Terrible stay at GF

[padams]

The GF is not a luxury hotel. It is merely WDW's "nicest" hotel, the one Disney markets as "luxury". No one should expect the type of service that one finds at a true 5 star resort, not even the level found at a Four Seasons or Ritz Carlton. As for cost, while the GF and other WDW deluxes are "expensive" relative to other resorts at WDW, the WDW deluxes cost significantly less than many 4 or 5 star resorts. At the GF, you are paying for location- convenience to MK.

I do think that WDW should have a true luxury hotel on the property. It would be full to capacity.

 

[DiznEeyore]

Having said that, we do enjoy the GF. I have also seen the bathrooms on the main floor - by the front doors and by 1900 park fare to be gross at times. I'm sure it's because they get the most traffic, but that is not an excuse gross is gross. We do enjoy the level of service provided by the RPC. The rooms are immaculate, the bed linens are changed every day, the rooms are cleaned twice per day.

Are the rooms really cleaned twice per day?? Why?? And is this standard at all WDW concierge rooms, or just the GF?

 

[Jen D]

All opinions are relevant, regardless of whether or not you agree with them.

It's not a matter of whether I agree or disagree. If I don't like the way my steak was cooked, and my friend spends a few minutes accusing me of being picky or too demanding, and then pops out with, "Well, I'm actually a vegetarian so I would never eat meat", I'm going to value her opinion less.

I think you might be missing that a lot of us are pointing out that GF is not a luxury hotel. It is not 4 or 5 diamonds or 4 or 5 stars in any ratings. Public perception is that GF is 4 or 5 stars. But to my knowledge Disney does not promote the GF as such. Disney promotes the GF as its flagship resort (meaining the best offerings of all their properties). I listed a few pages back all of the offerings at the GF and why Disney markets GF to be its flagship. I don't know of anywhere where Disney claims you get better service at GF or any deluxe. They refer to what all is available at deluxes that you won't get at lower level resorts (bigger rooms, location to park, dining and recreation options, etc).

The defense I am seeing that Disney never promised anyone to get great service at the deluxes is an interesting one and hard to argue with. I seem to remember planning videos advertising the deluxes as the ultimate in something... maybe the word wasn't luxury. I guess I'd have to look. I'm not necessarily saying GF should be markedly better than the other deluxes, although they do have a lower guest:staff ratio. Anecdotally on this board there seems to be a lot of opinions that the GF has substantially worse service than the other deluxes.

 

[DisneyMomx7]

Did you even take the time to read the part of your, rather rude, post you quoted? Attacking her grammar and choice of words is certainly equivalent to calling her uneducated or even stupid. Of course her post is negative, why would you expect a post that's listing problems would be positive. Not sure why a description of dirty bathrooms should be anything but negative. The garbage was overflowing, toilet paper was missing and the bathroom was filthy. I guess a positive spin would be to balance the post by saying the toilet flushed.

Gonga's post is very well written. She has the same complaints regarding dirty bathrooms and poor service.

It's a shame that people who write an honest review highlighting service issues get slammed.

YOUR POST IS PETTY, RUDE AND REALLY HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THE FACTS.

ITA. This is the reason that so many don't post reports of anything but glowing reports - if you do you are attacked.

 

[Snurk71]

On the quotes from Disney's website, I think there is a little more to the story.

GF Home quote:

"Take a holiday in a world mixing gentility and exuberance, a turn-of-the-century experience characterized by care, consideration and high-buttoned style. Outside, hire a yacht, relax at two glorious pools or on the sand of a calm lagoon. Inside, enjoy shady verandas, magnificent stained glass domes and the glittering chandeliers of this timeless Victorian Resort by the sea."

I'm not seeing a claim of higher service in that statement.

The second quote was specific to the Spa under the recreation page (it took me a bit to find it). Critiquing the spa in this thread would be a little off topic since Disney doesn't even own the Spa.

"Experience the perfect balance of relaxation and wellness when you enjoy the first-class services and luxurious amenities at Walt Disney World® Resort's Flagship Resort and Spa."


