A Grand Vacation: The 2012 Grand Floridian FAQ!

[Lulu'sMom]

followthatmouse~that is such awesome news!!!! Congrats to you and your family!!!!
You are so going to love the RPC!

 

[dreamcruiser]

It has been many, many years for me, dreamcruiser. LOL
Most of the upgrades were in the 90's and the early 00's.
Good times!
Talk about being spoiled, spoiled, SPOILED!
And DH and I schelped it once and stayed non-cl last march at the BC.
We had a nice time and I was grateful to be there, especially with my health at that time.
But, CL ruins you for a standard room, (at least it did me) and the GF's RPC is KING.

I know what you mean about being spoiled! My DSis and I are....I think one time we thought about checking in wearing tiaras!! Seriously tho, we can't afford concierge really. Once all three of us sisters stayed in SL, but otherwise, my sis (who travels with me) and I have been wonderfully upgraded to CL. Never to one of the top suites tho..

 

[followthatmouse]

Lulu'sMom, we have been so spoiled. This will be our third RPC stay. As I'm travelling with my DM - not as spry as she once was - a little comfort will not go amiss. I won't mention vicarious enjoyment of that comfort .

 

[butternut]

I would be ecstatic if i got an upgrade from standard to a lagoon view this Thursday when we arrive. So happy for you on your wonderful unexpected upgrade!!! Fingers crossed for me!

 

[Lulu'sMom]

I know what you mean about being spoiled! My DSis and I are....I think one time we thought about checking in wearing tiaras!! Seriously tho, we can't afford concierge really. Once all three of us sisters stayed in SL, but otherwise, my sis (who travels with me) and I have been wonderfully upgraded to CL. Never to one of the top suites tho..

Oh, how wonderful to get those CL upgrades! And they are like magical pixiedust! All it takes is a one-time upgrade (for some of us) and we are hooked! LOL We'll beg, borrow or steal (jk) to stay CL!
Love the tiaras! Too funny!

Lulu'sMom, we have been so spoiled. This will be our third RPC stay. As I'm travelling with my DM - not as spry as she once was - a little comfort will not go amiss. I won't mention vicarious enjoyment of that comfort .

So wonderful that this is your 3rd stay and taking your mom!
My most precious WDW trips are with my mom at the RPC. Kacsmom has met my mom on a GF trip at one of the meets! So I hear you about wanting all that vicarious enjoyment of that comfort, girlfriend!
Great minds think alike! LOL

 

[Lulu'sMom]

I would be ecstatic if i got an upgrade from standard to a lagoon view this Thursday when we arrive. So happy for you on your wonderful unexpected upgrade!!! Fingers crossed for me!

I'll be sending positive thoughts and pixiedust your way on Thursday!

 

[Sue M]

I would be ecstatic if i got an upgrade from standard to a lagoon view this Thursday when we arrive. So happy for you on your wonderful unexpected upgrade!!! Fingers crossed for me!

Hope you get that upgrade! While you're there can you do a little sleuthing and ask if the beach walls will be down by August?

 

[butternut]

Hope you get that upgrade! While you're there can you do a little sleuthing and ask if the beach walls will be down by August?

I sure will !!!!! And thanks for all the pixie dust everyone!

 

[mndisneylovinmom]

Ok, we're 8 months away from our next Disney vacation.... We're staying at the Grand Gloridian, in the main building, club level, in a theme park view room.
We would just love to see pictures of the rooms, and views.
PLEASE and THANKS!!

 

[Sfmarine]

Yeah, I think we were lucky. The way it happened: after we were checked in by a member of the concierge team in our room, I mentioned really wanting to stay in the Walt Suite one day, and he asked if we'd like to see it. I JUMPED on that question!! Then, another time, another CM we had met took us to see the Grand Suite when we asked about what else was available like the Walt Suite. (I think my question at that time was, is this the nicest suite in the resort?)
You can always ask a CM (maybe someone you know from other stays). The worst that can happen is they say NO (perhaps someone is already in the suites too).

Thanks for the input. I will be sure to mention it to a CM the next I am at the Grand. I have no upcoming trips planned, so I really need to start looking into one soon lol. It's really the luck of the draw because the suites could all be taken so you got really lucky!

Do we have a projected completion date with the DVC addition?

 

[ktlm]

I would be ecstatic if i got an upgrade from standard to a lagoon view this Thursday when we arrive. So happy for you on your wonderful unexpected upgrade!!! Fingers crossed for me!

Good luck!!! We got upgraded from a standard view to a Theme Park View last December and we thought we hit the absolute jackpot....until my friend called and trumped me with his Grand Suite upgrade. FYI-this is the friend that I had to give a Disney Crash course to last week because he was asking me how much fast passes cost! I loved it when he called me from WDW telling me how right I was about Disney magic and how he definitely has the Disney bug now! I think they are already planning their next trip...he's currently trying to explain to his 4 year old that next time they will have a little bitty room compared to what they had this time.

