Our Grand Floridian trip report: Bringing out the inner-Princess...

[mickey2minnie1]

Thanks for the TR! It was fantastic. I have always thought about staying there. DH wants to try it next time around. I love the Poly, but your trip report really has me thinking.

 

[typhoonlagooner]

I really enjoyed writing this trip report and found it was a great way to overcome some disney depression! I often come to the dis for help and guidence in resort choices and enjoy reading others; I felt it was my turn to contribute! I'd like to thank everyone for there kind words

To all those traveling to the Grand Floridian in the next few months... enjoy every minute of it! I can't believe how fast this trip went by With every resort stay I notice how decieving pictures can be and this is entirely the case with the Grand Floridian!

Lowillian:
You were two doors down... too funny! I'm so glad you were able to have a similar experience! Even though Kip enjoyed his stay at the GF, he's looking to try the Polynesian next too... it must just be a "man thing" lol.

PrincessPaczki:
Like I said in my report, I was only able to eat at gaspies. I've heard amazing things about all 5 TS locations at the resort and look forward to giving each a chance. There's some great reviews through the dinning forum and allearsnet though!

Klofan:
I toured the CR on Friday and between the construction noise and disrepair of the resort, I know I would have been disapointed. Of course you can't beat the location and new rooms and I look forward to a chance to stay there as well; just waiting for the bulk of this construction to finish!

Views from monorail...

Views from pool and beach area...

Construction infront...

Tinkaroo:
Yup... you ladies were right! I now understand why so many of you return every trip! Your experience at ASmu will all come down to your expectations but we personally loved it! After my stay at GF though, not sure I could return Potentially a blessing in disguise? lol

CoachBagFanatic:
I'm so glad my report and picture touched you! Each time I look at our pics I feel that lump in my throat; it's crazy to think that a resort experience can do that to someone! Forget DVC... I've found my "home away from home"

Mickey2minnie1 and other Poly fans:
Like I said in my original trip report... my goal was to book a room at the Polynesian. I felt like the Poly would have so much more of a "vacation" and "resort" feel than the Grand Floridian; especially with the new rooms. I toured the Polynesian on Friday as well...

There are a couple things in which I preferred at the Poly such as the main pool area with direct castle view and proximity to Captin Cooks. It was slightly larger than the Beach pool at the Grand Floridian.

Volcano pool looking straight out...

I preferred the layout and design at Captin Cooks but found it to be very similiar to Gaspies and twice as busy. I went in trying to buy a "box" of cereal and it was a mob scene! Overall I noticed a lot more people at this resort milling about.

The beach area is much larger but I noticed a difference in "furniture" quality; slat style chairs instead of the mesh, even in the cabana style chairs. Because most buildings back right up onto the beach, the area wasn't as "private" as the GF's either and I noticed it wasn't as "well kept."

Beach area infront of luau...

Beach area in front of Hawaii...

Beach area in front of Tahiti, no chairs due to bulldozer adding sand...

The Grounds were a little bit more spread out than the GF due to the resort layout but it never seemed like a far walk from anymore. I noticed that the marina had a similar castle view to the GF's, very neat! The grounds are very relazing and laid back but I noticed that ground floor rooms don't have railings compared to ground floor rooms at the GF.

On way to Marina from beach, main pool in backround...

Marina looking straight out, Grand Ceremonial House and main pool directly to right,

The Lobby was so much more busier, loud, and hectic compared to the Grand Floridian and even the values in my opinion. It's absolutely beautiful, but between O'hanas and Kona Cafe (both having "sides" exposed to the lobby), Captain Cooks, and other shops... it was a crazy and loud in the morning! A huge 180 to what I had been accustomed to at the GF.

Now.. it would be very hypocritical of me to "judge" the Polynesian without staying there, but after touring the grounds and my experience at the GF, not sure if the Polynesian would be a disapointment to me! Like I said before... Kip's looking to stay there next and splurge for a Lagoon View Concierge room... so if thats the case... I'm thinking that Polynesian could give the GF a run for it's money lol.

Thanks again for your kind words and support.

 

[Goofy_4_WDW]

WOW great job! I really enjoyed your report and awsome pictures!
We will be staying at GF for the first time in September and are so excited about it.
Thanks again

 

[ekball]

Thanks so much for this great review!! We stayed at the Poly last Sept. and didn't like a lot of what you pointed out in your Poly review....namely how crowded and crazy it was. Too many people wandering around, too many people in the GCH every time we went in there, just too crazy overall. So we're really hoping for a quieter, more relaxed stay at the GF this August. From the sound of your report that's exactly what we can expect. Yay!! Can't wait!

