Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort Review
Grand Floridian Resort & Spa is a luxury hotel at Walt Disney World within monorail, boat, and walking distance of Magic Kingdom. This WDW accommodations review features room photos, pool & restaurant info, pros & cons, and much more.
Let’s start with the latest update for 2026 is that the Grand Floridian is finally in the home stretch of its large-scale refurbishment and reimagining project. This started several years ago, was paused for a while, and finally wrapped up work in the main lobby–for the most part–late last year.
The main fruit of the Grand Floridian’s lobby reimagining project is the new “Birdcage Bar,” but there are a number of ways the Grand Floridian looks and feels fresh, and is once again worthy of its status as Walt Disney World’s #1 luxury resort. See our Review: Walt Disney World’s Flagship Hotel Finally Fits Its Status & Sky-High Prices.
This work is not 100% completed as of 2026. The Garden View Tea Room is still behind scrims, but construction on that is finished and it will reopen by Spring 2026. The bigger project we’re still expecting is the Grand Floridian Cafe to receive a reimagining at some point in the first half of 2026, but that has yet to be announced.
This is where we do offer an ever-so-slight caveat, as Walt Disney World has left the door open for more work in 2026. Here’s the current construction bulletin:
“Renovations at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa will continue in select areas through mid-2026. Guests may see or hear refurbishment work during daytime hours. Efforts will be made to minimize disruptions—and most pools, dining and other amenities will remain available for Guests to enjoy.”
We don’t know of any announced projects that will last until mid-2026. Grand Floridian Cafe is the most obvious candidate, but it could be something else. Stay tuned.
Otherwise, all of the restaurants have now been redone! After a long delay, 1900 Park Fare has returned and is one of the best character dinners at Walt Disney World. (Breakfast at 1900 Park Fare is also good, but not as good–especially if you’re on the Disney Dining Plan.)
Narcoossee’s has likewise been refreshed, joining Citricos and Victoria & Albert’s. This trifecta of fine dining establishments have all been overhauled in the last couple of years at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort.
Even more positive is the redone guest rooms, which had a top-to-bottom hard goods refurbishment and are hugely improved. We’ve stayed in the reimagined rooms a few times in the last couple of years and absolutely love them.
The themed design, attention to detail, and sense of luxuriousness is off the charts. They have so much more personality and style, and are also considerable improvements in terms of functionality. Here’s a video tour of the new hotel rooms at the Grand Floridian that showcases their quality:
For years, we’ve been complaining that the guest rooms at the Grand Floridian are not commensurate with the prices. I’d go as far as to say that the previous regular guest rooms are among the dullest at Walt Disney World. That you would’ve been hard-pressed to distinguish them from a mid-range Hilton or Marriott. With these rooms being replaced, our opinion of the Grand Floridian has improved tremendously.
As a result of the new rooms and other enhancements, the Grand Floridian has shot up our Rankings of ALL Walt Disney World Hotels from Worst to Best. Previously, the Grand Floridian performed poorly, not living up to its flagship resort status due to datedness and underwhelming rooms. Now, there’s really only one thing holding it back from ranking higher.
That thing is cost. Rack rates at the Grand Floridian start at over $700 per night. Those are the cheapest nights of the year, with most dates being in the $900 to $1,000 range for standard rooms. (However, discounts are often available that reduce those prices significantly.)
If you’re already looking ahead, we highly recommend Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa for Christmas 2026 trips to Walt Disney World. The construction will be 100% complete by then, and every building–including the main lobby–will be feeling fresh. The Garden View Tea Room will have reopened and, hopefully, the fan-favorite Grand Floridian Cafe will also have a new look by then.
We always recommend booking with an “Authorized Disney Vacation Planner” (Disney’s term for a travel agent), but that’s doubly true with any resort where construction is ongoing.
They receive commission from Disney, so most authorized planners will not charge you for booking the vacation package and planning services. The fee-free Authorized Disney Vacation Planner that we recommend is Be Our Guest Vacations. Their services don’t cost extra, they’ll reserve your room, help you with dining reservations and itineraries, and apply the best discounts to your reservation.
Even prior to the reimagining, the common areas at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa are upscale. The hotel is inarguably grandiose and sophisticated, and the execution of the Victorian theme is incredibly well done.
