Construction continues at Grand Floridian Resort, with extra work to constructing exteriors and (presumably) interiors. In this submit, we’ll share pictures and ideas on the impression to visitors with stays right here between now and 2023. We’ll additionally deal with the reimagining of rooms, eating places, foyer, and extra. (Updated December 16, 2022.)
Right now, the official announcement from Walt Disney World is that “Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa is undergoing refurbishment. Guests will be able to see and hear construction during daytime hours. Most Resort hotel amenities will remain available. Please allow for additional travel time.”
This began again in March, and the idea on the time was that discover the venture pertained to the Disney Vacation Club overhaul of the Big Pine Key constructing of resort rooms at Walt Disney World’s flagship resort. This constructing reopened over the summer time and the brand new rooms have debuted–see Grand New Rooms at Walt Disney World’s Flagship Resort for a glance inside. However, work has continued.
December 16, 2022 Update: Walt Disney World has since confirmed a lot of what’s mentioned under on this submit as ‘rumor,’ which is that the foyer and visitor rooms are being reimagined. This wasn’t actually a ‘rumor’ within the conventional sense of the time period earlier than, because it was revealed within the official Disney Vacation Club journal, however it’s the primary official affirmation we’ve seen from the corporate exterior of that. Here’s what Walt Disney World has now shared concerning the Grand Floridian overhaul:
2023 will even be a momentous yr for Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa because it celebrates its 35th anniversary on July 1! The resort has been receiving some grand touches that weave acquainted storybook appeal into the Victorian class of this flagship resort. Guest rooms are at the moment being up to date as we converse with extra to return because the beloved Grand Floridian ushers in its third decade of magic. The ongoing renovation will even embrace an upcoming refurbishment of the foyer, which is able to preserve the basic theming and love with some recent new enhancements.
The story doesn’t finish there, as you may dine beneath the stunning London sky at Citricos, impressed by “Mary Poppins Returns” … and perhaps bookend your night with a shimmering sip at Enchanted Rose Lounge, impressed by “Beauty and the Beast.” And our beloved Victoria & Albert’s – the culinary crown jewel of Walt Disney World Resort and AAA Five Diamond Award winner – reopened its doorways this yr to rave critiques that includes a renovated inside.
All of this was already identified based mostly each on circumstantial ‘evidence’ and comparable statements within the aforementioned DVC Files journal. However, it’s good to see separate affirmation, even whether it is exceedingly mild on particulars. Here’s hoping that Imagineering releases some precise idea artwork and a development timeline for when the foyer will probably be impacted.
Knowing when the entire venture will wrap up in 2023 (or will it’s 2024?) would even be good. This may very well be a comparatively minor initiative that swaps out furnishings and furnishings in a single day and has zero impression on visitors, or it may very well be a serious venture that largely takes the foyer out of fee. It may very well be the form of factor that makes visitors need to keep away from the Grand Floridian, or a complete non-factor. There’s no manner of figuring out till Disney gives precise, substantive particulars.
At the time of our final in-person picture replace, most of Boca Chica was coated by scaffolding, with development partitions erected across the perimeter of the constructing. As of December 2022, the outside of Boca Chica is now completed and crews have moved on to the buildings across the marina.
In watching development, it’s fairly apparent that a number of issues are occurring. The roof is being changed in sections; that is overdue and makes an evening and day distinction. Additionally, there’s repainting and repairs to the constructing and its lattice work.
Finally, the stairwells are being rebuilt. This additionally occurred with Big Pine Key, and the outcomes are comparatively underwhelming–the brand new stairwells have an nearly momentary really feel. We at all times use these stairwells as an alternative of elevators, and the outdated ones didn’t have any seen points.
Of course, that doesn’t imply they didn’t have to be changed for no matter cause. I’m no development professional and I extremely doubt Disney would’ve undertaken this (at finest) lateral if it was pointless. (On that notice, I’d love to listen to from somebody who is a development professional and may perceive the why of this.)
Thus far, nothing else has been formally introduced or revealed with regard to the interiors of the buildings.
