Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa [In-Depth Review]

Since I live in South Florida and have young children, my family often treks north to Orlando for the weekend. These trips allow us to visit different theme parks and dive into the magical world of Disney.

I’ve had the pleasure of staying at Walt Disney Resort properties in the past, but I’ve never had the chance to try out one of the “Deluxe” resorts. These are known to be the most luxurious and expensive hotels that Disney offers, and I’ve been curious to see what they’re like firsthand.

Instead of staying at one of my usual points properties such as the Hyatt Regency Grand Cypress Resort, Waldorf Astoria Orlando, or JW Marriott Bonnet Creek Resort & Spa, we decided to splurge on one of the Disney Deluxe Resort hotels to celebrate my twin daughters’ birthdays and give ourselves a last hurrah before starting school.

We debated which hotel to stay at for days before deciding on Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa, a Victorian-themed hotel that is a 15-minute walk from the Magic Kingdom’s entrance or a stop away on the Resort Monorail.

Let’s look at how my 2-night stay at one of Walt Disney World’s most swanky and well-known resorts went.

Location

Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa is situated on the beautiful white-sand shores of Seven Seas Lagoon. It is conveniently located just a stop away on the monorail or a short boat ride from the iconic Magic Kingdom Park.

The 867-room resort spread across 6 buildings is one of the few properties at Walt Disney World that offers the convenience of walking to the iconic Magic Kingdom Park. The park entrance is approximately 0.7 miles from the resort, and it takes about 15 minutes to reach the park by following the walking path between the Grand Floridian Resort & Spa and Magic Kingdom.

If you’ve been to Walt Disney World before, you’ve probably used the monorail that operates from Walt Disney World’s Transportation and Ticket Center (TTC) to the Magic Kingdom. You would have noticed the resort during your ride, as it is easily identifiable.

The resort is conveniently situated approximately 25 miles away from Orlando International Airport (MCO). The estimated travel time from the airport to the resort is around 30 minutes, assuming no traffic delays.

If you aren’t planning to rent a car at the airport, some transportation options are available to get to Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa. One option is a shuttle service like Mears Connect airport shuttle, which costs $16 per adult and $13.50 per child ages 3 to 9 for a one-way trip. Another option is to order an Uber vehicle from Orlando International Airport, which typically starts at around $35 to reach the resort.

Booking

I had never stayed at a Disney Deluxe Resort before. These resorts are the highest tier of hotels at Walt Disney World Resort, and I was excited to experience Disney’s top-of-the-line accommodations.

Knowing that a night at a Disney Deluxe Resort such as Disney’s Contemporary Resort, Disney’s Beach Club Resort, or Disney’s Yacht Club Resort may cost anywhere from $400 to $800 (or more!), I prepared myself financially for our 2-night trip in mid-August.

Fortunately for us (and my wallet), DisneyWorld.com offered Florida residents a 30% discount on accommodations at select resorts throughout the summer, including Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa.

The standard nightly rate for our 2-night stay at this resort was originally $740, plus tax. However, with a 30% discount, the new rate came out to $518 per night. Some of my Disney-obsessed friends said this rate was a good deal.

I used my Chase Sapphire Preferred^® Card, which generates 2x Ultimate Rewards points on travel purchases, including hotel stays, to pay for this stay. My total cost came out to $1,165.50, including taxes and fees. There was no resort fee.

Using a 2 cents per point valuation for Chase Ultimate Rewards points, I earned 2,331 points for our 2-night stay at the Grand Floridian Resort & Spa, equivalent to $46 in travel rewards.

Hot Tip:

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Checking In

We drove directly to the resort from our South Florida home. Once there, we followed the signs to the Magic Kingdom Resort Area.

Upon arriving at the property at 1:30 p.m., we stopped at the security gate and presented a photo ID to the gate attendant.

After my reservation was verified, we went to the valet area to drop off our luggage and then to the self-parking area.

I knew check-in at the Grand Floridian Resort & Spa was at 3 p.m., but I hoped to get into a room as soon as possible. As we entered the hotel, the Victorian-style resort gave off a sense of opulence and sophistication.

The resort was undergoing significant renovation and refurbishment of its rooms and lobby.

As soon as we entered, we noticed the presence of construction walls surrounding the entire first floor, indicating the ongoing renovations.

Because the Grand Floridian Resort & Spa participates in Disney’s Direct-to-Room service, you can check in online, receive your room number electronically, and use your smartphone or MagicBand to unlock the entrance to your room, thereby bypassing the lobby entirely.

However, I was curious to see whether or not I could upgrade from our 2 Queen Beds and 1 Day Bed room, which sleeps 5, to a bigger, more spacious accommodation.

After checking with a pleasant front desk cast member, she offered to move us from a resort-view third-floor room to the same room type on the fourth floor (the highest floor), but unfortunately, no complimentary or paid room upgrades were available.

