(2014-2020) Disney's GRAND FLORIDIAN RESORT & SPA + VILLAS Information & Questions

[Maddie's Nana]

Just a quick review of our stay at SL 8/17-8/20. DGD (13) and her friend (13) were sleeping when we arrived at GF - were completely surprised. We had told them we were going to the Space Center. We were greeted by Trey who took us on a mini-tour of GF then checked us in while we had breakfast at SL. Gotta love it!! Spent the day at the pool then on to Narcoosee's. Great service, fantastic dinner. Filet was wonderful as usual, but we were disappointed in the Ceasar salad. Different and not as good as it used to be. On Tuesday we went to MK and then Epcot. Had dinner at Tokyo dining - not a favorite. We were seated 40 minutes after our reservation, service was erratic and none of us liked our food. Wednesday was Animal Kingdom and Hollywood Studios. Dinner at Contempo.

This was our first stay at GF and we loved it. We are now converts. We had connecting rooms on the first floor right next to the side exit door. I tried to change them but nothing else was available. However, we ended up really happy with them. Quick trip to the main building out the side door and not far to lounge for AM coffee. Nice to sit on patio, watch the people passing and see the pool. The SL CM's were great, so helpful. Loved texting for extra FP's. All in all a great trip. Can't wait to go back.

 

[Dispro1]

Thank you! I am going to try and soak up every minute that I can Are the Photopass photographers there that early?

I honestly can't answer your question because it has been about ten years since we had a pre-park opening ADR (or any breakfast ADR for that matter, LOL) and I'm not even sure they had photo pass back then! There wasn't anyone around back then, so I took my own pictures, but that may have changed like so many other things have. My kids like to sleep in so we started staying CL years ago so DH and I can eat/hang out in the lounge while the DDs sleep

 

[Dispro1]

Thank you mickeynut1! That's who I was asking about. I know the CL CMs aren't supposed to take tips in the lounge, but I wasn't sure if it should be treated differently.

Evidently, only bell services, mousekeeping, and turndown staff are allowed to accept tips (and valet, of course) which is funny since we tipped the CL CMs that escort us to our room for years before we found out that they weren't supposed to accept them.

 

[ShayBells]

Thank you! I am going to try and soak up every minute that I can Are the Photopass photographers there that early?

Last time we did one, in 2013 I think it was, they were out before park opening taking pictures. It is really my favorite time! Nothing like walking down Main Street when it's practically empty!

 

[mickeynut1]

Thank you mickeynut1! That's who I was asking about. I know the CL CMs aren't supposed to take tips in the lounge, but I wasn't sure if it should be treated differently.

You're welcome .

Just a quick review of our stay at SL 8/17-8/20. DGD (13) and her friend (13) were sleeping when we arrived at GF - were completely surprised. We had told them we were going to the Space Center. We were greeted by Trey who took us on a mini-tour of GF then checked us in while we had breakfast at SL. Gotta love it!! Spent the day at the pool then on to Narcoosee's. Great service, fantastic dinner. Filet was wonderful as usual, but we were disappointed in the Ceasar salad. Different and not as good as it used to be. On Tuesday we went to MK and then Epcot. Had dinner at Tokyo dining - not a favorite. We were seated 40 minutes after our reservation, service was erratic and none of us liked our food. Wednesday was Animal Kingdom and Hollywood Studios. Dinner at Contempo.

This was our first stay at GF and we loved it. We are now converts. We had connecting rooms on the first floor right next to the side exit door. I tried to change them but nothing else was available. However, we ended up really happy with them. Quick trip to the main building out the side door and not far to lounge for AM coffee. Nice to sit on patio, watch the people passing and see the pool. The SL CM's were great, so helpful. Loved texting for extra FP's. All in all a great trip. Can't wait to go back.

Thanks for your review. Glad you had a great time at the GF and enjoyed SL. Now it's time to start planning the next trip .

I honestly can't answer your question because it has been about ten years since we had a pre-park opening ADR (or any breakfast ADR for that matter, LOL) and I'm not even sure they had photo pass back then! There wasn't anyone around back then, so I took my own pictures, but that may have changed like so many other things have. My kids like to sleep in so we started staying CL years ago so DH and I can eat/hang out in the lounge while the DDs sleep

We did lots of photo pass photos on our first few onsite trips (with the first being 2002), so it goes back at least 13 years. We saw photo pass CMs around everywhere, always ready to take pics .

