A Grand Vacation: The 2012 Grand Floridian FAQ!

[CaliforniaDreaming]

I hopped on this morning to say we just left the Grand and report about the pool and DVC construction, and found people up in arms! I haven't read all the posts, but thought I'd say - I've read the blog post everyone is discussing, and I thought it was hilarious!

As has been pointed out, this blogger has a candid style. He is more of a writer than a reviewer, to my mind. Someone who writes for the overall effect of the piece, rather than a black and white review of the resort, restaurant, etc.

I highly doubt anyone is stumbling on this one report and seeing it as an indictment of the Grand as a whole. We use easyWDW calendars and I've enjoyed the reviews on the site tremendously - goofy comments and all.



Oh, and I have some photos of the new courtyard pool fence being installed, along with Gasparilla's and Sandy Cove photos. When I get a chance, I'll upload and share. We had a wonderful stay at the Grand! There was some construction noise, but it didn't overly impact our stay. We didn't spend a lot of time out on the grounds, though, so I can't vouch for how it feels after hearing it for hours (in the pool, for instance - we swam once, for only about 2 hours).

Welcome back!! Glad to hear they are indeed putting up a new fence around the CY pool.

 

[Disney_Princess83]

Thanks for the reply I'll call them when we are a few weeks out and talk to them. I don't want an updo, just some curls ect. It's strange, all the different countries ways of doing things. Here in Australia, a hairdresser will always do a full shampoo and condition before doing any styling unless you specifically ask them not to wash it. Thanks for letting me know. I'll have had a hair cut a few weeks prior so it won't need a cut, just the styling.

We have had our hair styled a few times before going to V&A's, and DD is a red head, too, lots of hair! I should say, we had it done prior to the new management, so I can only speak for when it was run through the Nikki Bryan spas.

I doubt they will want to do a shampoo - they always told us not to wash our hair the day of the up do. It's harder for them to get it to stay up with clean hair.

We were both pleased with the results. I know BCV23 and her DD have had cuts there as well, and had no complaints.

 

[momofboyz3]

Hi everyone!!!! Apologies if this has been answered but I did not find it in a quick search. We are not staying @ the Grand Floridian we will be at POR (due to the price & it's myself & boys). But, I had booked ADR @ the Floridian Cafe! I wanted to walk around and enjoy the beauty of the hotel. My question is: will construction be going on the end of May & is it in the front or back of the hotel? Just curious.... Thanks all!

 

[momofboyz3]

Hi everyone!!!! Apologies if this has been answered but I did not find it in a quick search. We are not staying @ the Grand Floridian we will be at POR (due to the price & it's myself & boys). But, I had booked ADR @ the Floridian Cafe! I wanted to walk around and enjoy the beauty of the hotel. My question is: will construction be going on the end of May & is it in the front or back of the hotel? Just curious.... Thanks all!

Ohh my gosh... I just read another thread which answered my question. Sorry!!!

 

[kohler2009]

I should add that we didn't start planning our trip until about 80 days out, so to try to get BOG or Ohana is next to impossible- unless I want to eat at bedtime I was hoping they could work some magic, but with that little time I totally understand.
The CM's are great- and they have always been very prompt with their responses back to me.

So glad I decided to let the IPO make my ADRs this morning! Got everything I wanted within 20 minutes and confirmation was in my inbox by the time I woke up this morning. Which worked great, because DS decided to sleep in and so did I! Now...what to plan next...

Sent from my iPad using DISBoards

 

[Dr Ken]

Just checked into GF Sugarloaf Key (CL).

We're on the. 3rd floor with a pool view. With effort we can see CR and the top of Space Mountain from our porch. The fence around the pool blends in nicely. Quite a distance to VGF.

Had diner at GF Cafe.

 

[BayGirl22]

Thanks for the reply I'll call them when we are a few weeks out and talk to them. I don't want an updo, just some curls ect. It's strange, all the different countries ways of doing things. Here in Australia, a hairdresser will always do a full shampoo and condition before doing any styling unless you specifically ask them not to wash it. Thanks for letting me know. I'll have had a hair cut a few weeks prior so it won't need a cut, just the styling.

Its typical in the US to get a shampoo before cut and styling too. But I've always been told that Up-Do's stay better and are easier to create if your hair is "one day dirty". So I think that's what was referred to above. If you are looking for a true up-do then they won't wash it. For a regular blow out or curls type styling I would expect a wash. (Some lower end salons may not include blow dry but I'd expect someplace nice like GF to dry)

 

[BayGirl22]

Wondering if someone here can answer this. I'm going to GF for a conference and decided to buy our Parkhoppers through Disney at the conference rate, much better deal for us than all the other sources. So I bought them on the conference site but used the "Will Call" option and it says I need to get them at Guest Services. Will the GF front desk be able to give them to us when we check in, or do we need to go to a Park's Guest Services or the Transportation and Ticketing Center? I hope not to have to go to the TCC, we're going to AK the first day.

Also I'm pretty sure I read we can redeem our Photopass+ voucher at the GF's photo shop. Can anyone confirm that? I want to get as much done as possible the night we check in!

