Review Grand Floridian Pools

[MarkNC2Disney]

Updating , so I’m at the pool at grand Flo at 8:30 am and ALL the chairs have towels and people’s stuff on them (ie beach bags, books etc) and only exactly 7 people physically here .

Such crappy behavior.

 

[traveler9]

Updating , so I’m at the pool at grand Flo at 8:30 am and ALL the chairs have towels and people’s stuff on them (ie beach bags, books etc) and only exactly 7 people physically here .

Sounds like this would be a good use of the resort’s “lost and found” area.

 

[kylenne]

Such crappy behavior.

Agreed. Must be spring break/Easter week crowds bringing out the chair hogs. I wish the CMs would handle them like they do on some of the cruise lines. They have these signs up on the Royal Caribbean ships.

 

[thanxfornoticin]

They really should find a way to enforce the resort-guests-only access to the pool at GF, especially during high-usage times. Guests pay a lot of money/points to stay there, and shouldn't have to stand by the pool while someone with a breakfast ADR drives in, parks, and spends the day taking up 5 lounge chairs.

 

[kylenne]

They really should find a way to enforce the resort-guests-only access to the pool at GF, especially during high-usage times. Guests pay a lot of money/points to stay there, and shouldn't have to stand by the pool while someone with a breakfast ADR drives in, parks, and spends the day taking up 5 lounge chairs.

tbh they really need to treat the pools at the monorail resorts like SAB. make people scan in and get wristbands. even the gates are not enough because people constantly piggyback off actual resort guests at the Poly.

 

[Tink0808]

Can you please take pictures for us? We’d appreciate it. Thanks!

I should have this morning , unfortunately leaving early tomorrow. People are in their chairs now.

 

[sjmmclark]

They should do like Grand Californian at Disneyland. The staff check room keys and put bracelets on you to assure that only hotel guests are at the pool.

 

[thanxfornoticin]

They should do like Grand Californian at Disneyland. The staff check room keys and put bracelets on you to assure that only hotel guests are at the pool.

That's the same procedure for the Stormalong Bay pool at YC/BC/BCV in Florida.

 

[DISNEY123]

Just got back from a 6 day stay 2 bedroom at the Grand. My first stay ever at that location. First of all, the rooms are beautiful. Secondly, the pool situation was a mess. 2 pools is not enough for a 7 building probably close to 1000 rooms/villas.

Spent two full pool days at the courtyard pool. Opened at 7am. Day 1 I arrived at 6:55 expecting a line. No line. People already in and 40% gone and by 8am it was at capacity.
Day 2. I got there at 6:50. Easter Sunday. 50% gone and by 7:30. At capacity. Now by at capacity, I mean every chair had a towel on it. I sat there with wife and other family friends, there were chairs that people didn’t come back to until 1pm. Also there aren’t enough chairs at that pool. And that slide pool. Whoever designed that. The area around the pool is 65% slide, waterfall, 4 cabanas, bathrooms and the bar right up by the pool. Again limited seating.

Add in cool water temps and it’s not a good pool experience. And I’ve talked to the Disney people in the past. The nights, the rain, we had a cool stretch. I’ve heard all the excuses…As a pool owner from Michigan, I know how to manage a pool temp, and it not any different from your house. I like a warmer pool. Say 87 to 88. To do that your heater will Run more often. And cost you more (which I think is the main issue) But you set it and it keeps that temp

Disney claims this 82 degree temp policy which is too cold for a resort of this caliber. You shouldn’t have people inching into the water like they are being tortured at the rates guests are paying. But they turn the pumps and heater off at night. Temp drops to probably high 70’s. Comes back on in morning but it takes to mid afternoon to get to a “reasonable”level and that shouldn’t be accepted there.

Again. Loved the rooms. But I will pass in the future

 

[petrola]

we just got back from a week at Boardwalk. We love that resort! Just have to mention that it was so nice having Carousel Coffee right in the lobby!

Anyway, regarding pools, it was tough to find a spot in the afternoon, however I can't speak to the morning hours as we were in the parks at that time every day. One afternoon at the pool, my daughter and I went to the pool area restroom where there were 9 or 10 women and girls changing into their swimsuits saying how they are glad there are no wristbands at "this" pool. We were unable to use the restroom. there was stuff all over the place and multiple people changing in the 3 or 4 stalls. There were another 9 or 10 people waiting for them on the benches just outside the pool area before heading into the pool area. I noticed this multiple times during our stay.

While I don't love the idea of wearing wristbands to enter the pool, I think it is warranted at this point!

 

[teamsamant]

The Deluxe pools are being infiltrated by the non deluxe guests. Last year at the GF pool I overheard a group saying the needed to get the monorail back to MK to get the bus back to their resort. When that happens on an already crowded week , guests of the resort can't even enjoy the amenities. I'm totally for stormalong bay policy at every deluxe resort.

 

[FSU Girl]

I saw on FB people talking about the lack of chairs at Grand and apparently they got rid of a ton of pool chairs during the refurb and are planning to eventually replace them. But without them that’s why it’s so hard to find a chair right now

 

[Cfabar1]

They need more pools at the Grand.

They also need to return to CARDED access to all GF buildings (except the main one obviously). There's no reason for random people to start walking into Sago Cay or Bent Pine Key just because they want to see "what it looks like".

The pools need to go to MONITORED AND CARDED access.

