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5 Reasons to Stay at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa – Endless Summer Florida

5 Reasons to Stay at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa


 

Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort Spa is an elegant Victorian style property featuring 867 guest rooms and suites along with the adjacent Disney Vacation Club – Villas at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa.  This resort is one of the highest quality (and most expensive) resorts in all of those on-site at the Walt Disney World Resort.  Throughout the entire hotel guests will find casual elegance from the common areas, dining venues and the rooms itself. 

Hotel rates for the Grand Floridian Resort & Spa vary based on time of year and individual room and range from less than $800 to more than $2,000 per night.  Disney does offer discounts to Annual Passholders and certain club members (AAA, Costco, etc).  

The hotel is located on the “Monorail Loop” with stops not only at the Grand Floridian and the Magic Kingdom, but also Disney’s Contemporary Resort and Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort.  Since you are located right outside of the Magic Kingdom park within the heart of the Walt Disney World Resort, guests will enjoy all that Disney has to offer right at their door step.   Click here to learn more about Walt Disney World

Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa

4401 Floridian Way

Lake Buena Vista, Florida  32836

407.939.5277

When arriving in Orlando it will take approximately 25 to 30 minutes to get to Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Space from the Orlando International Airport and about 15 to 20 minutes to get to the Orlando / Orange County Convention Center.  Other Orlando area theme parks and local attractions are also a short distance to the hotel and per Google Maps, travel time is as follows (non-peak hours):

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Why stay at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa? 

The Endless Summer Florida family has stayed at almost every single on-site hotel at The Walt Disney World Resort and depending on our plans for the individual visit, we choose an individual hotel for specific reasons.  If the current hotel rates are within our budget, the Grand Floridian Resort & Spa is also near the top of our list.

Here are the five reasons we like staying at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa.

  • Luxurious Amenities
  • Steps from the Magic Kingdom Park
  • Outstanding Resort Amenities
  • Stunning Views
  • The Best Hotel Dining Options

Luxurious Accommodations

There are very few theme park hotels that have the luxury accommodations as Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort and Spa.  From the moment guests arrive at the property to entering the grand lobby, you know that this resort differs from the others.

The rooms and hotel common areas are nothing short of spectacular.   All rooms are very well themed and decorated in the Victorian style of the resort itself.  Features including premium linens, complimentary WiFi service, mini0refrigerators and coffee makers.  Select rooms have balconies with views of the Seven Seas Lagoon, the Magic Kingdom and the resort grounds / pools.

There is also a club level at the Grand Floridian which is a private lounge that offers a variety of services including a buffet breakfast, mid-day refreshments including tea & coffee, an evening reception including hot & cold appetizers as well as soft drinks, beer, wine and bottled cider and nightly desserts.  Additional services for club level guests include personalized check-in and concierge services.

In addition to the luxurious rooms, dining venues and common areas, guests can enjoy “Senses”, a world-class spa and salon.  Senses offers massages, body treatments, grooming services and hair styling in a serene environment.  

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Steps from the Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World

The most significant reason to stay at the Grand Floridian Resort & Spa is it’s proximity to Disney’s Magic Kingdom theme park.  If you are planning to visit the Magic Kingdom and cost is not a major factor in your hotel selection decision, then the Grand Floridian should be your choice.

There are three different options that guests can choose to travel between the Magic Kingdom and the resort.  These three are as follows:

If you don’t find a 10 to 15 minute stroll (not that you do enough walking in the theme parks), the Walking Path from the Grand Floridian to the Magic Kingdom is a pleasant way to begin (or end) your day.

The pathway opened in late 2020 and starts near the resort’s convention center,  It travels along the Seven Season Lagoon where you will find great views of the lagoon itself as well as the Disney’s Contemporary Resort.  Guest will cross a bridge and, at times, opens to allow the barges from Disney’s Electric Water Pageant to travel in and out of the lagoon.

Outstanding Resort Amenities

Guests staying at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa will enjoy some of the best amenities of any resort hotel at Walt Disney World,.

These amenities and recreational offerings include:

  • Two themed pools (the Beach Pool and the Courtyard Pool)
  • Poolside cabana rentals
  • Children’s splash pad with water play area
  • White sandy beach facing the Seven Seas Lagoon
  • Motorized boat rentals & specialty cruises
  • Fishing excursions
  • Basketball & tennis courts
  • On-site game room
  • Numerous organized activities

In addition to those items shown above, guests of the Grand Floridian can take advantage of a number of Disney benefits which include:

  • Early Theme Park Entry: 30 minute advance entry to the Disney theme parks.
  • Extended Evening Theme Park Hours: guests staying at the Grand Floridian and other select Disney resorts will enjoy extended hours at the end of the day on select nights at the Magic Kingdom and Epcot theme parks.
  • Complimentary resort wide transportation:  Free transportation to all four theme parks, two water parks and Disney Springs.

Stunning Views

The resort is situated along the shores of the Seven Season Lagoon and has stunning views of the lagoon itself along with the Magic Kingdom, Disney’s Contemporary Resort and Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort.

Guests can enjoy nightly fireworks from the Magic Kingdom right from the grounds of the Grand Floridian.  Select rooms facing the Magic Kingdom are the perfect vantage point to watch the nightly fireworks show.  

Endless Summer Tip:  the Electrical Water Pageant runs nightly in the Seven Seas Lagoon starting at 9:00 PM to around 10:30 PM.  Guests staying at the Grand Floridian have an excellent view from the shoreline.

The Best Hotel Dining Options

The dining options are Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa are second to none as compared to other theme park hotels in the greater Orlando area.  From resort casual to poolside as well as fine dining, this resort has it all.

  • Citricos
  • Narcoosee’s
  • Grand Floridian Café
  • Enchanted Rose
  • Gasparilla Island Grill
  • Beaches Pool Bar & Grill
  • Courtyard Pool Bar
  • Disney Family Dinner Night (3-course to go meal along with an activity game)
  • 1900 Park Fare
  • Citricos Lounge
  • Garden View Tea Room

The most exquisite dining option at the Grand Floridian is Victoria & Albert’s which is a AAA Five Diamond Aware winning restaurant since 2000.  This classic Victoria restaurant features elegant American cuisine in a contemporary setting.   In addition to the main dining room, guests can enjoy an exclusive 10-course tasting menu paired with fine wines at the “Chef’s Table” or  dine in the exclusive “Queen Victoria Room” for a more intimate setting.

Hotels Rates at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa

Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa is the premium hotel at The World Disney World Resort and all this luxury does not come cheap.  

Hotel rates vary based on the room type and time of year.  The individual rates shown below are the best available rate for two adults and two-children in three individual room types offered at the resort.

The rates were obtained from the Expedia at the time of publication of this article.  

Rates for 2023   6/15/23 9/15/23 12/15/23
Outer Building, Garden View   $772.00 $822.00 $1,121.00
Outer Building, Lagoon View   $800.00

$885.00

$1,194.00
Outer Building, Theme Park View   $945.00 NA

$1,427.00

Discounts are available for Annual Passholders as well as certain club memberships (AAA, Costco, etc.).  There are no resort fees at Disney’s Grand Floridian but there is a 6% resort tax on top of a 6.5% sales tax on rates for each of these hotels.   

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Endless Summer

Members of the Endless Summer family have lived in Florida since the 1970's & 80's so from world class theme parks to white sandy beaches, we are "in the know" on all the great things to see & do in our state.

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