A Grand Vacation: The 2012 Grand Floridian FAQ!

[Butterflygirl35]

Okay... Back to planning ... We will be in GF from Sept 4-8!!!

 

[jecon]

Does anyone know when the rooms will get renovated now that the soft goods in the poly have been replaced?

 

[*~PrincessBelle~*]

Does anyone know when the rooms will get renovated now that the soft goods in the poly have been replaced?

Great minds think alike Jecon! Was just coming to post the same question...I know that CBR & WL was recently done and I think I read somewhere that one of the all stars has been too...I did find a list of refurbs online and I did see a soft goods replacement for CR coming up soon but no GF yet...

I know that when I stayed at CBR back in May it was nice to not have that big heavy itchy bed spread on top... Hopefully all resorts follow suit....

 

[knitteresq]

Splitting rooms is likely not in the cards for us... I have three little ones and I think it would be too much of a pain to move all of them. Thinking about it makes my head hurt! I wish the GF were just available for the whole trip... boo!

 

[BlueSkies]

Hi there!! It was so nice meeting you at the Grand in December! I made mention of our meeting in my TR!!

It was so nice meeting all of you too! And to be added into a Momof2Disneyboys TR! I feel like a celebrity too!

Does anyone know when the rooms will get renovated now that the soft goods in the poly have been replaced?

Great minds think alike Jecon! Was just coming to post the same question...I know that CBR & WL was recently done and I think I read somewhere that one of the all stars has been too...I did find a list of refurbs online and I did see a soft goods replacement for CR coming up soon but no GF yet...

I know that when I stayed at CBR back in May it was nice to not have that big heavy itchy bed spread on top... Hopefully all resorts follow suit....

I posed this question to a CM that I was speaking to when I called IPO the other day..the discussions here piqued my curiosity...and she said she wasn't aware of any upcoming refurb?? I agree about the bedding....those nice soft white duvets that other resorts have used in their refurbs are so much nicer than the comforters that they are using right now...

Splitting rooms is likely not in the cards for us... I have three little ones and I think it would be too much of a pain to move all of them. Thinking about it makes my head hurt! I wish the GF were just available for the whole trip... boo!

I truly understand your reluctance to be changing resorts..although I have considered it we have never done it either...my only other suggestion would be to book a split stay and keep calling for cancellations...I have been able to add another nite or two close to my reservation time...room only ressies have a five day cancellation rule...I think that for packages full payment is due at least one month in advance...so you might be able to add to your GF nites that way... Best of luck to you...rooms do open up all the time!

MickeyNut ~What are you up to today??? Are you on the phone changing room ressies again?????

 

[mickeynut1]

Splitting rooms is likely not in the cards for us... I have three little ones and I think it would be too much of a pain to move all of them. Thinking about it makes my head hurt! I wish the GF were just available for the whole trip... boo!

Everyone is different, but we did a 2/4 split once and it wasn't worth it for us for such a short trip. By the time we knew it our first 2 nights were over and it was time to change resorts....then when we were finally feeling settled at the 2nd resort, it was time to pack up and go home. Some people love split stays no matter how many nights they stay, but we wouldn't do another split unless we went for at least 9 or 10 nights (but that's just us).

MickeyNut ~What are you up to today??? Are you on the phone changing room ressies again?????

No changes since I haven't booked yet .....but I'm getting close .

 

[knitteresq]

I truly understand your reluctance to be changing resorts..although I have considered it we have never done it either...my only other suggestion would be to book a split stay and keep calling for cancellations...I have been able to add another nite or two close to my reservation time...room only ressies have a five day cancellation rule...I think that for packages full payment is due at least one month in advance...so you might be able to add to your GF nites that way... Best of luck to you...rooms do open up all the time!

Thank you, I do feel much better knowing this! I am about two weeks from the one-month mark and I was starting to get all nervous because I thought the closer we got to the ressie the less likely it was that something would open up.... Knowing that things could change that close to the date of vacation is putting my mind at ease! Thanks!

