Grand Floridian Resort & Spa is a luxurious resort at Walt Disney World inside monorail, boat, and strolling distance of Magic Kingdom. This WDW lodging evaluate options room pictures, pool & restaurant data, execs & cons, and far more. (Up to date Could 5, 2023.)
Let’s begin with the most recent replace for 2023, which is that the resort is presently within the midst of a large-scale refurbishment and reimagining venture. You’ll be able to try Grand Floridian Resort Reimagining Information & Development Updates for 2023, which is up to date periodically with progress studies and adjustments.
Formally, Walt Disney World has not shared many particulars about adjustments and development. In case you go to the official web site, there’s merely an replace stating: “Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa is presently present process refurbishment. Company will be capable to see and listen to development throughout daytime hours. Most Resort resort facilities will stay obtainable. Please permit for further journey time.”
That undoubtedly understates the scope and scale of the work. Truly, development crews are going building-by-building and utterly redoing each the interiors and exteriors. This venture started over a yr in the past, and is now approaching its house stretch. To this point, the Massive Pine Key (now Disney Trip Membership), Boca Chica, Conch Key, and Sugar Loaf buildings are all totally reimagined and reopened.
At present in progress is Sago Key buildings, which started work within the final couple of months. If previous precedent is any indication, Sago Key ought to be completed earlier than Summer season 2023. On account of the work on Sago Key, the wonderful Grand Floridian to Magic Kingdom walkway is closed. Our expectation is that this can reopen as quickly as that constructing is completed, though that’s not but sure. Formally, Walt Disney World lists the walkway closure as by means of “Late Spring 2023.”
On a associated notice, the walkway between the Grand Floridian and Polynesian has modified on a few events as a result of development of the Poly DVC Tower. A brand new route simply opened and is simpler to navigate and feels safer. On condition that that is open proper now with the diploma of structural development that’s occurring, we anticipate that pathway to stay open throughout that venture.
The one constructing that’s not completed and even began is the primary foyer. Because of this should you ebook any of the “Outer Bldg” room classes at this level, you’ll get a brand new room. The buildings which can be presently in progress are closed utterly; solely the reimagined rooms can be found for reserving. That’s the excellent news.
The unhealthy information is that the entire Most important Bldg. rooms (together with Membership Degree and Suites) are nonetheless the previous, dated, and bland model. Nonetheless, you received’t even have the choice to ebook these relying upon your journey dates, because the Most important Constructing is completely unavailable for Summer season & Fall 2023, which ought to present perception into the timeline for that venture.
The opposite unhealthy information is that the scope and scale of the primary foyer overhaul is unknown; development could possibly be majorly or minimally disruptive for stays between later this month and November 2023. Our expectation is that the work will happen in phases, that means sections of the foyer will likely be closed off at completely different occasions. We don’t anticipate the whole constructing to be walled off, however we do anticipate main areas unavailable and visual development all through the summer season and fall.
What’s additionally unknown is what occurs with Grand Floridian Cafe and 1900 Park Fare, the latter of which has nonetheless not reopened. Our expectation is that each obtain reimagined interiors, with the previous closing over the summer season to accommodate that overdue replace and the latter not reopening till the foyer venture is completed. (So maybe someday between October and December 2023–that’s the most important stretch of the yr for Walt Disney World restaurant demand.) That’s merely hypothesis, although.
On a constructive notice with regard to eating, Narcoossee’s has now reopened after its reimagining, becoming a member of Citricos and Victoria & Albert’s. This trifecta of wonderful eating institutions have all been overhauled within the final couple of years at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort.
Much more constructive is the Grand New Rooms at Walt Disney World’s Flagship Resort. We’ve stayed within the reimagined rooms a number of occasions within the final yr (twice within the DVC model, as soon as on the resort facet) and completely love them.
The themed design, consideration to element, and sense of luxuriousness is off the charts. They’ve a lot extra persona and elegance, and are additionally appreciable enhancements by way of performance. Right here’s a video tour of the brand new resort rooms on the Grand Floridian that showcases their high quality:
For years, we’ve been complaining that the visitor rooms on the Grand Floridian are usually not commensurate with the costs. I’d go so far as to say that the earlier common visitor rooms are among the many dullest at Walt Disney World. You’d be hard-pressed to differentiate them from a mid-range Hilton or Marriott. With these rooms being changed, our opinion of the Grand Floridian has improved tremendously.
On account of the brand new rooms and different enhancements, the Grand Floridian has shot up our Rankings of ALL Walt Disney World Resorts from Worst to Finest. Beforehand, the Grand Floridian carried out poorly, not residing as much as its flagship resort standing as a result of datedness and underwhelming rooms. Now, there are solely two the reason why it doesn’t rank larger.
