A Grand Vacation: The 2012 Grand Floridian FAQ!

[mickeynut1]

I have been battling a back injury (re-injury of old back strain) and have been offline for a few days. I need to go back and read all the posts to get updated on everyone's trip plans.

Hope you're feeling better .


Hi Blue

 

[MommyGina]

k&a&c'smom-I hope you are feeling better.

I wait all year for one week of vacation and what is headed right towards Florida? That's right, tropical storm Chantal. Looks like it will be hitting south Florida on Saturday. We have 8 days to go. No storms there, PLEASE!!!

 

[BlueSkies]

Hi MickeyNut! ~

MommyGina ~ Hope that you have plenty of sunshine.. Buy some rain ponchos now...that should ward off the rain!

With the construction walls coming down has anyone noticed what the access will be form VGF to the beach pool..I would imagine there would be a specific pathway for it?? Just curious??

 

[DetTigsGal]

k&a&c'smom-I hope you are feeling better.

I wait all year for one week of vacation and what is headed right towards Florida? That's right, tropical storm Chantal. Looks like it will be hitting south Florida on Saturday. We have 8 days to go. No storms there, PLEASE!!!

Hopefully, it bypasses you. That is one of the reasons I have balked at going to wdw in the summer. Wait until you see he VGF model, it hooked my husband who had shown no interest in dvc.

 

[Sue M]

k&a&c'smom-I hope you are feeling better.

I wait all year for one week of vacation and what is headed right towards Florida? That's right, tropical storm Chantal. Looks like it will be hitting south Florida on Saturday. We have 8 days to go. No storms there, PLEASE!!!

lets hope it misses central Florida I still have memories of Tropical Storm Fay. Usually they don't stay long, but Fay hung around for days. We were at Universal, and everyone's fingers were so waterlogged that the lockers in front of some attractions wouldn't work! They use fingerprint scan

I wouldn't worry about it too much, it's days away, and can change course.

 

[Sue M]

k&a&c feel better!

 

[Tink rules]

doesn't look too impressive and should be down to a depression over the Bahamas...

Lets hope...

 

[BlueSkies]

lets hope it misses central Florida I still have memories of Tropical Storm Fay. Usually they don't stay long, but Fay hung around for days. We were at Universal, and everyone's fingers were so waterlogged that the lockers in front of some attractions wouldn't work! They use fingerprint scan

I wouldn't worry about it too much, it's days away, and can change course.

I remember Fay too...What a trip! I think we had to buy an extra bunch of rain ponchos..cause even they didn't get to dry out!

Just checking the National Hurrican Center site..looks like the storm is a little stronger and moving faster...and hopefully be past Florida by late Sunday...

 

[Grumpy Grandma]

lets hope it misses central Florida I still have memories of Tropical Storm Fay. Usually they don't stay long, but Fay hung around for days. We were at Universal, and everyone's fingers were so waterlogged that the lockers in front of some attractions wouldn't work! They use fingerprint scan

I wouldn't worry about it too much, it's days away, and can change course.

I remember Fay too...What a trip! I think we had to buy an extra bunch of rain ponchos..cause even they didn't get to dry out!

Just checking the National Hurrican Center site..looks like the storm is a little stronger and moving faster...and hopefully be past Florida by late Sunday...

My DD and I were there during Fay also. That had to be the slowest moving storm ever!

 

[MommyGina]

Feeling much better about the weather next week. Keep fingers crossed for no new storms.

Does anyone know if the GF refrigerators are also being taken out of the rooms? I hope not. Always like to have a cold bottle of water for when I come back to the room.

 

[k&a&c'smom]

Thanks, everyone, for the well wishes. I am a little better every day!

MommyGina - I will keep my fingers crossed for your trip, hope the bad weather isn't too bad, or even misses you altogether.

We have not had too much rain for most of our summer trips, but the few years we went first week of June we had to use ponchos regularly. Last year in late August, we had 2-3 days of rain that lasted most of the day. Usually we tell friends and relatives the Florida rain is unlike ours - short bursts of showers followed by sunshine as if nothing happened!

Did they take the refrigerators out of other WDW resorts - Poly, for instance?! That is my one complaint with UO resorts, no in room fridge.~sigh~

BlueSkies - LOL about buying ponchos to ensure no rain!

I, too, enjoy reading Josh's commentary. A friend references his site whenever she is planning a trip which prompted me to visit it - he has a very humorous writing style. I like his monthly calendars, too, I didn't have to make one of my own this last trip, just followed his.

 

[MrsJ Henry]

hopefully your weather will be good

 

[DetTigsGal]

Feeling much better about the weather next week. Keep fingers crossed for no new storms.

