Please, help me decide about GF!

[Sazzo'sMommy]

Okay, so I am a basketball coaches wife. Here in Kentucky, they call me a basketball widow...that's how important basketball is to our state! Needless to say, the season has started, and for the next 5 and a half months my DD(3) and I will see my husband for probably a total of about 12 to 20 hours a week! So, he has set me to plan for our Spring vacation immediately following his season! I love to plan our WDW trips!

This summer we spent 5 days at the GF and we have all now deemed it our favorite resort! This summer we stayed standard... a marina/monorail view, and we loved it! But I am leaning toward something that we have not done to celebrate his accomplishments of what will be a great season...they are ranked in the Top 16 pre-season!

So, here is where I need all of your stellar advice! We do not want to stay anywhere else...just the GF, but I do need to decide which category. Give me the highs and lows...LV...LT...SL CL...RPC! I need your advice, because I plan on booking hopefully, before the day is out! Give me all your insights and spare no comment...I need your help!

 

[Ladyhawke10]

Well, lagoon view was a very special experience. We've done this twice, once in boca chica and another in sago cay. Both views were lovely, and it was great seeing the electric parade right from the balcony. The view of the seven seas lagoon is peaceful and it feels very private. I like the garden views at GF, too--I've had a couple of them in Big Pine Key (haven't tried the others for GV). I could see the pool building in one and another building (Conch Key?) from another. I once saw a poster writing that the view of the pool building is bad, so I don't know what your preference would be. For me, the buildings are not bad to look at and we enjoyed GV. Of course, the LVs are better, but GF is great in any case.

GFs concierge is sublime. As you probably know, Sugar Loaf now has the same offerings at RPC. I don't need to tell you about the grounds, amenities, rooms or feel of the resort....so glad you are getting to return soon! I can't wait to go again

 

[Sazzo'sMommy]

Thank you for your quick and speedy reply LadyHawke!

 

[Sazzo'sMommy]

Bump, please!

 

[Mickymark]

I have stayed at the Gf three times and always main bldg. concierge. In my opinion there is no better resort. The level of service is unmatched, in my opinion. I also think that the concierge lounge is among the best if not THE best of all the deluxe resorts.

 

[Starrin]

Hello,

Have stayed at the GF a number of times. Our favorite was the Lodge Tower in Boca Chica. We have never done the Concierge and will probably try this in May. However we really enjoyed the room, found it very spacious.

If you would like to see pictures below is a link:

Click Here

On the upside ... not a long walk to the mono rail ... but then again there is not many long walks at the GF in general.

On the downside ... one night my wife was trying to get our 4 month old to bed in the tower room and the there was a noisy group at the pool and you could hear them.

 

[Sazzo'sMommy]

Mickymark...thank you for your input on RPC!

Starrin...thank you for the great pictures and your insight about possible noise as well! With DD(3) I always have to consider noise and its factoring into a part of our vacation, as far as naps and sleeping go! Your pictures were great!

 

[Disneylvr729]

If you are taking the kids the conceirge level is the best...

 

[scanne]

"On the downside ... one night my wife was trying to get our 4 month old to bed in the tower room and the there was a noisy group at the pool and you could hear them."

This could happen at any resort. You just need to request a room away from the pool area if it's a concern.

We stayed at the GF twice. Once LV (honeymoon) and once GV. We tried for LV the second time but no availability (Christmas 2001).

I would go for a LV. OR, if your budget allows, RPC. You may not get a LV/Castle view in RPC, but you will bask in luxury! Depends what you're looking for. Our LV was gorgeous. We were in Sago Cay.......no trees blocking anything. We watched the 4th of July fireworks...amazing.

You will (as you know) have a great time no matter what! Hope your decision is an easy one.

 

[Sazzo'sMommy]

Disneylvr729 & scanne...thank you for your help! No pool view...I can't stand noise at night either! I always take a sound machine with us to every resort! I think concierge is the way I am leaning!

 

[Starrin]

I agree with requesting a room away from the pool if you need the peace.

We have also stayed at Boca Chica Lagoon View. Very nice ... watched the parade ... only thing was that my daughter would be zonked by the time it started. Something nice about taking your morning coffee out on the balcony ... to read the paper ... see the castle in the background was great.

My wife has stayed in the main building a few times ... she really liked it but she prefers Boca Chica ... I think this is more of a function of her staying in the main building when she has been there on business.

 

[MrsTink04]

We stayed in Sago Cay (Honeymoon) had LV/Castleview. It was amazing and very quiet! We could watch the WISHES fireworks frm our balcony.


Our next trip (1st anniversary) we got upgraded to main building (4th floor RPC) honeymoon turret suite. WOW!!! Panoramic view f Poly, Wedding Pavilion, Castle...we could even see Spaceship Earth! The concierge offerings were amazing! There was a little noise from the piano/orchestra...but it was beautiful and completely added to the ambience.

We are going back next Feb...staying in Sugar Loaf Concierge. I'll let you know.

GF is my FAVORITE place anywhere!!!!!

 

[Sammie]

The castle views are very special, but no way to know for sure you will get one even if you book lagoon.

I really like Sugar Loaf concierge. Loved the staff, the food offerings and the location was great.

 

[CharlieTuna]

Stay at GF. Best service, cast and maagement. Make sure you find DJ. He is one of the managers. Best ever. He doesn't just give you the same old Disney line when things go wrong. He really cares.

 

[lark]

The "good" lagoon view rooms are great -- like the whole lagoon side of boca chica. But there are some bad lagoon view, IMHO. If I paid for lagoon and got the south side of Big Pine Key, I would be disappointed.

My personal opinion is that Sugar Loaf concierge is not worth it. Pretty much every room in SL is garden view, yet it's $130 to $150 more than a standard garden view. I think SL is, overall, the least desirable of the 5 lodges, notwithstanding its proximity to the main building (this is no big deal at the GF since it's so compact). I think it was genius for disney to pick SL to be the concierge building. So you really really need to love the concierge services, I think -- because that's a big jump money wise. If money is not an issue, by all means. But if money is not an issue, stay in the main building. The concierge stuff is great, but it's the location that's the best. It's really a wonderful place to stay -- I've done it once and can't recommend it highly enough. Just be prepared for sticker shock.

Taking all things into account, and assuming money IS an issue, the lagoon view is a sufficiently different experience that I'd recommend that. Maybe put in a request for any of the three buildings other than BPK. (Some really seem to like BPK, though.) I personally prefer lagoon view to SL any day, even with the concierge.

 

[Sazzo'sMommy]

Thanks for all of your helpful suggestions!

I am definitely doing LV or CL! I really can't seem to make up my mind between the two! I am sure we will do LV, but I would love for us to be completely spoiled by CL...that being said, it makes me want RPC...oh, the decisions I have to make!

I will decide tomorrow and let you all know!

DH says book whatever I want...since we won't see each other for the next 5 months!