Grand Floridian construction question

[sydneysmom]

Hi everyone!! I just know there's got to be someone out there that will know the answer to this....

We're planning our return trip to Disney in June of 2013. Our last trip we stayed at the GF and it was beyond magical. Everything was just beautiful...the CM's were outstanding, our room was wonderful and we just loved everything about it.

I'm concerned about booking while the construction is going on. For those of you that know more about it than me, would you say that the bulk of the construction will be done by next year or would it just be better to book the YC ? I'm kind of between the YC and the GF, and I won't lie, the savings on the YC is attractive. My DH has his heart set on the GF... so it's a bit of a dilemma. (I admit, it's a good one to have!)

I just don't want to spend that kind of money only to hear construction noise all the time.... But part of me is "scared" to try something new...will we like it as much or will we be sorry. UGH!!! decisions, decisions!!

Any help would be greatly appreciated since I haven't a clue what the construction schedule is like...thank you!!!

 

[Figment1990]

Disney has not released any specific information about the construction schedule. They have not even started selling the GF villas yet at the DVC desks and as far as I know, there aren't any model rooms set up yet to see either. BUT, I stopped by the DVC desk on our way out yesterday and they said that they expect the building to be complete by late 2013. (but who knows if that's accurate, really). I don't know if that means they will have the exterior building up and be finishing up interior and exterior grounds while you are there, or what. I'm not sure anyone would know for certain at this point.

I will say that unless it's incredibly loud equipment, the construction site is somewhat removed from the rest of the hotel. And unless this is your one and only stay at the GF and you want every single thing to be perfect, you would probably be fine with the construction going on. Especially if you requested Sago Cay, Conch Key, or had Sugar Loaf reservations. And if you don't mind the Courtyard pool versus the Beach pool, you should be ok.

That being said, I do hope to stay at the YC someday - it seems lovely! We've visited there several times for dinner.

 

[akl-fan]

For the amount that the GF costs you should expect perfection. If your trip will be marred by the construction noise and the monorail being affected, then I would go with the YC. The YC is not Disneys flagship hotel but it is a beautiful up-scale resort. You will be able to get to DHS and Epcot on foot and have the use of SAB.

Have fun what ever you decide.

 

[toodycat]

Disney has not released any specific information about the construction schedule. They have not even started selling the GF villas yet at the DVC desks and as far as I know, there aren't any model rooms set up yet to see either. BUT, I stopped by the DVC desk on our way out yesterday and they said that they expect the building to be complete by late 2013. (but who knows if that's accurate, really). I don't know if that means they will have the exterior building up and be finishing up interior and exterior grounds while you are there, or what. I'm not sure anyone would know for certain at this point.

I will say that unless it's incredibly loud equipment, the construction site is somewhat removed from the rest of the hotel. And unless this is your one and only stay at the GF and you want every single thing to be perfect, you would probably be fine with the construction going on. Especially if you requested Sago Cay, Conch Key, or had Sugar Loaf reservations. And if you don't mind the Courtyard pool versus the Beach pool, you should be ok.

That being said, I do hope to stay at the YC someday - it seems lovely! We've visited there several times for dinner.

I, too, stopped by the DVC desk on the Disney Magic a couple of weeks ago and they had no info at all about the GF villas and construction. They couldn't even show us a floor plan. I have stayed at the GF in the past during construction and if you call in advance and express concern about noise, they may very well put you in a room farther away from the ongoing construction. At least, that was what they did for us.

Is it certain that the beach pool and monorail will be affected? I know the spa is closed, but I had not heard anything regarding the monorail.

 

[dansdad]

Is it certain that the beach pool and monorail will be affected? I know the spa is closed, but I had not heard anything regarding the monorail.

Not sure about the pool. But there is an entire thread about the monorail being down daily here.

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2888628

 

[Figment1990]

To clarify about the beach pool. It is currently open. The construction is happening on the other side of the rock slide. They have lovely Disney construction walls up at the lagoon/zero entry end of the pool, maybe 25-50 feet from the pool edge. The beach area between the pool bar and the Summerhouse is open and free from those walls (i.e., you can see straight out to the lagoon).

The monorail most definitely was affected from 11:30am-6pm on several days from 3/2 - 3/11. It was sometimes up before 6, and sometimes it ran the whole day without stopping. The reason given was that they needed to lift equipment over the beam and that it was not a long term situation. However, information was spotty and not always consistent from cast member to cast member, so who knows.

(We just returned yesterday.)

 

[toodycat]

Not sure about the pool. But there is an entire thread about the monorail being down daily here.

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2888628

Wow. That is quite a thread! I was just wondering because although the GF is my absolute favorite, if the monorail were down and only the courtyard pool were open, I might consider an Epcot resort or a return to my #2 favorite, AKL for our next trip. Since we won't be visiting WDW before summer at the earliest, it probably won't matter.

 

[TheRustyScupper]

We stayed GF last week (Main Building, King Suite)
. . . never heard construction noise
. . . saw little evidence of construction
. . . was not inconvenienced or put-off by construction

 

[sydneysmom]

We stayed GF last week (Main Building, King Suite)
. . . never heard construction noise
. . . saw little evidence of construction
. . . was not inconvenienced or put-off by construction

that is excellent news!!! thank you!!