Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa review

What’s Disney’s Grand Floridian?

Disney’s Grand Floridian shouldn’t be an authentic 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 enlargement 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 further lodge resorts, many coming within the Nineteen Nineties, proper on the heels of the Grand Floridian.

Find out how to guide the Grand Floridian Resort

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 that you would be able to enter from the identical space because the resort boat launches.

Relying in your strolling pace, anticipate this stroll to take 10 to fifteen minutes. You will not benefit from a ton of shade and coverings when it is scorching, humid and/or wet, however you will not have to attend for any transportation to indicate up, and you will get an up-close view of the monorail zooming by overhead as you make your means between the resort and the park.

When you’d slightly keep cool and dry, you are in luck, as it’s also possible to choose 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 following cease on the monorail loop after the Grand Floridian departure level, you may 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 may get off on the first cease. Then, in case you take the boat from the Magic Kingdom again to Grand Floridian, that can also be going to let you 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 commonest requirements.

Grand Floridian swimming pools

The Grand Floridian has two spectacular swimming pools.

The principle Seaside Pool, which holds greater than 100,000 gallons of water, has a 181-foot waterslide, waterfalls and a zero-entry space. Plus, you’ll be able to 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 want some selection when having a pool day.

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

Little youngsters can even take a look at 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.

Grand Floridian rooms and suites

The Grand Floridian’s customary rooms and studios, measuring round 440 sq. ft, characteristic a light-weight “Mary Poppins” theme that emerged within the 2022 renovation. These are the most important customary lodge rooms out there at Walt Disney World. Nevertheless, this additional house (and close-to-Magic Kingdom location) comes at a price, because the rooms are constantly 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 search out customary outer-building rooms on the Grand Floridian hovering between $700 and $800 per evening. For an upgraded theme park view, anticipate to pay anyplace from $800 to over $1,000 per evening.

Grand Floridian eating places and bars

Those that keep on the Grand Floridian have easy accessibility to among the most upscale eating places and facilities at Disney World.

Victoria & Albert’s

Right here, you’ll be able to 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 house that completely matches the Victorian-era design of the property.

Consuming at Victoria & Albert’s is an expertise effectively value having — in case your funds permits it and also you’re in a position to snag a coveted reservation. Simply make sure you gown appropriately (dinner jackets are required) and depart the little ones behind, as youngsters 9 and youthful aren’t permitted.

Narcoossee’s

If you would like a great meal that does not take three to 4 hours or require a swimsuit jacket, Narcoosee’s remains to be a really good eating possibility 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 gadgets reminiscent of shrimp and grits ($19), gulf shrimp bucatini ($44), buttermilk-fried calamari ($18) and way 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 may 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 sweet, it is the characters which might be the starring attraction. Because the reopening of this restaurant, the characters include 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 gadgets reminiscent of 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 will 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

Considered 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 situated within the resort’s most 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 associate with the in depth checklist of cocktails, wine, beer and extra.

There’s additionally a decently sized lounge sort of space instantly adjoining to the Enchanted Rose the place it’s also possible to order meals and drinks in case you do not want to sit straight on the bar.

Grand Floridian Spa and fitness center

The property is additional magical (and fashionable) across the holidays

For me, one of the 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.

Accessibility

Disney World is mostly an incredible vacation spot for these with accessibility wants. Disney’s web site signifies that every one Disney Resort resorts 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 amenities and laundry amenities.

There’s close-in parking for these with a incapacity parking allow, a pool carry on the swimming pools, and you may guide 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 means that is arduous to duplicate elsewhere.

This is not only a cookie-cutter lodge that occurs to be situated on Disney property however in any other case could possibly be plopped down anyplace and slot in. It is themed from high to backside, with reside 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’ll be able to really feel like a Disney prince or princess.

Being only a quick stroll or monorail trip from the Magic Kingdom definitely provides to the resort’s enchantment and recognition. Nevertheless, that, in fact, comes at a steep price, so ensure you do your homework earlier than you guide 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’ll be able to all the time pop by for a couple of hours to stroll round or seize a chew to eat or a beverage on the property and hearken to music fill the atrium within the evenings.

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