Is Disney’s Grand Floridian one of the best places to stay at Disney World? Read my review to learn more about Disney World’s flagship resort!
The resort is located on Seven Seas Lagoon, within walking distance of Disney World’s Magic Kingdom in Orlando, Florida.
While the resort was built in 1988, the resort is currently undergoing major renovations to update the rooms and property.
Read on to find out more about Disney’s Grand Floridian!
Magical property
When you first step onto the property of Disney’s Grand Floridian, you feel like you’ve magically been transported back to the early 1900s.
White wooden buildings with red roofs give the property a stately, surreal appearance.
Green, lush landscaping adds to the feeling of serenity.
Overall, the property gives a calm and tranquil feel. It’s great for restoring peace after a day at the Disney World parks.
Amazing pools and splash pad
The property has two beautiful pools.
The Courtyard Pool offers a calm oasis where you can relax.
The Beach Pool features a 181-water slide and waterfall.
Plus, the hotel has a Beauty and the Beast-themed splash pad that’s great for kids.
My friends who visited Disney World regularly growing up remember the pool time with their families as one of their favorite memories. Disney’s Grand Floridian definitely delivers great pool experiences.
Beautiful Seven Seas Lagoon
Disney’s Grand Floridian sits right on the shores of Seven Seas Lagoon.
I love the water, so staying at waterfront property always adds a special element for me.
Across Seven Seas Lagoon, you can see Disney’s Magic Kingdom, including Cinderellas Castle!
To say that we were amazed by this view is a vast understatement. Our gasps of excitement were likely heard across the entire property when we opened our room curtains and saw the view of Magic Kingdom.
True child-like excitement.
Incredible, updated rooms
Our rooms were absolutely incredible and one of the reasons that Disney’s Grand Floridian is one of the best places to stay at Disney World.
Although the resort was built in 1988, it’s undergoing substantial renovations to update the rooms.
Our room had a subtle Mary Poppins theme that was just enough Disney magic without being over the top. The paintings in the room featured Mary Poppins flying away. And the chandelier had little glass birds and a single glass penguin.
The bed was one of the most comfortable beds I’ve ever slept in.
Plus, the room had fun touches, like Disney-themed bath products. And Disney-brand coffee to use with the in-room Keurig machine. (It took me a couple of tries to figure out the Keurig machine, but we figured it out!)
Magic Kingdom fireworks
Every night, Magic Kingdom puts on a fireworks display around Cinderella’s castle.
Since you can see Cinderella’s castle from Disney’s Grand Floridian, that means you also have a great view of the fireworks!
Because it can get really crowded at Magic Kingdom for the fireworks display, watching the fireworks from Disney’s Grand Floridian is a great alternative compared to watching it in the crowded park.
Electrical Water Pageant
We were sitting on our balcony after the Magic Kingdom fireworks when we were surprised by a sudden display of lights on Seven Seas Lagoon.
It was a nighttime boat parade! There were boats in the lagoon with lights and music. My personal favorite was the sea dragon with the accompanying song, “Whale of a Tale”.
We later learned that this is called the “Electrical Water Pageant” and has been going on since 1971. It’s one of the few original shows still running at Disney World.
Dining
Disney’s Grand Floridian has an incredible number of food and drink options.
From high-end restaurants to casual eats to upscale cocktail bars, there is a little something for everyone at the resort.
We ate most of our meals at the park but did take advantage of the Gasparilla Island Grill for burgers and sandwiches one night. And we enjoyed some delicious room service with decadent deserts another night.
While we didn’t have time to go, Victoria & Albert’s restaurant was highly rated and recommended. We’ll have to go the next time we visit Disney World!
Amazing transportation to parks
One of the best things about Disney’s Grand Floridian was how easy it was to get from the resort to other spots in Disney World. This alone makes Disney’s Grand Floridian one of the best places to stay at Disney World.
The resort was located on the monorail. We could leave our rooms and be on the monorail in less than ten minutes.
The resort also had a bus stop, which had buses that went to all the Disney World locations.
And maybe best of all, the resort had a boat ride to Magic Kingdom! We could also use this boat ride to get to the nearby Polynesian Village Resort, where we had dinner one night.
Early access to parks
A really great perk of staying at a Disney World resort is that you get early access to the parks.
Because we were staying a Disney World resort, we were able to access all the parks 30 minutes earlier than the public opening.
Disney World can be incredibly crowded. Getting to a popular ride first thing in the morning can significantly cut down on the time you wait in lines at the parks.
Watch out for mosquitos
One warning about staying on any of the Disney resorts by Seven Seas Lagoon: you will get bit by mosquitos.
I understand that Disney World sprays for mosquitos. But I was still eaten alive.
I highly recommend bringing bug-repellent bracelets. I find them easier to use than bug spray because you don’t have to remember to re-apply – you just wear them all day (and all night).
Expensive resort
The luxury at Disney’s Grand Floridian does come with a high cost. It is one of the most expensive places to stay at Walt Disney World.
For us, the hotel is a large part of our overall vacation experience. So we were willing to splurge for the luxurious accommodations.
The proximity to Magic Kingdom also helped to really sell the resort to us, along with all the great dining options.
Disney’s Grand Floridian: Is it one of the best places to stay at Disney World?
Disney’s Grand Floridian was truly luxurious. It was great coming back to relax at this resort after long days at the park.
In my opinion, is one of the best places to stay at Disney World. Amazing pools, wonderful transportation options, luxurious rooms, and incredible dining are just some of the great things about this property.
The resort does come at a high cost, so you’ll need to balance whether the amenities of the resort outweigh the cost.
Even if you don’t stay here, I recommend stopping by Disney’s Grand Floridian to check out the property when you’re in Disney World.
You can book your stay at Disney’s Grand Floridian here.
Have a comment or a question? I’d love to hear from you! Visit me on Instagram at eastbymidwest or send me an email at pam@eastbymidwest.com.
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