One of our strongest ‘unpopular opinions’ for years was that Walt Disney World’s flagship resort was not worth its sky-high sticker price. Now that the Grand Floridian’s massive multi-year overhaul has mostly wrapped up and we’ve finished a Christmas stay in the main building, our new controversial perspective is that this is an exceptional luxury hotel worthy of its status.
To be fair, the Victorian hotel has always been well-themed, with gorgeous grounds and a formidable restaurant roster. The problem was that Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa had guest rooms and common areas were not even close to commensurate with the cost or remotely on par with real world luxury hotels. These spaces were showing their age, looking like a 1990s interpretation of Victorian pulled from the style pages of a 1993 issue of Country Living Magazine, as opposed to actual Victorian.
That started to change thanks to a years-in-the-making phased overhaul of Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa. That actually began before the closure of the parks with the Enchanted Rose Lounge, and continued shortly after reopening with more restaurant reimaginings. Following that, all of the outlying buildings in the hotel were overhauled one by one over two years ago.
Although it’s the most expensive hotel at Walt Disney World, our opinions of Grand Floridian have been mixed over the years. The Villas at Grand Floridian have performed well in our Deluxe Villas/Disney Vacation Club Resort Rankings ever since they opened, occupying one of the top spots.
That’s largely a product of the room quality, plus a lovely little lobby that threads the needle on themed design and Disney whimsy. Those DVC villas deliver exactly what we’ve wanted from the Grand Floridian as a whole for years.
By contrast, our Rankings of Deluxe Resorts at Walt Disney World put the Grand Floridian dead last up until 2023. This has been a controversial take, and we’ve had to “defend” this discrepancy numerous times by perplexed readers. It came down to common areas and guest rooms.
For years, we criticized these spaces, arguing that a modernization was badly needed. Walt Disney World purists cringed, arguing that the Grand Floridian should be the pinnacle of luxury and themed design.
We didn’t disagree with that assessment! Our response was: have you stayed at the Grand Floridian lately? The rooms were neither luxurious nor well-themed. And although the lobby had its moments, it too was showing its age.
When it comes to the Grand Floridian, it would seem many longtime Walt Disney World fans view the flagship hotel through the rose-colored glasses of nostalgia. Or perhaps urine-tinged glasses would be more accurate. The lobby leaned heavily into yellows, and not in a warm and cozy kind of way. More in a way that felt like a product of its time.
As for the rooms, the previous ones were redone at a time when Walt Disney World was leaning more into more minimalist and modern, simpler styles. They predated the current ‘wave’ of overhauls by a few years, during what we’ve regarded as a low point for themed design in the hotels.
The old rooms looked like a chained-brand like Hilton or Marriott. And not their high-end properties like the JW or Conrad. Thankfully, that was remedied with the room overhaul that happened a couple of years ago, as we covered in Review, Photos & Video: New Rooms at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort.
As a result of that, Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa now performs much better in our new Rankings of ALL Walt Disney World Hotels from Worst to Best and has for the last couple of years.
It still was not #1 in our most recent rankings, but it did move up the list a lot solely on the basis of the room redesign–all the way to #9. Obviously, that’s not flagship material, but it was a big upgrade.
With the main building overhaul and lobby reimagining materially complete, the question becomes whether Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa is worthy of being ranked as the #1 Deluxe Resort, and Walt Disney World’s true flagship luxury hotel?
According to Walt Disney World, the reimagined resort is modeled after the grandeur of the Victorian era, with the refreshed design blending classic charm with comfort. The design choices are a love letter to the resort’s Floridian roots and the golden age of travel that inspired it.
New furnishings invite guests to relax and take in the view. From the vintage-inspired wood-framed seating to grand pier mirrors featuring the resort’s iconic logo, every detail has been designed to preserve the resort’s heritage while creating a welcoming space for today’s guests.
There truly is great attention to detail in this reimagining. If you’re wondering why it’s taken over 7 months after being delayed for roughly 2 years, as opposed to being knocked out in a few nights like BoardWalk, it’s because this has been much more meticulous and methodical.
