*The Official VILLAS AT DISNEY'S GRAND FLORIDIAN RESORT & SPA Owners & Lovers Group*

[mrsap]

Upper Floors of Disney’s Grand Floridian Main Building Closed for Refurbishment

While visiting Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort today to check in on the construction area we spotted in the lobby yesterday, we noticed that the upper floors are now behind construction “walls”. Crews were also testing the alarm system throughout the upper floors, lobby, shops, and more as part of the early work. Floors 3-5 are now closed, but the second floor will remain open at this time for monorail access and more. Here’s a look at the lobby building as of this afternoon!

 

[mrsap]

My DH and I are so excited to join this group as direct owners at VGF!! The incentives going on right now were way too good to pass up, and these points will be a nice complement to our AKV resale contract. No matter where we stay, we end up spending more time at GF anyway, so now it will just be easier to get to back to our room! TBD on when our first trip with these points will be because we are welcoming our first baby next month and have to fly in for visits to WDW, but likely Spring 2024 like some of you. So happy to be here!!

and Congrats! I’ll be happy to add you to the owners list!

 

[ClaraOswald]

I have a LOT of pages to read. But I wanted to jump in with a couple quick questions.

Where exactly are the "resort studio" rooms located? I'm seeing those are not the same as the Deluxe Villas.

Also, a while back I read that some areas of the Grand Floridian seemed to have fairly thin walls compared to other resorts and were on the loud side. Wondering if this is true of the Resort Studio rooms?

Thanks!
(I'm asking because we are hoping to book a DVC trip to WDW for late January. Not sure what availability will be but there could be a chance of resort studio so I wanted to get some info, just in case.)

 

[CarolynFH]

I have a LOT of pages to read. But I wanted to jump in with a couple quick questions.

Where exactly are the "resort studio" rooms located? I'm seeing those are not the same as the Deluxe Villas.

The Resort Studios are the ones in the new building, Big Pine Key, next to the Courtyard swimming pool.

Also, a while back I read that some areas of the Grand Floridian seemed to have fairly thin walls compared to other resorts and were on the loud side. Wondering if this is true of the Resort Studio rooms?

The Resort Studios seem to be the ones with the most thin-wall complaints that I've read, out of all DVC villas over many years. As with anything, YMMV.

Thanks!
(I'm asking because we are hoping to book a DVC trip to WDW for late January. Not sure what availability will be but there could be a chance of resort studio so I wanted to get some info, just in case.)

 

[varyth]

Where exactly are the "resort studio" rooms located? I'm seeing those are not the same as the Deluxe Villas.

Also, a while back I read that some areas of the Grand Floridian seemed to have fairly thin walls compared to other resorts and were on the loud side. Wondering if this is true of the Resort Studio rooms?

The resort studios are located in the Big Pine Key building. All the rooms there were recently converted from hotel rooms. And yes, this is where all the reports of noise issues are coming from.

 

[CarolynFH]

Where exactly are the "resort studio" rooms located?

On this map https://www.wdwinfo.com/maps/GFMap.pdf they're in building 9, on the right just above the words "Seven Seas Lagoon."

 

[ClaraOswald]

The Resort Studios are the ones in the new building, Big Pine Key, next to the Courtyard swimming pool.

The Resort Studios seem to be the ones with the most thin-wall complaints that I've read, out of all DVC villas over many years. As with anything, YMMV.

The resort studios are located in the Big Pine Key building. All the rooms there were recently converted from hotel rooms. And yes, this is where all the reports of noise issues are coming from.

Bummer! I wonder why these rooms are so much noisier than others?! That might be enough for me to not want to test our luck.

 

[CarolynFH]

Bummer! I wonder why these rooms are so much noisier than others?! That might be enough for me to not want to test our luck.

BPK is one of the older buildings (GF opened in the late 1980s), and it sounds like they didn't augment the insulation between rooms when they flipped it in 2022. The flip was basically a soft-goods refresh, no major structural work.

