Grand Floridian

[jessiangel]

Just got back from POFQ and had a really, really bad experience with management. So bad that we ended up checking out of the hotel early. It took a lot of convincing to get DH to agree to go back next year, but after having dinner at 1900 Park Fare and seeing GF, he has agreed, as long as we can stay there. Any else stay there? Ever had a bad experience with CM or management? I'm gonna have to save for a year in order to afford it, but as long has DH agrees to go, it will be well worth it.

 

[CarolA]

Yes, I have had a bad experience there and I won't give them my money again. Will you, probably not.

I have stayed at POFQ and never had a bad experience. All hotels have good and bad days.

Personally, I would look into YC/BC over GF. I find the experience there nicer and they are cheaper.

 

[johnsonet]

You will LOVE the GF. I'm there in about 2.5 weeks and cannot wait! This will be my 7th stay there and I have never had a bad experience - quite the contrary...
However, you will read both good and bad about EVERY hotel. I'm sorry to hear about your POFQ problems. Interestingly, that resort is a favorite with many Disney lovers...so you just never know
Good luck and enjoy the GF - you will

 

[KimR]

We've stayed at the Grand Floridian twice and we love it, never had a bad experience. The resort itself is so bright, airy and elegant. I love coming back at the end of a long day at the parks - it's so relaxing and tranquil and for some reason I feel so 'at home' there. I have so many wonderful memories of our past stays at the GF. The CMs have always been very helpful and friendly, we've not encountered any rudeness or 'I don't care' attitude that others have complained about. Frankly, I'm a little nervous about that since we're planning a trip next year over Spring Break and I'm trying to decide between GF and YC.....leaning towards GF. Just can't beat that monorail access to MK!

 

[DisneyMomx7]

We stayed at GF last summer and loved it. Even the kids loved it which surprised me because I didn't think it would be very kid friendly but it was. We're staying at POR this year, but we're going back to GF next year. We stay at a deluxe the year we don't have to pay for our APs.

 

[Cinderella37]

Another bad experience at the GF. We stayed there 8 times in 7 years and finally had to switch to the BWI because of the declining service and management apathy. The facilties are beautiful (though last July in need of more upkeep), but the service has been on a steady decline, probably due to management changes.

 

[ead79]

The truth is that is just varies from person to person and from trip to trip. I have stayed at the GF twice, and I loved it both times, but I am sure there have been some bad experiences there. I personally had a less than stellar experience (not horrible, just not good) at the Beach Club, a resort that many people love and have wonderful stays at. As with anything, sometimes there can be problems. My best advise would be to stay at the resort of your choice and if you should encounter any problems, speak to a manager and change resorts immediately. Enjoy the GF!

 

[Michelle2]

We stayed at the GF for our first WDW trip last October. We were in the Sugar Loaf concierge building...And I must say that although I LOVE the resort atmosphere, I did NOT like the concierge staff working there (except for one nice lady, who was new, of course LOL). If I had a problem, or question I was pretty scared to even bring it up to them. So, for me, I have learned that when I stay in Concierge again, I will do everything myself, and try not to deal with them at all...just partake of the food and drinks....most of them seemed pretty snooty to me...
But putting that aside, I LOVED the resort itself. They have 2 pools, one with a slide, and one without. We went to both, and they were both great! I loved the orchestra playing in the main building, and cannot wait to book our next vacation in the RPC.
There were some stuffy people at the main check in desk as well, but i just went to the check in agent that I thought looked nice, and I was fine...plenty to choose from LOL I also had a discrepency with SL, talked to the main GF manager, Wesley, and he was great....talked to him for a long time. We will be staying there again, but I can see how people's opinions go both ways with all resorts...Have a great trip!

 

[Wendi]

We have stayed there several times and absolutely LOVE this place. We have had problems and while they where NOT handled the best way, I don't let someones inability to deal with people ruin how I feel in the room and around the rest of the resort. I actually told the manager 3 years ago that we dealt with when we had a "situation" I flat out told him that he had the bedside manners of Malificent. (used Disney character to get the point across) I went as far (in a very calm, nice voice) to tell him that I didn't think that he would treat his mother like that as well as if he had any chance to make it anywhere in Upper Management with the company, he had better learn to deal with PEOPLE. Well to make a long story short, we went about our stay, having a blast and the next day when we got back to the room we found an assortment of desserts, a bottle of wine and some drinks for the kids with a rather long appology letter. We even bumped into him 2 days later and as we said "Thank You" for the cordials and drinks, he stopped us and said "No don't, I appreciate you talking to me like you did and I hope I have woke up. I talked to my wife about what you said and she had to agree with a couple of points of what you said, so Thank You.
It was a huge shocker to us, but when rudeness us uncalled for I will flat out tell people.

We love the restaurants, the grounds, the pools, the rooms and the views. We love going home.

