A Grand Vacation: The 2012 Grand Floridian FAQ!

[Blessed_wth_Triplets]

Originally Posted by The V Gang

I'm wondering about that too. We are booked at AoA for 10 days in April 2013. Read the great reviews about AoA but we've stayed at deluxes almost every visit (stayed at POR last year and was totally bummed).. Don't want to spend a fortune to look at construction walls.

When will the beach walls come down??????

I noticed you are a big family too! Just curious...will you get two rooms at GF? We would need two rooms next time and I just can't afford it....at GF at least

[runskimom]

http://www.wdwmagic.com/resorts/disn...urbishment.htm

[Butterflygirl35]

Originally Posted by runskimom

http://www.wdwmagic.com/resorts/disn...urbishment.htm

Thanks for sharing!! I can't wait to see all the changes when we go back in Sept!!

[sydneysmom]

I'm SOOO excited, I just had to share with everyone....we just booked our trip! We're all booked for June 1-8 !!! I'm so excited that we're going "home to the Grand!!" And what did my DH say ? I knew I'd convince you !!

I'm just WAY too excited to sleep!!!!! The countdown is really on now!

[johnsonet]

Hope all you GF guys and gals are doing well.

k&a&c'smom, the FAQ looks great
Hi BCV23

We are headed to the Grand after Christmas and I cannot wait We haven't stayed there in at least 3 years ...been trying out other resorts (BLT, BC, YC, WL) and, my all-time favorite, AKL

Can't get over those pics of the courtyard pool construction. Hopefully the pool, Gasparilla Grill and Sandy Cove will all be open by the time we get there. So excited

[BCV23]

Originally Posted by johnsonet

Hope all you GF guys and gals are doing well.

k&a&c'smom, the FAQ looks great
Hi BCV23

We are headed to the Grand after Christmas and I cannot wait We haven't stayed there in at least 3 years ...been trying out other resorts (BLT, BC, YC, WL) and, my all-time favorite, AKL

Can't get over those pics of the courtyard pool construction. Hopefully the pool, Gasparilla Grill and Sandy Cove will all be open by the time we get there. So excited

Hi GF Gal! So glad to see you here. So excited for you. I hope everything is finished by your stay and that the decorations are still up!

Butterflygirl35 and sydneysmom, congrats to you on your upcoming Grand plans as well.

runskismom, thanks for posting the photos. Does it appear to the rest of you that the shape of the pool is remaining as it was? I know it's early days.

Hi CoachBagFanatic. The years with our children go way too fast, don't they? Happy Grand planning.

k&a&c'smom, great news on the jobs. As for decorations at the GF, it varies year to year. In one recent year, the decorations came down on 1/1. Another year we left on 1/12 and most were up until that day. We've seen everything in between. I do think the gingerbread house tends to go up on the early side now even if the rest of the decorations lag behind. I think they like to keep us guessing. It is so magical to awaken to a decorated resort. When we first started going to WDW in the early 80s, everything was decorated overnight in the week following Thanksgiving. Parks and resorts. Of course, there were just two parks and two resorts plus FW and the villas by the Markeptplace in those days. Anyway, it was so magical!

[johnsonet]

Thanks, BCV23

Originally Posted by BCV23

Hi CoachBagFanatic. The years with our children go way too fast, don't they? Happy Grand planning.

I am learning this way too quickly these days.

Originally Posted by BCV23

It is so magical to awaken to a decorated resort. When we first started going to WDW in the early 80s, everything was decorated overnight in the week following Thanksgiving. Parks and resorts. Of course, there were just two parks and two resorts plus FW and the villas by the Markeptplace in those days. Anyway, it was so magical!

So magical.

Are they doing a rehab of the rooms at all? Is the decor going to remain the same? (bedspreads, etc.?)

[MommyGina]

Hi folks! I have been catching up on this thread and saw some news about the GF Spa.

When I booked my trip last week for July, 2013, our TA said that the spa would still be closed.

Just thought that I would pass that along.

[CoachBagFanatic]

Originally Posted by BCV23

Hi CoachBagFanatic. The years with our children go way too fast, don't they? Happy Grand planning.

