A Grand Vacation: The 2012 Grand Floridian FAQ!

[KonaKaiTom]

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!

It appears I will be suffering along with you......however, my trainer gave me the "hotel room workout" which I can forward on to you. It involves all kinds of fun things like handstand wall pushups, planks on the mattress, prison squats, etc. I know you want it, don't you...all the other mouseketeers are going to be doing it!

Tom

 

[jillmc40]

It appears I will be suffering along with you......however, my trainer gave me the "hotel room workout" which I can forward on to you. It involves all kinds of fun things like handstand wall pushups, planks on the mattress, prison squats, etc. I know you want it, don't you...all the other mouseketeers are going to be doing it!

Tom

Darn, now I have to come up with another excuse....

 

[BCV23]

Thanks! That is a good idea, but we booked GF on a bounceback rate when we were there in December last year and it would cost us an additional $2,300+ to switch to club/conceirge now. I think I can buy over a month of room service breakfasts for that !

You still might be able to book club level at the GF. The beauty of the bounceback rates is the flexibility IMO. You can switch room category, dates or even resorts based on availability. Still I don't remember pancakes or waffles in the lounges. Since your DD really wants to stay at the GF, perhaps she'll discover a new favorite way to start her day. Good luck with your decision.

Is a theme park view worth the cost? We stayed at the Floridian last March in a basic garden view room, which was perfectly fine. We are heading back this coming March, this time traveling with another family from school....the mom has shown interest in upgrading the rooms.....our kids are all within 6-2 years old.....

Club level has never made sense for us yet....we always do character meals for breakfast, parks during the day and table service dinners.....it just didn't seem like we would get much out of the experience...correct me if I am wrong!

For us, theme park view is not usually worth it. However, it would be a way to guarantee that you would have no view of construction from your room if that would bother you.

I agree with you about club level given your habits. Have fun!

SOOOO, last time I bought some soaps from the Basin store in the GF lobby that must be partly responsible for producing that smell. They are wonderful. Every time we used them at home, I was brought back to the GF. I did not buy nearly enough of them and will not make that same mistake twice! Hope Basin is ready for me!

Basin has a website. Perhaps you could order to tide you over. I can relate. I try to buy enough bath bombs to last until the next trip but sometimes need to place an order.

I am so glad to hear that you had a great trip! I remember your debating between the YC and GF for a while and am happy to hear that you have no regrets (despite the monorail issues)! Please do not feel that you are no longer in "the club" just because you may not be staying there again in the near future! This FAQ is a place for all GF lovers-- not just those planning a future trip to the GF! We likely won't be at the GF for a while since we love other deluxes just as much (or more), but I still post here because of my happy GF memories and the great sense of community here.

Amen, mariamouse. Blessed with Triplets, thanks for your review. I hope you remain with us.

Very very glad to hear

I managed to break my ankle on Aug. 28th so I've kinda been MIA from the Dis...missed ya!!!!




BCV [/B]

Hi back at 'ya! So sorry to hear about your ankle.

Clearly this builds my case that DD and I will HAVE to go back when the construction is complete

15 days and I can hardly wait!!!!! My dd5 is up and doing great...Like she never even had her appendix out! Amazing!

Great news! Have a Grand time.

It sounds like they are trying to keep the construction as unobtrusive as possible. Since my niece and I are both early risers, I doubt we will hear any construction noise as we will already either be in a park or on our way to a park when they are working. I asked her which view she hoped we had as I had booked garden view. Her response was "It is the Grand Floridian, I don't care if we have a view of the garbage cans." She does manage to put a smile on my face on a regular basis!

Tom

You both have such a great attitude. Your accident puts things in such perspective. You go, Tom.

Jungle Cruiser, I hope you are having a great trip.

k&a&c'smom, so glad you are doing so much better.

We're back from a Canadian cruise on DCL followed by two nights in NYC. Arrived home on Wednesday but am just now finding time to post! Coach Bag Fanatic, we were in your fine state one night before the cruise. Thanks to everyone for updates.

 

[jojomickey]

Hello everyone!

Can anyone tell me with the grill closed if there is anywhere there that is selling pizza? We love to eat pizza at the grille before we went back to our room.


Thank you

 

[BCV23]

Last I knew you could order pizza from room service. Probably not what you're looking for though. Or stop off at the Polynesian and get flatbreads from Captain Cook's?