Last time we did one, in 2013 I think it was, they were out before park opening taking pictures. It is really my favorite time! Nothing like walking down Main Street when it's practically empty!

I'm looking forward to doing this on our next trip, just for the empty Main St pic .

 

[BabyFu18]

Sadly, we had to cancel our upcoming GF trip, due to some health issues and doctors appointments (and the inability to get our dog boarded) we couldn't make the trip work, in the last couple of weeks it seemed everything was against us even making the trip at all so though I am sad I saw a cancellation coming. We are hoping to be able to stay at the GF in the future as this was going to be our first stay at the GF.

However, an upside is we were able to move our vacation back a week, but the only resort available was BWI, we've never stayed there either so I'm sure we will enjoy it and at least we are at Disney World.

I just wanted to say how helpful this thread has been for me as a first time GF guest!

 

[grannyminnie]

Sadly, we had to cancel our upcoming GF trip, due to some health issues and doctors appointments (and the inability to get our dog boarded) we couldn't make the trip work, in the last couple of weeks it seemed everything was against us even making the trip at all so though I am sad I saw a cancellation coming. We are hoping to be able to stay at the GF in the future as this was going to be our first stay at the GF.

However, an upside is we were able to move our vacation back a week, but the only resort available was BWI, we've never stayed there either so I'm sure we will enjoy it and at least we are at Disney World.

I just wanted to say how helpful this thread has been for me as a first time GF guest!

Sorry you had to forego the GF this trip but at least perhaps you can pop over and enjoy the lobby and/or restaurants during your stay.

 

[Maxie86]

Does anyone tip the CM that meets you when you get off DME and escorts you to your room? We're staying RPC. I remember feeling funny about it last year. I certainly would do it, if it is allowed.

In our experience most take it, but some don't. We offer it and leave it up to them to accept or decline...only offer it once though and if they decline we don't keep trying, it only makes it uncomfortable for them and us. From my understanding they are supposed to decline two times and if offered a third they are to take it and give it to their manager.

Sadly, we had to cancel our upcoming GF trip, due to some health issues and doctors appointments (and the inability to get our dog boarded) we couldn't make the trip work, in the last couple of weeks it seemed everything was against us even making the trip at all so though I am sad I saw a cancellation coming. We are hoping to be able to stay at the GF in the future as this was going to be our first stay at the GF.

However, an upside is we were able to move our vacation back a week, but the only resort available was BWI, we've never stayed there either so I'm sure we will enjoy it and at least we are at Disney World.

I just wanted to say how helpful this thread has been for me as a first time GF guest!

Sorry you had to cancel your GF trip. I also love BWI, it is so convenient to be able to walk to two parks. You'll just have to book another trip to the GF.

Kook, Thanks for posting your great pics. Now I'm a little concerned about Citrico's we have it booked for our upcoming trip. I am a plain picky eater and will probably get the filet. As many times as we stayed at the GF this is our first time eating in Citrico's. That is a "Maine" lobster( Any lobster from the northeast is considered a Maine lobster to the rest of the country.) , a little over cooked if it was chewy...that can happen here too.

Hi mickeynut, grannyminnie, Dispro and blueskies.

 

[Tash87]

I have asked this question on the transport forum but I thought you guys would answer me a lot quicker....

Is there a walkway/path from GF to MK?

 

[Maxie86]

I have asked this question on the transport forum but I thought you guys would answer me a lot quicker....

Is there a walkway/path from GF to MK?

No there isn't. There is a path but it doesn't go all the way.

 

[Tash87]

Another question.....

I was going to book chef Mickeys for 7:30ish but I have just thought how would we get there? The monorail or boat wouldn't be running at that time would it?

All these questions, but that's why planning waaayyyyyyyy in advance is fab!

 

[Tash87]

No there isn't. There is a path but it doesn't go all the way.

Oh . That's a surprise, I naturally thought there would be. So I guess we would have to take the boat for EMH or RD? When would the monorail start?

