Grand Floridian Society Orchestra
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The Grand Floridian Society Orchestra To End Its Run at Walt Disney World

Rikki Niblett
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It’s actually the end of an era. Announced this weekend on their Facebook page, the popular staple of Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa, The Grand Floridian Society Orchestra shared details that their last day of performing would be on October 3 at the Walt Disney World Resort.

While they haven’t currently been playing at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort due to COVID, the band has been performing, in parts, at Disney’s Hollywood Studios as the Disney Society Orchestra since early August. Their shows featured musical highlights from favorite movies like The Little Mermaid, Toy Story, the Muppets and more.

In their message to their fans, they shared the following:

It’s  hard to find the words but, sadly, our days at the Grand Floridian are over. In fact, as of Oct 3, 2020, our days at WDW will come to an end as well. 

The company brought us out of furlough, changed our name to “The Disney Society Orchestra,” closed us out of the GF to play a show of Disney themed show tunes at the Theater of the Stars in Hollywood Studios. we’ve been playing 9 shows a day, 7 days a week since Aug 2nd. The music is a far cry from the closely knit harmonies & sounds we became known for at the GF but the guys are real pros and they sound great! 

Well…Two weeks ago, we got notice that the theater is going dark and our last day of work will be Saturday, October 3, 2020. As we all know, these are very uncertain times and can’t say what will happen from one day to the next. 

So after 32 years of playing together and playing music we love….we’re done. We are so thankful for the opportunity to play in a beautiful setting for the hotel guests and friends we have met & made over the years. We’ll never forget you and how wonderful you’ve made us feel. We will miss you! 

Thank you-thank you-thank you! 

 

 

The band also shared on their Facebook page that their last performances would not be at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort, but instead will be at Disney’s Hollywood Studios in the Theater of the Stars, which is where Beauty and the Beast – Live on Stage is performed.

October is, unfortunately, always the time that Disney cancels contracts of popular performers and musical acts, due to it being the beginning of their fiscal quarter. This is, not the first time that much loved performers were not brought back. There is, of course, as their always is during these removals of popular entertainment offerings, a petition from fans for Disney to change their mind.

The band does state that they do have CDs available for purchase, for those who would like them. If you are interested, they indicate that you should message them on their Facebook page.

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Rikki Niblett

I am a co-host of the Be Our Guest Podcast and do lots of other fun Disney stuff all around the interwebs! You can follow me on Twitter or Instagram at @RikkiNibs or on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/rikkinibs

6 thoughts on “The Grand Floridian Society Orchestra To End Its Run at Walt Disney World”

  • One of the reasons we joined the Disney Vacation Club and made our home base the Grand Floridian, was the orchestra. After spending all day in parks and spending tons of money, it was nice to listen and relax to the band with a glass of wine. One of Walt’s traits was to hire an as many musicians as possible to spike up the entertainment value of the parks and resorts. I guess whomever is running the show now has forgotten what made the magic so magic.

  • We hope they return, after enjoying them for years we are saddened, we look forward to seeing them return!

  • Very Disappointed. Space my parents flew the whole family and for their 50th wedding anniversary and hearing the grand Floridian orchestra was the highlight of the trip I can still see my parents dancing in the lobby with the GF orchestra playing in the background luckily I have two tapes I can play to recreate the memories.

  • My husband and I have spent many afternoons over the years at the Grand Floridian listening to the GF Orchestra. We used to really enjoy Mizner’s Lounge for this. Now both are gone- there’s really no reason for us to go to the GF any longer. Very disappointed.

  • Hopefully they’ll be brought back as the resorts reopen. I hope Disney understands the value of live performances to making a well-themed place. Recorded music obscures background noise, but doesn’t give the life to spaces that musicians do. I fear that without the Orchestra, the GF will seem more like just another big fancy hotel and less the iconic Disney resort.

  • It’s sad to see them go. The wife and I enjoyed hanging out in the lobby before and after dinner at The Grand Floridian, listening to them. Thank you for the very good memories.

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