I just don't get why the powers-that-be chose to eliminate the Disney touches~
I was wondering the same thing. Every resort needs a refurb every so often, but it's sad when the refurbs mean all of the Disney touches are taken away in the process
.
but I still miss the theme tied in with a disney character. Mary Poppins? Alice in Wonderland? Something?
I feel the same way. I'm all for updates, but keep the Disney touches in a DISNEY resort
.
the renovations are just so----- cheap looking. To me it looks like a run of the mill Marriott property if I'm being honest. Where is the plushness that the Grand should exude? It's their Flagship Resort, it shouldn't be stripped down, and frankly, it is.
None of the furniture seems to go together. It's just sort of a mish-mash of stuff and the modern silver embellishments does not go with it. Even the GF on the pillows is gold; the GF emblem has ALWAYS been gold. The silver looks out of place and modern-ish in what should be a gilt Victorian setting.
It's just honestly really disappointing to see. What they have done to the Grand is simply…. Not GRAND.
ITA
.
This is more sleek and I'm not sure what look they are going for with it.
In another Hotel it works, but they classify it as a "Victorian" hotel and with the change, it isn't.
This is my feeling as well. It just doesn't fit the GF's style, IMO.
The debate over its new look has concentrated just on the room. That's not enough. All the reasons mentioned by those who approve of the new decor are valid; however, the new look doesn't add to the Disney experience. Unlike the former decor, guests knew they were in a room that reflected the architecture, design and decor of the building, a structure modeled after a late 19th century/early 20th century Victorian beach resort (for example, the look of Hotel del Coronado). But the new rooms have been essentially decorated in isolation, save a wall hanging or two. A more elegant look? Certainly. A room that reflects the "magic?" Unfortunately, not. Ironically, the new rooms' look would be more appropriate for the Contemporary.
I agree that the rooms should reflect the resort design, which like you said, this does not. It's funny you mention the look would be more appropriate for the CR because that's exactly what I thought when I saw the silver mirror over the daybed and the nightstand, neither one of which go with the GF theme (which, like
k&a&c'smom said, if you can call it a "theme" anymore
).
That said, the rooms are less Victorian so maybe my DH won't kill me for CHANGING OUR RESERVATION TO THE GRAND
My daughters are not happy the pink couch is gone, they said it's not a castle anymore
BUT when looking at the grounds, and pool pics..they (and me) decided we would rather give up BC CL to stay at a non-CL GF room. So there you have it! I thought about saving up to do CL, but we have so much we want to experience this trip...CRT, Fantasmic, Illuminations...we will miss evening and dessert offerings. No one will want to leave the pool for afternoon snacks. And cereal and fruit in the morning...I'll pick that stuff up at Publix easy peasy...wait, who is this sensible person...
I got that great TA rate and the less I spend on vacation the less hours I have to work to pay for it
mickeynutYour quote disappeared
I am with you, my first experience at GF was 2011, and I LOVED the décor, time to insert at HRH pic...she's so little
Love the pic.....HRH is adorable
(as are all of your kiddos
).
Congrats on changing to the GF
. We've stayed at the BC and although that is a nice resort, it's hard to beat the Grand as it's such a beautiful and relaxing resort
.
Will miss that chair dang it. My son, who lays his stuff all over anything he can find, said-- where am I going to put all my clothes?
Gee honey, I dunno, um, the closet?
This cracked me up because I have 2 boys and I know exactly where you're coming from
.
I have a quick question about RPC IPO. Our 180 day mark is coming up in 2 weeks. Does GF IPO usually contact you prior to your 180 day mark to see if you have dining requests or is it better to contact them?
Congrats on booking RPC. As
pas130 said, you can contact them to introduce yourself
. RPC is amazing.....you're going to love it.
So glad to hear about the renovations! We're hoping to honeymoon there this summer so it's nice to hear that they're putting in new carpet & wallpaper!
This will be our first stay at GF and I'm so excited!!
Congrats on your upcoming wedding and your first GF stay
.
We put our wet towels in the tub when we are ready to have the room serviced. Hopefully they put in a wood floor that can stand up to water because it will likely come into contact with some, especially in the bathroom!
This is what we do, too, as they are out of the way but also not getting the floor damp. I was thinking the same thing about the wood flooring and thought it was kind of silly to put that in a bathroom area
.
If it were in Hotel Anywhere, USA, it wouldn't bother me so much. Being at the Grand is the problem.
This. You can't introduce guests to the glorious Victorian Main Lobby, then pull the rug out from under them when they open their room door and find something completely different. It would, indeed, seem right at home at the CR.
I agree 100%
.
I also join you in bemoaning the loss of the hamper, benches and the chair (tho all we did with that was to put our "stuff" on it...it was handy for that!) I'm concerned about the lack of storage now.
I loved the bench too.....that being gone is just one of the many things I'm going to miss with the new decor
.
It kills me to say it, but I really dislike the new rooms. As in...I really...really dislike the new rooms.
I think these rooms look nothing like what you'd expect out of the GRAND FLORIDIAN. I don't think there's anything Victorian about it though. The whimsical Disney touches of Tinkerbell and Mickey are gone (yes, the back of the chair is lovely, but I can't find much else Disney-like in the room). The armoire, the mirror over the daybed, the pillows on the daybed and the end table all look cheap...
The bottom line is...for well over $500 a night...I expect better. It just looks cheaply done. I could be wrong (Lord knows I've been many times before), and it could be absolutely gorgeous in person. But I'm thinking of the lobby, the architecture, the hallway wallpaper, and it just doesn't go with this new refurb.
All of what you said is exactly how I feel about the new look. It all centers around the Disney touches for me and that they took out the victorian feel of the rooms. Like I've said in previous posts, it is nice that the rooms are being redone because it was time for updates, but they could have kept the fun and whimsical things and still made it a luxury room, IMO.
Here's a photo I found online of what I expected to see when the first rooms were revealed. A scaled down version of this, to be sure, but the overall feel and color scheme. I would still have wished for more pattern, but THIS would have spelled luxury to me.
Now that would be a great room for the GF
.
I really do miss the rooms having a touch of Disney whimsy...touches that make me know I'm at a Disney hotel...teacups on the pillows like before...maybe some Mary Poppins touches, or maybe a tie in with the resort lobby decor
I think this is my major hang up. There's no Disney touches that set the GF room apart from an ordinary hotel room
.
Ahhhhh change, you would think I like it 
I hope one of two things happens: 1) they have new hampers on order but they haven't arrived yet; or, 2) enough people complain so they need to add one as an after thought.
Very exciting, best wishes on your upcoming marriage.
They leaped from the frying pan into the fire as far as storage goes, right? Guests complained about the lack of drawer space, so they nominally add drawers, but take away so much more.
(and the drawers ain't all that, by any means)
).
