My Disney's Grand Floridian Review + Resort Guide

For years, staying at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa has been on my bucket list. The Grand Floridian is known for it’s luxury rooms, pristine grounds, and great dining. And it’s such a classic Disney resort because it’s been there since 1988!

Finally, thanks to renting DVC points, I was able to make it happen! And it really lived up to expectations. I loved soaking in the bougie vibes of this Disney resort!

So while I love it, when it comes to choosing Deluxe resorts again, it wouldn’t be my first choice. Honestly, I like the laid-back vibes of the Polynesian a little better. Plus, while the Grand Floridian is on the monorail, I didn’t feel that it had the most convenient transportation compared to the other resorts on the monorail loop.

So, here’s my full Grand Floridian review, plus a guide to all the ins and outs of the resort if you’re planning to stay there!

Plan the Perfect Disney Trip!

Where To Stay:

Save money at Deluxe Disney Resorts by using David’s Vacation Club Rentals! This is by far the best place to save money on the best hotels!
Save money at Moderate and Value Disney Resorts by booking with Undercover Tourist!
Want to stay off-property? Here’s a map of the best hotels and vacation rentals near Disney World.

Tickets & Reservations:

Use Undercover Tourist (an authorized ticket seller) to save money on Disney tickets. You can save up to $80 per ticket!
Need a stroller? We loved using Kingdom Strollers for on-site stroller delivery!

Need Help Planning?

Aren’t sure where to start? Sign up here for a free 7-day email course that will walk you through each step of planning your Disney World trip!
Join our free Disney Planning Facebook Group to ask questions and get insight into your trip!
Get access to the Magic Trip Planner GPT. It’s like having a Disney planning expert in your pocket 24/7!

Grand Floridian At-A-Glance

Resort Category: Deluxe
Date Opened: June 28, 1988
Rooms Last Renovated:
Resort rooms renovated in 2024
DVC rooms got a soft refresh in 2022

Number of Buildings: 7 (including DVC buildings)
Number of Rooms: 800+
Number of Pools: 2, plus a splashpad

Disney Transportation Options: Monorail, Boat, Buses, and Walking Path to Magic Kingdom

Grand Floridian Lobby & Check In

Grand Floridian Resort & Spa lobby interior featuring a massive, ornate crystal chandelier with white lampshades, surrounded by white balconies, intricate railing, and soft natural light streaming through high windows. — View of the Grand Floridian lobby walking in from the monorail station.

The Grand Floridian Lobby is the central hub of everything at the resort, and it’s SO gorgeous. However, it was definitely getting dated and in 2025 they are doing a lobby renovation.

This renovation will include a new bar modeled after the Grand Floridian’s traditional lobby birdcage and new design elements like new carpeting and seating.

The lobby of the Grand Floridian houses all the main resort restaurants and activities. Plus it’s where you’ll find the monorail station, shopping, and more. So you’ll definitely be spending some time here!

Also, don’t miss the piano player in the Grand Floridian lobby! They are usually out filling the lobby with music and making it more magical in the evenings.

Usually the check-in counters are right inside the lobby to each side. However, when we were there they had moved temporary check-in desks to the center lobby floor as they renovated the check-in counters.

Because online check-in is so easy though, we utilized the app to check-in and didn’t have to visit the check-in counter at all. (We did use bell services to store our luggage though until our room was ready.)

Disney resort check in is at 4:00 p.m., and our room was ready right around 4:00. Usually rooms aren’t ready early, so don’t plan to be able to get in before check-in time.

Grand Floridian Location & Layout

The exterior of Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa on a sunny day, featuring its signature white Victorian architecture with red rooftops, wraparound balconies, tall palm trees, and manicured gardens bursting with red flowers. — Here you can see some of the grounds of the Grand Floridian and how the buildings sprawl across them.

The Grand Floridian is located right next to Magic Kingdom, which makes it a great option if you plan to spend a lot of time at the Magic Kingdom on your trip.

