The Grand Floridian Resort & Spa is the flagship of Walt Disney World's Deluxe tier — the original "all-out" resort, opened in 1988, sitting on the Seven Seas Lagoon directly across from Magic Kingdom. The rate is the second-highest on property after the Polynesian Bungalows. The question every prospective Grand Floridian guest asks me is whether the rate is justified.
The honest answer is: it depends on what you came to Walt Disney World for. If you came for proximity to Magic Kingdom plus a resort that you would happily not leave, Grand Floridian justifies the rate. If you came for a low-friction monorail-loop experience that does not require Grand Floridian's price ceiling, the Polynesian Resort sits one stop away and saves you 30–40% with very little experiential trade.
What the Grand Floridian does better than any other resort on property is the resort itself. The lobby is the only Disney lobby that genuinely earns the word "lobby." There is a band that plays nightly on the second-floor balcony. The pool complex is the largest of the Magic Kingdom Deluxes, and the beach access is the best of any monorail resort. The dining lineup — Citricos, Narcoossee's, Victoria & Albert's, 1900 Park Fare — gives you a reason to never leave for a sit-down meal during the trip.
The rooms have been refreshed within the last three years and now sit comfortably above the Polynesian's room standard. Theming is "Floridian Beach Mansion" — soft palette, vintage-Florida details, white moldings. It is the most "adult" room product on the monorail loop, which suits the Grand Floridian's older skew.
My recommendation pattern: book Grand Floridian for honeymoons, anniversary trips, and any party where the parents are paying for the room and the kids are old enough to enjoy a slower-paced resort. For families with toddlers and a tight park schedule, Polynesian is the move.