Grand Floridian Opinions Wanted

[AshleeH]

We are tentatively planning a December 2013 trip (just me and my DH) and I've always wanted to stay at the Grand Floridian. I think that would be the perfect time for it since we won't have kids with us (we normally love the Contemporary so we can walk to MK).

For those of you who have stayed there, is it worth the price? What view is the best (or does it matter)? Outer building or main building? Any opinions are appreciated!

 

[RevFrHeinz]

We honeymooned there in 1997. LOVED it! We stayed in the main building, concierge, in a 4th floor turret room. It was a fairy tale week!

If you can afford it, go with the main building. That room had a beautiful view of the castle, across the lagoon.

I have friends who recently were in one of the out buildings, also with a great view of the castle, and they were thrilled too! You can't go wrong.

 

[TheRustyScupper]

For those of you who have stayed there, is it worth the price?
. . . for us, yes it is
. . . elegance and sophistication
. . . and very attentive staff

What view is the best (or does it matter)?
. . . we always get a MK-view so we see fireworks
. . . the room also overlooks the marina

Outer building or main building?
. . . if you can afford it, Main Building
. . . you also get the concierge floor and lounge
. . . we enjoy relaxing during the day with wine and backgammon

Any opinions are appreciated!
. . . we get fresh roses in the room daily
. . . we get fresh carnations in the bathroom daily
. . . we usually get a bottle of wine and chocolate from management

 

[mickeynut1]

We've stayed outer building GV, outer building CL (SL), and main building CL (RPC). For us, the main building is definitely worth it. The CL lounge is spacious with great food offerings and you can't beat sitting in the lounge listening to the band play . You really can't go wrong with any room category at the GF, but if it's doable, the main building is totally worth it .

 

[mmmears]

I've stayed in the main building (RPC), Sugar Loaf (also CL) and in regular rooms with castle views across the lagoon. IMO, yes it's worth it -- it's a very nice resort. If you can afford it, pick main building. If not, then anywhere at the GF is really nice.

 

[Haley]

December will be especially nice because of the Christmas decor and gingerbread house.

 

[pezaddict231]

For us it was definitely worth it, we love that resort. We've stayed in a Deluxe King (Turret) room in the main building and in a garden view (Standard) room in an outer building. The main building was amazing and definitely the way to go if you can. We love being able to hear the orchestra from our room. The lounge offerings and CM's were great.

The outer buildings are nice too, we were right near the courtyard pool, everything is fairly close, so no long walks to get from place to place. It is an awesome resort, you'll have a wonderful time! Be sure to go to basin and get a few bath bombs and take a bubble bath! The other thing I love about the GF is all the great restaurants and being able to walk right back to our room after. Have a great trip!

 

[AshleeH]

Thank you, everyone! I've always wanted to go in December, so I'm looking forward to it. Hopefully it will be next year - it will be my reward for hitting my ultimate weight-loss goal. I told my husband I wanted a big reward for reaching my goal weight and Disney during the Christmas season is the #1 thing on my Bucket List. 16 pounds lost - 34 to go .

Since this is a trip purely for me (even though DH loves going to WDW as well) I figured I'd go for the hotel I've always wanted to stay in. If we can swing the main building, we'll definitely do that! I've been buying gift cards every time I go to any store that sells them - that will be a significant chunk taken out of the trip, so the main building might be possible.

I already feel so sorry for the poor CM who will be working when we bring those cards in lol! At least we can use a lot of them for meals and other purchases, so that CM won't get the entire stack .

 

[vettegirl]

I have stayed there twice both with a 40% discount, we the discount it was well worth it. I would not pay rack rate to stay there, but that is just me. However the resort is immaculate and the rooms are quite nice. Of course in December it will be beautiful with the decor for the holidays.

 

[sydneysmom]

We stayed at the GF on our last trip... it was our first trip to Disney, as a family,and our DD's first time there ever. So we wanted to make it magical. (or in my DH's words.."since we're only going once, let's do it right") He actually believed that until we landed in Orlando and got on the Magical Express...he was then planning our next trip !

Well, it was completely worth the price, for us. Being on the monorail was wonderful and if the monorail was busy, we had the option of the boat. if you wanted to be in the MK, 5 min later you were in the MK.

My birthday fell during the week we went and the GF went out of their way to make it an amazing birthday. Our room wasn't ready when we got there (about 1:00 pm) which was fine... we got our tickets and went to the park. We later got our room and found that not only had they upgraded us to a Castle view, they put a chocolate Mickey in our room holding a chocolate Happy Birthday banner... all on a plate of chocolate covered strawberries. They also put a card from all the characters, a white chocolate "Grand Floridian postcard".... it was AMAZING. We were in Big Pine Key and got to sit on our balcony and watch the Electric Water Parade then the fireworks at MK.... truly magical.