Everyone is different, but we did a 2/4 split once and it wasn't worth it for us for such a short trip. By the time we knew it our first 2 nights were over and it was time to change resorts....then when we were finally feeling settled at the 2nd resort, it was time to pack up and go home. Some people love split stays no matter how many nights they stay, but we wouldn't do another split unless we went for at least 9 or 10 nights (but that's just us).

I agree with you, switching isn't for us. I like to get settled in and the thought of having to do it twice makes my head hurt.

 

[DetTigsGal]

Hi all- checked in yesterday and received our sago, marina view request. 2 floors above the room we has last time.
Enjoy the new seating at Gasparillas. The movie is on the lawn next to the courtyard pool and faces SL. I can see where that would be annoying.

 

[Tink rules]

Poly is not due to be done until the end of the summer... After that is what is floating around...

 

[DetTigsGal]

The movies are set to move back to the beach in a couple of weeks. There will be a fire pit, but no s'mores because FW charges and they didn't like that GF gave them away.

 

[Syndrome]

The movies are set to move back to the beach in a couple of weeks. There will be a fire pit, but no s'mores because FW charges and they didn't like that GF gave them away.

Thats great news..........perhaps most of the beach will be open again soon.
Hopefully a few weeks will be less than a month. I would love if they moved the movies back to the beach, and out of the courtyard pool area !

Only 29 days untill Sugarloaf !!! Hoping for a beach !

Syndrome

 

[Jennygt]

The movies are set to move back to the beach in a couple of weeks. There will be a fire pit, but no s'mores because FW charges and they didn't like that GF gave them away.

We had them at the poly last may for free.

 

[MommyGina]

I can't believe it! DH put a deposit down on the GF DVC! It is the two bedroom one. Still have some mixed feelings about it. DS and DD are not too happy that there isn't concierge service, but there will be a kitchen. Each will have their own queen bed.

Going to see the model room in a few weeks. Opted for the standard view room.

 

[BlueSkies]

I can't believe it! DH put a deposit down on the GF DVC! It is the two bedroom one. Still have some mixed feelings about it. DS and DD are not too happy that there isn't concierge service, but there will be a kitchen. Each will have their own queen bed.

Going to see the model room in a few weeks. Opted for the standard view room.

MommyGina~ Congrats!!! This discussion has been going on in our home also...??? Very torn..We too are "club" dwellers... LOL... But the thought of having that much room on vacation has a lot of appeal...

Would love to hear all about what your impressions are when you see the model..also ..what are the different view options??? I am sure standard view is far from standard in any way...Water or TPV has never been a must for us... Congrats again!

DetTigsGal~ Have a GRAND trip!

MickeyNut~ Take the plunge..CR CL..your are gonna love it! Really...Its our second fave... (of course if I were helping you decide..you know where you would be booking!!! lol..the GF!)Besides you will need to expand your options for when the Poly is being renovated..maybe!!!???

butterflygirl~ Have fun planning for your trip! I think September probably has the lowest crowds... Not sure when MNSSHP starts?? (it starts earlier every year) I do know that the MK will have the fall decorations out...Maybe you can think about adding that into your plans??

 

[k&a&c'smom]

The movies are set to move back to the beach in a couple of weeks. There will be a fire pit, but no s'mores because FW charges and they didn't like that GF gave them away.

That seems like a silly reason! Happy to hear the beach may soon be open.

Enjoy your vacation, I'm glad you received your request.

I can't believe it! DH put a deposit down on the GF DVC! It is the two bedroom one. Still have some mixed feelings about it. DS and DD are not too happy that there isn't concierge service, but there will be a kitchen. Each will have their own queen bed.

Going to see the model room in a few weeks. Opted for the standard view room.

Congrats!

MommyGina~ Congrats!!! This discussion has been going on in our home also...??? Very torn..We too are "club" dwellers... LOL... But the thought of having that much room on vacation has a lot of appeal...

