Is it just me or what?

[Mister Disney]

I've been reading reviews on DIS now for several months and read complaint after complaint after complaint about the GF.

In 2 weeks I'll be staying there again....the 6th time in 5 years....and have never experienced the things these posters are complaining about.

I've always experienced super check in, friendly service, well kept rooms etc etc. and the list goes on.

(putting on the flame suit now....) Could my difference of experience be due to the fact that I've always had the ability to stay in RPC? Are people more apt to complain about the GF, if staying there is a "financial stretch" for them?

(double flame suit here....) It does seem like on DIS alot of people are so concerned about the "bottom" line in terms of getting everything on discount. Prime example is this whole MYW program / food thing. Am I the only one that plans my vacations to be finanacially stress free, without the need of nickle and diming everything to death?

My experiences at Disney have been magical everytime. The one mistep that was ever made (and we ALL make them....be honest with yourself...) was taken care of graciously and quickly.

I love the Grand Floridian. The Theming....the service.....the CMs and on and on.

Having said all that....lets start a positive GF thread.....what is your favorite thing about the GF?

ONE of mine would be relaxing in the lobby listening to the band in front of Mizners before dinner after a day at the parks.

Who is next?

 

[pirateofthecarolinas]

I agree. I've stayed at the GF twice and have always had the same experience that you described. We stayed in one of the lodge buildings so I don't feel that it's just RPC. We will get to experience that on our next trip so I'll let you know! We're looking forward to that experience in early Dec.

My favorite things about the GF are:

1. Having Du and Emam at the front desk make over my 3 children. All of the CMs have been very warm and friendly to my family.
2. Hearing the band playing and watching an 80 year old couple dancing near the elevators as if no one else was near.
3. Playing ping pong near the quiet pool.
4. Listening to the sounds from the MK.
5. Watching Wishes from the boat dock with other families.
6. Sending my children to the wonderful activities that the GF offers for children. Naomi and Bobbi do a marvelous job organizing these activities.
7. Dining at V & A's with my hubby.
8. Taking the boat to the MK where we spend 90% of our time.

Last but not least is Larry The Greeter. He is my absolute favorite thing about the GF. What a gentleman!

Lori

 

[WDW LifeLong Fan]

We too have always had good experiences at the GF. We were there in October and will be back in July. We have stayed in all room categories and have had a good time in all locations.

We visit WDW on average 4-5 times annually with each stay lasting 6-10 days, rotate our resort choices among the Deluxe resorts, and usually have a great time. There are rare/small situations that arise, but really this can and does happen anywhere you travel.

We love....The Spa, the landscaping/grounds, the lighting, the smell of the lobby upon entering , the location, the pools, the dining, the service, the decor, and the views! Is that enough?!??!?!

 

[dmslush]

I do think that you are right about people being so overwhelmed with the cost. It is like everyone wants to sqeeze every bit of magic out of the $$$ that they spent, and I can understand that. BUT, it also seems like people come back from WDW saying things like;

Our vacation was absolutely ruined because..
no towel animals
dusty room
some dirt in the corners
worn carpet
etc.. etc..

Well, it would be wonderful if everyone could get towel animals, it would be great if there were no dust in disney, and shame on mousekeeping for being human and missing some dust, and dang it at disney for not ripping up carpet the minute it starts getting those fuzzy balls on it!

LOL, I guess I see vacation as a time to relax and not worry about little crap like that.

 

[wildernesslodgelover]

Hi Mister Disney!

Oooo, I am glad you donned your flame proof suit!

I guess things are relative to cost. I could NEVER enjoy myself paying what it costs to stay at the GF, because, for me (WLL also donning flame proof suit) the GF's theming is not that appealing.

I guess you could compare it to eating at Chili's, then eating at V&A's. If I eat at Chili's, and my burger is overcooked, or my fries soggy, I could care less, cuz, after all, it is just Chili's, KWIM? BUT...there are plenty of people that do not get out to eat very often, so to them, it is a catastrophe. And who am I to judge whether or not it is a catstrophe? To them, it is. Perception is reality.

Now, if I am eating at V&A's, I want everything to be PERFECT. But I guess if I was a multi millionaire, it would not be a big deal to me if things were less than perfect, because I could dine like that on a regular basis.

Ok, I am taking this thread in a different direction than you intended...I am so sorry! While I have never stayed at GF, may I just say I LOOOOVE Mizner's Lounge? Also, I had a WONDERFUL time at the Perfectly Princess Tea Party with my DD!

This is a great idea for a thread!

