Grand Floridian vs Beach Club

[kandb]

We are visiting for 7 days in mid August. We have stayed at both and love both these resorts, usually doing a split stay. We are doing the offer to get a dining card, so we have to pick either GF or BC. GF will be $1K more (not a deal breaker but can definitely pay for 3 nice sit down dinners). We are a family of 5 (3 children 17, 17 and 14). We are doing a 5 day ticket (2 mk, 2 ep and 1 day at AK or HS). GF will have some construction going on. We love the boat to MK from GF but we also love pool at BC. Help!

 

[Ronaldo17]

I would go for BC for SAB pool for the kids and the easy walk to Epcot and HS or you could also use the Friendship boats.

 

[Jacq7414]

I stayed at BC last April and I found the rooms in need of refurbishment honestly. Maybe it’s because we did a split stay between that and the Polynesian, so coming to the BC after definitely felt like a downgrade. But I think for 1k difference, I’d still do BC

 

[Disneylover99]

Beach Club for sure. Especially with teens who don’t need the same kind of supervision at SAB as young children.

 

[Nabas]

We also have stayed at both. Really a tose-up.

Since you have stayed at both, you’ll know better than anyone else what works best for your family.

Hands down, my spouse would go with Grand Floridian. I’d save the $1000 and go with Beach Club.

 

[MamaMermaid]

Beach - can't beat the pool.

 

[EpcotPhoenician]

Keep in mind, Stormalong Bay is not for everyone. It's a nice pool, but has somewhat of a confusing layout for some, and can be very busy at certain times of the year (like, Typhoon Lagoon on Memorial Day Weekend busy). I have stayed at YC/BC a few times, and it lost its luster after 1 or 2 visits for me.

I personally would not spend the extra $1k on GF with the unknown timeline of their construction. I live local and go for walks there often... right now, they are working on the outer buildings, and it's fairly disruptive. I would be very upset if I spent extra money to stay there and heard drilling and construction vehicles all day.

 

[stinkpickle]

For a $1K difference, I would definitely go with BC.

 

[nw6675]

I guess I'll be one of the few for GF. We aren't BC fans even though we love the YC. SAB isn't all that for us - even DD11 enjoys the quiet pool. The CMs have not been very friendly our last two trips.Other than proximity to the 2 parks, we prefer the monorail resorts and being walkable to MK.

 

[Genie+]

Ooh that’s tough. I really like the refurb at GF. But in the end I’d go with BC. Easy access to 2 parks, so many extra food options in walking distance, the pool, the skyliner to RIV for ADR, and $1000. Don’t forget to have a breakfast at Ale&Compass YC with the savings, lol. It’s a winner.

 

[DisneyMomx7]

I love both resorts but with your schedule and the ages of your children I would go with BC.

 

[DeeBee3]

I would say BC with your party demo. However, there is and will be construction at both places. I just want to make sure you know that. BC dvc wing was undergoing refurb, but is now paused. No idea when it will start up again.

I don't think you can beat the BC location - access to 2 parks that I think would appeal to your kids, great entertainment, access to boats and Skyliner. Lots to do and Epcot is amazing in our book!

 

[loves to dive]

Between those two and with you age group and park plans, I'd go BC and save that $1000. Not really for the pool but the walking distance to 2 parks is a no brainer for us. Given the choice though, I'd go YC over BC. I hate the fact that BC doesn't have full balconies and YC does and I like the adult feel at YC better than BC. I do love GF but it's only convenient to MK.

 

[holden]

Both have their advantages and disadvantages:

BC Advantages
SAB (if you like the pool)
Walk to both DHS and EP
Easy access to IG
Many good restaurants around (EP, Swan/Dolphin, BW, and BC)
Self-contained (you can walk the whole hotel inside)

BC Disadvantages
Boat transportation slow (if you use it)
Skyliner often stops/goes down
Bus to MK and AK (or Lyft, etc.)
Not a fan of the Marketplace

GF Advantages
Monorail (good for MK/EP or resort hopping)
Good nearby restaurants (CR, Poly, and GF)
Beautiful lobby
Nice bar (Enchanted Rose)
Good onsite food options (Narcoossee's, GF Cafe, Gasparilla Grill)
3 transportation options that are not buses (monorail, walk to MK and boat)
Cute splash area for younger kids

GF Disadvantages
Bus to DHS and AK (or Lyft, etc)
Monorail can sometimes be packed by the time it stops at GF
Some outside walking to get to different buildings if you room is not in the main building (not nice in bad weather)
More expensive

 

[kiford]

That's a really tough one. The rooms are definitely larger at GF which may be better with 5 people especially with older teens. OTOH, if they're old (and interested) enough to go about on their own, BC is probably better with its proximity to so many more dining locations, EPCOT, HS.

Pool at BC is great but if you just want to relax in the water, lay around the pool, grab a snack, etc. GF's pools are still quite nice and depending on where your room is, possibly closer than at BC and far less crowded in general.

But, yes, $1K will pay for lots of snacks and dining.

Have you tried laying out the pros and cons of each and then asking everyone to do a secret vote and going with the majority? If the kids were younger, I'd say make the decision yourself but they're old enough that they may want to have a say in it.

Or there's always the coin toss, throw the dart, roll the dice - 3 out of 5 wins. Seriously, DH and I have done variations on that sometimes when we just can't decide what we prefer.

 

[RoseGold]

For 1K, def BC. This would be a little tougher if BC would more expensive, and then I'd probably still say BC.

GF is a very old hotel with limitations you wouldn't expect at a property this expensive, like terrible soundproofing.

BC location is great for teens who can go to the room/park without you, and you should be HS/Epcot focused anyway.

 

[Jillpie]

100% BC. I may be biased, I've been a 20 yr BCV owner, and still adore this place. Mostly for Stormalong Bay. We go there every single day and still love this pool. Your kids are at an independent age and can come and go on their own, how great that they could go to two parks whenever they want, without you. This is a no brainer. You can have Mom and Dad time and the kids can have their own blast. Have fun!

 

[BeachMouse1]

Split Stay! We did one between GF and BC out of necessity one time because that’s all we could get. Now we try and plan that all the time GF gives us Magic Kingdom easy monorail but we prefer the boat ride. Always quick and easy on the boats and A beautiful ride. Great dining and a beautiful pool. Then you get beach club with a walk to Epcot and Hollywood studios

 

[GoingSince1990]

BC. The very short walk to Epcot is a joy, especially in the hot summer. And use a tiny fraction of the cash you save to Minnie Van to MK and AK and you will still come out way ahead.

 

[gottalovepluto]

BC. Spend that $1k on park hoppers and ILL/G+. Like as 3 teenagers do they really want to have to chose between AK’s FOP and DHS’s ROTR so they can have 2 full days of MK?

And being able to hop into EP from BC for dinner any night is great!