Grand Floridian

[Guapy]

My fiancee and i have booked a standard garden view room at the GF for 6 nights in December for our honeymoon. (Once codes come out for December, hopefully we can save a few bucks.) We then looked at the pictures of the rooms online and found them to be pretty gaudy. Do the rooms look any better in person? Does anyone else have any other recommendations for rooms for a honeymoon at around the same price range?

 

[DisneyLisa]

I know what you mean but in answer to your question, the rooms do look much better in person. The pictures make them appear much "busier" than they are in real life...although Victorian is not a style that really appeals to me anyway. We really enjoyed our stay there...but my favourite decor of all the resorts is the BC.

If you can get the GF for a price you're happy with, go for it...it's a beautiful resort for a honeymoon. Congratulations on your upcoming marriage.

 

[las3888]

We stayed at GF and I wouldn't say the rooms were gaudy. They were kind of a victorian, floral type of look. DH and I did feel however that the resort was really nice, but not worth the extra $ since it is considered Disney's flagship resort. To us it fared no differently than Poly, BC, YC or BWI. Nice room, nice pool, nice restaurants, monorail access (or for Boardwalk resorts, the proximity to Boardwalk and EPCOT is just as appealing) - really it offers nothing more than the other deluxes.

If the victorian theming is not your thing, you might consider upgrading to a lagoon view at Poly overlooking MK or something along those lines...it might be about the same cost.

Basically what I am saying is to not expect GF to be all that better than the other deluxes, so maybe consider going with the theme and atmosphere that you would enjoy the most.

Good luck and congratulations on your marriage!

 

[Cinderella37]

I wholeheartedly agree agree with las3888. We stayed at the GF for years, simply because Disney billed it as the best resort on property. Wrong. After a few issues a few years in a row, we switched to the BWI concierge for our December trip, to try it out before our long trip in the summer. The verdict? We will always stay at the BWI from now on. The service was amazing - much better than at the GF, the hotel is much fresher - no burned out lightbulbs at the BWI- (and cleaner). I have no idea why Disney still refers to it as the "flagship" resort and the be-all end-all in elegance. It isn't, IMO. If you like the theme and location of the GF, go for it, but if not, don't be afraid to try another deluxe that fits your taste better.

 

[helomedicdj]

we've done the GF on GP 3 times in the last 10 years. Loved each and every moment. The ambiance and service levels are spectacular. In walking hrough the other resorts, Poly, Cont., on the rail, they just never had the atmosphere of elegence commensurate with our desires. You'll find many many more tikes around the other resorts than you will at GF. That's not a bad thing overall, but I'd venture to say that GF offers a more refined atmosphere. You have to try aligator in narcoosi's and the chef's table in victoria and Alberts. They're not to be missed.

 

[Cinderella37]

Narcoossee's and Victoria and Albert's are wonderful, but Narcoossee's no longer serves alligator.

 

[helomedicdj]

I'm....I'm.....I'm........sad now!! No alligator.

 

[daannzzz]

It has been my experience that the room decore and colors don't alway photograph well. I also find the pictures of the new rooms at the GF to be a bit over the top for me. When I stayed there they were alot more subtle but I do think the look is appropriate for the theme and rich it is just not my style.
On a first stay at the Coronado Springs resort I had requested the cabana section. Then I saw a photo of one of the Cabana rooms and though it was way to bright. When we got to the room it was more subdued in the room lighting and was fine.
As for my stay at the GF it was fine but I was not really impressed based on the price we paid and have found the AKL, Yacht Club and WL more to my liking. The GF is impressive and fun to visit and dine at but you may not wish to emerse yourself in it.

 

[mcgrawfan]

We just stayed there a few weeks ago. The rooms are not at all gaudy. The colors in the room are soft. Most of the rooms have a balcony. We were lucky enough to get an upgrade from a garden view (what we paid for) to a MK view. When we got to the room I ran to the balcony and was jumping up and down when I saw the castle. We watched Wishes and the Electrical Water Pagent from the balcony. I thought GF was gorgeous. Don't let the room pictures scare you away. The monorail to the MK and TTC (for and EPCOT transfer) was a very nice benefit.

 

[mmausse]

I've stayed at the GF for the past 8 trips. The hotel is beautiful and the rooms are a little larger than other deluxe hotels on property. The service has been great, at times, and been not-so great, at times.

The SPA is FABULOUS! The food is great - especially Victoria & Albert's (which is a VERY romantic place).......and Narcoosee's.

After this upcoming trip in 4 days, I will have stayed at ALL the deluxe hotels on property. SO far, GF wins hands down.

Oh, one other reason to stay at GF - that's where the celebrities are put up. I have ridden the monorail from the GF with John Travolta, his wife, Kelley Preston and their kids, with Vivica A. Fox, Sharon Gless, Drew Carey, Jane Seymour. Haven't seen any other celebrities at other deluxe hotels. But I'll see after next week.

Congratulations on your honeymoon - you'll have a GRAND TIME!

 

[KimR]

We love the GF....there is something about the amibiance that is so relaxing after a day in the parks; it just feels like 'home'. I don't find it gaudy at all, it is very airy and bright and doesn't have as much of a 'hotel' feel as the other resorts. I suppose it really is just a personal preference. So many people love the Poly, but when we visited there to eat at 'Ohana's, I wasn't really impressed at all - I much preferred the feel of the GF. We are leaving in 2 months and I waited too long to make reservations and GF was full, so we had to go with YC, otherwise we'd be staying there again!

Kim

 

[sotoalf]

I just got from a three-night stay at the Grand Floridian. We had a dormer room in Sago Cay. We loved it. The pictures do make the Victorian decorations look gaudy, but I can assure you that up close it bespeaks a casual elegance.

What distinguishes the GF from other deluxe resorts is the ratio of staff versus guests. At the GF it seemed as if there were 3 CM's for every guest, each of whom was anxious to serve you. I've stayed at every deluxe resort: the GF's maid service is hands down the best on property (the Poly's is a close second). The bathroom tile was clean, there was no mildew in the bathtub, and the beds made before noon. Turndown service was prompt. Serving coffee int he lobby of every building is a nice touch.

The restaurants are the best on property. Citricos matches the California Grill in terms of quality and service. Mizner's Lounge is the coziest deluxe lounge, with the best view (not counting the Cali Grille lounge).

I got a Florida Resident's discount, so fortunately I didn't pay full rack rate. Is it worth $335 a night? No. But the Polynesian isn't worth $300 a mth either. Every Disney hotel is overpriced when compared to similar deluxe hotels in Chicago or NYC; what's important is how much money you're willing to shill out to experience Disney magic.

Did I love the GF more than the Beach Club, Contemporary, or Polynesian? No - I loved each one for different reasons.