 

[Carol1973]

Alas, I cannot afford to stay at GF. But I always go for a visit every time I'm at WDW. We took the monorail over to check it out when it was new. I'm always so impressed. The flowers in the lobby are beautiful and I also love sitting and listening to the music. I would have loved to see the 80 year-old couple dancing. Isn't that romantic? So all I can do is dream. I've told my husband that some day I just want to work in the gift shop at GF. It is just such a magical place! Enjoy your next visit.

 

[Mister Disney]

Alas, I cannot afford to stay at GF. But I always go for a visit every time I'm at WDW. We took the monorail over to check it out when it was new. I'm always so impressed. The flowers in the lobby are beautiful and I also love sitting and listening to the music. I would have loved to see the 80 year-old couple dancing. Isn't that romantic? So all I can do is dream. I've told my husband that some day I just want to work in the gift shop at GF. It is just such a magical place! Enjoy your next visit.

Thats one of the great things about ALL of the Disney resorts....You can experience a bit of the magic at each resort, regardless of whether you are a guest there or not.

The vision of the 80 year old couple dancing is wonderful. Another thing I witnessed there was a young couple being married on the balcony on the second floor....with the electric water parade floating by in the background.

If you get to WDW at Christmas time, another one of my favorite things at GF is when they have community groups in that sing seasonal songs in the lobby...

 

[rcraw45425]

I agree about loving it. We have stayed lagoon view twice now and have had great experiences both times. The CM's have seemed to go the extra mile to us and for us. I could sit and listen to the band in the lobby for hours. I have not experienced Concierge yet, just because as an active family of four we don't see the need for the extras, the kids are still too young to appreciate it . THeir main concern is being close to MK . I love the theming and the relaxed elegance of the resort. Anothe one that strikes me this way is the YC, which we had the pleasure of experienceing in Feb.

 

[Mister Disney]

Now, if I am eating at V&A's, I want everything to be PERFECT. But I guess if I was a multi millionaire, it would not be a big deal to me if things were less than perfect, because I could dine like that on a regular basis.

I am not a millionaire, but I am a "foodie", PLENTY of people on DIS can attest that that so far....

For me, I always make sure to budget money (yes....I do "budget" in some sort of way) for dinner at V&A. and you want to know something, that "one little mis-step" I spoke about? It happened at V&A. Did it ruin my entire time at WDW? No. Did it "traumatize" me? No. Did it make me feel like I would never go back again? No. Did that experience "humanize" my view of V&A? YES!

Up until that experience, I held V&A up to this UNREAL standard. A standard that I don't hold many other places. As I said, I am a "foodie" so I make sure to eat at some of the most incredible restaurants in this country and what I realized was that I held V&A to a higher standard than anywhere else. Was it because it was Disney? I don't know. I suspect my holding V&A to a higher standard has to do with the number of "absolutely perfect" times I had there.

Having said that....

my third favorite thing at GF is having dinner at V&A at the early seating...finishing up...and walking along the beach after dinner as the electric water parade glides by.

 

[3lilprincesses]

i love this thread. we have only been to disney once. we are a young, one income family. we saved to be able to stay at GF. AND IT WAS WORTH EVERY PENNY! it was beautiful. CM's were friendly and helpful. housekeeping was great. room was beautiful, spacious, clean. view was amazing. DD's loved the electric water parade and fireworks from the balcony. loved the monorail and the boat ride to MK. loved 1900 Park Fare. loved the music in the lobby. loved the themeing. loved the pools. i really can't think of anything we didn't like about it. if we had any questions, CM's went out of their way for us. my favorite thing was sitting on the balcony at night, drinking a glass of wine with DH, and listening to the sounds from the 7 seas lagoon, and MK.

i've been saving since we returned, and can't wait for our trip in january. talked my extended family into coming too. we'll be getting 4 rooms at GF, and i am sure my family will share our love of GF!

 

[DisneyMomx7]

We've never been able to afford to stay RPC. That being said we loved the GF. We stay there every summer (this year for 12 days!) and have never encountered anything but top notch service and accomodations. We always request Sago Cay, marina view and have been lucky enough to have that request granted every time. We have three small children and I got so tired of hearing people say that they think the GF is "stuffy". It really isn't - why do you think so many of the kids activities are there. My children love the Grand Floridian and so do DH and I. This year we're lucky enough to be staying lagoon view for the 4th of July. Perhaps someday we'll be able to stay RPC but I'm sure not until the three that are in college right now graduate! I think whatever level you stay at GF is warm, friendly and inviting.
Can't wait to get back!