To illustrate on what Disney sells as a Deluxe, the following is from Disney's main deluxe site:

"Experience the ultimate in Disney luxury and style. Enjoy an array of eateries, outstanding services, premium recreational offerings and other special benefits of staying at any of these unique Resorts."


There is a hint of service in this statement. But it is crafted more in what services are available (meaning for an additional charge) than what are the standard services. I can see where someone will argue this point through on the strict, literal grammar used. Someone could try to interpret this statement that all eateries are included in my stay (free) and all of the extras (Grand One rental, Pirate's Adventure, etc) are free too because they don't explicitly state that there will be an extra fee. But that would be a little over the edge, IMO.

 

[ducklite]

Are the rooms really cleaned twice per day?? Why?? And is this standard at all WDW concierge rooms, or just the GF?

For all CL level rooms they get housekeeping twice daily. Once in the morning for a general cleaning, changed linens, bathrooms scrubbed, etc. Then again in the evening for turndown service. During turndown, the bed is turned down, used towels are replaced, garbage emptied, and any other needed light cleaning is done.

Anne

 

[DancingBear]

Just looked it up in the on-line tourbook and Grand Floridian is a AAA 4-diamond rated resort. I believe they used to be 5-diamond rated.

 

[ducklite]

For as long as I can remember, they've had a AAA four diamond, Mobil three star rating. They NEVER achieved a five star/diamond rating. V&A's did achive the five diamond award, although might have lost it for a year at one point.

Anne

 

[Snurk71]

Anecdotally on this board there seems to be a lot of opinions that the GF has substantially worse service than the other deluxes.

Agreed. Part may be perception (this thread is up to 21 pages, you probably wouldn't see a 21 page thread on a bad review at POP). But I think a lot of it has to do with not met expectations. We've seen so many people in this thread thinking that GF claims to be a 4 or 5 star hotel, which we're seeing that it isn't. So when someone doesn't receive 4 or 5 star service, more people come back disappointed than what they expected vs. what GF was truly offering (this is not intended to the OP, she had some concrete issues).

I will agree that RPC takes the biggest beating on the DIS. Pre-planning doesn't seem to suffer as much on the reviews. But the on-site RPC concierges have a pretty bad reputation on the boards. Some have good experiences, but a lot have bad experiences.

 

[Jen D]

The GF is not a luxury hotel. ...
I do think that WDW should have a true luxury hotel on the property. It would be full to capacity.

But... wouldn't it be easier to just improve the standards at the GF and make that a luxury resort?

 

[Snurk71]

For all CL level rooms they get housekeeping twice daily. Once in the morning for a general cleaning, changed linens, bathrooms scrubbed, etc. Then again in the evening for turndown service. During turndown, the bed is turned down, used towels are replaced, garbage emptied, and any other needed light cleaning is done.

Anne

I think you get this in all GF rooms automatically, not just concierge. We've always received turndown service (beds turned down, ice bucket filled, towels replaced, chocolates on pillow, etc) in the outer buildings at GF.

It's something small. But that is probably just one of the reasons GF is billed as the flagship and charges the premium to other deluxes.

 

[Lewisc]

I think the Hyatt Grand Cypress was the hotel that was originally rated 5 Diamonds that was downgraded to 4.

 

[ducklite]

But... wouldn't it be easier to just improve the standards at the GF and make that a luxury resort?

No. For it to truly be a luxury resort it would have to be less accessible to the public, and probably scaled back in size.

Anne

 

[erinz]

On the quotes from Disney's website, I think there is a little more to the story.

GF Home quote:

"Take a holiday in a world mixing gentility and exuberance, a turn-of-the-century experience characterized by care, consideration and high-buttoned style. Outside, hire a yacht, relax at two glorious pools or on the sand of a calm lagoon. Inside, enjoy shady verandas, magnificent stained glass domes and the glittering chandeliers of this timeless Victorian Resort by the sea."

I'm not seeing a claim of higher service in that statement.



Oh...... well then for God's sake don't give it!

