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Refurbishment coming to Disney's Grand Floridian Resort lobby

Sir_Cliff

Sir_Cliff

Well-Known Member
Casper Gutman said:
Is the Raffles bar in the middle of the lobby, plopping a mass of stained wood in the middle of a white interior? It doesn’t seem to be. If Disney had converted the Tea Room into a bar with a similar aesthetic, I don’t think anyone would have minded very much.
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No, it isn't. Personally, though, that doesn't bother me hugely as, at least from the pictures, it conjures up the correct feeling for me and intuitively makes sense even if it is not a literal reproduction of any space that ever existed. I don't, for example, see it and wonder why a grand Victorian hotel would have a bar in that location or why it would be that colour rather than white. That is, of course, just my subjective response, but in a general sense I think Disney theming has traditionally worked most effectively in that more intuitive sense.

Other aspects don't intuitively fit that space for me, such as the benches and probably even the lighting in the bar.
 
tpoly88

tpoly88

Well-Known Member
Does anyone know if they are going to start the same procedure as the poly and not let you take the monorail to GF if you’re not staying there? Or did I get that process wrong? My wife and always go around to see the decor at the GF, have a drink at Citricos and take off. Hate to not able to go in
 
tpoly88

tpoly88

Well-Known Member
jah4955 said:
Wait, what?
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Poly I saw that they are not letting you take the monorail if you’re not staying there. I think too many people were coming over and getting on monorail for night events. Again I could be mistaken on what I read. Why I was asking
 
jah4955

jah4955

Well-Known Member
tpoly88 said:
Poly I saw that they are not letting you take the monorail if you’re not staying there. I think too many people were coming over and getting on monorail for night events. Again I could be mistaken on what I read. Why I was asking
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Ohhhh...I know they restrict to resort guests with things like wristbands for dates like Independence Day or New Years Eve...but I'm hoping this is nothing 365/permanent 😬
 
TrainsOfDisney

TrainsOfDisney

Well-Known Member
tpoly88 said:
Poly I saw that they are not letting you take the monorail if you’re not staying there.
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The issue I’m seeing at WDW is rules are made up by people who are familiar with a specific site and are only thinking of the specific site.

An example I saw in person - a Disney security officer was completely baffled that guests expected the boats to Riverside to still be running shortly after the closing time of Disney springs. She literally acted like the concept was ridiculous and unheard of.

But that’s how boat transportation works everywhere else at WDW.

So it’s easy for Polynesian to think up a rule because of specifics to that site - but if it’s inconsistent with the rest of the resort - some guests will get very confused and frustrated.
 
Yodasnuggs

Yodasnuggs

Active Member
tpoly88 said:
Oh. Yeah I hope so too. I like to see all the decor at the different hotels
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Just got back yesterday from a 5 night trip. We were at BLT, took the monorail each day, visited both the Poly and GF. At no point were we asked to wear or asked to show wristbands. Certainly could change as we get closer to Christmas, or maybe we were just lucky. But my experience this time was no different from any other visit.
 
P

plutofan15

Well-Known Member
tpoly88 said:
Does anyone know if they are going to start the same procedure as the poly and not let you take the monorail to GF if you’re not staying there? Or did I get that process wrong? My wife and always go around to see the decor at the GF, have a drink at Citricos and take off. Hate to not able to go in
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No, visits to the Poly are not limited to only those staying at the resort. The only limitation that I am aware of is that viewing of the MK fireworks from the Poly beach will be limited to Poly guests only during the busiest times of the year.
 
TrainsOfDisney

TrainsOfDisney

Well-Known Member
plutofan15 said:
No, visits to the Poly are not limited to only those staying at the resort. The only limitation that I am aware of is that viewing of the MK fireworks from the Poly beach will be limited to Poly guests only during the busiest times of the year.
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I think there has been a few select times (4th and New Years) where the walkway from TTC has been closed to non-resort guests. I haven’t personally seen that, but I’ve heard it may have happened.
 
TrainsOfDisney

TrainsOfDisney

Well-Known Member
Over the holidays Carol has been filling in on the piano on select days and I’ve seen some video clips of her performance.

The lobby bar actually has had a positive effect on the noise level - less kids running around and more adults sitting and listening to the piano!

So I actually am seeing a personal positive for the bar - even though I still think they should have added AA parrots to the birdcage. Rosita maybe?
 
Trueblood

Trueblood

Well-Known Member
wdwmagic said:

Disney's Grand Floridian Garden View Lounge Reopens March 2026 with New Alice in Wonderland Afternoon Tea​

www.wdwmagic.com

Disney's Grand Floridian Garden View Lounge Reopens March 2026 with New Alice in Wonderland Afternoon Tea

Disney's Grand Floridian Garden View Lounge Reopens March 2026 with New Alice in Wonderland Afternoon Tea
www.wdwmagic.com www.wdwmagic.com
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I haven't been able to find any pricing, particularly how it compared to the tea at The Cake Bake Shop. Has there been any word on this?
 
dmc493

dmc493

Well-Known Member
Won’t deny that it’s expensive but honestly all tea services are expensive, so they’re not wildly off base here. And I think Cake Bake Shop’s service is $95/$65 so this feels a bit better
 
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easyrowrdw

Well-Known Member
dmc493 said:
Won’t deny that it’s expensive but honestly all tea services are expensive, so they’re not wildly off base here. And I think Cake Bake Shop’s service is $95/$65 so this feels a bit better
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Interesting. In my mind I was comparing this to something like the dinner at Wilderness Lodge. It's a plated meal with appetizers, entrees, and dessert and the food is actually good. The theming is nice and you get multiple character interactions. That is $69 adults and $43 for kids.
 

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