Is Grand Floridian the best for a Disney Honeymoon?

[Teacherali1]

Our honeymoon is May 2013. We are booking next week, and I would like some opinions. My current choice is Grand Floridian garden view. Our budget doesn't allow for anything more expensive. Magic Kingdom is my favorite so I didn't want to have to be too far away. My fiance has never been, so I want it to be special. Does anyone have any other opinions on resort/room choices at Disney World on honeymoons within the budget of a garden view at Grand Floridian?

 

[goofy4prez]

The Yacht club is a very nice resort that is quiet, in an excellent location, and is what I would call, more adult in setting and would be perfect for a honeymoon. There is also a very neat wedding gazebo on the property. For the price of what you are paying at GF, you may be able to get a much better view for less at the YC. Either way, the YC and GF are both excellent resorts.

 

[Deb & Bill]

Our honeymoon is May 2013. We are booking next week, and I would like some opinions. My current choice is Grand Floridian garden view. Our budget doesn't allow for anything more expensive. Magic Kingdom is my favorite so I didn't want to have to be too far away. My fiance has never been, so I want it to be special. Does anyone have any other opinions on resort/room choices at Disney World on honeymoons within the budget of a garden view at Grand Floridian?

A DVC one bedroom villa would get you a king sized bed and a jacuzzi tub in the master bathroom. If you got SSR, you would also have the SSR Spa right in the neighborhood where you can get some fabulous spa treatments. And DTD is just walking distance. You take buses to all the theme parks, but we've never had problems with the buses at SSR.

I'm not sure what cash prices would be for the DVC villas because I am a DVC member and use points to stay there. But you could check it out.

But the GF is really very nice.

 

[disneychic2]

If MK is your favorite, and you can afford it, I would definitely stay at the GF! I can't afford even a garden view of the GF, so I would stick with your first inclination. Congratulations and enjoy!

 

[MMrules]

If MK is your favorite then I would go with a MK hotel. I haven't stayed at GF so I can't commenton that. If it is your dream than go with it. I wouldn't stress about not getting club level or a MK view. When there are specials for the time frame you are booking, check to see if you can snag a better view if that's what you want. Otherwise, there will be plenty of opportunities within your resort to see the MK if not from your room.

Happy Wedding planning

 

[ilovezach33]

A DVC one bedroom villa would get you a king sized bed and a jacuzzi tub in the master bathroom. If you got SSR, you would also have the SSR Spa right in the neighborhood where you can get some fabulous spa treatments. And DTD is just walking distance. You take buses to all the theme parks, but we've never had problems with the buses at SSR.

I'm not sure what cash prices would be for the DVC villas because I am a DVC member and use points to stay there. But you could check it out.

But the GF is really very nice.

A one bedroom villa at SSR would cost 227 points for a week, in May. There is a verified website that sells points for $13 per point (but individuals sell them from $10-$12.)
227 x $13 = $2951

OP, you could rent DVC points and stay in a nice villa for much cheaper then a regular room. Housekeeping comes less often, though, and the person you are renting the points from HAS to make the reservation for you. Also, there are villas avaliable for the other deluxes, some may be cheaper.
http://www.wdwinfo.com/disney-vacation-club/dvcpoints.shtml <---this has all the resorts, and their point values. Just multiply the point value by $13 and that will be the price, should you choose to go through a verified website.

 

[twinboysmom]

I am not 100% sure on costs but what about a theme park view from either the CR or the Poly? Theme park views are magical but I have no idea what the price difference is.

 

[MrsDuck]

It wouldn't be my first choice. Just for personal reasons- I don't like the theming. It is a gorgeous property, most certainly!

We prefer The Contemporary or the Polynesian. Both on the monorail line and both feel more fun to us.

It just depends on you and your spouse.

 

[j&j620]

Congratulations!

MK is my favorite, too, so I completely understand not wanting to be too far away. I think GF is lovely and very quintessentially "honeymoon."

With that said, DH and I honeymooned at Poly and it was absolutely perfect for us. I find the grounds so relaxing and romantic. Plus, it is within walking distance to TTC, where you can hop on the monorail to Epcot.

 

[litlpixie]

Congrats to you! We honeymooned at the GF in the Sugarloaf bldg, Club level. Looking back, I wish we would have stayed at the Poly intead. We prefer the Hawaiian theme and find it more romantic, but thats just our opinion. It would have been cheaper too

 

[Leleluvsdis]

I have never stayed at any of the monorail resorts, and it is my dream to stay at GF, but being budget minded, I am looking at our trip for my 30th bday for 2 nights before we leave on a cruise in July, and a theme park view at contemporary is less than a garden view at GF, and you can get a theme park view studio at BLT for less than the room at contemp. Just something to think about.

