Is it worth staying at Grand Floridian?

[MomOTwins]

I've never regretted upgrading hotels. I love the pools and grounds at GF, the rooms are nice with excellent views, and the monorail is nice for not just MK but also dining at other hotels on the loop. We stayed there last October and even with the closures, it was awesome and I never wanted to leave. At a lot of meals on site too -- enjoyed breakfast so much at GF cafe we ate there twice, had a good meal at Narcoosees, and the truffle fries at Enchanted Rose are to die for (and I love the Beauty and the Beast theme).

There is lots I won't spend extra money on. We did club level a couple of times at GF and Poly and found it very overrated--lounge was always a zoo with a messy, picked over buffet, and it was inconvenient having to time being at the hotel at lounge food times. I won't pay extra for fireworks "parties"--the view is just as good or better from the free areas, and the desserts aren't very good anyway. But a hotel? That's a splurge that is always "worth it" to me since it is such a big part of our vacation. With a babymoon, you'll be especially wanting to spend time relaxing at the hotel since rides and long lines at theme parks might not be comfortable (or in some cases, not permitted).

 

[Cheburashka]

Hi everyone! We are leaving tomorrow for Disney for a little babymoon trip. We have been to Disney many many times, but this will be our first time staying at Grand Floridian. I could never justify the price, since we are always out and about and rarely at the resort, however we thought it would be nice to stay. We have a lagoon view booked. Now out of nowhere I am second guessing myself since the Epcot monorail still isn't running, tea room is closed, spas are closed and my husbands favorite about the GF is the band, that is no longer playing. The monorail is great for MK, but there aren't any fireworks still or parades so we likely won't be going at night just that morning. It would cost about half less to switch to Coronado tower, or PopCentury would be about $700 less. I know many don't like PopCentury but I like the convenience of the skyliner. I would switch to Riviera for the skyliner however there is no availability that's why I mentioned the two above resorts as there isn't much available. My question is, for those that have stayed is it worth splurging and staying at the GF right now? Thank you!!

Even though the band isn't playing, the pianist was playing daily when I stayed there a few months ago. That was very nice.

"Worth it" is different for each individual, based on personal finances and travel preferences. For me, yes, it is currently worth it to stay at a deluxe resort over a value or moderate. We've done the parks a lot already, so resort time is every bit as important to us as parks- maybe more. Because my daily life is hectic and stressful, when I'm on vacation, I want to be very comfortable and catered to, and be in a beautiful environment. The tea room & the spa have never been part of GF's appeal for me. What is appealing is the beauty and elegance of the resort, monorail access (plus now walking access) to MK, the good pool, and the views of MK, Bay Lake, and the other monorail resorts. It's a special experience to stay there and I always enjoy it a lot. The food is good there, too (and they offer room service, which most resorts currently don't). Even just walking over to pick up a take out burger from Gasparilla's has you walking in front of Bay Lake, with a straight-on view of the castle. It's a special place.

 

[DizneyFamof4]

GF is our favorite Deluxe, but we will be in the minority here. We have 40+ trips at all 3 levels and spend a decent amount of time at whatever resort we stay at, and for us, we cannot find the worth in paying deluxe prices to stay there any more. Now if we are going to do a special trip we may stay at a deluxe, or if a family are only going once every 3-5 years and is not planning on spending most of the time at the parks, then it may be worth it. In all our trips, we found location to be over hyped and indoor hallways or balconies are also not a big deal for us. We have had great trips from value on up to deluxe. If you have the $$ to spend on a deluxe and really want to stay there then do it, you will have a great trip.

 

[Katie1174]

I know you are probably at WDW already but we love the GF!! We have stayed at some of the other Deluxe resorts but mainly the GF. On our last trip in May, we decided we will never stay at any hotel except the GF. We disliked the Contemporary Garden Wing(originally had the Tower booked but were moved because of the renovation)we do like the Polynesian and visit a lot, but we find it way busier than the GF. My hubby hates the smaller rooms and balconies at WL, AK, BW etc. The GF has some nice food options, looking at you Enchanted Rose! Gasparillas has nice options, the GF cafe is good. Unlike some others experiences, we have always found the CM’s to be kind and friendly, from the front desk, bell services, restaurant staff, gift shops, grounds crew, maids.....all of them. The monorail and the walkway and boats are great and the bus isn't bad either. There is always a nice relaxing vibe there for us and it feels like “home”

 

[DVCjj]

Yes. Definitely yes. Didn't think I would love it at all. Boy, was I wrong and I only stayed one night in a studio with my adult daughter. She loved it also. Makes you feel special.
Plus the room was much quieter than both times I've stayed at Riviera. Dh says no more Riviera. Hallways by our room seemed to reverberate.

 

[DisLiss]

I think with any resort, you need to look at the amenities and ask yourself which of them are valuable to you personally, and then how much do you think they are worth. A resort can offer 110 things, but if you're only going to enjoy 3 of them, then you need those 3 things alone to be worth the price, not 110 things, kwim?

