Very unhappy with Grand Floridian's room refurbishments; anyone share my sentiments?

[GrrArrgh]

If you look at the GF photo thread from the beginning, you can really see where the "Grandma decor" comments come from. http://www.disboards.com/threads/official-grand-floridian-photo-thread.1768829/ I'd just never purposefully stay in a room that looks like that if I could avoid it. It would not relax me. Although, it does remind me of watching Newhart as a kid, so that is one positive thing I'll say about it.

 

[ACL2000]

I've seen the photos in the GF photo thread your referring to and I do remember them. By mid 2007 those rooms had been mostly converted to the past incarnation utilizing the more subtle beige and peach colors.

I felt they were the best designed rooms since the original decor as it caputured the essence of Victorian elegance without being overwhealming. In the photo stream there are a few pics that show those rooms without wallpaper, which seemed more understated then the paisley wallpaper patterns.

What I would have done in name of preserving the old style of the rooms when upgrading would be to turn the volume down on those patterns. Perhaps a softer version of the wallpaper or even paint. Kept the old carpeting, furniture and headboard while replacing the day beds and "ribboned" mirrors. Perhaps more in the style of the Villas. many people miss the top hat Mickey lamps too! Little soft upgrades here and there is all they needed. Were they sold at auction or thrown away?

The most important trait regarding a hotel is consistency of design, service and style. The GF had that consistency overall, much of which dates back to its opening. Each resort embodies its own unique characteristics and upgrades are good as long as they stay true to their original style and designs.

Upgrades and renovations work when incorporated into the EXISTING theme and decor, working with it instead of against it. Take for example that incredible marble flooring with the Disney characters tastefully incorporated into it. An absolute home run! While original the ceramic tiled floors are correct to the time period and would still look good today, we find marble that much more desirable today.

I agree that times change and design preferences change over time, however some things should never change. The GF was built to represent not just an era, but the pinnacle of Victorian era style and elegance. This style transcends time and would hardly be a "theme" in my view.

Ditching them in order to compete with some generic luxury hotels down the street only cheapens the place, as if what we all love it for was never enough. The Grand Floridian is the WDW flagship resort, built in the spirit of the Gilded Age turn of the century Florida coast hotels. You can feel that within the wroght iron sconces, granite/marble tables, fresh flowers The old wall coverings depicting amusement park scenes, parasols and hot air baloons.

I've been to and stayed at a few five star hotels which outperform the GF in first class services however they don't have the character and this magic the GF has, nor the fanbase. Mt. Washington Hotel one of the properties the GF was based upon is over a centary and still manages to retain original artwork, furniture and crown moldings. Same for the Hotel Del Coronado.

A simple cut and past job of the Orlando Four Seasons rooms will only succeed in killing off any character the GF and other Disney deluxes have. To have this bland, corporate look bleed out into the lobby and common areas, in essence bleaching the walls and ridding the lobby of siniture features In favor of "modern" materials, just to gain some sense of "keeping up" is a huge mistake on their part. Why stay at a Disney resort if the very purpose we choose to do so is snuffed out in order to "compete" with a upscale chain hotel off the highway?

 

[ppiew]

i haven't been on the forums for some time and i caught this one!.. Yes and Yes! I was a bit shy about my opinions but i certainly agree/ The lobby reminds me of a funeral parlor - the 'dark' colors in the rug and the harsh cut of the palm fronds and the loss of the beautiful iconic set of floral arrangement at the entry all have shocked me. We stayed there in the concierge level and again I was very disappointed. Everywhere is gone the soft pastels that were the carpet. stairs, soft blues and peach paint. At first I was shocked, then angered, and now just disappointed. Even the bedding in our room was mostly synthetic, we had far better on the Disney DREAM! Maybe we will go back sometime but i just don't know.

 

[mystery222184]

I would go the other way on this. We also loved the GF while it had the old decor but looking back now it seems a bit dated.

