Grand Floridian shouldn’t allow non hotel guests

[nerdboyrockstar]

I didn't know the gingerbread houses were such an E-Ticket. I like a busy lobby though. The piano playing, the kids running around, the people in their Disney ears and park outfits, etc. It wouldn't be Disney without it.

I don't use the lobby to relax though. I use my room for that. If I do want to enjoy a lobby, that's usually after hours when all the hustle and bustle is done for the day but there's gotta be a Christmas tree or fireplace for that, like Grand Californian.

 

[AstroBlasters]

This thread is going to turn into a commercial for Bay Lake Tower

 

[Smugpugmug]

I'm not sure how you seem to be able to identify people who are guests of the resort compared to those who aren't. I doubt you can actually tell who is crowding the resort. But it's a very popular lobby at a very popular time to visit. It's going to be busy and crowded.

I just stayed at the Fantasy Springs hotel at Tokyo Disneyland and they restrict the hotel grounds to guests only. They asked for proof of stay whenever you entered the hotel (they give you a slip that says the current date so you can't bring a slip from a prior visit). They asked for this slip whenever you entered and exited the park exclusive entrance. They also asked for this slip when going to the elevators to the guest rooms as a CM was standing by the elevators. I guess Disney could do this for the GF but they don't want to. They want people coming into their resorts and spend money on treats from the gingerbread house, the gift shops, restaurants/lounges, etc.

 

[thanxfornoticin]

I just stayed at the Fantasy Springs hotel at Tokyo Disneyland and they restrict the hotel grounds to guests only. They asked for proof of stay whenever you entered the hotel (they give you a slip that says the current date so you can't bring a slip from a prior visit). They asked for this slip whenever you entered and exited the park exclusive entrance. They also asked for this slip when going to the elevators to the guest rooms as a CM was standing by the elevators. I guess Disney could do this for the GF but they don't want to. They want people coming into their resorts and spend money on treats from the gingerbread house, the gift shops, restaurants/lounges, etc.

Funny you mention that. We had the exact same experience last month! Amazing resort, by the way! I agree, logistically, they restricted access and traffic (we never had to show proof of stay to use the elevators, however). But they even took it farther, because I'm pretty sure only guests of the resort could make reservations to eat in the restaurants. Heck, they even had the one restaurant where you had to be staying in the fancy side of the resort to eat there! The GF has so many restaurants with ADRs for folks not staying there - they're not going to restrict that. But if it becomes something they decide to govern, there are certainly ways.

But the FS experience did have us wondering about the new Poly tower. They restricted access to the brand new FS resort because they are concerned about all the people coming just to see it, just to walk through and take pictures. I wonder if that's a similar concern at the new Poly tower. Might they consider restricting entry there?

 

[vakamalua]

Disney doesn’t own or run Tokyo Disney. Different culture; different priorities,

 

[shh]

I don’t think any of this is coming from an elitist perspective. It is physically uncomfortable not being able to maneuver a resort you are staying at or have access to services you are paying for. It was frustrating not being able to get on the monorail without a long wait or to have to wait for multiple busses to come to Disney springs before we could get on one because large groups of people were taking the bus to see the lobby.

+1 I disagree with many posters here. This hotel is EXPENSIVE and when you're paying that much per night, it's not unreasonable to expect somewhat calm, relaxed access to the restaurants, bars, lobby decor, etc.

That said, all the deluxe hotel decor is a HUGE draw for so many visiting WDW, so not much one can do to avoid it. But I don't blame OP for being frustrated. I'd be too if I were paying those crazy prices.

I was one of the lookie loos myself: I always stay at value resorts and tour the deluxes.

 

[jcolvin5]

AGVR (Advanced Gingerbread Viewing Reservations). Problem solved

 

[AstroBlasters]

Fill out your surveys after all stays and make sure to give them candid feedback with it turning into a rant.

 

[MsChristy12]

Then there are the non paid non dinner guests. They have paid nothing for these amenities but consume them in unlimited quantity and there is literally no cap to the number of unpaid guests who visit the resort

Question...how do you tell? I have never actually spent a night at GF, but visited plenty of times dining there and buying merch at their gift shop. So how exactly do you identify a guest like me?

 

[Disneyjohnny]

Actually didn't find the lobby as bad as I assumed I would do.

What bothered me more was the hugely increased traffic for CS.

Not somewhere I'll stay again in a hurry during the holidays, not because I don't think that others should be able to visit and enjoy the decorations (and feel slightly jealous that I'm staying there and they aren't lol) but just because to me it wasn't enjoyable having to wait longer at the Grand Floridian for CS food than we did at All Star Sports!