 

[k&a&c'smom]

BCV23 - welcome back from your cruise, hope you had a fabulous time. How was Canada? Beautiful, I'll bet.

Thanks, my back is much better. Went to the movies a couple days ago and had a restless night, I probably shouldn't sit so long in uncomfortable seats, but otherwise doing well.

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

When I read the link I felt like we were being punked. In a tent in the Convention Center parking lot? Seriously? Surely it is April 1st.

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!

Good point! I see Tom is trying to ruin your good times, but you can pretend he didn't give those in-room work out tips.

 

[pas130]

Hi back at 'ya! So sorry to hear about your ankle.

Thanks, it's much better now DH said at least it happened AFTER our trip this time

Thanks, my back is much better. Went to the movies a couple days ago and had a restless night, I probably shouldn't sit so long in uncomfortable seats, but otherwise doing well.

Netflix for you for awhile young lady I myself prefer a movie on my couch...

 

[KonaKaiTom]

I got Mickey Mail yesterday!!!!!!!! And, for those who might remember my DME questions - they put passes in for me to go to the airport to get my unaccompanied minor niece as well as go back to GF with her and, of course, for departure. Can't ask for more than that.

Tom

 

[KonaKaiTom]

BCV23 - welcome back from your cruise, hope you had a fabulous time. How was Canada? Beautiful, I'll bet.

Thanks, my back is much better. Went to the movies a couple days ago and had a restless night, I probably shouldn't sit so long in uncomfortable seats, but otherwise doing well.



When I read the link I felt like we were being punked. In a tent in the Convention Center parking lot? Seriously? Surely it is April 1st.



Good point! I see Tom is trying to ruin your good times, but you can pretend he didn't give those in-room work out tips.

Who says I'm trying to ruin good times -- I'm being a concerned friend making sure my fellow GF traveler is able to enjoy her workouts!!! Did I just say enjoy and workout in same sentence? Someone smack me right now!

Tom

 

[dreamcruiser]

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

Great attitude! We were there last week, and even tho the construction is very evident, we never really heard it, or let it bother us. We kept remembering that, after all, we WERE at the GF!!

 

[KonaKaiTom]

Great attitude! We were there last week, and even tho the construction is very evident, we never really heard it, or let it bother us. We kept remembering that, after all, we WERE at the GF!!

Good to know, DreamCruiser -- Thanks! On another note, those new 3d luggage tags are cool. I got both Mickey and ME mail on Saturday -- that made my weekend. And seeing my tagline here now saying the number of weeks instead of months -- yippie, skippy, it is time to go see Mickey!


Tom

 

[cgulls]

These are some fun photos of the new water play area. Now, if only they'd get rid of those blue walls.

http://www.wdwmagic.com/resorts/dis...nderland'-kids-splash-playground-now-open.htm

 

[cgulls]

and more photos of blue walls and other things

http://wdwnewstoday.com/archives/9992

 

[KonaKaiTom]

and more photos of blue walls and other things

http://wdwnewstoday.com/archives/9992

Great pics cgulls, thanks!

Tom

 

[jillmc40]

Good to know, DreamCruiser -- Thanks! On another note, those new 3d luggage tags are cool. I got both Mickey and ME mail on Saturday -- that made my weekend. And seeing my tagline here now saying the number of weeks instead of months -- yippie, skippy, it is time to go see Mickey!


Tom

What are the 3d luggage tags? I just got yellow strips in my ME mail.

I did online check-in this morning and requested Big Pine Key. Was that a good idea? I suddenly got stage fright when it asked for special requests!

Jill

 

[KonaKaiTom]

What are the 3d luggage tags? I just got yellow strips in my ME mail.

I did online check-in this morning and requested Big Pine Key. Was that a good idea? I suddenly got stage fright when it asked for special requests!

Jill

Jill - the 3d luggage tags were from Disney World, not DME - they have a 3d image of Mickey on them. The DME were just the plain yellow ones that arrived in separate mail.

Tom

 

[k&a&c'smom]

Thanks, it's much better now DH said at least it happened AFTER our trip this time

Netflix for you for awhile young lady I myself prefer a movie on my couch...

Glad your leg is better. LOL about Netflix.

