Refurbishment coming to Disney's Grand Floridian Resort lobby

[Disstevefan1]

I cannot begin to tell you the things I have used construction scraps for. Has saved me lots of pennies here and there!

It sure saved the third party contractor working here some pennies - more profit for them!

 

[Disney Analyst]

Disney's Grand Floridian Lobby Bar Construction Progresses with Decorative Elements​

Disney's Grand Floridian Lobby Bar Construction Progresses with Decorative Elements

Disney's Grand Floridian Lobby Bar Construction Progresses with Decorative Elements

www.wdwmagic.com

I think they want this open by Christmas season.

 

[Disstevefan1]

I think they want this open by Christmas season.

Even Santa cant grant that wish.

I Guarantee its not open by Christmas.

Save this post.

If I am wrong, I can drink to forget at the GF lobby bar...... Mmmmmmm Egg Nogg with double rum.

 

[MisterPenguin]

How much do you reckon that intricate and bespoke carpets cost?

 

[Disstevefan1]

How much do you reckon that intricate and bespoke carpets cost?

Well worth it in my opinion as its in a public space.

I am not so happy about the bar in the lobby but I get it, margins!

I will even probably partake in an over priced drink when I stop in and visit.

 

[Dr.GrantSeeker]

Photos from this evening. The tea room has been gutted too.

 

[Dan Deesnee]

I haven't posted here in ages but had to come out of retirement. I am only seeing the updates on what's happening at Grand Floridian today.

I mean, WOW...what a disaster.

A classy, warm, classic, gorgeous lobby now has a huge BAR in it ! And they're adding a modern looking lounge. Just what this place needed, to be more like every Hilton or Marriott on the planet.

After the riverboat removal, and now this disaster, it does seem as though Disney is actively trying to destroy the heart of that makes WDW so special.

Sad to watch Disney destroy itself one misguided project at a time.

 

[Disstevefan1]

I haven't posted here in ages but had to come out of retirement. I am only seeing the updates on what's happening at Grand Floridian today.

I mean, WOW...what a disaster.

A classy, warm, classic, gorgeous lobby now has a huge BAR in it ! And they're adding a modern looking lounge. Just what this place needed, to be more like every Hilton or Marriott on the planet.

After the riverboat removal, and now this disaster, it does seem as though Disney is actively trying to destroy the heart of that makes WDW so special.

Sad to watch Disney destroy itself one misguided project at a time.

 

[networkpro]

I haven't posted here in ages but had to come out of retirement. I am only seeing the updates on what's happening at Grand Floridian today.

I mean, WOW...what a disaster.

A classy, warm, classic, gorgeous lobby now has a huge BAR in it ! And they're adding a modern looking lounge. Just what this place needed, to be more like every Hilton or Marriott on the planet.

After the riverboat removal, and now this disaster, it does seem as though Disney is actively trying to destroy the heart of that makes WDW so special.

Sad to watch Disney destroy itself one misguided project at a time.

Maybe that's an amenity that a large portion of the guests staying there have requested ? A casual day time bar, not one that opens with Citrico's and not a thematic disaster like the Enchanted Rose.

 

[Dan Deesnee]

Maybe that's an amenity that a large portion of the guests staying there have requested ? A casual day time bar, not one that opens with Citrico's and not a thematic disaster like the Enchanted Rose.

I mean anything is possible.

But if guests request ridiculous things that ruin locations for the majority of the guests, Disney shouldn't do it.

Let's just recognize this as what it is. It's Disney taking a piece of real estate within a resort lobby and commercializing it at the detriment of the resort itself, it's theming, and it's ambience.

 

[TrainsOfDisney]

Maybe that's an amenity that a large portion of the guests staying there have requested ? A casual day time bar, not one that opens with Citrico's and not a thematic disaster like the Enchanted Rose.

If a large portion of guests didn’t want to get a drink at enchanted rose that would be reason to rebuild that location - not rebuild a birdcage.

 

[JMcMahonEsq]

I mean anything is possible.

But if guests request ridiculous things that ruin locations for the majority of the guests, Disney shouldn't do it.

Let's just recognize this as what it is. It's Disney taking a piece of real estate within a resort lobby and commercializing it at the detriment of the resort itself, it's theming, and it's ambience.

Almost every major vacation type resort, and even many smaller more hotels have a lobby bar. Its basically a standard. So how could it objectively be considered (1) a ridiculous request or (2) ruining the location for the majority of guests?

The whole resort is a business location, including the lobby so its already commercialized.

So what is more likely, that resort hotels have bars in the lobby because the people who are staying there want them, use them, and spend money there? OR Disney is spending money on a renovation for no reason?

 

[Disstevefan1]

Bars make MONEY and the margins are the highest only beaten by the (money for nothing) LLs.

