Just Back From GF!!!

[goathogan]

My wife and I are just back today from our first stay at the Grand Floridian. We stayed 7 nights (Visa 7/4) in a lagoon view room. We had only ever stayed at the Poly before this so I was both excited and aprehensive about trying a new resort. Things turned out great!

I would be happy to answer any questions!

 

[Janet2k]

Goathogan, welcome home! I, too, recently returned from a lagoon view room at the GF. The GF is a wonderful resort and it sounds like you're now under its spell (that's a good thing -- my husband has been under it for years).

Do you have any photos to share? Also, what building were you in (I was in Conch Key)?

 

[goathogan]

We were also in Conch Key! We were on the ground floor right next to the Everglade Suites. Excellent view of the castle except for a small tree to the right. The tree was only a minor obstacle though as we just moved our table and chairs to the far left corner of the patio.

We loved our room so much more than the rooms at the Poly... but...I don't think that we will stay there on our next trip. We like the atmosphere more at the Poly. We would also like to try the Beach Club sometime if I can only give up being so close to the MK and the Monorail!

 

[Janet2k]

That is too funny! If you had the corner room that borders the marina area, then you have the room that I will request on a future GF stay (I just returned from a stay in that same location but on the 4th floor -- I did not request it, that just so happened to be where they placed me).

I have now stayed in that exact same location on the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th floors of Conch Key. I need the 1st floor location in order to complete my mission -- that entire section of the building. (I should note that on the 2nd & 3rd floors, I was staying in the two-bedroom suites that occupy that location.)

Was there a connecting door in your room that allowed your room to be booked in addition to the Everglade Suite? Or was your room completely separate from the suite?

I will try to post photos of my room next week. When I do, my new GF room photo album will be found somewhere inside my main Yahoo photo album -- click here.

 

[goathogan]

We were on the other side of the building near the boat launch. There was a connecting door on the right to another room (Which would be the last room next to Narcoosees).

I don't know if it was because of the connecting door but we could hear everything going on in the room next door. I know that a lot of people complain about some of the value and moderate's "paper thin walls" but I didn't think it was much better at the GF.

 

[Janet2k]

Goathogan, thank you for the info. Your room was near the water taxi dock. My room was on the exact opposite side (bordering the marina). Drats! I was really hoping you had the room that I want to request for one of my future GF stays. Nonetheless, if you have photos to share, I would still love to see them, especially your view.

 

[Daryl]

Hi goathogan! I'm headed back in a few days and I'm trying to get the room you were in! Stayed in that room once before and loved it! You are absolutly right very thin walls

 

[johnsonet]

Welcome home! Always nice to hear from someone just back from one of "my" resorts I'm headed to GF in about 5 weeks!
I'm so surprised to hear about the "thin" walls at GF. In 6 stays there I've NEVER noticed or had any problems...guess we've never been next to occupied rooms - or just quiet guests...
Did you find the resort to be in good shape? How did you like the lobby's new look (even though it was your first visit...)
Did you dine in any/many of the GF's restaurants? What about poolside? Was there coffee in the Conch Key lobby in the a.m.?
What was your favorite thing about GF?
Least favorite?
Thanks for any comments

 

[goathogan]

I thought that the Grand Floridian was in excellent shape...very beautiful! I am not sure how the lobby looked before, sorry!

We did not dine in any of the restaurants at the GF (except Gaspirilla's but that doesn't count!). We had a PS for The GF Cafe for a breakfast one morning but slept through it because we did an E-Night the night before. We sat down at The GF Cafe for dinner that night to make up for the breakfast but left as my wife couldn't find anything on their small dinner menu to eat. There were several things that I was willing to try but must admit that nothing jumped out at me. One should note that my wife and I are not "fancy" eaters and she doesn't like Seafood at all so Narcoosees and Citricos were out of the question. (We did have nice meals at Concourse Steakhouse and Ohana's!)

My wife and I do not have kids so we were rarly to bed before 2 and did not wake up until 9 or 10 so I can not say that the coffee was always there in the lobby. The one day that we did wake up early there was coffee. On our departure day I was up at 8:05 and went to get coffee and the table was not set up!? I thought that I read that coffee was supposed to be there everyday though.

Our favorite thing about the resort was our room...the nine foot ceilings with crown molding..the "Alice" decor...and definitly the view (which I would love to share but not quite sure where to post it). We felt like we were (almost!) getting what we paid for. We normally stay at the Poly and feel that the rooms are not nearly as nice for the money.

Our least favorite thing about the resort is that it wasn't as "comfortable" as the Poly. For us staying at the Poly is like putting on a comfy t-shirt and the GF is like putting on a shirt and tie. As a professional I am not a stranger to a tie...I just like the t-shirt more....especially on a hot sweaty Disney vacation!
We will definitly stay there in the future though as I have said the rooms and the overall resort is unbelievably beautiful.

( I would love to post a picture of our room and view...I have a good one...but I am not allowed to post attachments...how do I change this?)

 

[sharonk]

We just got back from the GF too....stayed in a lagoon view in Big Pine Key.

We are early risers, and I believe the free coffee in the lobbies runs from 6:30 - 8:00, so you probably just missed it!

Sharon