While I think it would have been a good idea to keep those pictures (beach scene, book shelf) and the Mickey lamp, I think the new rooms look great (modern and luxurious). We've stayed at several of the other deluxes mentioned and the rooms at the Grand still stand out to us. To each their own I suppose!

 

[ACL2000]

i haven't been on the forums for some time and i caught this one!.. Yes and Yes! I was a bit shy about my opinions but i certainly agree/ The lobby reminds me of a funeral parlor - the 'dark' colors in the rug and the harsh cut of the palm fronds and the loss of the beautiful iconic set of floral arrangement at the entry all have shocked me. We stayed there in the concierge level and again I was very disappointed. Everywhere is gone the soft pastels that were the carpet. stairs, soft blues and peach paint. At first I was shocked, then angered, and now just disappointed. Even the bedding in our room was mostly synthetic, we had far better on the Disney DREAM! Maybe we will go back sometime but i just don't know.

Thank you. There seems to be a disconnect now, between upholding and upgrading within the tradition elements of the Disney resorts, and being pressured to transform them into something completely different, to be "modern, modern modern" thanks to these off site properties, and much blame goes to DVC in my opinion as well for influencing such unnecessary alterations. Like it or not the GF is a VICTORIAN style hotel, which is bright, ornate and somewhat frilly and old fashioned. Old fashioned goes beyond a theme, but allowing original elements to be preserved as essential components, including original 1988 furnishings. The rooms should and will reflect the original decor.

Sure the past room design may have been due for a "soft upgrade", though keeping within the spirit, Victorian furnishings, peach colors and soft colors. The Grand Floridian in may ways has aged gracefully. You can feel it in many parts of the resort. The wear of everyday use of the elevators, crown moldings and lobby artwork. Those sconces, replacing them with "modern" interpretations does a disservice to all that love such elegant details. I can post pictures of rooms from real five star hotels which feature similar decor the GF could have incorporated into it's redesign. Not cheap red curtains and a blue Mickey vanity chair!

We all have a "to each their own" viewpoint, however applies to one's own taste and while not everyone finds such decor and theme appealing, there are vast many that do. If one is't a fan of the ornate and soft peaches, there are many resorts on disney property that cater to everyone's tastes. I see no reason whatsoever the GF would have to transform their decor in any way just to appeal to a group that wouldn't stay there otherwise.

I feel GF senior management needs to be aware of this, and how many long term guests feel. If people simply write off WDW as an anonymous, corporate vacation conglomerate the disconnect between guests and "cast members" will only grow. Take off the masks, managers need to know that their resort (WDW) is a place dedicated to creating special memories for a lifetime, and not being sensitive to such details, cheapening down what we love dear and pay for. I won;t even begin to go into the tragedy that the Polynesian Resort experienced with the loss of that gorgeous, iconic rainforest fountain. Perhaps its most important feature.

 

[goofyintoronto]

I like the refurbishments. The previous decor was the main thing that kept me from wanting to stay there. I never saw it in person, but the pictures were a real turn off.

I finally got my dream to stay at GF in January of this year, and I loved it. Even DH loved it. If I could have my bedroom at home look like the room we stayed in, I would love it.

I also like that the resorts have done away with the old nasty quilted bedspreads.

We prefer the location of the Epcot resorts, but if the GF were located at EPCOT, it would be my favorite resort, and I'd happily stay there more often.

I totally agree with everything you said here. The previous decor was hideous in my opinion...I'd never consider staying there. With the new furniture, I think its gorgeous and would definitely stay there in a heartbeat. Huge improvement. And I agree about the nasty quilted bedspreads...those make my skin crawl. Good riddance to them!

 

[goofyintoronto]

If you look at the GF photo thread from the beginning, you can really see where the "Grandma decor" comments come from. http://www.disboards.com/threads/official-grand-floridian-photo-thread.1768829/ I'd just never purposefully stay in a room that looks like that if I could avoid it. It would not relax me. Although, it does remind me of watching Newhart as a kid, so that is one positive thing I'll say about it.

Lol! They're definitely "grandma" decore. Awful! I totally agree with you.