Would love to hear all about what your impressions are when you see the model..also ..what are the different view options??? I am sure standard view is far from standard in any way...Water or TPV has never been a must for us... Congrats again!

....

Good luck on your decision. The space does sound nice, doesn't it? Not to mention the washer/dryer in the room! But, along with missing the CL, turn down, daily cleaning, etc., we are rarely able to book more than 2-3 months in advance.

 

[mickeynut1]

I can't believe it! DH put a deposit down on the GF DVC! It is the two bedroom one. Still have some mixed feelings about it. DS and DD are not too happy that there isn't concierge service, but there will be a kitchen. Each will have their own queen bed.

Going to see the model room in a few weeks. Opted for the standard view room.

Congrats .

MickeyNut~ Take the plunge..CR CL..your are gonna love it! Really...Its our second fave... (of course if I were helping you decide..you know where you would be booking!!! lol..the GF!)Besides you will need to expand your options for when the Poly is being renovated..maybe!!!???

It looks like that's what we will be doing . RPC was a contender, but after pricing it out, it quickly went to the bottom of the list . As much as I'd love to stay RPC during the holidays, I can't stomach almost $1,200/nt .....even with a good discount, it's still way more than the other resorts we were considering.....so RPC will have to wait until a future trip.

The space does sound nice

This is one of the reasons I looked into a 1 bedroom for our December trip (not to mention they are brand new ). But my DH wants to try the CR and with no chance of a discount on the villas, paying rack rate is not an option at just over $900/nt, especially right before Christmas .

 

[k&a&c'smom]

....



It looks like that's what we will be doing . RPC was a contender, but after pricing it out, it quickly went to the bottom of the list . As much as I'd love to stay RPC during the holidays, I can't stomach almost $1,200/nt .....even with a good discount, it's still way more than the other resorts we were considering.....so RPC will have to wait until a future trip.



This is one of the reasons I looked into a 1 bedroom for our December trip (not to mention they are brand new ). But my DH wants to try the CR and with no chance of a discount on the villas, paying rack rate is not an option at just over $900/nt, especially right before Christmas .

Neither price is acceptable to me, either! Yikes. One of the reasons we don't go during any holiday period, the prices begin at such a high rate.

 

[BlueSkies]

k&a&c'smom I agree understand about not being able to book too far in advance..having children in young adulthood..their commitments often have us changing our plans... Its not easy...But..We do always manage to work something out!

Again..having children in young adulthood really makes that extra space seem so appealing...but we love all that staying CL has to offer... and having the lounge to go to does add some extra space..my DH calls this Disney logic! As for laundry..I absolutely refuse to do any on vacation..Have found that if we forget something at home..or run out of anything..Sandy Cove.. Summer Lace and Commander Porters are very well stocked!

MickeyNut Those RPC prices over the holidays are crazy! As for your future RPC stay...I am very much looking foward to that!!

 

[jillmc40]

I can't believe it! DH put a deposit down on the GF DVC! It is the two bedroom one. Still have some mixed feelings about it. DS and DD are not too happy that there isn't concierge service, but there will be a kitchen. Each will have their own queen bed.

Going to see the model room in a few weeks. Opted for the standard view room.

Congrats!! We too bought vgf and I cannot wait to go! We have been using our marriott timeshare for a while now and I have to say. Staying in a regular studio hotel room is tough with kiddos once you are used to two or three bedroom condos! I love having the kitchen and laundry, and I actually like not having cleaning daily. Then I don't feel like I need to worry about our stuff. Now if I could just get someone to leave a chocolate on my pillow.........

 

[mickeynut1]

Neither price is acceptable to me, either! Yikes. One of the reasons we don't go during any holiday period, the prices begin at such a high rate.

Yeah, those holiday times are crazy. What used to be value season the week before Christmas is now peak season, which leads right into holiday season .

MickeyNut Those RPC prices over the holidays are crazy! As for your future RPC stay...I am very much looking foward to that!!

It's disappointing that the rates keep going up so high . I am looking forward to a spring RPC trip......hopefully a good discount will be available .