Who says I'm trying to ruin good times -- I'm being a concerned friend making sure my fellow GF traveler is able to enjoy her workouts!!! Did I just say enjoy and workout in same sentence? Someone smack me right now!

Tom

Cool about the Mickey & ME mail - nice ME sent extra vouchers for you to pick up your niece.

Great attitude! We were there last week, and even tho the construction is very evident, we never really heard it, or let it bother us. We kept remembering that, after all, we WERE at the GF!!

Glad your trip went well and the construction didn't impact you much.

I did online check-in this morning and requested Big Pine Key. Was that a good idea? I suddenly got stage fright when it asked for special requests!

Jill

I'm not sure I'd want to request Big Pine right now - it overlooks the DVC construction on the lagoon side and the courtyard pool construction on the garden view side. If you have garden view, I think I'd request Sago Cay or Conch Key marina view. With a Conch Key request, you still have a chance of getting the courtyard construction view, so I might ask for Sago.

 

[ktlm]

I went up to M Mercantile and they do sell single bottles of beer.

I also saw that they had cases of small small Dasani water bottles for sale.

Thanks for the beer photo! DH is a beer snob, so the Bud will never do, but he can survive with the Heiniken and Corona. A case of Dasani wouldn't be nice to keep in the room too.

Cgulls, thanks for posting the easywdw link. I so love Josh's website! Those pictures do show a lot of walls up, inside and out. Clearly, breakfast is going to be a problem. Not only are there no pancakes or waffles, there is no sausage either. Wow, the kid's menu consists of 2 options 1. French toast and Bacon- which DD won't eat or 2. Scrambled eggs, bacon and breakfast potatoes (which to me sounds like a bunch of side items thrown together- at least DD will eat the eggs though. I wonder if they will just sell the eggs separately? ). Not that the adult menu is much better, but DH and I mostly just do a croissant or muffin anyway, so it is no big deal to us. I actually think the lunch/dinner menus look okay even though we probably won't eat those meals at CS resort. It will be interesting to see whether Mizner's is open until 12:00 or 2:00 a.m. since they are posting both.

I'm laughing about the fitness center now being in a tent! Well, at least it's air conditioned! I've been in one of those fancy tents before and they really aren't that bad. They could have just closed the center, so it is nice they made an effort to keep it open. But hey...if anyone wants to use the tent as an excuse not to work out..

I keep telling myself to think of Christmas trees and Gingerbread houses! Really, during the Holiday season does anything matter but that gorgeous lobby? If it wasn't the holiday season, we'd probably move, but I think we will stay put. BCV23 maybe I will call on club level, but considering they have been booting people out of club level in the main building and moving them out to Sugar Loaf or even other resorts due to the construction, I think it is pretty unlikely. I'll let DD order a Mickey waffle or pancakes from room service at least once or twice. The rest of the time she will just have to make do! I've told her no whining about breakfast!

 

[KonaKaiTom]

Glad your leg is better. LOL about Netflix.





Cool about the Mickey & ME mail - nice ME sent extra vouchers for you to pick up your niece.



Glad your trip went well and the construction didn't impact you much.



I'm not sure I'd want to request Big Pine right now - it overlooks the DVC construction on the lagoon side and the courtyard pool construction on the garden view side. If you have garden view, I think I'd request Sago Cay or Conch Key marina view. With a Conch Key request, you still have a chance of getting the courtyard construction view, so I might ask for Sago.

Thanks k&a&c'smom - I think we will request Sago Cay Marina view if that won't seem like too much of an free upgrade from Garden View. From the look of the resort map, is there a chance that view also has a slight TPV as well?

TIA,

Tom

 

[BCV23]

Thanks k&a&c'smom - I think we will request Sago Cay Marina view if that won't seem like too much of an free upgrade from Garden View. From the look of the resort map, is there a chance that view also has a slight TPV as well?

TIA,

Tom

Marina view is not an upgrade so don't worry about that. We've had gardenview rooms overlooking the marina in Conch Key and Sago Cay and haven't been able to see the MK. Love that location though even when there is no construction.

Forgot to add the other day that the prints with the sand pails are by David Doss. We have a numbered giclee print of his from the Art of Disney store in Epcot. Ours is of Mickey and Minnie in lounge chairs on the Polynesian beach with a Tiki and a pail that reads Disney's Polynesian resort. Love his work.