harryk
Well-Known Member
That's when I first stayed there. Was at Contemp. prior.
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Grand Floridian not as grand as I would have thought.
- Thread starter Queen of the WDW Scene
- Start date
tpoly88
Well-Known Member
years ago 2006 maybe, stayed in the concierge building and it was nice, food and drink they had out was great. probably the one time i enjoyed the GF and back then is was only $320 a night! prior to that had some bad experiences with checking in, room not ready/ wrong type (not club) or couldn't get a king bed. Worst time was 2002, im from NY and worked in the financial district a block from ground zero, the girl behind the desk give me room 911. Are you kidding me i told her?? had to wait 4 hrs for another room.
i dont stay there anymore as i like the AKL, YC and i like the Garden wing at the contemporary as they have big rooms (last one had 2 showers!). my wife and i now just stay at the Swan/Dolphin as i can get the room early, reserve and actually get a king bed and not be gouged on the price. Disney hotels used to really have that "IT" factor back in the day, not so much anymore.
Tony the Tigger
Well-Known Member
Nah. We typically get it before checkout time wherever we happen to be staying nearby. Usually whichever La Quinta is cheapest that day. (They take bigger dogs.)
the_rich
Well-Known Member
How would she know that you worked near ground zero?
Alanzo
Well-Known Member
celticdog
Well-Known Member
Its all in perspective. We stayed at GF from July 23 though 28. Our experience was exceptional. The entire staff was courteous, polite, engaging, knowledgeable and absolutely pleasant. The room was immaculate. We hoped for two queen beds, but got a king. We made it work. Mary Poppin easter eggs and touches throughout the room gave it a subtle elegant feel. The goal of our trip was to enjoy the resort. We only spent two days at the parks and then we didn't leave the resort until noon. We wanted to enjoy all the GF had to offer. We spent time lounging by the pool. My wife attended one of the craft classes. The food never disappointed. We had one minor glitch with the card reader at Gasparilla's, but it was resolved quickly. The staff was so gracious, that one evening while everyone was gathering to watch Happily Ever After, they gave those that came into Gasparilla's free Mickey ice cream bars. We watched the Electric Water Pageant and Happily Ever After on multiple nights from the resort. It was glorious treat to hop on the monorail and ride around. I was spoiled by the experience.
My take is that the vast majority of guests receive this kind of trip there, and the minority are the outliers. We had an awesome trip there just a few years ago.
JIMINYCR
Well-Known Member
Wouldnt you spruce up your house if she was coming for a visit? Any visiting dignitary gets the VIP treatment and at the time she was more beloved and popular than most stars.
Stayed there last year for the first time and I was not a fan. Only thing, in my opinion, going for it is the proximity to MK and the monorail. The resort is getting run down and it is just too "stuffy".
My favorite resort is Poly and I also love the Contemporary, although a lot of people do not but it is Iconic with the monorail running through.
My favorite resort is Poly and I also love the Contemporary, although a lot of people do not but it is Iconic with the monorail running through.
Weather_Lady
Well-Known Member
We just got back from a split stay that concluded with 3 nights in a DVC resort studio at GF.
Our resort studio was lovely (with a couple of negligible issues, like a loudly-rattling bathroom fan, drippy shower, and miserly kitchenette provisions -- only 2 glass tumblers and 2 coffee cups were provided for 4 people, so we had to constantly wash them out and share), but had we not been paying what amounted to half-price for it (by renting DVC points), I'd have been a bit disappointed in the resort, too. The ugly construction obliterated the entire lobby other than a narrow walkway around the outside edge, made it difficult to navigate, and diminished our restaurant experiences (which were at Gasparilla Grill and Grand Floridian Cafe, although the food at the latter made up for everything!) with viewless paper-covered windows and/or relentless banging. None of this construction was announced until months after we'd booked, non-refundable, of course.
We also had technical issues. We never got a room ready text, and when we finally went to the front desk, well into the evening and after killing as much time as we possibly could wondering why we still hadn't gotten one, the CM simply shrugged and said "I can see you checked in online a few weeks ago, but it 'didn't go through,' so you would never have gotten anything from us, even though your room was actually ready hours ago.'" ("Didn't go through!?" What does that even mean!?! Everything was linked in MDE and MDE indicated that my check-in was complete!)
