Villas at Grand Floridian Owners Thread

Hey Ryan! My family bought during the VGF fire sale and have yet to stay there! Maybe in 2027 or 2028, we will give it a try. We love the low dues though!

We've really enjoyed staying there during the holiday season, even last year without the Gingerbread house it was great!

We visited Disney World for the first time in September 2022 and became DVC owners the following year and have been back many times since. The Grand Floridian is our home away from home.

The Grand has been our home since 2010, resort side, until we finally did the forehead slap, “What have we been thinking? We NEED to get into DVC!”

That we did in 2017, buying direct when it was off-sale. We did NOT care. We knew we wanted The Grand and only that resort forever—or 10,000 miles etc.

That first contract and a second smaller GF one a couple years later were well worth the expense to us. We haven’t regretted that once, foolish though we’ve been called for not buying an on-sale resort or resale.

Nearly 10 years later, the GF is first love, first Disney home.

P.S. We’ve since bought BoardWalk and Beach Club, selling the BWV earlier this year to buy Beach Club. More to come on the appropriate threads…

For my wife and I, the GF was our first home resort, and that is where we stayed the first time we went to Disney as DVC members. It was always that resort that as a kid I’d say in my head, “What do people do to be able to afford to stay there,” while riding the monorail to Magic Kingdom. When my wife and I were finally able to stay there, we were like little kids in the lobby literally saying out loud, “Woooahhh” as we tried to take everything in. From having a cocktail at the Enchanted Rose, to dining on the water at Narcoossee’s and watching the fireworks from the dock, it’s still one of our favorite places to be at Disney World. To us, it’s one of those places where you can really feel the magic of Disney. Can’t wait to go back this summer because it is the first time we are staying in a one bedroom. We usually do deluxe studios.

I think you'll love the One Bedrooms, we tend to stay in one bedrooms at most of the resorts we stay but Grand Floridian is probably the nicest One Bedrooms I've been in. The layout makes a lot of sense (looking at you BCV, BWV, SSR) and its such a nice place to spend time!

We bought at GFV because thats what they were selling at the time. At first we had no desire to stay there but now it is my favorite. The one bedrooms are fabulous. We love the beaches pool and bar. The proximity to MK is the best, you can take the Monorail, boat or walk. So happy we bought there and love calling it home. Then we bought AKL and cant get enough of there either. Maybe I just need to keep buying more points, lol #addonittis

Own here but haven’t stayed yet. My wife loves the look-and-feel, but we just haven’t decided to use that many points for a stay.

We originally bought BLT resale but wished we would have bought a bigger contract. When BPK opened up, we bought 150 VGF points direct and sold out BLT contract. We found ourselves with some points to burn. We booked a 2Br villa for the four of us. Words can’t even explain how much I liked that room. We also like the deluxe studios at VGF. BLT is a still a favorite but no regret buying VGF.

Staying in a VGF 1br is a well-documented cause of addonitis.

Our first contract was 100 pts. Our eyes lit like the Osborne Lights when we realized what those double points at direct buy-in can do. Yup, spent a blissful week in a 1br.

And then, a mere 2 years later, point costs did the usual thing, leaving us studio-bound or in a 1br only every other year. “Nooooo! They can’t do that so sooon,” we wailed. And bought 25 more points.

Addonitis—the most rewarding illness known to DVCers.

I had such a similar experience, initially. My wife and I walked into the lobby and thought, "This is a bit posh for us." Okay, we never use the word "posh," but that was the idea. In reality, I liked it the first time we went, but it did seem a bit more formal than what I was coming to Disney for, but after visiting multiple times and dining there again (Cítricos and Gasparilla), I realized the resort kinda had it all, and it really looks nice. I feel like our new contracts here (wish we had been around for the sale!) will give us a great alternative to Polynesian and, as much as I'm angling toward a resale RR contract some day for specific occasions, it's not nice in the same way (like, I don't really love the minimal grounds or pools, the food is fine to good--really I only like the rooms, and I like them quite a bit, plus Skyliner), so once we have all our points in hand, VGF will still end up being the special occasion stay and, if we have the points to spare, can easily be an anytime treat. I may not feel as "at home" here as I do at, say, Grand Californian, but I do like the way it feels, nonetheless, and the food options (especially for us as vegans) are better than many of the other resorts (BWV is terrible for us, for example).

