Refurbishment coming to Disney's Grand Floridian Resort lobby

[WorldExplorer]

What's that Grand Cottage thing?
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Easter equivalent of the gingerbread house.

 

[monothingie]

What's that Grand Cottage thing?
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Food/Bev/Merch

The other picture with the cash register gave it away.

 

[yensid1967]

Great! The first thing they do is start construction on the bar!! God forbid they start with something else like the rest of the area and then finish with the bar...they're adding this first because it makes money! Carpet and nice furniture doesn't bring in revenue. I'm surprised that the Piano [layer is still there! They made a mistake years ago when they got rid of the orchestra at night! My second beef is WHY NO GINGERBREAD HOUSE!? There IS room for it, yes it may have to redesigned smaller, but I think guests will miss it! But I guess Disney footing the bill for all that REAL gingerbread...here's an idea...just make it look like gingerbread-DUH!

 

[James Alucobond]

God forbid they start with something else like the rest of the area and then finish with the bar...

Uhhh, the rest is carpet, furniture, and finishes.

 

[MisterPenguin]

Great! The first thing they do is start construction on the bar!! God forbid they start with something else like the rest of the area and then finish with the bar..

That's like saying, "Let's get the floor tiled, and bring in a table and chairs, some pictures on the wall, curtains... and *then* we'll install the new kitchen counters."

Not the right order of construction.

 

[castlecake2.0]

No not this year

What’s the reasoning? Just too much going on?

 

[TrainsOfDisney]

If anything the bar looks like it’s adding additional seating. Also really want to know what’s happening to the tea room and cafe

If it does add additional seating (hard to tell cause concept art isn’t to scale) - it will be seating for the bar. I think there’s a good chance the bar takes over some of the lobby seating as well.

At the Grand California quite a bit of former lobby seating is now reserved for bar and lounge customers.

 

[Disone]

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.

Kind of. But the cost the gingerbread house is more then offset by the revenue it generates and so TDO will keep as it is a money maker.

As far as Christmas decorations, they've already slashed those. Walt Disney World used to be known as a Christmas Fantasyland. In large part it's still rides that reputation which is unfortunate because it's totally phoning it in as far as Christmas goes. IMO Literally every other theme park in central florida.... out does Disney for Christmas.

 

[Jambo Dad]

And then other Disney adults acting like those who don’t like it are just wanting to trash an idea just to trash it.

An additional bar seems unnecessary - is the enchanted rose usually at capacity?

It will change the atmosphere of the lobby, and almost certainly take away seating for those just wanting to sit and enjoy the ambience.

I’m also guessing the tree may need to move from the center? Which will take seating away during the holidays.

So there are some legit negatives from this change - but overall the art looks ok - it moves a bit too modern for me but it could be worse.

Dude - you are doing it too!

 

[TrainsOfDisney]

Dude - you are doing it too!

Dude - what am I doing? Haha

 

[Disone]

Gets worse every year, and now they have found a reason to not do decor at GF this year, expecting the Christmas tree? Will believe it when I see it, this will be the beginning of ending trees and decor in the lobbies one by one. I imagine more bars in other hotels are coming and seasonal overlays are seeing their last days. Will see...hopefully that's not what happens but its time some letters start being sent in. Not that it changes anything, but the more that do the better.

I'm actually not expecting the Christmas tree this year. But they may move it outside. I'm sure they're looking at options right now. But no I don't think there's a plan to remove Christmas trees from the lobbies of the hotels. They need those to sustain the marketing that Disney World is amazing And can't be missed during the holiday season.

So while their quest for cutting the budget might not result in cutting the Christmas trees, the Garland and the wreaths are a totally different ball game.

However it should be noted that the decorative light up deer at the valet lobby entrance of the hotel did come back after the construction so it was not the case that they used the construction to permanently cut those decorative deer during the holidays.

 

[networkpro]

There use to be plenty of poinsettia everywhere at all resorts, but coincidentally the same time that the Osborne lights went away so did they.

 

[Tony the Tigger]

The monorail lines are not as long during non-holiday season.

I think you just answered your own question: the lines are not as long during non-holiday season - because - it’s non-holiday season, which will always have significantly less traffic.

they're adding this first because it makes money!

That’s precisely their job.

Disney footing the bill for all that REAL gingerbread...here's

…which generates sales of gingerbread slabs all season, so I’m not seeing your point. Can they sell roof slabs of gingerbread without the house? Sure, but it isn’t going to go as well.

 

[jmuboy]

If anything the bar looks like it’s adding additional seating. Also really want to know what’s happening to the tea room and cafe

I want the tea room back and this is the time to do it!

 

[James Alucobond]

I want the tea room back and this is the time to do it!

Monkey's paw: It's now the Long Island Iced Tea Room, serving as extra seating for the bar.