It is not just an urban legend. Google "fake reviews on TripAdvisor". There are tons of articles by reputable news and travel sites that talk about the issue. Any hotel that suddenly has a whole slew of new positive reviews is suspect, IMO.

http://abcnews.go.com/Technology/story?id=8094231

http://www.traveladdicts.net/2015/08/tripadvisor-fake-reviews.html

 

[MKMK]

I agree about the conspiracy theory!! I know a family that posted a "not so good" review and it has yet to be shown on Trip Advisor.

I tested your theory... you are correct!!!!

A week ago I submitted two reviews to TripAdvisor - both 3 stars. One was for the Grand Floridian (commenting on the cutbacks) and the other review was for a non-Disney hotel I visited recently that was average. I tried to make both reviews apples-to-apples in terms of the feedback.

The non-Disney property review posted immediately. The Grand Floridian review is still "pending review" and has yet to be posted.

Maybe TripAdvisor limits the negative posts for companies who advertise on their website?

Sort of disappointed in TripAdvisor actually.

 

[Missymoe4]

IPO sent me an email telling me that cordials are now gone from SL. I was venting my concern to them about the deli meats and they also implied about the cordials.

When you speak of cordials, what do you mean? What were they in the past?

 

[AliceIn]

When you speak of cordials, what do you mean? What were they in the past?

They used to have Grand Marnier, Amaretto, stuff like that.

 

[Tinman1717]

At AKL staying CL now. No escort from main lobby, had to find the relocated lounge on our own ( 4th floor Kudu trail at the end). No welcome packet, no turndown, ask for beer and wine.Used both concierge and they were very good So far LOVE the resort NOT CL, So far not worth the added cost.

 

[Tinman1717]

At AKL staying CL now. No escort from main lobby, had to find the relocated lounge on our own ( 4th floor Kudu trail at the end). No welcome packet, no turndown, ask for beer and wine.Used both concierge and they were very good So far LOVE the resort NOT CL, So far not worth the added cost.

Wrong thread. Sorry