Resort upgrade to Grand Floridian?

[mpb2000]

I received a phone call from Disney yesterday offering some magic in the form of a resort upgrade. We are scheduled to stay in the garden wing at the Contemporary with a water view over Labor Day weekend. Due to the cost, we’ve only stayed at the Contemporary once when we got a really good rate via AP/FL resident discount. We stayed in the garden wing that time too and loved it. It was so quiet compared to a lot of our resort stays, our daughter loved the pool, and the walk to MK with its own security check is obviously great. So we’ve been excited about going back, again because of a discounted rate. The upgrade offer was either a savanna view room at AK lodge or one of the refurbished resort view rooms at Grand Floridian. We wouldn’t do the savanna view because we are doing that later this year with my parents and because we want to do MK and have the proximity of the monorail resorts. So that makes the choice between staying with the Contemporary or switching to the Grand Floridian, someplace we’ve never stayed. This is where I need some help.

Obviously, the current construction is the big concern. I know they’re working on rooms near the lobby, which is a mess right now. How would the construction impact our stay? Is it only in the main building now? The room type is something to consider in conjunction with the construction. The new “resort view” category makes it difficult for me place the rooms, as I would typically use touring plans, which hasn’t been updated with those room types. The Disney website says resort view at Grand Floridian is views of the courtyard, marina or pools. Are there no “regular” resort view rooms with views of the parking lot, monorail, etc? Using touring plans, it looks like all the rooms in the main building are deluxe, club, etc. Are there any “resort view” rooms in the main building? If I could guarantee the room would be in a different building away from the construction, that might make a difference.

It will be my wife, four year old daughter, and me. I know the resort has a reputation for not being the best for kids, but I assume that is just due to the theming. In that case, I’m not concerned. The main pool looks nice and my daughter will ride a water slide all day. Is it usually crowded or quiet? Our previous stay at the Contemporary was also Labor Day weekend and I was surprised how quiet the pool and grounds were. We also appreciated the pool being open until 11:00, which I imagine would be the case at Grand Floridian that time of year as well. I’m familiar with the amenities and, other than the pool, we won’t be taking advantage of many. We’ll be doing quick service when we’re not in the park, with a chance of a lunch at Steakhouse 71 or Grand Floridian Cafe, depending on where we stay. That wouldn’t be a deal breaker. The big question is do we take this opportunity as probably the only time we would stay at the Grand Floridian, in what is certainly a more expensive room, even though we also almost never stay at the Contemporary?

We would still have the proximity to MK, with the addition of the boat transportation. The walk would be almost the same because we would be in the garden wing (hopefully all the way on the end in one of the bigger, corner rooms, if my room request comes through like last time).

Thoughts? Opinions? What else should I be considering when making the decision?

Thanks for the help.

 

[theMoreDisneytheBetter]

Switch!

Seriously, I’m not a huge fan of the Contemporary and Grand Floridian is a lovely resort. We originally thought it would be stuffy but it’s more “Mary Poppins” like than anything else. Walking to MK is slightly longer but still very easy (especially with a stroller), and the boat back makes a great option.

 

[DanceDisney23]

I would not switch to a resort that has construction happening while you are there. I find it a bit rich that Disney is offering that as an “upgrade”. The reason you received this “upgrade” offer is likely that Disney can’t fill the GF right now but thinks there is a good chance they could still sell your CR room. Or maybe the CR is already overbooked.

 

[trishadono]

I received a phone call from Disney yesterday offering some magic in the form of a resort upgrade. We are scheduled to stay in the garden wing at the Contemporary with a water view over Labor Day weekend. Due to the cost, we’ve only stayed at the Contemporary once when we got a really good rate via AP/FL resident discount. We stayed in the garden wing that time too and loved it. It was so quiet compared to a lot of our resort stays, our daughter loved the pool, and the walk to MK with its own security check is obviously great. So we’ve been excited about going back, again because of a discounted rate. The upgrade offer was either a savanna view room at AK lodge or one of the refurbished resort view rooms at Grand Floridian. We wouldn’t do the savanna view because we are doing that later this year with my parents and because we want to do MK and have the proximity of the monorail resorts. So that makes the choice between staying with the Contemporary or switching to the Grand Floridian, someplace we’ve never stayed. This is where I need some help.

Obviously, the current construction is the big concern. I know they’re working on rooms near the lobby, which is a mess right now. How would the construction impact our stay? Is it only in the main building now? The room type is something to consider in conjunction with the construction. The new “resort view” category makes it difficult for me place the rooms, as I would typically use touring plans, which hasn’t been updated with those room types. The Disney website says resort view at Grand Floridian is views of the courtyard, marina or pools. Are there no “regular” resort view rooms with views of the parking lot, monorail, etc? Using touring plans, it looks like all the rooms in the main building are deluxe, club, etc. Are there any “resort view” rooms in the main building? If I could guarantee the room would be in a different building away from the construction, that might make a difference.