Whereas other lobby refreshes have been more surface level, “featuring” new furniture curated from Wayfair, the Grand Floridian overhaul has been more comprehensive and thoughtful. Almost every surface in the lobby has been touched, and the only ones that haven’t are those that didn’t have any room for improvement in the first place.
The wallpaper looks great, there’s detail-work all around the lobby, in the stairwells–literally everywhere. The furniture is substantial and appropriate for the Grand, and everything looks fresh. At the same time, it retains the core structure of the lobby; this isn’t a Poly waterfall situation where the resort has lost a marquee feature during an “upgrade.”
Stepping into the Grand Floridian’s lobby feels at once familiar and new. The lobby retains its warmth thanks to light filtering through the updated stained-glass skylights (these are brighter and more eye-catching than they’ve looked in years), illuminating the woodwork and sparkling on the newly refreshed chandeliers above.
The new comes into play via the carpet, which is a continuation of the ‘Enchanted Gardens’ style that debuted in the outlying builds. Although this retains the floral style, the colors are cooler and the palette is less one-note.
This carpet was inspired by the Victorian “Language of Flowers,” and features florals native to Florida’s subtropical landscape.
There are a few special nods woven into the pattern, such as the orange blossom (Florida’s state flower and a symbol of prosperity), palms, moonstones (Florida’s state gemstone), and even a few Hidden Mickeys tucked among more than 200 individual blossoms.
Our favorite feature of the reimagined lobby is the new impressionist-style mural above the grand staircase that depicts a romanticized vision of the Grand Floridian at the turn of the century, rising out of the swamps long before the Florida Project was even a sparkle in Walt Disney’s eye.
This art is gorgeous, with a sunset view of the resort framed by royal and sabal palms. The new carpet below on the staircase likewise looks lovely, making this spot a strong contender for family Christmas card photos in the future.
This whole area is separated from the main lobby by an elevator, and underscores just how much depth and detail there is throughout the new-look lobby. Across from the stairs is new wallpaper, accent trim, and more.
Let’s go from the highlight of the overhaul to the lowlight, because also in this area is the check-in desk.
Behind the front desks (they’re now kiosk-style, consistent with other redone resorts) there’s a backlit illuminated light feature. It’s moody and modern and atmospheric…and at odds with the rest of the Grand Floridian.
This reminds me of something you’d see at a chic hotel with soft lighting and a soothing atmosphere. It’s not ugly; it’s actually quite nice. But it’s unlike the aesthetic or vibe of the Grand Floridian. It sticks out in the same way as the Enchanted Rose, like something that belongs at Gran Destino at opposed to Grand Floridian.
The Grand Floridian Convention Center has also been reimagined.
The overhaul of the convention center carries the same refined design from the lobby and guest rooms into one of Walt Disney World’s marquee event spaces. It’s nice for guests attending a wedding, a special event, or simply admiring its splendor.
Honestly, I don’t have a strong opinion on the Grand Floridian Convention Center. I couldn’t tell you the last time I was in here before this month, and don’t have any photos of it in the DTB Archive. The refresh looks tasteful and in keeping with the rest of the resort.
The Perch, or Birdcage Bar, is the most controversial aspect of the Grand Floridian’s lobby overhaul.
Most of this debate strikes me as an outgrowth of Walt Disney World’s increased emphasis on lounges and alcohol, and is less about the design merits of the Birdcage Bar. The structure itself looks lovely to me.
The woodwork, stained glass, and light fixtures are well done, and it’s a fitting tribute to the old aviary. It works as a focal point to the Grand Floridian lobby, and unlike the clutter that’s been added to the Grand Canyon Concourse at the Contemporary, it’s not out of place. It’s tasteful and well-done.
I do wish it were ever-so-slightly smaller, as it does feel cramped with the Christmas tree up. Given that, I’d be shocked if the gingerbread house returns to the lobby next year–but we already had reason to believe the construction was a way to soften the blow of permanently retiring or relocating the gingerbread house.
We checked out of the Grand Floridian on the day the Birdcage Bar soft opened. At the time, I was lamenting not getting to photograph and experience the new dining option during our stay. In hindsight, we got lucky. The lobby went from being peaceful and quiet to an absolute madhouse when I returned for photos of the Perch.
