Grand Floridian shouldn’t allow non hotel guests

[DisnEElove]

So, you want to draw lines about who can visit the GF lobby. Specifically you claim that the "Problem is Disney is starting to upset the guests who pay for the deluxe experience". Did you reserve a room at the hotel? Or did you rent a DVC unit?

It's funny but unless you are using $ for a room or using points for the Disney Collection, you are not staying at the hotel, i.e., Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa, you are staying at the "nearby" DVC resort, The Villas at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa.

If you don't think that there is a difference, look at how the pools are described:

Guests staying at The Villas at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa have access to all the pools at nearby Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa.

They are granting you access to pools outside of your resort.

Be careful when you want to draw lines to exclude people, the lines might not be drawn to your liking.

This is a weird take. Owners are discussing how they pay more per point and have higher point charts but may not be able to enjoy the amenities because of non-guests. Transportation systems and amenities are not guaranteed for anyone... Hotel or Villas. But while they are available, it would be nice to be able to use them, otherwise where is the value in ownership? Low occupancy on the hotel side is why we now have BPK, so it's in Disney's best interest to continue providing value to both Hotel guests and resort owners. Non-guests can come but theyll have nothing to visit if the bread and butter resort guests stop staying there. Something needs to change, and this sentiment seems to strike a nerve with some for whatever reason. I wouldn't be upset if I was restricted from visiting other resort lobbies unless I had a reservation or was with a guest of that resort. Regular hotels/resorts do it regularly for safety.

 

[DisnEElove]

Agree with this completely.

VGF is one of our home resorts - headed there in a few weeks to take in all the holiday magic. Don’t love dealing with crazy crowds but consider it the trade-off for owning at a wonderful resort.

I live in NYC and also deal with tourists around this time of year. Do they make my commute an absolute nightmare? At times. Do I understand wanting to stop and take a picture at the tree in Rock Center? Yep. Doesn’t mean I’m not entitled to feel frustrated or vent…also doesn’t mean I’ll move. But that’s a choice everyone needs to make for themselves.

If VGF ever gets to a point where staying there doesn’t bring me joy, I won’t

We'll be there Christmas week as well, will see you there!

 

[Sprinkles&Sprints]

We'll be there Christmas week as well, will see you there!

Fun!! Can already taste the gingerbread!!

 

[DisnEElove]

Fun!! Can already taste the gingerbread!!

Only if they're soft! . But the holiday cupcakes are always my faves. Tis' the Season for elastic waistbands!

 

[hockeydad21]

It can be frustrating with the crowds, which is why I spend quite a bit of time planning our visit to avoid it. DD does not enjoy the crowds just like her dad. DW, doesn't mind either way.

Think about what you just said...you're having to specifically plan your vacation at GF in order to avoid the non-paying crowds who have invaded your resort's lobby. That’s insane. You should be able to stay at Disney World’s most expensive hotel in November or December without having to worry about your lobby being overwhelmed by non-paying guests.

I’m not saying it should 100% be closed to the public, I’m just saying those non-resort guests should absolutely be required to have a dining reservation within 2 hours. Thus cutting down at least a little bit on the crazy crowds.

 

[DVCsloth]

Think about what you just said...you're having to specifically plan your vacation at GF in order to avoid the non-paying crowds who have invaded your resort's lobby. That’s insane. You should be able to stay at Disney World’s most expensive hotel in November or December without having to worry about your lobby being overwhelmed by non-paying guests.

I’m not saying it should 100% be closed to the public, I’m just saying those non-resort guests should absolutely be required to have a dining reservation within 2 hours. Thus cutting down at least a little bit on the crazy crowds.

I don't really plan much at the resort other than a few dining reservations. I tend to enjoy the resort amenities early before they get busy, especially this time of year. The lobby crowds don't bother me at all.

 

[hockeydad21]

imagine a scenario where Disney World just started letting people into magic kingdom for free so they could look around, but they couldn’t go on any rides…meanwhile completely overcrowding the park for the paying guests. Sorta makes very little sense and is only bringing down the experience for the paying guests, right?

