Disney's GRAND FLORIDIAN RESORT & SPA Information & Questions + Construction Updates

[trishadono]

I’m sorry I’m so late to this party, but does anyone know which rooms have been remodeled? Is it only the villas?

Our trip is later this week (!) and I’m considering a last minute switch from the Contemporary to GF. The new GF rooms look so nice! Hotel carpeting always seems to trigger an asthma attack so the remodeled rooms are important to me.

And how is the walk to MK? We are going for MNSSHP but have a 4 yr old who will be up way past her bedtime, so I’m hoping for easy access back to the room.

You walk right past the GF boat launch to get to the walking path . IF a boat is arriving, that is both more fun and faster than walking.

 

[mrsap]

Hey guys! Just wanted to give an update that someone posted a video of some scaffolding coming down around the front of the Main building, across from the kids splash pad. I’m not sure how much of it is coming down, but I’ll update you if I see any more progress.

Also, I updated Page 1 with current construction information for anyone who has any questions regarding the current construction at The Grand.

 

[OnThisMagicNight]

I noticed on MDE that there was a new Grand Floridian resort map (not sure how to save it, so this is just a screen shot.) They removed 1900 Park Fare and the tea room entirely - maybe I shouldn't read into that, but I was really hoping we'd hear something by now...

 

[mrsap]

I noticed on MDE that there was a new Grand Floridian resort map (not sure how to save it, so this is just a screen shot.) They removed 1900 Park Fare and the tea room entirely - maybe I shouldn't read into that, but I was really hoping we'd hear something by now...

View attachment 805016

Thank you! I went into MDE and saved it. Already added to Page 1! Humm. Weird some heard they were renovating 1900. Hopefully they’ll share some details on what’s going on with those spaces!

 

[aerxo17]

Humm. Weird some heard they were renovating 1900. Hopefully they’ll share some details on what’s going on with those spaces!

To be fair, if that info came from a cast member anecdote, CMs often have outdated information. We were all told the Reflections Resort was a sure thing when I was on the DCP.

 

[Princess Merida]

Hey guys! Just wanted to give an update that someone posted a video of some scaffolding coming down around the front of the Main building, across from the kids splash pad. I’m not sure how much of it is coming down, but I’ll update you if I see any more progress.

Also, I updated Page 1 with current construction information for anyone who has any questions regarding the current construction at The Grand.

Would you mind sharing where this video was posted?

 

[DisneyHardin]

Would you mind sharing where this video was posted?

I'm not the one who posted about it, but I also saw the video. It was in a Grand Floridian FB group.

 

[mrsap]

To be fair, if that info came from a cast member anecdote, CMs often have outdated information. We were all told the Reflections Resort was a sure thing when I was on the DCP.

This was reported recently on this thread and the person who posted this information was told by a manager. I trust the person who posted. Whether or not things changed since then, I don’t know. Here’s the link:

https://www.disboards.com/threads/d...ns-construction-updates.3814628/post-64864355

Also, Reflections may not be a dead deal, as it was reported recently that Disney asked for an extension on permits recently.

https://blogmickey.com/2023/06/imag...-disney-lakeside-lodge-following-covid-delay/

 

[mrsap]

Would you mind sharing where this video was posted?

I'm not the one who posted about it, but I also saw the video. It was in a Grand Floridian FB group.

Yes, it was a private GF FB Group. They ask people not share any pics outside of it. Also, just to add, it was just a short video of workers taking down some of the scaffolding.

 

[OnThisMagicNight]

This was reported recently on this thread and the person who posted this information was told by a manager. I trust the person who posted. Whether or not things changed since then, I don’t know. Here’s the link:

https://www.disboards.com/threads/d...ns-construction-updates.3814628/post-64864355

Also, Reflections may not be a dead deal, as it was reported recently that Disney asked for an extension on permits recently.

https://blogmickey.com/2023/06/imag...-disney-lakeside-lodge-following-covid-delay/

I am wondering if this is more telling that the name will no longer be 1900 Park Fare - maybe a new name/new theme? This is also Disney though, so there could be no rhyme or reason for removing references to the restaurant from the resort map... They still have the restaurant listed on the website after all. I just want a character meal back at the Grand!

