Just back from the GF - comments and a question

[asta]

We had another wonderful stay at the GF. I just love this resort. The afternoon tea and GF Cafe for dinner were both wonderful. After our dinner at the Cafe my entire family wondered why we hadn't eaten more meals there instead of traveling to other restaurants around Disney. This place must still be a secret because hardly anyone was there. The menu is small but everything we had was good and the people working there are friendly and excellent.

I was disappointed with a couple of things. The only light in our interior bathroom started turning off and on in the middle of the second night (a heat sensor malfunction). When I called the front desk the next morning and explained the problem, the lady who answered the phone asked me if I needed a light to use the bathroom. As if for the price you pay for GF, you would be willing to shower or go to bathroom in the dark. When I returned later that day, the light was still not fixed. Before an electrician arrived to fix the light I had, in the following order, personally gone to a maintenance worker and brought him in to look at the light, went to the front desk in person and spoke to a manager, and finally had my husband call the front desk and demand that they fix the light. I expected better from the GF.

My question concerns what is considered a lagoon view. We had paid for a lagoon view and requested a castle view. They tried to put us in the side of Sago Key facing the monorail. Is this really considered a lagoon view? I know that I am spoiled but we have always before been in the short end of Big Pine Key. I think this view is wonderful, going from the castle all the way around to the Polynesian. After much conversation with the person checking us in about our displeasure with the Sago Key room, a lady who appeared to be a trainee actually asked the person training her why they just didn't put us in one of the rooms in Big Pine Key that was open. The lady in charge appeared flustered but almost had no choice but to put us where we had asked to be in the first place. We worried that the trainee was going to get in trouble, but we did get the view we requested.

 

[MermaidsMom]

No flames please-Just my experience/Please note that I have NOT asked for an upgrade of any sort-only the room type we paid for, we love Disney and will go there probably forever and stay on site. RANT to follow:

I will ******NEVER******understand why the front desk won't put people in the best room available at the time of checkin. SOOOO many times we have checked in- sweet as pie, smiling, kind, considerate,polite, clean, combed and dressed nicely, and have been given what must be the worst room available that day. Many times we go BACK to the desk and get another room. One time a room smelled so bad from the previous guests smoking/cooking that I said that I would need to sleep in the hall if they didn't move us (said they were full and couldn't move us)! And guess what! They SUDDENLY had a perfect room immediately above the room we were in!! Why not just give us that one first-or at least as soon as there was a problem? This is not just at Disney either. Wouldn't life be easier for everyone if they simply gave you the requested room 1st-IF IT'S AVAILABLE? In your case it was obviously available!! I'll bet the newbie at the desk got a lecture after you left. If the room is there, give it to us! During our first few years there I never asked for a different room, and looking back I really feel like we stayed in a few stinkers (and paid full price!)!

Edited for spelling

 

[tlev]

I agree, there doesn't seem to be any rhyme or reason to how people are assigned rooms. Maybe they try to keep some rooms available so people checking in later in the day still have a chance to exchange their room if they are not happy. I notice that alot of people on these boards have been saying they want to check in early to their resorts so they "can get their requests". The person that has no choice but to check in later in the day would be left without their request.

A little off the original topic of this post, sorry.

 

[PRaffen]

I will ******NEVER******understand why the front desk won't put people in the best room available at the time of checkin. SOOOO many times we have checked in- sweet as pie, smiling, kind, considerate,polite, clean, combed and dressed nicely, and have been given what must be the worst room available that day.

I so totally agree! My thoughts exactly! What is the problem with giving us the room we have requested, paid for, and is available??? I will never understand either.

 

[TammiMcMan]

Isn't the Garden Cafe wonderful? We eat here more than any other restaurant when we're at the GF. Did you happen to see Izzy there by any chance? My family just loves him.

When I read what the front desk CM asked you about the light, my first thought was that she was inquiring if you needed immediate assistance with the light so you could take a shower right then. Based on how you had to follow up though, someone definitely dropped the ball.

Looking at my resort map, I could see where that end of SagoCay would be considered lagoon view. Did you go into the room at all, could you see the castle? If the other CM was a trainee, she would have had a special name tag on stating that she was earning her ears. They also have floating managers there, so perhaps that's who came over. Being more experienced, she may have seen something on the screen that the other CM was not aware of. If the view is available and not assigned to someone else, there should be no reason why they can't put you in there, but as always, a request is simply just a request.

 

[BCV23]

I hate to read that the Grand Floridian Cafe wasn't busy at dinner. It is a spot we dine at almost every trip at lunch but have occasionally had dinner at over the years. I sure hope it doesn't shut down for dinner again.

Very odd about the light!

I'm glad that overall you had another wonderful stay there.

 

[asta]

I'm glad that you agree about the GF Cafe. I didn't get the name of our waiter but he was the best. He gave us just the right amount of attention. He was a tall gentleman and had a very charming personality. Does this sound like Izzy? We need to spread the word about this restaurant in order to make sure they continue to serve dinner.

As far as the room question, the first location they were going to put us in was on the long side of Sago Cay that faced the monorail. I know the rooms on the short end of that building have a MK view but I don't think the rooms on the long side have much of a view. I question whether they should even be priced the same as the laqoon view rooms.

We did enjoy the GF. It was a nice sanctuary from all the crowds and heat in the parks.