Grand Floridian shouldn’t allow non hotel guests

[DVCsloth]

I’ve always loved the idea of 7 day priority for dining reservation at the resort you’re staying at.

Also would love to see them write code for magic band/key card access to access the resort monorail (coming from TTC or MK) and the resort boats (leaving MK) prior to boarding. If doing this then you could also have the scanners programmed to accept your magic band/key card if you have an active dining reservation at X resort in the next 2 hours - thus guaranteeing you’re spending money via the 2 hour cancellation window or actually eating at a restaurant.

This would bring some normalcy back to the GF, Poly, and Wilderness Lodge lobbies to the benefit of paying resort guests, while also still benefiting Disney’s bottom line. Gotta pay to play.think that

I don't think we've had any issues with being able to get resort dining reservations right at 60 days, plus length of stay except for Beaches and Cream. Although you may need to book the really popular ones later in the trip. I also believe that requiring people to have dining reservations just to visit the resort wouldn't go over very well with the public. I think most people who visit are probably going to spend some money while there anyways. Some people may want to visit to see if it is somewhere they may want to stay in the future.

 

[disneyseniors]

Question...how do you tell? I have never actually spent a night at GF, but visited plenty of times dining there and buying merch at their gift shop. So how exactly do you identify a guest like me?

Fingerprints and a mug shot. Sorry, I couldn't refuse this, LOL.

 

[hockeydad21]

I don't think we've had any issues with being able to get resort dining reservations right at 60 days, plus length of stay except for Beaches and Cream. Although you may need to book the really popular ones later in the trip. I also believe that requiring people to have dining reservations just to visit the resort wouldn't go over very well with the public. I think most people who visit are probably going to spend some money while there anyways. Some people may want to visit to see if it is somewhere they may want to stay in the future.

I would bet good money most Christmas time visitors to GF, Poly, and WL are not spending money. They’re there for the pictures to put on social media

 

[snacks]

I would bet good money most Christmas time visitors to GF, Poly, and WL are not spending money. They’re there for the pictures to put on social media

Which begs the question, where else other than WDW is it acceptable to go hang out in the lobby of a hotel you aren't staying at (or possibly eating/drinking at)? Think about it. It would just be weird, wouldn't it?

 

[DVCsloth]

I would bet good money most Christmas time visitors to GF, Poly, and WL are not spending money. They’re there for the pictures to put on social media

Could be, but I also think that Disney want's people to be able to enjoy these magnificent resorts especially this time of the year. I get what you're saying though. It can be frustrating with the crowds, which is why I spend quite a bit of time planning our visit to avoid it. DD does not enjoy the crowds just like her dad. DW, doesn't mind either way.

 

[Miffy]

I would bet good money most Christmas time visitors to GF, Poly, and WL are not spending money. They’re there for the pictures to put on social media

Really? We often have lunch at GFC, even during the holidays, and I'm not posting pictures anywhere, including here. But I admit that I do use boat transportation from MK to GF or the monorail.

I'd be very surprised if Disney started restricting access to their deluxe resorts. They want people to see them, experience them, shop in them, and dine in them because maybe one day they'll stay there.

Also, I don't understand the comparisons to Aulani. There's not another Disney resort anywhere near Aulani, so anyone who's not actually a guest there is also not a guest of any Disney Hawaii resort, because there are no others.

 

[Crazycanucks]

Everything in life is a choice and the attitude we bring to our experiences. I have been a guest and a non guest visiting the deluxe resorts. If I didn’t want the crowds, I wouldn’t choose to spend my money on deluxe experiences during peak season. Disney for me is still magical. I do believe for the average family, staying at Grand Floridian would be out of reach. I am certainly glad that they get the opportunity to experience the magic of the holidays without staying on property.

It helps many people dream of what is possible. I remember my parents taking me as a kid to Disneyworld and we couldn’t afford to stay on property. I remember riding the monorail through the Contemporary and telling my mom that one day I would stay there. I sure did.

I respect your opinions. I just wanted to share a perspective of positivity. Perhaps you should consider other alternatives.

Sending you love and hoping you can find some magic in the day

 

[AstroBlasters]

Really? We often have lunch at GFC, even during the holidays, and I'm not posting pictures anywhere, including here. But I admit that I do use boat transportation from MK to GF or the monorail.

I'd be very surprised if Disney started restricting access to their deluxe resorts. They want people to see them, experience them, shop in them, and dine in them because maybe one day they'll stay there.

Also, I don't understand the comparisons to Aulani. There's not another Disney resort anywhere near Aulani, so anyone who's not actually a guest there is also not a guest of any Disney Hawaii resort, because there are no others.

Aulani shows that Disney can wrist band a large number of guests to ensure the amenities are utilized by guests of that specific resort.

 

[Miffy]

Aulani shows that Disney can wrist band a large number of guests to ensure the amenities are utilized by guests of that specific resort.

But is Disney doing this anywhere where there would possibly be guests visiting from another Disney resort?

GF is not a gated community. If Disney wants to turn it into that, they are going to lose a heckuva lot of goodwill.

 

[AstroBlasters]

But is Disney doing this anywhere where there would possibly be guests visiting from another Disney resort?

GF is not a gated community. If Disney wants to turn it into that, they are going to lose a heckuva lot of goodwill.

I don’t believe that the rates at All Star and Pop Century include paying for the costs of the resort monorail and friendship boats from MK to GF.

They can wait and take the transportation intended for the TCC.

