Grand Floridian ??? I'm second guessing myself.

[LuAnimal]

Hi everyone, I'd like to start off by commenting on what a wonderful group of ppl you have here.

I have just made reservations for the G/F concierge lodge and after reading the FAQ and a few other posts, I think I might end up being severely disappointed, especially after such a fabulous trip to Poly concierge last year.

Is it still true that the lodge does not offer wine and cordials with their food service?

I've yet to read a wonderful review about this resort, am I missing those?

My sister has dreamed of staying a the G/F and last year we had the most awesome character dinner of anywhere we'd been previously. So I thought it would be a perfect trip, now I'm worried and considering changing to another resort. This trip is for My mother (73), my sister (52), my daughter (4) and I (not telling ). This trip will be the second week in Nov so if I do need to change, I'd better get on the ball

Thanks so much for any help you might have and I promise a full reveiw upon my return for whatever resort we end up at.

Lu

PS...does anyone have the phone number for concierge?

 

[hookedup]

I cannont comment on the conceirge as we just stayed in a regular park view room. But I will say that I LOVED the resort. It was too my dream to stay there and had been for several years. I was not dissappointed and neither was my dh who had balked at the idea and was moaning about the cost beforehand.
We loved the resort. We were impressed by the CM's who were wonderful and gracious hosts. We had a 2 year old with us who also had a great time. I posted under the FAQ last month with more glowing comments.
Like I said we did not do the concierge - we have at other hotels including DL's Grand Californian. IMO the GF was a magical and wonderful place and I would go back (and try the concierge level) if we could swing it.

 

[GERBSPA]

WE STAYED AT GF CONCIERGE LAST OCTOBER AND HAD A WONDERFUL TIME. EVERYONE WAS EXTREMELY HELPFUL. THE CONCIERGE PEOPLE GOT TO KNOW US REALLY WELL THAT IN THE MORNING THEY HAD OUR KIDS CHOC MILK MIXED AND READY TO GO. TO HAVE FOOD THROUGHOUT THE DAY AND A CONCIERGE PERSON TO HELP YOU MADE OUR TRIP ESPECIALLY WITH OUR KIDS. OUR KIDS ARE 6 AND TWIN 4 YEAR OLDS.
WE ARE RETURNING IN TWO WEEKS TO DO IT ALL AGAIN
GF ALL THE WAY !!

1980 POLY
1982 CONT
1985 POLY
1986 FORT WIL
1989 CONT
1991 GF
1996 GF
1999 GF CONCIERGE
2001 GF CONCIERGE
SEPT 2002 GF

 

[GERBSPA]

WE STAYED AT GF CONCIERGE LAST OCTOBER AND HAD A WONDERFUL TIME. EVERYONE WAS EXTREMELY HELPFUL. THE CONCIERGE PEOPLE GOT TO KNOW US REALLY WELL THAT IN THE MORNING THEY HAD OUR KIDS CHOC MILK MIXED AND READY TO GO. TO HAVE FOOD THROUGHOUT THE DAY AND A CONCIERGE PERSON TO HELP YOU MADE OUR TRIP ESPECIALLY WITH OUR KIDS. OUR KIDS ARE 6 AND TWIN 4 YEAR OLDS.
WE ARE RETURNING IN TWO WEEKS TO DO IT ALL AGAIN
GF ALL THE WAY !!

1980 POLY
1982 CONT
1985 POLY
1986 FORT WIL
1989 CONT
1991 GF
1996 GF
1999 GF CONCIERGE
2001 GF CONCIERGE
SEPT 2002 GF

 

[s&k'smom]

We too are staying at GF in a few weeks and it has always been our dream to stay there again. I don't think we'll be disapoointed even with some of the negative things we have heard. IMHO if it's been your dream give it a try. I love the Poly also and was wondering if we should stay there but DH is desperate to stay at GF so I guess I'll "force" myself Have a great trip.

 

[Desnik]

I have never stayed in GF concierge, we have stayed in a garden view room there and absolutely loved it! We had our DD with us who was 3yo at the time and she also loved the resort. While everyone has different opinions and different experiences you just have to go and see for yourself. We had really friendly CM's. We were also there in Nov. and got to see the X-mas decorations being put up. We really enjoyed the decor and atmosphere, with the band playing in the evenings. We plan on going back in 2003! Enjoy and don't worry, you'll have a great time!

 

[TigrLvsPooh]

There are 2 different types... lodge concierge (Sugar Loaf building) and Royal Palm Club concierge (Main building). The lodge concierge is more limited... they do not offer food, dessert, wine, cordials, or anything at night. If you really have your heart set on food and drinks at night I think you should switch to something else.

The GF is a wonderful resort. Please realize that there isn't a single disney resort that hasn't been slammed on this board, from the GF down to the All Star. You have to take everything you read here with a grain of salt.