 

[Boardwalk III]

Bummer! I wonder why these rooms are so much noisier than others?! That might be enough for me to not want to test our luck.

For what it’s worth I’ve stayed there twice in the past year and love the Resort studio rooms. I did not have a noise issue either time.

 

[CarolMN]

We were there last November right after Thanksgiving, and did not experience any noise issues, either. But there have been several reports of noise, so I believe there is a problem. Seems to be hit or miss, though - my guess is that it really depends on your neighbors.

 

[ClaraOswald]

Are the rooms in the actual DVC building pretty quiet? (Not that a studio would ever be available at 7 months, but still curious.) The covered walkway to the monorail looks great.

 

[LadybugsMum]

Are the rooms in the actual DVC building pretty quiet? (Not that a studio would ever be available at 7 months, but still curious.) The covered walkway to the monorail looks great.

We rarely hear anything when in the original DVC building. We've stayed in studios and one bedrooms.

There may be lake view available at 7 months. We were able to get LV right after thanksgiving last year.

 

[Boardwalk III]

We were there last November right after Thanksgiving, and did not experience any noise issues, either. But there have been several reports of noise, so I believe there is a problem. Seems to be hit or miss, though - my guess is that it really depends on your neighbors.

My understanding is it can be an issue (as you say, depending on neighbors) when you’re in a room with a connecting door, which many of them are. I’ve also heard that simply tucking a towel under the bottom gap in the door can help if needed.

 

[mrsap]

Construction Lifts Arrive for Guest Room Work in Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort Lobby​

After construction walls went up a few days ago, work is underway in the lobby of Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort. Though the lobby itself will eventually be remodeled, sources indicate this project has been delayed until 2024. The construction site inside the lobby right now is for the remodeling of guest rooms.

 

[mamaofsix]

Construction Lifts Arrive for Guest Room Work in Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort Lobby​

After construction walls went up a few days ago, work is underway in the lobby of Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort. Though the lobby itself will eventually be remodeled, sources indicate this project has been delayed until 2024. The construction site inside the lobby right now is for the remodeling of guest rooms.

It's frustrating that the lobby construction may be delayed until next year. What they are doing now is disrupting the lobby anyway and an eyesore - why not do it all at once during this low-crowd time?

This new tactic is going to disrupt the main spaces for twice as long...

 

[nw6675]

Is villa parking pretty easy to come and go from in our car? We will have a car and recently started traveling with it more onsite versus previously just letting it sit for the week. Also, wasn't sure if the road construction might factor in.

SSR was so convenient last month as I imagine BR and RIV will be in the fall. We are also staying a week in a 1 br at VGF.

 

[mrsap]

High-Reach Lifts & Expanding Construction Walls for Grand Floridian Main Building Refurbishment Project

 

[AGP]

Heading down in a week- will the shops on second floor be closed? My daughter will be very disappointed if so! And I will be so disappointed if the Enchanted Rose is closed!

 

[OnThisMagicNight]

Is villa parking pretty easy to come and go from in our car? We will have a car and recently started traveling with it more onsite versus previously just letting it sit for the week. Also, wasn't sure if the road construction might factor in.

SSR was so convenient last month as I imagine BR and RIV will be in the fall. We are also staying a week in a 1 br at VGF.

I think the parking at the Villas is very convenient and easy. We use a car onsite all the time now and have never had an issue finding a spot in the Villas parking lot and the walk is pretty short. You could also drop off under the porte cochere at the Villas building and then park, but we've never bothered to do that (unless dropping off bags) because the walk is so quick.

 

[sndral]

It's frustrating that the lobby construction may be delayed until next year. What they are doing now is disrupting the lobby anyway and an eyesore - why not do it all at once during this low-crowd time?

This new tactic is going to disrupt the main spaces for twice as long...

100% agree. We stay at the VGF every other year, I suffered through the maze of walls in 2022 thinking at least in 2024 they’d all be gone & my beautiful serene GF grounds would be back for my next stay. I’m still hoping it will all be done by our next visit in late 2024.