What is so Great about GF?

[jenwimett]

About 10 years ago DH and I went to MK for a visit while on our honeymoon. We rode the ferry across and as we did, I look at the spectacular view of the GF. She has such a presence it demands you to look at her and I remember telling my DH that "I am going to stay there some day!"

It's 10 years later and I still have a fondness for her and want a taste of what it's like to stay there. Even though we are deluxe clan, I just can't justify spending that kind of money to stay at the elite.

I am wondering, aside from location and transportation what does the GF offer that other deluxes don't.

I am sure I will break down some day and foot out cash to stay there!

 

[G8r4evr]

I have wanted to stay at GF ever since I was a kid, and rode by it on the monorail. Now that I can actually afford to stay there, I cant justify the cost either. =(

Not to mention, from the pics of the rooms I have seen on this board, the decor doesnt seem to be my cup of tea.

 

[Cmbar]

I have wanted to stay at GF ever since I was a kid, and rode by it on the monorail. Now that I can actually afford to stay there, I cant justify the cost either. =(

Not to mention, from the pics of the rooms I have seen on this board, the decor doesnt seem to be my cup of tea.

Hopefully the Refurbished room will be a little less "victorian".

I am staying there for the first time and I have to say that I can hardly justify staying there this time but we got one of those glorious 40% off codes and are staying for 255.00 a night. Yes it is only GV, but it is our 15th anniversary and we wanted to do it up right. Hopefully we will love our stay, but we simply can't afford to become addicts!

I think if you have always wanted to stay, try it at least once. You might consider doing a split stay somewhere and trying one of the moderates. They are lovely and it is so nice to have two "mini vacations". Or there is the AKL or WL if you HAVE to stay deluxe! They can be considerably cheaper than the other deluxes.

To answer you question.... I hear the pools and the resort in general is just so relaxing. But lets face it , it is the convenience of being so close to the MK that sells it. Who wouldn't want to be one stop from MK and sit on those beaches and watch the fireworks! I am sure I will post back after our trip..... Which seems like an eternity away!

 

[G8r4evr]

$255 a night would be hard to pass up!! =) Congrats!

If the new rooms are less "victorian", I will definitely be more prone to splurge. LOL

 

[Demosthenes]

I get TA rates on the GF quite a bit (it is often available when the other monorail resorts are not). While we enjoy our stays there, it is our least favorite of the monorail resorts. We like the CR for convenience, the Poly for theme and then the GF. The only thing you get at the GF that you don't get at the other deluxes is turndown service without requesting it in a standard room. We usually stay concierge, so we get turndown anyway, but you can always just request it in any other deluxe. You do have the most restaurants at GF of any other resort, but then, the other monorail hotels are pretty much just as convenient to those as the GF is. DW and I also think that the GF quiet pool is the best one on property, but I think the theme pool is only ok. All of that being said, we really like the GF, and it is our third favorite hotel. But I honestly don't think it is worth more money than the other monorail resorts, and I would never choose to stay there if the CR or Poly has dates available for the same time.

 

[simonkodousek]

I really would like to stay at the GF, but nor can I justify spending that kind of money on a resort. However, say I got a good code, it would be my #1 choice. Also, this would have to be after the rehab where the resorts don't look so Victorian.

 

[G8r4evr]

I really would like to stay at the GF, but nor can I justify spending that kind of money on a resort. However, say I got a good code, it would be my #1 choice. Also, this would have to be after the rehab where the resorts don't look so Victorian.

Any word on the theming of the new rooms?

 

[las3888]

My 2 cents: we stayed at the GF on an incredible deal about 7-8 years ago. I still didn't get what the big deal was, but I am glad I tried it and can say I've been there. It was nice. The rooms were very nice...I would prefer other monorail resorts to it, namely due to cost. It is more expensive than all the others, but I personally don't see what justifies that added cost. Don't get me wrong, it's beautiful, nice, great location....just can't justify the cost again.

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

Even though my family and I have never stayed at the Grand Floridian, we always visit it everytime we are in WDW and we have talked about maybe staying there one day. The only negative that I have about them is that their self parking lot is across the street and you would think they would have it closer to the main building. I know their is always valet parking, however why should we valet park if we don't need to? Besides by self parking we save $10.00 + the tip, so we can use that money to purchase something in WDW.

 

[BabyFu18]

I've never stayed at the Grand Floridian, but I always go to look around when I'm at Disney. I just love how grand the lobby is, but like someone else said the decor of the rooms is not my style. The decor and the room rates are what is holding me back from trying to stay there right now. Every picture I've seen of the rooms is filled with floral wallpaper (over kill), and I know the theme is victorian but I just think it could have been done differently and still been victorian. I really think for the money I need to like the decor atleast a little. The GF decor makes me think I'd not enjoy my time in the room, but the rest of the resort is so beautiful it almost makes up for it.

Maybe one day I'll try a stay there, because the resort really is very pretty and I think it's one of those things that I'll have to experience atleast once in my life (if I can afford it).

