Once you consider probably the most opulent and iconic of Walt Disney World resorts, there is a good probability that photographs of Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa dance by means of your head.
This resort exudes a Disneyized model of turn-of-the-century Victorian attraction that leans into the usage of gentle colours, excessive ceilings, stained glass, chandeliers and marble. There’s even a cage elevator and occasional dwell piano music within the towering foyer to assist additional set the scene.
But, regardless of the flamboyant setting, the vibe is definitely neither stuffy nor intimidating. You may see bathing suit-clad children squealing by means of the sweeping foyer extra steadily than you will see fits and jackets strolling by — although you will doubtless catch a glimpse of these, too, primarily within the evenings as some fortunate diners head to the award-winning Victoria & Albert’s restaurant that calls this resort dwelling.
What’s Disney’s Grand Floridian?
Disney’s Grand Floridian will not be an authentic opening-day Disney World resort, however it’s positioned on the well-known monorail loop and performed a significant position in transitioning Disney into an period of speedy resort growth when it opened in 1988. A brand new resort hadn’t been added to Walt Disney World since its opening in 1971, however since Grand Floridian joined the roster, Disney World has welcomed nicely over a dozen extra resort resorts, many coming within the Nineteen Nineties, proper on the heels of the Grand Floridian.
By way of theme, whereas Disney’s Contemporary Resort attracts inspiration from the modern, white strains of Tomorrowland and Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort enjoys unique and worldwide influences from Adventureland, the Grand Floridian is impressed by the upbeat theme of the Magic Kingdom’s Principal Avenue, U.S.A.
There is no denying that its spot on the Seven Seas Lagoon, only a stroll or quick monorail journey away from the Magic Kingdom, is without doubt one of the finest spots of actual property in all of Walt Disney World.
However earlier than you drop $700 or extra per night time to e-book a room at this deluxe Disney resort, there are some things you’ll want to know so you may determine if the Grand Floridian is the best Disney resort for you.
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How one can e-book the Grand Floridian Resort
It is common for comparatively customary rooms at Disney’s Grand Floridian to price $700-$1,000 per night time. You’ll be able to e-book a keep instantly with Disney World or through a Disney vacation planner (at no further cost) who might be able to assist you profit from your Disney trip and preserve an eye fixed out for reductions.
FOR NO-COST ASSISTANCE WITH PLANNING AND BOOKING YOUR NEXT DISNEY VACATION, CHECK OUT TPG’S DISNEY BOOKING PARTNER, MOUSE COUNSELORS.
If you are going to spend 1000’s of {dollars} on a keep on the Grand Floridian, I extremely advocate incomes a bunch of journey rewards in return through the use of one of the vital rewarding bank cards for journey, such because the Chase Sapphire Reserve®, which earns 3 factors per greenback spent on journey. You might additionally use that card’s $300 annual travel credit towards the keep, too.
Alternatively, when you’ve got the Citi Prestige® Card (not out there to new candidates), you would get the fourth night time of your free keep when booked through cititravel.com (as much as two free night time awards per yr). The data for the Citi Status has been collected independently by The Factors Man. The cardboard particulars on this web page haven’t been reviewed or offered by the cardboard issuer.
However I would argue that the perfect approach to e-book a visit to the Grand Floridian, as it can save you as much as 50% on the keep, is with rented Disney Vacation Club points. This is a real-world instance of how this may prevent a bunch of cash when staying at Grand Floridian:
For June 8-10, a studio at Grand Floridian is accessible for a complete of 38 Disney Trip Membership factors. When you rent those points from David’s Vacation Club — a really respected firm I’ve really helpful and personally used for years — you’d pay $23-$25 per rented level, relying on how far upfront you e-book. That is an all-in whole of $828-$900 for the two-night keep.
Conversely, when you e-book that very same actual stick with money instantly with Disney, the value is at present $1,800, which is not less than double what you’d pay with rented DVC factors.
It is one of many closest resorts to the Magic Kingdom
Whereas the Grand Floridian is not technically the closest resort to the gates of the Magic Kingdom, it is nonetheless inside strolling distance.
Solely the Up to date Resort and Bay Lake Tower at Disney’s Up to date Resort, that are each a couple of half-mile away from the park, are nearer — whereas the Grand Floridian is roughly 0.7 miles away through the walkway you could enter from the identical space because the resort boat launches.
Relying in your strolling velocity, anticipate this stroll to take 10 to fifteen minutes. You will not get pleasure from a ton of shade and coverings when it is sizzling, humid and/or wet, however you will not have to attend for any transportation to point out up, and you will get an up-close view of the monorail zooming by overhead as you make your approach between the resort and the park.
When you’d somewhat keep cool and dry, you are in luck, as you too can choose to take the monorail to the Magic Kingdom. Merely clear safety and board it from the second stage of the foyer within the Grand Floridian to achieve the Magic Kingdom. Because the park is the following cease on the monorail loop after the Grand Floridian departure level, you will be within the park very quickly.
