Located on the monorail line at Walt Disney World, Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa is a Victorian-style deluxe hotel at Walt Disney World. One of the most opulent of Walt Disney World’s Deluxe Resorts, the Grand Floridian combines first-class service, elegance, fun and convenience.
Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa is located right on the shores of the Seven Seas Lagoon, just a monorail ride away from the Magic Kingdom! And even though you’ll pay a premium to be so close to the magic, there are some secrets to experiencing the Grand Floridian on a budget!
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Disney’s Grand Floridian on a Budget
The Grand Floridian is a AAA Four Diamond, lavishly decorated resort with 867 elegantly-appointed rooms set among six buildings, many with water views. Its design is inspired by the Victorian era beach resorts built along Florida’s east coast during the late 19th century. The hotel’s main building features a five story lobby with Italian marble floors featuring inlays of various Disney characters. A pianist performs in the main lobby during the daytime hours, and in the evening a full orchestra plays jazz and Disney tunes on the second floor balcony.
Even though a stay at the Grand Floridian will cost more than a value or moderate Disney resort, here are some great ways to experience it without blowing your whole vacation budget.
Know When to Visit
Value Season (January and February) and Fall rates are significantly discounted from other times of the year. Also, week days are traditionally less expensive than weekends. Spring break, summer and holidays will be the most expensive periods to visit. As a general rule, going to Disney World while school is in session is your best bet both for smaller crowds and lower prices.
Complimentary Activities at the Grand Floridian
Perhaps its greatest perk is the monorail that stops right at the Grand Floridian’s front door. It will whisk you straight to the Magic Kingdom, or a quick transfer to Epcot. But that’s not the only thing this resort has to offer. And the good news is, many of these activities are free!
Movies Under the Stars – Take in a classic Disney movie at the Grand Floridian’s “Movies Under the Stars.” Screenings take place near the beach and pool, and different movies are featured each night so you can watch more than once during your stay.
Fireworks – You can watch the Magic Kingdom’s fireworks show right from the hotel, with music piped in. So even if you are not at the park that day, you won’t have to miss this Disney must-do.
Electrical Water Pageant – Glimmering along the shoreline of the Seven Seas Lagoon, the Grand Floridian is the perfect place to catch the Electrical Water Pageant, a boat parade set to electronic Disney tunes you know and love. The parade passes by all of the resorts along the waterfront, hitting the Grand Floridian each evening at 9:15pm.
Campfires – The Grand Floridian offer nightly campfires with free marshmallows and roasting sticks. Don’t miss this fun activity, with beautiful view of the Seven Seas Lagoon.
Poolside Games & Entertainment – The Grand Floridian features two magnificent pools, the kid-friendly Beach Pool and more serene Courtyard Pool. The Beach Pool has a 181-foot-long water slide and offers complimentary afternoon games and entertainment. There is also an interactive water play area with an Alice in Wonderland theme; teacups and teapots pour water over two small water slides. Both pools have a bar area to order food and drinks.
Dining at the Grand Floridian on a Budget
The Grand Floridian offers nine dining options, featuring everything from Character Breakfasts to upscale waterfront dining. But for the best bang for your buck, visit the Gasparilla Island Grill, the resort’s 24-hour counter service restaurant. The food is good and inexpensive, and there are tables located right outside so you can enjoy your meal overlooking the marina.
And don’t forget, all hotel rooms on property at Walt Disney World come with a fridge, so stock it with milk, fruit and other breakfast items for a healthy and inexpensive start to your days!
Healthy Tip for This Destination
The Grand Floridian and Polynesian have an interconnecting jogging trail which is approximately one mile in length. Enjoy views of the Magic Kingdom and Seven Seas Lagoon as you walk or jog along this meticulously landscaped pathway.
Trying to decide which hotel to stay at on your Walt Disney World vacation? Don’t miss this article on the Best Disney Deluxe Resorts.
I’ve still never been to disneyland- maybe one day! great tips on going in shoulder seasons- I’m a firm believer in that!
I’ve been to the character breakfast at the Grand Floridian many times, but always hard to swallow the premium you pay to stay this close to MK. When we have done disney, we have used the hotel as a place to sleep. But I love exploring this property (which you can do pre or post character meal) but would love to stay here someday!
That lobby looks like a place out of a fairy tale! I’m not a fan of resorts in general, but this looks nice, and with kids, it’s easier to be close when you visit Disney. When we took our kids, we stayed farther, but we were in Orlando we included other stops into the trip, so it was worth the drive.
That jogging trail sounds beautiful! I like to stay on my exercise routine even when I travel with my family, so I know I’d love that running trail.
I remember riding the Monorail on our family trip to Disneyland… almost thirty years ago! I would have LOVED to stay in a hotel that was directly connected to the monorail line (seriously, when I was a kid I probably would have said it was my favorite ride of all!).
I always wanted to go to Disneyland in Florida and staying such a deluxe resort will just be a cherry on top.
Hahaha, I love your friend’s comment. I totally thought that too! Its great when hotel provide a fridge, it saves £££ on cold drinks, breakfasts and snacks. I love that there is so much to do at the hotel. I think that the films and fireworks would definitely keep us entertained in the evenings. Thanks for such super tips, I am genuinely considering this for my birthday next February.
I’m so lucky that I have family in Orlando AND friends who work in Disney. I’ve been to Disney many times with free entrance and lodging that I tend to forget how expensive Disney really is! Very helpful information especially for families.
It looks like this would be a once-in-a-lifetime stay, but one that would be so special for young kids and adults alike. I love that you can watch the fireworks from the resort, sometimes it is so hard to find a great viewing spot in the park!
Disneyland, every child’s and well every adult’s dream. I’ve been once years ago, but super keen to go again! This place looks so lush.
The Electrical Water Pageant, seems like what I can enjoy most! Great post and valuble info ☺️
I’m keeping my fingers crossed that in September of 2020 I will be staying here for at least 3 nights for my birthday. The hotel tips are very helpful and will definitely save me a little bit of money