From the sun-kissed shores of San Diego to the heart of the most magical place on earth, two hotels stand out as monuments to luxury, class, and timeless architectural beauty: The Hotel Del Coronado and Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort. But how do these two iconic establishments stack up against each other? Let’s delve in.

History and Inspiration:
The Hotel Del Coronado, affectionately known as “The Del,” opened its doors in 1888. This National Historic Landmark, with its stunning Victorian architecture, has played host to celebrities, presidents, and royalty throughout its illustrious history. Its unmistakable red-roofed, white wooden exterior and opulent interiors make it a showpiece of the Californian coast.

Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort, on the other hand, transports visitors to the Floridian coast of yesteryears. Opened a century after The Del, in 1988, it’s undeniable that the Grand Floridian borrows heavily from its Californian counterpart’s aesthetic. The Victorian elegance, the sprawling lobbies, and the picturesque waterfront setting echo the charm of The Del.


Scroll Through the Gallery above to more pictures comparing the two iconic hotels


The Aesthetic Comparison:
Both hotels exude a similar air of timeless elegance. The vast, intricately detailed lobbies, the grand staircases, and the meticulous landscaping tell tales of a bygone era of luxury. The overarching theme is a nod to the Victorian age, but each hotel offers its unique touch — The Del with its Pacific Ocean backdrop and the Grand Floridian with its Magic Kingdom vistas.

Upkeep and Maintenance:
While both establishments aim for perfection, on my recent visit to The Del, I couldn’t help but notice a stark contrast in upkeep when compared to Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort. Despite its historical significance, some areas of The Del showed signs of wear, perhaps a testament to its extensive history and the challenges of maintaining a property by the salt-laden sea. I noticed a lot of exterior flaws in the paint for example. This much visual wear and tear wouldn’t be tolerated at the Grand Floridian. At least not in my experience.

Disney’s Grand Floridian, however, seemed pristine. The Walt Disney World Resort, known for its impeccable attention to detail, ensures that the Grand Floridian remains in tip-top shape, retaining its charm and magic year after year. From freshly painted exteriors to immaculately groomed gardens, Disney’s commitment to guest experience and preserving the magic is evident. I know that as the writing of this the lobby and some of the buildings at Grand Floridian are undergoing an extensive refurbishment. That also speaks to the fact that Disney is always looking to improve and keep this property in pristine condition.

In Conclusion:
While The Hotel Del Coronado and Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort share a kindred spirit in design and elegance, their experiences differ. The Del offers a rich, historical journey on the Californian coast, while the Grand Floridian provides a magical escape in the heart of Walt Disney World, with the added touch of Disney’s renowned maintenance standards.

Both have their unique charm and offerings, and choosing between them boils down to personal preferences: a historic coastal getaway or a magical Disney experience in a setting inspired by history. I say you should visit both! While they look very similar on the outside the experiences will be very different. while walking the grounds of the Del, I couldn’t help but feel like I was touring a new addition to the Grand Floridian that I didn’t know about.

Have you had the opportunity to experience both these iconic hotels? Share your thoughts and experiences in the comments below!

Episode 315: We take a deep dive into the Haunted Mansion! We explore the history and details of this attraction. Plus did you know that Walt had a favorite stretching room portrait? We do start with the news and cover several of the developing stories this week. Covid-19 guidelines continue to loosen on both coasts. The three caballeros are back at the gran fiesta tour! The Grand Floridian is getting new DVC studios added soon. The dark saber made its way to Galaxy’s Edge. Disney Cruise line released the pricing on the Wish’s inaugural sailing…my wish was for lower pricing! The later sailings in 2022 look better as far as price though.

Episode: 312. Yeah, we waited 7 hours to ride the PeopleMover this week, but it was totally worth it! We were among the very first park guests to ride after being down for over a year. Jason and I recently returned from a trip to Walt Disney World where we got upgraded to the Grand Floridan. We enjoyed several trips to our favorite bars and lounges on property. We watched the Electric Water Pageant from our hotel room. We had one fantastic table service meals and one not so fantastic meal. We explored Tom Sawyer island and compared the experience to that of Rise of the Resistance….You’ll see what we mean. In the news we discuss the newest update to the Jungle Cruise and Disneyland is open once again! We talk about the latest Ride Every points challenge and the recent controversy surrounding it.

Episode 311: Today we cover the recent news and preview our Disney trip this weekend! That’s right, Jason and I will be at Walt Disney World this weekend for a rare kid-free Disney experience. Disneyland could soon allow out of state guests and the reservations don’t seem to be filling up as quickly as expected. The famous uh, photo opp in the Morocco pavilion at Epcot has been modified. There been a price increase for custom light sabers at Savi’s Workshop. I also follow up on part of last week’s episode where I talked about the part of the Disney World property that Walt Disney himself actually set foot on. I actually found out more to this story. I discovered that the house is still on Disney property but it has just been moved to another location. Here is the link to the article. Jason and I will be in the parks this weekend most likely hitting up the bars and lounges. If you are in the parks this weekend let us know!

