Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort Review

Disney’s Grand Floridian is on a lot of Disney fans’ bucket list for their Disney World Stay. Being a stop on the monorail as well as within a short walk to Magic Kingdom makes this resort very desirable. 

How many of us have had the thought, while on the ferry to Magic Kingdom, How nice would it be to stay that close to Cinderella’s Castle? We stayed at the resort recently, and I don’t think I ever got used to seeing the castle each morning while eating breakfast at Gasparilla Grill. 

Grand Floridian Resort Theme

From the moment you walk in the lobby, you’ll feel how different the Grand Floridian is from other resorts. The theme is Victorian Luxury and the resort continues that theme throughout every part of the resort. I’ve stayed at several of the Deluxe Resorts on property and the ones on Bay Lake seem to be the best at immersing you in the resort. 

If you’re familiar with The Office, I felt like I should  dress like Andy Bernard while being at the resort. 

Cast Member Interactions

The Cast Members at Grand Floridian were also the nicest I’ve encountered at a resort. There were half a dozen cast members that asked to help us with our bags while going to our rooms. The Concierge outside our building was also helpful in pointing us in the right direction when we first arrived. Like any resort with outer buildings, it can take a little while to get the map of the resort inside your head. But after a few trips to the lobby and restaurants, the resort was pretty easy to navigate. 

Pros and Cons of the Grand Floridian

Pros	Cons
On the Monorail Line	Pricey $$$
Six Restaurants on Property	Lots of Visitors to the Resort
Walkway to Magic Kingdom	Rooms are similar to most other resorts
2 Pools and Kids Splash Pad
Extended Evening Hours at Magic Kingdom / EPCOT

Deluxe Resort Perks

One of the best perks of staying at the Grand Floridian is Extended Evening Theme Park Hours at Magic Kingdom, EPCOT, and Hollywood Studios. On select nights each park is only available to Deluxe Resort guests for a few extra hours. The dates available for each park in December is outlined below:

• Magic Kingdom Park
  • Dec 7, 14, 21 & 28
• EPCOT
  • Dec 5, 12, 19 & 26
• Disney’s Hollywood Studios
  • Dec 15 & 22

All resort guests also have the opportunity to get Early Theme Park Entry. Each day at the 4 Theme Parks, Disney World resort guests get 30 minutes early entry. Even better is saying at the Grand Floridian and not having to rely on bus service to get you to the park that early. You can just use the walkway to get over to Magic Kingdom and really take advantage of the 30 minute early entry. 

Another perk of staying on property is Early Access to Purchase Individual Lightning Lane Entry. Each morning at 7am you’ll have the opportunity to purchase 2 individual Lightning Lane passes. Anyone staying off property will only be able to purchase it at park opening. This gives you even better chances at riding Seven Dwarfs Mine Train or Rise of the Resistance. 

Grand Floridian Room Types

There are a lot of different room types at the Grand Floridian that can accommodate groups up to 12 people. Even the studio rooms can fit 5 people with the trundle beds. We got a deluxe studio and it was plenty of room for the 4 of us. 

Just be prepared that any of the regular rooms at Disney World aren’t large. They have all of the basics covered with TV, Fridge, and coffee maker but I wouldn’t describe any room that I’ve stayed in on property as spacious. The largest standard room we’ve stated in while visiting is actually at the Holiday Inn close to Disney Springs. 

Room Views

There are 3 different types of views that you can select when making a reservation; Theme Park View, Lagoon View, and Garden View. 

Theme Park view is exactly what you would think. You’ll be able to see the fireworks and Cinderella’s Castle from your room or balcony. 

Lagoon View is what we had when we stayed. We had a really good view of the Monorail and Seven Seas Lagoon but couldn’t see much more than that. 

Garden view will give you a view of the Pool, Marina, or Courtyard. 

Room Types

There are quite a number of room configurations at the resort:

Standard Room or Studio:  Sleeps 4 to 5 adults

1 Bedroom Suite: Sleeps 6 adults

2 Bedroom Suite: Sleeps 8 adults

1 Bedroom Villa: Sleeps 5 adults

2 Bedroom Villa: Sleeps 9 Adults

3 Bedroom Grand Villa: Sleeps 12 adults

The Grand Floridian is a DVC resort so that is why it offers so many room options. And it also has a lot of demand, so I would recommend booking the resort as soon as possible. It will regularly be filled months before you may be traveling, especially if you are looking for a specific room type. 

Some example rates based on May 2023 travel. 

Standard Room – sleeps 5, $792 per night

1 Bedroom Suite / Club Level / Outer Building  – sleeps 6, $1,846 per night

Restaurants

The Grand Floridian offers a lot of dining options at every price point. You’ll have the traditional quick service that is easier on the budget, or you could go all out at one of the upscale restaurants. 

Quick Service

Gasparilla Island Grill

This is where we ate most of our meals while at the resort. It has a good selection for everyone. We have 2 kids that can be picky and it was nice to have a place to cater to them as well as us. It’s also a great place to grab some Mickey Waffles then grab a seat outside to look at Cinderella’s Castle. 

Beaches Pool Bar & Grill

Beaches Pool Bar & Grill is in the perfect spot for a pool day with the kids. It’s located in between the kids splash pad and the zero entry pool. So you can get a snack or drinks and never have to leave the pool area. 

Courtyard Pool Bar

Another perfectly placed bar right next to the other pool on property. There is a good selection of drinks and snacks. 

Table Service

Grand Floridian Cafe

The Grand Floridian Cafe is a great spot to sit down and enjoy breakfast, lunch, or dinner with a casual American menu. I highly recommend grabbing a reservation for this spot, the walk up list fills up fast. 

