The similarities between the GF and BWI

[Seabean]

We stayed at the BWI last week for the second year in a row. For a few years before that, we had stayed at the GF (we've stayed at all the monorail resorts)

When we first arrived at the BWI last year, one of our DD's remarked that "it's like the GF, only funner". Since then we sort of refer to the BWI as the "Fun Floridian" (which would make sense since some think of the GF as "stuffy" ... though we don't)

But since both resorts are loosely based on early 20th century beach resorts, it's interesting to note the similarities. Let's see...


There's a type of hanging chandelier that we've seen in both the BWI and BocaChica/Sugarloaf.
There's a window display on one of the GF shops that looks like a beach scene poster from the BWI
The hotel rooms are VERY similar, right down to the wallpapers, wall-portraits, and color schemes
Lots of white trim, white this, white that...
The CM uniforms at both have an early 20th century theme.

What else can anyone think of?

 

[Seabean]

Bump... anyone else?

Two more things I can think of:

Lots of brass things
Small scale models of amusement rides


Or would anyone else like to comment on any other aspects of the similarities of these two resorts?

 

[LittleStinkerbelle]

You see a lot of brides/wedding parties at both resorts with the Wedding Pavilion @ GF and Seabreeze Point near BWI.

 

[Seabean]

Good catch! Yes, we often saw a fair amount of wedding parties getting photographed when we were at the GF, and it seemed like many afternoons at the BWI there was a bride + party walking down the Boardwalk.

 

[Seabean]

GF beds:

BWI beds:

 

[sjs314]

I noticed that the interior hallways have a similar look and feel in fact I showed DH the picture of GF hallway

 

[jcjen519]

those bed skirts are almost identical. i could see the gf rooms looking even more like bwi rooms after the upcoming renovations

 

[mousefan73]

I have stayed at neither, but based on the pics and not knowing i would say the GF looks the lessor of the two. Based on only room pic. I would say the theming is the same but GF looks cheaper and not so upscale. The duvets and cleaner lines of bwi make it IMO more upscale. Ironic i guess as GF is the best???? Maybe not??

 

[gwynne]

I have stayed at neither, but based on the pics and not knowing i would say the GF looks the lessor of the two. Based on only room pic. I would say the theming is the same but GF looks cheaper and not so upscale. The duvets and cleaner lines of bwi make it IMO more upscale. Ironic i guess as GF is the best???? Maybe not??

I don't get the bedspreads at GF at all. They look awful to me, like a cheap B&B. I would love to stay at GF , but will wait till those spreads disappear. On the other hand, I think the bedding at BWI is lovely. I agree with you about the irony.
Also, I do see some general similarities in both resorts theming.

 

[AMB1]

I have stayed at neither, but based on the pics and not knowing i would say the GF looks the lessor of the two. Based on only room pic. I would say the theming is the same but GF looks cheaper and not so upscale. The duvets and cleaner lines of bwi make it IMO more upscale. Ironic i guess as GF is the best???? Maybe not??

The BWI rooms have been refurbished more recently than the GF rooms. I think GF will get duvets in the next couple of years. At the moment, I think BWI has the nicer rooms (although they are slightly smaller).

We've stayed at both GF and BWI. I agree there are many similarities.

 

[WDWKOOK]

I don't get the bedspreads at GF at all. They look awful to me, like a cheap B&B. I would love to stay at GF , but will wait till those spreads disappear. On the other hand, I think the bedding at BWI is lovely. I agree with you about the irony.
Also, I do see some general similarities in both resorts theming.

I was LOL when I read this as I feel the exact same way. GF is the only Deluxe that still has cheap, stiff, ugly bedspreads (or does AKL still have them?), yet it's WDW's Flagship Resort

 

[Dreamsdocometrue9112]

So funny you start this thread. DH and I stayed at GF for our honeymoon last September. We stayed at BWI for the first time in May and kept saying how similar it was to GF...and quite a bit more affordable. We kept pointing out similarities as well

We will be returning to BWI in December!

 

[Sandi]

I've never stayed at GF and I'm one of those people to whom that resort does feel more stuffy. I love, love, love BWI. I agree there are similarities and I didn't really notice that until you pointed them out.

The bedskirts at BWI are gone -- at least in the two rooms in which I've stayed this year.

 

[Masonmj84]

I don't get the bedspreads at GF at all. They look awful to me, like a cheap B&B. I would love to stay at GF , but will wait till those spreads disappear. On the other hand, I think the bedding at BWI is lovely. I agree with you about the irony.
Also, I do see some general similarities in both resorts theming.

I too feel turned off by the bedspreads at GF (especially given the price of the rooms).

I'm considering switching from Poly to GF for our spring 2014 trip due to the rumored construction. But I just can't get past those ugly bedspreads (especially now that the Poly finally has duvets).

 

[kapoof]

We are staying at the bwi next month. I love frilly rooms but I don't care for the gf. It was too stuffy. I think the bwi is still upscale, just more comfortable.