2 weeks from today we arrive!!!!!! I Can.Not.Wait!
TIA

 

[Rhongepooh]

Its typical in the US to get a shampoo before cut and styling too. But I've always been told that Up-Do's stay better and are easier to create if your hair is "one day dirty". So I think that's what was referred to above. If you are looking for a true up-do then they won't wash it. For a regular blow out or curls type styling I would expect a wash. (Some lower end salons may not include blow dry but I'd expect someplace nice like GF to dry)

I have 2 DD and the hairdressers always told us the same thing.

 

[Sue M]

Just checked into GF Sugarloaf Key (CL).

We're on the. 3rd floor with a pool view. With effort we can see CR and the top of Space Mountain from our porch. The fence around the pool blends in nicely. Quite a distance to VGF.

Had diner at GF Cafe.

We love GF Cafe! Sounds like a nice room location!

Wondering if someone here can answer this. I'm going to GF for a conference and decided to buy our Parkhoppers through Disney at the conference rate, much better deal for us than all the other sources. So I bought them on the conference site but used the "Will Call" option and it says I need to get them at Guest Services. Will the GF front desk be able to give them to us when we check in, or do we need to go to a Park's Guest Services or the Transportation and Ticketing Center? I hope not to have to go to the TCC, we're going to AK the first day.

Also I'm pretty sure I read we can redeem our Photopass+ voucher at the GF's photo shop. Can anyone confirm that? I want to get as much done as possible the night we check in!

2 weeks from today we arrive!!!!!! I Can.Not.Wait!
TIA

Someone correct me if I'm wrong, but I believe you have to go to the Guest Service at a park. M k would be easy enough.

 

[BayGirl22]

Someone correct me if I'm wrong, but I believe you have to go to the Guest Service at a park. M k would be easy enough.

Thanks. There should be a Guest Services at AK, right? I don't want to make a special trip to MK if I don't have to. But wish I could get them at the GF since we are trying to make RD at AK on our first morning!

 

[MommyGina]

Just checked into GF Sugarloaf Key (CL).

We're on the. 3rd floor with a pool view. With effort we can see CR and the top of Space Mountain from our porch. The fence around the pool blends in nicely. Quite a distance to VGF.

Had diner at GF Cafe.

Hope you have a great time. What do the refillable mugs look like at Gasparilla's? Hoping that they have changed since last year. I already have two sets of them and would like a new set for this summer.

 

[Dr Ken]

Hope you have a great time. What do the refillable mugs look like at Gasparilla's? Hoping that they have changed since last year. I already have two sets of them and would like a new set for this summer.

Haven't been to Gasparilla's yet but I'll take a look. (Can't upload a photo 'cause my iPad doesn't have a camera.)

 

[thisismyusername]

Just checked into GF Sugarloaf Key (CL).

We're on the. 3rd floor with a pool view. With effort we can see CR and the top of Space Mountain from our porch. The fence around the pool blends in nicely. Quite a distance to VGF.

Had diner at GF Cafe.

Enjoy your stay--we'll be at Sugarloaf in a few weeks!

If you have a moment to tell me what you think about the noise level down by the Beach Club pool during the day, I would be ever so appreciative. Just trying to make a final decision on whether to cancel my cabana reservation. Thanks!

 

[panthergirl]

Just got back from a quick weekend trip and wanted to report a room to avoid at all costs. If you are assigned room 5213 (Sago), consider requesting a different room. The room has a very bad view - directly over the roof of the entrance and laundry staging area. However the worst issue is noise from utility areas on either side of the room. We were awakened at 3:00 AM by loud banging which turned out to be a piece of machinery that had gone haywire. It took about an hour to fix and we were exhausted the next day. Had we been staying longer I definitely would have accepted the offer to move to another room but since was just a weekend trip we stayed put. We were so tired on night two I doubt anything could have woken us up anyway! Beware this room!

 

[sjs314]

Just got back from a quick weekend trip and wanted to report a room to avoid at all costs. If you are assigned room 5213 (Sago), consider requesting a different room. The room has a very bad view - directly over the roof of the entrance and laundry staging area. However the worst issue is noise from utility areas on either side of the room. We were awakened at 3:00 AM by loud banging which turned out to be a piece of machinery that had gone haywire. It took about an hour to fix and we were exhausted the next day. Had we been staying longer I definitely would have accepted the offer to move to another room but since was just a weekend trip we stayed put. We were so tired on night two I doubt anything could have woken us up anyway! Beware this room!

So sorry you had issues with the room, but thanks for the heads up about the view and noise.

 

[itisamymc]

I was just there through April 20. The resort refillable mugs have a pool scene on them with Mickey and friends. Some have blue lids and some pink lids.

 

[CaliforniaDreaming]

DVC news posted a few pictures of the interior of the new villas: http://dvcnews.com/index.php/component/content/article/94-villas-at-grand-floridian/2254-new-vgf-model-room-photos

 

[scanne]

I have a question....
I booked a room in the main building for August 2014. The price per night is crazy (which I expected) but what I'd like to know is IF AP or general public codes/rates are released, are they applicable to the main building rooms?

THANK YOU!

 

[Cotillard]

DVC news posted a few pictures of the interior of the new villas: http://dvcnews.com/index.php/component/content/article/94-villas-at-grand-floridian/2254-new-vgf-model-room-photos

Oh my goodness.