It was great before.... but it is so much less 1980s Murder She Wrote.... I agree... Much more enchanting! So far my only gripe has been the lighting fixture....
*The Official VILLAS AT DISNEY'S GRAND FLORIDIAN RESORT & SPA Group* + LOBBY CONSTRUCTION UPDATES!
- Thread starter mrsap
- Start date
mlittig
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- 6,085
I love, LOVE, LOVE that gorgeous, bright, colorful carpet and can't wait to see it in person in December
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mrsap
DIS Legend
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- Apr 30, 2012
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- 24,952
New Carpet Installed in Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort Lobby
In our last update a few days ago, we reported that the check-in area reopened with new desks and more. Part of the lobby’s center was blocked off and carpet had been ripped up for replacement. Within a few days, the entire central space was blocked by curtains, as seen above.
Gray carpet underlayment was rolled out on large portions of the floor where carpet was previously removed. Crews started removing the old carpet from the other half of the space.
While we were checking out the lobby work, we also noticed there are quite a few lamp shades laying out. These are likely new ones that will be installed around the area.
Walkways are still available around the perimeter of the lobby for guests moving through the area. Crews were also repainting the planters.
By October 9, all the old carpet was gone and crews had laid out brand new carpet. The difference between the old faded, well-worn carpet and this brand-new vibrant carpet is clear. Though they both featured Victorian-inspired floral designs, the flowers on the new carpeting are bigger and the design takes up more of the space, rather than having a simple green dotted section around the exterior.
The new carpet has not yet been fully secured to the floor. There are still some edges and corners flipped up, plus some pieces that are not lined up with the rest of the carpet. Several crew members were on site Thursday morning.
The edge of the carpet is light brown. It was propped up on a planter near the Garden View Tea Room, having not yet been cut to shape.
The main color of the carpet’s center is blue, with the same dark filigree pattern as the new carpet in the check-in area. The large flowers are pink, purple, blue, and yellow.
The carpet had also not yet been properly cut around the birdcage bar. The bar will have a strip of tile flooring around it, which has already been installed but is covered by protective paneling.
The carpet will likely be completely installed within a few days, so the Grand Floridian can reopen some of the lobby’s lounge space.
Paneling has been removed from some of the planter walls around the edge of the lobby’s center. It looks like these are being refurbished or replaced. With the exception of those around the birdcage bar, the planters have mostly gone untouched during construction.
The last few days have also seen more progress on the birdcage bar. Crews have continued to install faux wood paneling and counters. There are still some areas to be covered but this step appears nearly complete.
One spot that doesn’t have paneling yet is this corner of the roof. Currently, a bunch of wires is in the way.
There is a new decorative flower inserted in one of the panels at the center of the bar overhang. So far, no other panels have the decorative flower (or any art for that matter).
The decorative shell-like element was removed from the balcony above the resort’s main entrance. The semi-circle left behind has been sanded and repainted white.
The same was previously done above the Garden View Tea Room. Both semi-circles will get new decorative elements featuring the Grand Floridian logo.
The birdcage elevator is back open. A new mural has been painted on the wall around the elevator doors. The mural features a vine-covered trellis, palm trees, and birds. Work isn’t complete in the space yet, as more will likely be painted on the white paneling above the doors.
From the first landing of the grand staircase, we could see crew members in the breezeway installing new wallpaper. This is the same black and white damask paper we’ve seen added to other areas of the lobby.
mamaofsix
DIS Veteran
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- Feb 8, 2017
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- 2,032
T
Keeps getting better and better...New Carpet Installed in Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort Lobby
In our last update a few days ago, we reported that the check-in area reopened with new desks and more. Part of the lobby’s center was blocked off and carpet had been ripped up for replacement. Within a few days, the entire central space was blocked by curtains, as seen above.
Gray carpet underlayment was rolled out on large portions of the floor where carpet was previously removed. Crews started removing the old carpet from the other half of the space.
While we were checking out the lobby work, we also noticed there are quite a few lamp shades laying out. These are likely new ones that will be installed around the area.
Walkways are still available around the perimeter of the lobby for guests moving through the area. Crews were also repainting the planters.
By October 9, all the old carpet was gone and crews had laid out brand new carpet. The difference between the old faded, well-worn carpet and this brand-new vibrant carpet is clear. Though they both featured Victorian-inspired floral designs, the flowers on the new carpeting are bigger and the design takes up more of the space, rather than having a simple green dotted section around the exterior.
