A Grand Vacation: The 2012 Grand Floridian FAQ!

[KonaKaiTom]

Such beautiful pics - can the next 31 days please accelerate into fast forward speed? Please???

Tom

 

[Butterflygirl35]

Such beautiful pics - can the next 31 days please accelerate into fast forward speed? Please???

Tom

It always seems to take too long to arrive and yet finishes way too fast..................................

 

[runskimom]

Hello all!

Just thought I'd post, that in addition to the wdwmagic posts that most of us have seen by now detailing the new pool baro/Mizner's/construction walls, I found this post on the Disney Food Blog.

http://www.disneyfoodblog.com/2012/...beach-pool-bar/comment-page-1/#comment-377046

It talks about the lunch Pool Bar menu with a few more details.

 

[jillmc40]

Such beautiful pics - can the next 31 days please accelerate into fast forward speed? Please???

Tom

Hey...Slow down there Tom...I only have 2 weeks left

 

[Candy Orlando]

I love the Grand so much, I can't wait to see photos of the new children's play area at the pool. Are all the green walls down around the beach pool now that the play area is open? Can you see the lake from the pool now?

 

[KonaKaiTom]

Hey...Slow down there Tom...I only have 2 weeks left

We can be in different time continuums -- your vacation time, as well as mine, can go super slow motion, but the rest of the time prevacation needs to go in SUPER fast forward!

Tom

 

[jillmc40]

We can be in different time continuums -- your vacation time, as well as mine, can go super slow motion, but the rest of the time prevacation needs to go in SUPER fast forward!

Tom

Sounds like an episode of something playing in the ToT lobby!

 

[CaliforniaDreaming]

Cali-D - so good to see you, as always!! I know what you mean about the pool, we will be so disappointed if they make it shallower. I was expecting it after reading they had made the Poly quiet pool shallower during the last refurb over there. Seems to be a trend at resort pools, the Universal pools are more wading pools than swimming, some of them only come up to my waist and I'm short! DD and I joked we were in the "deep circle" rather than the "deep end" at the Hard Rock pool.

We overlooked the courtyard pool from our Boca Chica balcony last month and mused it would be the last time we would see it. We assume they will change everything, even the shape, which I find so lovely. Here are some of our last photos of it:

You just HAD to post those pictures, didn't you?! Haha.

I really wish I would have gotten one last stay in before all the construction began, but I'm very much looking forward to staying in the new villas once they open.

It seems like the logical next step is a room refurb? Anyone hear if any plans are in the works?

 

[ruthsam]

I love the Grand so much, I can't wait to see photos of the new children's play area at the pool. Are all the green walls down around the beach pool now that the play area is open? Can you see the lake from the pool now?

Hi everyone, I was told yesterday that we wont be able to see the lake or even have beach access while we are there in October; and that the green walls will remain in front of the Mad hatter area and the beach pool.

Maybe someone there now can confirm? I hope that I was misinformed, but I don't think so...

 

[cgulls]

Good morning. This link to easywdw.com showing tons of recent photos of the Grand Floridian. Unfortunately, it looks as though the walls remain up around the Beach Pool.

http://www.easywdw.com/uncategorize...struction-everythings-closed-92012/#more-9321

 

[runskimom]

Good morning. This link to easywdw.com showing tons of recent photos of the Grand Floridian. Unfortunately, it looks as though the walls remain up around the Beach Pool.

http://www.easywdw.com/uncategorize...struction-everythings-closed-92012/#more-9321

Yes, that easywdw post is really, really great for anyone coming to GF this fall who wants a good look at what you're going to find. I have to say that I just love his blog. That Josh is just so witty.

 

[jillmc40]

I know it was going back and forth whether you can still walk to the Poly or whether it has been blocked off. Does anyone know if the walkway is still open? And if so, it's like a 10 minute walk, correct?

 

[k&a&c'smom]

Cali-D - Sorry! I know what you mean, DD and I came close to putting off our trip until later this fall, but decided we had to see the resort in its familiar state one last time.

I'm glad for you and others who are patiently waiting for the DVC section to open.