 

[robinb]

I cannot imagine any scenario where the bell staff have any excuse to present a guest with luggage that is soaked through. (regardless of the resort). They all have carts with protective coverings - perhaps they should have used one of them!!!!

FWIW, Bell Services may not be responsible for allowing the luggage to get wet. It may have been the baggage people at the airport. I have seen luggage sitting out in the pouring rain on the airline luggage carts plenty of times. Unless the OP saw her luggage high and dry before taking the bus to the resort, it may not have been Bell Services fault at all.

 

[Snurk71]

On the quotes from Disney's website, I think there is a little more to the story.

GF Home quote:

"Take a holiday in a world mixing gentility and exuberance, a turn-of-the-century experience characterized by care, consideration and high-buttoned style. Outside, hire a yacht, relax at two glorious pools or on the sand of a calm lagoon. Inside, enjoy shady verandas, magnificent stained glass domes and the glittering chandeliers of this timeless Victorian Resort by the sea."

I'm not seeing a claim of higher service in that statement.



Oh...... well then for God's sake don't give it!

Huh??? The topic is whether GF advertises a higher level of service than other Disney hotels. They can give a higher level, and often due. The question was what Disney advertises in its service offering at different hotels. I was just pointing out that Disney isn't selling GF as receiving any better service than at the All Stars.

 

[robinb]

I was just pointing out that Disney isn't selling GF as receiving any better service than at the All Stars.

You cannot be serious.

 

[Goofy4WDW1964]

Disney promotes the GF as its flagship resort (meaining the best offerings of all their properties).

Dirty bathrooms, soaked luggage, unassisting cast members, dirt swimming pools, lost luggage; this is the best offerings of all their properties? Pretty sad.

I cannot imagine any scenario where the bell staff have any excuse to present a guest with luggage that is soaked through. (regardless of the resort). They all have carts with protective coverings - perhaps they should have used one of them!!!!

I have read this thread with great curiosity from top to bottom and the only thing I can take away from it is that some people are happy to make excuses for poor service becasue its Disney.

Exactly. I have had to unload my luggage during pretty heavy rain before, without the assistance of covered carts, and although the bags have been wet, the contents were not. I think you hit the nail on the head: "I don't care what they do, I'm at Disney World." This could, in part, explain why service throughout Disney World has declined.

"Experience the ultimate in Disney luxury and style. Enjoy an array of eateries, outstanding services, premium recreational offerings and other special benefits of staying at any of these unique Resorts."

I guess the key here is "Disney luxury". Evidently, it is what Disney defines as luxury, not their guests.

Take a holiday in a world mixing gentility and exuberance, a turn-of-the-century experience characterized by care, consideration and high-buttoned style. Outside, hire a yacht, relax at two glorious pools or on the sand of a calm lagoon. Inside, enjoy shady verandas, magnificent stained glass domes and the glittering chandeliers of this timeless Victorian Resort by the sea."

Disney only states that they are glorious pools. I guess I would be setting my expectations too high at this "Disney luxury" resort if I were to expect a clean pool. After all, they don't specifically state that they will be clean. Just glorious. Kind of worries me what the "turn-of-the-century" part is.

 

[Ladyhawke10]

Are the rooms really cleaned twice per day?? Why?? And is this standard at all WDW concierge rooms, or just the GF?

Yes, the rooms at GF are cleaned twice per day--the second time is during turn down service. This is standard in all concierge rooms at the deluxe hotels, but only at the GF is it standard in all of the hotel rooms on property.

 

[tone.def]

FWIW, Bell Services may not be responsible for allowing the luggage to get wet. It may have been the baggage people at the airport. I have seen luggage sitting out in the pouring rain on the airline luggage carts plenty of times. Unless the OP saw her luggage high and dry before taking the bus to the resort, it may not have been Bell Services fault at all.

How correct you are! My one bag was once covered in a wet snow (not the other one) because the baggage guys at the airport were trying to load large items coming out of the airplane on the bottom of their vehicles first and left the smaller ones to the side - in the snow before putting transferring to the luggage belt for us to pick up. I wasn't the only one...

Anyway, I think enough attacking and debating has gone on here. Please close this thread!