One of the Most INSANE WDW Rumors I've Heard, GF to be gutted

[andyman8]

WDWNT is reporting that P&R Chair Bob Chapek is moving forward with plans to gut (completely demolish) the Grand Floridian Resort & Spa and rebuild a "modern" luxury hotel.

Not only does the cost of this sound astronomical, the GF is one of their most popular and iconic hotels. I'm a huge fan and would not be happy about this. I know it does struggle with occupancy at times, but that is often attributed to the price point (which is often higher than the rates being charged at the nearby Four Seasons). Long story short, I think this won't happen.

Here's the story.

http://wdwnt.com/blog/2017/01/rumor...an-resort-gutted-become-modern-luxury-resort/

Thoughts?

 

[Missyrose]

Sounds, to me at least, like a leak designed to force Iger to push Chapek out sooner rather than later. No way this is grounded in reality.

 

[rteetz]

Sounds, to me at least, like a leak designed to force Iger to push Chapek out sooner rather than later. No way this is grounded in reality.

Disney has done plenty of crazy things but since this is coming from WDWNT I am not believing it yet.

 

[cvaska]

No way they would do that, building a new hotel would cost less then gutting and remodelling the Grand Floridian. Also, GF is the most beautiful hotel in the resort, I can't believe they would do that.

 

[atkinstogram]

It would be cheaper to build a new ultra-luxe hotel and run the two alongside each other. Personally I think the GF is a beautiful building, but I'd not stay there. It's a bit stuffy for my tastes, I'm more of a Four Seasons / Kimpton type.

However, why would any business contemplate alienating the people who love the traditional, OR the people who love the modern, when they could cater to both...?

 

[Spridell]

Can you imagine the outcry and petitions etc....

This wont happen....

The cost would be mind boggling. Cheaper to build new.

The GF is an institution at Disney World with a huge following. This would completely change the World (and in a bad way)

I could def see some renovations happening, but a complete gut job wont happen.

 

[rteetz]

If I'm not mistaken the Contemporary is supposed to be considered the modern hotel. Why not just upgrade that hotel and make it more of a modern luxury hotel? That way you still have GF and a modern luxury hotel.

 

[1lilspark]

Didn't they just do some major renovations at GF within the past few years

 

[cwis]

If I'm not mistaken the Contemporary is supposed to be considered the modern hotel. Why not just upgrade that hotel and make it more of a modern luxury hotel? That way you still have GF and a modern luxury hotel.

That. Would be the best option.

The CR was designed from the ground up to be highly refurbishable (rooms were supposed to slide out of the structure, although that didn't work as expected). I would love this resort to become luxury.

Bonus point: it already has a wonderful location.

 

[com_op_2000]

How would a modern hotel go with the DVC right next door?
The DVC GFV is designed to be there for 50 years minimum. GFV and a modern resort would not be compatible with each other.

 

[Skywise]

I could see a rework of the GF (ala what they did with the Polynesian) redo the lobby, etc;

But nuke and pave it?!

No. You'd have to take out the DVC AND The Wedding Pavilion and there's no way Disney is dropping that. (Unless the plan is to expand the Polynesian then I'm all for it. )

And you no toucha the Contemporary!

 

[jpeden]

From our friends at WDWNT:

http://wdwnt.com/blog/2017/01/rumor...an-resort-gutted-become-modern-luxury-resort/

Also mentions that people are trying to talk Chapek off the ledge but he's not budging. Also mentions the possibility of a new flagship instead of this project.

Let the debate begin!

 

[Rigby]

I'm not buying it

http://wdwnt.com/blog/2017/01/rumor...an-resort-gutted-become-modern-luxury-resort/

 

[rteetz]

From our friends at WDWNT:

http://wdwnt.com/blog/2017/01/rumor...an-resort-gutted-become-modern-luxury-resort/

Also mentions that people are trying to talk Chapek off the ledge but he's not budging. Also mentions the possibility of a new flagship instead of this project.

Let the debate begin!

I'm not buying it

http://wdwnt.com/blog/2017/01/rumor...an-resort-gutted-become-modern-luxury-resort/

We had a thread already well underway. I have merged both of your threads with this one. Please look to see if a thread has been started on the subject, thank you.

 

[wilkeliza]

I think WDWNT is throwing spaghetti at the wall to see what sticks. There is no way they are tearing down the GF to rebuild. For one the villas that are DVC owned. They can't tear those down and since they can't tear those down anything else they would do would have to at least fit with that. If anything I could see a renovation of the main building but to tear down and rebuild makes 0 sense at all.

 

[rteetz]

I think WDWNT is throwing spaghetti at the wall to see what sticks. There is no way they are tearing down the GF to rebuild. For one the villas that are DVC owned. They can't tear those down and since they can't tear those down anything else they would do would have to at least fit with that. If anything I could see a renovation of the main building but to tear down and rebuild makes 0 sense at all.

No I don't think it would be a tear down, just a remodel/reimagining much like what has happened to restaurants at Disney Springs.

Obviously I agree with you that it ain't gonna happen.

 

[wilkeliza]

No I don't think it would be a tear down, just a remodel/reimagining much like what has happened to restaurants at Disney Springs.

Obviously I agree with you that it ain't gonna happen.

Why not go with the original plan which was to do ala Disneyland hotel and make some super Luxury cost rooms at Contemporary but instead of Disney themed they would be super modern, high on amenities, and super expensive?

If they change the Grand Floridian my future children will have no hope of getting grandma and grandpa to Disney.

 

[DLgal]

"Gutted" does not = "Demolished."

They are "gutting" the Grand Californian Hotel at Disneyland over the next couple of years. Everything but the building structure will be removed and redone. Rooms, hallways, lobby, etc. I think this is what Chapek has in mind.

I stayed at the GF for the first time last year and it most certainly is NOT a "luxury" resort in any way. The rooms are old and run down (plumbing, HVAC systems, etc). They need to completely overhaul this resort if they want to keep calling it a flagship. We had numerous problems with our room that never really got fixed satisfactorily due to just OLD equipment being in use. We had A/C and plumbing issues the whole time. This should not happen at a resort billed as a flagship. It's a nice hotel, but it does need to step it up quite a bit to compete with Four Seasons.

 

[rteetz]

"Gutted" does not = "Demolished."

They are "gutting" the Grand Californian Hotel at Disneyland over the next couple of years. Everything but the building structure will be removed and redone. Rooms, hallways, lobby, etc. I think this is what Chapek has in mind.

I stayed at the GF for the first time last year and it most certainly is NOT a "luxury" resort in any way. The rooms are old and run down (plumbing, HVAC systems, etc). They need to completely overhaul this resort if they want to keep calling it a flagship. We had numerous problems with our room that never really got fixed satisfactorily due to just OLD equipment being in use. We had A/C and plumbing issues the whole time. This should not happen at a resort billed as a flagship. It's a nice hotel, but it does need to step it up quite a bit to compete with Four Seasons.

They aren't gutting the Grand Californian. They are remodeling the rooms which happens at all major hotels every 7 ish years. The beach club just had it done for example. The GF also just had a room refurb within the last couple years.

 

[rteetz]

Why not go with the original plan which was to do ala Disneyland hotel and make some super Luxury cost rooms at Grand Floridian but instead of Disney they would be super modern, high on amenities, and super expensive?

If they change the Grand Floridian my future children will have no hope of getting grandma and grandpa to Disney.

Which is why I don't understand why they wouldn't upgrade the Contemporary instead.