Grand Floridian shouldn’t allow non hotel guests

[eandt]

Where did I say anything about restricting access to anything. Go ahead, I'll wait as long as "ya'all" need to take.

I don't think any resorts or any of the public amenities in any resort should be walled-off to anyone. The question (for about the tenth time) is whether Disney should make an effort to set aside some accommodation in the various modes of transportation, only when needed (peak times, seasonally, whatever) to allow those people who are specifically paying for the upkeep of that transportation access to it.

We know we pay for transportation, and that's fine. We also know the transportation is available to all WDW guests, and that's fine too. The question is whether or not it is equitable for those who do pay specifically for a mode of transportation be offered better access to that transportation at certain specific times.

Setting aside = restriction …

 

[sndral]

Do all dvc owners pay for boats and monorail or just those in the mk loop?

Depends on the resort. Every DVC resort owner as part of their MFs pays for part of the cost of whatever transportation their resort uses. Monorail DVC resorts pay for monorails & buses, currently they all pay for boats too. I was told that the reason the Contemporary stopped its boat service for a while was because the GM didn’t want to pay for boat service. Since boat service has returned albeit on a reduced schedule, I assume BLT is paying for a portion of it.
The Skyliner DVC resort -Riviera - pays for Skyliner & buses. Epcot DVC resorts pay for friendship boats & buses. WL DVC resorts pay for boats & buses, SSR & OKW pay for buses & boats to DS. AKV pays for buses (and animals .)
I wonder if the % of the cost of the monorail attributed to the monorail resorts needs to be adjusted down if the use by those not staying there has increased.
I don’t think it has to be an all or nothing solution (w/ the exception of huge demand days like the Poly beach for Christmas & NYE fireworks.)
I do think reasonable steps to regulate crowd size should be taken if those paying to stay at a resort &/or paying for a transportation mode to/from their resort cannot enjoy what they’ve been promised - see eg WDW’s site:

 

[Sandisw]

Where did I say anything about restricting access to anything. Go ahead, I'll wait as long as "ya'all" need to take.

I don't think any resorts or any of the public amenities in any resort should be walled-off to anyone. The question (for about the tenth time) is whether Disney should make an effort to set aside some accommodation in the various modes of transportation, only when needed (peak times, seasonally, whatever) to allow those people who are specifically paying for the upkeep of that transportation access to it.

We know we pay for transportation, and that's fine. We also know the transportation is available to all WDW guests, and that's fine too. The question is whether or not it is equitable for those who do pay specifically for a mode of transportation be offered better access to that transportation at certain specific times.

And people have said that they should have ample transportation options for guests when it is busy.

But not any specific one. Since GF pay for buses, boats and monorail…they should be providing larger and more frequent boats and buses to offset for the larger crowds at the monorail.

So, IMO, I don’t think they have to set a certain % of each for guests…but they do need to ensure that what is available matches demand. Why I think buses to MK and Epcot should be added to GF and Poly during the holidays.

 

[eandt]

And people have said that they should have ample transportation options for guests when it is busy.

But not any specific one. Since GF pay for buses, boats and monorail…they should be providing larger and more frequent boats and buses to offset for the larger crowds at the monorail.

Exactly the issue isn’t the freeloaders impinging on the hifalutent’s ground their issue is with Disney not providing sufficient resources to efficiently and effectively manage to get folks moved in and out … so let the peasants eat gingerbread

 

[nuhusky123]

Depends on the resort. Every DVC resort owner as part of their MFs pays for part of the cost of whatever transportation their resort uses. Monorail DVC resorts pay for monorails & buses, currently they all pay for boats too. I was told that the reason the Contemporary stopped its boat service for a while was because the GM didn’t want to pay for boat service. Since boat service has returned albeit on a reduced schedule, I assume BLT is paying for a portion of it.
The Skyliner DVC resort -Riviera - pays for Skyliner & buses. Epcot DVC resorts pay for friendship boats & buses. WL DVC resorts pay for boats & buses, SSR & OKW pay for buses & boats to DS. AKV pays for buses (and animals .)
I wonder if the % of the cost of the monorail attributed to the monorail resorts needs to be adjusted down if the use by those not staying there has increased.
I don’t think it has to be an all or nothing solution (w/ the exception of huge demand days like the Poly beach for Christmas & NYE fireworks.)
I do think reasonable steps to regulate crowd size should be taken if those paying to stay at a resort &/or paying for a transportation mode to/from their resort cannot enjoy what they’ve been promised - see eg WDW’s site:
View attachment 918857

I’d settle for priority all year and absolute restrictions during peak. But what’s going on now isn’t working and quite frankly unfair

Time for a constitutional amendment as the wdw founding fathers could not have predicted how popular wdw would become and addictive gingerbread is

 

[eandt]

I’d settle for priority all year and absolute restrictions during peak. But what’s going on now isn’t working and quite frankly unfair

Time for a constitutional amendment as the wdw founding fathers could not have predicted how popular wdw would become and addictive gingerbread is

lol It’s that high fructose corn syrup which was engineered to be addictive … soon it will be required to be made with sweet natural cane sugar! Perhaps that will solve our invasion issue

 

[DonMacGregor]

And people have said that they should have ample transportation options for guests when it is busy.