 

[butternut]

Good luck!!! We got upgraded from a standard view to a Theme Park View last December and we thought we hit the absolute jackpot....until my friend called and trumped me with his Grand Suite upgrade. FYI-this is the friend that I had to give a Disney Crash course to last week because he was asking me how much fast passes cost! I loved it when he called me from WDW telling me how right I was about Disney magic and how he definitely has the Disney bug now! I think they are already planning their next trip...he's currently trying to explain to his 4 year old that next time they will have a little bitty room compared to what they had this time.

That is tooooo funny!!! A grand suite upgrade would be awesome but i'll just take that itty bitty upgrade of a lagoon view. Actually as long as im not put in a building that views pool walls or dvc construction, i'll consider that an upgrade.

 

[Tink rules]

I think a grand suite upgrade means they weren't expecting any celebrities that week...

 

[butternut]

I think you are right Tink!!!

 

[itisamymc]

Those that got free upgrades, I wonder what time of day they checked in.

 

[dreamcruiser]

For us, it was always mid-morning, around 10 or 10:30. No rhyme or reason to it. Just pixie dust!!

 

[MommyGina]

We were upgraded once 4 years ago from garden view to SL! We were there in August and arrived around 10:30 as well. That was the one and only time we were ever upgraded. I had tears in my eyes when the front desk told us at check in that we would be in SL!!

 

[pas130]

Oh MY! Driving this trip?! And yes, you're right we missed each other in 2011 but by two days that time I think! One day the stars will align...



I hope so
ooh, I agree! Good points all of them.

PAS-- I might be tempted to request Conch Marina view, just bc it's closest to what a SL Marina View would be. And all of the reasons Above as well.

I was looking at the map...and I agree Conch is a nice location

omigosh, pas, you are so sweet. i turn 40 on 8/23. we will be there, seriously, the EXACT same dates as you. although we are at BC from 8/18-8/21, checking in at GF 8/21. i will totally meet up with you. let me tell you... i have always been totally against meeting anyone from the boards. it makes me nervous that they will end up being a creepy stalker or something! then JC passed without my getting to meet her- even though we were at GF at the same time last year. i regret not meeting her so much and i am going to loosen my rule now! that is... if you ACTUALLY do stick with your GF ressie... ha ha! you RC'er, you!

when in august is your bday?

My DH thought I was nuts the first time I planned a meet...agreed some people out there but I've have met my bestest buds here on the DIS

My birthday is the 19th. We can have a tribute to JC

I hope I don't change...a week at the GF

Pas~ as I always say...we book gv requesting marina view sago. We liked it there the first time and so we stick with it. We self-park and drive everywhere, run over to Gasparillas all the time and sit at the top of the marina for wishes. Wr tended to be courtyard pool sitters and if my younger wanted the beach pool he would just run over. ( yes, my kids are older than yours)

No school yesterday last day now June 21, the day we leave

It really doesn't look like there is a bad spot overall!! But being by the pool AND boat launch...would be awesome

Beth....we used to meet up all the time, us old DISers. Yes, there's some real whackjobs, but you do end up getting to know the "real people" here!
I remember when kacsmom and I met at a GF meet... had a blast and we all enjoyed a cabana party! Fun times!

Speaking of cabanas....I have one rented 8/19

Pas,we will be at GF 8/18 & 8/19 before moving to YC. I requested a Sago or Conch marina view on the recommendation of this thread. I sure hope the beach will be open. PM me if you'd like to get together, we can have a Dis pool meet! Isn't someone else there the same time too?

Oh we definitely have to meet up!!! I hope the walls are down at the beach too!!!

Lulu'sMom, we have been so spoiled. This will be our third RPC stay. As I'm travelling with my DM - not as spry as she once was - a little comfort will not go amiss. I won't mention vicarious enjoyment of that comfort .

Hope you get that upgrade! While you're there can you do a little sleuthing and ask if the beach walls will be down by August?

I sure will !!!!! And thanks for all the pixie dust everyone!

 

[sydneysmom]

Those that got free upgrades, I wonder what time of day they checked in.

We got an awesome upgrade and we checked in about 1:30 pm. We went for my birthday and booked a garden view. Now for me, ANY view at the GF would be awesome... it's just that beautiful. But when we were checking in, the CM said, "oh, I see it's your birthday, can you excuse me a moment?" We were like, okay....maybe she's getting me a birthday button. So then she came back (with the button) and told us our room wasn't ready yet. We said that it wasn't a big deal, we would head to the MK and check back later on.

