Grand Floridian Refurbishment

[RoseGold]

Surprising to see this. The Poly refurb is gorgeous. Poly absolutely knocked it out of the park.

 

[lehrsj]

Just reinforces the notion that Disney is trying to deliver LESS to its customers. Chapek did say that they were going to look at creative budget cuts…

Wouldn’t budget cuts here mean lower dues? I mean it shouldn’t be saving Disney (whatever organization) money. Refurbishment comes out of our dues. Where is their incentive to cheap on up stuff?

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

Wouldn’t budget cuts here mean lower dues? I mean it shouldn’t be saving Disney (whatever organization) money. Refurbishment comes out of our dues. Where is their incentive to cheap on up stuff?

By that same notion they had no need to cut any MS or really any operation CM's during the pandemic. We were already paying for it. Yet they did.

 

[abnihon]

When are all the VGF studios refurbs supposed to be done?
I’m hoping to rent there for January 2023 but will it still be hard to book then?
Intrigued by the new resort studios and wondering if those will be hard to get early on…

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

When are all the VGF studios refurbs supposed to be done?
I’m hoping to rent there for January 2023 but will it still be hard to book then?
Intrigued by the new resort studios and wondering if those will be hard to get early on…

The refurb will be done by 2023. My guess is that it actually will be done by March 1, 2022 and probably earlier.

In typical times the new resort studios would likely be easy to book but there probably is still a backlog of points to use from trip cancellations so I'm not certain how that will play into things. If you own at VGF then it should be relatively easy though if you book as soon as possible.

 

[abnihon]

The refurb will be done by 2023. My guess is that it actually will be done by March 1, 2022 and probably earlier.

In typical times the new resort studios would likely be easy to book but there probably is still a backlog of points to use from trip cancellations so I'm not certain how that will play into things. If you own at VGF then it should be relatively easy though if you book as soon as possible.

Thanks! I’ll be renting points but I’ll get my request in before the 11 month mark!

Do we know what views will be like from resort studios and will they be more points than regular studios?

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

Thanks! I’ll be renting points but I’ll get my request in before the 11 month mark!

Do we know what views will be like from resort studios and will they be more points than regular studios?

They released the point charts for the new resort studios which shows 3 views for the resort studios. The standard and lakeview will be the same as the existing studios are in the corresponding categories. There will also be a theme park view that is higher in the point requirements.

 

[Mike9865]

The Murphy bed downgrade cheapens the look of the room. I thought this was the Disney flagship? Shocking decision really. If I were a VGF owner I would be upset. It's not like dues were reduced.

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

Thanks! I’ll be renting points but I’ll get my request in before the 11 month mark!

Do we know what views will be like from resort studios and will they be more points than regular studios?

Also you can see the point charts for 2023 here: https://dvcfan.com/grand-floridian-villas-2023-point-chart/

 

[CarolMN]

The Murphy bed downgrade cheapens the look of the room. I thought this was the Disney flagship? Shocking decision really. If I were a VGF owner I would be upset. It's not like dues were reduced.

Many here would not agree with you. They prefer the Murphy bed over the sleep sofa. The Murphy beds, which turn into a queen, are generally said to be much more comfortable than the double size sleep sofa they replaced.

 

[Mike9865]

Many here would not agree with you. They prefer the Murphy bed over the sleep sofa. The Murphy beds, which turn into a queen, are generally said to be much more comfortable than the double size sleep sofa they replaced.

My comment must have been unclear. I meant the Murphy bed downgrade from the concept photos that Disney shared. Overall the Murphy bed is an upgrade over the pull out sofa.

 

[kboo]

oof. I took another look at the actual opened murphy bed photo and now I am disappointed too. We've only stayed at the Riviera with the murphy beds, and at Riviera, the couch is a little wider than the bed itself, so there's tiny perches on the side of the couch/bed when opened. But more importantly, there are *shelves* and USB/regular outlets in the opened part of the murphy bed, so you have little hidden bedside "tables" when the bed is open. Really sad at the very Spartan (aka cheaped-out-of-shelves-and-outlets) look of VGF murphy beds.

If this link works, you can see what I mean with the opened Riviera queen murphy beds:
https://blogmickey.com/2019/12/full-tour-of-disneys-riviera-resort-room-tour-lobby-and-grounds/

 

[CarolMN]

My comment must have been unclear. I meant the Murphy bed downgrade from the concept photos that Disney shared. Overall the Murphy bed is an upgrade over the pull out sofa.

I see what you mean now. Thanks. I agree!

 

[Epcot Forever Forever]

oof. I took another look at the actual opened murphy bed photo and now I am disappointed too. We've only stayed at the Riviera with the murphy beds, and at Riviera, the couch is a little wider than the bed itself, so there's tiny perches on the side of the couch/bed when opened. But more importantly, there are *shelves* and USB/regular outlets in the opened part of the murphy bed, so you have little hidden bedside "tables" when the bed is open. Really sad at the very Spartan (aka cheaped-out-of-shelves-and-outlets) look of VGF murphy beds.

If this link works, you can see what I mean with the opened Riviera queen murphy beds:
https://blogmickey.com/2019/12/full-tour-of-disneys-riviera-resort-room-tour-lobby-and-grounds/

Completely agree.

 

[abnihon]

Are they keeping the single Murphy beds under the TV?

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

Are they keeping the single Murphy beds under the TV?

In the regular studios? Yes, they must.

 

[La2kw]

Yikes! That tiny sofa is bad enough, but once you pull down the bed the artwork you see is, um, hideous.

 

[Sandisw]

Wouldn’t budget cuts here mean lower dues? I mean it shouldn’t be saving Disney (whatever organization) money. Refurbishment comes out of our dues. Where is their incentive to cheap on up stuff?

The capital reserves does put aside for refurbishment so we do pay it. However, they get to decide how much of that to spend on what they decide when those happen. But, the funds remain for future projects.

So, there is no reason for them to not do a good job with choices.

For the new villas, that is solely up to them prior to sales in terms of the design and offerings

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

The capital reserves does put aside for refurbishment so we do pay it. However, they get to decide how much of that to spend on what they decide when those happen. But, the funds remain for future projects.

So, there is no reason to not spend what is there, but some Of the changes may be what they felt was the right direction?

For the new villas, that is solely up to them prior to sales in terms of the design and offerings

The concept art seemed to indicate a certain thought of what was appropriate but they didn't follow thru. I assume Covid and supply change would be the excuse but they elected to push up the refurb date at VGF ahead of others scheduled before it (VWL) likely to support sales of the new resort studios. More lead time might have allowed the better look and probably function that was installed elsewhere.

And VWL sits there waiting........

 

[Donna M]

The concept art looks great, what they produced is terrible. They should have just waited till they had the funds to do it correctly. I agree that SSR looks better. The Murphy bed at VGF looks like an afterthought they just stuck on the wall; where is some molding at least? Disney is taking so many self earned hits now with Genie+, the Star Wars hotel and now this. What´s next?