Hotel Thoughts: Disney’s Renovated Grand Floridian

There are many hotel options available at Disney, but one of the worst things is picking a hotel between all possibilities. On a recent trip to Orlando, I got a chance to check out Disney’s renovated Grand Floridian Hotel, although I stayed at the Delta Hotels Orlando Celebration. This is not a comprehensive review but rather some of my thoughts on the property.

The Grand Floridian Property

For a long time, the Grand Floridian has been the gold standard of Disney hotels. Classy but not over the top, and a nice spot to relax after a day in the park but not distracting you away from the parks.

Located along the monorail, getting to the parks, especially Magic Kingdom, is very easy. The hotel room to the park gate took less than 20 minutes, perfect for an easygoing weekend trip to Orlando. Getting back is also as easy, and you can take a ferry boat across, which is a fun novelty. 

Additionally, after having dinner at the Grand Floridian, we could watch the Magic Kingdom fireworks with the accompanying music. Funny enough, I enjoyed this view more than from the park directly. 

The property is excellent and exceptionally maintained in proper Disney style. The pools are great for all ages, and nightly movie screenings are always fun. Of course, the buildings themselves are classy in a Disney way, adding to the fun of the vacation. 

The Rooms

I checked out the room a family member had booked with DVC points for his stay. The rooms were gorgeous and possibly better than my favorite on-site property room at Disney’s Riviera Resort. They did benefit from being on the top floor, which meant they had vaulted ceilings that certainly added to the experience. Unfortunately, I did not get a chance to take any photos. 

The Last Point

If you are headed to Disney for a special trip and are searching for a nice hotel, I would definitely consider Disney’s renovated Grand Floridian. While prices can be high, you could rent DVC points to book a room at the Grand Floridian at a significantly discounted rate.