However, it’s fairly apparent that transforming is happening. During a latest keep within the new Disney Vacation Club rooms on the Grand Floridian, we inquired about this on the resort, and have been instructed that the resort aspect is getting the identical rooms because the DVC aspect.
Normally, we’d take these phrase of mouth studies with a grain of salt as on-the-ground rumors aren’t precisely essentially the most credible.
In this case, we additionally noticed a staging space arrange whereas utilizing the walkway to Magic Kingdom (no pictures as a result of, regardless that it’s in visitor view, it’s technically backstage–I’m not breaking any guidelines for a development replace). There have been additionally carts zooming round all through the day, and a pair carried giant bins marked “Ethan Allen.” I’m fairly positive I’ve by no means seen roofing supplies at our native Ethan Allen retailer.
Here are a number of extra pictures to offer you an thought of what the development is like:
We stayed within the Big Pine Key constructing, in a room straight dealing with the development the place work was actively occurring all through our keep. Sitting on the balcony, I might see welding on the stairwell, which was oddly transfixing. I wouldn’t essentially name that an “enhancement” however I did desire it to the choice of wanting on the pool. That’s simply me, although.
Otherwise, there wasn’t a lot of a development impression. So lengthy as this work continues constructing by constructing–and I assume that’s the plan–the Grand Floridian doesn’t really feel or sound like a development zone. Sure, there are development employees coming and going (notably alongside the trail main previous Gasparilla Island Grill), however there are at all times upkeep employees, landscaping, housekeeping, and many others. That’s par for the course, and essential to service the resort and maintain the grounds wanting good.
There are instances once I’ve felt like there’s an excessive amount of noise or visible blight because of resort development at Walt Disney World. That’s not my take right here; I’d not hesitate to e-book one other keep on the Grand Floridian throughout this venture. (Well, I’d since we’re out of factors for the yr, however that has nothing to do with development!)
As at all times, your mileage could fluctuate. If you’ll be spending plenty of time within the room throughout daytime hours or are delicate to noise, think about making a room request away from wherever the work is happening throughout your trip.
Anyway, it looks as if an open secret that the Grand Floridian is changing its customary resort rooms (pictured above) with one thing within the fashion of the resort studios.
We are extremely happy by this information (or rumor, relying upon the way you have a look at it). For years, we’ve been complaining that the rooms aren’t commensurate with the costs. I’d go so far as to say that the Grand Floridian common visitor rooms are among the many dullest at Walt Disney World. You’d be hard-pressed to tell apart them from a mid-range Hilton or Marriott.
Above is a have a look at the Resort Studio.
To me, it’s an evening and day distinction–simply the most important earlier than/after enchancment of any resort room at Walt Disney World within the final decade. This reimagining introduced with it larger usability, consideration to particulars, luxurious finishings, thematic prospers, and a spread of different particulars. Whether you’re assessing from a perform or kind perspective, these are a marked enchancment.
I’d go a step additional than that, and say the Resort Studios are the very best rooms from an goal perspective–or at the very least in rivalry for that. I personally desire a handful of different rooms, however there’s no denying the standard of those.
It makes full sense that Walt Disney World is replicating this fashion on the resort aspect of Grand Floridian, because the workforce behind these rooms completely crushed it. This will probably be an enormous enchancment, with visitors now not questioning (to the identical diploma) how this room price $800 or extra.
Additionally, Narcoossee’s–the waterfront restaurant at Grand Floridian–is now closed. Narcoossee’s is predicted to reopen in 2023 as an enhanced eating expertise. In the meantime, Citricos is now open seven days per week.
Specifics of this reimagining additionally haven’t been formally introduced, however the size of the venture alone suggests we’re going to see important adjustments. Probably larger in scope than the largely-cosmetic updates at Citricos, and probably entailing structure adjustments to the eating room and kitchen. While we liked the ambiance and elegance of Narcoossee’s, we’re prepared to withhold judgment because the Citricos reimagining turned out properly. (Although I believe there was much less draw back danger there; Citricos wanted a brand new look, Narcoossee’s doesn’t.)
