A Grand Vacation: The 2012 Grand Floridian FAQ!

[Mousemommy1]

Checked out of the GF today after a two night stay.

Oh. My. God.

There are not enough superlatives that could describe how perfect it was. The best two days if my life. Endlessly perfect in every way. By FAR the nicest Disney resort and maybe the best overall resort if the country. I've been to a lot of top rated places. The floridian smokes them all. Insane.

Paid for a garden view and ended up in boca chica facing the lagoon with a view of the contemporary, poly, and the magic kingdom including the castle. It was serene and quiet. We were treated like royalty. Narcoossees prepared us the best seafood we have ever tasted. Gaspsrilla's is quick service with a view of the castle. All the other guests were lovely people. Conceirge was pitch perfect. The courtyard pool and hot tub are AMAZING. The smell, the ambiance, the music, the lighting are all magical. Watching wishes from the marina was a perfectly serene experience.

The room was huge by any standard and beautifully decorated and way nicer in person than in photos. Perfectly clean. Housekeeping was outstanding. I would feel guilty paying any less than Disney is asking for the grand. It is that good.

Wow! That is a glowing review! Glad you had such a nice stay.

Back into GF thread lurk mode.

 

[Candy Orlando]

Checked out of the GF today after a two night stay.

Oh. My. God.

There are not enough superlatives that could describe how perfect it was. The best two days if my life. Endlessly perfect in every way. By FAR the nicest Disney resort and maybe the best overall resort if the country. I've been to a lot of top rated places. The floridian smokes them all. Insane.

Paid for a garden view and ended up in boca chica facing the lagoon with a view of the contemporary, poly, and the magic kingdom including the castle. It was serene and quiet. We were treated like royalty. Narcoossees prepared us the best seafood we have ever tasted. Gaspsrilla's is quick service with a view of the castle. All the other guests were lovely people. Conceirge was pitch perfect. The courtyard pool and hot tub are AMAZING. The smell, the ambiance, the music, the lighting are all magical. Watching wishes from the marina was a perfectly serene experience.

The room was huge by any standard and beautifully decorated and way nicer in person than in photos. Perfectly clean. Housekeeping was outstanding. I would feel guilty paying any less than Disney is asking for the grand. It is that good.

The Grand is Magical and you got some Pixie Dust. I loved reading your fabulous review.

 

[cm8]

The Grand is Magical and you got some Pixie Dust. I loved reading your fabulous review.

 

[sydneysmom]

Checked out of the GF today after a two night stay.

Oh. My. God.

There are not enough superlatives that could describe how perfect it was. The best two days if my life. Endlessly perfect in every way. By FAR the nicest Disney resort and maybe the best overall resort if the country. I've been to a lot of top rated places. The floridian smokes them all. Insane.

Paid for a garden view and ended up in boca chica facing the lagoon with a view of the contemporary, poly, and the magic kingdom including the castle. It was serene and quiet. We were treated like royalty. Narcoossees prepared us the best seafood we have ever tasted. Gaspsrilla's is quick service with a view of the castle. All the other guests were lovely people. Conceirge was pitch perfect. The courtyard pool and hot tub are AMAZING. The smell, the ambiance, the music, the lighting are all magical. Watching wishes from the marina was a perfectly serene experience.

The room was huge by any standard and beautifully decorated and way nicer in person than in photos. Perfectly clean. Housekeeping was outstanding. I would feel guilty paying any less than Disney is asking for the grand. It is that good.

Trust me, you're NEVER going to want to stay any place else now!! So glad your trip was wonderful !!!

How was the courtyard pool ? it's been getting mixed reviews.... to me, I think it looks really nice! (maybe not the fence, but the pool looks like they did a great job)

 

[WDWKOOK]

Trust me, you're NEVER going to want to stay any place else now!!

They are at BWI now, but maybe they'll switch back

 

[sydneysmom]

They are at BWI now, but maybe they'll switch back

you never know!!

 

[Figment1990]

I'm not usually a nay-sayer and I will report back again once I actually get to wander the grounds. However, sitting in the garden view tea room right now, I'm less than pleased with these stupid walls around the pool. They have ruined one of the most beautiful spots on property. I haven't seen the actual pool, as we are staying at the poly right now, but when we come over for dinner later this week I'll try to peak in. The pickett fence seems to have a white mesh around the outside of it????

Maybe they will listen to us and take it down?????

DVc building is going up fast. Seems like the exterior will be done very soon. Roofing happening now. From across the lagoon it does not appear to take away from the appearance of the grand (at least how I imagine it will look finished).

 

[Figment1990]

has to be ADA compliant.

Does that mean they are redoing all of the resorts' pools to have a fence?

Thank heavens the current fence will be replaced by that other much better looking one!

 

[Tink rules]

some are grandfathered in... but as they redo pools they are enclosing them.

 

[MagicPrincess]

Never really made a room request before other than needing a daybed...are there any rooms in Sugar Loaf that stand out more than others?
The last time we went we stayed on the first floor, overlooking the pool and very close to the lounge- it was very nice!

 

[bowbat]

Never really made a room request before other than needing a daybed...are there any rooms in Sugar Loaf that stand out more than others?
The last time we went we stayed on the first floor, overlooking the pool and very close to the lounge- it was very nice!