Most areas offer tremendous detail and a sense of luxury, with a handful of locations being stuffy or overly reminiscent of grandma’s house. In our view, this comes across better in person than it does via photos, which might make the hotel appear more antiquated than it actually is.
In person, the entire resort is permeated with a sense of opulence. There’s texture and quality to every surface, making the resort feel decidedly luxurious. Yes, it also feels a bit old school, but that’s true of many of the world’s nicest hotels. Following the reimagining, the Grand Floridian skews towards modern luxury, as opposed to classic luxury.
Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa feels imbued with a sense of sophistication. The lobby makes a strong first impression, and the common areas are exactly what you’d expect of Walt Disney World’s flagship resort. It can feel a tad stuffy or old school, but it’s also beautiful and well-appointed. Even if you’re not staying at the Grand Floridian, the lobby restaurants are the perfect destination for a fancy date night or anniversary dinner.
Speaking of which, due to the overall style, slight sense of stuffiness, dining sophistication, and other features of the hotel, we do not view this as a great option if you’re doing Walt Disney World with Kids and are primarily concerned with their reaction to the hotel. It is a much better option for Honeymooning at Walt Disney World.
As for adult amenities, the Grand Floridian is a pretty ‘loaded’ hotel.
While they aren’t the most thematically exciting, it has nice pool areas and a new Alice in Wonderland water play area that was added around the time of the Disney Vacation Club Villas at the Grand Floridian.
Another highlight is the dining. Citricos was recently overhauled with a new menu and decor (supposedly) inspired by Mary Poppins. As you can read in our New Citricos Review, it is fantastic–a top 10 restaurant at Walt Disney World. There’s also the recently-reimagined Enchanted Rose Beauty and the Beast Bar. We think it’s out of place at the Grand Floridian and an inappropriate use of intellectual property…but it is undeniably modern.
Moreover, Victoria & Albert’s is far and away the best restaurant at Walt Disney World, and the perfect place for a special occasion. Our recent visits to Narcoossee’s have proven excellent–much better than the last meal there (our Narcoossee’s review needs to be updated–I’d now consider Narcoossee’s in the 8.5-9 range).
Then there are the grounds, which are lovely. The Grand Floridian typically has well-maintained gardens, nice paths, and pretty fountains, all of which make for a pleasant post-meal stroll.
Another awesome addition is the new-ish walkway to Magic Kingdom. We’ve already breathlessly covered this in “Photos & Video: Meandering the Magnificent Magic Kingdom to Grand Floridian Walkway.”
In case you missed that, it’s now possible to walk all the way from the Transportation and Ticket Center to Magic Kingdom. Our enthusiasm for the walkway is not hyperbole. It’s a huge win for the Grand Floridian.
The resort is not too spread out, and walking around the Villas towards the Wedding Pavilion and Polynesian Village Resort–or just sitting in a quiet swing along the beach, is an enjoyable experience.
If you want to take advantage the Grand Floridian’s highlights while staying at a resort with a more relaxed theme and atmosphere, our recommendation would be Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort. From there, you can walk or take the monorail over for a date night, and then having a peaceful nighttime stroll back to the Poly.
Another thing I appreciate about the Grand Floridian is its beauty at Christmas.
The tree in the lobby and the huge gingerbread house are both gorgeous, and highlights of my Free Self-Guided Yuletide Tour at Walt Disney Word. With that said, the lobby can be packed at this time of year, so I would not want to stay in the main building.
There is a ton of texture and detail to the new rooms at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa. The interior design exudes a stately quality and is imbued with luxuriousness. How’s that for highfalutin’ jargon fitting of the flagship?!
Details like crown moulding, wall paneling, intricate bed frames, a gorgeous rug atop the floor, and nice light fixtures give the room sophisticated sensibility.
The new Grand Floridian rooms don’t jump out to me as being overtly Victorian; they’re more a contemporary twist on the style.
They feature ornamentation and opulent decor, plus Mary Poppins design motifs and art. I’d call this Victorian meets modern–a fresh and posh intersection of two otherwise disparate design styles.
The interior design is lovely. Lots of clever and engaging uses of texture, accent paneling, and upgraded finishings throughout. From the plank flooring to the chandelier, the features have been plussed in a variety of ways.