But not any specific one. Since GF pay for buses, boats and monorail…they should be providing larger and more frequent boats and buses to offset for the larger crowds at the monorail.

And that's exactly what I'm saying. Whether it is roping off a car or maybe half a car on a Monorail train to accommodate Monorail loop resort guests (because that train also has to stop at the TTC and it gets swamped with MK day guests heading back to their car) or adding more buses and boats (because they can't add Monorails), the use of the transportation by those specifically paying for its upkeep isn't compromised.

Either way, Disney needs to address when conditions negatively affect any guest experience, and it's not unreasonable for someone who sees money specifically come out of their pocket for that experience, yet cannot enjoy its use freely, to be upset.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

Depends on the resort. Every DVC resort owner as part of their MFs pays for part of the cost of whatever transportation their resort uses. Monorail DVC resorts pay for monorails & buses, currently they all pay for boats too. I was told that the reason the Contemporary stopped its boat service for a while was because the GM didn’t want to pay for boat service. Since boat service has returned albeit on a reduced schedule, I assume BLT is paying for a portion of it.
The Skyliner DVC resort -Riviera - pays for Skyliner & buses. Epcot DVC resorts pay for friendship boats & buses. WL DVC resorts pay for boats & buses, SSR & OKW pay for buses & boats to DS. AKV pays for buses (and animals .)
I wonder if the % of the cost of the monorail attributed to the monorail resorts needs to be adjusted down if the use by those not staying there has increased.
I don’t think it has to be an all or nothing solution (w/ the exception of huge demand days like the Poly beach for Christmas & NYE fireworks.)
I do think reasonable steps to regulate crowd size should be taken if those paying to stay at a resort &/or paying for a transportation mode to/from their resort cannot enjoy what they’ve been promised - see eg WDW’s site:
View attachment 918857

They don't mean you'll never have to wait for their transportation. Disney's website used to tell you to allow 90 mins when using their transportation options if you had an ADR. It's not the quickest way to get around that's for sure.

When they say ease and easy they mean they have ways to get you around their vast resort property.

 

[Sandisw]

And that's exactly what I'm saying. Whether it is roping off a car or maybe half a car on a Monorail train to accommodate Monorail loop resort guests (because that train also has to stop at the TTC and it gets swamped with MK day guests heading back to their car) or adding more buses and boats (because they can't add Monorails), the use of the transportation by those specifically paying for its upkeep isn't compromised.

Either way, Disney needs to address when conditions negatively affect any guest experience, and it's not unreasonable for someone who sees money specifically come out of their pocket for that experience, yet cannot enjoy its use freely, to be upset.

Of course, people can be upset. But some of us are also allowed to not see it as a huge issue that Disney allows guests to visit other resorts, including during the holidays.

Let’s be fair, one also should have realistic expectations too on what to expect at certain resorts during the holidays.

Monorail is going to be extra crowded this time of year…even more so this year with the walkway from Poly closed.

GF, or any of the MK resorts for that matter, are not a good choice for anyone who wants a more relaxing atmosphere. They just are not.

And plenty of guests choose it inspite of what they may have to deal with. Some don’t.

 

[hockeydad21]

Pool hopping is not allowed. Free use of Disney transportation is allowed.

You're equating a real rule with a fake (Karen) rule.

Your point is bogus, fraudulent

I said it from my perspective, tough nuts. I never said it was a rule. However, I did say I think it’s equally BS to pool hopping. Hopefully enough people keep complaining and we eventually get you mouth breathers barred from GF’s prestigious grounds

 

[DonMacGregor]

Of course, people can be upset.

Let’s be fair, one also should have realistic expectations too on what to expect at certain resorts during the holidays.

Monorail is going to be extra crowded this time of year…even more so this year with the walkway from Poly closed.

GF, or any of the MK resorts for that matter, are not a good choice for anyone who wants a more relaxing atmosphere. They just are not.

And plenty of guests choose it inspite of what they may have to deal with. Some don’t.

I don’t disagree. I will say, however, that Disney also knows when it’s going to be busy and can (should?) provide additional modes of transportation during those peak periods/events. It works both ways.

 

[Sandisw]

I don’t disagree. I will say, however, that Disney also knows when it’s going to be busy and can (should?) provide additional modes of transportation during those peak periods/events. It works both ways.

For sure! I guess we have been fortunate because in all our Dec stays at GF, we have not experienced anything that I would consider unacceptable.

Sure, we waited for the monorail longer than usual at times, but not more than 20 to 25 minutes…crowded lobby and waiting for the gingerbread house treats…

And last year, it took around 30 minutes to do our mobile order for GG…even with it being resort guests only.

We shall see how things our this week when we go…

 

[DonMacGregor]

For sure! We have been fortunate because in all our Dec stays at GF, we have not experienced anything that I would consider unacceptable.

Sure, we waited for the monorail longer than usual at times, but not more than 20 minutes…

And last year, it took around 30 minutes to do our mobile order for GG…even with it being resort guests onlt. .