The primary is price, as rack charges on the Grand Floridian begin at over $700 per night time. These are the most affordable nights of the yr, with most dates being within the $800 to $900 vary for traditional rooms. (Nonetheless, reductions are sometimes obtainable that cut back these costs considerably.)
The opposite is the straightforward undeniable fact that the development is just not but accomplished. Throughout our stays at Grand Floridian prior to now yr, work has been minimally invasive. There was a minor quantity of blight and noise, however going building-by-building has helped stop the resort from feeling like a development zone. We wouldn’t hesitate to remain right here in the course of the venture–clearly, on condition that we’ve returned on a number of events in the course of the work.
Nonetheless, everybody’s tolerance for development impacts differs. There are partitions up round parts of the resort and you will notice development employees on carts, roof replacements being performed, exterior stairways being rebuilt, and extra. Moreover, the development up till now has been on the outlying buildings of the resort. As that wraps up and impacts the grounds much less, work on the primary constructing and foyer will start, and nobody is aware of how disruptive that will likely be.
Accordingly, we hesitate to suggest Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort to first-timers for stays in Summer season or Fall 2023. Maybe we’ll revise this as soon as work begins and we see how impactful it’s, however for now, we’re erring on the facet of warning and advising towards staying on the Grand Floridian within the subsequent few months should you’re an rare customer to Walt Disney World.
Conversely, should you’re already trying forward past that, we extremely suggest Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa for Christmas 2023 or 2024 Walt Disney World holidays. The development will likely be solely full by then, and each constructing–together with the primary foyer–will likely be feeling as contemporary and looking out nearly as good because the outlying buildings do now. Walt Disney World’s flagship resort will as soon as once more be actually deserving of its standing!
We at all times suggest reserving with an “Approved Disney Trip Planner” (Disney’s time period for a journey agent), however that’s doubly true should you’re serious about rolling the cube and staying on the Grand Floridian throughout development. That’s as a result of it’s potential Walt Disney World will find yourself desirous to relocate you to a distinct resort–or you will need to change accommodations after seeing the extent of development. Amongst many different issues, Approved Disney Trip Planners can advocate in your behalf and guarantee a positive consequence.
They obtain fee from Disney, so most approved planners is not going to cost you for reserving the holiday bundle and planning companies. The fee-free Approved Disney Trip Planner that we suggest is Be Our Visitor Holidays. Their companies don’t price further, they’ll reserve your room, make it easier to with eating reservations and itineraries, and apply the most effective reductions to your reservation.
At that time, we’ll return to completely overhaul this evaluate. For now, a lot of what follows (particularly the cruel criticism of the visitor rooms) now not applies.
Even previous to the reimagining, the widespread areas at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa are upscale. The resort is inarguably grandiose and complex, and the execution of the Victorian theme is extremely properly performed.
Most areas supply large element and a way of luxurious, with a handful of places being stuffy or overly harking back to grandma’s home. In our view, this comes throughout higher in particular person than it does by way of pictures, which could make the resort seem extra antiquated than it really is.
In particular person, the whole resort is permeated with a way of opulence. There’s texture and high quality to each floor, making the resort really feel decidedly luxurious. Sure, it additionally feels a bit classical, however that’s true of most of the world’s nicest accommodations. For now at the very least, the Grand Floridian skews in the direction of elegant luxurious reasonably than trendy luxurious.
Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa feels imbued with a way of sophistication. The foyer makes a powerful first impression, and the widespread areas are precisely what you’d anticipate of Walt Disney World’s flagship resort. It may really feel a tad stuffy or old-fashioned, but it surely’s additionally stunning and well-appointed. Even should you’re not staying on the Grand Floridian, the foyer eating places are the right vacation spot for a flowery date night time or anniversary dinner.
Talking of which, as a result of total model, slight sense of stuffiness, eating sophistication, and different options of the resort, we don’t view this as a terrific possibility should you’re doing Walt Disney World with Children and are primarily involved with their response to the resort. It’s a significantly better possibility for Honeymooning at Walt Disney World.
As for grownup facilities, the Grand Floridian is a fairly ‘loaded’ resort.
Whereas they aren’t essentially the most thematically thrilling, it has good pool areas and a brand new Alice in Wonderland water play space that was added across the time of the Disney Trip Membership Villas on the Grand Floridian.
One other spotlight is the eating. Citricos was just lately overhauled with a brand new menu and decor (supposedly) impressed by Mary Poppins. As you’ll be able to learn in our New Citricos Assessment, it’s unbelievable–a prime 10 restaurant at Walt Disney World. There’s additionally the recently-reimagined Enchanted Rose Magnificence and the Beast Bar. We expect it’s misplaced on the Grand Floridian and an inappropriate use of mental property…however it’s undeniably trendy.
Furthermore, Victoria & Albert’s is much and away the most effective restaurant at Walt Disney World, and the right place for an important day. Our current visits to Narcoossee’s have confirmed wonderful–significantly better than the final meal there (our Narcoossee’s evaluate must be up to date–I’d now contemplate Narcoossee’s within the 8.5-9 vary).