 

[Eastern]

We put off staying there for the longest time, but GF RPC was one of our top stays. Everyone was super nice, from the CM checking us in, the housekeeper, the CMs in the lounge, to the CMs in the shops. Every single one pleasant and helpful. Often you can get a reasonable price if you stay in the outer buildings (although there may be a new 'reasonable' post covid). I say this because so many people seem discouraged about staying there because it is 'fancy'. It's as Disneyish as any other resort in terms of how you are treated.

 

[ucf_knight]

Hi everyone! We are leaving tomorrow for Disney for a little babymoon trip. We have been to Disney many many times, but this will be our first time staying at Grand Floridian. I could never justify the price, since we are always out and about and rarely at the resort, however we thought it would be nice to stay. We have a lagoon view booked. Now out of nowhere I am second guessing myself since the Epcot monorail still isn't running, tea room is closed, spas are closed and my husbands favorite about the GF is the band, that is no longer playing. The monorail is great for MK, but there aren't any fireworks still or parades so we likely won't be going at night just that morning. It would cost about half less to switch to Coronado tower, or PopCentury would be about $700 less. I know many don't like PopCentury but I like the convenience of the skyliner. I would switch to Riviera for the skyliner however there is no availability that's why I mentioned the two above resorts as there isn't much available. My question is, for those that have stayed is it worth splurging and staying at the GF right now? Thank you!!

If you’ve never stayed there before it’s worth it. I just don’t feel it’s something I’d make my go to resort because ultimately it’s not worth it when compared to other properties.

 

[GPC0321]

I've never paid Disney rates, just rented DVC points twice for VGF and it was marvelous. The only other deluxes I've stayed in are BWV and AKV (heading there Monday again as a matter of fact). They all have their pros and cons, but I will say that even as much as I enjoy BWV and AKV, there is a slight noticeable difference in the atmosphere and amenities at the Grand. I love the restaurants (including Gasparilla's and the pool bars). I love the pools themselves. The courtyard pool is so relaxing (we literally just laid around in the shallow zero-entry end with the fountain things pouring over us, lol). I love the gorgeous main lobby with its shops. I love the smaller DVC lobby with the adorable Mary Poppins Penguins fountain. I love how peaceful it is in general. I love being able to sit at a table outside in front of Gasparilla's eating breakfast with a view of the castle across the lagoon.

It's beautiful. And if you're going to spend time at a resort, it's a great one. Plus you can walk next door to the Poly or even walk to MK now.

Renting DVC points is the only way I can afford Disney's deluxe resorts and the Grand is still the most expensive (though a heck of a lot cheaper than booking a regular room through Disney!!), but it deserves its designation as Disney's flagship resort, IMO. I'm enjoying exploring other resorts on various stays, but the Grand definitely feels the most familiar and "like home" to me of the ones I've been to so far.

Sorry for the ramble! We fly down tomorrow and arrive at WDW on Monday, so I'm kind of excited!

 

[chasgeese]

As others have said “worth it” is kind of a loaded question for WDW resorts, since, at least from the hotel side, even the Deluxes aren’t really true luxury resorts. That said, my big issue with the GF is how dowdy the rooms are (they looked dated the moment they opened after the most recent renovation in 2013, I think) and also how they are starting to show a little wear and tear. I would rather stay at the YC, CR, or the Poly (when it opens) at that price point.

That said (and this is all mostly moot anyways since you already are there), the GF is still nice and it has been one of the easiest resorts to get a discount at this year. Just typically, I think you get more for your money (especially if paying rack rate, which is highest at GF, or can get the same discount elsewhere) at the YC, CR, or Poly than you do at GF.

 

[Jaybrad]

No the GF is not worth the expense of staying there. The resort is "elegant" but in my opinion it is way over hyped. Nearly all of the rooms are not in the main building. You can have a very long walk to the restaurants and shops. Getting to any of the parks besides MK can take forever. We have stayed at all of the deluxe resorts over the years and the resorts on Crescent Lake (Yacht Club, Beach Club and Boardwalk) and the Wilderness far exceed the value and experience of The Grand Floridian.

 

[a1tinkfans]

Been there, done that. Nope not worth it for us.

 

[madduck]

Switch

 

[bakerworld]

We only stayed at the GF once. When checking in the CM's were abrupt and asked us to stand to the side. We came to find out later we'd been upgraded to concierge. The Concierge people were very nice but the first impression remained prominent. For some reason, everything seemed to get very quiet after 7p. We thought maybe it was us but the families at the pool could be heard talking about it. The place was like being in a church or at a funeral where you shouldn't laugh. Minzers (now the Rose Garden?) was always closed. We stopped in at the QS and were redressed for coming at closing. We enjoyed Narcosses - loved the sunken bar - but were given a view of the water's edge. When we attended the evening Concierge offering the place was packed so we only did that once. They did have a fridge containing water and sodas throughout the day, which was nice. Upon check out they had a parking and fridge usage charge. I assume the fridge charge was for the sodas but the parking I called about as we arrived by ME.