 

[mrsap]

I am wondering if this is more telling that the name will no longer be 1900 Park Fare - maybe a new name/new theme? This is also Disney though, so there could be no rhyme or reason for removing references to the restaurant from the resort map... They still have the restaurant listed on the website after all. I just want a character meal back at the Grand!

Definitely a possibility!! Could even repurpose the space? I just wish they’d share things with us. It’s frustrating not knowing what’s to come.

 

[2vets]

I’m sorry I’m so late to this party, but does anyone know which rooms have been remodeled? Is it only the villas?

Our trip is later this week (!) and I’m considering a last minute switch from the Contemporary to GF. The new GF rooms look so nice! Hotel carpeting always seems to trigger an asthma attack so the remodeled rooms are important to me.

And how is the walk to MK? We are going for MNSSHP but have a 4 yr old who will be up way past her bedtime, so I’m hoping for easy access back to the room.

I do think the MK walk is easier to/from CR with little kids, but the new GF rooms (all of them btw, or all bookable rooms, they may still be overhauling some in the main building) are gorgeous. Left to my own devices, I usually walk, but with my niece, we monorail there and try to grab the boat back. It’s the first stop. The walk’s not bad, 10 min, but that might be true for either resort.

 

[ahcupcake]

We are visiting from the UK November 24 on our 8th trip to WDW but first stay at Grand Floridian. We are doing a split stay with 14 nights at Wilderness Lodge and yesterday changed our Yacht Club booking for 4 nights to Grand Floridian Club Level Theme Park view.

Would we be in the main building with that room booking? I had a look on Touring Plans and it looks like there are 16 rooms over 2 floors overlooking the marina. However, on here some have mentioned theme park view club rooms in Sugar Loaf building - help please.

Yes you will be in the main building on either the 3rd or 4th floor (the second floor also has rooms but they a king deluxe)

Sugar Loaf is no longer club level

 

[mrsap]

More Roofing Replaced, Scaffolding Comes Down During Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort Construction​

Scaffolding and construction walls have shifted during the ongoing refurbishment of Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa at Walt Disney World. We’ve visited multiple times over the past few days to see how things are moving along.

VGF Painting

More green portable barriers are around the nearby porte-cochere. A white tarp covers the ground where two electric scissor lifts are staged for repainting efforts.

Both sides of the pathway to the main entrance of the resort have been walled up during construction.

Behind the walls are scaffolding.

Earlier this week, shingles were gone from this roof.

Within a few days, new shingles had been installed and some of the nearby scaffolding came down.

There are tunnels in the construction walls for guests to enter through.

More scaffolding is around the building to the left.

This scaffolding reaches the top of the tower on the corner, right next to the Monorail station.

Inside, we could see out the windows through the scaffolding to the ground below, where it looks like plants have been removed.

Looks like a crew member dropped their glove.

Here’s another view of the exterior refurbishment from inside.

On the other side of the Monorail, crews have laid a plywood path.

Nearby materials include steel beams and white panels.

This corner tower was also surrounded by scaffolding a few days ago.

But work quickly wrapped up and the scaffolding came down.

There are black patches where the scaffolding was attached to the tower, possibly to mark where touch-ups are still needed.

More scaffolding and a black chute reach to the top of this tower.

There are several platforms for roof access.

Construction walls still wrap around the building and we saw a plastic tarp on a low section of roof.

Earlier this week, green portable barriers were around this area. Stacks of concrete bricks were staged for foundation work.

Narcoosee’s Construction​

We also spotted two crew members working on the tower of Narcoosee’s, which is still open for dinner.