Lobby lounges like this are common in high-end hotels, so it’s not necessarily out of place at the Grand Floridian. For me, the distinction is that this is a destination luxury hotel within walking distance of the world’s busiest theme park. As a hotel guest, I could do without this in the same way that I could do without the iconic Gingerbread House.
As a day guest, it’s an asset–a place to enjoy the new lobby without breaking the bank. As with so much of Walt Disney World, it’s all a matter of perspective. For the overwhelming majority of guests, the Perch is a net positive. Not so much for those paying the big bucks to stay at the Grand Floridian.
What Walt Disney World fans don’t realize is that the Birdcage Bar was a distraction. Subterfuge to get us focused on the wrong things while they ripped the heart and soul out of the Grand Floridian.
That’s right, I’m talking about the masterpiece monkey and bunny paintings that were in one of the side stairwells. I’m not one for petitions, but if someone were to start one to get these puppies added to some historic register of culturally significant works of art, I’d sign it.
One can’t help but wonder whether it’s still appropriate to even call this resort “The Grand” following the removal of these priceless works of art. You would be justified in boycotting the Grand Floridian Resort until these masterpieces are restored to their rightful perches in this stairwell.
In fairness, Walt Disney World has indicated that certain aspects of the overhaul will last until mid-2026. So perhaps we should reserve judgment at his point. Maybe Walt Disney World is preparing new display space for the monkey and bunny flanking each side of the Perch. Or perhaps they’re moving to their rightful homes in the Louvre.
The aforementioned new carpet is yet another controversial aspect of the overhaul among Walt Disney World fans, who have criticized the carpet (and overhaul as a whole) as being “too busy” or “too beachy.”
With regard to the critique that the new carpet is a bit too chaotic, I’d offer a couple of responses. The first is that it presents much better in person, especially from the ground level.
Even an overhead photo isn’t the same as actually looking around the dimensional environment from the second floor. When wandering through the lobby, “this is too busy” is not sentiment that would’ve ever crossed my mind. It presents really well.
Part of the reason it never would’ve crossed my mind is because Victorian design being “too busy” strikes me as a virtual impossibility. This is not a style known for its subtlety, but rather its ornate, lavish, and more is more sensibility. Victorian interior design is typified by excessive ornamentation and a surplus of decoration.
If anything, the argument could be made that “garishness” is a feature of Victorian design, not a critique. Disney has long done a more restrained version of Victorian that’s friendlier on the eyes; some of the chateaus we’ve toured in Europe are quite the visual assault, by comparison.
In any case, Walt Disney World fans have been lamenting the loss of lavish and detail-dense design for years. It’s been the biggest complaint about hotel overhauls! Now that something cannot conceivably be criticized as sterile and bland, and instead it’s too busy? This feels like a no-win scenario for Disney, and exactly the kind of thing that makes the company less inclined to take seriously the complaints of fans.
Then there’s the criticism that it’s too beachy. This is another one that would’ve never come to my mind independently, but I can sort of see where Walt Disney World fans are coming from with this critique.
Thanks to the cooler colors and other stylistic choices, there’s now less thematic daylight (so to speak) between the Grand Floridian, Beach Club, and BoardWalk Inn. I do think this is accurate to the extent that there are now more similarities among the trio than before.
I do not think it’s fair to say that there’s too much thematic overlap among the three. Keep in mind that this hotel opened as Disney’s Grand Floridian Beach Resort, and has always been this odd amalgamation of Victorian, Floridian, and Californian. (Although inspired by many different hotels across the US, the most obvious inspiration is the Hotel del Coronado in San Diego, California.)
While I’d love to see Imagineering do a wider variety of themed resorts at Walt Disney World, I don’t take issue with so many leaning into a sense of tropical or beachy theme. People visit Florida, the Sunshine State, for precisely that. I’m the weirdo who prefers themed design in a hotel that transports me to one of the U.S. National Parks Lodges in the Pacific Northwest or an African savannah.
Personally, I love the cooler palette of the new lobby and the pops of color. The lobby looks fresh and lively, while also being sophisticated and upscale. It threads the needle for my tastes, and I still see clear distinctions between this and Beach Club or BoardWalk.