Beyond this, it’s rumored that Grand Floridian will obtain a considerable overhaul in 2023 with “Enchanted Gardens” because the unifying visible fashion. (That’s the time period utilized by the Disney Files journal for DVC members. I haven’t seen “Enchanted Gardens” used anyplace else when describing the reimagining, however there’s presumably a foundation for it someplace.)
This might embody the foyer, eating places, and different facilities. An overhaul of the foyer looks as if an inevitability at this level. Although I don’t assume that’s vital (do the Grand Canyon Concourse within the Contemporary first!), I do assume this fashion may very well be used as the idea for a refresh.
That’s in all probability going to get me excoriated amongst Walt Disney World purists. As a realist, I believe this fashion is just about the best-case situation when accounting for tastes of contemporary visitors and the value level of the Grand Floridian. While WDW diehards may love the foyer and total aesthetic, I’d hazard a guess that the resort doesn’t comport with the expectations of the first-timers or informal visitors who really e-book it.
With that stated, my hope is that Imagineering can marry the visible fashion of the brand new rooms with the opulence and grandiosity of the principle foyer. It mustn’t turn into an Ethan Allen showroom, however with the next ceiling. Modernized doesn’t must imply uninteresting and devoid of character. There is a method to have the very best of each worlds, a foyer that’s each well-themed and splendid. It’s a troublesome stability to strike, however hopefully it may be achieved, if that’s what Walt Disney World opts to do.
If Walt Disney World does choose to overtake the foyer of the Grand Floridian, one factor is for certain: we should defend the masterpiece monkey and bunny work in any respect prices.
I’m not one for petitions, but when somebody have been to start out one to get these puppies added to some historic register of culturally important artistic endeavors, I’d signal it. Perhaps the Grand Floridian ought to even be added to the National Register of Historic Places as residence to those priceless treasures. They’re arguably why it’s known as the Grand, and is the flagship resort at Walt Disney World.
Ultimately, we’re very happy that it seems the Grand Floridian is lastly getting visitor rooms which might be worthy of Walt Disney World’s flagship resort. It’s not completely clear why Walt Disney World hasn’t introduced this, or launched main particulars a few new foyer, eating places, and rooms?
Regardless, it’s a near-certainty that the visitor rooms on the resort aspect are being reimagined in a method that’s equivalent or similar to the resort studios that simply debuted within the new Big Pine Key DVC constructing. Given the tempo of development so far and the truth that that is occurring on a building-by-building foundation, it’s doubtless that this venture will final nicely into 2023.
In the top, that was the aim of this submit–to offer you a heads up about ongoing development on the Grand Floridian in case you may have a keep booked this Christmas or anytime in 2023. Hopefully the pictures and commentary provide you with an thought of what to anticipate. While I don’t plan on making standalone Grand Floridian development updates a daily factor, you may observe our Walt Disney World Resort Refurbishment Tracker for future updates.
We’re cautiously optimistic concerning the finish end result. The Grand Floridian is arguably essentially the most well-rounded Seven Seas Lagoon Resort, with fewer drawbacks than the Contemporary or Polynesian. The rooms are essentially the most evident weak spot, and people will quickly be resolved in an distinctive manner. So lengthy as frequent areas and eating places aren’t screwed up an excessive amount of, the Grand Floridian will emerge from this as a greater choice than earlier than, and a resort really deserving of the flagship distinction.
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YOUR THOUGHTS
What do you consider the rooms on the Grand Floridian? What concerning the new DVC resort studio rooms v. present resort rooms? Are you a Grand Floridian fan? Excited for a possible overhaul to Walt Disney World’s flagship resort, or fearful it’ll lose its character and richly-themed areas within the course of? Have you stayed on the Grand Floridian since that wonderful walkway debuted? Did you utilize it or the monorail? Do you agree or disagree with our evaluation? Other ideas or issues? Any questions we will help you reply? Hearing your suggestions–even while you disagree with us–is each fascinating to us and useful to different readers, so please share your ideas under within the feedback!