This also makes it a great place to view the fireworks. We watched the Magic Kingdom fireworks show Happily Ever After from the Grand Floridian marina and it was a great experience!

If you’re planning on doing this, plan to sit in the center of the marina (several people pulled over chairs from the patio seating at Gasparilla Island Grill and this seemed to be a standard thing) or to the right of the marina. We started sitting on the left, but quickly realized the angle wasn’t as good and the trees were blocking the view a little.

One thing to know about the Grand Floridian: Because rooms are in separate buildings you may have to walk a bit to get to your room and you may have to walk outside.

It was actually raining when we checked in, but since we were staying in the DVC Villas we actually were able to walk under the covered walkway to our building. But the DVC Villas is the only building that has a covered walkway to it.

Grand Floridian Transportation

Two Disney monorails at the Grand Floridian Resort station, one parked on the right with a red stripe and another approaching from the left with a gold stripe, under a white open-beam roof with a cast member waiting on the platform. — Monorail station at the Grand Floridian

Let’s talk about transportation really quick while we’re talking about location. Here’s a breakdown of how you can get to each Disney park from the Grand Floridian:

Magic Kingdom: Walking path, monorail, boat
Epcot: Monorail
Hollywood Studios: Bus
Animal Kingdom: Bus

Now let’s talk about the pros and cons of these transportation options, particularly the monorail lines.

First of all, getting to Magic Kingdom is SUPER convenient. You’ll take the Resort Line on the monorail to get to the Magic Kingdom and you’re first stop will be Magic Kingdom (so you don’t have to go to any other resorts first).

And while the walking path is a bit long (longer than the one at the Contemporary across the lake), it’s still a good option.

I don’t, however, love the monorail option here for Epcot as much. To get to Epcot from here you have to first take the Resort Line to the Transportation & Ticket Center (TTC) and then transfer to the Epcot monorail.

This means that if you are trying to get to Epcot early for rope drop, you first have to wait for the monorails to start running, then get all the way to the TTC before actually getting on the Epcot monorail. Which means a lot of people (like the people that started at the TTC) will get there before you.

This is one reason why I like the Polynesian better. From the Polynesian you can walk to the TTC and then be one of the first people on the Epcot monorail.

When we stayed at the Grand Floridian, we actually decided to take an Uber to Epcot for this reason. I wanted to rope drop Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind, and I knew we needed to be toward the front of the Early Entry line.

This turned out to be a great decision. We were actually the first people in the ticket line at Epcot! And it would be what I recommend for getting to Epcot in the morning if you want to be there early for rope drop.

As far as coming back from the parks at night goes, my main recommendation would be to take the boat from Magic Kingdom back to the Grand Floridian. This is much less crowded than the monorail, and I think it’s a peaceful way to end what was probably a busy day!

Grand Floridian Theming

Exterior view of Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort, featuring Victorian-style architecture with white balconies, red gabled roofs, and a turreted corner. In the foreground is a vibrant flower bed with pink blossoms and classic green lampposts.

The Grand Floridian is themed after a Victorian resort, with beautiful white buildings and a tiled red roof. It actually reminded me a lot of the Coronado Inn which we saw when we went to San Diego. And it turns out the Grand Floridian was partially modeled after this famous hotel!

As far as Disney-related theming goes, you’ll find lots of nods to Mary Poppins here. But there’s also a Beauty and the Beast themed lounge and and Alice and Wonderland themed splash pad.

Grand Floridian Rooms

The rooms at the Grand Floridian are absolutely gorgeous! To be honest, the rooms in the main resort area had been getting a little dated, and they look so much better after the renovation with new flooring, floral accents, and subtle nods to Mary Poppins.

However, because we rented DVC points, we stayed in a room in the DVC Villas. These rooms are different than the rooms in the main resort, but they were still lovely as they received a refresh in 2022.