The new carpet has not yet been fully secured to the floor. There are still some edges and corners flipped up, plus some pieces that are not lined up with the rest of the carpet. Several crew members were on site Thursday morning.
The edge of the carpet is light brown. It was propped up on a planter near the Garden View Tea Room, having not yet been cut to shape.
The main color of the carpet’s center is blue, with the same dark filigree pattern as the new carpet in the check-in area. The large flowers are pink, purple, blue, and yellow.
The carpet had also not yet been properly cut around the birdcage bar. The bar will have a strip of tile flooring around it, which has already been installed but is covered by protective paneling.
The carpet will likely be completely installed within a few days, so the Grand Floridian can reopen some of the lobby’s lounge space.
Paneling has been removed from some of the planter walls around the edge of the lobby’s center. It looks like these are being refurbished or replaced. With the exception of those around the birdcage bar, the planters have mostly gone untouched during construction.
The last few days have also seen more progress on the birdcage bar. Crews have continued to install faux wood paneling and counters. There are still some areas to be covered but this step appears nearly complete.
One spot that doesn’t have paneling yet is this corner of the roof. Currently, a bunch of wires is in the way.
There is a new decorative flower inserted in one of the panels at the center of the bar overhang. So far, no other panels have the decorative flower (or any art for that matter).
The decorative shell-like element was removed from the balcony above the resort’s main entrance. The semi-circle left behind has been sanded and repainted white.
The same was previously done above the Garden View Tea Room. Both semi-circles will get new decorative elements featuring the Grand Floridian logo.
The birdcage elevator is back open. A new mural has been painted on the wall around the elevator doors. The mural features a vine-covered trellis, palm trees, and birds. Work isn’t complete in the space yet, as more will likely be painted on the white paneling above the doors.
From the first landing of the grand staircase, we could see crew members in the breezeway installing new wallpaper. This is the same black and white damask paper we’ve seen added to other areas of the lobby.
Girlstar30
DIS Veteran
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- Feb 1, 2025
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- 4,287
Absolutely gorgeous stunning carpet, I cannot wait for our stay next year
mrsap
DIS Legend
- Joined
- Apr 30, 2012
- Messages
- 24,952
New Lobby Furniture Arrives at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort
Following the installation of new carpet, the lobby of Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa has brand-new furniture.
The lobby of Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort is undergoing a months-long renovation. Earlier this week, an updated check-in area reopened while most of the lobby’s central lounge area was blocked off. The space remains inaccessible but crews are arranging the new furniture, so it will likely reopen within a few days.
Installation of the new carpet began on Thursday. It’s now complete so we can see the new design. It retains the lobby’s floral motifs and Victorian theming but with an updated color scheme and patterns. The flowers are larger and the main color is now bright blue instead of green. It matches new carpet on the grand staircase and in the check-in area.
The new furniture is also Victorian-inspired. It looks like there are fewer sofas and more individual chairs than previously. The sofas are all a beige color. Most of the furniture has dark brown wood or leather finishes.
The grand piano has returned to the lobby, now positioned in the center. One Cast Member was arranging red velvet ropes and gold stanchions around it.
There are multiple styles of armchairs. High-backed chairs feature red velvet upholstery and matching pillows. There are green chairs with floral patterns on their backs.
Beige patterned pillows sit on light blue chairs. Other throw pillows are golden or green with bird patterns. There are also large yellow ottomans with subtle patterns and white piping trim.
The furniture is arranged around tables. Most of the coffee tables are circular but there are also long rectangular console tables and small square end tables.
Some of the end tables are topped with new lamps that have circular white shades.
Standing lamps frame curved sofas on the edges of the seating area. These are paired with pink armchairs. Instead of brown wood, the coffee tables alongside these sofas and chairs are white marble and the end tables are gold and glass.
On the curved sofas are pink velvet throw pillows and floral-patterned pillows similar to the carpet.
As we noted in our last update, paneling is missing from the fronts of some of the long wall planters. Where there were previously large orbs atop the ends of planters, there are now planter pots.
Crew members were also working on top of the birdcage bar, which has progressively gained more wood-style paneling.
For comparison, below is a photo from today alongside a photo before construction began.
October 2025 vs. September 2023And below is concept art for the renovated lobby.
The birdcage bar and Garden View Tea Room remain under construction. The latter has been closed since 2020. New GF logo decorative elements will also be added to the balconies overlooking the tea room and main entrance. Crew members continue to replace wallpaper and repaint walls throughout the lobby.
Due to construction, the Grand Floridian will not present its Victorian gingerbread housethis year. Work began in April and is scheduled through November.
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