Then she had to collect and "program" all of the MagicBands we were wearing because "the system doesn't like split stays so your MagicBands won't let you in unless I program them individually." Despite this exercise, DH's MagicBand never did work to get him into the room, and we were told that we wouldn't be able to use any of our other MagicBands (packed in our luggage, we each brought 3 in different designs) to enter the room during our stay at the Grand Floridian, either, unless we brought them back to the front desk to be programmed.
Obviously these weren't dealbreaker-level problems (I'd gladly stay again sometime if I could get a great deal and there was no construction), and ordinarily I wouldn't give them a second thought, but they're not the kind of issues one expects when staying at a "flagship" hotel that offers rooms starting at $800+/night. We still had a great stay overall, but I have to concur with the OP that our arrival was not so grand, and that the resort in its current state (blocked-off lobby, blocked-off restaurants, scaffolding and walls aplenty, technical issues, all with no recompense) was no more impressive than any of the other Disney resorts (both deluxe and moderate) at which we've stayed.
In contrast, the first half of our split stay at the Yacht Club, including online check-in, room-ready texts, and the use of all of our MagicBands, had been flawless.
Our resort studio was lovely (with a couple of negligible issues, like a loudly-rattling bathroom fan, drippy shower, and miserly kitchenette provisions -- only 2 glass tumblers and 2 coffee cups were provided for 4 people, so we had to constantly wash them out and share), but had we not been paying what amounted to half-price for it (by renting DVC points), I'd have been a bit disappointed in the resort, too. The ugly construction obliterated the entire lobby other than a narrow walkway around the outside edge, made it difficult to navigate, and diminished our restaurant experiences (which were at Gasparilla Grill and Grand Floridian Cafe, although the food at the latter made up for everything!) with viewless paper-covered windows and/or relentless banging. None of this construction was announced until months after we'd booked, non-refundable, of course.
We also had technical issues. We never got a room ready text, and when we finally went to the front desk, well into the evening and after killing as much time as we possibly could wondering why we still hadn't gotten one, the CM simply shrugged and said "I can see you checked in online a few weeks ago, but it 'didn't go through,' so you would never have gotten anything from us, even though your room was actually ready hours ago.'" ("Didn't go through!?" What does that even mean!?! Everything was linked in MDE and MDE indicated that my check-in was complete!)
Then she had to collect and "program" all of the MagicBands we were wearing because "the system doesn't like split stays so your MagicBands won't let you in unless I program them individually." Despite this exercise, DH's MagicBand never did work to get him into the room, and we were told that we wouldn't be able to use any of our other MagicBands (packed in our luggage, we each brought 3 in different designs) to enter the room during our stay at the Grand Floridian, either, unless we brought them back to the front desk to be programmed.
Obviously these weren't dealbreaker-level problems (I'd gladly stay again sometime if I could get a great deal and there was no construction), and ordinarily I wouldn't give them a second thought, but they're not the kind of issues one expects when staying at a "flagship" hotel that offers rooms starting at $800+/night. We still had a great stay overall, but I have to concur with the OP that our arrival was not so grand, and that the resort in its current state (blocked-off lobby, blocked-off restaurants, scaffolding and walls aplenty, technical issues, all with no recompense) was no more impressive than any of the other Disney resorts (both deluxe and moderate) at which we've stayed.
In contrast, the first half of our split stay at the Yacht Club, including online check-in, room-ready texts, and the use of all of our MagicBands, had been flawless.
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NelleBelle
Well-Known Member
The whole MB debacle would’ve put me over the edge. So we’re you able to use all the MBs you brought when you were at YC?
Eric Graham
Well-Known Member
Personally, the Beach Club is so much better in my opinion.
Weather_Lady
Well-Known Member
Yes. Other than a very brief glitch (which was system-wide and not the fault of the Yacht Club), they all worked just fine at the Yacht Club.
It boggles my mind that after this many years, Disney's IT systems (dining reservations, MagicBands, etc.) can't handle a split stay! I'd imagine we'd have run into issues no matter what resort we stayed at for the second half.
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monykalyn
Well-Known Member
2019 stay at GF was horrible-even after repeated calls to front desk/housekeeping/maintenance it wasn't until last day we got moved rooms. Something was leaking HORRIBLY through bathroom wall into room. The resort solution? bring in huge fans. Um no doesn't work if you need to be in room to work (which SIL did). Not until last night did they move us, and no refund/discount.