 

[AllyandJack]

We stayed in RPC in August for our honeymoon. It was fantastic! I became obsessed with the lounge and what food they would be putting out next. We were on the Clarendon level to begin with, but had a group of goons next door. We could literally hear these people as we walked down the hallway. I requested this level since I was told that it was all couples, no kids, nice and quiet. Now, I had friends for dinner in my room one night after my wedding, but nobody had to call the front desk on me. I called once at midnight. They were apparently called because they ended up in the hallway yelling how they were "going to (expletive) 8-Trax." We got 3 hours of sleep when they all came back, drunk and yelling and telling each other to "shhhh!!!!!" I decided that I would much rather spend my honeymoon in my brand new house than pay big bucks to be miserable. At 3am, I hauled myself up to the front desk and told the woman I was checking out. She took one look at my reservation, said this is your honeymoon, you have 10 nights left, you're not going anywhere. She gave us a room to sleep in for the night. The next day, the concierge moved us to a suite on the 5th floor. Technically it was still the same price category because it was a honeymoon turret room, so it wasn't an upgrade and I didn't want one, I just wanted whatever was going on next door in the alleged honeymoon suite to end. But, it was still a nice gesture. No messing around and a quick response. The moved my bags for me and comped me the night. From the 5th floor, I could see down into the lounge and would pop out there every hour to see what was down there! I contemplated cancelling some dinner reservations to eat in the lounge. The turndown service was awesome - they left us slippers! The breakfast in the morning was so convenient. I came down, raided the Frosted Flakes and orange juice and scurried back to my room. One time I pirated a cup full of chicken nuggets and ate them on the monorail on the way to MK. I just had the best possible time. After a day in the parks, we never took the elevator to the 5th floor, we always got off on the 4th, got stuff from the lounge and walked up to the room.

My only advice is to request a room away from the lounge, since it seemed to me that the rooms took in a lot of the noise from the lounge. There are TVs there and sometimes they're loud. But, I don't know for a fact, it's just my opinion from walking by!

Have a great trip!!!

 

[TammiMcMan]

We were at the GF in July/August and had an amazing time. I'm sure you will love the GF. We've stayed in both the lodge concierge and the main building. You're right, the lodge does not offer any late night desserts or the wine and cordials. You would need to reserve RPC for that benefit. Also, if you were hoping for an MK view, you may be disappointed in the lodge. There are really no unobstructed views of the castle. You can see the fireworks pretty clearly from some rooms though. Aside from those two drawbacks, the lodge is very well staffed. The CM's are wonderful and very happy to help with any plans that you may have.

You'll definitely have to spend an evening in the main building. Beginning at 3pm and ending at 9:45pm, there is a pianist in the lobby who alternates playing with the house orchestra. You can grab a drink in the lounge or simply relax on some of the most comfortable sofa's I've ever been on. I think your mother would truly enjoy. The atmosphere is so elegant, even when you're just sitting around in shorts and sneakers.

Let me know if you have any more questions.

Tammi

 

[Pa@okw95]

I stayed in the honeymoon suite about 3 or 4 years ago which had concierge service in the main building. This was before they renovated the place. The room was a mess and I paid $650 per night. At any rate we made the best of it and learned a lesson from it. They have renovated since then, but it was the worse room I ever stayed in. I would say the rest of the hotel was grand, the food and service was excellent.

 

[imbe@aol.com]

Originally posted by Pa@okw95
I stayed in the honeymoon suite about 3 or 4 years ago which had concierge service in the main building. This was before they renovated the place. The room was a mess and I paid $650 per night. At any rate we made the best of it and learned a lesson from it. They have renovated since then, but it was the worse room I ever stayed in. I would say the rest of the hotel was grand, the food and service was excellent.

Sorry to hear you had such a bad room experience at the Grand! What was the matter with the room? What made it the worst you've ever stayed in??

 

[BCV23]

I think you'll have a wonderful time! We've only stayed at the GF once and that was in lodge concierge in Jan. '02. Especially for a girls' only trip, I think it would be great.

There is no wine or cognac and service stops at 7 pm. But the buiding is very conveniently located and breakfast offerings are quite nice. The appetizers are good, too. We're going back in December and it takes quite a bit to lure us away from our beloved Polynesian.

The staff was nice though reserved. Housekeeping was great.

Since it's always been a dream of your sister's to stay there, just go and enjoy. It will be as special as you make it.

 

[Pa@okw95]

Before renovation the room was a mess. The carpet was stained all over the place. It was a mess, should have been replaced long ago. The furniture had a broken down look to it. There was no porch to ago out on. I asked them about the porch when I rented the room they said all the rooms had porches. That is not true. Keep in mind they renovated these rooms months later. I could not belive Disney would rent out a room like that at any price let alone $650. The rest of the hotel was excellent and I was very happy with, just the room was the only negative.

 

[CaliforniaDreaming]

None of the honeymoon turret rooms have balconies (there are 6 of them), and one room in each of the lodge buildings do not have a balcony (four of them are lodge tower rooms, one of them is a lodge concierge room). Every other room has a balcony.

 

[Misti]

I LOVE the Grand Floridian. I had a so-so experience with the Main Building concierge this year but that is overshadowed by my many memorable trips. The resort overall is wonderful, IMHO. I've been returning every year since 1989 so that should tell you something!

Have a GREAT time!

 

[Vlahakis2001]

The Grand Floridian is the best hotel I have ever stayed at in my entire life. A couple hotels are close seconds but I just feel the atmosphere puts it over the top.