 

[goofy4tink]

You know, you can find mostly negative reports on almost every resort on-site at WDW. People just seem to be more inclined to tell us about the 'bad' stuff. If I have some dust bunnies in my room it certainly isn't going to ruin my trip.
That being said...I have never stayed at GF. We have eaten there, several times, my dd has done the Tea Party and loved it. We love to visit GF during the holidays. But, other than quick pass and wave type visits, it's not a resort we would stay at. And we do stay at other deluxes. I have a friend who will stay only at the GF. She stayed there for the first time and paid a huge amount of money, back in '99, and stayed concierge. She kept trying to tell me that she had a basic pkg and that it was cheaper than what I was paying for my room only at the Polynesian. Just another uninformed person I guess. But, she can not understand why I stay anyplace other than the GF. She just adores it there. That's terrific, I'm glad she likes it there so much. That's the great thing about WDW...someplace for every taste and every budget. For us...well, we like being close to Epcot and MGM, so BWV works. I certainly wouldn't say that it's a heck of a lot cheaper than the GF though.

Yes, the GF is a beautiful resort, with some very good things about it. It's just not our particular style. Obviously there are a lot of people that love it...it always seems to be bustling with people over there!!!

 

[Goofy's Muse]

It's hard to pick just one thing I loved about GF during our December stay. We did not go concierge... in fact, we booked a garden view with no specific building request. Just loved our Conch Key room with the amazing sunrise view over the lagoon. I felt we could have been equally pleased with just about any of the garden view rooms there... the grounds/landscaping were incredible! And the easy monorail and boat access to MK were such a convenience. Those who know me know I put a premium on convenience !

Where else could I go to a Garden Tea with my teenaged princesses in Disney-themed Santa hats and sweatshirts and feel as welcomed as the "Red Hat Society" ladies in their finery? Where else could I marvel over that life-sized gingerbread house... and how the heck did they get all those bird cages to hang from those Christmas tree branches and not look out of place?! And who could have thought that seeing Wishes without sound while sipping a hot chocolate from Gasparilla's could be so awe-inspiring in its panoramic splendor?

These are just a few of my fond memories of that trip. I have a collection of similar moments from our summertime trip to BC and to other places we've traveled. Our vacations have ranged from budget to extravagant but we seem to have the best time when we try to suspend set expectations and look for "the magic", be it at Disney or elsewhere...

 

[D&R love Disney]

I've only stayed at the GF once and somehow we got an upgrade from the AP rate I paid at the WL to a lagoon view in Sago Cay. It was a wonderful stay, the CM's were fantastic and we loved the whole experience. Someday we'll stay RPC.

 

[magical4us4]

Well, to reply about the dust in the GF rooms, I have always stayed there on concierge level. Either the Sugar Loaf or many times in RPC. Yes, there is dust, but it does not ruin my vacation. Sometimes I do let them know about it when it gets too bad and they haven't dusted the furniture at all, because my son has asthma and is allergic to dust. Maybe thats why I notice it so much. It has nothing to do with ruining a vacation, but if your son can't sleep because he is having an attack, that would be bothersome.

All in all, I have stayed here many, many times as I stated, and would not change this hotel for the world. It is a great place and love it. Many beautiful memories were made here with my family, and will continue to do so!!

 

[YCFAN]

I've never stayed at GF but here are some of my favorite things about it anyway: walking through the breathtaking lobby and across the well manicured lawns on my way to one of my favorite restaurants in the whole world Narcoossee's.

 

[Mister Disney]

a forth thing I love about the GF is the "Parasol Parade" in the morning.

 

[GoPatsGoSox]

What a great idea for a thread! Our very first trip to Disney was at the GF and I'll never forget walking, no, BOUNDING over to the check-in desk when we arrived. We were so excited and the lobby was so beautiful--I remember remarking so to the CM at check-in while the kids stared in absolute awe as Mickey and Minnie strode through the front door to the elevator, waving to us and the few others near check-in--seemed they were making their way to a wedding! The CM asked if it was our first time at Disney and we said YES!--she seemed genuinely excited for us and interested in our trip as we chatted about our drive down from CT and how the kids (then 8 and 4) couldn't wait to get over to see the castle. She smiled, no GRINNED and typed away at her computer. We had booked a lagoon view in hopes of being able to see the castle and she looked up and said "I have a GREAT room for you!" She went on about how great the view was and seemed like she couldn't WAIT for us to see it. Well, we got over to Conch Key and opened the door and WOW!--a straight on view of the castle and a great dormer room (we had requested dormer because of some posts I had read here) with a wonderful high ceiling. We were so HAPPY! and DARTED out to the monorail for our first MK visit

The next morning, we had PS at Cinderella's castle (which wasn't easy to get!) for the character breakfast--but we ALL OVERSLEPT as that long drive took its toll as soon as we hit those COMFORTABLE beds! Well, once again, the magic took over, as we took the world's fastest showers, dressed in a flash, and RAN out to the boat dock that was right next to our building. The CM manning the boat saw that we looked to be in a FRENZY as I babbled about how we overslept and our PS at the castle was less than 10 minutes away and by the way, how long till the boat was to leave? He said "right NOW!" and motored us over to the MK all by ourselves. We got through the gates amazingly fast and DH sprinted ahead of us down main street to get to the check-in podium while I hustled the kids as quickly as their legs would carry them. When we met up with him, he and the CM at the desk were GRINNING as she told us NOT to WORRY as Cinderella and Prince Charming were WAITING for us--we were inside in minutes and had a WONDERFUL time at the breakfast.