There’s also a nice heft to the bench, end tables, lamps, and other furniture. The cabinet doors and drawers move smoothly, and simply feels higher end. These little upgrades are not apparent from photos, but they’re noticeable in person.
Functionally, the new rooms at the Grand Floridian are fantastic. There’s plenty of storage space–under the elevated beds, in the closets, bathroom shelves, and there’s even a dresser under the television.
There are tables and cubbies for phones and whatever else you might need around your bed. Outlets and USB charging ports have been added all over the place. They’re not always fast and don’t always work, but hey, they’re there!
In addition to the chandelier, there are sconces flanking the beds and a variety of other light sources that offer a high degree of control over the lighting.
We greatly appreciate the more granular control over lighting in the newer rooms at Walt Disney World, these included. It’s nice to get acclimated for bed with lower and moodier lighting.
I’m not a fan of moving the desk to the entryway, where it now functions as a powder table or something of that sort. Walt Disney World has been phasing out proper desks from its hotel rooms in recent years (except the convention ones), and this is yet another step in that direction.
I assume this was necessitated by the addition of closets, paneling, and nightstands. As someone who actually uses hotel room desks, I don’t love the trend of removing or minimizing them. On the plus side, the wallpaper here really pops. It makes a great first impression, and punctuates the design as a whole.
Another highlight of the redesigned room is the bathroom. The gold frame and back lighting all around the patterned border is stunning–a nice continuation of the room’s signature style.
There are two sinks, quartz countertops, towels under the counter, and more storage. There’s more brushed gold around the vanity, and more Mary Poppins-inspired watercolor artwork on the wall.
The bathrooms also feature marble tile floors, and combination shower and bathtubs.
The shower/tub area is a bit of a disappointment. This feels decidedly average; not what you’d expect of Walt Disney World’s flagship resort.
Back in the main living area, there’s a sofa sleeper across from the beds, which is how at least some of the new Grand Floridian rooms can accommodate 5 guests.
Grand Floridian has some of the largest hotel rooms at Walt Disney World, so there’s plenty of space for the dedicated beds and the sofa sleeper. This seems like a good option for larger parties (although I can’t imagine that sofa is an ideal sleeping situation).
Above the sofa is Mary Poppins art.
In general, these rooms remind me a bit of the recent reimagining of Citricos. That doesn’t contain many overt references to Mary Poppins, but it evokes the feel of the film. The same is true of these rooms. The end result is classy, sufficiently themed, luxurious, and functional. For me, the new Grand Floridian rooms check all of the boxes.
Although not pictured above, we favor the top floor dormer rooms at the Grand Floridian. The upsides to this are the vaulted ceiling and the more secluded quality of the balcony.
The downsides are that the balcony is slightly smaller and you can’t see anything without standing up. I’m not sure why Disney doesn’t furnish these with taller chairs.
Ultimately, the Grand Floridian Resort & Spa is once again the #1 Deluxe Resort and worthy of its status as the flagship luxury hotel at Walt Disney World. Now that the rooms, lobby, and restaurants (minus Grand Floridian Cafe) have been redone, the Grand Floridian is a formidable flagship once again. It’s not just that, though. The service and attention to detail is fantastic across the board.
Whether it’s worth the money as opposed to staying at a cheaper on-site hotel, or even a third party option like the Four Seasons or Conrad Orlando, is more difficult to answer. There’s also the question of whether the Grand Floridian has the best atmosphere, themed design, etc.
For Sarah, the Grand Floridian is her new #1 hotel at Walt Disney World following the resort and room reimagining. This is exactly what she wants in a hotel, both in style and substance, and being able to take the monorail to two parks, and walk home from Magic Kingdom at the end of the night without folding up the stroller is huge.
She further points out that Grand Floridian is not that much more expensive than the Polynesian or Contemporary, two resorts that are very expensive despite being hodgepodges of the 1970s to today. And in all three cases, using or renting discounted DVC points or booking during off-peak travel dates makes splurging on the Magic Kingdom monorail loop more compelling. I’m a bit more torn from a subjective perspective, but one thing is clear: Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa is the flagship hotel at Walt Disney World once again.