Does anyone know if the GF refrigerators are also being taken out of the rooms? I hope not. Always like to have a cold bottle of water for when I come back to the room.

We were there until the 5th, fridges there. We did have someone come check what furniture we had in the room.

 

[trishadono]

FINALLY !!! Have my Holiday plans!! Well almost

Ds in Hs and is off 12/20-1/5/14. dd first year in college and off 12/17-1/20(?).

Dd and I really wanted to try VGF and

Be home for Christmas

And have time to visit with friends

And not pay the ASTRONOMICAL rates at the end of December.

Problem was VGF only bookable 10/23-12/31... Until finally opened up for January!

So we taking jetblue direct on New Year's Day (Wednesday) and dh and ds16 will fly home Sunday 1/5. We got the VGF 2bdrm lake view and rate reasonable for all days except the 1st. We still can see some of the holiday decor and will have less crowds for parks too!

Then dd18 and I were able to use points for our return only if we flew home on the 8th. so we just have to stay a few days for our girl time. I am going to watch for a deal then with hopes of finally getting RPC! If not maybe Hawaii again or maybe even try BWI CL.

Phew! It is hard to find reasonable airfare, room to accommodate our fussy guys, reasonable room rate and everyone's schedules.

Couldn't do it without everyone's help.

NOW can someone tell me what to do for tickets? Annual passes expired last year so... With magicbands not sure what happens if you have a room and not tickets. Will they let us get fast passes or do we need to link some kind of ticket to our ressie? Last step of maybe our last "family of 4" vacation so input really would be appreciated.

Thanks in advance!

 

[Syndrome]

Hey, wondering if anyone knows an answer to this ......... odd question.
We are checking in to Sugarloaf in 14 Days .
It is rumored ......and highly debated that someone in our family snores ........ . Wondering if GF can provide some kind of fan or something similiar if we ask ? It would help with some backround "white noise" so I ..........errrrrr .........."someone" in the family wont keep everyone awake at night with the supposed snoring .
I guess we can ask the CL staff and see if they can help with something.
Anyone have any ideas ???

Thanks,
Syndrome

 

[jillmc40]

Hey, wondering if anyone knows an answer to this ......... odd question.
We are checking in to Sugarloaf in 14 Days .
It is rumored ......and highly debated that someone in our family snores ........ . Wondering if GF can provide some kind of fan or something similiar if we ask ? It would help with some backround "white noise" so I ..........errrrrr .........."someone" in the family wont keep everyone awake at night with the supposed snoring .
I guess we can ask the CL staff and see if they can help with something.
Anyone have any ideas ???

Thanks,
Syndrome

We use a white noise app on our phone or IPad...God forbid we sleep in a SILENT room in my family!!!

 

[Princess Disney Mom]

Hey, wondering if anyone knows an answer to this ......... odd question.
We are checking in to Sugarloaf in 14 Days .
It is rumored ......and highly debated that someone in our family snores ........ . Wondering if GF can provide some kind of fan or something similiar if we ask ? It would help with some backround "white noise" so I ..........errrrrr .........."someone" in the family wont keep everyone awake at night with the supposed snoring .
I guess we can ask the CL staff and see if they can help with something.
Anyone have any ideas ???

Thanks,
Syndrome

I bring a small hepa filter and that helps for white noise and to freshen up the room.

Sent from my iPhone using DISBoards

 

[DetTigsGal]

We use the ceiling fan...

 

[k&a&c'smom]

trishadono - congrats on getting everything together and finding decent rates for room and air! It really is tough to coordinate two school schedules with the Holiday rates - we did the same one year and waited until after the 1st for the better deals.

I wish I could help with the tickets, I am clueless about the new rules for Magic Bands and FPs. We usually buy our tix through Undercover Tourist if we do not have/are not buying APs, it is usually the cheapest option.

Syndrome - We take ear plugs with us, in case anyone needs to block out the noise. At the UO resorts, we are able to ask for fans from Star Services, but I don't think we've ever asked at WDW - not sure why! You could ask this question of IPO, if you do so please report back!

PrincessDisneyMom - what type of Hepa filter do you use? I'd love to be able to tote one along, but didn't realize they were in portable form.

 

[trishadono]

Thanks K&A&C's Mom. I wonder if our tickets need to be attached to our "disney experiences" and if so, will tickets purchased elsewhere like UT will work?

Hmmm has to be someone that knows

Well I am going to UT and price compare. Last time I did it was about the same but worth looking. Enough dissers use it so it must be reputable.