Spacious Disney’s Grand Floridian DVC room featuring a neatly made bed with a plaid headboard, a light blue sofa with printed pillows, and classic wood and white decor. The room is bright with neutral tones and elegant crown molding, creating a refined, airy atmosphere. — DVC Villa room at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort. (The rooms in the main resort are decorated differently than this.)

To be honest, I was a little surprised that the room itself felt a little small. There is a queen bed with a queen-size pull down. There’s also a fifth bed that pulls down from the console below the TV (this is a twin bed perfect for a kid).

Fold-down twin bed at Disney’s Grand Floridian with a Dumbo-themed headboard featuring baby Dumbo flying and sleeping beneath a “Sweet Dreams” banner. The bed pulls out from a wooden cabinet and sits beneath a mounted flat-screen TV. — Pull-down twin bed in the DVC Villa

But the bathroom and hallway had plenty of space. There is a small kitchenette in the hallway with a sink, a coffee maker, and a microwave.

And then the bathroom had a unique split design: One room had a bathtub/shower combo with a toilet and the other room had the sink and a shower. While lots of resorts have been phasing out their showers, this is still a win for families with young kids who take baths.

Elegant bathroom at Disney’s Grand Floridian DVC room featuring a marble-trimmed walk-in shower with white subway tiles, a granite countertop vanity with an ornate mirror, and soft ambient lighting from a wall sconce. Towels are neatly arranged on the vanity shelf and towel rack. — Shower room of the bathroom at the Grand Floridian DVC Villas

While I was a little surprised that the room didn’t feel quite as spacious as I expected, it was still really nice and I really enjoyed staying there. I slept great on the bed and loved the shower.

However, if I stay here again, I would like to try to find a way to stay in one of the remodeled rooms in the main section. Although this is less likely if you are renting DVC points.

Graphic showing a mobile phone screen displaying a Disney World trip planning app for toddlers, titled “Magic Trip Planner.” The heading reads “Custom Disney World Plans Made Easy” on a pink background with castle silhouettes and Mickey icons. On the phone, a chat asks “What are the best rides for toddlers at Animal Kingdom?” followed by a list of toddler-friendly rides: Na’vi River Journey, Kilimanjaro Safaris, and Wildlife Express Train to Conservation Station.

Grand Floridian Dining & Restaurants

There are SO MANY dining options at the Grand Floridian!

We’re going to break them all down, but I’ll also tell you first where we ate.

When we arrived, we had lunch at Gasparilla Island Grill. This is a Quick Service restaurant and the food was great (my mom especially enjoyed her Korean Chicken Bowl).

To be honest, I had been here years ago and while the food was good, the service took a long time. So I was happy to see that they have redesigned their menu and their service process to be much more efficient with still solid Quick Service food.

We also had dinner at the Grand Floridian Cafe, and I think this is SUCH an underrated restaurant at Disney World. I feel like I rarely see much about it, but it was SO good. Everything we had was delicious.

I had the Miso-glazed Salmon that I really loved and my mom had the Pork Shank that was so tender and had the best sauce.

So here’s a breakdown of all the Grand Floridian restaurants!

Quick Service Restaurants

Gasparilla Island Grill

Gasparilla Island Grill is the main Quick Service restaurant at the Grand Floridian. They are open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

Their breakfast menu includes Mickey waffles, a breakfast platter, and an croissant egg sandwich.

Their lunch and dinner menu features flatbreads, burgers, and sandwiches.

This is also where you can get snack items like Mickey Premium Bars, pastries, and cupcakes.

One thing to note: You do have to walk outside to get to Gasparilla Island Grill. You can’t get there from inside the Grand Floridian Lobby, which was confusing to me the first time we visited. You have to go outside the back of the lobby and around to the back of the building near the marina.

Beaches Pool Bar & Grill

Beaches Pool Bar & Grill is the Quick Service spot near the Beach Pool (which is also the one with the water slide). Beaches Pool Bar & Grill is open for lunch and dinner until 6:00 p.m., but they serve drinks until 8:00 p.m.

