I think I just ruined it for my hubby.....

[FigaroandFifi]

Hi, I really need some pixie dust. I had a room at the BWI but a friend of mine called one day and got a little cheaper rate on her trip so she actually changed her resort from a mod to a deluxe. So naturally I was like well maybe a little nicer discount will come up and I will save a little extra on our trip (it was already paid off so any additional discount really would have just gone into extra spending cash). Well yesterday I called to see if any better deals were out there and the woman said she had a little nicer offer at the GF but it was RO. So I did the math in my head and sure enough I was like WOW so I cancelled out BWI and took the opportunity to stay at GF. I don't need tickets I have an AP. Sooooo DH comes home and I am all giggles thinking he will be excited and he says "we will be out of place at the GF, I would rather stay at BWI". Needless to say, the offer I had booked for BWI originally is GONE and the room will cost a little more than originally. So needless to say, I am feeling terrible. I hope he decides that the GF would be nice but I think he was thinking it would be nice to walk to Epcot since we are planning to go to food and wine while we are there. So I am mad at myself and now just need a whole lotta Pixie Dust. Anyone want to send me some????

 

[gillep]

Oh no. I am sure you will still have a fabulous trip. My husband and I prefer the Epcot resorts, especially during food and wine and flower and garden, but we recently changed a couple nights of our upcoming flower and garden trip to The Poly to try something new and prevent a Disney rut. We were both a little unsure booking it, as we really aren't as big of fans of the MK/monorail resorts, but it has been a couple days and we are now quite excited to try out The Poly. I don't think you will feel out of place once there, it is a beautiful resort with great restaurants and amenities.

 

[michyi]

Honestly... everything will work out. GF is beautiful. You can easily take the monorail to Epcot. Don't worry. You will have an amazing vacation. Sending pixie dust your way!!!

 

[kiford]

What does he mean you'll "be out of place"? I admit that I wasn't that keen on staying there the first time but agreed because DH wanted to. I thought it was stuffy and snobby but it's not at all like that. It's lovely. I have no problem wandering through GF in shorts and t-shirt or when dressed up to go to Victoria & Albert's. You will feel just as comfortable in either. BWI is still my favourite (followed by BC) mostly because I like the style and theming a bit better and the location (we spend most of our time at Epcot) but I do like GF. The pool is very nice - rarely crowded and with a decent sized hot tub so we like to spend some relaxing time there. The GF Cafe has a nice breakfast menu - not exciting, but nice - and you often don't need ADRs to get in.

Are you staying in an outer building? They are nice and quiet and the rooms are quite large especially compared to the other resorts. We like the lagoon view and always ask to stay in Conch Key because it's close to the boat launch so it can be faster to get to MK than using the monorail.

Tell him to keep an open mind about it. You'll fit in just the same at GF as you would at BWI or at another resort.

 

[FigaroandFifi]

What does he mean you'll "be out of place"?

I think he feels like it will be stuffy and not the relaxed Disney feel you get. We normally stay at Pop because our kids love it there but since we are going without them I wanted to stay somewhere we normally don't stay with them.

 

[NikkiDP]

I think he feels like it will be stuffy and not the relaxed Disney feel you get. We normally stay at Pop because our kids love it there but since we are going without them I wanted to stay somewhere we normally don't stay with them.

You will not be out of place at all! It is more relaxing than stuffy. When we were there kids were always around and there was never the feeling of out of place. It is calm and beautiful and the Cast Members are amazing, and so is the quick monorail to MK and Epcot!

 

[OneinThree]

GF is Disney's crown jewel. I believe hubby will survive, lol.

 

[keaster]

I don't find GF stuffy at all, I see many families there very casual and no one is out of place!

 

[jerseygal]

We prefer the Boardwalk Resorts, for walking convenience to Epcot and HS, BUT we have stayed at GF actually 1st week of December that year, had an awesome time, beautiful resort,
didn't think twice about it being "stuffy"...lobby at Christmas time is just Gorgeous! ENJOY!

 

[larissawbb]

Remind him that as lovely as the Grand Floridian is, your still in a theme park. No one is expecting Thurstan and Lovey Howell.

 

[kiford]

I think he feels like it will be stuffy and not the relaxed Disney feel you get. We normally stay at Pop because our kids love it there but since we are going without them I wanted to stay somewhere we normally don't stay with them.

That is exactly how I thought but I was so wrong! It's very relaxed and perfect for couples, not at all stuffy and exactly like the relaxed Disney feel you get elsewhere. Don't let the outward appearance intimidate you. Like I said - t-shirt & shorts are not out of place at all. Everyone is so friendly and they just want to make your stay a happy and comfortable one. And the surroundings are beautiful even if Victorian decor is not entirely to my taste. But the grounds are lovely so it's even nice to just sit out on the outside patios and chill.