My family bought 160 pts of VGF on Disney Wish in 2023. The incentives were too good to pass on as direct owners. My husband and I stayed at VGF last year during my spring break. 4/2025. It was very beautiful. Planning to go next year Christmas 2027 to celebrate our daughter's 21st birthday. I will book VGF at 11 months, hoping to switch to Riviera at 7 months window.

We don’t own there but love staying there especially for Christmas. One of our top four favorites!

We added on about a year after our first DVC stay and didn’t even stay in a one bedroom. We got 100 points at the Poly when the tower opened. Addonitis is real folks!

Proud VGF owner (along with RIV and AUL). When I first went to Disney World in December 2015 with my then girlfriend (now wife), we stayed at All-Star Music but we hopped around to various other resorts to check out the holiday displays. When we made it to the Grand Floridian I was in awe of the building, the Christmas tree, the gingerbread house, and the general hustle and bustle of the resort. After walking around for a bit we walked up the stairs to get back on the monorail. As we were walking up the stairs I stopped and told my now wife, “one day we are going to stay here.”

Well jump ahead to early 2022 and we became DVC members (purchased AUL). Not soon after that VGF went back up for sale direct with Big Pine Key being brought on. It was an easy decision to scratch the Addonitis itch and become owners at VGF (which we have subsequently added on to VGF multiple times). So not only have we stayed here, we own here! A full circle moment from my first trip.

We love staying here, especially in the Villas building. I love everything about the resort and owning here. With a resort view there is a good chance of being able to see the monorail (and maybe some fireworks popping up over the resort), or with a preferred view to catch the Electrical Water Pageant.

Happy to be here and to own at VGF!

Unfortunately we’ve had this exact experience. Started off the first couple stays in 1BRs, which is ideal for our family size. Point charts started to climb, and now we have to pick between staying as long as we’d normally like in a more cramped studio, staying in the less expensive months but still for a shorter time, or split stays where we’ll try and get something less costly on the front end and then do the last few days at VGF in a 1BR. The nice part about it is that the 1BRs seem easier to get for a few nights here and there than studios do.

Like many others here, we bought when they were having the VGF fire sale around the time of opening up the resort studio building. We weren’t really looking at Grand Floridian because I knew point charts were high vs. other DVC resorts. But when all was done, I still can’t believe how low our price per point came down to after they let us stack incentives, especially when I look at direct pricing across all resorts today.

Since staying there and other resorts, I’ve gained more and more appreciation for VGF. It’s not that the others are bad and I wouldn’t stay, but they’re not The Grand. I honestly believe the proximity to parks, amenities, and room options make it #1, and I’m glad we ended up owning here based somewhat on chance.

I’m glad that a lot of the “fire sale” buyers are using their points at other resorts…. makes it easier for me…. I do worry that in 2043+ it might get a lot harder to book at the OG VGF building…..

We love the Grand Floridian...

We started resale 2023... and we were hunting for more points 2023... we thought resale... then the direct deal came out which made it better to buy direct than from the marketplace...

Then as we came to understand the points charts more, we added on a small direct add on once you could buy them again... It was expensive but worth it to get enough points for our "week" in a 1 BR which is what we wanted...

But... then we stayed in a 2 BR at BLT... we like VGF more thematically... like the villas building more, etc... but...

the points chart disparity between VGF and BLT can't be ignored...

The extra bathroom is nice...

with young kids, the closer proximity to Magic Kingdom, easier ability to get to TTC to transfer to EPCOT, all are big perks...

as is the community hall

and actually the lake view is quite peaceful in BLT...