It will be my wife, four year old daughter, and me. I know the resort has a reputation for not being the best for kids, but I assume that is just due to the theming. In that case, I’m not concerned. The main pool looks nice and my daughter will ride a water slide all day. Is it usually crowded or quiet? Our previous stay at the Contemporary was also Labor Day weekend and I was surprised how quiet the pool and grounds were. We also appreciated the pool being open until 11:00, which I imagine would be the case at Grand Floridian that time of year as well. I’m familiar with the amenities and, other than the pool, we won’t be taking advantage of many. We’ll be doing quick service when we’re not in the park, with a chance of a lunch at Steakhouse 71 or Grand Floridian Cafe, depending on where we stay. That wouldn’t be a deal breaker. The big question is do we take this opportunity as probably the only time we would stay at the Grand Floridian, in what is certainly a more expensive room, even though we also almost never stay at the Contemporary?

We would still have the proximity to MK, with the addition of the boat transportation. The walk would be almost the same because we would be in the garden wing (hopefully all the way on the end in one of the bigger, corner rooms, if my room request comes through like last time).

Thoughts? Opinions? What else should I be considering when making the decision?

Thanks for the help.

Head to the GF thread. More helpful info there.

I would switch. Gf rooms so pretty the cr rooms are set up nice I just don’t like the color scheme.

The lobby really doesn’t impact too much. We are in our rooms or park the most.

 

[mpb2000]

I would not switch to a resort that has construction happening while you are there. I find it a bit rich that Disney is offering that as an “upgrade”. The reason you received this “upgrade” offer is likely that Disney can’t fill the GF right now but thinks there is a good chance they could still sell your CR room. Or maybe the CR is already overbooked.

Actually, the Contemporary rooms are still available, even at the discounted rates (even the Poly has discounted rooms for the weekend and it’s three weeks away!). Disney just isn’t as full these days. And the AK lodge room with the savanna view is definitely an upgrade, if that’s what you wanted to do. I don’t necessarily have an issue with staying when there is construction. It just depends on how intrusive it is to me personally. If it’s just the rooms in the main building and I have no need to go in there, I’m ok with that if it means I get to experience something I otherwise wouldn’t. I just don’t know enough about the extent of the construction, or enough about the resort in general, not having stayed there. If there is scaffolding all over the outside of the buildings at the resort, that might be another story.

 

[mpb2000]

Head to the GF thread. More helpful info there.

I would switch. Gf rooms so pretty the cr rooms are set up nice I just don’t like the color scheme.

The lobby really doesn’t impact too much. We are in our rooms or park the most.

At this point, is it just the lobby? I’ve actually read it’s the rooms in the main building. The lobby is just needed for access and equipment; the lobby refurb is supposedly delayed.

 

[theMoreDisneytheBetter]

When we were there a month ago there was scaffolding up but I never heard any construction noise. It was totally fine.

 

[DanceDisney23]

Actually, the Contemporary rooms are still available, even at the discounted rates (even the Poly has discounted rooms for the weekend and it’s three weeks away!). And the AK lodge room with the savanna view is definitely an upgrade, if that’s what you wanted to do. I don’t necessarily have an issue with staying when there is construction. It just depends on how intrusive it is to me personally. If it’s just the rooms in the main building and I have no need to go in there, I’m ok with that if it means I get to experience something I otherwise wouldn’t. I just don’t know enough about the extent of the construction, or enough about the resort in general, not having stayed there. If there is scaffolding all over the outside of the buildings at the resort, that might be another story.

Fair enough. FWIW, I wouldn’t consider AKL an upgrade from a monorail resort, even with a Savannah view. It’s a nice resort but really far from anything except AK. So if the options to move from CR are AKL or a resort that is under construction, I would consider that a downgrade offer. Unless they offered a nicer room category or a suite at GF.

 

[Minnie1222]

Switch if you believe this is the only chance to stay at GF.

There are no regular resort view rooms in the main building since all the rooms here are Club rooms. The rooms in Sago Key facing the X are closest to the monorail track.

In contrast to popular belief, I think GF is very kid-friendly. They have the cutest water play area and two manageable pools. This would be the best time to go since there are fewer guests due to the main building closure.

 

[Jacq7414]

I would switch. It’s always fun to try a new resort

 

[gottalovepluto]

I’d switch.

