Grand Floridian - we won't be back

[Harambe]

This is a lovely resort, but just not our cup of tea. We had a heck of a time getting any of the CM's to answer questions about quick meals here. Gasparilla Grill was closed and no one seemed to know where we could get a simple sandwich or muffin. The CM's in the main building sent us to the pool bar. The pool bar sent us to the Summerhouse. The Summerhouse said we'd be better off calling room service!

We wanted to buy some snacks for the room (chips or something) and a bottle of wine. They don't sell alcohol like that. They suggested we call room service (the wine I buy at home for $7.99 a bottle was $39.99 from room service). We ended up getting things out of the mini-bar in our room! Talk about spending money! DH finally hopped the monorail to the Poly and brought back a nice bottle of wine for $11.00, plus pretzels, etc.

We were also dissappointed on Saturday night, when we went to the beach to see the Water Pagent. They decided not to run it that night. In the same vein, we went to the slide pool which was supposed to be opened until 10pm nightly, only to find it closed two nights in a row at 8pm. No explaination, only a referral to the other pool (no slide) which was open.

But I must say our room was a gem. Clean, comfortable. I reserved a garden view and was surprised to get a corner room with a marina view (right where they park the yacht). We loved the view of the lake. Then later our first night, DD comes in from the balcony and says she loves the castle best when it is turquiose. I run out on the balcony, look to the right and there's the castle! So the balcony almost made up for the rest of it.

Again, this is a nice resort - but doesn't have the magic for us.

 

[TammiMcMan]

Harambe, so sorry that your vacation had a few issues. It seems like a scheduled rehab would have been better coordinated. As for the theme pool, in all the times we've been there, the hours have been 10am-8pm. I guess all hours are subject to change, but that is disappointing when you haven't been informed otherwise.

For anyone reading this thread, I can offer some suggestions if you find yourself in Harambe's postion. The Polynesian is only about a 10 minute walk and they have a restaurant that is very similar to Gasparilla's. Not as convenient, but definitely seems better than the run around that you experienced.

There's a grocery store in Fort Wilderness and also at the Boardwalk, right next to the Inn. Ft. Wilderness is probably easier to get to, you can take the GF resort boat over to the MK and then switch to the FW resort boat. You can pick up some snacks and wine.

It seems trivial, but you would think that the CM's would know these things.

Aren't the MK views spectacular though?

 

[2x_dis_dad]

I want to stay at the GF maybe in a couple of years for our 10th anniversary we will stay there on a trip without the kids.

 

[EsmeraldaX]

I'm sorry you had such a bad expereince, but the balcony view sounds lovely.

GF is not really my cup of tea either. I've never stayed there and don't really want to. Maybe someday we'll check it out for a long weekend, but there are other resorts I want to check out first.

But your description of the view makes me kind of want to go!

 

[BevS97]

The view sounsd wonderful, but why should you have to go to the poly or Fort Wilderness to get some snacks? Don't they have a little store like the other resorts?

We had a similiar food problem at the Hilton once - we got a great rate there on Priceline so stayed on our first night after a very long flight. We just wanted a quick meal and straight to bed, but they only had rather fancy restaurants, not what we wanted at all.
Personally, I think we are more comfortable in slightly less fancy hotels - they suit our needs better.

 

[EsmeraldaX]

Originally posted by BevS97
Personally, I think we are more comfortable in slightly less fancy hotels - they suit our needs better.

This is how we are too. Both of us are picky eaters. We like our food rather dull. Give me a burger or chicken fingers over some fancy dish at V&A's any day.

I think there is a place at GF where you can get some snack type food, but it was closed at the time.

 

[Leota]

Did the Sandy Cove store have snacks & such there?
I am staying at GF next month & a little bummed at the lack of quick & casual food - we are there as part of a package event & will be pretty busy with that stuff - it'd be nice to be able to grab a quick bite in between events.....

 

[TammiMcMan]

The Sandy Cove had some very limited snack items. Think of any hotel gift shop. The area's of Disney where you'll find a much greater assortment are those that have the Villa's or camping because many people do prepare their own meals here. You'll find items like bread, cereal, larger bags of chips, wine, etc. The temporary loss of Gasparilla's is disappointing, but only a short walk away is the Poly's Captain Cooks Snack Company .

 

[Barb A.]

Harambe,

What building were you in? We are going in Oct. and have a garden view reserved. Maybe I'll request that room. It sounds perfect!!

 

[BCV23]

On the second floor of the Polynesian, Samoa Snacks offers wine, beer, liquors, and quite a variety of snacks. Chips, nuts, pretzels, candy, baby food, cookies, doughnuts, etc.. Much more variety than the GF.

Sorry your stay wasn't what you were hoping for Harambe. Although I've thoroughly enjoyed our stays at the GF, I do think it would have been wise for them to make arrangements for quick food options during the refurbishment. To go from 24 hours to nothing is a bit much.

I though that the themed pool hours at the GF varied as they do at the Polynesian.....longer hours in the summer.

 

[Disney Fool]

It really isn't the Grand Floridian's fault that the Electrical Water Pageant was not operating. When I was there at the Grand during Hurricane Charley, I was told that it had been damaged, and there have been two hurricanes since then. I'm not surprised that it didn't run.

 

[Harambe]

We stayed in Conch Key, room 7305.

Yes - the store you mentioned in the Poly is where we ended up for snacks and things. The Sandy Cove did have a few snacks, but mostly souvenier-type things.

I realize the GF isn't responsible for our missing the Water Pagent, but it was just one more disappointment.

And I forgot to tell you about the chocolate mickey and tuxedo strawberries that I ordered for my husband. I said I needed it in the room before 5pm as that was when we were going back to the room from our day at BB. It arrived at 6:15pm! Luckily, DH was on the aforementioned Poly quest!

Again, the GF is truly lovely, but we just found it a bit much. We love the Poly and AKL, and even the All Stars!

 

[Davids-Coco]

I'm sorry you didn't have a wonderful time at GF. We were just there and loved every minute of it. From your room, you could probably see ours... right above the closed Gaspirilla. The views of MK and the castle are wonderful.

I think that concierge was definately worth the extra money with Gaspirilla closed. We got a fridge (no cost) and just took back stuff and kept it for snacks. It saved us money in the long run... the soda cost alone would have been over $100 at 2.25 a can! Honestly, even with it open, I think that it would help save us money... and being in the main building means nightly drinks too (another BIG cost cutter!).

About the pools, we were told that the slide pool was open only until 8. I can see where this may be an issue with kids... but then again, there is another pool.

I can understand that it isn't some people's cup of tea. But there are some of us... my DH and I included... who probably wouldn't stay anywhere else!