Refurbishment coming to Disney's Grand Floridian Resort lobby

[jmuboy]

Agreed the Grand Canyon Concourse at the Contemporary needs a LOT MORE work. It needs to carry forward the lobby aesthetic honestly. But the Contemporary's absolute TRASH Incredibles themed rooms need fixing first.

 

[MouseEarsMom33]

Last time I stayed at Grand Floridian, the lobby was filled with people waiting on rooms or flights, especially on the weekends. Lobby bar makes sense as it moves some of the people out of the lobby seating and to the bar.

 

[Andrew C]

Best thing…no cartoons.

 

[aladdin2007]

Agreed the Grand Canyon Concourse at the Contemporary needs a LOT MORE work. It needs to carry forward the lobby aesthetic honestly. But the Contemporary's absolute TRASH Incredibles themed rooms need fixing first.

perfectly stated

 

[easyrowrdw]

Last time I stayed at Grand Floridian, the lobby was filled with people waiting on rooms or flights, especially on the weekends. Looby bar makes sense as it moves some of the people out of the lobby seating and to the bar.

The issue I see is that the bar is out in the open in the lobby. The people aren’t being moved out of the main area. Maybe they can figure out a way to make more room but it seems to me like this setup would be more crowded, rather than less.

 

[MouseEarsMom33]

The issue I see is that the bar is out in the open in the lobby. The people aren’t being moved out of the main area. Maybe they can figure out a way to make more room but it seems to me like this setup would be more crowded, rather than less.

It's possible. But it also provides more space for people to sit. I've been there when there are no seats available. If people are waiting for some time, might as well encourage them to buy a drink.

As a side note, I will be staying there over the holiday season and am relieved I won't have to deal with the Gingerbread House traffic (unless it is moved someone else on the Grand Floridian property).

 

[Tony the Tigger]

I am ready for this bar!

No gingerbread house? Prepare for a lot of grand whining in December.

 

[MouseEarsMom33]

I am ready for this bar!

No gingerbread house? Prepare for a lot of grand whining in December.

I wonder if this will give Disney an excuse to test having the Gingerbread House somewhere else, and possibly moving it permanently. The monorail was a mess at Christmastime with everyone visiting the Gingerbread House. It's going to be so much worse with Polynesian Tower. Does anyone know how things went once the tower opened in Late December? I wonder if this is playing into the Gingerbread House move as well.

 

[WaltsTreasureChest]

Gingerbread drinks at the bar across gingerbread house

 

[Tony the Tigger]

I wonder if this will give Disney an excuse to test having the Gingerbread House somewhere else, and possibly moving it permanently. The monorail was a mess at Christmastime with everyone visiting the Gingerbread House. It's going to be so much worse with Polynesian Tower. Does anyone know how things went once the tower opened in Late December? I wonder if this is playing into the Gingerbread House move as well.

I was monorail bar crawling Christmas Eve and Day. No real issues, expected some crowds. Went to Enchanted Rose twice, Contemporary, Poly, Poly tower (the banana old fashioned .) Once you’ve seen the gingerbread house once, it’s kind of whatever. I didn’t much care for the actual gingerbread lol, so it’s nice to see while walking by, but that’s about it.

 

[Ayla]

Last time I stayed at Grand Floridian, the lobby was filled with people waiting on rooms or flights, especially on the weekends. Lobby bar makes sense as it moves some of the people out of the lobby seating and to the bar.

It will be 8-10 people at most, sitting at the bar.

 

[castlecake2.0]

IF the bar also serves some good coffee in the morning this is a win, if not then I’m neither mad or excited by it.

 

[MagicHappens1971]

I wonder if this will give Disney an excuse to test having the Gingerbread House somewhere else, and possibly moving it permanently. The monorail was a mess at Christmastime with everyone visiting the Gingerbread House. It's going to be so much worse with Polynesian Tower. Does anyone know how things went once the tower opened in Late December? I wonder if this is playing into the Gingerbread House move as well.

My personal opinion is that Disney won’t move the Gingerbread House and it will just take a year off from the Grand. This will just redirect more traffic to the other Gingerbread offerings across property.

 

[mattpeto]

My personal opinion is that Disney won’t move the Gingerbread House and it will just take a year off from the Grand. This will just redirect more traffic to the other Gingerbread offerings across property.

I don’t know if the people who spend $1000/night like the crowds during Christmas.

 

[MouseEarsMom33]

I don’t know if the people who spend $1000/night like the crowds during Christmas.

We have DVC there and were considering not staying there over the holiday season (early December) because the monorail lines and crowds. We decided to try it this year, but it seems like we won't have to worry about that now.

 

[MagicHappens1971]

I don’t know if the people who spend $1000/night like the crowds during Christmas.

They probably don’t but the Gingerbread displays bring in way too much money for Disney to even consider getting rid of one completely. Especially like the one at the Grand.

 

[aladdin2007]

They probably don’t but the Gingerbread displays bring in way too much money for Disney to even consider getting rid of one completely. Especially like the one at the Grand.

You would think, but I bet due to the cost of doing it TDO would love to get rid of it and as much Christmas decor as they can at the same time. It gets worse and less every year across property. Would not surprise me if they cut this completely unfortunately, the bar would be their excuse. Year round revenue from oh so much more important alcohol sales, instead of holiday seasonal revenue, from families and kids.

 

[Tony the Tigger]

We have DVC there and were considering not staying there over the holiday season (early December) because the monorail lines and crowds. We decided to try it this year, but it seems like we won't have to worry about that now.

Plenty of reasons to stop there even without the gingerbread house.

 

[Disstevefan1]

Plenty of reasons to stop there even without the gingerbread house.

Yea, soon you will be able to grab a drink right in the lobby.

This will help with the monorail crawl..

That is, until they get rid of the monorail of course

 

[WorldExplorer]

You would think, but I bet due to the cost of doing it TDO would love to get rid of it and as much Christmas decor as they can at the same time. It gets worse and less every year across property. Would not surprise me if they cut this completely unfortunately, the bar would be their excuse. Year round revenue from oh so much more important alcohol sales, instead of holiday seasonal revenue, from families and kids.

Last year Wilderness Lodge was selling Christmas stuff, but instead of something that at least looks elaborate and novel like the gingerbread house they just covered some temporary tables in green cloth and put them in the middle of the lobby like a school bake sale.

If they didn't have room for the house I could see the same thing but with white table cloths so they still get cookie sales.