 

[Nancyg56]

I totally agree with everything you said here. The previous decor was hideous in my opinion...I'd never consider staying there. With the new furniture, I think its gorgeous and would definitely stay there in a heartbeat. Huge improvement. And I agree about the nasty quilted bedspreads...those make my skin crawl. Good riddance to them!

Indeed! I think management made a good decision to scrap that horrible decor. I never stayed there until they did. I would not have known where to put myself with all that awful stuff.

 

[goofyintoronto]

Indeed! I think management made a good decision to scrap that horrible decor. I never stayed there until they did. I would not have known where to put myself with all that awful stuff.

ha ha, right!

 

[Nancyg56]

ha ha, right!

LOL!

 

[crazymomof4]

I've seen the photos in the GF photo thread your referring to and I do remember them. By mid 2007 those rooms had been mostly converted to the past incarnation utilizing the more subtle beige and peach colors.

I felt they were the best designed rooms since the original decor as it caputured the essence of Victorian elegance without being overwhealming. In the photo stream there are a few pics that show those rooms without wallpaper, which seemed more understated then the paisley wallpaper patterns.

What I would have done in name of preserving the old style of the rooms when upgrading would be to turn the volume down on those patterns. Perhaps a softer version of the wallpaper or even paint. Kept the old carpeting, furniture and headboard while replacing the day beds and "ribboned" mirrors. Perhaps more in the style of the Villas. many people miss the top hat Mickey lamps too! Little soft upgrades here and there is all they needed. Were they sold at auction or thrown away?

The most important trait regarding a hotel is consistency of design, service and style. The GF had that consistency overall, much of which dates back to its opening. Each resort embodies its own unique characteristics and upgrades are good as long as they stay true to their original style and designs.

Upgrades and renovations work when incorporated into the EXISTING theme and decor, working with it instead of against it. Take for example that incredible marble flooring with the Disney characters tastefully incorporated into it. An absolute home run! While original the ceramic tiled floors are correct to the time period and would still look good today, we find marble that much more desirable today.

I agree that times change and design preferences change over time, however some things should never change. The GF was built to represent not just an era, but the pinnacle of Victorian era style and elegance. This style transcends time and would hardly be a "theme" in my view.

Ditching them in order to compete with some generic luxury hotels down the street only cheapens the place, as if what we all love it for was never enough. The Grand Floridian is the WDW flagship resort, built in the spirit of the Gilded Age turn of the century Florida coast hotels. You can feel that within the wroght iron sconces, granite/marble tables, fresh flowers The old wall coverings depicting amusement park scenes, parasols and hot air baloons.

I've been to and stayed at a few five star hotels which outperform the GF in first class services however they don't have the character and this magic the GF has, nor the fanbase. Mt. Washington Hotel one of the properties the GF was based upon is over a centary and still manages to retain original artwork, furniture and crown moldings. Same for the Hotel Del Coronado.

A simple cut and past job of the Orlando Four Seasons rooms will only succeed in killing off any character the GF and other Disney deluxes have. To have this bland, corporate look bleed out into the lobby and common areas, in essence bleaching the walls and ridding the lobby of siniture features In favor of "modern" materials, just to gain some sense of "keeping up" is a huge mistake on their part. Why stay at a Disney resort if the very purpose we choose to do so is snuffed out in order to "compete" with a upscale chain hotel off the highway?

