Grand Floridian Questions

[vcasey]

We're planning our 2004 pre-Christmas trip and after MANY trips we've decided to splurge and finally stay at the Grand Floridian.

We're going early Dec. so its value season, my question is it worth spending the extra money for Lagoon view or Main Bldg. I know they won't guarantee a MK view so I'm wondering if I should save the money for other stuff since we'll more than likely spend most of our time in the parks any since its a short trip.

I'd appreciate anyone thoughts. Thanks!

 

[SnackyStacky]

I've never stayed here, so I can't comment on a view being worth it or not, but as someone who has been in a similar dilemma, I would say that you should use money you'd spend on a better view on other aspects of your trip.

If you were going for an extended period of time, and would be spending a good deal of time in the room, then I would probably say to go for the view.

But since you're going to be at the parks most of the time, I don't see the need for a good view. And isn't the main building concierge? I definitely wouldn't go that far for a short trip where little resort time is planned.

I'm sure that either way you decide, you'll have a PHEONMENAL time. Someday I too hope to stay at the Grand Floridian.

 

[sprtnfan]

We stayed at the GF last March and had a standard view room. I was very pleasantly surprised to see that unlike at many of the other resorts, standard view does not mean parking lot. I had a room on the 2nd floor and it was overlooking the main pool, but far enough away that the noise didn't bother us. Would I have loved to overlook the water and see the fireworks? YES! However, it was very memorable for us to return to the resort one night and watch the fireworks on the grass with our little ones and also a memorable moment was to watch the boat parade from the beach. Go and enjoy and don't worry about your view. I doubt you will be disappointed!

 

[my3boys]

We were incredibly lucky to have been upgraded to lagoon view at Conch Key, and the view of the castle was wonderful. We loved watching the fireworks in our pajamas. However, we have little ones, so we didn't stay at the parks the entire day. Since you have a short trip with more time in the parks, you may enjoy spending the money on special dinners or maybe the Illuminations cruise! Since you are traveling in the off season, you could gamble for an upgrade, too.

if it helps your decision making, we booked garden view for our next GF trip. The GF is such a lovely hotel, we will enjoy ourselves whatever the view and will have extra money to spend elsewhere on our trip.

 

[crazywig]

we had a garden view in sept '01 and overlooked the marina. we could see the monorail as well. i thought the view was just fine


i'd spend my $$ elsewhere, especially if you won't be spending much time in the room.

 

[jocon]

I agree with crazywig.....on our honeymoon in May we reserved a garden view and ended up in Conch key overlooking the marina and the monorail......One night when MK was closed early a private function had wonderful fireworks that we could see from our balcony. I was told when MK is rented out fireworks are done over frontierland.

 

[GeekChic]

I don't know if my trip reports from my September trip are still around somewhere, but we stayed in both Sugar Loaf (lodge concierge) and the main building, and when we stay there again (and my family has decided we will DEFINITELY stay there again LOL) it will be in Sugar Loaf, no question.

I haven't tried a garden view or lagoon view, just the 2 concierge ones, but if I had to choose between trying a regular room and going back to the main building (if SL wasn't available) I'd go for a regular room. Main Building wouldn't be worth it to me to do again. Unless I was going for free! LOL

 

[vcasey]

Thanks for all the great input. Here's another question, is there a resort map of the Grand Floridian posted somewhere that anyone knows of? You are all mentioning these buildings and I'd love to visuallize all this.

 

[jocon]

Sure there's a map. Just go to the FAQ for GF and the map is right there!

 

[jocon]

Correction....I was thinking of Deb Wills' site.....here is the link to the GF Fact Sheet .......

http://allearsnet.com/acc/g_gf.htm

 

[hmp2z]

I would definitely spend the extra $$ on the view, if you are one of those people who likes to hang out on your balcony in the evenings, like I am. Our trip to the GF this September was at a garden view room, which was very disappointing. For $300/night, I hoped for better than a view of a back parking lot (or back entrance - a concrete area, that trucks would drive around in), and a continual beeping sound coming from behind the building. Not sure if it was construction or all those trucks backing up, or what it was... I would have been more than happy to have a garden view, but I ended up in concrete city, with that beeping driving me crazy!
Anyway, we decided that from now on, we are ONLY staying Royal Palm Club when we go to the GF. This last trip was just too disappointing, in comparison to the stay before that, when we stayed RPC.
Cheers!
Heather W

 

[awatt]

For a short trip I'd go garden view,if you're not going to be around the room much to enjoy the more expensive room.

Watching the fireworks from the hot tub and the dock bt Narcoosee's is wonderful,and teh view was better at those places than from our LV balcony.