Is The Grand Too Grand.?

[abeachchick]

I have never stayed at the GF and probably never would as it is not my style, BUT, I have stopped there for drinks many times and have met some of the nicest people there.

I have never done the afternoon tea and would love to know more about it from those who have.

 

[real mad hatter]

Cheers folks for the interesting thoughts from everybody..Yeh! Different strokes for different folks was a perfect answer,but my friend who says it transports you back to another time...I agree..A time when I had more money...Just arriving at WDW takes me back in time..Makes me feel young again,and no secret pill or foundation cream can do that..

 

[Avenger117]

This is what it's based on...

http://www.jekyllclub.com/

And, having worked there, I'd rather be there...my own opine though, of course.

I have stayed there as well, I didn't know the Grand Floridian was based on the Jekyll Island Club Hotel. I have to agree, I prefer Jekyll over GF.

Quite wonderful to stay at, and the Island is beautiful. There is Driftwood Beach (my personal favorite) which has petrified trees which floated all the way here from Spain that you can actually sit on and talk with your favorite person to while exploring, etc...

But, it's also where the early 20th century moguls met. The whole island is steeped in history.

I love it!

There is a really great historical fiction book called "The Jekyll Island Club" and the characters are the high society people that stayed there in that time. its great read!

 

[Unomas]

GF is nice for a visit, but I really wouldn't want to stay there. It does seem a bit stuffy for my personal taste. I prefer the warmer colors of Wilderness Lodge or AKL. Boardwalk is a happy medium.

 

[s&k'smom]

Before I read the rest of the forum I want to share my GF experiences. DH always calls us the last for the middle class but at GF we never feel out of place. We don't own a lot of nice clothes or anything fancy but this one week at the Grand is our time to indulge. We have never had a bad experience or felt out of place. We like it as my kids know there way around and I feel safe sending my son to the pool ahead of us. Lifeguards there are awesome. We may have been irked for a moment but I chalk that up to humans being humans. (Believe me I work at a 2 star hotel I could tell you stories!). My kids love the GF and feel like it's their place. WE are going to start trying some resorts we've never been too before but not this October trip I need my week of Grand!

 

[Mrsdonaldduck]

? Also has any of you stayed at the GF and wished you had picked another resort..Now remember,go easy on me,this is just my opinion and I'am curious ( as ever ) what your views on this Grand resort..P.S. I wouldn't mind having a wee nosey around ( before security nabs me ) just to people watch.

I don't think the grand is too grand at all! We have stayed at poly and loved it and for our 10 year anniversary we decided to stay at the grand for 3 nights. We were hooked and haven't stayed anywhere else since. It is so beautiful and serene. I love hearing the wdw railroad whistle while walking around the resort and watching wishes from the dock. We enjoy having cocktails on the balcony and the kids love the beach pool. The lobby smells so wonderful and it is so nice after a long day at Mk to hop off the monorail,'walk into the beautiful lobby and listen to wonderful music. With three wee ones it is so wonderful to stay at a monorail resort.

 

[Gabe1]

Out of all the deluxe resorts I've stayed in the GF is my least favorite. Way to pretentious for my liking including a huge chunk of their guests. I also wasn't thrilled with the manner some guests spoke to CM's, it just grated on my nerves.

 

[Jim Chandler]

I have never stayed at the GF and probably never would as it is not my style, BUT, I have stopped there for drinks many times and have met some of the nicest people there.

I have never done the afternoon tea and would love to know more about it from those who have.

I did the tea with my wife. I thought it would be tea and a little sandwich. Well a lot of tea and damn good tea sandwichessssssss.
Some I still do not know what they were but were veryyyy good. Make a reservation. The servers and hosts were awesome. They got us in with out a reservation

 

[Jim Chandler]

Out of all the deluxe resorts I've stayed in the GF is my least favorite. Way to pretentious for my liking including a huge chunk of their guests. I also wasn't thrilled with the manner some guests spoke to CM's, it just grated on my nerves.

Some guests are idiots every where. The folks who work there IMHO are the best at making you welcome.
We stay every Christmas for 3 days. Try to stay in Club area freebies are great.

 

[Epicpilot]

I am in the same boat as you. I am a die hard poly fan and I always considered the GF as too "fancy shmancy" until my most recent trip to the poly. During the trip we went to GF for there counter service place ( can't remember the name). The problem is with the GF is that in some places it does feel too fancy and is the reason why I don't stay there. Parts of the GF are and do not feel to fancy and that is the part the has been recently luring me there due to the construction that will begin soon at my beloved poly. So for me the GF is weird due to its mix of a high class hotel feel and the relaxed informal vibe of disney.