I cannot speak for the GF as I have never stayed at the GF but have visited many time and so am well aware of what the intended theming is. I am writing this post to say that I agree wholeheartedly with your viewpoint and to say I felt EXACTLY the same way after our Sept stay in the refurbed Beach Club rooms. We stayed in the older version of BC rooms in 2014 and while I could see the need for replacing worn out furniture, sinks, etc I DID love the way the theming was displayed in the room décor. At first when we realized that we'd have an updated room for our Sept '16 trip, I was excited. I saw pix online and kinda wrinkled my nose missing to old style of the rooms but tried to stay positive thinking I'd see more themed elements once we were actually IN the room. Nope. The original theme of Yacht and Beach Club Resorts was/is(?) "Turn of the Century, New England, beach/nautical. That theme continues alive and well in the lobby and other public areas- There is a sitting area in the villas part of the resort that is just so lovely and so nicely themed. But the intended theme has been removed entirely from the rooms themselves with this latest reno. I looked and looked during the 9 nites we stayed and had a hard time finding anything in the room that was even "beachy", much less "Turn of the Century"!. There are some shell prints on the walls but they are modern in style. The rooms are decorated tastefully and are lovely BUT you don't feel the theming of the resort at all when you are in them. I was disappointed for sure. I commented to DH that maybe the young interior designers either were not informed of the resort theme beforehand or maybe they just cannot think outside the box of the latest trends . The rooms just looked cookie-cutter to me. Not ugly, no. Clean lines, yes! BUT I didn't feel immersed in the theming. Isn't that the point of a themed resort? To feel immersed? Imagine checking in to AoA and seeing all the theming in the check in area, walking thru and oohing and ahhing at all the outside theming of the resort and then opening up your resort room door and seeing inside a room that could very well be an updated room at any Hampton Inn along I-95! Think guests would be disappointed? You betcha! I feel just as strongly that the room theming should be left intact at the more subtly themed resorts as well.

 

[ACL2000]

I am somewhat with the OP in thinking the new design doesn't really capture the Victorian elegance that the resort is supposed to evoke, but I will say that having seen the rooms back in 2009, and then in 2014, the rooms DO look much more elegant in person than they do in pictures. The room was really very comfortable as well. I would gladly stay there again. I really missed though the subtle Mickey-head, pineapple wallpaper in the hallways.

I think as one poster said, you'll notice all the deluxe resorts are going this "white-washed" route, and I think the reason has to do with the fact that there's now a Four Seasons and an Waldorf nearby, that at times (especially the Waldorf) have rates far lower than Disney deluxes. And at those resorts, as much as we love our Disney, I'm sure you'd really learn what "First Class Service" means. I think the cleaner, plainer rooms at WDW deluxes is an attempt to compete with these non-Disney high-end hotels and keep the rooms full. Non Dis members, which is probably about 98% of travelers, who are used to staying at local Sheratons, Westins, heck, even Holiday Inns, probably looked at those heavy, heavily printed comforters and thought "I"m paying 500 bucks for THIS?" If it weren't for the transportation, for us, it would be an absolute no-brainer to stay at the Waldorf, as on our most recent trip (August), rooms at the Poly and BC, where we stayed, were rack-rated at $475 and $375 respectively, whereas, on Priceline, I could get a room at the Waldorf for $179.

But back to the GF, I agree that the rooms at the Villas did a much better job being modern, without losing the Victorian touches. I really hope they incorporate that design into the next rehab at the GF....which I assume is up for a soft-goods refurb within the next 2-3 years.

Also...have they yanked the roll pillows in GF rooms? There was a great red and purple roll pillow on both beds when we stayed there in 2014, and I"m not seeing it in recent pics. I wonder where those go?

Yes those roll pillows are still there. Good for lying your head on them when first checking in. As for the "white-washed" look, diluting the character of their own high end resorts to compete with a Four Seasons only accomplishes the opposite in my view. Makes them less desirable and guests more likely to stay at one of those off property resorts. It's not just design themselves, but how it fits into the style of the resort itself. I've stayed in a couple hotels (five stars) which have similar design characteristics to the four star Grand's former rooms though a bit more subdued.

The Carlyle in NYC is one of them and those rooms are very well appointed in a classic style with Victorian traits without being overbearing. They could have accomplished the same thing with just changing a few details. The new GF rooms are just so bland it's incredible. Nice, comfortable, but bland. Might as well stay in the Four Seasons if thats the route Disney is going to take when attempting to compete with high end properties. Disney doesn't help themselves charging 700 dollars a night while the Four Seasons can get away with offering guests 375 a night like you said.