This was done to make MONEY, not for guest experience or theme.

They never let us forget, its a BUSINESS!

 

[JMcMahonEsq]

Bars make MONEY and the margins are the highest only beaten by the (money for nothing) LLs.

This was done to make MONEY, not for guest experience or theme.

They never let us forget, its a BUSINESS!

Wait so bars just make money? Are bars like CD's that just make interest on their own? If you set up a bar money just falls from the sky?

OR is it that most resorts have bars and they make money because guests/customers choose to spend their money there? If the customer base WANTS something, and are spending money on those things, it means the company IS offering something that is a positive guest experience

 

[TrainsOfDisney]

If the customer base WANTS something, and are spending money on those things, it means the company IS offering something that is a positive guest experience

Location does make a difference in a themed environment. They could sell Star Wars merchandise at a pop up inflatable store in the middle of Main Street and people will buy it.

This bar will impose a bit and change the vibe of the lobby for sure. I’m literally checking out of an upscale Marriott property at this very moment and there is a large bar in the middle of the fancy lobby. So yea… this is a step towards the “mariott” feel and less of a unique Disney feel.

You can like it of course - at least they are acknowledging the birdcage in the new design.

 

[Dan Deesnee]

Almost every major vacation type resort, and even many smaller more hotels have a lobby bar. Its basically a standard. So how could it objectively be considered (1) a ridiculous request or (2) ruining the location for the majority of guests?

The whole resort is a business location, including the lobby so its already commercialized.

So what is more likely, that resort hotels have bars in the lobby because the people who are staying there want them, use them, and spend money there? OR Disney is spending money on a renovation for no reason?

Your reply is very interesting.

If you take the mindset of "Disney is just a vacation destination, just like any other place / hotel" - then your comment is 100% valid and on point.

However, Disney is very much NOT supposed to be like every other vacation destination. That is straight from Walt himself. Leave the real world behind and enter a world of magic and possibility.

Your argument attempts to justify neutering everything that makes WDW special. Essentially stating that it's acceptable for Disney to strip away the unique and replace it with the mundane.

It is not acceptable.

 

[Disstevefan1]

Wait so bars just make money? Are bars like CD's that just make interest on their own? If you set up a bar money just falls from the sky?

OR is it that most resorts have bars and they make money because guests/customers choose to spend their money there? If the customer base WANTS something, and are spending money on those things, it means the company IS offering something that is a positive guest experience

I understand you need to argue counselor. It keeps it fun

They are adding bars and lounges all over WDW because they are high margin money makers.

Yes they need folks to buy the drinks.

I did not think I needed to specify that.

 

[JMcMahonEsq]

Your reply is very interesting.

If you take the mindset of "Disney is just a vacation destination, just like any other place / hotel" - then your comment is 100% valid and on point.

However, Disney is very much NOT supposed to be like every other vacation destination. That is straight from Walt himself. Leave the real world behind and enter a world of magic and possibility.

Your argument attempts to justify neutering everything that makes WDW special. Essentially stating that it's acceptable for Disney to strip away the unique and replace it with the mundane.

It is not acceptable.

First, Walt had a great idea, but the man is worm food, and has been for over 60 years.

Second, there are numerous resorts even in WDW that have bars. The contemporary the original of WDW resorts has a bars plural, both inside and serving the pool, the Poly has a bar, Yacht club has bars, as do every single park. This isn't new, this isn't ground shattering changing for WDW and its pretty moronic to argue the addition of a single small bar at a hotel resort, that already has 3 other bars (Beaches Bar and Grill, the Courtyard Bar, and Enchanted Rose), on the property is "neutering everything that makes WDW special."

And of course Third, these bar locations are not sitting empty. While not acceptable to you personally, apparently the people who are going to WDW find it acceptably, because WDW is building these types of offerings and their guests are using them.

 

[JMcMahonEsq]

I understand you need to argue counselor. It keeps it fun

They are adding bars and lounges all over WDW because they are high margin money makers.

Yes they need folks to buy the drinks.

I did not think I needed to specify that.

No but you need to specify how its NOT about customer experience, when the reason they are making money is that the customers WANT them and keep spending money at them.

 

[networkpro]

Your reply is very interesting.

If you take the mindset of "Disney is just a vacation destination, just like any other place / hotel" - then your comment is 100% valid and on point.

However, Disney is very much NOT supposed to be like every other vacation destination. That is straight from Walt himself. Leave the real world behind and enter a world of magic and possibility.

Your argument attempts to justify neutering everything that makes WDW special. Essentially stating that it's acceptable for Disney to strip away the unique and replace it with the mundane.

It is not acceptable.

Invoking the Frozen head of Walt adds nothing as he's just another company IP these days

Everything about the Grand Floridan is post-Walt.