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

[Shughart]

I have seen it randomly. Kona had it. You have to look at menu for POG but it sometimes listed as Papaya, orange and Guava juice written out . i have seen it with Rum at Epcot and HS, it’s good that way too.

You can get it at Topolino's as well (just the juice at least) it wasn't on the menu, I just asked. It added an exciting element to our breakfast that morning.

 

[baggs32]

Just got the resort will be undergoing refurbishment during your stay email. We’ll be there late April so what could they possibly have left to do?

 

[OnThisMagicNight]

Just got the resort will be undergoing refurbishment during your stay email. We’ll be there late April so what could they possibly have left to do?

They have not refurbished the lobby yet. Considering they still have not started yet (unless anyone there now has an update??), I was speculating that they may be planning on waiting until after Easter to start... Easter is a pretty big holiday for the GF. I think most of us assumed that they'd have started on the refurbishment right after the Christmas decorations came down...

 

[baggs32]

They have not refurbished the lobby yet. Considering they still have not started yet (unless anyone there now has an update??), I was speculating that they may be planning on waiting until after Easter to start... Easter is a pretty big holiday for the GF. I think most of us assumed that they'd have started on the refurbishment right after the Christmas decorations came down...

But what's left? Just furniture, carpet and decorations? Kind of like what they did at the YC and BI over the past couple of years is all I can think of. The paint and other refreshers were done when the walls were up last year if I'm not mistaken. Minor work like that I can handle but if those walls are going up again I'm not sure we want to deal with that.

 

[Skbak]

nobody knows. I would think floors would take some time, less so furniture

I believe I saw a post somewhere that they’re replacing the check in counters too

 

[bcuinohio]

They have not refurbished the lobby yet. Considering they still have not started yet (unless anyone there now has an update??), I was speculating that they may be planning on waiting until after Easter to start... Easter is a pretty big holiday for the GF. I think most of us assumed that they'd have started on the refurbishment right after the Christmas decorations came down...

I thought they already did the lobby. This is a picture from July.

 

[mrsap]

I thought they already did the lobby. This is a picture from July.

View attachment 828180

That’s what we assumed at first, but it was reported that was just a holding area for supplies and a crane for painting the upper floors railings and ceiling. The main lobby (seating area, rugs, reception desks, etc.) have not been refurbished yet. It was announced the rest of the lobby will be completed after the holidays. Hopefully we’ll get some announcements regarding the status of the return of the closed restaurants soon.

 

[trishadono]

Also The Tea Room and 1900 Park Fare still have yet to reopen and it has been implied those will be done with lobby remodel.

After seeing the outer building lobbies and RPC redo the main lobby doesn’t match.

it is done and timely.

 

[PolyRob]

But what's left? Just furniture, carpet and decorations? Kind of like what they did at the YC and BI over the past couple of years is all I can think of. The paint and other refreshers were done when the walls were up last year if I'm not mistaken. Minor work like that I can handle but if those walls are going up again I'm not sure we want to deal with that.

nobody knows. I would think floors would take some time, less so furniture

I believe I saw a post somewhere that they’re replacing the check in counters too

I imagine all the old marble is also getting ripped out. It no longer fits with the color and theming used in other spaces like the club level areas floors above or outer buildings. This will take more time than carpeting.

 

[walt34]

I imagine all the old marble is also getting ripped out. It no longer fits with the color and theming used in other spaces like the club level areas floors above or outer buildings. This will take more time than carpeting.

Really? That would be quite a loss. Replacing the old carpet seems to be enough for me.
Regarding the timing - have you ever seen an Italian crew specialised on marble at work? Can be done at amazing speed, if you know how.

 

[PolyRob]

Really? That would be quite a loss. Replacing the old carpet seems to be enough for me.
Regarding the timing - have you ever seen an Italian crew specialised on marble at work? Can be done at amazing speed, if you know how.

I have no insider knowledge, but these old Royal Palm Club floors look awfully similar to the main floor...



and they have been replaced with a more modern style of marble



Disney also tends to take longer than necessary to finish simple construction projects. I'd personally say Thanksgiving 2024 would be the end goal so it doesn't interfere with the holiday decorations going up. It would also coincide with the construction notifications. For example, I have a DVC placeholder reservation for Oct and Dec. I only received a construction notification for Oct.

 

[walt34]

I have no insider knowledge, but these old Royal Palm Club floors look awfully similar to the main floor...

View attachment 828205

and they have been replaced with a more modern style of marble

View attachment 828206

Disney also tends to take longer than necessary to finish simple construction projects. I'd personally say Thanksgiving 2024 would be the end goal so it doesn't interfere with the holiday decorations going up. It would also coincide with the construction notifications. For example, I have a DVC placeholder reservation for Oct and Dec. I only received a construction notification for Oct.

Thanks for the comparison shots. It seems that they replaced one standard marble pattern with another in this case. I hope they won't replace the playfully Disney marble patterns on the ground floor with something generic. Either keep them the same or replace them with something similarly distinctive.

 

[Skbak]

I have no insider knowledge, but these old Royal Palm Club floors look awfully similar to the main floor...

View attachment 828205

and they have been replaced with a more modern style of marble

View attachment 828206

Disney also tends to take longer than necessary to finish simple construction projects. I'd personally say Thanksgiving 2024 would be the end goal so it doesn't interfere with the holiday decorations going up. It would also coincide with the construction notifications. For example, I have a DVC placeholder reservation for Oct and Dec. I only received a construction notification for Oct.

part of the length of these projects is because they do it in a way to not really interfere with day to day operations

they could realistically knock this out in a couple weeks, but that would mean completely shutting down the main hotel for a couple weeks

More likely they will wall off sections piecemeal to allow the usual heavy foot traffic through the resort

 

[LMO429]

We were booked at the Grand may 4th to 12th and received an email that there will be construction in the lobby. I know its easy to still enjoy a vacation with construction but we decided to just move to the yacht club and save the grand for our next visit. it is our favorite resort the grand and we have been many times but ill just hold off for the time being the email was the nail in the coffin for me to make the switch

 

[Skbak]

I don’t really blame you

have stayed at that resort for 3 straight years and it is always under construction, and the scaffolding etc never bothered me.

But the lobby being under construction for some reason makes me more wary about a reservation than when I’ve had to deal pool closures or literal sides of buildings getting torn down

 

[RoadsterGirlie]

My trip is planned for late January 2025. I wonder if it’ll all be wrapped up by then?

 

[Isabelle12345]

I have not received nothing for our April 17th stay…
Maybe they are waiting for after the rundisney race weekend???
Or the end of April / spring break crowds?

 

[LMO429]

I have not received nothing for our April 17th stay…
Maybe they are waiting for after the rundisney race weekend???
Or the end of April / spring break crowds?

No one really knows. there is something about opening those sliding glass doors and seeing construction that seems like a massive buzz kill to me so we will hold off til 2025 for a grand stay. I am also hearing conflicting things on the walkway to the poly (some say open some say closed) which is something we utilized alot to get drinks at trader same, kids love to do the activities on the lawn so we will hold off until next year or late 24 to be safe

 

[baggs32]

I have not received nothing for our April 17th stay…
Maybe they are waiting for after the rundisney race weekend???
Or the end of April / spring break crowds?

We'll be there the week after you and already got the construction email.

 

[FrannyFrogs]

We're arriving February 17 and received the construction email.