Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa overview

Whenever you consider probably the most opulent and iconic of Walt Disney World resorts, there is a good probability that pictures of Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa dance by way of your head.

This resort exudes a Disneyized model of turn-of-the-century Victorian attraction that leans into using 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 flowery setting, the vibe is definitely neither stuffy nor intimidating. You may see bathing suit-clad children squealing by way of the sweeping foyer extra continuously than you will see fits and jackets strolling by — although you will possible 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 residence.

What’s Disney’s Grand Floridian?

Disney’s Grand Floridian isn’t an unique opening-day Disney World resort, however it’s situated on the well-known monorail loop and performed a significant position in transitioning Disney into an period of fast 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 effectively over a dozen extra resort resorts, many coming within the Nineteen Nineties, proper on the heels of the Grand Floridian.

When it comes to theme, whereas Disney’s Modern Resort attracts inspiration from the smooth, 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 Predominant Road, U.S.A.

There is not any denying that its spot on the Seven Seas Lagoon, only a stroll or brief monorail trip away from the Magic Kingdom, is among the greatest 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 it’s good to know so you possibly can resolve if the Grand Floridian is the correct Disney resort for you.

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e-book the Grand Floridian Resort

It’s normal for comparatively normal rooms at Disney’s Grand Floridian to price $700-$1,000 per night time. You possibly can e-book a keep instantly with Disney World or through a Disney trip planner (at no additional cost) who could possibly enable you profit from your Disney trip and preserve a watch out for reductions.

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If you are going to spend hundreds of {dollars} on a keep on the Grand Floridian, I extremely suggest incomes a bunch of journey rewards in return through the use of probably the most rewarding bank cards for journey, such because the Chase Sapphire Reserve®, which earns 3 factors per greenback spent on journey. You would additionally use that card’s $300 annual journey credit score towards the keep, too.

Alternatively, in case you have the Citi Status® Card (not obtainable to new candidates), you might get the fourth night time of your free keep when booked through cititravel.com (as much as two free night time awards per 12 months). The knowledge for the Citi Status has been collected independently by The Factors Man. The cardboard particulars on this web page haven’t been reviewed or supplied by the cardboard issuer.

However I would argue that the perfect solution 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 Trip Membership factors. Here is a real-world instance of how this will prevent a bunch of cash when staying at Grand Floridian:

For June 8-10, a studio at Grand Floridian is offered for a complete of 38 Disney Trip Membership factors. For those who hire these factors from David’s Trip Membership — 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 complete of $828-$900 for the two-night keep.

Conversely, should you e-book that very same actual stick with money instantly with Disney, the value is at the moment $1,800, which is a minimum of 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 Modern Resort and Bay Lake Tower at Disney’s Modern 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 pace, count on this stroll to take 10 to fifteen minutes. You will not benefit 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 method between the resort and the park.

For those who’d reasonably keep cool and dry, you are in luck, as you can even decide to take the monorail to the Magic Kingdom. Merely clear safety and board it from the second degree of the foyer within the Grand Floridian to achieve the Magic Kingdom. Because the park is the subsequent cease on the monorail loop after the Grand Floridian departure level, you will be within the park very quickly.

You may as well journey to and from the Magic Kingdom through a ship.

Professional tip: For those who take the monorail from Grand Floridian to Magic Kingdom, you will get off on the first cease. Then, should you take the boat from the Magic Kingdom again to Grand Floridian, that can also be going to help you get off on the first cease.

The resort is massive and unfold out

Though the Grand Floridian is not the most important resort at Disney World, as some properties occupy greater than 200 acres and have 2,000-plus rooms, it is nonetheless fairly massive 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 Trip Membership villas housed inside a separate constructing on the other aspect of the principle Seaside Pool.

For sure, in case you are staying right here with a bunch, you might find yourself being fairly unfold aside should you aren’t cautious with room requests and picks. 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.

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Grand Floridian swimming pools

The Grand Floridian has two spectacular swimming pools.

The primary Seaside Pool, which holds greater than 100,000 gallons of water, has a 181-foot waterslide, waterfalls and a zero-entry space. Plus, you possibly can seize meals and drinks from the poolside Seashores Pool Bar & Grill to get pleasure from 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 choose some selection when having a pool day.

Moreover, there’s the massive Courtyard Pool behind the principle constructing. It would not have a waterslide, lifeguards or actions, which ends up in a quieter ambiance than what you will discover on the Seaside Pool. Nevertheless, it does usually provide longer working hours, so you may get in an early-morning or late-night swim.

Little children may try the Mad Hatter-themed splash pad play space, which has a small waterslide, water sprays and an enormous water dump bucket that appears like a hat.

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Grand Floridian rooms and suites

The Grand Floridian’s normal rooms and studios, measuring round 440 sq. toes, function a light-weight “Mary Poppins” theme that emerged within the 2022 renovation. These are the most important normal resort rooms obtainable at Walt Disney World. Nevertheless, this additional area (and close-to-Magic Kingdom location) comes at a price, because the rooms are constantly among the many most costly choices at Disney World.

Exterior of an enormous sale (or reserving through rented DVC factors, as beforehand talked about), it is fairly widespread to search out normal outer-building rooms on the Grand Floridian hovering between $700 and $800 per night time. For an upgraded theme park view, count on to pay wherever from $800 to over $1,000 per night time.

If you would like club-level entry, put together for sticker shock, as club-level rooms within the Grand Floridian’s important constructing are sometimes greater than $1,200 per night time.