News_7-17Episode 225: It seems these days like major news breaks every week! In this episode we break down the big news that Rise of The Resistance is opening December 5th at Walt Disney World and early 2020 for Disneyland. There’s also a new walkway coming that will connect 2 more resorts to the Magic Kingdom via a walking path. A new experience has opened at Animal Kingdom and we preview the Give Kids the Rides event to Raise money for Give Kids the World coming up on July 24th!

Episode 205: Today we cover the latest Galaxy’s Edge news and go through the theme park Injury report for Q1 of 2019.

Here are the top stories:

  • Grand Floridian new Beauty and The Beast Lounge confirmed
  • Disney+ service will launch with sever original shows and a low price point
  • We give our reaction to the Star Wars Episode 9 teaser
  • Oga’s Cantina in Galaxy’s Edge is rumored to have a time limit
  • First look at the inside of a Disney Skyliner gondola

We also cover these stories:

  • Pizza Rizzo is going to re-open for a short time
  • The Q1 theme park injury report has been released
  • Galaxy’s Edge will have special Star Wars themed Coke products
  • Penguin made from recycled materials is on Display at Animal Kingdom

Episode 199: Disney News

Here are the topics that we discussed

  • Disney Cruise Line finalizes the purchase of second private island
  • Mizner’s Lounge at the Grand Floridian is closing for an expansion
  • Disneyland Paris reports a profit for the first time in nearly a decade
  • False alarm causes minor panic at Disneyland Paris
  • NBA Experience set to open August 12th at Disney Springs
  • Casey Jr Splash & Soak station and Kali River Rapids have re-opened from refurbishment
  • Two separate lawsuits filed against Disney for incidents on the People Mover
  • Will Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway open before Galaxy’s Edge
  • Disney has pulled resort discounts from Summer/Fall

 

Today on the show we continue going through the unofficial guide to Walt Disney world to discuss more tips, tricks, and helpful information. We start by discussing online check-in and how Disney uses the Magic band’s RF technology.  We go through the 2018 Disney resorts report cards to see which resorts had the best overall ratings for things like, check-in efficiency, cleanliness, Transportation, staff, and quietness of the rooms. We list the pros and cons of every Disney Deluxe resort. We hope that this information about the resorts will be helpful If you are planning a Disney vacation and are trying to decide which resort is the best for your needs. Next week we will go through the pros and cons of the Disney Moderate and Value resorts.

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In this special Christmas episode of Traveling with The Mouse we are discussing our favorite Disney Christmas experiences (past and present). We look back on our first experiences with Christmas at  Walt Disney World, Disney Cruise Line and Disneyland in California. We also discuss the experiences that are no longer available as well as things that we want to do in the future. We cover all of the various Christmas activities that you can enjoy at Walt Disney World including the resorts! Lastly, we talk about what we would do if we spent Christmas Day at Walt Disney World. Happy Holidays and Merry Christmas!

On Today’s episode Jon and I start a new series where we go through all of the significant (and sometimes not) events that happened during a particular year in the past at Walt Disney World. We are selecting the years at Random and then going through the year that is selected and mentioning the dates where a new ride or resort opened or perhaps when an attraction closed down for good. In this episode the years 1991 and 1988 were randomly selected. The randomness keeps us on our toes because we are relying on our memory and knowledge of the events that occurred in a particular year. Let us know what you think of this format and if we should change it up any.

What would you do on a Walt Disney World vacation if money was not a consideration? I’m sure that we’ve all pondered this question. Today Jon and I give our itineraries for our no limits Disney vacation. The only parameters that we placed on this scenario was that it could only be at Walt Disney World and an 8 day 7 night vacation. We go through each day of our no limits vacation and tell you exactly what we would splurge on. What would you do on your no limits vacation Disney vacation?

In today’s news episode of Traveling With The Mouse we cover the following topics

  • The 2nd Trailer for Solo: A Star Wars Story has been released
  • Toy Story 4 release date confirmed
  • Kristen Bell confirms that she has recorded her part in Frozen 2
  • Pandora Utility Suit debuts at Animal Kingdom
  • The Grand Floridian cancels 30th anniversary gala
  • Marvel has released the first clip from Infinity War
  • Crossroads Shopping Center by Disney World to Close

 

In today’s episode we talk about the Grand Floridian! We begin the episode with a little news by talking about the new Fast Pass tiers for Hollywood Studios once Toy Story Land opens on June 30th. After that we do a detailed review of the Grand Floridian. We talk about the Rooms, Shopping, Dinning, and the atmosphere of the resort.

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