Planning a Walt Disney World trip? Learn about hotels on our Walt Disney World Hotels Reviews page. For where to eat, read our Walt Disney World Restaurant Reviews. To save money on tickets or determine which type to buy, read our Tips for Saving Money on Walt Disney World Tickets post. Our What to Pack for Disney Trips post takes a unique look at clever items to take. For what to do and when to do it, our Walt Disney World Ride Guides will help. For comprehensive advice, the best place to start is our Walt Disney World Trip Planning Guide for everything you need to know!
YOUR THOUGHTS
Do you love the Grand Floridian, or are you not a fan of its atmosphere, style, cost, etc? Would you consider splurging on a stay here, or is it too expensive? If you’re a fan of the Grand, what do you consider its selling points? Planning on staying here someday? Any questions we can help you answer? Hearing your feedback–even when you disagree with us–is both interesting to us and helpful to other readers, so please share your thoughts below in the comments!
Great timing! I just booked my first stay here for July 4, 2026 as I want to celebrate the 250th in style~ I’m really looking forward to it, and love the tip about the dormer balconies as they seem like great places to take cute photos.
Speaking of which, I amuse myself thinking about the ways in which you jam yourself in hotel corners to get those perfect pictures of the room. I was trying to figure out what you were standing on and then realized you’re just tall and can get a good fisheye picture without having to stretch yourself too much! Though knowing how tricky good room photos are to get (especially since Disney really likes using yellow lights), these ones look particularly fresh and inviting. Tons better than Disney’s own room photos…
“…then realized you’re just tall…”
While I appreciate the ego boost, you’ve met me, Maggie. You know this isn’t true, haha!
Whatever you first imagined is only half the story. Just last year, I had one hotel photo-related injury. Not from falling or anything–just being old and stretching in a way I shouldn’t have, I guess.
recently stayed here
It was really nice – We are DVC so the room was “free”. The rooms are very nice we were next to elevator but never heard it. The walk to MK was great plus you avoid the end of the night traffic jamb. We took boat from MK to Wilderness lodge just to relax a bit. Managed to hit the pool in December ( well the hot tub). nice restaurants just a wonderful stay. Easy walk to the poly (5 min).
Can not wait to stay again
Great review Tom. But we need to know if the Monkey and Bunny pictures on the staircase survived the lobby re-do.
Sadly, they did not.
I can only assume this is because they’re being restored and relocated to the Garden View Tea Room, and will be the centerpiece of that when it reopens! 😉
Great review. I will just note that while not necessarily considered “luxury,” the bath/shower combo is great for families with young children. I always call wherever we are staying in advance to make sure we get a room with a tub for our preschooler, and depending on the time of year, it can be challenging to get one.
I’d agree that the hotel is gorgeous, however the crowds are undesirable during Xmas. The monorail is always packed, the ability to sit at the bar and have a drink will take you at least an hour. Feel free to stop by and check out the hotel but I would not stay there during Xmas. The parks are busy enough. When you return to your hotel you should expect some peace. There is no peace at the grand Floridian.
GF is our favorite resort and we always try to get a day or two there on our trips.. Love the color scheme of the new rooms, but as a mom of boys , I wish they had opted for a more delicate throw pillow. Those bolsters are easily weaponized and I spent a good portion of our last trip fearing for the safety of the delicate lighting fixtures in our room. Hoping the path to MK is opened by Memorial Day weekend, it’s one of my favorite running paths on property.
Beautiful, can’t wait to stay there!
I can’t seem to find the video you reference, “Here’s a video tour of the new hotel rooms at the Grand Floridian that showcases their quality:”
So beautiful. Love the grand! Hoping to stay there Feb. 2024. Have to go during presidents week though—assuming no discounts then? Historically have there been?
As beautiful as all of these refurbishments are, the one thing that this hotel is still missing is the orchestra that played nightly in the lobby. The sounds of that fantastic ensemble imbued a sense of “grand” more than any of the other features of the lobby. Bring them back!!!
Agree completely–such a significant loss to the ambiance and elegance of the Grand Floridian lobby. Fondly remember hearing them after leaving many meals at the resort–it was like the perfect finale or ‘kiss goodnight’ and made such a strong impression. An incalculable loss for the overall guest experience.
Definitely love the new rooms! Have you heard anything about when the tea room may reopen?
