A Grand Vacation: The 2012 Grand Floridian FAQ!

[princessap]

Just an update for the Poly DVC... they are taking 2 buildings out for DVC convert and asking people if they have booked Sept to move over to the Grand...

this September??? that isn't a lot of notice

 

[Tink rules]

Disney doesn't believe in giving notice...

 

[princessap]

Okay this might be a biased place to ask this but thought I would ask.....we are trying to book a villa here for next fall with renting points but if we aren't successful at that just wondering if it is worth booking a standard room at GF??? with little girls I think they would love it but not sure it is worth the money?!?!

also, one other question....what are the differences if you stay in a villa vs a room?? are there different pools or do they share all amenities??

 

[k&a&c'smom]

Sorry I missed this before, but Monday is the only day for the parasol parade.

Thanks, friends and I discussed this last year but I didn't remember which day.

Anyone know if there are any plans to replace the bedspreads with duvets in the next 6-8 months (contemplating switching my 2014 Poly reservation to GF due to the potential construction and DW prefers duvets and will expect them at GF)?

Thanks

Posters have reported they were told the Grand will begin a room renovation after the Poly room refurb is finished. Probably late this year?

Just an update for the Poly DVC... they are taking 2 buildings out for DVC convert and asking people if they have booked Sept to move over to the Grand...

Wow, that seems so soon! I guess they are near completion for VGF, so makes sense, but I didn't expect it next month.

Disney doesn't believe in giving notice...

You can say that again.

Okay this might be a biased place to ask this but thought I would ask.....we are trying to book a villa here for next fall with renting points but if we aren't successful at that just wondering if it is worth booking a standard room at GF??? with little girls I think they would love it but not sure it is worth the money?!?!

also, one other question....what are the differences if you stay in a villa vs a room?? are there different pools or do they share all amenities??

I'm not the best person to ask about DVC amenities, but I will give my opinion on whether the standard rooms are worth the money. YES! (caveat - with a discount) We love the garden view rooms, we prefer them over lagoon and always book garden if we do not stay club.

All pools will be shared. The rest of the resort public spaces will be shared, not sure about room specific amenities. I had always thought you did not get daily housekeeping with DVC, but someone posted a while back you DO get it if you book a cash reservation.

HTH!

 

[phyllis1966]

Okay this might be a biased place to ask this but thought I would ask.....we are trying to book a villa here for next fall with renting points but if we aren't successful at that just wondering if it is worth booking a standard room at GF??? with little girls I think they would love it but not sure it is worth the money?!?!

also, one other question....what are the differences if you stay in a villa vs a room?? are there different pools or do they share all amenities??

Villas and rooms share all the facilities. The differences I know of are that villas have housekeeping only on the fourth day, then every 3 days if you're staying longer, whereas the rooms have housekeeping and turndown every day. If you want, you can pay extra for daily housekeeping in a villa.

The standard rooms are the GF are lovely, and look out on the courtyard pool, marina, or resort grounds. Some at Sago Cay look at trees and the monorail.


Edited to add: that's right, totally forgot about daily housekeeping at the villas if you are paying cash.

 

[JenniD44]

So, I'm a bit disappointed. We had a CL room booked for the first week of December and then the free dining came out and that week wasn't included. So we thought we'd move to the week before (Thanksgiving). We were able to do so, but couldn't get a CL room with free dining. We don't go often and when we do, we really like to pamper ourselves. But the savings were just too great with free dining since all 3 kids are over 10 now. We saved over $2,000, but are now in a lagoon view room instead of Sugar Loaf. I'm trying to think positive, because honestly we are out and about so much that we don't even use the CL food that much, but I did like having IPO and just knowing we could get some snacks or drinks was nice.

Anyway, I think I read on this thread awhile back (and I'll look back, but if someone knows off hand and can save me the search, that would be great) about some rooms in one of the buildings that had a bit of extra room and maybe even a second balcony. I'm not even sure if they were lagoon view, but since there are 5 of us and the kids are older now any extra space would be a plus. Does anyone know what I'm talking about or can send me to some approximate numbered posts to look?

Those that have stayed in a regular room after CL, will we miss it that much? Really, I am excited to be going, but we are creatures of habit and like what we have done before and are familiar with. For instance, my kids won't even consider staying at another resort at Disney because we have always stayed at the GF. I love the GF, but I'd like to try some of the other resorts too.

One last question, do all the rooms get the evening turndown or is that just CL? If it's not normal, is it something we can request?

Thanks for any help you can give me.

 

[phyllis1966]

So, I'm a bit disappointed. We had a CL room booked for the first week of December and then the free dining came out and that week wasn't included. So we thought we'd move to the week before (Thanksgiving). We were able to do so, but couldn't get a CL room with free dining. We don't go often and when we do, we really like to pamper ourselves. But the savings were just too great with free dining since all 3 kids are over 10 now. We saved over $2,000, but are now in a lagoon view room instead of Sugar Loaf. I'm trying to think positive, because honestly we are out and about so much that we don't even use the CL food that much, but I did like having IPO and just knowing we could get some snacks or drinks was nice.