 

[Epicpilot]

This is what it's based on...

http://www.jekyllclub.com/

And, having worked there, I'd rather be there...my own opine though, of course.

It's actually based off the hotel del Coronado in San Diego http://www.hoteldel.com/

 

[Gabe1]

Some guests are idiots every where. The folks who work there IMHO are the best at making you welcome.
We stay every Christmas for 3 days. Try to stay in Club area freebies are great.

Years ago when my DS did a CP he had friends that lifeguarded GF. The CPs and CMs that were assigned to the Deluxe Resorts were generally, (tip toe,) a bit more polished employees. They were also the lifeguards that had more guest complaints lodged against them. Fortunately their supervisors were aware of the pettiness of the guests and for the most part just filed the complaints in the circular file or the Resort wouldn't have any lifeguards. I use to do VIP services for a major airline at Ohare, same thing, if the airline cared what the VIPs said about their employee's we would have all been gone.

I've stayed in the Club at AKL Jumbo twice, first time it was great, now not so much, they messed up the Club area for resort guests squishing in the DVCs. We frankly are not at the resort much so Deluxe Resorts are really a waste for us unless it is a short trip over a holiday. For our longer vacations I prefer POR for the vastness and the beauty of the property.

 

[jmargarone27]

I think it has developed into something pretentious. It was my first Disney resort, so it holds a special place in my heart. The Grand is definitely not for everyone, but I feel comfortable there.

 

[s&k'smom]

I'm listening to some Disney music now wishing I was walking through the lobby.

 

[kane47]

As most of you know I love the Grand. I do not in any way find it snobbish. I do however find it more upscale than most other resorts. I personally feel the stuffiest resort I ever stayed at in Disney was the Yacht Club. To me the Grand is more quite than the other resorts. Many people feel this is because it is less themed but I disagree. It has great theming. It is just not in your face theming like an AOA for example. I find it relaxing and just a beautiful place. Many people including some in my own family do not like or find it comfortable to be in a high end resort, restaurant, etc... That is why it is important to have a variety in the WDW. I for one love this atmosphere and feel uncomfortable and out of place at more themed and loud resort. No, the Grand is not for everyone, but either is the Poly, CB, CR, WL, AOA, Etc... It all depends on your own personal likes and dislikes. Each property has it own appeal and I hope Disney keeps it that way.

 

[Jim Chandler]

It's actually based off the hotel del Coronado in San Diego http://www.hoteldel.com/

If I was not told I'd have a hard time distinguishing between the two,

 

[emcclay]

The piano player is excellent. I was monorail hopping after work one day. He was playing a Phantom of the Opera medley. If a good discount is available after construction ends, a stay at the GF may be possible for my family. Otherwise, there are other resorts to try.

 

[danpam1024]

Ooh Good Morning Ladies & Gentlemen.. Excuse me if I'am sounding rather posh this morning but Ive just been reading today's food blog and review of The Grand Floridian afternoon tea party..Wow..Now even if I won the lottery there is no way I'd pick this resort to stay at,it's wayyyyyyyy too posh for silly old me..Id need a course on how to talk proper ( elocution ) and my suitcase would have fancy shirts and Versace pants.Now before all you GF fans start to fire your arrows at me.This is only my opinion.I'am from a working class environment and I'd feel so uncomfortable staying here. So to my question.Does anyone else have the same feeling ? Also has any of you stayed at the GF and wished you had picked another resort..Now remember,go easy on me,this is just my opinion and I'am curious ( as ever ) what your views on this Grand resort..P.S. I wouldn't mind having a wee nosey around ( before security nabs me ) just to people watch.

I have a lot of tattoos- people there tend to stare more-maybe they are better than be but it's a little hoity toity for me I'm fine with the mods and if I have the money BWI

 

[Wilt Dasney]

I understand the sentiment, but there's just no way for a place built to house families from Des Moines visiting Donald Duck to maintain the "our farts don't stink" air...no matter how much the architecture and decorating is meant to evoke the feeling.

Also, there's a live jazz band! Not to mention a very enjoyable pool bar where I had a nice and personable conversation with the bartender about how strange it was to have a job getting people blitzed at Disney World.

Give it a shot if you're intrigued by the GF. By that, I don't mean commit to staying there on your next trip. Just take a couple hours to ride over there and walk around, soak it all in. You might decide a stay is in your future...or not.

 

[tracyandalex]

We have stayed at most WDW resorts and still have a few to cross off our list. GF is definitely on that list! We want to stay during Christmas time though and we also would like to wait for a refurb. We do get a more upscale vibe, but never snooty. The one thing we hate about GF is the parking! We drive to the parks so I imagine valet will be annoying, but the self parking is so far. . . At least for MK and Epcot we wouldn't need the car.