Our room in Sugar Loaf was kind of the opposite -- second floor, end of all, though still overlooking the pool. Though a bit away from the lounge, it was right by the back staircase, so the main building was super-close. We worried at first we might have a lot of foot traffic because of that, but we never saw anyone other than ourselves use the stairs. It was very quiet & convenient. The only request I had made was "no solid-wall balcony" because I wanted to be able to sit on the balcony & enjoy the view.

 

[k&a&c'smom]

Mousemommy1 - glad you ventured out of lurkdom, feel free to post any time you like.

KOOK -

Figment1990 - I was so happy to hear there will likely be a new fence. I'd rather have no fence, but a prettier one would be second choice.

How was your tea?

MagicPrincess - we've had a couple different rooms over the pool, both were fairly close to the lobby on 2nd and 3rd floor. There were trees in front of each, which seemed a bad thing to start but ended up giving us some privacy.

A couple years ago, we had a great room on the end of the second floor nearest Conch Key, overlooking the marina. Beautiful view and so quiet!
Looking left on the balcony

View of Sago Cay

Slightly right, back of the marina boat shack

 

[MagicPrincess]

That is a pretty view I'm sure we probably can't go wrong with either side!

It's been three years since we last visited SL...did they ever add washing machines???

 

[k&a&c'smom]

That is a pretty view I'm sure we probably can't go wrong with either side!

It's been three years since we last visited SL...did they ever add washing machines???

Unfortunately, no. I just walk out the back door to Conch Key, it's not too much farther as long as the machines aren't busy.

 

[MagicPrincess]

Unfortunately, no. I just walk out the back door to Conch Key, it's not too much farther as long as the machines aren't busy.

Thanks! That's probably the one thing I didn't like about SL...was hoping maybe they added them since. Oh well, this will be a shorter trip- so maybe only one load will need to be done!
Thanks!

 

[k&a&c'smom]

Thanks! That's probably the one thing I didn't like about SL...was hoping maybe they added them since. Oh well, this will be a shorter trip- so maybe only one load will need to be done!
Thanks!

You are welcome.

The laundry room situation in general is a little inconvenient at the Grand. Nice to have facilities in each building, but with only 2 machines it's easy for them to be busy and you have to search for an empty washer. I hoped they would build a laundry room with the addition of DVC, but if they have that plan I haven't read about it.

 

[itisamymc]

Current fence around courtyard pool looks very temporarily installed on the ground. Looks scratched and dirty upon close inspection. Mesh is zip tied to this PVC fence.

 

[Sue M]

Checked out of the GF today after a two night stay.

Oh. My. God.

There are not enough superlatives that could describe how perfect it was. The best two days if my life. Endlessly perfect in every way. By FAR the nicest Disney resort and maybe the best overall resort if the country. I've been to a lot of top rated places. The floridian smokes them all. Insane.

Paid for a garden view and ended up in boca chica facing the lagoon with a view of the contemporary, poly, and the magic kingdom including the castle. It was serene and quiet. We were treated like royalty. Narcoossees prepared us the best seafood we have ever tasted. Gaspsrilla's is quick service with a view of the castle. All the other guests were lovely people. Conceirge was pitch perfect. The courtyard pool and hot tub are AMAZING. The smell, the ambiance, the music, the lighting are all magical. Watching wishes from the marina was a perfectly serene experience.

The room was huge by any standard and beautifully decorated and way nicer in person than in photos. Perfectly clean. Housekeeping was outstanding. I would feel guilty paying any less than Disney is asking for the grand. It is that good.

So glad you enjoyed your stay! It's making me very excited for our August visit!

 

[eromzek]

Hello,
I'm closing in on my Honeymoon at the GF scheduled for June 15th for 5 nights.. my question is.. at what point should I call to make upgrade or specific room requests? Does anyone have advise on a certain strategy that should be followed here?

Also-I currently have a main building King Deluxe room reservation, with a note on my reservation for octagonal room type. Does anyone have any specific rooms that they would recommend I request, given my room type?

Again, this is for my honeymoon.. so I of course want to maximize the pixie dust potential, and try for the best possible room.

thanks in advance

 

[k&a&c'smom]

Current fence around courtyard pool looks very temporarily installed on the ground. Looks scratched and dirty upon close inspection. Mesh is zip tied to this PVC fence.

Thanks for the update.

Hello,
I'm closing in on my Honeymoon at the GF scheduled for June 15th for 5 nights.. my question is.. at what point should I call to make upgrade or specific room requests? Does anyone have advise on a certain strategy that should be followed here?

Also-I currently have a main building King Deluxe room reservation, with a note on my reservation for octagonal room type. Does anyone have any specific rooms that they would recommend I request, given my room type?

Again, this is for my honeymoon.. so I of course want to maximize the pixie dust potential, and try for the best possible room.

thanks in advance

Have you contacted IPO yet? Sounds like you have your request listed (octagonal king deluxe), but have you mentioned it will be your honeymoon?

If not, I would email or call IPO, ask them to add that you are celebrating your honeymoon to the reservation. If you want to have any chance at a castle view with the octagonal room, you can add the additional request to be overlooking the courtyard pool. Be aware, there are only 3 of these rooms, so it may not be possible, you can discuss with CMs during your personalized check in.

Good luck, and congrats on your upcoming marriage.