I wasn’t sure whether we’d be allocated a refurbished room, so I asked the cast member, who confirmed that all of the outer buildings featured freshly remodeled rooms. All buildings are considered “outer” except the main building with the lobby and front desk.

With a map in hand and my MagicBand on my wrist to open my room door, we made our way through the construction-filled lobby to one of the outer buildings — Boca Chica — and to our fourth-floor room.

Hot Tip:

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Amenities

Visiting theme parks for an entire day can be tiring. If you are planning a trip to Disney and thinking about staying at Disney’s Grand Floridian, you may want to set aside a whole day to fully experience and enjoy all the robust amenities that the resort has to offer.

Early Theme Park Entry

Every day, guests of Disney hotels and select partner hotels have access to all 4 Disney theme parks, including Magic Kingdom, 30 minutes before the designated opening time. During the 30 minutes of early admission access, guests can access 2 lands at Magic Kingdom: Fantasyland and Tomorrowland.

This was the biggest benefit I was looking forward to taking advantage of during our trip since we wanted to ride the Seven Dwarfs Mine Train and Space Mountain before the crowds emerged.

Unfortunately, getting out the door by 8 a.m. was practically impossible with kids and a baby in tow, and we lost out on taking advantage of the extra time.

Transportation to Disney Parks

Disney offers free transportation for all guests to and from its parks. Knowing about all the different transportation options from the resort is helpful!

Monorail

The monorail is the most recognizable way to get to Walt Disney World theme parks. Guests of Disney’s Grand Floridian can conveniently catch the Resort Monorail from the station on the second floor of the main building. You can take the elevator to the second floor or climb the stairs to reach the monorail station.

When heading to Magic Kingdom from the resort, you’ll be the next stop on the monorail.

We spent some of the day at Magic Kingdom. By late afternoon, the Florida summer humidity was too much, so we took the monorail back to the hotel. This was a massive benefit to have at our disposal. 

We returned to Magic Kingdom at night to witness the breathtaking fireworks show. The monorail’s proximity to the resort made traveling between the resort and the park very convenient.

The Resort Monorail begins operating 30 minutes before Magic Kingdom opens and stops 1 hour after the park closes.

Boat

The Grand Floridian Resort & Spa utilizes water transportation along with the monorail system for transportation to and from the Magic Kingdom.

The gold flag boat route connects the Magic Kingdom with the Grand Floridian Resort & Spa and the neighboring Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort. It operates in a loop, starting from the Magic Kingdom and returning back to the same location.

The ride is approximately 10 to 12 minutes for each leg of the journey. Boat transportation service between the resorts and Magic Kingdom begins 30 minutes before the park opens and up to 90 minutes after the park closes. Operating hours are subject to change.

Hot Tip:

If you want to travel between Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa and Magic Kingdom as quickly as possible, take the monorail from Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa directly to Magic Kingdom as there are no stops. Choose the boat to return to the resort, as it is the first stop on the route back. This is a fantastic method for escaping a congested monorail at the end of a tiring day at the park.

Bus

Bus service is shared between Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa and Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort. You can do so directly from the resort if you want to visit Hollywood Studios, EPCOT, Animal Kingdom, Blizzard Beach, Typhoon Lagoon, or Disney Springs. Simply look for the appropriately marked bus.

Bus service begins 45 minutes before the parks open and lasts until 1 hour after the parks close.

Walking Path to Magic Kingdom Park

Walking to the park is an excellent alternative for visitors who want to exercise while going to the Magic Kingdom entrance. A new walking path from Disney’s Grand Floridian to Disney’s flagship park continues around Seven Seas Lagoon all the way to the Magic Kingdom entrance. Depending on your pace, the park can be reached in 10 to 15 minutes.

The heat was uncomfortable during my August stay, even at night, to walk between Magic Kingdom and the resort. But the walking route looked lovely, so I would choose this alternative when the weather cools.

Pools

The resort has 2 pools where guests can take a dip, lounge in an umbrella-topped pool lounger, or go wild on a water slide.

Beach Pool

The Beach Pool, which overlooks Seven Seas Lagoon, is also home to the resort’s single waterslide. Behind the Beach Pool is a sandy beach area with various game activities, such as a ping-pong table, an outdoor chess set, and cornhole boards.

Hot Tip:

Swimming in the lagoon is not allowed due to the presence of alligators and snakes, as indicated on signs posted at the beach. Additionally, a net has been installed to discourage guests from entering the water.

We went night swimming one evening at the Beach Pool, and everyone enjoyed going on the slide repeatedly.

Although this pool is the more entertaining option of the 2 onsite pools, we noticed that most guests were at the Courtyard Pool during our stay, the other pool on the property.