Looking at my photos of the “old” lobby makes that feel ancient by comparison. Even though there were dated elements, I never felt the space as a whole felt so tired…until making the side by side comparison. It also makes me wonder if I accidentally applied a urine filter in Photoshop, as I can’t get over how yellow everything used to look.
The fairest criticism of the Grand Floridian overhaul is that it’s not a pure Victorian theme. That modern style crept into the design, and Walt Disney Imagineering clearly chose contemporary design features.
While this is accurate, it’s also accurate to say that the Grand Floridian has never been a timeless Victorian style. It was previously Victorian through a 1990s lens, and is now Victorian meets modern–a fresh and posh intersection of two otherwise disparate design styles.
The challenge Walt Disney World faces with every Deluxe Resort is balancing the expectations of actual paying guests with thematic integrity. Right after resorts being too spread out, one of the most common complaints about several resorts has been that they don’t look or feel like luxury hotels worthy of their exorbitant price points. That instead, they’re too rustic, drab, dreary, dated, look like grandma’s house, etc.
The practical reality is that Walt Disney World needs to meet guests where they are, and they expect modern luxury from the flagship hotel that’s costing them $1,000+ per night. The median Grand Floridian guest isn’t as much of a stickler for thematic integrity as the average DTB reader.
Their expectations aren’t necessarily at odds with our preferences, but they do differ at least slightly. Compromise is the name of the game, and Disney has done a good job of balancing themed design with modern guest tastes and preferences. It’s definitely not pure Victorian, but it doesn’t cede too much thematic ground. Meanwhile, it looks and feels so much more luxurious than it did before.
Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa looks nicer now, generally. It’s more commensurate with a luxury resort that fetches the highest nightly prices in all of Walt Disney World.
Whether it’s worth the going rack rates–or even the going discounted ones–is another question entirely. But at least it feels like Disney’s themed twist on a luxury resort that exists in the year 2025. The grounds and amenities have always been great, but the rooms are finally nice and the lobby no longer feels stuck in the 1990s.
Beyond that, I’d go one step further and say the attention to detail is greater and the design is better. Not necessarily in a purely Victorian sense, but if you asked me to envision a romanticized turn-of-the-century Floridian beach resort for rich and famous travelers…the new-look Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort is pretty spot-on.
Ultimately, the question we asked at the start of the review is whether Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa is the new #1 Deluxe Resort and worthy of its status as the flagship luxury hotel at Walt Disney World. From an objective perspective, absolutely.
This was by far our best stay at the Grand Floridian, and we were impressed not just by the reimagined resort and rooms, but also what struck us as a higher degree of service and attention to detail. It’s also as if Walt Disney World is angling for a AAA Five Diamond Award, much like they’ve done by chasing Michelin stars at certain restaurants.
Subjectively, that’s a tougher question for me to answer. Grand Floridian definitely moves up the list, but it’s still not to my personal tastes in the same way as either of the lodges or a few other resorts with more interesting and transportive themes. There’s also the not-insignificant matter of pricing, as rates have gone up considerably since the last time we stayed on the hotel side.
Sarah has a more straightforward answer: 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.
Our stay at the Grand Floridian was back-to-back with Yacht Club, another impressively redone Deluxe Resort thanks to its soft goods refurbishment (see Review: Refined Redone Rooms at Disney World’s Most Sophisticated Resort). Sarah still far preferred the Grand Floridian, including its guest rooms. (I love both, but Yacht Club’s new rooms win for me–they’re top 2 or 3 in all of Walt Disney World now.)
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.
In the end, we’re no longer the contrarians who contend that Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort is actually not flagship caliber, let alone on par with real world luxury hotels. Although judging by all the fan complaints, we still are (for now) by virtue of loving this overhaul. That’ll change, we suspect, as more people visit the Grand Floridian, see this reimagining in person, and fall in love with it themselves.
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
What do you think of the Grand Floridian’s lobby overhaul? Do you like the new style and find it fresh and befitting of Walt Disney World’s flagship resort? Or is it too modern and busy for your tastes? Have you stayed at the Grand Floridian since the new rooms debuted? Do you agree or disagree with our assessment? Other thoughts or concerns? 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!