Lastly, they need to add additional hot tubs, which wouldn't take up that much room, but would add some additional capacity on that front.

 

[brockash]

Currently staying at the Grand Floridian. I may be in the minority but imo there needs to be another pool. No chairs available at any pools unless you stalk them out early in the morning which I’ve seen people do. ((not planning on doing this at a deluxe resort ever) Would love to see maybe a “quiet” pool in the works for the renovations.

Anyone else have an opinion on this?

We found the same during our trip last summer. The poosl were way too small for the resort size. Finding seating was always a struggle.

 

[Tink0808]

Just got back from a 6 day stay 2 bedroom at the Grand. My first stay ever at that location. First of all, the rooms are beautiful. Secondly, the pool situation was a mess. 2 pools is not enough for a 7 building probably close to 1000 rooms/villas.

Spent two full pool days at the courtyard pool. Opened at 7am. Day 1 I arrived at 6:55 expecting a line. No line. People already in and 40% gone and by 8am it was at capacity.
Day 2. I got there at 6:50. Easter Sunday. 50% gone and by 7:30. At capacity. Now by at capacity, I mean every chair had a towel on it. I sat there with wife and other family friends, there were chairs that people didn’t come back to until 1pm. Also there aren’t enough chairs at that pool. And that slide pool. Whoever designed that. The area around the pool is 65% slide, waterfall, 4 cabanas, bathrooms and the bar right up by the pool. Again limited seating.

Add in cool water temps and it’s not a good pool experience. And I’ve talked to the Disney people in the past. The nights, the rain, we had a cool stretch. I’ve heard all the excuses…As a pool owner from Michigan, I know how to manage a pool temp, and it not any different from your house. I like a warmer pool. Say 87 to 88. To do that your heater will Run more often. And cost you more (which I think is the main issue) But you set it and it keeps that temp

Disney claims this 82 degree temp policy which is too cold for a resort of this caliber. You shouldn’t have people inching into the water like they are being tortured at the rates guests are paying. But they turn the pumps and heater off at night. Temp drops to probably high 70’s. Comes back on in morning but it takes to mid afternoon to get to a “reasonable”level and that shouldn’t be accepted there.

Again. Loved the rooms. But I will pass in the future

Sorry you had this experience but we too had a similar situation and that’s why I started this thread. I’m glad it wasn’t just me . Totally agree the rooms were fabulous but won’t return given the pool situation.

 

[Tink0808]

we just got back from a week at Boardwalk. We love that resort! Just have to mention that it was so nice having Carousel Coffee right in the lobby!

Anyway, regarding pools, it was tough to find a spot in the afternoon, however I can't speak to the morning hours as we were in the parks at that time every day. One afternoon at the pool, my daughter and I went to the pool area restroom where there were 9 or 10 women and girls changing into their swimsuits saying how they are glad there are no wristbands at "this" pool. We were unable to use the restroom. there was stuff all over the place and multiple people changing in the 3 or 4 stalls. There were another 9 or 10 people waiting for them on the benches just outside the pool area before heading into the pool area. I noticed this multiple times during our stay.

While I don't love the idea of wearing wristbands to enter the pool, I think it is warranted at this point!

Wow I have heard this from a few people second hand but you’re seeing it . Seems like it could be an easy solution. Very disappointing.

 

[Tink0808]

They need more pools at the Grand.

They also need to return to CARDED access to all GF buildings (except the main one obviously). There's no reason for random people to start walking into Sago Cay or Bent Pine Key just because they want to see "what it looks like".

The pools need to go to MONITORED AND CARDED access.

Lastly, they need to add additional hot tubs, which wouldn't take up that much room, but would add some additional capacity on that front.

Also sign outside building said doors would be locked after certain hour and only accessible with key ( magic band etc) but we never needed to use them after hours. Doors always opened . Maybe just have those door locked all the time.

 

[Choppygirl]

As the flagship hotel for WDW, I would be mad to pay the amount it costs to stay there and not get a lounger round the pool. We are from the UK and had our first GF stay in November. The lobby was very busy due to the Christmas Tree and Gingerbread House but that was expected. What was disappointing was listening to a large group by the courtyard pool saying about going back to their own resort. Thankfully being November, the pool wasn't busy and we managed to get seats easily. It is a big thing in mainland Europe with people reserving seats all day at resorts - there are clips on the internet where people are queuing at the gates waiting for the pool to open then there is a bun fight over seats. It would be awful for that starting to happen at WDW. I think all pools should have gate access where you have to scan in with additional wristbands at the deluxes as they are nearer the resorts to attract non-guests to the pool.

People are on holiday to relax and don't really want to cause a fuss by seeking out a CM to report pool hoppers and risk being confronted by the group. We are now DVC owners and although loved GF (especially Big Pine Key), the pool area does put me off. Even at WL you needed to scan a magic band to get in the pool area.

 

[Lewisc]

I'm confused. All the chairs are "reserved" by breakfast. How are the guests from other resorts getting to the GF that early?

 

[Tink0808]

While I imagine the other resort guests may be few I think you could easily be heading to early entry Magic Kindgom and stop by GF and throw book and flip flops down. I personally wouldn’t put it past some people. after enjoying early breakfast at Gaspirillas we swung by pool on our way back our room at Boca Chica and yes chairs were already “ reserved” not sure by whom, but not by myself and my family.