Hi k&a&c'smomI see that we were posting at the same time... Or actually you posted while I was typing a novel here..LOL...
Looks like we may be back on our post-together schedule.
Good morning fellow GF fans!
Back to reality is no fun...especially if reality is covered with snow..lol...We had a GRAND vacation..as usual...really enjoying the low crowd levels in the parks...and after a day or two of cooler temps..warmth and sunshine...
k&a&c'smom I will continue to keep you, your DS and family in my thoughts and prayers...glad to hear that all is going well...
grannieminnie I had some lattes for you!Maxie did too..!
Some trip thoughts...
~Magic bands..They worked just fine..no problems..no glitches at all...from getting onto the DME...to getting into the room...to using the FPPs...
~FPP... Even with low crowds..there were long lines at the FPP kiosks ..and on many of the attractions that normally do not have long lines...ie: PotC... I also think not being inclined to park hop due to only being able to get FPP in one park per day contributed to that...Hope that the powers that be will re evalute that before the summer crowds arrive!
~MDE..Easy to use and keep track of what our itinerary was..since these days our itinerary need to be much more structured with all of the pre planning required....At one point ..not sure how???..we missed our FPP window..and I was able to make a new FPP time after we had missed ours..still...lots of checking and fore thought required...
~GF Lovely as always...and so nice to return to after a day or evening the the parks...
~ The new room decor..thanks again DisneyDreamin for posting the pics...I too was hoping for more Disney whimsey and victorian warmth...the rooms now remind me of the decor in my Pottery Barn catalog...very elegant..pretty...just not what I had expected..and after seeing the VGF decor..and color palette and that change in the hallway leading to the pool elevator in the main building..I was thinking it would be more soft blues (to which I am partial...lol..All in all it would not stop me from staying there..just not what I had expected...
~some Did I just really see/hear that moments...
A woman standing straight up..yes standing!!! on IaSW taking pictures with her ipad...!!!!!!!!!
An irritated man on the water launch line...(yep there was a pretty big line..moved quickly though..and the CMs were advising folks that you could also take a bus back to the GF...which the bus stop was right there at the MK..not a far walk away....they were using the standard launch and a much bigger one..looked like a big canopy boat?? not a friendship ..that held 39 people...I was paying attention when they did a head count..lol...and keeping my fingers crossed...) back to original part of my super run on sentence!! ..
The current BB offered has quite alot of dates..although some changes..the very beginning of December which has traditionally been included is not...?? It is for 35% at the deluxes....
Oh and I almost forgot...the renovations have started on Boca Chica..lots of workmen and hustle bustle going on at that building...so things seem to be on track with the schedule that someone..I forget who?? Oops..posted a while back...
Well thats all for now....this is long enough already...lol...
Hope that you are all keeping warm and having a terrific Thursday!
"they should have just closed the whole park" - HAHAHAHAHA! They only keep it open for the MK area guests, we all know this.
We may do one or two days at the GF CL, then the rest at another resort, just so we get some GF time. Or, we may stay at another resort altogether and simply visit for shopping and restaurants - they have ruined our favorite pool, after all. (I agree with mariamouse, the jets are pretty, especially at night - but it isn't very easy for an adult to swim in either pool now)
.We have no desire to go back
All I can do now is pray they don't mess up my beloved AKL anytime soon!
. . 
. it's not likely I'll walk into the GF rooms and say, "wow! I love this!" or even, "hey, these aren't so bad!
.Back to reality is no fun...especially if reality is covered with snow..lol...
Mickeynut
. Thanks for all of the texts, I very much enjoyed getting them .The new room decor will probably affect us staying at the resort, sorry to say. We spend far too much time in the room to hate it, especially at those prices.
. My guess is all of the deluxe resorts will eventually go "generic". It was done to the Poly and now the GF, with the BC/YC due for refurbs this year. It will be interesting to see what happens to those resorts. It's quite sad, IMO, that the changes are so drastic making some guests not want to stay at certain resorts anymore. If Disney keeps changing to a more generic look, there won't be any appealing deluxes (at least not to me).
I noticed that the link to the refurbed rooms on the first page (post#1) of this thread, shows a VERY different room than the link in post 2778 on page 186.
FWIW, I remember a lot of the Poly lovers who hated the new Poly decor and said a lot of things that some of you guys are feeling. (Cheap, took out the Disney touches...). But, actually being there made a difference. It's hard to capture the essence of something from pictures on line I think.
The big old fridge cabinet is not my favorite (I love the rest of the room) but once I get there in person, I may find it's not so bad. I'll reserve my judgement for when I'm living it. And I can't wait to live it!!!
ETA: as I walked downstairs this morning, I realized my connection to the new decor. In my living room, we have tan paint on the walls, red curtains, red accent pillows, and our rug over the dark wood floors had lots of red and hints of that turquoise....my kitchen has red walls, lol!! Did I design the new rooms?
The new room decor will probably affect us staying at the resort, sorry to say. We spend far too much time in the room to hate it, especially at those prices.
) is so torn up I can't imagine staying there even though some people feels like the construction doesn't make their experience less wonderful.
