Why is the Grand Floridian so unpopular?

captainkidd

captainkidd

Well-Known Member
On any Disney message board it seems? At least when compared to a few of the other resorts. In any poll, it always comes in behind Polynesian, Beach Club, Wilderness Lodge and Animal Kingdom Lodge. However, in just about any guide book, it's listed as the best resort on property.

I'm curious as to why people don't like it. If you're one of the ones that don't like it, have you stayed there before? Did you have a bad experience?
 
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captainkidd

captainkidd

Well-Known Member
Original Poster
sleepybear said:
I suspect a lot of it also has to do with expectations. When you're paying that much money for a hotel room, you expect something amazing. In reality, you merely get a nice hotel room. You're bound to feel let down.

We stayed at Grand Floridian once. It was nice, but we won't be staying there again. It was fine, but definitely not worth that kind of cash.
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The thing is, the Poly is almost as much, and those rooms though large are certainly not worth the price tag.
 
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loveofamouse

loveofamouse

Well-Known Member
Besides the cost, for me, it's just so formal and not really themed. Just like others have said, I just couldn't see myself walking around that hotel in sweats and flip flops. lol. I'd feel out of place.
 
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Pioneer Hall

Pioneer Hall

Well-Known Member
WDWfqntflyer said:
Besides the cost, for me, it's just so formal and not really themed. Just like others have said, I just couldn't see myself walking around that hotel in sweats and flip flops. lol. I'd feel out of place.
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I don't really understand the not themed argument. I don't know about anyone else, but I can't recall the last time I went somewhere and it was the 1920's. If you go with that thinking, then you have to agree that Main Street doesn't have much theming either.
 
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captainkidd

captainkidd

Well-Known Member
Original Poster
DisneyInsider said:
I don't really understand the not themed argument. I don't know about anyone else, but I can't recall the last time I went somewhere and it was the 1920's. If you go with that thinking, then you have to agree that Main Street doesn't have much theming either.
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I agree. I think the theming is great. The grounds, which are beautiful, just aren't as transporting as the Poly's. Plus, the Poly has a bigger beach and more hammocks. A big plus.
 
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Pioneer Hall

Pioneer Hall

Well-Known Member
captainkidd said:
I agree. I think the theming is great. The grounds, which are beautiful, just aren't as transporting as the Poly's. Plus, the Poly has a bigger beach and more hammocks. A big plus.
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Exactly. It's one thing to like a resorts theme more or enjoy it's ammenities over another... but to say that something that transports you back a century isn't themed doesn't make sense to me.
 
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foreverbelle

foreverbelle

Well-Known Member
We have never stayed there for the simple fact that it seems so formal for us, and its just our style. I agree with many people on here that were saying they want to feel comfortable where they stay. Me to.
 
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dizzney

dizzney

Member
DH and I stayed there in an Attic Room overlooking the MK for our Anniversary in 2000, and loved it. It was beautiful and romantic, and great for an anniversary. (our kids were home) We saw then and at other times when we have viisted restaurants there alot of honeymooners, so others also perceive it to be a romantic resort. Since we are DVC, we normally stay at DVC resorts, but would happily stay there again if it were just the two of us. I dont think our kids would appreciate it as much, they love BWV and BLT our home resorts.
 
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MaryJaneP

MaryJaneP

Well-Known Member
No desire to stay there and never have. Have stayed at Poly and Contemporary. Agree with the comments on Prices, Transportation, Stuffiness, and Trapped. Theming, as mentioned, is superior, as is the dining, but you don't need to stay there to appreciate either.

Also, when they showed us several rooms as samples, they felt smaller and cramped. Not sure if actual sqft is smaller or just feels that way. Not that we spend much time in our room anyway, but again, for price, felt small.

Now, if they put a bridge/walkway connecting it to MK, thus significantly adding to circling lagoon on foot, and allowing easy entry/exit in AM/PM, I'd consider it.
 
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erstwo

erstwo

Well-Known Member
I love the Grand Floridian. I think the decor is lovely. Not to my tastes, but neither is the Poly! :D

But I don't want to stay there. It always feels SO crowded! So many people stop by to tour the monorail resorts and the Grand Floridian is the only one that feels like a "gathering place" when you enter. You can see everyone in your party at a quick glance, upstairs or down and the theming does a great job of just 'inviting' people in. You add that number of visitors to the number of people staying in the hotel and you get crowds. If I'm going to shell out that amount of $$$, I want a nice quiet place to relax.

We visited the AKL this trip and decided that we must stay there. Granted, we were there in the middle of the day - prime park time- but it was so relaxed and quiet! That's what I'm looking for in a Deluxe.

If you forced me to chose another monorail deluxe I'd pick Contemporary next. It's the ability to walk to MK, mentioned above, that gives it the edge for me!
 
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Flip83

Flip83

Active Member
I've stayed at all of the Deluxe Resorts. Yacht/Beach Club being my favorite. We have stayed at GF and it was a first and last. Yeah, its luxurious, but we felt rooms were cramped and nothing really impressed us. If we're going Deluxe, it's Beach Club, Polynesian or Boardwalk. And although it's a Moderate... We just got home from a vacation at Coronado Springs and besides liking the actual rooms, we'll NEVER stay again. Way too big! That was definately a First and a Last.
 
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K

kch4095

Member
We've stayed at GF twice, Contemporary, Swan & Dolphin, and Beach Club. I really liked being in the Boardwalk area, but GF remains our favorite. I love the piano player in the lobby during the day and the jazz band at night. The pools are great and we didn't find it to be "stuffy" at all. We are going again in January and are excited about getting to stay at BLT for the first time. I would never stay at WL or AKL because it's not easily accessible to two parks, which is a non-negotiable for us when considering a deluxe resort.
 
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Monty

Monty

Brilliant...and Canadian
In the Parks
No
I've only spent one night at GF. I really liked it. At some point I'll stay for a week to really get a feel for it.

I have stayed at most of the resorts. The exceptions being BLT, OKW and SS because they're DVC, CB and CS because they're just too big IMO and POR just because I haven't got to it yet. We'll be at POR in August and I'll have covered all the resorts I wanted to. So far, Pop was our favourite Value, POFQ our favourite Moderate and Beach Club our favourite Deluxe. GF will get a chance to bump Beach Club out of top spot and POR may bump POFQ. Once I've completed my assessments, I will probably never stay at the Values again, unless I'm going for two weeks or more. I'll mostly stay at Deluxe and probably Beach Club. Beach Club mainly because I really like being walking distance to World Showcase.
 
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PlaneCrazy1978

PlaneCrazy1978

Active Member
I think it has to do a lot with money. People say "Well I'd never pay that much to stay in a hotel room, that's ridiculous!!". Right off the bat they have a negative view.

I admit it, it's expensive, but it is worth every single penny. I really think it is an example of you get what you pay for.
 
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T

tampabrad

Active Member
People don't like it because it is very expensive. IMO I don't think you actually get what you pay for at the GF. Unless you are staying club level, you get the same service, sometimes less, than at the other deluxe resorts.
 
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