You can even journey to and from the Magic Kingdom through a ship.
Professional tip: When you take the monorail from Grand Floridian to Magic Kingdom, you will get off on the first cease. Then, when you take the boat from the Magic Kingdom again to Grand Floridian, that can be going to permit you to get off on the first cease.
The resort is giant and unfold out
Though the Grand Floridian is not the largest resort at Disney World, as some properties occupy greater than 200 acres and have 2,000-plus rooms, it is nonetheless fairly giant by most common requirements.
On the Grand Floridian’s 40 acres, you will discover greater than 800 rooms unfold all through the five-story foyer, plus the Sago Cay, Sugarloaf, Conch Key, Boca Chica and Large Pine Key buildings. Moreover, there are a number of Disney Vacation Club villas housed inside a separate constructing on the alternative aspect of the principle Seashore Pool.
For sure, in case you are staying right here with a gaggle, you would find yourself being fairly unfold aside when you aren’t cautious with room requests and alternatives. I like to recommend choosing rooms in both the principle foyer constructing or the Sago Cay and Sugarloaf buildings since they’re comparatively near the principle foyer, eating places and dock. These lodging are additionally on the top closest to the Magic Kingdom, so you will have a shorter stroll to the park.
Associated: How to save a lot of money by renting Disney Vacation Club points
Grand Floridian swimming pools
The Grand Floridian has two spectacular swimming pools.
The principle Seashore Pool, which holds greater than 100,000 gallons of water, has a 181-foot waterslide, waterfalls and a zero-entry space. Plus, you may seize meals and drinks from the poolside Seashores Pool Bar & Grill to take pleasure in from a chaise lounge or a rented cabana. Poolside actions like video games and humanities and crafts can be found, too, ought to your loved ones desire some selection when having a pool day.
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Moreover, there’s the big Courtyard Pool behind the principle constructing. It would not have a waterslide, lifeguards or actions, which leads to a quieter environment than what you will discover on the Seashore Pool. Nevertheless, it does usually supply longer working hours, so you may get in an early-morning or late-night swim.
Little children also can try the Mad Hatter-themed splash pad play space, which has a small waterslide, water sprays and a giant water dump bucket that appears like a hat.
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Grand Floridian rooms and suites
The Grand Floridian’s customary rooms and studios, measuring round 440 sq. ft, characteristic a lightweight “Mary Poppins” theme that emerged within the 2022 renovation. These are the most important customary resort rooms out there at Walt Disney World. Nevertheless, this further area (and close-to-Magic Kingdom location) comes at a value, because the rooms are persistently among the many costliest choices at Disney World.
Exterior of a giant sale (or reserving through rented DVC factors, as beforehand talked about), it is fairly frequent to seek out customary outer-building rooms on the Grand Floridian hovering between $700 and $800 per night time. For an upgraded theme park view, anticipate to pay wherever from $800 to over $1,000 per night time.
If you would like club-level access, put together for sticker shock, as club-level rooms within the Grand Floridian’s major constructing are sometimes greater than $1,200 per night time.
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However when you do splurge on reserving a club-level room on the Grand Floridian, you are in for a deal with. Ensure and profit from the membership because it does have glorious meals and beverage choices, particularly within the mornings and evenings. Professional tip: Do not miss the all-you-want Mickey bar ice cream freezer.
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Bigger suites, together with one, two or three bedrooms, are additionally out there, each when booked instantly with Disney or through rented DVC factors. We rented factors to sleep as much as 5 folks in a one-bedroom DVC suite just lately, and it labored out very nicely with a full kitchen, washer, dryer and each a pull-down Murphy mattress and single mattress beneath the TV out there in the lounge.
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Personally, I discover the styling of those bigger DVC rooms to be slightly extra old school than the Grand Floridian resort rooms and DVC studios, however that is a matter of private desire.
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Grand Floridian eating places and bars
Those that keep on the Grand Floridian have easy accessibility to a few of the most upscale eating places and facilities at Disney World.
Victoria & Albert’s
Right here, you may dine at certainly one of Disney’s most unique eating venues: Victoria & Albert’s. The Michelin-starred, AAA 5 Diamond Award-winning restaurant serves connoisseur fare through a number of programs (the prix fixe menu begins at $295 per particular person) dished out for hours in a chic area that completely matches the Victorian-era design of the property.
Consuming at Victoria & Albert’s is an expertise nicely value having — in case your price range permits it and also you’re capable of snag a coveted reservation. Simply be sure you gown appropriately (dinner jackets are required) and go away the little ones behind, as children 9 and youthful usually are not permitted.
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Victoria & Albert’s. SUMMER HULL/THE POINTS GUY
Narcoossee’s
If you’d like a superb meal that does not take three to 4 hours or require a swimsuit jacket, Narcoosee’s continues to be a really good eating possibility at Grand Floridian. This restaurant is open for dinner, positioned on the shore of the Seven Seas Lagoon (which suggests some tables have views of fireworks) and serves a wide range of largely seafood-focused gadgets akin to shrimp and grits ($19), gulf shrimp bucatini ($44), buttermilk-fried calamari ($18) and way more.