Speaking of beds - I hope we hear from someone about the comfort of the new mattresses at the Grand. (hint, hint, DisneyDreamingInMI!
DisneyDreamingInMI - thanks so much for all the photos, and taking the time to answer questions.
Do you mind if I post a couple of these on the first page, so anyone looking there can see what the new rooms look like?
No worries!
Again, I'm glad I could share the pictures and help out with questions! Not a hard task when I'm doing it relaxing by the pool or on the balcony!!!
You can certainly use some of the pictures.
Hmm...I know there were some pics of the dormer room balconies a few pages back...anyone remember which page?
ETA: Nevermind.p. 169
I'm sorry the refurb will prevent you from staying at the GF. I don't like the new decor either, but it seems like every deluxe resort seems to be changing from fun and whimsical to generic and boring
I agree with everything, but especially the bolded part, although my feeling is coming just from pictures as we haven't stayed there since the room refurbs. The change at the Poly gave the rooms a light, airy feeling, but I liked the darker colors as that's what gave the Poly the tropical feel, IMO. I think Disney totally ruined the Poly and they carried that "ruined feeling" over to the GF for me
....
I feel the same way. I don't think the new decor will keep me from staying at the GF as I love RPC and the resort overall, but like you, I don't see myself walking in and loving it by seeing in person. I feel the same way about the Poly. I'm excited to eventually stay there again as it's our favorite resort, but I will definitely miss the Polynesian feel as the current room decor just doesn't scream tropical to me
....
I agree about the GF prices. I'm sorry you may stop staying at the GF as well
and were not pleased in general about the rooms that were just removed, but not to the extent of our dismay at the most current refurb! (it was mostly just the bedspread, lol) As you say, everything is becoming so generic, I really don't understand the logic.
We used to visit at least twice, sometimes three times per year and we are down to one. It may be time to scale back to once every two years...I noticed that the link to the refurbed rooms on the first page (post#1) of this thread, shows a VERY different room than the link in post 2778 on page 186.
I don't really care for the one on post 1...but the room shown in post 2778 is GREAT! It really is in keeping with the new style of the Villas. Much more of an upscale look.
Sorry for the confusion.Self parking is indeed closer than it used to be. In December I was surprised by how close it was, having prepared a snack and a bottle of water for the hike I had read about. Apparently it used to be across a street and over the rainbow, now it is next to the valet parking and seems much, much closer than the parking for the BWI or YC/BC.
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I'm afraid the down-dressing of the decor means that the bean counters are winning too many budget discussions. Someone mentioned that the VGF shower curtains are also at Target, which means they aren't going to the level they went to when they made the special shower curtains at the VCG with Bambi and Thumper on them. Even the club level chocolate greeting gift has been downsized. It used to be postcard size, and painted with a colorful picture of the resort, and now it is a little less than the size of a playing card, and is just molded chocolate. I wonder if the next time I come back they'll be tossing a Hershey's Bar on the bed?
....
Oh nooooooo!! I hate the idea that you would lose your connection to such a favorite place. I don't want you to break up with the Grand! I understand, though. The Poly beach (and soon to be much of the resort
I don't want to break up with the Grand, lol, but we may put our romance on hiatus until the next refurb.
The mattress seems pretty comfortable! It is fairly firm with a pillow top I think. It is always hard for me to judge because I am just so sore and tired from all the walking that comes with a Disney vacation!
By the way, I wanted to make sure you saw my response to your question from the other day! I think we might have been posting at the same time!
As I thought you had missed my post, I gave links to your photos on the first page in the "Resort Room Photos" post. If you get a chance when you get home (if you go home, that is, lol), I'd love some higher res photos for that post.
Lol on the irritated man's comment about the monorail!! Now on to the dreaming and planning of the next visit!!
Unfortunately, the many changes to WDW as a whole has reduced the number of visits per year, we no longer purchase APs. Now the changes to the resorts are affecting where we stay.
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k&a&c'smom, you KNOW you don't really want to break up with the Grand!!
I'm in denial, I keep thinking, "maybe they will do something a little different with the club level rooms..."
I'm with you on all of the changes that are being made, along with the generic rooms. We are exploring other vacation options as well. As much as we love Disney, there are other places we would like to see. As it turns out, the dates for our December cruise don't work for us, but I haven't decided whether to cancel all together or move it to a later date. We are throwing around some other ideas, so who knows what will happen. I will definitely be back to Disney when my brother and SIL decide to take my niece, but in the meantime, my family may be venturing to other places......but only time will tell
and more trips to the beach. I'm not abandoning my love for Disney, I just take it in smaller doses now. Sorry if our venting is detracting from your excitement about and love for the resort. That's not my intent at all, I know a lot of you like the rooms and are excited about upcoming stays.
You are so right!
We may have to *gasp* book a villas room to get our GF fix.
We have already changed the way we vacation, as I mentioned above. With my kids in various parts of the country, I take more trips to visit them and see the areas nearby, as well as visiting the dark side
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Let's look at some beautiful photos of the Main Lobby!
