Sell me on Grand Floridian

[jenny105]

I am traveling to Disney World as part of an agent education program next month. All along (for over a month) we were told we'd be staying at Yacht Club which I was psyched about. I love the location and was really looking forward to going in that pool. I received an email this morning saying 'Great news! We are switching you from the Yacht Club to Grand Floridian!' That is not great news to me LOL. I have never had any desire to stay at the Grand Floridian. I know I'm being a brat but I'm not happy they switched us. No more Stormalong Bay. No more walk to Epcot. No more Jellyrolls.

So sell me on the GF! What makes it so great other than that it's a monorail resort?

 

[bdklein]

I know I'm being a brat but I'm not happy they switched us. So sell me on the GF!

Bratty and demanding!!!

 

[sonofanarchy]

No contest. The GF is much nicer than the YC. Rooms are nicer. You've got the monorail. Service is better. Food is better.

 

[mickeynut1]

I am traveling to Disney World as part of an agent education program next month. All along (for over a month) we were told we'd be staying at Yacht Club which I was psyched about. I love the location and was really looking forward to going in that pool. I received an email this morning saying 'Great news! We are switching you from the Yacht Club to Grand Floridian!' That is not great news to me LOL. I have never had any desire to stay at the Grand Floridian. I know I'm being a brat but I'm not happy they switched us. No more Stormalong Bay. No more walk to Epcot. No more Jellyrolls.

So sell me on the GF! What makes it so great other than that it's a monorail resort?

We've never stayed at the YC and I do agree that it's a great resort (we have visited many times), but the GF is also great, IMO. The grounds are beautiful, the rooms are large and spacious (larger than at the YC), it's 1 monorail stop from MK, and there are a variety of dining and shopping options in close proximity at the CR and Poly (and also the WL if you wanted to venture on the monorail to the CR and then boat over to the WL ). I know the Epcot resorts are great for being within walking distance to Epcot, but the GF is also a great resort and I'm sure you'll have a nice stay.

 

[jenny105]

Bratty and demanding!!!

That was helpful. Thanks.

No contest. The GF is much nicer than the YC. Rooms are nicer. You've got the monorail. Service is better. Food is better.

We've never stayed at the YC and I do agree that it's a great resort (we have visited many times), but the GF is also great, IMO. The grounds are beautiful, the rooms are large and spacious (larger than at the YC), it's 1 monorail stop from MK, and there are a variety of dining and shopping options in close proximity at the CR and Poly (and also the WL if you wanted to venture on the monorail to the CR and then boat over to the WL ). I know the Epcot resorts are great for being within walking distance to Epcot, but the GF is also a great resort and I'm sure you'll have a nice stay.

Thanks! I don't know much about GF to be honest. I've been there to walk around a bit but always found it a little stuffy IMO. MK is my favorite park so it definitely has location going for it. I had my heart set on YC and the pool but I'm hoping I will be pleasantly surprised by GF.

 

[daannzzz]

No selling here. I like the Yacht Club better myself and understand your disappointment but you want to be open minded, particularly since they are providing the room. Look at it as a new adventure.
I am not a fan of the room decor at the GF at all. The standard rooms are bigger than the YC though, unless you get a dormer room which is a bit smaller but way cool. I have only stayed in a dormer room at the GF and it had a different feeling with the vaulted ceiling.
The lobby of the GF is a nice place to hang out too. The walk over to the Polynesian is very pleasant. It is nice to have the monorail and boat over to the Magic Kingdom.

 

[bdklein]

It is nice to have the monorail and boat over to the Magic Kingdom.

Agree. But boat to MK is time consuming relaetd to the monorail (assuming the resort monorail is runnning). The MK is the first stop after the GF on the resort monorail. And the GF is the first stop on the boat from the MK (stops at the Poly before going to the MK).

 

[mickeynut1]

Thanks! I don't know much about GF to be honest. I've been there to walk around a bit but always found it a little stuffy IMO. MK is my favorite park so it definitely has location going for it. I had my heart set on YC and the pool but I'm hoping I will be pleasantly surprised by GF.

We had visited the GF many, many times prior to staying there and I always got that "stuffy" feel as well. After my first stay there, those feelings quickly went away as I loved the resort (and stayed there 2 more times ). I understand having your heart set on a certain resort, but the GF really is beautiful and I think you will be surprised once you stay there .

 

[ocalla]

We love the YC also, but after having dinner at GF, I decided to add that one on my bucket list!! Very nice resort, great places to dine there AND all around the monorail . The CM's we spoke with were so nice.

I know you really wanted YC for the pool and location, but I think you will fall in love with GF for entirely different reasons!!

Either way.....you'll be in Disney, and it doesn't get much better than that!

Have a great time

 

[Masonmj84]

I am not a fan of the room decor at the GF at all.

The lobby of the GF is a nice place to hang out too. The walk over to the Polynesian is very pleasant. It is nice to have the monorail and boat over to the Magic Kingdom.

