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

[wilkeliza]

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

I totally meant Contemporary. There was a heavy rumor years ago that they were doing that at the Contemporary but didn't. This would make so much more sense at the Contemporary.

(edited previously to switch it to Contemporary. I'm clearly not on board with this haha).

 

[Missyrose]

I never thought I'd be interested in DVC at Grand Floridian, simply because I hated the resort room decor. I loved the lobby, the grounds and the dining at the resort. But the frilly rooms were just not my cup of tea.

Then they released the first sketches of the villas and they were planning my dream resort - keeping the Victorian theme and details, but done in a much more sleek and modern way. I bought in as soon as points were offered.

The last round of resort room refurbs brought some of the same elements of the villas' design to the regular resort rooms. I think they could very much go more in that direction with another round of refurbs. But tearing down the buildings and rebuilding doesn't seem logical, prudent or cost-effective for Disney.

 

[DLgal]

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.

The work being done at GCH is far more extensive than the typical room refurbs. They are ripping out literally everything, down to bare concrete floors and replacing it ALL.

 

[rteetz]

The work being done at GCH is far more extensive than the typical room refurbs. They are ripping out literally everything, down to bare concrete floors and replacing it ALL.

Which happens every 7-10 years at every resort. They rip out everything in the rooms and hallways. This really isn't anything new. It's extensive but nothing new.

 

[jpeden]

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.

I apologize - the title of this thread did not reflect that it was about the gutting of the GF. That's why I started a new thread.

 

[rteetz]

I apologize - the title of this thread did not reflect that it was about the gutting of the GF. That's why I started a new thread.

Which is why I have since edited the title. it's all good!

 

[Spridell]

Ok lets look at this logically.......

- There is no way they will shut the entire resort down and gut it all at once. The loss of money would be astronomical. So that is out.

- I can not see them ripping marble floors out, concrete, anything major structural, or changing the outside appearance of the hotel etc.....

- I CAN see them going building by building and doing some major remodels. New Paint in all the rooms. New Furniture in all the rooms. New Bathroom fixtures.
Most all rooms are rugs so wont be hard to do new rugs or rip up the rug and add wood floors. AC units are all on the roof so not hard to put in new AC units.

For the people who have been to the GF during the Holiday times you have all seen the crowds and how they all come to see the GF decorated because I think it is by far the nicest decorated for the Holidays. I am sure Disney knows this hotel draws major crowds.


So for entire gut job down to the studs, I dont see it happening.

Building by building renos I can see.

 

[rteetz]

Ok lets look at this logically.......

- There is no way they will shut the entire resort down and gut it all at once. The loss of money would be astronomical. So that is out.

- I can not see them ripping marble floors out, concrete, anything major structural, or changing the outside appearance of the hotel etc.....

- I CAN see them going building by building and doing some major remodels. New Paint in all the rooms. New Furniture in all the rooms. New Bathroom fixtures.
Most all rooms are rugs so wont be hard to do new rugs or rip up the rug and add wood floors. AC units are all on the roof so not hard to put in new AC units.

For the people who have been to the GF during the Holiday times you have all seen the crowds and how they all come to see the GF decorated because I think it is by far the nicest decorated for the Holidays. I am sure Disney knows this hotel draws major crowds.


So for entire gut job down to the studs, I dont see it happening.

Building by building renos I can see.

The rooms just saw a remodel not too long ago as well. Then you have the DVC aspect where people bought in because they liked that resort. Change it and you could have a lot of unhappy DVC members and potentially a lot of DVC contracts in the resale market.

 

[Spridell]

The rooms just saw a remodel not too long ago as well. Then you have the DVC aspect where people bought in because they liked that resort. Change it and you could have a lot of unhappy DVC members and potentially a lot of DVC contracts in the resale market.

Does anyone have a DVC contract? I wonder if there is anything in there about remodeling or getting out of your contract for these reasons.

 

[jpeden]

Which is why I have since edited the title. it's all good!

This is why you're here - to keep us straight. I just want to say you do a great job of moderating these boards @rteetz

Ok lets look at this logically.......

- There is no way they will shut the entire resort down and gut it all at once. The loss of money would be astronomical. So that is out.

- I can not see them ripping marble floors out, concrete, anything major structural, or changing the outside appearance of the hotel etc.....