Well, about 5:30 we came back to the GF to see if the room was ready (we never got a text) and get ready for dinner. Our room was ready and we headed off. Well, our room was just gorgeous and when we walked in there was a BIG chocolate Mickey Mouse sitting on a plate w/ chocolate covered strawberries, cookies and candies. And Mickey was holding a banner "Happy Birthday Jill". It was the coolest thing ever!!! And they also had birthday cards from the characters, a white chocolate "GF Postcard" and a red rose for our anniversary. Honestly, it was so magical. Until we opened the curtains and saw the view.... they had upgraded us to a castle view. I burst into tears (I know...sappy).... but I was just so overwhelmed and so grateful.

You have to understand, my DH and I had been planning that trip for our DD (who was 4 at the time) for about 2 years, in secret. So to see my DD's face when she saw that we could see the castle....well, it was overwhelming, to say the least. My DH, who was a Disney non-believer, fell in love with Disney that first day. (they had him on Magical Express, to be honest!!)

One of the best parts about the week was watching the Electric Parade from our balcony and seeing our DD with her head in the refrigerator each morning nibbling on the chocolate Mickey like a squirrel with a nut!

One thing about the GF, they will truly go out of their way to make your vacation truly the most magical vacation there could ever be. We debated going to a different resort for this upcoming trip and went back and forth....until finally, my DH said, "look....we've got all these Disney dollars saved up, that's pretty much our "discount" if we don't wind up getting a discount, so I say we go back to the GF and have some more magic". You see why I married him!!

If you go there not expeciting anything, you won't be disappointed if you don't get an upgrade.... but you never know when magic might fall on you. I wish you luck for a great upgrade!!!!

 

[Lulu'sMom]

Ok, we're 8 months away from our next Disney vacation.... We're staying at the Grand Gloridian, in the main building, club level, in a theme park view room.
We would just love to see pictures of the rooms, and views.
PLEASE and THANKS!!

mndisneylovinmom, there are many, many pictures throughout this thread starting on page one.

That is tooooo funny!!! A grand suite upgrade would be awesome but i'll just take that itty bitty upgrade of a lagoon view. Actually as long as im not put in a building that views pool walls or dvc construction, i'll consider that an upgrade.

I hear you, butternut!
And I was doing the AP math on the GF CL discount, it is 5%! WTheck???? If we stay at GF this next month, it's going to be non-CL, where they are offering 25% off discounts. This is awful, just awful!
God, I hate being spoiled. Something tells me I need to be WDW'd "humbled" again.

I think a grand suite upgrade means they weren't expecting any celebrities that week...

Those that got free upgrades, I wonder what time of day they checked in.

Early am and one time we got upgraded into the Pres suite at the CR in the late afternoon. Go figure.

We were upgraded once 4 years ago from garden view to SL! We were there in August and arrived around 10:30 as well. That was the one and only time we were ever upgraded. I had tears in my eyes when the front desk told us at check in that we would be in SL!!

I love upgrade stories!

We got an awesome upgrade and we checked in about 1:30 pm. We went for my birthday and booked a garden view. Now for me, ANY view at the GF would be awesome... it's just that beautiful. But when we were checking in, the CM said, "oh, I see it's your birthday, can you excuse me a moment?" We were like, okay....maybe she's getting me a birthday button. So then she came back (with the button) and told us our room wasn't ready yet. We said that it wasn't a big deal, we would head to the MK and check back later on.

Well, about 5:30 we came back to the GF to see if the room was ready (we never got a text) and get ready for dinner. Our room was ready and we headed off. Well, our room was just gorgeous and when we walked in there was a BIG chocolate Mickey Mouse sitting on a plate w/ chocolate covered strawberries, cookies and candies. And Mickey was holding a banner "Happy Birthday Jill". It was the coolest thing ever!!! And they also had birthday cards from the characters, a white chocolate "GF Postcard" and a red rose for our anniversary. Honestly, it was so magical. Until we opened the curtains and saw the view.... they had upgraded us to a castle view. I burst into tears (I know...sappy).... but I was just so overwhelmed and so grateful.

You have to understand, my DH and I had been planning that trip for our DD (who was 4 at the time) for about 2 years, in secret. So to see my DD's face when she saw that we could see the castle....well, it was overwhelming, to say the least. My DH, who was a Disney non-believer, fell in love with Disney that first day. (they had him on Magical Express, to be honest!!)

One of the best parts about the week was watching the Electric Parade from our balcony and seeing our DD with her head in the refrigerator each morning nibbling on the chocolate Mickey like a squirrel with a nut!

One thing about the GF, they will truly go out of their way to make your vacation truly the most magical vacation there could ever be. We debated going to a different resort for this upcoming trip and went back and forth....until finally, my DH said, "look....we've got all these Disney dollars saved up, that's pretty much our "discount" if we don't wind up getting a discount, so I say we go back to the GF and have some more magic". You see why I married him!!

If you go there not expeciting anything, you won't be disappointed if you don't get an upgrade.... but you never know when magic might fall on you. I wish you luck for a great upgrade!!!!

Oh, sydneysmom~what a wonderful upgrade and DH you have! Plus, great advice !!!!

and pas, my precious friend. <3