I wanted to do a room at GF, but we have decided on the studio at BLT because of the prices for DH, me and 18 month old we can do 2 nights in deluxe studio with a theme park view with 1 day tickets and dining plan for the same cost as a garden view room at GF without dining plan.

 

[Teacherali1]

Wow! There really are many choices, and it does seem that it comes to personal preference. Is it difficult to get into a magic kingdom view studio at BLT? That could be my second choice. I'm thinking that people would probably book those farther in advance than 10 months.

 

[Teacherali1]

Oh and thank you for all the congratulations!

 

[Leleluvsdis]

Wow! There really are many choices, and it does seem that it comes to personal preference. Is it difficult to get into a magic kingdom view studio at BLT? That could be my second choice. I'm thinking that people would probably book those farther in advance than 10 months.

I was just looking and they are available for the 3rd weekend in August of this year, so a little over a month away.

 

[Teacherali1]

Really? I would have thought theme park views go quickly.

 

[Sammie]

To me the Grand Floridian is romance. All those roses everywhere, luxury bedding, luxury spa toiletries, the lobby with music daily, beautiful landscaping with places to sit and relax.

I mean you will not find that any where but the Grand.

So it will always get my vote especially if you want to be close the Magic Kingdom. Polynesian would be my next choice.

If you want to be closer to Epcot and the studios then Yacht Club would be my choice.

The theme at Bay Lake Towers just does not feel romantic to me. Just my personal opinion, it would never be my choice for a honeymoon.
I think just looking at lobby photos you can tell the difference in the romance factor.

 

[k&a&c'smom]

Congrats on your upcoming wedding. I have to agree with everyone who has stated the Grand is perfect for a honeymoon. The resort is gorgeous, the service is wonderful and the whole feel there is romantic. We have stayed in all room categories and loved each one, so I wouldn't hesitate to recommend the garden view rooms. Nearly all have very pretty views of the marina or courtyard pool and outer buildings. There are a few in Sago Cay that look out the back over landscaping towards the monorail.

I have not stayed at BLT, but have visited and it doesn't feel romantic to me at all - nice, contemporary, but not especially romantic.

I do like the Yacht Club, and agree with those who suggest it for an Epcot resort. Beach Club is my favorite in that area, but the Yacht would be more quiet and romantic for honeymooners.

There are several recent reports from first-time guests to the GF who fell in love with the resort, here is one: http://disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2953095

There are many posters on the GF FAQ recently who have been there for their first visit, here is the link: http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2932607 Be sure to check out the photos on the first page, you can get a sense of the feel of the resort - then either read through the rest of the thread or skip to the last few pages to find reviews. Ask any questions you need, we are there to help.

Good luck with your choice, it's always tough to pick just one.

 

[monorailmom]

Okay, I know this is now 'ancient history', but DH and I had our honeymoon at the Grand Floidian in 1990. We were in Boca Chicha, top floor.

I am SO glad this is where we stayed. We now have four kids...so staying at the GF is really just a fond memory, not something we could do with all of our kids! (though now as DVC members, we may get another shot!)

If this is where you want your honeymoon to be, by all means, stay there. We still go and visit the GF on all of our trips, and smile as we remember our time there. (It was Septmeber of 1990...it was love bug season...I have a pic of me and Mickey wearing his Epcot silver spacesuit...)

We have only happy memories of GF, and hope once the DVC opens there, to get to do it again.

 

[artemis908]

The Wilderness Lodge Honeymoon suite sounded awesome when I looked into that. It's the same price as the Grand Floridian standard rooms. Personally, I just could never see myself spending so much money on GF, the resort is nice but to me not worth the added cost. I gotta say that I am curious about Contemporary, it seems like a very nice resort. Only reason I hesitate is it looks like most of the other resorts I stay in outside of FL (like a Hilton or Westin, they are both very modern ("contemporary") hotel chains).

Polynesian looks super nice as well, but again reminds me of my trip to Hawaii but not quite Hawaii.

I guess it depends on what your priorities are (besides being near MK).

 

[jmrbc9900]

My husband booked the honeymoon suite at WL when he proposed. LOVED it. Very romantic place. Stayed at GF too and we much prefer WL.