 

[DisnEElove]

Really? We often have lunch at GFC, even during the holidays, and I'm not posting pictures anywhere, including here. But I admit that I do use boat transportation from MK to GF or the monorail.

I'd be very surprised if Disney started restricting access to their deluxe resorts. They want people to see them, experience them, shop in them, and dine in them because maybe one day they'll stay there.

Also, I don't understand the comparisons to Aulani. There's not another Disney resort anywhere near Aulani, so anyone who's not actually a guest there is also not a guest of any Disney Hawaii resort, because there are no others.

Yeah, but that brings up the fact that there's not much of a security protocol for visiting resorts like the parks. A Las Vegas hotel-like incident could make Disney liable.

 

[808blessing]

I don't know where the jackhammers were coming from. Is it possible from Polynesian? It could be echos- I have no spatial clue. We were staying on the fourth floor lake villas on the MK side of the wedding chapel so not sure. It seemed like once an hour around 8am for a minute each but then I am not sure...I was trying to tune it out.

Happy moment - my first time checking out the electrical parade.

Wondering if the crowds are a result of the big DVC VGF purchase event two years or so ago, then securing family holiday visits with the 11 month DVC window to finally stay this winter.

 

[Miffy]

I don’t believe that the rates at All Star and Pop Century include paying for the costs of the resort monorail and friendship boats from MK to GF.

They can wait and take the transportation intended for the TCC.

I'm now departing from this thread. I don't have the qualifications to be even here much less in the lobby of the GF.

 

[nuhusky123]

Really? We often have lunch at GFC, even during the holidays, and I'm not posting pictures anywhere, including here. But I admit that I do use boat transportation from MK to GF or the monorail.

I'd be very surprised if Disney started restricting access to their deluxe resorts. They want people to see them, experience them, shop in them, and dine in them because maybe one day they'll stay there.

Also, I don't understand the comparisons to Aulani. There's not another Disney resort anywhere near Aulani, so anyone who's not actually a guest there is also not a guest of any Disney Hawaii resort, because there are no others.

Problem is Disney is starting to upset the guests who pay for the deluxe experience

Personally I’m now fully decided that at the end of next year I will sell my gfv contract.

 

[dvcsince93]

So, you want to draw lines about who can visit the GF lobby. Specifically you claim that the "Problem is Disney is starting to upset the guests who pay for the deluxe experience". Did you reserve a room at the hotel? Or did you rent a DVC unit?

It's funny but unless you are using $ for a room or using points for the Disney Collection, you are not staying at the hotel, i.e., Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa, you are staying at the "nearby" DVC resort, The Villas at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa.

If you don't think that there is a difference, look at how the pools are described:

Guests staying at The Villas at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa have access to all the pools at nearby Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa.

They are granting you access to pools outside of your resort.

Be careful when you want to draw lines to exclude people, the lines might not be drawn to your liking.

 

[AstroBlasters]

Problem is Disney is starting to upset the guests who pay for the deluxe experience

Personally I’m now fully decided that at the end of next year I will sell my gfv contract.

With the super low dues, an argument could be made that VGF makes for pretty good SAP+ points when you look at how much you may net after commissions and then closing costs on a new contract.

 

[nuhusky123]

With the super low dues, an argument could be made that VGF makes for pretty good SAP+ points when you look at how much you may net after commissions and then closing costs on a new contract.

I was planning to pocket the sale price and use for non wdw trips. Perhaps a trip to Japan and Tokyo Disney.

I will keep an akl contract

Things might change, change of heart and all by end of next year but I’m planning to speak with my wallet in terms of my dissatisfaction

 

[Mouseforward]

I have a simple solution, stay at Riviera almost no one makes a trip to see the decorations. Of course they look like someone sent a CM to Wal-Mart with a credit card so that may have something to do with the low traffic.

I stay at Poly during December, that way I get a seat on the monorail.

 

[snacks]

I have a simple solution, stay at Riviera almost no one makes a trip to see the decorations. Of course they look like someone sent a CM to Wal-Mart with a credit card so that may have something to do with the low traffic.

I stay at Poly during December, that way I get a seat on the monorail.

Hilarious! This is how I feel about the decor at Riviera in general.

 

[Sprinkles&Sprints]

Everything in life is a choice and the attitude we bring to our experiences. I have been a guest and a non guest visiting the deluxe resorts. If I didn’t want the crowds, I wouldn’t choose to spend my money on deluxe experiences during peak season. Disney for me is still magical. I do believe for the average family, staying at Grand Floridian would be out of reach. I am certainly glad that they get the opportunity to experience the magic of the holidays without staying on property.

It helps many people dream of what is possible. I remember my parents taking me as a kid to Disneyworld and we couldn’t afford to stay on property. I remember riding the monorail through the Contemporary and telling my mom that one day I would stay there. I sure did.

I respect your opinions. I just wanted to share a perspective of positivity. Perhaps you should consider other alternatives.

Sending you love and hoping you can find some magic in the day

Agree with this completely.

VGF is one of our home resorts - headed there in a few weeks to take in all the holiday magic. Don’t love dealing with crazy crowds but consider it the trade-off for owning at a wonderful resort.

I live in NYC and also deal with tourists around this time of year. Do they make my commute an absolute nightmare? At times. Do I understand wanting to stop and take a picture at the tree in Rock Center? Yep. Doesn’t mean I’m not entitled to feel frustrated or vent…also doesn’t mean I’ll move. But that’s a choice everyone needs to make for themselves.

If VGF ever gets to a point where staying there doesn’t bring me joy, I won’t