Anyway, I think I read on this thread awhile back (and I'll look back, but if someone knows off hand and can save me the search, that would be great) about some rooms in one of the buildings that had a bit of extra room and maybe even a second balcony. I'm not even sure if they were lagoon view, but since there are 5 of us and the kids are older now any extra space would be a plus. Does anyone know what I'm talking about or can send me to some approximate numbered posts to look?

Those that have stayed in a regular room after CL, will we miss it that much? Really, I am excited to be going, but we are creatures of habit and like what we have done before and are familiar with. For instance, my kids won't even consider staying at another resort at Disney because we have always stayed at the GF. I love the GF, but I'd like to try some of the other resorts too.

One last question, do all the rooms get the evening turndown or is that just CL? If it's not normal, is it something we can request?

Thanks for any help you can give me.

Someone more knowledgable can help with the larger rooms, but I know for sure that all rooms get turndown service. Also, in my opinion, all rooms at the GF are lovely, and if you are out enough having fun in the parks, you probably won't miss CL that much. You will have a great view, free dining, and you saved $2000! Sounds like a win-win-win to me!

 

[jojomickey]

We have been going to the Grand Flo for many years and being creatures of habit we too won't stay anywhere else.We have stayed in all the buildings and loved them all ,but as my children got older the room was too small for 5 adults and all the luggage with one bathroom so we then got two rooms,now with one married and possibly grandchildren some day we decided to purchase the villas .I will get housekeeping every day and I know there won't be turn down service but will love the extra space. Hoping it will have the resort feel a little nervous about that!!!!

 

[Candy Orlando]

We have been going to the Grand Flo for many years and being creatures of habit we too won't stay anywhere else.We have stayed in all the buildings and loved them all ,but as my children got older the room was too small for 5 adults and all the luggage with one bathroom so we then got two rooms,now with one married and possibly grandchildren some day we decided to purchase the villas .I will get housekeeping every day and I know there won't be turn down service but will love the extra space. Hoping it will have the resort feel a little nervous about that!!!!

You will love having all that room. It will feel like home and a vacation. You will own a piece of the Grand. Enjoy the adventure!!!

 

[mickeynut1]

We have been going to the Grand Flo for many years and being creatures of habit we too won't stay anywhere else.We have stayed in all the buildings and loved them all ,but as my children got older the room was too small for 5 adults and all the luggage with one bathroom so we then got two rooms,now with one married and possibly grandchildren some day we decided to purchase the villas .I will get housekeeping every day and I know there won't be turn down service but will love the extra space. Hoping it will have the resort feel a little nervous about that!!!!

Congrats on the DVC purchase. The villas look absolutely beautiful and I think you're going to love the extra room .

 

[k&a&c'smom]

JenniD44 - I understand your dilemma, it's hard to consider another kind of vacation when you have been so happy with the tried and true.

I have a few thoughts, don't know how helpful they will be. Your savings is partly due to booking a cheaper room category; did you have the 30% room discount on your prior booking? That saves nearly $200/night on the SL CL room cost in the first week of December, if available. The first week of December does not include the higher T'giving rate, so that would be a savings all by itself.

I know Disney is making it harder for families to consider vacationing without a dining plan (crazy high OOP prices), but have you looked at pricing your meals w/o DP? For DD and I, we end up money ahead or at least dead even when we pay OOP over the DP, I've run so many spreadsheets! We rarely eat dessert, so that is a waste for us on DDP, even without CL - with it, we eat our dessert in the lounge. We usually get one appetizer and one entree and split, the portions are so huge. We rarely have anything but water to drink in the restaurants - we need the hydration, and any soda/tea cravings are satisfied in the lounge.

I know you have 3 kids to feed, but do they really eat $59/each per day? (is that the going rate now? I don't even know!) With the CL food, we would waste food at the restaurants, we stopped booking so many table service and now only have 1 per day. Big breakfast in the lounge, lunch on the go or in a TS restaurant (cheaper costs at lunch time, bonus!) and split a QS meal or just eat in the lounge for dinner.

Do you have an AP? The 20% TiW discount helps off-set dining costs. Might be worth looking into getting one adult AP for those discounts, if you don't already have one.

You could play around with your dates, see if anything comes up with CL and free dining. (or, do they specifically exclude CL?) You could check each day to see if someone cancels and snag their CL booking. We are often able to get CL rooms last minute, or as the vacation approaches, people cancel all the time.

If none of this appeals to you, and you prefer to keep your current reservations, don't worry. You will still love the GF! We alternate between garden view and CL (btw, I would drop the lagoon and just go with garden if it's available - lagoon view isn't nearly as charming, IMO, and costs far too much extra) and always have a great time.