- I CAN see them going building by building and doing some major remodels. New Paint in all the rooms. New Furniture in all the rooms. New Bathroom fixtures.
Most all rooms are rugs so wont be hard to do new rugs or rip up the rug and add wood floors. AC units are all on the roof so not hard to put in new AC units.

For the people who have been to the GF during the Holiday times you have all seen the crowds and how they all come to see the GF decorated because I think it is by far the nicest decorated for the Holidays. I am sure Disney knows this hotel draws major crowds.


So for entire gut job down to the studs, I dont see it happening.

Building by building renos I can see.

But what's the occupancy of one building? It's got to be at least 1/5 of the resort per building (since there aren't that many rooms in the main building). Even shuttering resort capacity by 20% is a huge loss of revenue. On top of that, when the time comes to gut the main building, they'd have to make some sort of makeshift check-in area or completely shut the resort down (unless I'm missing something here). I honestly think we're more likely to see a new flagship built in the vein of the Four Seasons than to see a gut job of this caliber on the GF.

That being said, I don't see them building a new flagship on the level of the Four Seasons. They'd almost have to connect it to the monorail line (which in itself would be an outrageous expense) to justify the price they'd expect for it and I just don't see that happening.

 

[rteetz]

Does anyone have a DVC contract? I wonder if there is anything in there about remodeling or getting out of your contract for these reasons.

Disney remodels rooms all of the time. They just did the Beach Club. The only way you could get out of a contract for a remodel is to sell it on the resale market.

 

[Spridell]

There is that piece of land just North of the TTC that is prime land and it would be able to connect to the monorail. That piece of property from day one was suppose to be an ultra lux resort.

Last I heard Disney checks it all the time to see if it's viable to build on.

Anyone have an info on that land?

That piece of property was suppose to be a Venetian Hotel and then a Mediterranean Hotel.

 

[rteetz]

There is that piece of land just North of the TTC that is prime land and it would be able to connect to the monorail. That piece of property from day one was suppose to be an ultra lux resort.

Last I heard Disney checks it all the time to see if it's viable to build on.

Anyone have an info on that land?

It's suitable to build on. There have been rumors for years that they will build there. I think Disney hasn't been able to justify it yet.

 

[Whatsthegoodword]

Well, it NEEDS to be gutted. It's not a luxury hotel, though they say it is and they charge like it is.

 

[mom2rtk]

Well, it NEEDS to be gutted. It's not a luxury hotel, though they say it is and they charge like it is.

Can you imagine what they would charge after a thorough gutting and rebuild?

 

[Keels]

The Grand Floridian will always have a soft spot in my heart - and while I agree that the grounds and the exterior of the building are beautiful as-is, the interior and rooms themselves definitely need some reworking. The only thing that screams "luxury" about those rooms is the price. The decor and linens are incredibly dated. And as for the spa - I won't drop a dime there when I can go to the Ritz or the Four Seasons for a extremely more modern spa experience for the exact (or less) amount than the Grand Floridian spa.

The decor throughout is incredibly disjointed ... Citrico's is sleek and modern-ish, Mizner's and Vicki & Al's is old-world formal, 1900 is ... cheesy grandma, almost pathetic with what feels like patio furniture inside. The lobby is swooping and perfect, but could still use some updates - make the chandeliers more grandiose, shine up the birdcages, swap out the carpet for something a little more "luxe". Really make it Grand. Opulent. Gatsby-esque.

 

[andyman8]

Which is why I have since edited the title. it's all good!

Thanks! I was thinking of doing that, but you beat me to it!

Anyways, I'm all for an extensive refurb of the GF. I definitely think there's a way to update the lobby without losining that old Florida charm. That said, most folks online have laughed off this ridiculous rumor that they'd actually shutter the GF.

 

[rteetz]

I think it's safe to say that Disney would need to go farther than gutting a resort and updating it to make it luxurious. If having a luxury resort is what they want they also have to work on the amenities, and service. Four seasons is what it is partly due to the service. I don't think Disney will be able to be like a four seasons because of that reason.

 

[PuppyJonathan]

Umm... I don't know what to say to this probably untrue rumor

 

[Saratoga Springs Tom]

Bolderdash! I don't buy it. There's all these rumors and gossip about CBR construction and the River Country rumors keep surfacing. I know Disney will do what they want especially if it means a profit, but I don't see them going to the studs and modernizing GF. I'd believe a second BLT would happen first. Disney has plenty of room to expand. Maybe if they want a newer more modern resort they'll just build that rather than mess with a WDW icon. IMO.