Refurbishment coming to Disney's Grand Floridian Resort lobby

[Supernova]

I think from ground level it will look really nice! Obviously as an aerial shot it looks super busy; but I do prefer this to the previous aesthetic

 

[Disstevefan1]

It's fine and I will stop in for a drink as part of my monorail crawl

 

[castlecake2.0]

The physical space may not be limited any more than it was, but there will be more people lingering and congregating, so it will feel more crowded. This is why I’d be surprised if the gingerbread house returns. But, who knows

If anything isn’t a lobby meant for lingering and congregating?

 

[Disney Analyst]

The stained glass for the lobby bar is gorgeous.

 

[Supernova]

The stained glass for the lobby bar is gorgeous.

Is it installed?

 

[dmc493]

I think from ground level it will look really nice! Obviously as an aerial shot it looks super busy; but I do prefer this to the previous aesthetic

This was my only reaction, it seems like it'd look very nice standing on the carpet itself, but a bit chaotic from above. Otherwise looks great

 

[KDM31091]

If anything isn’t a lobby meant for lingering and congregating?

Of course it is. But it can only be so crowded before it’s unpleasant.

 

[James Alucobond]

Is it installed?

One panel in the birdcage cornice. I think there's supposed to be more in the liquor shelving and outside the tea room, but those haven't been brought in yet.

 

[Casper Gutman]

I think from ground level it will look really nice! Obviously as an aerial shot it looks super busy; but I do prefer this to the previous aesthetic

That seems like a huge problem since guests often view the GF lobby from above - that was a huge part of its appeal.

That seating looks designed to encourage guests to drink their overpriced booze and leave rather then lounging and people watching - it’s very in line with the Besk and Barrels policies.

I don’t think it makes sense to compare this to the Saratoga or Carribean makeovers or their ilk. Those lobby spaces are primarily functional. The GF lobby, like the Wilderness and AKL, is an attraction, and the first one to be scarred by the new era of Disney design. The result is a mess that robs what was once a very appealing public space of its charm.

 

[James Alucobond]

The GF lobby, like the Wilderness and AKL, is an attraction, and the first one to be scarred by the new era of Disney design. The result is a mess that robs what was once a very appealing public space of its charm.

In what way? First of all, it’s hardly the first to be affected. Just on the monorail loop, the Polynesian lost its centerpiece fountain and the Grand Canyon Concourse (which is more the functional lounge than the actual lobby) has been a disaster for years. The changes to the Grand Floridian are mild by comparison. Many of the changes, like the new murals, stained glass, and wallpaper, are objective upgrades. Others are lateral moves that maintain the same level of theming, like the carpet and furnishings. The appeal of the bar will depend on your perspective, but it is at least an attempt at revitalizing a feature that had been left empty for way too long. The check-in area is really the only fairly inarguably questionable decision, and even that could be switched to debatable by replacing exactly three lights.

 

[Supernova]

Looks like it’s been opened up to guests now and the bar curtained off. Hopefully get some ground level photos soon so I can judge it a little better

 

[Supernova]

Better views from ground level:

A few (bad) screenshots from a live stream on YouTube

 

[dmc493]

Oh yeah other than tweaking and adjusting some furniture I really like how this looks at ground level

 

[Disney Analyst]

Is it installed?

 

[TrainsOfDisney]

The GF lobby, like the Wilderness and AKL, is an attraction, and the first one to be scarred by the new era of Disney design.

Polynesian was the first and was way worse.

 

[KDM31091]

Polynesian was the first and was way worse.

Yeah, I never understood the Poly destruction. They could have just made a smaller waterfall instead of eliminating it entirely. I get that it took up a lot of space but it didn't need to be all or nothing. The new Poly tower of course is just a vaguely tropical themed Hilton esque design and I'm convinced if that had been the original Poly all along, it wouldn't be as loved as it is today -- it's quite boring.

 

[jah4955]

It looks better in the photos since reopening to the public.

 

[Disney Analyst]

I think this looks gorgeous. The old look was very… drab.

 

[LittleBuford]

I think this looks gorgeous. The old look was very… drab.

It does look nice, but it’s less true to the theme. It looks more whimsically old-fashioned than it does Victorian resort.

 

[Disney Analyst]

It does look nice, but it’s less true to the theme. It looks more whimsically old-fashioned than it does Victorian resort.

I’ll take it! Looking at photos of the old to new, old makes me feel sad and like I’ll smell mothballs, new makes me feel happy and like I’ll smell flowers and sunshine.