As to your question for more space - you could request a corner room, many of them are larger. No guarantee you would get one. Or, try to book the deluxe garden view rooms, more money but they have the extra sitting room area. You would have to ask for a rollaway, though, no daybed.

Good luck! It's a tough decision.

 

[phyllis1966]

I wholeheartedly agree with k&a&c'smom about the fact that the garden view rooms have much nicer views, in general, than the lagoon rooms. I usually book the vacations around here, but my DH wanted to surprise me with a family trip for my 40th birthday, and he booked a lagoon view room. The view was just ok, looking at the Poly, and we agreed it wasn't worth the extra money.

I think the deluxe garden room is a great idea. We three have hearty appetites and wouldn't be able to make do with the CL offerings as meal replacements...maybe a breakfast or two, but that's it. I think the savings you've snagged are pretty awesome!

 

[DrDoodle]

we will be staying at the grand in october. it will be me, my husband, my adult sister, her DD7, my DD3,and DD5. We have never stayed at the grand. My family has stayed at beach club villas and the poly concierge, my husband and I also stayed at the dolphin for a quick weekend trip last march. We loved the beach club pool of course, but our best stay so far has been poly concierge. WE LOVED the POLY!!! for this trip I got a great rate through a conference and we are staying garden view at the grand. It is my sister and neice's first trip, so I want it to be great. any advice? Will it be able to compete with the poly? Will we wish we had paid more to stay at the POLY or upgraded to a better room at the grand?

 

[jojomickey]

Thanks!!!!

We are really excited

 

[jd99]

Just checked in to the Grand for our two night pre-cruise stay. Had booked standard view at Sugarloaf. Were upgraded to RPC in a one bedroom suite that overlooks lake and waterfall pool. Can see/hear construction but I'm not going to complain about that with space like this IN the main building. Gotta love Pixie Dust! A great start to vacation.

For those asking about refridge - I can speak to this room. The bedroom has a working refrigerator but the fridge that was probably in the wet bar area of the living room has been removed.

 

[asta]

Anyway, I think I read on this thread awhile back (and I'll look back, but if someone knows off hand and can save me the search, that would be great) about some rooms in one of the buildings that had a bit of extra room and maybe even a second balcony. I'm not even sure if they were lagoon view, but since there are 5 of us and the kids are older now any extra space would be a plus. Does anyone know what I'm talking about or can send me to some approximate numbered posts to look?

.

I don't have the room number but twice we were able to get a corner room in the end of Big Pine Key. It is larger with two balconies. The smaller balcony looks from the Polynesian around to the Contempory. The larger balcony looks from the Magic Kingdom to the Contempory. I think these rooms have the best views in all of WDW. The furniture is the same as other rooms, you just have more space. These rooms are not in a special category, just MK or lagoon view. That means that you can't reserve one. You just have to hope that the room assigner places you there. The first time we were randomly placed there. The next time we very nicely asked the front desk at check-in if that room was possible. We were paying for MK view.

 

[Jennygt]

Good information on the end room, so many options at gf.

 

[mickeynut1]

we will be staying at the grand in october. it will be me, my husband, my adult sister, her DD7, my DD3,and DD5. We have never stayed at the grand. My family has stayed at beach club villas and the poly concierge, my husband and I also stayed at the dolphin for a quick weekend trip last march. We loved the beach club pool of course, but our best stay so far has been poly concierge. WE LOVED the POLY!!! for this trip I got a great rate through a conference and we are staying garden view at the grand. It is my sister and neice's first trip, so I want it to be great. any advice? Will it be able to compete with the poly? Will we wish we had paid more to stay at the POLY or upgraded to a better room at the grand?

We've stayed GV, SL, and RPC and although RPC is my favorite, I wouldn't hesitate to book GV again. Our GV was in Big Pine Key that overlooked the courtyard pool, which was very nice. We are big Poly fans, but I do also love the Grand. I think you'll have a great time and will love the Grand .

Just checked in to the Grand for our two night pre-cruise stay. Had booked standard view at Sugarloaf. Were upgraded to RPC in a one bedroom suite that overlooks lake and waterfall pool. Can see/hear construction but I'm not going to complain about that with space like this IN the main building. Gotta love Pixie Dust! A great start to vacation.

Congrats on the awesome upgrade . RPC is heavenly .

 

[jcjen519]

we are doing a split stay next month and staying sl for the first time ever. we have asked for a marina view room. anything anyone thinks we should know for a first visit?

i have stayed in main building years and years ago, however my husband (he is the one who wanted to stay at gf) and son never have.

 

[JoBird]

k&a&c's Mom--- HEY!!! Thanks so much for looking up pictures of the tv's for me. I never even thought to google it! Duh me. I think we will be ok, doesn't matter how little they are, as long as the boys can catch the score! Score, schmore---- you're at the Grand, Mister!!

Hope you are doing well. Good to "see" you!

jd99-- Awesome upgrade!! Enjoy it!!