The room decor at the GF is a turn-off for me as well, just seems a little to grandmotherly (also don't like that the beds still have bedspreads instead of duvets, which is really surprising given that the GF is supposed to be WDW's flagship resort and all of the other deluxe resorts except AKL have duvets, as does CSR, which is a moderate resort).

I do find the lobby of the GF to be absolutely stunning. And, to me, the grounds (and overall ambiance) of the GF are much more enveloping and have a lot more of a "wow" factor than the YC (I like the location of the YC, but think it looks sort of boring from the outside).

FWIW, I'm trying to decide whether to switch to GF (instead of Poly) if the Volcano Pool is down next spring. I'm having a hard time talking myself into it as I love the ambiance and relaxed feel of the Poly (at least when there aren't construction walls everywhere) and know I'll like the refurbished (and slightly less expensive) Poly rooms better than the current GF rooms.

 

[jcjen519]

i understand having certain resorts you love but all of the disney resorts are great in their own way. i think you will love gf

 

[toodycat]

We are hardcore GF fans who just returned from a stay at BCV. The YC and SAB have many good points,but so does the GF. The GF lobby is spectacular; it is a great place to sit, relax and take in the resort's magic. There's generally a pianist in the lobby or a jazz band playing in the early evening. Both the courtyard and feature pool area have been recently renovated. While neither is an extensive as SAB, both pools are lovely. Also, the GF grounds are beautifully landscaped and lend themselves to strolling. The GF is right on the lagoon and has a marina. You can watch the Electrical Water Pageant and MK fireworks from the GF dock or even your balcony, if you book TPV. The GF has many excellent restaurants at all levels right on the grounds and, if Citrico's, Narcoosee's, 1900 Park Fare, GF Cafe or V&A don't interest you, you are a quick monorail away from restaurants at the Poly or Contemporary. GF CMs have always been exceptionally helpful. The Mousekeepers even have their parasol parade through the resort in the morning. It's a lovely resort. You'll have a great time.

 

[kmb584]

It's a gorgeous resort just one monorail stop from MK. The landscaping and foliage are beautiful, the dining and shopping options plentiful.

 

[jenny105]

Thank you everyone for your replies! I am not sure how much time we'll have for dining since they will keep us pretty busy but I've always wanted to try Narcoosee's so maybe this is my chance. I'm awaiting an itinerary before I make any dining plans.

I am not a fan of the room decor at GF either. But since Disney is footing the bill I can deal with it for a week!

I forgot about the boat rides. I do love my boat rides.

 

[Babsy]

For adults, the luxury of the GF can't be beat! It is absolutely stunning, the rooms are huge and comfortale, the grounds and pool are lovely, the restaurants varied and delicious!

It is definitely an upgrade and you will love it there!!! There is something so special and cheery about the resort. I never thought that it was stuffy at all, just uplifting. The monoraila nd boat access to the MK is great. The bus stop has rows of seats. The lobby is a great place to relax. It is an amazing resort!!!

Love, LOVE, LOVE the GF!!!!

 

[wishing4PA]

I haven't stayed there, but I love the lobby. I love its looks, the live music, everything.
I love the boats to/from MK. I'd rather ride them than the monorail if I have enough time. And I like them better than the boats at YC. They're more, um, small and "boaty", if I can make up a word here. They are more pleasant to ride on and I feel more like I'm on vacation in them.
There's the tea room.
And Cindy's family at 1900PF.
And the GF really does evoke "old Florida" to me. That's "old Florida" as in prior to every chain in the world moving in, condos every 30 feet, and super highways. It's just a nice feeling, imho.

 

[wiigirl]

No contest. The GF is much nicer than the YC. Rooms are nicer. You've got the monorail. Service is better. Food is better.

 

[Syndrome]

Sorry cant help you. We are doing a split stay and just left our stay at GF Sugarloaf. We have always wanted to stay at GF, and now we can cross it off the bucket list , lol. We left a little disappointed to be honest. Can't really say why ???? The rooms were a little run down but the resort was very nice. The room was a little small as well.
We just moved over to our "home away from home " at the Beach Club. We are much more comfortable and just love the YC / BC resorts.

Sorry Grand Flo ....... We would choose BC / YC any day .

Syndrome

 

[Mousemommy1]

Sorry cant help you. We are doing a split stay and just left our stay at GF Sugarloaf. We have always wanted to stay at GF, and now we can cross it off the bucket list , lol. We left a little disappointed to be honest. Can't really say why ???? The rooms were a little run down but the resort was very nice. The room was a little small as well.
We just moved over to our "home away from home " at the Beach Club. We much more comfortable and just love the YC / BC resorts.

Sorry Grand Flo ....... We would choose BC / YC any day .

Syndrome

Oye! I've been lurkingly following your plans and was waiting to see your review of GF (we were considering Sugarloaf as well). I'd love to hear more.....

 

[4RJN]

It sells itself beautiful