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Kilimanjaro Safaris; Animal Kingdom; AA
  • On Jan 26, 2012
    Betsy Asked Note: This answer was provided prior to the change to planDisney and may still contain references to Disney Parks Moms Panel.

    Experiences, policies, pricing and other offerings are subject to change and may have changed since the date of this answer.

    Having a REALLY tough time deciding between Contemporary and Grand Flordian. Will be there early December and with a 4 year old. Any guidance?

    Hi Betsy,

    The first thing to know is that there is no bad answer here. Both the Contemporary and Grand Floridian are top of the line Disney experiences. Both have monorail access and multiple restaurants. You will have an amazing experience at either. My husband and a I are actually having this exact same discussion about our Christmas trip this year. So let me tell you about some of the pros/cons of each.

    Grand Floridian Pros
    - Absolutely gorgeous!
    - Turn down service
    - No maid carts in the hallways, nice wicker baskets instead
    - Choice of pools
    - Several lovely shops in the lobby
    - Live music in the lobby

    Grand Floridian Cons
    - Unless you stay at the concierge level, you will not be in the main building
    - Some may feel that the atmosphere is "stuffy"

    Contemporary Pros
    - One of the original Disney hotels
    - You can walk to the Magic Kingdom
    - Newly renovated rooms with extra comfy beds
    - Easy access to water sports

    Contemporary Cons
    - You might hear the monorail sometimes
    - Some find the bathroom sinks to be oddly shaped
    - Some find the lobby areas "generic hotel"

    Most of these are really trivial items. To me, the Grand Floridian just feels "nicer" over all, but the beds at the Contemporary are super comfy. Totally a toss-up. 

    And by the way, your four-year-old would be completely welcome at either place. There is a bit more grassy area to run around at the Floridian, if that matters. And again, both places are FANTASTIC.
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Meet the Panelist: Erin, New York

I have three teenage daughters. We're DVC members obsessed with Disney travel. We've been to Walt Disney World countless times and have visited Disneyland & Disneyland Paris. We've taken several Adventures by Disney and Disney Cruise trips. Learn More About Erin

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