soxnation
Mom to a Cockapoo!
- Joined
- May 21, 2006
- Messages
- 462
We stayed at the Grand Floridian August 24-29th. We had a garden view room in the Conch Key building with a view of Narccoossees and a bit of the lagoon. This was a great quiet room with a location steps from the boat launch and a little stroll to Gasparilla Grill. We had a mix up at check in with our requests not being met. The had a room ready for us but it was smoking and I wanted non smoking. Because of this mess up we waited 3 hours for a room to be cleaned while being given the run around by the individual in charge of room assignments. Who eventually would just walk away when I headed to the desk. We could not go to the parks in the pouring rain without knowing we had a room to come back to, we were also very tired from an early flight that was so full of turbulence we could not get up. Eventually we were given 7122 in Conch Key original smoking room was 9510 I believe it was a top floor room. 7122 was nice nothing seemed to be worn or needing repair. Bathroom was clean and betting met our approval. We had a lovely mousekeeper Cecelia, who cleaned the room to perfection every day and would leave us treats from fresh flowers to towel animals every day.
We ate breakfast every morning at the resort 4 times at the grill and one trip to the grand Floridian café. Choices at the grill were limited but were things we liked. Breakfast platters and pancakes were our choices we also grabbed bagels to go one morning. Coffee was good better than we had expected. Lunch options at the grill were the usual kids fare as well as interesting sandwiches and salads we recommend the jerk chicken salad on a wrap it was great. We got the refillable mugs would prefer if they had the travel kind like the wilderness lodge does. Also many people consider these a souvenir so having it say more than grand adventures for kids and having it be functional would be nice. The fireworks from the marina were a great experience.
Transportation from the resort in august was lengthy if leaving the MK area. The boat to the poly and mk was great and we highly recommend using it especially on the way back from the mk during the fireworks. Monorail to EPCOT took quite a while, buses were shared with other MK resorts and it was almost an hour trip to downtown Disney. We saw many buses come and go before another MK area bus would arrive, we even optioned taking buses to other resorts just to try to get back.
The back of the resort area was always quiet and felt relaxing the second you entered the lobby it was every man for himself some days between resort hoppers and people doing the character dining it was loud many days hard to sit and enjoy the music with many princess running around you. The gift shop also had in our opinion a poor selection compared to the Polynesian.
All in all the resort was part of our total vacation experience but I do not think for the money we would be going back any time soon. We just did not feel that for the extra money we were spending we were getting anything out of it. We were not expecting something extra but we just did not feel the staff was up to par with the reputation of the resort. As our buses would pass the Wilderness Lodge I wished we had stayed there would have saved some money and gotten refurbished rooms. Nothing horrible about the Grand Floridian just think when it comes to the money we may go elsewhere.
Here are some photos of Conch Key and the Boat Launch hope to have more photos to add later today
We ate breakfast every morning at the resort 4 times at the grill and one trip to the grand Floridian café. Choices at the grill were limited but were things we liked. Breakfast platters and pancakes were our choices we also grabbed bagels to go one morning. Coffee was good better than we had expected. Lunch options at the grill were the usual kids fare as well as interesting sandwiches and salads we recommend the jerk chicken salad on a wrap it was great. We got the refillable mugs would prefer if they had the travel kind like the wilderness lodge does. Also many people consider these a souvenir so having it say more than grand adventures for kids and having it be functional would be nice. The fireworks from the marina were a great experience.
Transportation from the resort in august was lengthy if leaving the MK area. The boat to the poly and mk was great and we highly recommend using it especially on the way back from the mk during the fireworks. Monorail to EPCOT took quite a while, buses were shared with other MK resorts and it was almost an hour trip to downtown Disney. We saw many buses come and go before another MK area bus would arrive, we even optioned taking buses to other resorts just to try to get back.
The back of the resort area was always quiet and felt relaxing the second you entered the lobby it was every man for himself some days between resort hoppers and people doing the character dining it was loud many days hard to sit and enjoy the music with many princess running around you. The gift shop also had in our opinion a poor selection compared to the Polynesian.
All in all the resort was part of our total vacation experience but I do not think for the money we would be going back any time soon. We just did not feel that for the extra money we were spending we were getting anything out of it. We were not expecting something extra but we just did not feel the staff was up to par with the reputation of the resort. As our buses would pass the Wilderness Lodge I wished we had stayed there would have saved some money and gotten refurbished rooms. Nothing horrible about the Grand Floridian just think when it comes to the money we may go elsewhere.
Here are some photos of Conch Key and the Boat Launch hope to have more photos to add later today
I have stayed at the Beach Club Villas which I liked very much. I have also stayed at the Board Walk Villa's which the Villa itself was fine, but I like the pool better at the Beach Club then the Boardwalk. Then I finally got my husband to stay at the GF. It just makes me feel happy. It is so open and beautiful to me. It brings a smile to my face every time I pull up to it or view it from the monorail. 
(No, I don't like making my own in the room, the smell will wake up the kids and I like a little quiet time before they get up. ) I didn't realize I would miss the food (drink for me) offerings so much. Now that I tried RPC for our short weekend Anniversary trip....man I hope we can find a way to afford it every time. 
Really though it is a preference and what your personal budget really is. If it is going to put you in debt. Then no it is not near worth it imo, but if you can afford it....then the little bit is nice. I tell myself not to expect any extra attention or service even though I am paying for it and I seem to keep myself on an even keel. When I get going about the rooms needing updated and the mousekeeping could have done a better job in the bathroom then I remember the other places I have stayed and calm myself down. But the one thing I would have a hard time with is a dirty room. I have never experience that at the GF...Thank God and I feel sorry for Docsknotinn to have to experience it 
If I did I would be very upset and probably have to rethink my lover affair with the GF. Until then I hope to visit the Poly for all the great things it has to offer and stick with the GF for the things I love about it. Wish me luck seeing who wins where we will stay next trip...my dh or me. 
I had to bribe my kids to do Xmas at WDW......they love our own home Christmases, so it better be good!!! 
) I am hoping that by January all will be well at the SL. 
