[RUMOR]: Grand Floridian Resort to Be Gutted to Become Modern Luxury Resort

[David M]

I saw a link to this on Facebook, It's is quite insane... thoughts?

It appears Chairman of Disney Parks and Resorts Bob Chapek is not a big fan of the current Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort and Spa, Walt Disney World’s flagship hotel and often most expensive per night. Similar to the recently initiated shakeup in housekeeping for Disney World, Chapek feels as if the Four Seasons Resort Orlando is putting them to shame when it comes to what a luxury resort on-property should be. So, what’s the solution? To completely gut the 28-year-old Magic Kingdom area resort, of course.

 

[asianway]

Oh good. Maybe they'll change the street name back

 

[Haymarket2008]

The world is turning upside down. Chapek is a disgrace. I hope this doesn't happen.

 

[RSoxNo1]

If this report is true, is Chapek wrong? I don't think he is.

 

[Figments Friend]

Oh good. Maybe they'll change the street name back

You of all people would say that....


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[Bocabear]

Of course this won't happen... they may improve the hotel, because frankly it does not meet up with the standards of other truly 4 star resorts worldwide, but don't expect them to change anything that would matter to most...they would just improve the overall guest experience...I have stayed there several years back and was quite frankly shocked at the lack of quality bedding and linens.. Aside from the beautiful lobby and location, there was nothing about the room that made it better than a King room at Port Orleans...
So if he plans on truly making it a 4 star resort, then I say Bravo! Please do!

 

[GiveMeTheMusic]

Well it's not wrong about one thing - the Four Seasons demonstrates what a joke Disney's "deluxe" hotel operation is. Does Bob Chapek also see how glaringly awful WDW's theme parks are?

 

[KBLovedDisney]

What is this Bob guy up to?...

 

[monothingie]

 

[HauntedPirate]

Making the GF a true 4-star hotel is going to cost a lot more money, both in renovations and on-going ops, than it would likely ever bring in. I'm taking this with a big grain of salt.

 

[asianway]

You of all people would say that....


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It's not the 15 story pagoda they promised me, but GF has been meh since the start. Burn it to the ground and redevelop the site

 

[Haymarket2008]

It's not the 15 story pagoda they promised me, but GF has been meh since the start. Burn it to the ground and redevelop the site

Couldn't disagree with you more. My money is on a brand new resort. With updates to the GF.

 

[999th Happy Haunt]

I saw a link to this on Facebook, It's is quite insane... thoughts?

Do you know who posted this?

 

[rob0519]

I can see Disney upgrading the rooms, linens, amenities and service to Four Seasons levels, but gut the entire resort? Never. I've stayed at the CR, Poly and GF multiple times each and the GF is, in my opinion, the closest Disney has to a Deluxe resort. Sadly, it is still miles behind Four Seasons.

 

[Rteetz]

Do you know who posted this?

The one and only Tommy Boy!

 

[wdwfan22]

The Grand Floridan meets all the required elements to be a four star hotel. The problem is the Grand Floridian is priced as a 5 star hotel. The Grand Floridian can never meet 5 star requirements as modifications would need to be made to the Guest rooms. So basically all the could do is offer better Guest Service and housekeeping services, but they will still remain a four star hotel.

 

[RSoxNo1]

The one and only Tommy Boy!

Similar to how Hong Kong is tearing down the castle? Sounds like he may have gotten part of the story and filled in the rest. Evidently that's how you get 50K twitter followers.

 

[montyz81]

Wait, didn't they just build a DVC wing and they made it basically the same as the rest of the resort albeit with more space.... No? I would have thought they would have started their improvements when they built that.

 

[wdwgreek]

As with all rumors I take this with a grain of salt. Perhaps it means an update to the rooms themselves or the amenities but I can't see them gutting the hotel.

 

[jpeden]

I imagine that it's more likely that they build the new flagship as the article on the site that must not be named mentioned than completely gut the Grand. That would basically take the whole hotel out of commission (at least for some time even if they only went building by building) and I just don't see that happening.