In additional to various drinks, their menu includes a salad, a chicken sandwich, a burger and a couple of other items. It’s not extensive, but if you’re fine with standard theme park fare you can make a meal here for sure.

Courtyard Pool Bar

Courtyard Pool Bar is the Quick Service spot at the Courtyard Pool, which is right outside the lobby. They are open for lunch and dinner. But their menu is even smaller than the Beaches Pool Bar menu. They have a couple of salads and sandwiches.

Table Service Restaurants & Lounges

1900 Park Fare

1900 Park Fare is the character dining location at the Grand Floridian. While this meal used to be more Mary Poppins and Cinderella themed, when they reopened it in 2024 there were some major changes.

Now, these character are all about making wishes come true. At your meal you’ll meet Cinderella, Aladdin, Tiana, and Mirabel.

They are open for breakfast, brunch, and dinner, and you’ll definitely want a reservation.

The food is served buffet style.

At breakfast you’ll find pastries, omelets, sausages, breakfast casseroles, and of course Mickey waffles.

Dinner includes salmon, prime rib, chicken, mashed potatoes, vegetables, and of course a variety of desserts.

1900 Park Fare is located just off the lobby next to Grand Floridian Cafe.

Cítricos

Cítricos is definitely one of the more upscale restaurants at the Grand Floridian. It’s been rethemed to with subtle nods to Mary Poppins returns, and it’s only open for dinner.

You’ll find Cítricos in the main lobby building.

The dinner menu includes Mediterranean inspired dishes with occasional Asian flare, like Yuzu-Soy Roasted Duck Breast, Oak-Grilled Filet Mignon, Crispy Garlic-Crusted Fish, and Togarashi-Spiced Cobia.

Cítricos does have a dress code, which is basically to dress appropriately and not wear swimwear.

Grand Floridian Café

Grilled salmon served over a bed of white rice and sesame green beans, garnished with fresh herbs and lime slices, presented in a ceramic bowl on a granite table at Grand Floridian Café. — Miso-glazed salmon at the Grand Floridian Cafe

Grand Floridian Café is located just off the lobby near 1900 Park Fare, and like I said, I think it’s a highly underrated restaurant. It’s a nice restaurant, although not quite as upscale as Cítricos or Narcoosee’s. But I thought the food was FANTASTIC.

You’ll find standard American dishes here, and they are mostly known for their Buttermilk Fried Chicken. But I got the Miso-Glazed Salmon which was perfectly cooked and has such a great flavor. And my mom got the Slow-Braised Pork Shank which was so tender.

Grand Floridian Café is also open for brunch, where you’ll find some lunch options like the a Club Sandwich and their Signature Burger as well as more breakfast type food like Steak and Eggs and a Breakfast Sandwich.

Narcoosee’s

Narcoosee’s is all about seafood! And again, this is one of the nicer restaurants at the Grand Floridian.

The menu at Narcoosee’s includes things like Korean BBQ Glazed Salmon, Blackened Redfish, and Gulf Shrimp Bucatini. But they also have a New York Strip Steak and a Milk-Brined Pork Chop on the menu for diners that aren’t seafood lovers.

Narcoosee’s is located in a separate building, at the far edge of the lake next to the boat dock. This is also one of the best spots to see the fireworks from the Grand Floridians, so lots of people try to snag dinner reservations during the fireworks.

Note: Narcoosee’s does have a dress code, which is basically show up in something nice and don’t show up in swimwear.

Promotional banner inviting users to join a free Disney World planning Facebook group. The left side features photos of Cinderella Castle, EPCOT’s Spaceship Earth, the Tree of Life, and the Tower of Terror with text reading “Disney World Planning Tips for a magical vacation.” The right side says, “Got Disney World Questions? Join our FREE Facebook Group!” with a purple button that reads, “Plan Your Trip With Us!”

Victoria & Alberts

While lots of Grand Floridian restaurants are considered fancy, Victoria & Albert’s is in a class of its own.