Nothing at all–sorry!
My suspicion is that it’ll happen on a similar timeline as 1900 Park Fare; that at this point, they’re holding off on bringing both back until overhauling the main building. So maybe between October and December 2023. That’s just a guess, though.
Best hotel at Disney! Surround yourself with beautiful grounds and classy people. Best location by far. First stop from monorail to MK! Best overall dining options in Disney and 1900 Parkfare is a top breakfast dining experience. Let’s not forget the walking bridge being built to MK and the newly added BBB the GF now offers. Worth every penny. You get what you pay for!! Book during the 25% off and you’ll get the best bang for your buck. I recommend lagoon view from Boca Chica you get a castle view for free!
Hi! I’ve stayed at the GF on opening day and many times after that. Its my Dad’s favorite place to stay. We love cocktail hour with the piano player playing and having old-time drinks. The empty bird cage used to be filled with finches. I loved that. Too bad they did away with them. The ‘paintings’ that you pictured are not paintings, they are prints. Most hotels and resorts use prints since they are pennies to re-produce rather then spend thousands on originals. I’m a professional artist and have my work in sports bars some originals, some prints.
The best steak house is Victor/Victoria I think its called in a gazebo type building on the water. So good, great atmosphere. Christmas time at the GF is always a treat and my son and I just love to go there to look at the decorations….the big tree on the floor where the monorail is will always remind me of my Mother who would love to pose in front of it. I can go on and on….we where there at Disney worlds opening day way back then and have stayed at all of the resorts as they opened since back then it was very in-expensive. We are a Disney family! Thanks for the pictures.
We stayed at the Grand Floridian for the 1st time the week before Thanksgiving 2019 & absolutely loved it!! We were in the villas & my daughter, SIL, husband & 2 grandkids never want to stay anywhere else. We loved being so close to the park & watching the fireworks every night! The staff were always so nice & went out of the way to help in any way they could. We are DVC members & have stayed at Animal Kingdom which we loved & the grands loved waking up to the animals everyday but it was too far out. We have also stayed at Saratoga Springs which is our home base love it there as well as the kids like the different pools. We go every 2 years & hoping to stay at the Grand again!!
We love the Grand Floridian! It is the best of all Disney resorts, and we have stayed at most of them, including the Polynesian, Beach Club, Yacht Club, etc. The GF, particularly the main building, is the most distinguished, refined, and luxurious of all Disney Resorts. Once you stay there, you won’t want to stay anywhere else. The daIly piano player and band in the lobby are totally relaxing, and the on site dining is adult oriented (Victoria and Alberts is world class, and Narcoossees and Citricos are top notch. We totally disagree with the author’s opinions about the GF.
Carol and Joe – 5 time guests. Most recently, April 2019
we absolutely LOVE the Grand Floridian! the first time we went, our daughter was 4 1/2 years old…. I did not think it was too stuffy at all, even w/ a little one. Let’s face it, you’re paying for the monorail….. and that was one of the reasons we chose it. We didn’t want the Contemporary because of the noise, the Poly kind of seemed dated at the time we first went, (although we would totally stay there now ) but there’s something serene about the Grand. We loved the Grand Floridian Cafe and the 1900 Park Fare Breakfast. The pools are fantastic, and you can’t beat watching the electric parade from your balcony. There’s so many magical reasons to stay here. I totally get that it’s not for everyone…. but for us, it’s amazing. We are planning our 3rd trip to the Grand for 2020, and I cannot be more excited !
We love the GF and are returning for the 3rd time, April of this year. We love the Club Rooms and the staff!! We just love Disney World and how special everyone makes you feel.