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1900 Park Fare
After a four-year closure, 1900 Park Fare reopened as certainly one of Walt Disney World’s latest character meals. Inside, you will get an opportunity to take pleasure in some fan favorites akin to strawberry soup, cinnamon pull-apart bread and tacky potato casserole. Meals is served buffet-style (breakfast is $58 per grownup and $37 per little one; dinner is $69 per grownup and $44 per little one).
However whereas the meals is nice, it is the characters which are the starring attraction. Because the reopening of this restaurant, the characters encompass Cinderella, Mirabel, Tiana and Aladdin, who’re there to assist your kiddos study to be “want makers” like they’re.
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Citricos
Yet one more worthwhile restaurant at Grand Floridian open for dinner is Citricos, which has decor impressed by the backyard animated scene in “Mary Poppins.” This restaurant provides a mixture of Floridian and Mediterranean delicacies, with menu gadgets akin to candy corn bisque ($15), guava-barbecued quick ribs ($54) and smoked cauliflower ($12).
Grand Floridian Cafe
A extra informal table-service restaurant on the Grand Floridian is the Grand Floridian Cafe, open for 3 meals a day. Right here you’ll find an heirloom apple salad ($13), a signature burger with memorable toppings akin to brie, bacon-pepper jam, roasted garlic aioli and arugula ($26), and Cajun pasta with hen ($33).
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Enchanted Rose
Certainly one of my favourite bars in all of Disney World must be the Grand Floridian’s Enchanted Rose.
This “Magnificence and the Beast”-inspired lounge is positioned within the resort’s major constructing and is open from late afternoon to the night. From 5 p.m. to 10 p.m., you may get appetizers akin to seasonal flatbread ($18) and charcuterie ($22) to go together with the intensive checklist of cocktails, wine, beer and extra.
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There may be additionally a decently sized lounge kind of space instantly adjoining to the Enchanted Rose the place you too can order meals and drinks when you do not want to sit instantly on the bar.
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The Grand Floridian additionally has meals and beverage service by the principle pool and a quick-service possibility, Gasparilla Island Grill, that is usually open from 6 a.m. till late within the night and provides gadgets akin to pastries, burgers, flatbreads, sandwiches and kid-meal staples akin to hen fingers and fries you could order in particular person or upfront for pick-up in your My Disney Expertise app.
Grand Floridian Spa and health club
You may discover the one full-service spa at any Walt Disney World-owned and operated resort on the Grand Floridian. Right here, you may book massages, facials, nail and hair companies, and extra. By way of pricing, you may at present anticipate a 50-minute therapeutic massage to start out at $190 earlier than charges and gratuity.
In the identical space because the spa, there may be additionally a health club that is open 24/7 to Grand Floridian visitors full with cardio machines, free weights and resistance machines.
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The property is further magical (and widespread) across the holidays
For me, the very best time to remain on the Grand Floridian is, with out query, in late November and December. This time of yr is when the resort shines the brightest due to its large tree, life-size gingerbread home, poinsettias, garland and different festive decorations.
Not solely are you able to admire the vacation view, however you too can buy a gingerbread shingle from the life-size home to take pleasure in as a snack. In truth, this time of yr is so magical that some visitors plan annual holidays to stay up all night watching the Christmas tree in the atrium go up.
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As an added bonus, the property’s proximity to the Magic Kingdom means it is one of many best to remain at when going to Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party.
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Accessibility
Disney World is usually an incredible vacation spot for these with accessibility wants. Disney’s web site signifies that each one Disney Resort accommodations embrace an accessible path of journey from arrival to the foyer space, in addition to to accessible visitor rooms, eating places, retailers, assembly rooms, enterprise facilities, swimming pools, train services and laundry services.
There may be close-in parking for these with a incapacity parking allow, a pool carry on the swimming pools, and you’ll e-book each hearing- and wheelchair-accessible rooms on-line or over the cellphone.
Testing
The Grand Floridian is the place Disney World feels fairly magical in a approach that is laborious to copy elsewhere.
This is not only a cookie-cutter resort that occurs to be positioned on Disney property however in any other case may very well be plopped down wherever and slot in. It is themed from high to backside, with dwell piano music within the foyer and Victorian inspiration so far as the attention can see.
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The resort provides settings for a lot of elegant moments, be it grand staircases or opulent promenades the place you may really feel like a Disney prince or princess.
Being only a quick stroll or monorail journey from the Magic Kingdom definitely provides to the resort’s attraction and recognition. Nevertheless, that, after all, comes at a steep price, so be sure you do your homework earlier than you e-book to make sure you’re getting probably the most bang on your buck by opting to remain right here.
If you cannot fairly swing a keep on the Grand Floridian, you may at all times pop by for a number of hours to stroll round or seize a chew to eat or a beverage on the property and take heed to music fill the atrium within the evenings.
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