In fact, Victoria & Alberts is the only Disney World restaurant with a MICHELIN Star rating.

This is by far the most exclusive and upscale restaurant you can dine at in Disney World. There is only one seating per night, and the prixe fixe menu starts at $295 per person.

And because this is so fancy, there is definitely a dress code!

Cítricos Lounge

Cítricos Lounge is the bar next to Cítricos. This is a great place to grab a drink, but if you wanted to dine at Cítricos but don’t have a a reservation you can also order Cítricos food here.

While some lounges only have a small selection of food available from their sister restaurants, Cítricos Lounge has pretty much the whole Cítricos menu available.

Enchanted Rose

Enchanted Rose is the Beauty and the Beast themed lounge that opened in 2019. It decorated with subtle nods to the movie.

You can get all kinds of cocktails and drinks here, and they also have a small food menu. Snacks (olive and nuts) are served from 3 to 10 p.m. And after 5 pm there are appetizers available like Charcuterie, Croquettes, and a Seasonal Flatbread.

Garden View Tea Room

The Garden View Tea Room is temporarily unavailable. You used to be able to get afternoon tea here, but no word yet on if or when this will reopen once the resort renovations are completed.

Grand Floridian Pools & Amenities

Pools at the Grand Floridian

The Beaches Pool Bar and Grill at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort sits beside a zero-entry pool, surrounded by palm trees and white lounge chairs, with the resort’s red-roofed Victorian buildings in the background. The zero-entry design allows for easy, gradual access into the water, perfect for families with kids. — Beaches Pool Bar and the zero-entry Beach Pool

There are two pools and a splashpad at the Grand Floridian. And both pools have zero-entry areas!

Beach Pool — This is the pool for the most fun! It’s where the waterslide is located, and it’s right next to the Grand Floridian Beach. It’s also where the Alice in Wonderland themed splash pad for younger kids it located.
Courtyard Pool — This may *seem* like the main pool because it’s so centrally located, but really this pool is more for relaxation.

Towels and lifejackets are available for you to use, so you don’t have to worry about bringing your own.

A whimsical splash pad at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort, featuring a yellow slide and water play structure themed with oversized teacups, kettles, and kitchenware. The elegant white Victorian-style hotel with red rooftops rises behind it under a glowing early evening sky. — Mad Hatter themed Splashpad at the Grand Floridian Beach Pool

The Grand Floridian Spa and Health Club

The Grand Floridian Spa is definitely one of the things that makes this resort unique. It’s a full service salon and spa, so if you’re planning a day of relaxation you can plan to spend some time here! In addition to having a treatment done, there is also a relaxation room.

This is also where the Health Club is located, which is a 24-hour gym for resort guests.

Arcadia Games

Arcadia Games is the arcade at the Grand Floridian.

You’ll have to buy a Game Card to use the arcade games, but if you have one from another resort they can be used here too.

More Recreation Activities

Fireworks burst over the horizon across the water from Disney's Grand Floridian Resort marina, with the glowing castle visible in the distance. A large tree and clusters of bright pink flowers frame the scene, adding depth and color to the nighttime view. — Watching Happily Ever After from the Grand Floridian marina

In addition to the above, there are other resort activities you can enjoy at the Grand Floridian:

Campfire Activities — There’s a campfire on the beach and they have nightly s’mores at 5:30.
Movies Under the Stars — An outdoor movie on Sundays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays.
Boat Rentals — You can rent a boat at the marina to cruise the Seven Seas Lagoon. You can also take a guided fishing trip from the marina.
Basketball Courts — There are basketball courts located next to the Health Club.
Fireworks Viewing — From the marina you can watch Happily Ever After at Magic Kingdom (I recommend sitting center or to the right side of the marina) and the Electrical Water Pageant that runs through Seven Seas Lagoon each night.

Grand Floridian Shopping

Basin White

I think Basin White may be everyone’s favorite Grand Floridian store, partially because it smells SO good!