We shall see how things our this week when we go…

Guests absolutely need to expect that ride and food lines, will be longer and merchandise locations will be busier at certain times (holidays, marathon weekends,
whatever) and that that’s just how things go. Same with hotel lobbies and Disney Springs.

Capacity is finite. To think otherwise would be foolish and potentially wreck your vacation.

As you said, things like boats and buses are a bit different and can be augmented and capacity is more flexible. They can and should do better.

 

[Genie+]

This whole thread is a testament to the fact that people are getting fed up with it.

Everyone has a tipping point and once reached it can be very difficult to win them back.

“You know what honey, let’s just stay at BLT next year” or “Let’s not visit WDW at the Holiday time” or “We can take a WDW break for a while, it’s just gotten to expensive and crowded” or “We can take a Disney break, the quality isn’t what it used to be and it has gotten ridiculously overpriced for what they are offering”.

This is exactly where we’re at. No Grand Flo in December, or late Nov or early Jan. For a DVC studio most of Nov is ~3 points more per night, which to me equals about $50 or $60 a night extra. But I look at this the other way… is saving $50 or $60 worth putting up with the much higher frequency of transpo disruption? And the heavier resort impact? Not for us.

We choose to stay onsite because the value for our party to split up and still come and go easily and safely. Resort time has gained importance so now theming and amenities matter more to us. We choose park adjacent resorts for the huge upgrade in efficiency because we want break up park time with resort time. For our individual goals I’d pick Poly, BLT, BW, BC over VGF in December every time. Haven’t tried RIV or WL yet so can’t say there, but until I experience them just assume they’re not quite in the same ‘ park adjacent plus’ league as the first 4 mentioned with 2 of 4 easier parks.

Some may ask how much does this really matter? For us this stuff matters alot. When we stay at BW or BC we take advantage of popping into EP and HS for a few hours most days, and we love pooping into one of the 2 nearby parks in the evenings. Same thing for monorail resort stay, we just lean heavier on MK/EP for our evenings. Grand Flo Dec is out of the running for December because it holds no advantage in this department… might even be disadvantage over non park adjacent resorts. If picking a resort to waste less time hopping around and going back to your room midday and wanting to enjoy your resort amenities… it’s hard to explain how much of a difference it can make to overall experience when it is repeatedly through a stay.

Bottom line:

For us it is not worth it and I’d advise anyone with similar intentions to ours to explore options other than GF in December.

 

[Genie+]

Setting aside = restriction …

Cabins are set aside for Riviera for Epcot rope drop.

 

[Sandisw]

What will be interesting is if we see any relief on the monorail when the walking path reopens on the 17th.

That has definitely increased the people.

 

[Cfabar1]

Yes, you have to get a wrist band to get into the pool area at GC and Aulani…. kind of crazy they don’t do that at all of the WDW Deluxe resorts.

I actually hope that someone will raise this at the VGF quarterly meeting with the expanded Polynesian traffic...

I wish I could go, but Wednesday is just not a good day for me... Hoping to make one soon though.... I have many concerns as a VGF owner with the PIT, and want to make sure Disney is getting that feedback...

 

[Sandisw]

Cabins are set aside for Riviera for Epcot rope drop.

They do send every so many cabins empty most of the time when it’s opening , that is true…but they also are not kept just for those who are guests at RIV…anyone can ride them.

I will add that it has to be easier to do that with the Skyliner because it has so many cars and does not have to stop to load and unload.

Monorail would be harder to accomplish, especially since there are 4 stops along the way…so you’d need to leave a cabin empty for at least the three resorts?

 

[Sandisw]

I actually hope that someone will raise this at the VGF quarterly meeting with the expanded Polynesian traffic...

I wish I could go, but Wednesday is just not a good day for me... Hoping to make one soon though.... I have many concerns as a VGF owner with the PIT, and want to make sure Disney is getting that feedback...

I too am interested in hearing the transportation plan with the tower added.

What I am hoping is we see the larger boats and that GF and Poly no longer share.

I would love to see buses for Epcot added for GF. Not sure they can do anything about what is going to happen with the monorail, other than start running it earlier to help.

 

[sndral]

They do send every so many cabins empty most of the time when it’s opening , that is true…but they also are not kept just for those who are guests at RIV…anyone can ride them.

I will add that it has to be easier to do that with the Skyliner because it has so many cars and does not have to stop to load and unload.

Monorail would be harder to accomplish.

The Riviera stop causes a slow down on the Epcot line because they don’t have a separate line for Ev loading there. How many non Riviera guests catch the Skyliner at Riviera in the mornings? Some from CBR I assume & some w/ early Toppolinos breakfasts?

…

I would love to see buses for Epcot added for GF. Not sure they can do anything about what is going to happen with the monorail, other than start running it earlier to help.

If I wanted to take buses to 3 parks, I’d stay at another resort.
They could rope off the entrance ramp & not allow boarding of the resort monorail at the TTC in the mornings, that way you’d only have BLT & Poly guests on their way to the MK & some Poly guests heading to Epcot onboard when the trains arrive at the GF.
Those heading to the MK from the TTC would still have the express monorail & the ferry.