There are reports on the GF thread from people with recent stays. All in all folks have good experiences, everyone going in knows the lobby is a mess but loves the refurbed rooms in the other buildings. No noise complaints surprisingly. Labor Day is typically a slow time for WDW so I wouldn’t expect it to be crowded.

You are guaranteed a room outside of the main building because none of those rooms are open to guests during this construction period.

 

[Once.Upon.A.Time]

I got offered an upgrade as well. I was originally booked at CSR and for about $100 more per night I upgraded to AKL resort view. I was also offered Boardwalk, but I think it was maybe like $140 more per night? I would do it.

 

[DLgal]

I would not switch.

We were just at Beach Club a couple weeks ago and they are doing MINOR construction there and it negatively impacted us.

We went to GF for a late lunch one afternoon (at Gasparilla Grill) and the ENTIRE main building is a construction zone with makeshift tunnels, walls up everywhere, plastic tarps, heavy equipment, scafffolding and noise. It's a giant mess. There is no lobby to speak of. You can hear and see the construction from both pools. It was quite noisy when we were there.

There is no way I'd stay there now. In fact, I won't ever stay at a hotel undergoing construction work again. No matter what pixie dust spin Disney tries to put on it, it's annoying and impacts your vacation.

The new refurbished rooms at GF are lovely. But not at all worth the inconvenience of having to deal with all that construction work.

Plus, the rooms at Contemporary are larger overall. And the resort more fun for a young child, IMO. At GF, it's all outer buildings and when it's pouring rain, you have to walk exposed to the elements to get to your room. This isn't an issue at Contemporary.

 

[GADisneyDad14]

At 4, mine played in the GF Mad Hatter splash area for HOURS and HOURS. Both pools are zero entry and super easy for parents with little ones. We had wonderful times sitting back and relaxing watching them run around. I’m a CR lover but the pools just don’t stack up in comparison and only a dinky spray area for little ones.

Gaspy’s is a better quick service than Contempo Cafe (in my opinion), which unfortunately never really got its footing back since Covid (I used to really like Contempo).

No denying the substantial scaffolding outside and work inside the main building. But if you have some level of tolerance for things not being 100% perfect, I think I’d take the switch.

 

[cruising spud]

Disney is offering a newly refurbished room at the Grand Floridian? Who doesn't want a room that has been recently redone? I would head to the Grand Floridian.

 

[DLgal]

Disney is offering a newly refurbished room at the Grand Floridian? Who doesn't want a room that has been recently redone? I would head to the Grand Floridian.

I mean, to be fair, the rooms at Contemporary are also pretty newly refurbished.

 

[Robber Baron]

I have stayed garden wing at CR a couple times and really liked it. (Especially like the first floor rooms with a patio so the kids can run free on the grass.)

I have never had a desire to stay at GF, but, I'd probably switch in your situation just to try a different resort.

 

[mpb2000]

I have stayed garden wing at CR a couple times and really liked it. (Especially like the first floor rooms with a patio so the kids can run free on the grass.)

I have never had a desire to stay at GF, but, I'd probably switch in your situation just to try a different resort.

That is what we really liked about our room at Contemporary last time. We had one of the corner rooms on the first floor that are larger and you could walk right out to the grass with the pool, bay lake, and the water pageant right there. It was very peaceful. Like you, I also have never had a desire to stay at GF, so it makes it a difficult choice. The quiet of that room was a nice escape after the parks.

 

[Mle8308]

I’d keep the CR room. You never know when the construction is going to get loud or interfere with your plans. The lobby is a huge construction zone right now and there are tarps up and detours that appear and disappear. It would not be relaxing to me. Like another poster said, they can’t get people to stay at the GF now with all the work going on. The refurbished rooms are beautiful, but not enough to get me to stay there right now. Good luck with your decision!

 

[Grace&Carolinesmom]

I also vote to switch to GF. Basically all of the rooms have a balcony which is really great for morning coffee/tea, and afternoon and evening people watching and general scenery. It's very relaxing and I don't think there are any really bad views at GF. No parking lot/dumpster views. Both pools are really nice and the beach pool slide is great. The splash waterplay area for kids looks amazing. Very attentive servers make it easy to relax and order drinks and food wherever you end up "setting up camp" for the day. We enjoyed eating lunch around the beach pool as the food was fantastic.

I would be surprised if there was any work going on at GF during your stay given it's a holiday weekend. Yes, lots of scaffolding around the main building and in the lobby but how much time do you really spend in there?? You can also walk or monorail over to the Poly for lunch, dinner, or a dole whip! I just think the GF feels more like a "resort" stay instead of a "hotel" stay, KWIM?

And, if the sky opens up and you are stuck in your room, you can enjoy the "rain" view from your balcony and order room service for a treat