The rooms this year much much nicer (didn't stay this year but visited when stepdaughter and family stayed). However the construction is horrific this year lol, although seemed the CM's were happier this year. Even with daughters convention rate at GF it wasn't worth forking out the money. We stayed at the new Drury Inn in Disney springs-fresh clean room, HUGE free breakfast including fresh mickey waffles, pretty good pool. Oh and the managers reception (which we took advantage of only one night out of 3).
By contrast any resort at Universal we've never had to wait for issues to be resolved (if there are any), LOVE their texting feature to address issues, request supplies and they have DAILY housekeeping (and if you leave DND sign out they will text and ask if you want HSK that day).
As previous poster said-would rather stay offsite and pay for parking/G+ and still cheaper (with much nicer accommodations). Son wants Disney next Spring after graduation-will stay onsite only if we can trade our TS into a DVC-know it will likely be SSR or OKW but don't really care-if not will get a 3 bed at Marriott imperial or Grande Vista and pay to park at parks.
The rooms this year much much nicer (didn't stay this year but visited when stepdaughter and family stayed). However the construction is horrific this year lol, although seemed the CM's were happier this year. Even with daughters convention rate at GF it wasn't worth forking out the money. We stayed at the new Drury Inn in Disney springs-fresh clean room, HUGE free breakfast including fresh mickey waffles, pretty good pool. Oh and the managers reception (which we took advantage of only one night out of 3).
By contrast any resort at Universal we've never had to wait for issues to be resolved (if there are any), LOVE their texting feature to address issues, request supplies and they have DAILY housekeeping (and if you leave DND sign out they will text and ask if you want HSK that day).
As previous poster said-would rather stay offsite and pay for parking/G+ and still cheaper (with much nicer accommodations). Son wants Disney next Spring after graduation-will stay onsite only if we can trade our TS into a DVC-know it will likely be SSR or OKW but don't really care-if not will get a 3 bed at Marriott imperial or Grande Vista and pay to park at parks.
Eric Graham
Well-Known Member
Never stayed at the Contemporary. Is it nice?
Skibum1970
Well-Known Member
That is a difficult question. We have stayed at Bay Lake and the Garden Wing of the Contemporary and loved both. However, the theme isn't everyone's favorite. I haven't stayed at Contemporary in a few years, though, and it may not be quite as nice. We enjoyed the look of the rooms, walking around the resort, and walking to Magic Kingdom. For our tastes, we prefer Contemporary to Grand Floridian.
I have stayed at the Contemporary a few times and had a garden room, tower room, & tower room with fireworks view.
The rooms are really large and roomy and I love the monorail going through. Food at Contemporary is very good. Best hamburger at Disney at the Contempo Cafe, I go there just to get one even when staying somewhere else.
Not for everyone since the pool is not the greatest but I usually never have time for the pool anyway (no kids).
Walking to MK saves a lot of time especially when the park is closing and everyone is waiting for monorail or boats to leave.
I would stay there again in a heartbeat when I can get a discount.
MagicRat
Well-Known Member
We just got back from DVC BPK rooms at GF. Going on average three times a year for 25 years, this was the first time we ever got a pre-noon checkin time. Being DVC it is typically right at 4:00 with only one time around 5:00 and Saratoga this January at 8:45 (that was an ordeal but mostly from the Guest Relations saying one thing from wherever they are stationed these days and the front desk another, lets just say DVC fixed that problem when we got home .
We thought everything was wonderful even with the work being done. As someone in the construction industry, I hate looking at work being done on vacation but it did not bother me. My only gripe is the veteran cast speedsters driving the golf carts (it is at GF and Polly) but that has always been a problem.
What was even better this time around was being able to walk to MK.
But like everyone else is saying, call (be chill) and let them know you are upset. Get a discount on your room and being the park commando you are, get some lighting lanes!
.We thought everything was wonderful even with the work being done. As someone in the construction industry, I hate looking at work being done on vacation but it did not bother me. My only gripe is the veteran cast speedsters driving the golf carts (it is at GF and Polly) but that has always been a problem.
What was even better this time around was being able to walk to MK.
But like everyone else is saying, call (be chill) and let them know you are upset. Get a discount on your room and being the park commando you are, get some lighting lanes!
surfsupdon
Well-Known Member
“Grand” in name only.
$1000/night to get poured on when it rains to run and get food at the main building.
We try to avoid the campus style Resorts.
$1000/night to get poured on when it rains to run and get food at the main building.
We try to avoid the campus style Resorts.