 

[AstroBlasters]

Think about what you just said...you're having to specifically plan your vacation at GF in order to avoid the non-paying crowds who have invaded your resort's lobby. That’s insane. You should be able to stay at Disney World’s most expensive hotel in November or December without having to worry about your lobby being overwhelmed by non-paying guests.

I’m not saying it should 100% be closed to the public, I’m just saying those non-resort guests should absolutely be required to have a dining reservation within 2 hours. Thus cutting down at least a little bit on the crazy crowds.

it’s like asking one group of people to pay to be on a toll road and then letting everyone drive on it when it gets busy…..

 

[RMDVC24]

Disney is supposed to be a welcoming place for one and all! We own at VGF and see no issue whatsoever that non-guests can visit the lobby area to take in the Christmas decorations. Resort hopping is always one of our favourite parts of visiting WDW. Also, with how expensive Disney trips have become, it is nice that there are free options, such as resort hopping, available.

WDW is becoming too much of a class system with DVC-Y, DVC-ND, lighting lanes, premier lighting lanes, etc. I understand the sentiment, but I think it's disappointing that people want to 'gate keep' the Floridian because of how much money they pay to stay there. WDW at Christmas should be a magical experience for all WDW guests no matter where they are staying.

This is just my opinion. I'm not saying anyone else's opinion is wrong in any way.

 

[Cfabar1]

This has all become so silly.... getting to GF, or any other resort is a little bit of a pain, let's be clear....


I doubt many people are going there just to sit around for hours on end.... They are going there perhaps for the activities available including looking at (and buying items from) the gingerbread house....

If they wanted to make this a guest experience, as @AstroBlasters points out they can wristband/magicband/whatever band this thing....

Otherwise, they don't care and are happy to sell the gingerbread....

As I have pointed out (as have others), those of us who are VGF owners do not own the Grand Floridian Lobby... We own the one with the penguins in another building.... you know, the one, that when I was there last week didn't even have a Christmas tree...

Oh, we also own the one in BPK which included a small Christmas tree if you want to check it out....

Calm down, enjoy the gingerbread, go get a drink at Enchanted Rose, complain to your significant other while enjoying your drink that there isn't an orchestra anymore, and move on with your life....

 

[eticketplease]

As I have pointed out (as have others), those of us who are VGF owners do not own the Grand Floridian Lobby... We own the one with the penguins in another building.... you know, the one, that when I was there last week didn't even have a Christmas tree..

Also missing is the nespresso machine

 

[snacks]

Calm down, enjoy the gingerbread, go get a drink at Enchanted Rose, complain to your significant other while enjoying your drink that there isn't an orchestra anymore, and move on with your life....

Have you actually tried to get into Enchanted Rose while the Gingerbread House is on display?

 

[hockeydad21]

Disney is supposed to be a welcoming place for one and all! We own at VGF and see no issue whatsoever that non-guests can visit the lobby area to take in the Christmas decorations. Resort hopping is always one of our favourite parts of visiting WDW. Also, with how expensive Disney trips have become, it is nice that there are free options, such as resort hopping, available.

WDW is becoming too much of a class system with DVC-Y, DVC-ND, lighting lanes, premier lighting lanes, etc. I understand the sentiment, but I think it's disappointing that people want to 'gate keep' the Floridian because of how much money they pay to stay there. WDW at Christmas should be a magical experience for all WDW guests no matter where they are staying.

This is just my opinion. I'm not saying anyone else's opinion is wrong in any way.

People are WELCOME to make a dining reservation in order to visit. Is that welcoming enough for you?

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

Which begs the question, where else other than WDW is it acceptable to go hang out in the lobby of a hotel you aren't staying at (or possibly eating/drinking at)? Think about it. It would just be weird, wouldn't it?

You've never been to Vegas have you?

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

I also think that Disney want's people to be able to enjoy these magnificent resorts especially this time of the year.

They do, it's advertisement for staying there amongst the other hotels both at the Deluxe level (see the grandeur and all that) and for people not on site to think about staying on site at a Disney hotel.

I do share in the understanding about hotel activities that are meant for only those staying at the hotel however that is not the same as access to the hotel itself.