Sorry but I'm a total GF newbie

 

[hiroMYhero]

Another question.....

I was going to book chef Mickeys for 7:30ish but I have just thought how would we get there? The monorail or boat wouldn't be running at that time would it?

All these questions, but that's why planning waaayyyyyyyy in advance is fab!

Disney does provide early morning buses for guests with ADRs. You'll need to let the Concierge know you'll need the ADR bus service but I do believe the Monorail resort line runs early enough to get to your ADR.

 

[tinydancer312]

Hi all!

Just returned from SL! We stayed from 8/23-8/28! The staff was wonderful as always. We stayed in room 6320 which is one of the turret rooms. It was a bit of an inconvenience with the monorail hours and gaspies being closed, but once we got a routine down it was manageable. The CMs were able to get a 4th FP+ as long as it was available. We didn't really need them though as the longest we waited for anything was 15 minutes. Even got to see Anna and Elsa with a 5 min wait time near the end of the night! The wait times were very inflated then so keep that in mind. The meet and greet had a 25 min time posted.
The most exciting part of the trip though was that DBF popped the question! We were able to get the elusive "just engaged" buttons even though they have discontinued them.

I'll answer any questions that I can! Heads up- they were starting to put up the Halloween displays when we left!

 

[jani3]

The most exciting part of the trip though was that DBF popped the question! We were able to get the elusive "just engaged" buttons even though they have discontinued them.

Congrats! What a wonderful place to have the big question popped!

 

[2golftoday]

We have a reservation at GF SL for December 11-16. This is our first stay at GF. When submitting our room requests is there a certain floor we should request? Thanks!

 

[Maxie86]

Oh . That's a surprise, I naturally thought there would be. So I guess we would have to take the boat for EMH or RD? When would the monorail start?

Sorry but I'm a total GF newbie

The monorail and boats should be running early...notice I said should...you can never tell with the monorail any more. We take the boat when we can...been stuck on the monorail too many times...not fun. Getting there in the morning isn't a problem...getting out late is. Last trip the monorail was already shut down for the night and we had to wait for 5 boats to get back. The WL was running that big boat and it was mostly empty and the GF-Poly boat had the small ones with a very long line of peeps waiting to board. I was actually jealous of the peeps from any other resort who came by bus ( and I HATE the buses).

 

[Maddie's Nana]

We have a reservation at GF SL for December 11-16. This is our first stay at GF. When submitting our room requests is there a certain floor we should request? Thanks!

We loved the first floor (6102, 6104) - so close to lounge for coffee, snacks, etc. and the pool and main building. However, the view is probably better from a higher floor. Enjoy your stay. SL is fantastic.

 

[Tash87]

The monorail and boats should be running early...notice I said should...you can never tell with the monorail any more. We take the boat when we can...been stuck on the monorail too many times...not fun. Getting there in the morning isn't a problem...getting out late is. Last trip the monorail was already shut down for the night and we had to wait for 5 boats to get back. The WL was running that big boat and it was mostly empty and the GF-Poly boat had the small ones with a very long line of peeps waiting to board. I was actually jealous of the peeps from any other resort who came by bus ( and I HATE the buses).

I never thought about the return back to GF, that's not good . Thank you for the heads up, I can now bear that in mind.

A few years back we got stuck on a ram, packed monorail a few times and no, it def isn't fun. And sometimes it wasn't running at all due to problems, the queue for the boat back to the main car park was horrendous. I was actually getting really fed up with Disney that they couldn't sort it out . But it hasn't put me off .

 

[Dispro1]

The monorail and boats should be running early...notice I said should...you can never tell with the monorail any more. We take the boat when we can...been stuck on the monorail too many times...not fun. Getting there in the morning isn't a problem...getting out late is. Last trip the monorail was already shut down for the night and we had to wait for 5 boats to get back. The WL was running that big boat and it was mostly empty and the GF-Poly boat had the small ones with a very long line of peeps waiting to board. I was actually jealous of the peeps from any other resort who came by bus ( and I HATE the buses).

Hi, Maxie! Getting stuck at MK is SO frustrating! I do wish they would complete the walkway to the GF, but I guess they never will since they'd have to build a bridge across the area the Electric Water Pageant equipment is stored