Our next trip we're actually planning on the YC because we'll be going in June, so the GF is a bit higher priced than when we went in Sept with a 40% code. Now, if we are lucky enough to get a pin code again, I think I'm going to book the GF since it'll be my DH's birthday. Since he was so enthralled by the GF, it might be a nice birthday surprise for him. (fingers crossed!!!)

I think if you choose to go, you will have a truly magical time... it's like no place I've ever stayed. It's absolutely gorgeous, but at the same time, never once did I feel it was stuffy or we were out of place with a 6 year old. The CM's go out of their way to be friendly and chatty and pleasant. The whole experience is just beautiful.

 

[catyanna]

This beautiful place is so worth it. I surprised my parents w/ a trip last July. We stayed in the Sugarloaf bldg. It was magical from the moment we arrived. The cm's go out of their way to make you feel special. My ds who was 3 at the time, fell in love with GF. He wants to stay there for his bday this year. Our room had a view of the pool. We could have requested a view of the marina but we live on the water so a change of scenery was what we wanted. but I think all views would be good. you can walk to the boat dock to watch the water parade & fireworks if you want.

Christmas time is extra magical because the whole place is decorated beautifully. Have a great time whatever you decide!!!

 

[Leleluvsdis]

My dream is to stay at GF only if for 1 night... I love hearing everyone's experience, and cannot wait to hear what everyone else has to say. Dh says if I get to may goal weight and complete a 5k here at home, we will go to WDW for my 1st 1/2marathon (my goal is to run a 1/2 maraton). I'm hopeing he will be willing to splurge for the GF when we make the trip!!

 

[catyanna]

My dream is to stay at GF only if for 1 night... I love hearing everyone's experience, and cannot wait to hear what everyone else has to say. Dh says if I get to may goal weight and complete a 5k here at home, we will go to WDW for my 1st 1/2marathon (my goal is to run a 1/2 maraton). I'm hopeing he will be willing to splurge for the GF when we make the trip!!

Good for you on the weight loss. I am down 23lbs & need to lose 25 more to be at my ideal weight. That will be a fabulous, much deserved reward for all your hard work.
I know what u mean about dreaming about staying at GF. When I was younger & would go to WDW w/ my parents, I always looked at GF as we were leaving on the monorail & thought "oh I wish I could one day stay there"! My mother has always wished the same. But w/ 4 kids it was never possible.
We try to go at least once a year & we love to take my parents w/ us. So last summer we planned to go for mine & my moms birthday. But I didnt tell my mom that we were staying at GF. When we got there, she almost fainted from the the shock & excitement. It was totally worth the extra cost.

 

[bwolfe]

We've been there the past two summers and loved it. We've been in Big Pine Key each time.

 

[disadventurer]

Stayed in Big Pine Key in a dormer room. Had a great view of the MK fireworks, and pool. Had a super rate as my DH was part of a convention, so it was great; otherwise it's just too much for one night.

Have a great time whatever you decide!

 

[Mrs K]

First of all, we never book a Disney trip without a discount code! With 5 of us, we always book deluxe and CL. We stayed at the GF last summer and it was so worth the $$. It is beautiful.

 

[Rlv]

We stayed last November and ended up with an amazing large room,one of four, with ap discount in main building. It was worth it. Bet club level food and drinks I've had thus far and the Christmas decorations were awesome. We went to bed one night and woke up and Christmas had come to gf!

 

[dragonfly57005]

We love GF! I love having a view of the castle. You will love the peacefulness and romantic restaurants.

 

[sixcats]

The Grand is very nice. Please keep in mind that there is construction going on there and will be ongoing for quite a while. Our Lagoon view room overlooked the construction. It was not a pretty view and was noisy from 7am until about 4pm.

 

[midge3426]

We stayed there this past September and were honestly very disappointed. The hotel is pretty and most of the staff were nice, but it was not worth the cost. We were in the Sugar Loaf building and there was a convention staying in our buidilng. They were all congregated in the lobby and there was no place to sit or stand in order to enjoy the hors d'oeuvres. They were working on the monorail so there was no monorail transportation for EMH and we had to take the boat. They had one boat running and so we spent a lot of time waiting. Please be aware that GF is a convention hotel and if a convention books club level, it will affect your stay.