I haven't heard anything, but agree it seems the rooms should be refurbed soon. I've been expecting that announcement, too, with the last room update being in 2007. They seem to do a soft goods refurb every 6 years or so, don't they?

runskimom - thanks for the link! I'm glad everyone is staying on top of the construction news, I haven't been online much yet.

I am nearly sure the path to the Poly is still open, the plan from the beginning was that it would remain open throughout the construction. Since you access it from behind the beach pool, I'm assuming it is still available. If anyone has seen or heard different, please post.

cgulls - again, thanks for the link! Great photos, and more info on the beach pool bar menu. Looks like there is a kids breakfast menu, but no pancakes or waffles.

The water play area is adorable, nice that there is something just for those under 48 inches!

ruthsam - From the recent links and onsite reports, I think you have the correct info, unfortunately. I know everyone keeps hoping at least some of the construction will be complete before their trip!

 

[tnkrbl289]

Cali-D - Sorry! I know what you mean, DD and I came close to putting off our trip until later this fall, but decided we had to see the resort in its familiar state one last time.

I'm glad for you and others who are patiently waiting for the DVC section to open.

I haven't heard anything, but agree it seems the rooms should be refurbed soon. I've been expecting that announcement, too, with the last room update being in 2007. They seem to do a soft goods refurb every 6 years or so, don't they?

runskimom - thanks for the link! I'm glad everyone is staying on top of the construction news, I haven't been online much yet.

I am nearly sure the path to the Poly is still open, the plan from the beginning was that it would remain open throughout the construction. Since you access it from behind the beach pool, I'm assuming it is still available. If anyone has seen or heard different, please post.

cgulls - again, thanks for the link! Great photos, and more info on the beach pool bar menu. Looks like there is a kids breakfast menu, but no pancakes or waffles.

The water play area is adorable, nice that there is something just for those under 48 inches!

ruthsam - From the recent links and onsite reports, I think you have the correct info, unfortunately. I know everyone keeps hoping at least some of the construction will be complete before their trip!

I saw you had mentioned the path and saw this on YouTube yesterday and shows the entire path from the Polynesian to the Grand Floridian and the path is still open and current for it shows the construction. It was uploaded within the past week. It runs a bit long but if you advance it you can see the construction toward the ending and the path ending at the Grand. Thought it might be interesting besides it is so pretty to see the landscape and the Grand even when you can't be there.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kMIVfrLk27c&list=PLB0C6D43F66EF5E82&index=29&feature=plpp_video

 

[k&a&c'smom]

tnkrbl289 - thanks for that link, very helpful. I agree, it's always fun to see video of the Grand, you get the feel of the resort when you are home.

 

[KonaKaiTom]

I'm not going to let some pale green walls scare me or make me think I'm missing something -- it's Disney World, it will be magic!

Tom

 

[jillmc40]

I saw you had mentioned the path and saw this on YouTube yesterday and shows the entire path from the Polynesian to the Grand Floridian and the path is still open and current for it shows the construction. It was uploaded within the past week. It runs a bit long but if you advance it you can see the construction toward the ending and the path ending at the Grand. Thought it might be interesting besides it is so pretty to see the landscape and the Grand even when you can't be there.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kMIVfrLk27c&list=PLB0C6D43F66EF5E82&index=29&feature=plpp_video

They need to add some music or something to that video...It had a creepy sound like a horror film or something Nonetheless, I enjoyed it all the same! Thank you for posting it! I will certainly take the walk the first night we are there (which is now less than 2 weeks away...yahoo!)

 

[KonaKaiTom]

They need to add some music or something to that video...It had a creepy sound like a horror film or something Nonetheless, I enjoyed it all the same! Thank you for posting it! I will certainly take the walk the first night we are there (which is now less than 2 weeks away...yahoo!)

So, you got Blair Witch Project out of it as well?

Tom

 

[cgulls]

http://www.wdwmagic.com/resorts/dis...sort-fitness-center-temporarily-relocated.htm

 

[jillmc40]

http://www.wdwmagic.com/resorts/dis...sort-fitness-center-temporarily-relocated.htm

In a tent....Really? Well, I couldn't work out because it was in a tent, and I had to eat at only the most expensive places there, because the CS was closed. Sounds like a perfect vacation to me!