 

[DisneyMomx7]

You won't be out of place at all! When our kids were little we always stayed at the GF. When they got older we switched to YC/BC

The first time we went kids were 2,4 and 5. Believe me- the pool was packed with kids, just like every other afisney resorts. Unless we were going out to a nice dinner we were always in the lobby or walking around the grounds in shorts and flip flops. NEVER felt out of place!

 

[Chancery8]

I think he feels like it will be stuffy and not the relaxed Disney feel you get. We normally stay at Pop because our kids love it there but since we are going without them I wanted to stay somewhere we normally don't stay with them.

After you guys stay at the GF, I think the only thing you'll have "ruined" for your hubby is his willingness to stay at Pop again. Since the first time we tried a deluxe resort, it's been deluxe ever since, save for one trip that reminded us why we do deluxe. It's a dangerous thing to go up to deluxe...let's just say it makes it "difficult" to go back to the values. My wallet has never forgiven me for it

 

[bumbershoot]

I think he feels like it will be stuffy and not the relaxed Disney feel you get. We normally stay at Pop because our kids love it there but since we are going without them I wanted to stay somewhere we normally don't stay with them.

It’s very relaxed. He’ll want to notice the people dressed nicely, so point him to the sweaty people getting back from the parks, and the kids being crazy, etc.

 

[Mousemommy1]

The Grand Floridian is amazing. We are staying there for the 2nd time in a few weeks WITH our heathen children and we never felt out of place there. Enjoy your stay - it's our favorite!

 

[sophie832]

I just want to tell you I know exactly how you feel. This is our first trip without the kids in a long time, so I thought it would be nice to stay somewhere we've never stayed. I've always wanted to stay at the GF, so I booked it with the current discount, thinking DH would be excited. Nope, he told me he'd much rather be in the Epcot resort area (we have stayed at all those hotels), or even AKL! I even tried to see if he'd be interested in Poly, but it was a no go. I don't get it. Right now, I am waiting on AP discounts to see what pops up, and well go from there.

 

[Hopefully]

I would be disappointed too. Epcot Resorts are our favorite, especially during Food & Wine without kids.
I would change back,even if it costs more.

 

[SG131]

Spent nine days at the GF walking around in shorts and very sparkly Disney shirts and didn’t feel remotely out of place. Some people seem to be worried that it’s going to be too fancy for them but it really isn’t like that. Had no problem walking down to the pool in a bathing suit. My only complaint is that it did take a little while to get to Epcot. But it’s Disney and it’s a gorgeous resort and worth staying there at least once.

 

[FigaroandFifi]

Well I just spoke with him and yeah, he is concerned about how it will feel (we are value people after all, lol) but he also gave me another concern. We had the meal plan booked as well and have never gone to Disney without it. This reservation is room only no meal plan and I cannot add it at the rate I got. He said he is also concerned about having enough money. So that I think is his real concern, having enough money. I get it, we always use a meal plan, we like knowing everything is paid up front except tips and what we decide to purchase. I said since there is a "credit" coming our way, I would just transfer the credit to a gift card and we could use that to pay for meals. I too am a little nervous not having the meal plan, like I said, I really like the convenience knowing everything is paid for, but I am willing to step out of my comfort zone and put my gift card plan to the test, lol.

Anyone ever have a hard time using a gift card to pay for a meal? How did you handle your tip? I would prefer to pay the tip in cash (we normally do that even with the meal plan), can we still do that? I was reading another thread that said to put everything on our bands and just use the gift cards to pay the balance at the end of the day so it doesn't go through to our credit card, that makes me a little nervous, have any of you done that? Would I be better off just leaving the credit balance on our credit card and whittling it down while we are playing in the parks?

I know I am going to sound really selfish right now, but this is our first trip without our kids. We didn't have enough money to go for our honeymoon because we just bought our house and paid for our wedding, so this is a dream trip for me. I just want us to be able to go and just be a couple, do whatever and not be concerned with anything.

 

[Lynne M]

I think he feels like it will be stuffy and not the relaxed Disney feel you get. We normally stay at Pop because our kids love it there but since we are going without them I wanted to stay somewhere we normally don't stay with them.

Holy cats, the GF is way more relaxed than Pop. There's just no comparison. GF does have a reputation of being stuffy, but only with people who haven't stayed there. It's the victorian decor, I think, that gives people that impression, but it's still a hotel in a theme park complex, and the guests are the same sweaty, exhausted moms, dads and kids that you've seen at Pop.

Seriously. Men walking through the lobby with Goofy hats, kids in wet bathing suits running around. You'll see the occasional wedding party posing for photos in gowns and tuxes, but to me, they're the ones that look out of place. And besides, I've seen wedding parties at Boardwalk, too.

Your husband will change his tune when he's relaxing on the beach at GF, sipping a drink, watching the birds sail overhead and listening to the quiet whoosh of the monorail going by.

Don't spend another minute worrying about it. You did good.