The Grand Floridian Society Orchestra is no more

[miTnosnhoJ]

One of my favorite things to do at the Grand is to listen to the orchestra in the lobby. Since the reopening, Disney has had the Orchestra playing a show at Hollywood Studios, but that will come to an end on Oct 3. As of Oct, there will be no Grand Floridian Society Orchestra on DIsney property. This is really sad.

 

[DVCsloth]

Very sad news, always looked forward to listening to them. Won't be the same for me without them playing at the GF. Not sure why Disney would decide to do this.

 

[mlayman7]

I wonder whose decision this was? The GM of the resort or someone higher up? It was part of the greatness of the Grand Floridian, having a drink, relaxing in the lobby, and listening to the live music.

 

[linzjane88]

I wonder if it's temporary and maybe they bring them back as parks get back to normal? It's always sad to see things like this disappear.

 

[NoTime42]

I wonder if it's temporary and maybe they bring them back as parks get back to normal? It's always sad to see things like this disappear.

While possible, this is the time of the year WDW seems to make some permanent entertainment cut(s).

 

[RoseGold]

I can see how an orchestra doesn't work well for distancing. I hope this is temporary, that orchestra is magical.

 

[Takket]

This is a heart breaker for me....... there is a video of my daughter dancing in the lobby (ironically to "don't get around much anymore" in a princess dress from 2003, and dancing with my father in law who is no longer with us.

No other family is ever going to have a chance for the unique memory again. The Grand isn't just supposed to be a hotel, it is supposed to be an experience, and a huge part of that is lost now. Chapek just keeps cutting and cutting every experience that isn't directly related to guest service. If something like this occurred in a vacuum I guess we would just say our goodbyes and move on, but they keep charging the same price for less and less and the pandemic just gives him more excuses to keep making his draconian cuts to guest experiences.

That being said....... I doubt very few people would refuse to stay there because the orchestra is gone, which just gives chapek all the justification he needs to remove the expense.

Sad.

 

[bobbiwoz]

We will miss it, and I hope it is temporary. Still, since they are being disbanded, that sounds like the end. Why not leave it in Studios so people can enjoy?

 

[Simba's Mom]

We will miss it, and I hope it is temporary. Still, since they are being disbanded, that sounds like the end. Why not leave it in Studios so people can enjoy?

Although the orchestra may disband, don't be surprised if the individual players show up in other bands at WDW. For example, the saxophone player in the GF Orchestra was previously the leader of the Main Street Band; the trombone player in a Tomorrowland Band was in Future Corps; after the United Kingdom Players were disbanded, I saw a couple individuals in the Streetmosphere characters at DHS and one at the Flights of Wonder in AK.

 

[brewcrew]

Someone needs to record them one last time for posterity.

 

[RaymOOOnd]

Sad. Aside from having displaced the band merely in terms of space, the new lounge also has a younger, more modern feel - and some talented older guys playing classic acoustic instruments doesn't seem to fit the new mold.

Personally I liked the old mold better, band and Mizner's.

 

[RaymOOOnd]

Wonder if they'll swap out the Steinway for a DJ

 

[zebsterama]

I am really upset about this. The band made the GF experience truly fantastic. I loved grabbing a drink in the lobby and just listening. I really hope they bring it back when it’s safe again. A DJ would be beyond disappointing.

GF just lost some of it’s class and charm. Disney should reconsider.

 

[MarkinMA]

Sad. Aside from having displaced the band merely in terms of space, the new lounge also has a younger, more modern feel - and some talented older guys playing classic acoustic instruments doesn't seem to fit the new mold.

Personally I liked the old mold better, band and Mizner's.

The Enchanted Rose doesn't fit the Victorian theme much at all. It's actually pretty jarring when you go in from the lobby. It is younger/more modern...but thats not Victorian...I'm pretty surprised that the imagineers forced this square peg in the round hole. It actually would fit much better over a Riviera...

Aside from that - when the band moved down to the floor - they sounded great, but from what I understand from the members - it was temporary, as it would interfere with the gingerbread house.

The current (pre-COVID) spot was really pretty terrible for the band. Sounded dead, and there was no way to just sit and enjoy. It felt like it they were being pushed out when they got moved there already...

The removal of these extra special magical experiences is getting much worse. Eventually it will erode the DVC brand. Speak out - write whoever you can find... terri.a.schultz@disney.com

Disney is/was known to set the standard for Unique and Magical vacations...keep taking this all away - and a Disney vacation just be just that - standard...

 

[SmartyBacon]

.

 

[we"reofftoneverland]

This is beyond the pale. I really hate Disney doing this. They got rid of the fife and drum band a few years ago because it was too American. I bet they are getting rid of the GF band because it is too Victorian, too Western. This stuff has got to stop, Disney.

 

[Ssplashhmtn]

I suspect they'll be back when club level rooms open up again, probably sometime in early 2021. I would guess this is a way to give them an opportunity to moonlight in the interim lending some credence to the theory that Beauty and the Beast is coming back in the near term.

Their Facebook post doesn’t sound like temporary moonlighting unfortunately. Unable to link their page, but one can search it.

 

[Jecks]

This really is terrible. I have very fond memories listening to them when I was a little kid. I was always infatuated with percussion and I would watch their drummer in awe every time - I did end up becoming a drummer in 3rd grade and stuck with it all through HS; those skills are long gone. I just bought a VGF contract and was looking forward to relaxing with my kids and watching them perform. Guess that will never happen...

What we need are all the “Karen’s” of the world to band together on this one! Start calling and work your magic!!! Let’s start a petition which, as we all know, will get us nowhere

Truly sad and frustrating.

 

[Takket]

This is beyond the pale. I really hate Disney doing this. They got rid of the fife and drum band a few years ago because it was too American. I bet they are getting rid of the GF band because it is too Victorian, too Western. This stuff has got to stop, Disney.

Nah, i think they got rid of them because their metrics say the resort will sell the same number of rooms regardless, so why am i paying these people money that i could be turning over to our investors?

 

[Wedgeout]

Smooth move management. Release the iconic orchestra from a lobby designed for them. Take away OUR entertainment for each generation to enjoy, yet kept the useless bird cage.