Courtyard Pool

The zero-entry Courtyard Pool is conveniently placed behind the main building and features a water fountain right in front of it.

My kids enjoyed the Beach Pool with the waterslide, but parents with big kids may prefer the heated Courtyard Pool.

The pools are typically open from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. However, depending on the season, these hours may change. The pools shut down at 10 p.m. each night of our stay. I assumed the hours were extended to enable guests to enjoy the pool areas longer throughout the summer.

Aquatic Play Area

The aquatic play area with an “Alice in Wonderland” theme is adjacent to the Beach Pool. Here, younger visitors can access an imaginative water play area that promises limitless summertime fun. My 1-year-old would have appreciated this play area, but we did not have time to visit it.

Senses Spa

One of the 2 Senses Spas at Walt Disney World is at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa.

The second is located at Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort. Senses is a spa and salon that offers everything from haircuts and massages to body treatments and hair styling.

Fitness Center

The resort offers a 24-hour fitness center for guests who wish to maintain their workout routines. The fitness center is located in the same building as the Senses Spa. It offers a range of cardio equipment, free weights, and a water station to help you stay hydrated during your workout.

Motorized Boat Rentals

On the Seven Seas Lagoon, you can charter a pontoon boat for your group if you have a need for speed or a desire for a leisurely excursion. The Sun Tracker Pontoon vessels accommodate up to 10 passengers at a reasonable $45 per half-hour. Rentals are available on a first-come, first-served basis with no reservations required.

Shopping

At the resort, guests have the opportunity to enjoy on-site shopping. There are a total of 5 stores at your disposal, offering a variety of items ranging from Disney apparel to snacks.

One notable store is Basin White, which specializes in bath and body care products and is my family’s favorite. They offer a selection of sugar scrubs and bath bombs to spruce up your shower.

The Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa, a popular destination for princess and prince makeovers, was unavailable.

Parking

In January 2023, Disney announced that all guests staying at Disney Resort hotels will receive complimentary self-parking. I chose the self-parking lot since it was right in front of the hotel’s valet area, and the walk was merely a few feet away. Those who prefer valet parking pay $33 per night (sales tax included).

Wi-Fi

All resort guests have free Wi-Fi in their rooms as well as onsite. While roaming the property, I had no issue connecting to the internet, and the Wi-Fi connection was quick and efficient.

Other Amenities

In addition to the numerous amenities listed here, Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa also offers a barbecue grill, basketball court, arcade room, campfire activities, movies under the stars, lawn games, and more.

Because there are so many fun things to do at the resort, many people stay there for at least 1 day instead of going to the parks.

The Room

The Grand Floridian Resort & Spa’s rooms have been reinvented, replacing the basic and uninspiring decor they had initially. The standard rooms at the resort are also the biggest at Walt Disney World at 440 square feet.

Our building — Boca Chica — was directly in front of the Courtyard Pool.

Having the pool nearby was convenient, and right across the Courtyard Pool was the entrance to the main building.

When we entered our building, I saw the pastel-colored carpet and contemporary decor in the center of the ground level.

While I favor more modern, minimalistic design, I was familiar with the resort’s aesthetic, so my major hope was that I would be assigned to one of the renovated rooms.

Upon entering the room, textures and details caught my eye immediately, along with the on-theme Mary Poppins decor, such as Mary Poppins-inspired watercolor artwork on the walls.

Crown molding, wall paneling, blue, white, and gold hues, and beautiful light fixtures gave the room an aura of sophistication. The hotel had brand new beds since the resort’s rooms had just been redone. 

The beds were raised and had a ton of storage space under them, which I found helpful for keeping the room free of bags and other things.

The Sealy Posturepedic beds were comfy and firm but not too stiff. Everyone in our group got a good night’s sleep and didn’t say anything bad about them.

A sofa bed was set up next to the 2 queen beds for an extra person to sleep in, so up to 5 people could easily sleep in a standard room.

The room offered various storage options, such as under the beds, closets, bathroom shelves, and a spacious dresser under the television.

Aside from the drawers inside the media console beneath the TV, the room included enough closet space and shelves to store personal stuff.

Outlets and USB charging ports were available on the nightstand between the 2 beds and in various areas in the room and bathroom.

A Keurig coffee machine, pods, mugs, cups, and an ice bucket were on the counter above the minifridge.

There were 2 basin sinks with quartz countertops, with towels tucked beneath in the bathroom.

The bathroom had marble-tiled floors and a lit-up mirror with a beautiful design bordering it.

Individually packed H2O+ bath and body products from the brand that supplies all Disney Resorts were displayed on the long counter for use.

The shower/tub combination shared the same space as the toilet. While this isn’t ideal for multitasking or when you prefer a bit more privacy, it worked for our family.

The shower had dispensers dishing out H2O body wash, shampoo, and conditioner rather than single-use amenities.