However should you do splurge on reserving a club-level room on the Grand Floridian, you are in for a deal with. Make sure and profit from the membership because it does have wonderful meals and beverage choices, particularly within the mornings and evenings. Professional tip: Do not miss the all-you-want Mickey bar ice cream freezer.

Bigger suites, together with one, two or three bedrooms, are additionally obtainable, 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 not too long ago, and it labored out very effectively with a full kitchen, washer, dryer and each a pull-down Murphy mattress and single mattress beneath the TV obtainable in the lounge.

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 non-public choice.

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Grand Floridian eating places and bars

Those that keep on the Grand Floridian have quick access to a few of the most upscale eating places and facilities at Disney World.

Victoria & Albert’s

Right here, you possibly can dine at one in every of Disney’s most unique eating venues: Victoria & Albert’s. The Michelin-starred, AAA 5 Diamond Award-winning restaurant serves gourmand 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 effectively value having — in case your price range permits it and also you’re in a position to snag a coveted reservation. Simply make sure to gown appropriately (dinner jackets are required) and depart the little ones behind, as children 9 and youthful aren’t permitted.

Narcoossee’s

If you would like a superb meal that does not take three to 4 hours or require a go well with jacket, Narcoosee’s remains to be a really good eating choice at Grand Floridian. This restaurant is open for dinner, situated on the shore of the Seven Seas Lagoon (which implies some tables have views of fireworks) and serves quite a lot of largely seafood-focused objects reminiscent of shrimp and grits ($19), gulf shrimp bucatini ($44), buttermilk-fried calamari ($18) and rather more.

1900 Park Fare

After a four-year closure, 1900 Park Fare reopened as one in every of Walt Disney World’s latest character meals. Inside, you will get an opportunity to get pleasure from some fan favorites reminiscent of strawberry soup, cinnamon pull-apart bread and tacky potato casserole. Meals is served buffet-style (breakfast is $58 per grownup and $37 per baby; dinner is $69 per grownup and $44 per baby).

However whereas the meals is nice, it is the characters which might be the starring attraction. Because the reopening of this restaurant, the characters encompass Cinderella, Mirabel, Tiana and Aladdin, who’re there to assist your kiddos be taught to be “want makers” like they’re.

Citricos

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 affords a mixture of Floridian and Mediterranean delicacies, with menu objects reminiscent of candy corn bisque ($15), guava-barbecued brief 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 discover an heirloom apple salad ($13), a signature burger with memorable toppings reminiscent of brie, bacon-pepper jam, roasted garlic aioli and arugula ($26), and Cajun pasta with hen ($33).

Enchanted Rose

One in all my favourite bars in all of Disney World must be the Grand Floridian’s Enchanted Rose.

This “Magnificence and the Beast”-inspired lounge is situated within the resort’s important constructing and is open from late afternoon to the night. From 5 p.m. to 10 p.m., you may get appetizers reminiscent of seasonal flatbread ($18) and charcuterie ($22) to go together with the in depth listing of cocktails, wine, beer and extra.

There’s additionally a decently sized lounge kind of space instantly adjoining to the Enchanted Rose the place you can even order meals and drinks should 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 choice, Gasparilla Island Grill, that is usually open from 6 a.m. till late within the night and affords objects reminiscent of pastries, burgers, flatbreads, sandwiches and kid-meal staples reminiscent of 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 fitness center

You may discover the one full-service spa at any Walt Disney World-owned and operated resort on the Grand Floridian. Right here, you possibly can e-book massages, facials, nail and hair providers, and extra. When it comes to pricing, you possibly can at the moment count on a 50-minute therapeutic massage to begin at $190 earlier than charges and gratuity.

In the identical space because the spa, there may be additionally a fitness center that is open 24/7 to Grand Floridian company full with cardio machines, free weights and resistance machines.

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The property is additional 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 12 months is when the resort shines the brightest because of its huge tree, life-size gingerbread home, poinsettias, garland and different festive decorations.

Not solely are you able to admire the vacation view, however you can even buy a gingerbread shingle from the life-size home to get pleasure from as a snack. In reality, this time of 12 months is so magical that some company plan annual holidays to keep up all night time watching the Christmas tree within the atrium go up.

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 Social gathering.

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Accessibility

Disney World is usually an awesome vacation spot for these with accessibility wants. Disney’s web site signifies that every one Disney Resort inns embrace an accessible path of journey from arrival to the foyer space, in addition to to accessible visitor rooms, eating places, outlets, assembly rooms, enterprise facilities, swimming pools, train services and laundry services.

There’s close-in parking for these with a incapacity parking allow, a pool elevate on the swimming pools, and you may e-book each hearing- and wheelchair-accessible rooms on-line or over the cellphone.

Trying out

The Grand Floridian is the place Disney World feels fairly magical in a method that is arduous to copy elsewhere.

This is not only a cookie-cutter resort that occurs to be situated 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.

The resort affords settings for a lot of elegant moments, be it grand staircases or opulent promenades the place you possibly can really feel like a Disney prince or princess.

Being only a brief stroll or monorail trip from the Magic Kingdom actually provides to the resort’s enchantment and recognition. Nevertheless, that, in fact, 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 in your buck by opting to remain right here.

If you cannot fairly swing a keep on the Grand Floridian, you possibly can all the time pop by for just a few hours to stroll round or seize a chunk to eat or a beverage on the property and take heed to music fill the atrium within the evenings.

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