I had forgotten the kids sweatshirts (it was March and CHILLY) and after breakfast, DH took them around Fantasyland while I ran back to get them. As the the boat was pulling up the same CM called out to me "DID YOU MAKE IT?" When I told him we had and how wonderful it was, all the while thanking him profusely for getting us there so fast, he seemed so PLEASED, smiling and chatting about all the things we should make sure we didn't miss over at MK. That afternoon as we walked through the lobby, the same CM that had checked us in was in the lobby and as I asked another CM for directions to somewhere, she walked over and asked how did we like our room and our VIEW? I told her we LOVED it and thanks so much, while my DS went on about how COOL the castle was and it ACTUALLY CHANGED COLORS at night and he could see it from our room! She smiled and said "I KNOW! and by the way we just made a delivery to your room, so you should go check it out!" I'm an Art Director and we had just finished a huge project at work right before we had left for vacation and it seemed my boss had sent a wonderful basket of goodies to our room--it made a truly wonderful trip even better! Throughout the next four days we were there, we experienced many small sprinkles of pixie dust that all added up to a GREAT vacation!

I'm sorry this post has grown SO long, but once I get started on the GF it's very hard to stop me. I guess the point I'm really trying to make is that from the moment we stepped into the GF we were looking forward to a great experience and we were wide-eyed and RECEPTIVE to the Disney MAGIC. And you know what? We found it alive and well at the GF! Looking back I think that our enthusiasm must have been CONTAGIOUS and it allowed the CMs to join in our excitement and help us have a wonderful stay mostly by CARING about our experience--that's really what I was most impressed with--the way the CMs got involved in our vacation in sometimes intangible ways that are the essence of Disney magic.

I read so many posts about folks who seemed postured for the negative from the time they walk up to the check in desk and then wonder why they have a bad stay, it makes me sad. My DH and I work very hard for our trips and when we take a vacation, we take a VACATION. If we can't afford to do it the way we really want to we wait and save some more until we can. If we want a lagoon view we book it that way. I still remember the guy checking in next to us that trip who was really getting loud with the CM helping him, berating her for not making "this overpriced hotel more worth it" by giving him a complimentary upgrade (and by the way, I'm not sure you can truly appreciate the concept of overpriced until you've stayed at some of the hotels in Boston or NY). My guess--and I'm stretching here--is that he probably stayed similarly miserable for the rest of his vacation because that is the energy he was bent on projecting.

But I digress, the purpose of this post was to say that we LOVE, LOVE LOVE the GF. We have stayed at several Disney resorts since that first trip and all have their own brand of Disney magic. But on our last trip to the Contemporary (wow those rooms are *colorful*), I found myself a few times pining, yes PINING as I looked over at the red rooftops across the lake. We still had a great trip--there's lots to love about the CR, especially for the kids. But my heart will always belong to GF

 

[Mister Disney]

But I digress, the purpose of this post was to say that we LOVE, LOVE LOVE the GF. We have stayed at several Disney resorts since that first trip and all have their own brand of Disney magic. But on our last trip to the Contemporary (wow those rooms are *colorful*), I found myself a few times pining, yes PINING as I looked over at the red rooftops across the lake. We still had a great trip--there's lots to love about the CR, especially for the kids. But my heart will always belong to GF

THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU....for an incredible review!

 

[ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!]

Now THATS a good story. We stayed at GF after our engagement (my surprise to her) and it was amazing! We also requested a dormer room that had a nice view of Space Mountain and with views of GF's gorgeous gardens.

I believe people get upset for the whole 'you get what you pay for' and maybe they have their sights set up real high. Personally, I always walk in with an open mind and no expectations, and usually they are met if not exceeded! I always feel that Disney is there to make you feel happy and comfortable, if you show up in a room and you don't like it for whatever reason, go back to the desk and ask them to switch it up. Whats the worst that can happen? They say no? Which you know is not going to happen!

We've switched rooms once before at the Boardwalk, because our view was not anywhere near the view we had previous (on the same trip, we had to switch rooms because they were installing the fridges). So Meli went down and spoke to a CM and she came back up with keys to about 2 or 3 different rooms, we got to choose which one we wanted!

There's plenty of Magic at Disney! I guess you just have to look for it sometimes.