Finally, we loved the little terrace with a few seats and views of the resort’s lawn and Courtyard Pool through the French doors.

I sat on the terrace often to admire the resort grounds and check on how busy the Courtyard Pool was.

By Disney standards, the room was huge, the beds were comfy, and we had all the amenities we needed.

Food and Beverage

Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner in elaborate Victorian settings to suit all tastes. 1900 Park Fare and the Garden View Tea Room, the Disney Character-hosted breakfast and dinner buffet restaurant, were closed, while all other restaurants were open. Snacks and drinks were available at each pool and the following food establishments.

Cítricos

Citricos was a Disney Signature Dining experience offering exquisite dining with a magical flair and Mary Poppins motif. The dining room aims to transport guests to an enchanted garden scene inspired by the film’s animated sequence, with depictions of flowers, insects, and more. Florida cuisine with a Mediterranean influence was featured on the menu, with starters such as a strawberry salad or corn bisque, followed by entrées such as guava barbecued short ribs and butter-poached Florida cobia.

Citricos served dinner only from 5 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. daily, and dishes ranged from $35 to $59.99 per adult.

Narcoossee’s

Narcoossee’s offered a diverse menu featuring a variety of fresh seafood options sourced from local waters and international locations. This restaurant was a short walk from our room and was the sole dining option at the resort with scenic views of the Seven Seas Lagoon and a glimpse of Magic Kingdom from your table.

It is highly recommended to make advance reservations. Narcoossee’s exclusively offered dinner service between 5 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. daily. The menu featured a variety of dishes with prices ranging from $35 to $59.99 per adult.

Grand Floridian Cafe

The Grand Floridian Cafe served modestly priced, flavorful breakfast, lunch, and dinner food. Some available options were eggs Benedict, the Grand Floridian Cafe Burger, salads, soups, and sandwiches. Dinner included hearty dishes such as steak frites, buttermilk-fried chicken, and farmer’s market vegetable curry.

The Grand Floridian Cafe served breakfast from 7:30 to 11 a.m., lunch from 11:05 a.m. to 2 p.m., and dinner from 5 to 9 p.m.

Gasparilla Island Grill

Gasparilla Island Grill, open all day, is where we had breakfast every morning and a casual dinner after a long day at the park. We didn’t want to be tied down to set meal times, so this quick-service restaurant was great.

Most dishes were less than $14.99, and guests could start their day with Mickey Waffles or a breakfast platter. For lunch, you could choose from burgers, flatbreads, and sandwiches made with bread from the Grand Floridian Bakery, which were fresh every day. You could also get beer and wine.

Gasparilla Island Grill was open from 6 a.m. to 12 a.m. for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and snacks.

The Dining Room at Victoria & Albert’s

For a special occasion, splurge at The Dining Room at Victoria & Albert’s, Walt Disney World’s premier restaurant and recipient of the prestigious AAA Five Diamond Award. The restaurant offered 2 different tasting menus. The price per guest for the prix-fixe menu began at $295. Wine pairings were optional and started at $150 per guest. The restaurant’s wine list featured over 500 award-winning wines. The attire expected of guests was semi-formal to formal, and reservations were required.

The Dining Room at Victoria & Albert’s was open for dinner from Tuesday to Saturday, 5:30 p.m. to 8:05 p.m.

Enchanted Rose

Although we could not make a pit stop at Enchanted Rose, the resort’s signature lounge, it is worth noting that the space was incredibly impressive in terms of its aesthetics and overall design.

Adult guests seeking an enchanting evening could indulge in exquisite appetizers, including white sturgeon caviar and truffle fries, complemented by adult beverages. The bar was illuminated by a stunning golden chandelier, which drew inspiration from Belle’s elegant ball gown.

Enchanted Rose was open daily for appetizers and drinks from 3:30 p.m. to 11 p.m.

Service

One thing that Disney consistently gets right is providing excellent customer service. Every cast member I encountered was delightful and refined in delivering outstanding care to guests’ needs from arrival to departure. The Grand Floridian Resort & Spa personnel did not disappoint in that area, which was appreciated and has come to be expected from such a polished service brand as Disney.

Final Thoughts

Many visitors to Walt Disney World put a stay at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa at the top of their list of must-dos. The resort’s exterior displays its famous Victorian architecture, visible to millions of visitors who ride the monorail to Magic Kingdom Park annually.

The remodeled rooms are stylish, the service is fantastic, and there are plenty of things to do at the resort, so you don’t even have to go to the parks to have fun.

Having said that, I’d only stay at a Disney Deluxe Resort again if the cost was reasonable and for a special occasion. Otherwise, I’ll stay at some of the more prominent points properties close to Disney that provide me perks like complimentary breakfast and a suite upgrade, both of which my family values more than being within walking distance of Disney theme parks.