A Tribute to the Grand Floridian

It was all started with a sponge. Or I should say, sponges. In May of 1991 my papou had plans to travel to Boca Raton in order to attend a trade show where he would display sponges from his business. Realizing the proximity to Walt Disney World, he suggested to my mom that we turn what was originally going to be a work trip into a family vacation. One Birnbaum’s Disney book and a reservation at the Grand Floridian Resort and Spa later, and a tradition was born.

I don’t remember that first time we stayed at the Grand Floridian, but the memories from what would turn into annual pilgrimages both to the parks and that specific hotel are some of my most treasured. I know some people see the Grand Flo as stuffy, but to this day I still see it as magical. From listening to the piano while riding the glass elevator in the lobby over and over, to finding Mary Poppins just around the corner, it felt like the pixie dust of the Magic Kingdom easily extended across the lagoon to our hotel.

However the Grand Floridian was forever sealed as my favorite hotel on a trip my famiy took when I was around seven years old. This particular trip seemed especially sprinkled with Pixie Dust, as we had been upgraded to stay on the Club Level of the Main Building, something we had never done before. One evening, after coming home from the parks and getting ready for dinner, my papou and I found ourselves ready before everyone else. We came out to appreciate the wonder of the Grand Floridian Lobby, and were greeted with the beautiful sounds of the grand piano playing music below. My papou grabbed my hand and slowly began to dance with me, a perfect recreation of my favorite movie: Beauty and the Beast. I think of this moment every time I visit the Grand Floridian, and will always treasure the memories that Walt Disney World gave me of my papou. 

As we grew older, family vacations shifted away from Walt Disney World and toward the beach. The last trip we took with my grandparents to the resort was in 2002, the summer before I entered 8th grade. I wouldn’t return to the Grand Floridian as a guest until 2016, when my mom and sister came down to cheer on Megan and me as we ran in the Princess Half Marathon that year. It’s possible that nostalgia will forever cloud my opinion, but the hotel was just as special in 2016 as it was when I first stayed there in 1991. Although I haven’t stayed at the hotel since then, with the opening of the Enchanted Rose Lounge, it has become a frequent stop anytime we have time to spare while visiting. So Happy 35th Anniversary to the Grand Floridian. May you continue to bring joy, magic, and memories to countless families for another 35 and beyond!