Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort Turns 25 With a Grand Celebration!

Hi everyone!

Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort turned 25 years old today, with a celebration befitting it’s quarter of a century at Walt Disney World. I remember when Disney’s Grand Floridian first opened – I wanted to stay there badly, but the finances didn’t allow for it. Fortunately that changed about 15 years later. Jeff and I took photos and video of the celebration today, along with the construction on The Villas at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort. The Villas are due to open in October, and the pathway has been changed since we last visited (last week!) The end of the article includes some vintage photos of construction of Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort that Jeff took over 25 years ago.

Remember to follow along with Mousesteps on Twitter and Facebook! And we had a nice guest approach us today and tell us he liked our websites – he disappeared very quickly. If that was you, thanks! By the time we realized what had happened, he was gone into the crowd. We actually don’t mind stopping and chatting for a couple of minutes, I felt a little bad today that we didn’t even get his name.

The piano player warmed up the crowd as we were waiting. The celebration only lasted about 15 minutes, but was really nicely done! Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort Cast Members were also treated to their own special event in the convention center.

We noticed quite a few Walt Disney World Cast Members lining the railings above us – we had no idea why yet!

Ms. Lorraine sang “Zip-a-De-Doo-Dah”.

2013 Disney Ambassador Richard Tamayo hosted the event.

Mickey and Minnie danced into the center of the lobby, dressed in Victorian style clothing I’d not seen on them before. Cast Members, including greeter Richard, also were part of this moment.

Grand Floridian General Manager Norm Noble talked about the history of Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort.

Cast Members who were above us took our their parasols!

Confetti and streamers rained down on the guests below.

Even the horse didn’t escape the confetti, and Jeff holds up his 25th Anniversary Grand Floridian button.

We posed with Richard the door greeter, who has been there as long as I can remember. He is always a joy to see and talk to!

This is the button that was handed out, celebrating 25 years of Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort:

Here is our video of the full ceremony!

After the ceremony, we took a walk around the Villas at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort. The pathway around the Villas is now open, which gave us a different view than last week of the construction.

There is a fire pit for guests similar to what is being built at Disney’s Polynesian Resort.

The walls that blocked the water from view are now down, and the feature pool is now viewed from all sides again.

The Villas at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort is being built where beach once stood, between Disney’s Grand Floridian main building and the Wedding Pavilion.

A look at Disney’s Polynesian Resort from the Villas at the Grand Floridian Resort walkway.

There isn’t much beach left along the walkway – but some is left just ahead.

Cinderella’s carriage is shown on the concept art.

This is the width of beach between the sidewalk and rocks along the walkway.

Here is our video of the walkway and construction of The Villas at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort!

Jeff has vintage photos of Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort in his archives, taken as the resort was being built! Here are a few of them:

It was a special day to remember 25 years of Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort! Time really flies, I was an adult when it went up – and had been visiting Walt Disney World for over 10 years already in 1988. Here is to another 25 years!