 

[PlainJane]

That was a great report; it really put you right there. My mom and I are staying there for a quick weekend trip this coming September. We got an amazing bounce back rate, or we could have never justified it. Thanks, for putting all this useful info in one nice contained place; since it's a short trip I want to make the most of it.

 

[poohgirl6]

Thanks for such a comprehensive, honest review. We are staying at GF in Sept and your pics made me even more excited!

 

[ReneeDisney]

Great report and wonderful pictures! Thank you for sharing. We'll be checking into the Grand Floridian in 7 days and you've made me so excited for our trip!

 

[AlienBrain]

I am going to the Grand Floridian for my Honeymoon this August. I am extremely excited after reading your trip report. I am thinking of planning a package kind of like the one you described that Kip gave to you, except I will schedule a couple's massage because she has been hinting at doing one of those for a while now.

You don't know how much you have heightened my interest in going here for out honeymoon this August ... Thanks for the good pics and descriptions to go along with it.

 

[TxTiggergal]

Wonderful TR! Thanks for taking the time to post! I cannot agree with you more about how resort choice impacts a vacation because we enjoy spending a lot of time at our resort, in addition to visiting the parks. We are returning to the GF in August for our third stay there. We have stayed at the Polynesian also and like it very much, but the GF is our very favorite! The overall atmosphere of the GF cannot be beat!

 

[LMO429]

I just did a google search of "garden view grand floridian" and this trip report popped up. I know its been over a year since someone has commented on it but I just wanted to write that you did a wonderful job on describing and detailing the GF resort. I cant wait to stay here

 

[vince730]

Great review!! We too had a chance to stay at the GF in April 2010 and I can definetly say it was my favorite Disney vacation to date. I can totally agree with the worry that you will be out of place, but in the end you are not. Specifically, we traveled in April and we saw at least as many, if not more families with children compared to couples and all-adult families there.

But in the end I think that "stuck up" worry by many did turn out to be an advantage for us. Even though we were there in the peak of spring break, the pools, restaurants and common areas of the resort never seemed overly crowded. Our monorail station was never crowded nor our bus stops at any of the parks. Our DME bus was full, but us and one other family were the only ones staying at the GF.

Specifically we were in Boca Chica 8408 - with a view just slightly left of yours, probably one floor down.

Only a few gripes (some the same as yours):
1) Service vehicles. From what I've seen, there really is no "behind the scenes" area so they are *constantly* around on the pathways, which are also guest walkways. It got to the point that I looked as if I was crossing a street whenever I walked near one because there always seemed to be a cart coming from somewhere. They seem to do everything - transport guests if needed, transport housekeepers, matinence equipment.

2) Gasparilla. I was always quite fond of the All Star-esque food court but the GF's does not live up. The food choices were OK, but not overly varied. The indoor seating was small and seemed overly hectic with people constantly going in-out and with the few kids arcade games in there. So much so that we only ate for breakfast there once, and went to the Poly for Kona/Capt. Cooks the rest of the days for breakfast. Great idea trying to incorporate a "grab-n-go" food court even into the GF, but I don't think it really is *that* good. The one thing I really liked was the frozen dessert (ice cream?) from the machine

3) Room at check in. Maybe we were just unlucky (or it was just a huge check in day) but our room took forever to be ready. Keeping in mind we did not arrive until 2 pm that day (If you are curious, look up JetBlue flight 507 (April 13 2009)) I was surprised that it wasn't ready, but a bit frustrated when it still wasn't ready at 3 after eating lunch. In the end we found outdoor restrooms and went to the pool so it wasn't a big deal, but I'd say either Boca Chica rooms are made up last, there was a shortage of mousekeepers that day, just bad luck, or a comination of the few that made the wait so long.

My guess is we won't be going back to GF this upcoming spring. The price is a bit much for us. Paying for only three nights out of five, I think it was a good deal but I would have a hard time paying $600 x 5 nights = $3000 just for the rooms!

 

[jackemail]

Wow--what a great report and wonderful pictures!

 

[msmith1026]

Thank you for the Trip Report. We are going next October and this was really helpful. I cannot wait to go, and it's a year away!

 

[sjs314]

Your TR was one of the most detailed I have read and I simply loved it, my mind was pretty well set upon switching from the Beach Club to GF for our upcoming trip next year but I have no doubts now at all about changeing resorts. One of my worries was the "feeling out of place" but you put my fears to rest. I have stayed at the Yacht Club and it too can appear to be snotty but is not at all once you stay there.
Thank You for taking the time to write the TR

 

[michelle1]

I really enjoyed reading your report. It brought back such wonderful memories of our first stay there 2 summers ago. We had only ever stayed at Value and Moderate resorts but my Dh only wants to stay at GF for our future trips...who am I to argue with that?!

 

[princessallegra]

Great report!!!! Thanks for taking the time to write it.