Grand Floridian club level going 3rd class

[BC1836]

If you have ever experienced a club level reservation at the Grand Floridian Resort and Spa (we've stayed at the GFR 34 times), the first wonderful part of the experience is being greeted by a concierge-level cast member who welcomes you outside and subsequently escorts you inside to complete your reservation. And if your room is ready, the cast member will escort you to your room. Well, that special policy is about to end.

So what's the difference between a Holiday Inn Express and a Grand Floridian Resort and Spa check in? Nothing.

 

[jaceraden]

Is this for real?!

Yes, I liked the special greeting but it in no way was the make or break of my club level stay.

 

[Minniesgal]

I think there are a lot more important aspects to concierge than being greeted outside.

 

[Aurora0427]

I think there are a lot more important aspects to concierge than being greeted outside.

There are, but at those prices, they should greet you outside and escort you to your room.

 

[dansdad]

There are, but at those prices, they should greet you outside and escort you to your room.

Actually for those prices you should be carried on a Litter like Cleopatra to your room.

 

[Sue M]

Actually for those prices you should be carried on a Litter like Cleopatra to your room.

Exactly!!

 

[DisDad-]

We have a week long trip planned at the GF in RPC TPV this August. While being greeted and escorted to our room won't necessarily make or break our trip, it's an added touch to the experience. If the greeting process is in fact eliminated, I don't really understand the motivation behind the decision. What business reason would they have for taking this away? Doesn't seem to make much sense.

 

[eastendlights]

Actually for those prices you should be carried on a Litter like Cleopatra to your room.

While being fed peeled grapes by hunky men in togas.....

 

[bumbershoot]

Being greeted and escorted like that would make me feel soooo uncomfortable.

I'm already so thankful we've never been greeted by name outside a resort!

 

[Oswin]

I guess the good news is now you can change your reservation to the Holiday Inn Express or one of the values on property and save a lot of money since the experience will be the same?

 

[gzmtlock]

We've stayed concierge at AKL a couple times, and they did the same thing. We figured it was so we could actually go up to the concierge lounge to check in; the elevator required a room key with concierge access to go to that floor, which of course we did not have prior to check-in. (Pre-MB and online check in days.)

It did feel special, and my kids were really impressed. But the espresso machine available on demand in the concierge lounge was much more important to me than the instant on-property greeting!

 

[gwynne]

If you have ever experienced a club level reservation at the Grand Floridian Resort and Spa (we've stayed at the GFR 34 times), the first wonderful part of the experience is being greeted by a concierge-level cast member who welcomes you outside and subsequently escorts you inside to complete your reservation. And if your room is ready, the cast member will escort you to your room. Well, that special policy is about to end.

So what's the difference between a Holiday Inn Express and a Grand Floridian Resort and Spa check in? Nothing.

I'm just curious, did a Grand Floridan Club Level CM inform you of this? If not, would you share your source?

 

[BC1836]

Yes, CMs (plural) informed us of this...and they were the ones who were upset because it will also effect registration for everyone. It's just one of a number of changes that have not been for the better at the GFR over the years.

Still, we'll be returning to the GFR in April.
And during our two-day drive to and from WDW, we always stay at a Holiday Inn Express!

[The previous hoi polloi comments were all great...the Cleopatra litter being the best of the lot!]

 

[mickeynut1]

Yes, I liked the special greeting but it in no way was the make or break of my club level stay.

I think there are a lot more important aspects to concierge than being greeted outside.

We have only stayed CL 3 times, but have never been greeted outside for any of them. For WL CL and GF SL stays, we were checked in in the lounge, but for RPC, our check in was done in the main lobby. While it is nice being checked in up in the lounge, it's not a big deal for me to have it done in the main lobby. I also don't mind not being greeted outside as I actually prefer not being led into the resort by a CM with an ipad (but that's just me).

I also agree with Minniesgal that there are a lot more important aspects to CL than being greeted outside (just my personal opinion).

 

[AngiTN]

I'm not seeing how this is a GF issue, or what the issue is at all.
All the Deluxe CL have a CM who will escort you to the CL lounge to complete your check in, great you, take you to your room, etc.
But, sometimes there is no one available to escort you to the lounge for check in so that is completed in the lobby.
That's always been the case.
We've had it at our WL and AKL stays. At BC our check in was done in the lobby as no one was available to take us upstairs at the time we arrived. Once we finished there was someone who came down to take us to the lounge and give us the tour.
Where we've been checked in makes no difference to our CL stay either.