It seemed for every positive there was a negative so, while we'll occasionally walk thru the lobby or stop in at Narcosses at the bar, we've no urge to stay.

 

[Blondie58]

Hi everyone! We are leaving tomorrow for Disney for a little babymoon trip. We have been to Disney many many times, but this will be our first time staying at Grand Floridian. I could never justify the price, since we are always out and about and rarely at the resort, however we thought it would be nice to stay. We have a lagoon view booked. Now out of nowhere I am second guessing myself since the Epcot monorail still isn't running, tea room is closed, spas are closed and my husbands favorite about the GF is the band, that is no longer playing. The monorail is great for MK, but there aren't any fireworks still or parades so we likely won't be going at night just that morning. It would cost about half less to switch to Coronado tower, or PopCentury would be about $700 less. I know many don't like PopCentury but I like the convenience of the skyliner. I would switch to Riviera for the skyliner however there is no availability that's why I mentioned the two above resorts as there isn't much available. My question is, for those that have stayed is it worth splurging and staying at the GF right now? Thank you!!

We alwasy stay at GF or CR. We own GF villas too. We love staying on the monorail. However, with so many things not in order right now you may be disappointed at GF. In May of 2019 I traveled alone to WDW for the Garden Show. I stayed a week at Pop. I really liked it and this was pre-gondolas. Each morning I walked around Hourglass Lake. My room overlooked one of the pools. It is not the luxury of concierge GF or CR but for sure I would stay again at Pop to save $$$ when traveling alone and not needing all the food and drink. As I was alone I spent so little time in the room anyway. My room was spotless. I stayed for a week what two nights would cost at the other two resorts.

 

[WMK005]

Hi everyone! We are leaving tomorrow for Disney for a little babymoon trip. We have been to Disney many many times, but this will be our first time staying at Grand Floridian. I could never justify the price, since we are always out and about and rarely at the resort, however we thought it would be nice to stay. We have a lagoon view booked. Now out of nowhere I am second guessing myself since the Epcot monorail still isn't running, tea room is closed, spas are closed and my husbands favorite about the GF is the band, that is no longer playing. The monorail is great for MK, but there aren't any fireworks still or parades so we likely won't be going at night just that morning. It would cost about half less to switch to Coronado tower, or PopCentury would be about $700 less. I know many don't like PopCentury but I like the convenience of the skyliner. I would switch to Riviera for the skyliner however there is no availability that's why I mentioned the two above resorts as there isn't much available. My question is, for those that have stayed is it worth splurging and staying at the GF right now? Thank you!!

We loved the GF pre covid. We also love The Swan! Queen or king bed, easy walk or boat ride to EPCOT! Also a quick boat ride to HS. We will be there Friday night with a balcony room facing the Boardwalk per our request. We love staying there= convenience, great pool, better coffee!, cheaper the Yacht, Beach, and Boardwalk. You can call directly. If not AP, there are other discounts to ask for! Hope you have a grand time!

 

[mkb3]

I'm in the same situation. We want to go in December and the available hotels for our dates is GF or Coronado Tower. The Tower seems appealing for price and short walking to food and transportation, but the GF is close to MK where we spend most of our time. I just keep telling myself I can use Lyft vs busses with the price difference and still come out ahead.

 

[alison228]

Thanks everyone! We ended up staying at the Coronado Tower. The rooms were spacious and very nicely done. They're a short walk to the main pool and the buses. There's a coffee bar in the main lobby which is nice. We didn't dine there but there are several restaurants. We ventured over to GF we love enchanted rose. I didn't regret my choice to stay at the tower instead, we actually really liked it and it was almost half the price. All in all I guess it depends what you want to do on your trip. We park hopped to all 4 parks on Saturday and we barely were in our room. That's why I can't justify the price. If you're someone that spends a lot of time at the resort then definitely consider a deluxe! We've gone 3 times to Disney in the last 6 months and stayed at Poly, Pop and CS. All 3 resorts the bus situation hasn't been a great experience sadly. We went over to Wilderness Lodge and explored there and I think that will be our next stay to try out either bolder ridge or copper creek. We really loved the vibe!

 

[mkb3]

Glad to hear you do not regret your choice. I think I'm going to follow your lead and book the tower of GF as well.

 

[mrs moon]

We stayed at the Grand Floridian last year for 8 nights .like you we were really excited to experience it!
What i would say is if you have loads of money (unlike me) its a lovely resort ,we really loved it!, however we wanted to be treated "special" but staying there gave you no extra "special" treatment ,no more than "Pop!. ,We had a great time but there but have had a great time at all the resorts we have stayed at.so i would say no its not worth spending all that extra hard earned cash ,its not Grand enough!,,