Wendi

 

[CarolA]

As I read this, I am amazed by how much slack people are willing to give Disney with this hotel.

This hotel bills itself and charges as a TOP notch resort along the lines of a Ritz or Four Seasons, but.... the experiences above don't equal the stories you hear from the Ritz.

 

[JohnnyTarHeel]

I've read several complaints here lately about the GF concierge...do they have the Disney villains working over there or what? Definitely doesn't make me want to try concierge there. I don't get it...you would think if you're spending that kind of money you would get treated like royalty. But then maybe a lot of people that stay there treat the staff badly and they in return give everybody an attitude...doesn't make it right, but it makes me wonder why I've heard this complaint so often. We'll be staying at the GF in November so I hope we'll enjoy it as much as we have the Polynesian.

 

[dylansdad]

just back from GF

now wont stay anywhere else

 

[jockey]

We have stayed at GF and its fantastic you will have a great time!!!

 

[jacksmom]

We have stayed at GF several times (we love the Lodge Tower rooms) and we have always had great trips! We are staying GF CL (sugar loaf) for our next trip, but I have been a little nervous about it. I have also read some negative posts about the Concierge staff. But so far I am very pleased! I have already talked with a planner 3 times! They are very professional, but also very pleasant!

 

[Sammie]

Except for Saratoga Springs we have stayed at all Disney resorts. If you go often enough eventually anyone can have a bad experience. We have not had a bad experience at the Grand Floridian.

It's a lovely resort and definitely one we will repeat in the future.

I would never let one bad experience keep me from trying a resort again. If I went back and had the exact same experience then Yes I would be reluctant to try it again. Bad experiences can happen anywhere and are always based on a certain set of circumstances occuring. The chances of those same exact circumstances occuring again are very, very rare.

Enjoy your trip.

 

[Cinderella37]

We stopped staying there because of repeat bad experiences, especially with concierge. You should NEVER be scared to approach a CM for anything. We are used to very fancy places, much nicer than the GF, and have never encountered ignorant or snooty employees.

At least the concierge at the GF did not discriminate - a guest could be dressed very well (us) or not (others) and we both got treated the same. I, for one, have learned in my life that people who treat you according to how you're dressed are clueless, as my parents and fiance have friends who are multi-millionaires who dress in whatever. At least the GF concierge doesn't make this mistake - they treat everyone equally bad.

 

[hookedup]

I have stayed at the GF the past 3 summers in a row. We have had nothing but absolutely wonderful experiences. I will never pay for concierge at WDW again though - I liked our GF stays in a regular room better than concierge.

 

[ADIDAD]

I have stayed at the GF 5 times in the past few years always at SL building and I love it.....We have been treated wonderful by all the staff. Second trip son hurt his neck and the staff was amazing.They did everything to try to help. Thank God only a pulled muscle but he was four and in pain.... Third trip they gave me a extra pass during fairy tale package for mom and did not charge for extra for her in the room... I know some people have had bad experience but, you have to try it for yourself.Everybody has different taste. I also love Vero beach but could not stand the Beach club or the Contemporary(sp wrong). We have enjoyed getting to know the staff at the SL building.I also love the Childrens programs there. I have only postive things to say about my memories. We have only had good times. Once left viedo camera on bench at downtown disney it was returned. Broke wheel off stroller and Jim at splash mountain had it fixed and sent it to the hotel it is still working today.....The Beach Club did nothing wrong It was me I am six foot tall and my husband is too and we had double beds .... The COM was just not for me but fine service.. It is about what you like.. Try it... Good luck. Sorry for mistakes it is late..

 

[mostyn17]

We have stayed there 6 out of the 7 times......with the 1 time staying at AKL..... We have had nothing but wonderful rooms and staff. We will never stay anwhere else on Disney Property.

Some people say about the people being snooty...we have never had that problem. I think if you go into a atsmophere thinking everyone is snooty and snobby you will have a guard up and then you won't enjoy yourself as much.....

Really, it's a great resort. All resorts have there problems once and a while....

Go, you will really enjoy it there!

Travis

 

[TammiMcMan]

We are also frequent guests at the GF. I love the convenience of the monorail and the overall style of the resort. We've had nice stays, we've had magical stays and we've experienced a few CM's that should probably be in another line of work. Our rooms have ranged from main building concierge to lodge concierge to garden view. They were all clean and if I recall, we only had one issue with our balcony door not opening and maintenance promptly fixed it. We also have never felt that the resort had a pompous or snooty feel to it. In fact, I am always amazed to see vacationer's in shorts sitting in the main lobby beside wedding guests dressed in their formal attire. And both appear perfectly at home.

Everyone chooses hotels at Disney based on their own personal preference. For some it's location, for others it's the theme. If you like the looks of the GF and want to try it, I say go for it.