 

[Sammie]

Atmosphere, location, the grounds, the decor and for us the staff. It is elegant, which is something very lacking these days. The flowers in the lobby, the costumes of the staff all speak of a era long gone and missed. The view, the restaurants and the pool are some of my favorite.

I am sure someone, will be along shortly to say, that the answer to your question is "nothing".

But maybe we will get lucky and just once they will refrain. We can hope.

 

[lizanne]

My DH and I stayed there last year for the first time. What a disappointment.

Our main problem was with with cleanliness, or lack thereof. There were several (3 days out of 6) times we left the room at 9:00 and would return around 4:00 and housekeeping still had not been in the room. The hallways were very dirty. The same litter was on the floor the day we left that was there the day we arrived.

The lobby is great and I enjoy some of the restaurants, but you don't have to stay there to enjoy them. I never really cared if we stayed there but my DH was really looking forward to it.

We're DVC members and used some extra points we had to stay there. There won't be a next time.

 

[ChernabogGA]

My DW and I stayed there on our Honeymoon 8 years ago. We loved it. It is so relaxing. It's not loud. And I loved sitting out on the balcony and the docks just watching the fireworks. Now that being said, I now have a DD 7 and another DD 4 and I will not stay there again untill they are much older. It is not as children friendly as Poly or CR. Just my .02

 

[jtlover]

We like the decor of the rooms and we had a dormer room last time which we loved. We are going next month again and hope to get a dormer room again. It is a relaxing hotel and my husband loves sitting in the lobby and listening to the jazz band in the afternoon

 

[fla4fun]

I've stayed at GF a few times, but it's not my favorite deluxe. First of all, I don't do valet parking (I'm really picky about who gets to drive my car) and the self parking feels like it's in another state (OK, it's just across the street, but it's still a long hike to me). The first few times I stayed there, they still had some self parking on the resort side, but the last time I stayed there was when all the self parking had been moved, and that was a big part of the decision not to go back.

Also, and I may get flamed for this, I felt there was too much service. It seemed like every 15 minutes someone was knocking on our door to see if we needed anything. It got to the point that we started leaving the Privacy Please sign on the door any time we were in the room (I am not exaggerating on this one). I don't mind housekeeping coming in once a day, but it was getting ridiculous. If I come back to the room for a mid day break, I want a little peace and quiet. I also agree with a previous poster that the decor just wasn't my taste either, although a refurbishment could change that at any time.

Third, and this applies to resorts other than GF as well, I really prefer the resorts that are self contained, like BC/YC, CR, WL, to the ones with separate buildings. I tend to travel in the fall and winter, when if it rains, it tends to rain all day instead of just a quick afternoon shower. I like to be able to leave my room and move around without having to put on a poncho. So I don't stay at resorts with separate buildings as often.

GF does have a lot of good qualities as well. I like the pool on the beach, the restaurants are good, there is a good selection of shops, and the grounds are lovely. I did have a good time on my trips there. I just prefer some of the other resorts to GF.

 

[jenwimett]

We like the decor of the rooms and we had a dormer room last time which we loved. We are going next month again and hope to get a dormer room again. It is a relaxing hotel and my husband loves sitting in the lobby and listening to the jazz band in the afternoon

What is a dormer room?

 

[Poohsmommi]

My 2 cents: we stayed at the GF on an incredible deal about 7-8 years ago. I still didn't get what the big deal was, but I am glad I tried it and can say I've been there. It was nice. The rooms were very nice...I would prefer other monorail resorts to it, namely due to cost. It is more expensive than all the others, but I personally don't see what justifies that added cost. Don't get me wrong, it's beautiful, nice, great location....just can't justify the cost again.

It is approx the same price per night as The Ritz, and doesn't even come close to being comparable .... because of that, I can't justify staying there. Just my 2 cents!

 

[Aubiesmomma]

I like to go there because thats the only hotel we went to as a kid.It was my moms favorite hotel at WDW,and it reminds me of her (she passed away when was 6).That is my main reason for staying there. Other then that ,I really enjoy not having 500 screaming kids running around,and DH and I enjoy the over-all feel of the place.Its very nice,without feeling stuffy or snoody.The only other WDW hotel we stay in is the Celebration hotel.

 

[Doc CW]

The beach is nice to walk on, the pool, the spa and fitness center, the food court is pretty nice, and it was quiet and very relaxing when we were there also it was easy transportation for my baby-sister b/c we didnt have to collapse her stroller.

 

[DisneyMomx7]

We've stayed at GF, the Poly and YC and liked them all. That being said we stayed at YC for two weeks June/July of this year and when we took the kids over for the Wonderland Tea Party I felt the "GF pangs". There is something very elegant and relaxing at the GF. Right now I'm debating next summer's trip as GF, Poly, or GF/Poly split.

I would definitely do the GF at least once so you can see for yourself what it's all about. I don't know if its because we initially only stayed at GF but ds (7) still says the GF is his favorite of the resorts we've stayed at.