The GF is on my bucket list. Somehow, we always end up there, whether we stay at Wilderness Lodge, AKL, POR, Coronado Springs or the one time at All Star Music. We enjoy the boat ride which is gorgeous from MK, take in breakfast at 1900 park fare or dinner at Narcoossee’s, stroll and sit around the grounds and hang out in the lobby listening to the music, smelling the gingerbread house or the aroma from the soap shop, looking at the Mickey’ s hidden around, shopping at the gift shop and wishing we could stay longer. Then we catch the monorail or take the boat back to MK for a night of fireworks, fastpasses and I like to sit on a park bench and just take in the atmosphere. I would love to see an article for people with disabilities, if you haven’t done one. If you have, please let me know. 🙂 What is considered “walkable” by the young and fit or in good health, is a nightmare for people with disabilities, especially if mobility and pain are factors. The only other resort we usually end up at is Beach Club because of Cape May Cafe breakfast. You get the character experience without having to deal with the Chef Mickey crowd’s, while the breakfast food is still good quality. Then we take the boat to DHS as it is not in walking distance for those with a disability. I often find myself sitting and waiting while my family rides the attractions so I enjoy the ambiance of the water, the theming in which I agree all the resorts need to keep, the dining, the shows and the vibe that everyone gets to be a kid again, even if just for a short while!
We love the GF. Yes; it’s expensive, but it is worth it. The hotel is beautiful, the grounds are extremely well kept and the staff is outstanding! We have been to the house of the mouse approximately 25 times. We have stayed at other Disney resorts and they were a disaster. We only stay at the GF!
Really? A disaster? Every other resort – which were built, maintained and staffed by the same company that operates the GF and is known for its commitment to customer service – was a disaster. I doubt it.
To All it May Concern, I did not agree with the previous reviews recently about the Grand Floridian Resort. I found the Grand Floridian Resort a Breath of Fresh Air and I felt everything was above and beyond quality of other resorts. The best quality about the Grand Floridian Resort is the Resort Staff. Everyone I encountered on Staff were pleasant, helpful and knowledgeable and appeared to enjoy and like their jobs helping Me, a Guest. I was with my Sister Andrea Smith on Sept. 2, 2018, when I had a need to set up my Disney Grand Express Bus registration for the trip back to the Airport. Miss Morgan from NJ, helped me to resolve my issue quickly and efficiently and provided individualized attention to my needs and was very helpful. Also, She truly was interested in how Our trip with My Niece, age 7, and my Nephew age 3 was going. She provided helpful hints as to what to think about doing at the Park. Also, the Service Staff were very responsive to all Our needs. Our Service Staff, Chris from Miami was very personable and was able to refresh Our room quickly and without hesitation. Chris from Miami also told Our Family about H20+ Softening Mint Foot Rub for aching feet. I am a Combat Veteran and he knew to let me know about the Foot Rub available to all guests. I tried it and was able to have more comfort on the second night of Disney in regards to my feet. I appreciate that I got a tip from staff. Overall, I have been all over the world , and I am a Doctor myself, so I felt the Services at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort and Spa were Impeccable due to the Staff’s attention to detail. I would rate this Hotel a 5 Star Hotel, without doubt, as a Guest. We paid more than what the previous blog said, but I felt it was worth it 100% due to the Awesome Staff at the Resort. All staff were Professional and Pleasant which made me feel Happy that Old World Hospitality is not Dead. I am going to stay at this Hotel next year, the next year after that, etc. It was really convenient to the Park and after discovering the Boat Ride directly back to the Resort, it was AWESOME!!! If You have sore feet like Me, it was Miraculous to get back and kick off the shoes!!! Thank You Morgan and Chris or Your Awesome Hospitality. Because of Staff like You both, I am only going to stay at The Disney Grand Floridian in the Future!!! To all that disagree about the Greatness of the Grand Floridian, I stayed at a hotel about 15 miles away, spent money on taxis, until I found out there was a free shuttle (staff never told me), and my toilet did not flush and the paint was soiled/cracking off in my room. It was more along the lines of staying at a Noisy Hotel, hearing Your neighbors, but it was affordable. I guess You get what You pay for. At the Grand Floridian, You cannot hear Your neighbors!!! Important with Screaming Kids, Think about It!!! Very Respectfully, Matt Gomez (Smith Party)! See You All Next Year, Thanks!!!
We love it to, for the exact reasons you stated. We are returning for the 3rd time, April of this year. We love the Club Rooms and the staff!!
Booked July 4th stay for fireworks months in advance. Check in was a disaster. Had to switch rooms. A horrible experience. Certainly Not a magical experience..NEVER again.
A disaster? Really? Was there an active volcano behind the check-in counter? Maybe an earthquake split the floor? Did somebody cry, “Oh, the humanity?” Those are disasters. Let’s keep a little perspective in our word choice.