The pools at contemporary seem less crowded than VGF as well...

so... now we seem to be saying, at least for now while we need the 2 BR... BLT over VGF...

Would not have had kind feelings towards BLT prior to the refurb... it did miles to improve the space... and I prefer the BLT rooms to the Contemporary rooms...

maybe I'd change my mind if they brought back the orchestra!

Full disclosure: My husband & I stayed in the GV last December for 7 nights.....by ourselves...😬

Woah lol

We are big Grand holiday season fans and typically stay at VGF for Mickey’s birthday week each November. Mickey’s my twin (Sort of. I’m not THAT old!) which makes that week extra special.

The one drawback is that silly resort holiday decorations roulette. They rotate annually for the order the decorations go up in resorts. Unfortunately for me, The Grand has too often been nearly last—getting its immediately before Thanksgiving. I’ve seen lots of lobby furniture being moved out—and no tree before we had to leave. < sigh! >.

At least, the Gingerbread House is usually done during our stay and selling those yumlicious gingerbread goodies. There is that.

Yeah... well I think with only 150 points you're kind of stuck not staying there....

right now the trading in has not been too hard for me when I've points at other resorts, needed the 7 month window.... And, while the Resort studios are easier to get into... I've been able to get a 1 or 2 BR at VGF when I want to...

I agree as more pressure is built into the system it will be harder to get Grand Floridian...

Would not surprise me if there is an additional phase or a new flagship resort built between now and 2043 though which would relieve some pressure off of Grand Floridian...

My guess is that it will not be "as good" as the Grand Floridian, but it will be more modern, more luxurious "feeling", less elegant, and closer to the Magic Kingdom...

We also bought during the 🔥 sale too having never stayed there before. I’d only been there once for a dinner at the cafe two years earlier and barely remembered it. One of the best decisions I’ve ever made. Bought 150 but should’ve bought more. Our first stay was in BPK and while I wasn’t in love with the rooms I loved the location and proximity to the pool. We were there during Christmas and it was amazing. We split a bottle of good champagne and hung out in the lobby taking in the ambiance and loving the traditional Christmas music playing. We stayed there last summer in a deluxe studio and loved everything about it. Last year I was waiting for an elevator with a nice elderly lady. She was gushing about the hotel and craftsmanship that went into it. She pointed out the brass on the elevator bay floors and told me that it gets polished daily. She said that’s rare these days. It’s the small things like that which make the hotel stand out. Great pools and bars also help too

As a little girl on my first trip to wdw, I remember riding the ferry past the Grand Floridian and gasping in awe. My mom and I wondered who the rich people were who stayed there. We continued to MK with peanut butter sandwiches and oranges in our backpacks, because we didn't have enough money to buy Disney food. It was one of the best days of my life.

Fast forward three decades later and it was the honor of a lifetime to sign on the dotted line to become VGF owners in 2022. We bought in having never stayed on Disney property because it was always way out of our budget - even the value resorts were too much. We had six kids, four of them adopted with special needs. On our few trips to Disney, we'd stayed at cheap house rentals offsite. However, in 2022 my husband's dear family member passed away and we received a generous inheritance. If not for their kindness, we would never have made this dream come true. 275 points allow us to stay in a 2 bedroom every other year.

From the minute we walked into a villa, we were home. The plush carpets, incredible layout, amazing pools, world class dining, proximity to MK...it feels like a dream. Having a kitchen allows us to save money on food by cooking one or two meals a day - and the laundry is a must with 6 kids!

So far we've stayed during spring break and the fall. Hopping on the monorail for our first MNSSHP was magical! Next year we are planning a Christmas stay and cannot wait! Pinch me, is this really my life?!

Aerial view of the new roundabout construction outside GF. Love that the resort will likely become quieter with this traffic diversion. Credit bioreconstruct.