 

[Dreamin192]

We stayed in a non club level garden view at the poly last year and were greeted at the bus by a CM with an iPad who escorted us to the front desk. Is this usually only done for CL? It was our first time staying at a deluxe so I figured it was standard. Our next trip is a split stay between GF CL (SL) and Poly CL so it will be interesting to compare them.

 

[BC1836]

I think there are a lot more important aspects to concierge than being greeted outside.

To be sure. However, each season over the last few years elements of quality service have been removed/altered at the GRF. Certain food and beverage offerings are no longer available; courtesy wheelchairs are no longer available; the high quality valet service has been outsourced; etc. Each item by itself doesn't seem to be of much concern, but when taken collectively, it has an effect. Again, we will be back for our 35th stay at the GFR in April whether we are greeted outside or not.

 

[AngiTN]

We stayed in a non club level garden view at the poly last year and were greeted at the bus by a CM with an iPad who escorted us to the front desk. Is this usually only done for CL? It was our first time staying at a deluxe so I figured it was standard. Our next trip is a split stay between GF CL (SL) and Poly CL so it will be interesting to compare them.

No, it is not only for CL guests. It's 2 different things.
Ever since MB came about they try to always have staff outside to great arrivals
Sometimes they are with other guests and you can get in without a greeting.
The difference for CL guests is once the CM with the iPad sees you are staying CL they will notify the CL staff that a CL guest has arrived. If there is a CL staff available to come down and escort you to the CL they will and they'll complete your check in there. If there isn't you can complete it at the main lobby.
With the addition of straight to the room check in it has changed things a bit but I'm not sure how for CL guests
We've been told that your MB will not operate the CL floor on the elevator until you've opened your room door (which is why they remind all guests to use the MB on the room at least once) so it isn't possible for CL guests to go straight to their room. They'll need some level of assistance to reach the floor
We haven't done a CL stay and arrived after our room was ready so I'm not sure how that works. I believe you will still have to be escorted to the CL floor.

 

[Disneytam]

To be sure. However, each season over the last few years elements of quality service have been removed/altered at the GRF. Certain food and beverage offerings are no longer available; courtesy wheelchairs are no longer available; the high quality valet service has been outsourced; etc. Each item by itself doesn't seem to be of much concern, but when taken collectively, it has an effect. Again, we will be back for our 35th stay at the GFR in April whether we are greeted outside or not.

We will be arriving at the GF RPC in 13 days and this is a little upsetting to me. Many years ago we used to stay at the GF RPC every trip but our last time there was just an all around poor experience. It was way before MB so when no one greeted us at the door we went and stood in a long line to check in (after asking a CM about check in and he just pointed to the check in desk and turned his back on us). Once checked in we had no way to get to our rooms and had to twice ask to have someone bring us to our rooms, just really odd. I know it's not the end of the world but it was awkward and for the amount you pay upsetting. It also took a lot of time and time is money at Disney. Once upstairs the food was very lacking and the CM who serviced the food area was down right mean, by day three we were avoiding her at all costs. Anyway we haven't been back since and found the BWI CL to be wonderful. Until this trip when we had been hearing such wonderful things about the GF and hubby wanted to go back so we will be there for 3 nights before moving to the BWI. I will report back how things go, but posts like this one are making me worried.

 

[gwynne]

We will be arriving at the GF RPC in 13 days and this is a little upsetting to me. Many years ago we used to stay at the GF RPC every trip but our last time there was just an all around poor experience. It was way before MB so when no one greeted us at the door we went and stood in a long line to check in (after asking a CM about check in and he just pointed to the check in desk and turned his back on us). Once checked in we had no way to get to our rooms and had to twice ask to have someone bring us to our rooms, just really odd. I know it's not the end of the world but it was awkward and for the amount you pay upsetting. It also took a lot of time and time is money at Disney. Once upstairs the food was very lacking and the CM who serviced the food area was down right mean, by day three we were avoiding her at all costs. Anyway we haven't been back since and found the BWI CL to be wonderful. Until this trip when we had been hearing such wonderful things about the GF and hubby wanted to go back so we will be there for 3 nights before moving to the BWI. I will report back how things go, but posts like this one are making me worried.

I'm not doubting OP's experience with conversations with CM's. However, I've had a few CL experiences over the years where something seems to be run up the flagpole just to see what happens. The "change" seems to fall by the wayside a few days or weeks later.
The issue on this thread possibly could be this is one of those things. We'll probably have to wait and see.
That said, I hope you have a very nice upcoming vacation and no unwelcome surprises.