Then there are the grounds, that are pretty. The Grand Floridian usually has well-maintained gardens, good paths, and fairly fountains, all of which make for a nice post-meal stroll.
One other superior addition is the new-ish walkway to Magic Kingdom. We’ve already breathlessly lined this in “Pictures & Video: Meandering the Magnificent Magic Kingdom to Grand Floridian Walkway.” In case you missed that, it’s now potential to stroll all the best way from the Transportation and Ticket Heart to Magic Kingdom. Our enthusiasm for the walkway is just not hyperbole. It’s an enormous win for the Grand Floridian.
The resort is just not too unfold out, and strolling across the Villas in the direction of the Marriage ceremony Pavilion and Polynesian Village Resort–or simply sitting in a quiet swing alongside the seashore, is an fulfilling expertise.
If you wish to take benefit the Grand Floridian’s highlights whereas staying at a resort with a extra relaxed theme and environment, our suggestion can be Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort. From there, you’ll be able to stroll or take the monorail over for a date night time, after which having a peaceable nighttime stroll again to the Poly.
One other factor I respect concerning the Grand Floridian is its magnificence at Christmas.
The tree within the foyer and the massive gingerbread home are each beautiful, and highlights of my Free Self-Guided Yuletide Tour at Walt Disney Phrase. With that stated, the foyer will be packed at the moment of yr, so I might not need to keep in the primary constructing.
Lastly, we come to the resort rooms on the Grand Floridian. Once more, it is a have a look at the previous model of the rooms. Fortunately, these rooms have been retired within the outer buildings and are on their approach out in the primary constructing. Until you’re staying on the Grand Floridian within the coming weeks, you’ll not be caught in considered one of these.
That’s factor, as these had been on par with chained-brand accommodations like Hilton or Marriott. And never their high-end properties just like the JW or Conrad. (Additionally take note the overwhelming majority of Grand Floridian’s rooms have commonplace ceilings—the pictures listed here are of dormer rooms and its vaulted ceiling—so that they’re even duller trying than the one pictured right here.)
Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort isn’t going to compete with actual world luxurious accommodations, and even the close by 4 Seasons Orlando at Walt Disney World. As with different Disney-owned accommodations, stripping the rooms of their theme to make them extra broadly interesting simply made them bland.
The rooms are completely passable. The furnishings is sweet sufficient and there are some high-end finishings. Simply as an entire, it’s boring.
The bogs are properly appointed, with good counter tops, tiling, and wallpaper.
With that stated, these bogs are beginning to present their age, and lack the trendy lighting, giant sinks, space for storing, and different options of most resort rooms at Walt Disney World.
The Grand Floridian rooms haven’t had a tough items refurbishment in a very long time, and thus really feel like outliers as in comparison with just about each different Deluxe Resort at Walt Disney World.
For the sake of comparability, try the brand new Moana Rooms at Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort or Wilderness Lodge Reimagined Rooms, each of that are new. Likewise, Disney’s Modern Resort is presently receiving an Incredibles Overhaul. Our expectation is that Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort is subsequent up, in all probability in some unspecified time in the future within the subsequent yr.
As famous above, these pictures are of a dormer room on the Grand Floridian. The upsides to this are the vaulted ceiling and the extra secluded high quality of the balcony.
The downsides are that the balcony is barely smaller and you’ll’t see something with out standing up. I’m undecided why Disney doesn’t furnish these with taller chairs.
General, the place you stand on the Grand Floridian might be a matter of non-public desire. Some folks will need to ebook it regardless, as there’s a sure cachet in staying at the costliest Walt Disney World resort. Others may not have expertise with actual world luxurious accommodations and assume the Grand is completely sufficient. Others nonetheless would possibly legitimately love the Grand Floridian and discover my qualms about its rooms and pricing over-blown.
Personally, for this amount of cash–even understanding that staying on property at Walt Disney World prices a premium–I anticipate perfection. The Grand Floridian is a far cry from perfection, and easily not definitely worth the exorbitant charges it expenses, at the very least in my view. If luxurious had been my utmost concern, I’d ebook the 4 Seasons at Walt Disney World. If I weren’t so apprehensive about luxurious or had been taking a visit extra geared in the direction of children, I’d ebook one of many different superior and cheaper Walt Disney World accommodations.
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YOUR THOUGHTS
Do you like the Grand Floridian, or do you agree about its bland and boring rooms? Would you contemplate splurging on a keep right here, or is it too costly? In case you’re a fan of the Grand, what do you contemplate its promoting factors? Planning on staying right here sometime? Any questions we may also help you reply? Listening to your suggestions–even once you disagree with us–is each attention-grabbing to us and useful to different readers, so please share your ideas beneath within the feedback!