It’s a bath products store that sells soaps, bath bombs, and other goodies you can get to pamper yourself with.

It’s located right next to the doors to the monorail station, which I LOVE because you get that beautiful waft of scent right as you walk in from the monorail!

Couriouser Clothiers

Open double doors lead into Curiouser Clothiers, an elegant boutique at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort. The shop features blue and white decor with chandeliers, mannequin displays of clothing and accessories, and neatly arranged shelves of luxury-themed merchandise including robes, handbags, and glassware. — Peeking in the door of Curiouser Clothiers

This is the more upscale store at the Grand Floridian. It’s located on the first floor right off the lobby. This is where you’ll find things like designer Disney bags and clothes.

M. Mouse Mercantile

This is the more general souvenir store at the Grand Floridian. So this is the spot to go for t-shirts, Mickey ears, trading pins, and more.

M. Mouse Mercantile is located on the second floor next to the monorail station.

Sandy Cove Gifts and Sundries

This is the kind of “general store” of the Grand Floridian. They have some souvenirs here, like t-shirts and homegoods.

But mostly this is where you’ll find those things you may have forgotten like sunscreen and diapers. They also have some food items, which can be useful if you’re staying in one of the DVC rooms with a kitchen. It’s not a large selection though. They mostly have things like snacks and breakfast items along with basics like milk and eggs.

Pros & Cons of Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa

A peaceful view of Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort showing its white Victorian-style building with red rooftops, situated along the edge of the Seven Seas Lagoon. A sandy beach area with a rope fence leads toward the water, framed by lush greenery and soft clouds overhead.

Let’s talk about the reasons why you may or may not want to stay at the Grand Floridian. Because even though this is a really lovely Disney resort, it’s still not 100% perfect.

Grand Floridian Pros

Disney luxury and beauty. The Grand Floridian is one of the most luxurious feeling Disney Resorts, with remodeled rooms, fine dining, and I think the most gorgeous grounds on property.
Proximity to Magic Kingdom. Not only is there a walking path to the Magic Kingdom, but Magic Kingdom is also the first stop on the Resort Monorail from the Grand Floridian.
Great dining. If you love great food and are looking for impressive dining experiences, the Grand Floridian has a lot to choose from.

Grand Floridian Cons

Price. Because this is one of Disney’s Deluxe Resorts and one that’s on many people’s bucket lists, the price can be prohibitive for many people.
Epcot monorail isn’t that convenient. If you want to go to Epcot, you have to take the Resort Monorail first and THEN take the Epcot Monorail. Which means that if you are looking to rope drop something early for Epcot, a lot of other people will be you there. I’d much prefer being able to walk to the TTC from the Polynesian if I was going stay at one of the Monorail resorts.
Rooms in outside buildings. You’ll mostly likely have to walk outside to get to the building your room is in, which can be annoying in the rain. (If you want similar luxury without having to walk outside and with easier Epcot access, you may consider Disney’s Riviera Resort.)

My Grand Floridian Review

So, what did I think of my stay at the Grand Floridian? Honestly, I loved it and I wish I could have stayed there longer!

I loved the fancy feel of the hotel and the beautiful buildings. I thought all the food we had here was excellent! I also really liked being able to watch the fireworks from the marina.

Our room was clean, and even though we weren’t in one of the most recently updated rooms (rather in the refreshed DVC rooms), I still thought the room felt updated and airy.

However, if I was choosing a resort on the monorail loop again, I would probably go with the Polynesian. Personally, I like the more relaxed feel that that hotel better. Plus, I think the monorail transportation options are better for this resort.

What’s Next?

Like this post? Save it for your next Disney trip!

Collage graphic for a blog post titled “Resort Review: Disney’s Grand Floridian” from Flying Off The Bookshelf, featuring two bright daytime images of the Victorian-style hotel with red rooftops—one with palm trees and lush gardens, and the other along a sandy lakeside beach.