Signature Dining

Cítricos

The setting of Citricos was inspired by Mary Poppins returns. This is a fine dining location and has a dress code that must be followed. The food is based on Florida cuisine with a Mediterranean flare. 

Victoria & Albert’s

Victoria and Albert’s is the signature dining experience at the Grand Floridian. This is an upscale restaurant with only one seating a night. Prices for dinner start at $295 with additional add ons available, such as wine pairings. 

The menu changes regularly based on seasonal ingredients and is curated by the chef. This is one of the most desired reservations in Disney World, so be sure to grab a spot early. 

Bars

Enchanted Rose

Enchanted Rose is inspired by the live action Beauty and the Beast. There is a small selection of snacks and appetizers. The real focus is on the wide selection of cocktails, martinis, wine, beer, and non-alcoholic beverages. It’s worth a visit just for the ambiance. 

Cítricos Lounge

This is a great place to stop before dinner at Citricos. The lounge also has a menu that you can order from that includes kids meals. 

Pools

The resort has two pools and a splash area for all kinds of water-loving guests. The resort also has private cabanas that can be rented out for the day.

Both pools are heated, but be warned, we went in October and it took a while to get used to the water temperature. After about 5 minutes it wasn’t too bad though. The pools and surrounding areas are large enough that it never felt crowded. 

Spa Services

The spa at the Grand Floridian has a variety of treatments to offer to guests. Guests can enjoy massages, facials, body wraps, manicures and pedicures, as well as more specialized treatments such as couples massage therapy.

Recreation Activities

The resort has lots of amenities outside of the great restaurants, pools, and spa. This is what will really make you want to stick around the resort on non park days.

• Campfire Activities
• Movies Under the Stars
• Arcade Games
• Basketball Courts
• Health Club

Marina

Ever dream of piloting one of the ferries across Seven Seas Lagoon? Well, from the Grand Floridian Marina you can do the next best thing. Suntracker Pontoon boats are available to rent for $45 per half hour. 10 guests can fit on the pontoon so it’s a perfect outing for the entire family. 

Want an even more exciting adventure from the marina? You can also take guided fishing tours. This is your chance to catch largemouth bass from Seven Seas Lagoon. Both 2 and 4 hour fishing trips with an experienced guide are offered. Please call (407) 939-FISH to make a reservation.

Grand Floridian Shopping

There is a good selection of shopping available at the resort and can meet your needs while staying on property. 

• Sandy Cove Gifts and Sundries – Everyday needs while at the resort. Also has DVC merchandise. 
• M. Mouse Mercantile – Has a little of everything! Apparel, Magic Bands, Toys, etc. 
• Basin White – Soaps, bath bombs, etc. 
• Curiouser Clothiers – Premium Souvenirs and Merchandise

Monorail Loop Must Do’s

You’re staying on the Monorail loop, you should take advantage of it. Even if you just take a few hours on a non park day and visit the Contemporary and Polynesian. There is a lot to take in while you’re visiting, but below are a few I would definitely check out:

• Contemporary
  • Chef Mickey
  • Mary Blair Artwork 
• Polynesian
  • Ohana
  • Pineapple Lanai – Get some Dole Whip outside of the parks!

Transportation to Parks & Disney Springs

Let’s go over the options to travel between the 4 theme parks, Disney Springs, and the Grand Floridian.  Spoiler Alert – Magic Kingdom is a short walk! We used the walkway on our last trip and it may have been worth the added cost on its own. It’s a lot less stressful not having to worry about timing the traffic to get out of Magic Kingdom at the end of the night.

Magic Kingdom

• Monorail
• Walkway
• Boat

EPCOT

• Monorail – Transfer at TTC
• Bus

Animal Kingdom

• Bus

Hollywood Studios

• Bus

Disney Springs

• Bus

Transportation to MCO

There are a few different options for getting to the Grand Floridian from MCO.  I’ll call out the most popular ones; Mears Connect ( previously Magical Express), Sunshine Flyer bus service, Uber, Lyft, or rental car. 

We have an article that goes over the pros and cons of each. 

Grocery Deliveries to Resort

If you want to save a little money when staying on the resort, I would recommend getting a grocery delivery order from Walmart, Amazon, or Instacart. 

It’s a great way to get snacks, drinks, water, shampoo, etc. without having to pay a premium at Sandy Cove Gifts and Sundries. 

Just place an order and have it delivered to bell services. The bell service team will even bring the delivery to your room. Just be sure to tip. 

Grand Floridian Address:

4401 Floridian Way

Lake Buena Vista, Florida 32830-8451

Phone: (407) 824-3000

Grand Floridian Summary

We had a great time at this resort. It was perfect for our short trip and made getting over to the Magic Kingdom so easy. We would definitely come stay again. I would personally want to stay here even if not going to any of the theme parks, its that nice!

Still not convinced? Check out all of our other Resort Reviews!

FAQs

How much does it cost to stay at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa?

Disney’s Grand Floridian is a Deluxe Resort, so be prepared to budget $500 to $700 a night for a studio that sleeps 5 adults. 

Does Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa have an airport shuttle?

There are a few different options to get to the resort but the resort itself does not offer a direct shuttle. We recommend Mears Connect, Sunshine Flyer, Uber, or Lyft. 

Which room amenities are available at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa?

The rooms have large LCD TVs, coffee maker, mini fridge, and phone. 

Can Disney’s Grand Floridian accommodate a large group?

Yes, the Grand Floridian has villas that accommodate up to 12 adults. 

Can you see Magic Kingdom Fireworks from Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa?

Yes, you can view the Magic Kingdom Fireworks from the grounds of the Grand Floridian. There are a few different spots and it can be busy at that time. For the best views, try to get to the beach area early.