It looks like they were fixing up the roof shingles on the top of the tower.

 

[OnThisMagicNight]

More Roofing Replaced, Scaffolding Comes Down During Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort Construction​

Scaffolding and construction walls have shifted during the ongoing refurbishment of Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa at Walt Disney World. We’ve visited multiple times over the past few days to see how things are moving along.

Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort Construction​

Cranes surrounded by green portable barriers have appeared near the corner of the Big Pine Key and Boca Chica buildings for unspecified additional construction.

More green portable barriers are around the nearby porte-cochere. A white tarp covers the ground where two electric scissor lifts are staged for repainting efforts.

Both sides of the pathway to the main entrance of the resort have been walled up during construction.

Behind the walls are scaffolding.

Earlier this week, shingles were gone from this roof.

Within a few days, new shingles had been installed and some of the nearby scaffolding came down.

There are tunnels in the construction walls for guests to enter through.

More scaffolding is around the building to the left.

This scaffolding reaches the top of the tower on the corner, right next to the Monorail station.

Inside, we could see out the windows through the scaffolding to the ground below, where it looks like plants have been removed.

Looks like a crew member dropped their glove.

Here’s another view of the exterior refurbishment from inside.

On the other side of the Monorail, crews have laid a plywood path.

Nearby materials include steel beams and white panels.

This corner tower was also surrounded by scaffolding a few days ago.

But work quickly wrapped up and the scaffolding came down.

There are black patches where the scaffolding was attached to the tower, possibly to mark where touch-ups are still needed.

More scaffolding and a black chute reach to the top of this tower.

There are several platforms for roof access.

Construction walls still wrap around the building and we saw a plastic tarp on a low section of roof.

Earlier this week, green portable barriers were around this area. Stacks of concrete bricks were staged for foundation work.

Narcoosee’s Construction​

We also spotted two crew members working on the tower of Narcoosee’s, which is still open for dinner.

It looks like they were fixing up the roof shingles on the top of the tower.

The first 3 photos look to be at the Villas building (the painting work), rather than near Big Pine Key/Boca Chica... I kind of wish they would have dated their pictures, but otherwise it looks like lots of progress finally happening outside on the main building!

 

[mrsap]

The first 3 photos look to be at the Villas building (the painting work), rather than near Big Pine Key/Boca Chica... I kind of wish they would have dated their pictures, but otherwise it looks like lots of progress finally happening outside on the main building!

Yes, the first 3 are definitely at the Villas building. Must have started there and walked over. The article was dated yesterday, so I would like to assume that the pictures were taken this week. They seem to jive with some of the pics I saw on the Facebook group.

 

[OnThisMagicNight]

 

[mrsap]

Sharing a post/video from the Club Level Thread regarding a RPC Review, if anyone is interested!

https://www.disboards.com/threads/disneys-club-level-cl-information-questions.3414590/post-65126368

 

[mrsap]

It was reported, by a current guest, that the Lobby furniture has been moved to prepare for the Gingerbread house, which should start construction this week!! I’ll keep the thread updated as soon as there’s any progress!

 

[mrsap]

It was reported, by a current guest, that the Lobby furniture has been moved to prepare for the Gingerbread house, which should start construction this week!! I’ll keep the thread updated as soon as there’s any progress!

Some pics to add:

Preparations Begin for 2023 Gingerbread House Installation at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort

Here’s a look around the lobby of Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort as teams prepare to start the construction. Last year, the Grand Floridian gingerbread house opened on November 9th. An opening date for the 2023 version will be announced at a later date.

Disney hasn’t announced the opening dates for the gingerbread displays yet, but work will likely begin shortly after Halloween and take a few days to complete. The gingerbread house is built in two stages: first, Walt Disney Imagineering and Buena Vista Construction Company (Disney World’s in-house contractor) build the bones of the house, and then, the culinary team comes in to dress the house in gingerbread shingles and decor.