Grand Floridian Help

[croschek05]

My family and I are Polynesian people. We have stayed there over 25 times. For the first time we are trying the Floridian. We have a lagoon view. Can someone give me a recommendation on what building is good and would a high level floor be better than bottom floor? I’m a big view guy Thanks for any help

 

[Gehrig1B]

We were in Boca Chica on the 4th floor with a great view of the castle. I don’t recall the room number but our balcony faced Narcoossee’s. I do believe the lower floor balconies are larger…

 

[Marthasor]

Agree with PP. We like to request Boca Chica, 4th floor.

 

[GADisneyDad14]

One important thing to note - the rooms on the top floor of the outer buildings have “dormer style” balconies, not full balconies. The rooms themselves have a vaulted ceiling which make them feel a little bigger, but the dormer balcony is, to me, a big draw back.

Note the ‘stair step’ design of the buildings - meaning the top floor rooms in the middle are one floor above the top floor rooms on the wings. The dormer balcony rooms basically follow the roof line. Specifics can vary slightly by each building.

You’ll hear others who disagree, but I’m personally not a fan of the dormer balcony rooms, despite being on the highest floor. Sounds picky, but I like the space and I like to be able to sit/see out fully.

For that reason, I will usually request “full balcony.” Or sometimes I’ll put a building request and full balcony and leave it at that.

Hope that helps!

 

[Minnie368]

So are the buildings 5 floors so that the 4th floor is the highest with a full balcony?

 

[GADisneyDad14]

So are the buildings 5 floors so that the 4th floor is the highest with a full balcony?

Each outer building layout is a tad different. But to take Boca Chica below as an example, the middle section is 5 floors then the “ends” stair step down the 4 floors. The top floor rooms regardless of if it’s floor 4 or 5 have a dormer balcony.



An exception would be Sugar Loaf, which has the same stair step design and top floor dormer balconies, but is 4 stories in the middle, 3 on the wings.

 

[sdk1231]

One important thing to note - the rooms on the top floor of the outer buildings have “dormer style” balconies, not full balconies. The rooms themselves have a vaulted ceiling which make them feel a little bigger, but the dormer balcony is, to me, a big draw back.

Note the ‘stair step’ design of the buildings - meaning the top floor rooms in the middle are one floor above the top floor rooms on the wings. The dormer balcony rooms basically follow the roof line. Specifics can vary slightly by each building.

You’ll hear others who disagree, but I’m personally not a fan of the dormer balcony rooms, despite being on the highest floor. Sounds picky, but I like the space and I like to be able to sit/see out fully.

For that reason, I will usually request “full balcony.” Or sometimes I’ll put a building request and full balcony and leave it at that.

Hope that helps!

I never noticed the stair-step design of the buildings, but you're right! Interesting! Regarding the top floor dormer balcony - I've been on the top floor and have had the smaller, more enclosed dormer balcony two times. At first, I was a bit disappointed, but the balcony grew on me for three reasons: 1. The top floor dormer balcony is very private. You can sit there in your robe or jammies without being seen by the entire resort. 2. It's very protected from the elements (rain/wind will not force you indoors). 3. The higher views are awesome. I just got back from a long weekend where I had my second 5th floor dormer balcony stay. I spent a lot of time on the balcony with 2 other adults. With 3 adults, we had plenty of room. While the dormer is smaller than the standard balcony, it's not tiny by any means. I've enjoyed all of the buildings I've stayed in. They all have positives. I like the regular balconies and the dormers equally. They both have positives. I too, love the Poly and I hope you enjoy your stay at the Grand!

 

[sdk1231]

One of my favorite lowest price Outer Building Garden View room views was Conch Key, room 7310. I liked the location of the building (near the boat dock). Third floor, full balcony. Farthest from the main building, but really not bad of a walk, at all. From the balcony, looking to the left, I had a great view of Space Mountain, Narcoosee's and the water. At night I had a clear view of the electrical water pageant. Looking to the right, I had a great view of the main building and the Courtyard pool (very pretty at night). I felt like I almost had a Lagoon View for the price of a Garden View. I enjoyed bopping into Narcoosee's for a drink or dinner at the bar.

 

[ariel222]

I actually love the dormer rooms but I don't really need a balcony. Our lagoon view room in Conch Key had a great view and was probably our favorite building we've stayed in so far. My biggest GF tip is to request a room as far down the hall/as far away from the elevators as possible. The walls are thin and each building has its own mini lobby-type area in the middle where people often hang out and it can get loud.

 

[sdk1231]

I actually love the dormer rooms but I don't really need a balcony. Our lagoon view room in Conch Key had a great view and was probably our favorite building we've stayed in so far. My biggest GF tip is to request a room as far down the hall/as far away from the elevators as possible. The walls are thin and each building has its own mini lobby-type area in the middle where people often hang out and it can get loud.

I found your post interesting. I've never experienced the "walls are thin" issue at the Grand Floridian (although I have at the Poly). I've stayed right next to the elevator multiple times and I've never noticed or been bothered by noise from the ground floor lobby area. It could be that I'm just so dead tired when I return to my room that I fall instantly asleep. And yes - Conch Key! I was surprised that I liked that building. Looking on the map, it wouldn't have been my number one pick. I bet a lagoon room there is nice.