Hey lady. Oh way too fast. My DH is on the Disney web site right now looking at dates for next June at the GF for just the three of us. We also talked about bringing John with us in 2014 for their HS graduation and stay at Michael's favorite, The Poly as a big surprise instead of bringing John with us next summer. I think Michael would really enjoy that better. He likes the GF but has always loved the Poly even though we never stayed there.

Originally Posted by johnsonet

I am learning this way too quickly these days.

Time sure does fly especially when it comes to our children. The GF at Christmas is so wonderful. Happy planning.

[LINDATHEPOOH]

I apologize if I'm posting this in the wrong area but can anyone explain why they are getting rid of the deep end in the courtyard pool? The only resorts I was aware of that had a pool with a deep end were the GF and the Poly. My husband is 6'3" and although I would never cancel my reservation to the GF just because of the pool depth I am curious why it's being done after all these years. Thanks for any answers!!

[k&a&c'smom]

HFC1969 - thanks for the Mizner's update. That's a shame, as I think many were happy to hear the hours would be long enough to stop by after park closing.

MommyGina - thanks for the spa news.

runskimom - thanks for the link, I've been hoping someone would post photos! I have not spent any time online looking for news lately, I'm glad you kept us in the loop.

CoachBagFanatic - LOL about the Poly being your DS's fave, even though you haven't stayed there! Your plans sound great, I'll bet the boys will enjoy the trip.

johnsonet - good to see you, my friend! Exciting about the GF plans, woohoo!

I have not heard anything about a room refurb, though some of us have speculated it is nearly time for one again.

BCV23 - I was just going to mention they seem to be leaving the shape of the courtyard pool intact! YAY! Doesn't it look like they are also leaving the baby pool and hot tub, or is that wishful thinking?

Thanks for the decorations info.

Originally Posted by LINDATHEPOOH

I apologize if I'm posting this in the wrong area but can anyone explain why they are getting rid of the deep end in the courtyard pool? The only resorts I was aware of that had a pool with a deep end were the GF and the Poly. My husband is 6'3" and although I would never cancel my reservation to the GF just because of the pool depth I am curious why it's being done after all these years. Thanks for any answers!!

Welcome! No apologies needed, this is the place for GF discussion.

I wish I could answer that question! Is it official they ARE filling the deep end? Someone posted CMs have suggested this is the case, and it sure looks like it from those photos, doesn't it?

DD and I are not very tall, but we love the deep end and can't imagine why it would need to be 4 ft. (or whatever) rather than 6. With the splash zone and zero entry at both pools, seems like there is plenty for the small fry - the adults should have an area of their own.

[CoachBagFanatic]

Originally Posted by k&a&c'smom

CoachBagFanatic - LOL about the Poly being your DS's fave, even though you haven't stayed there! Your plans sound great, I'll bet the boys will enjoy the trip.

I think taking John for their HS graduation will make the trip much more special. Not telling Michael about the Poly as I really want this to be a special surprise for him. We are thinking of a split stay between the Poly and the Portofino for that year. I think that will be a great trip for all.

OK LOOK BELOW!!!
I can't control my excitement. It will be 5 years since we have stayed at the GF. I am already packed.

[k&a&c'smom]

Originally Posted by CoachBagFanatic

I think taking John for their HS graduation will make the trip much more special. Not telling Michael about the Poly as I really want this to be a special surprise for him. We are thinking of a split stay between the Poly and the Portofino for that year. I think that will be a great trip for all.

OK LOOK BELOW!!!
I can't control my excitement. It will be 5 years since we have stayed at the GF.

Very exciting!!

Your plans for the grad trip sound perfect - a Poly/PBH split would be awesome.

I am already packed.

[johnsonet]

Originally Posted by CoachBagFanatic

...The GF at Christmas is so wonderful. Happy planning.

Thank you!

Originally Posted by k&a&c'smom

johnsonet - good to see you, my friend! Exciting about the GF plans, woohoo!

I have not heard anything about a room refurb, though some of us have speculated it is nearly time for one again.

Thanks

Originally Posted by CoachBagFanatic

OK LOOK BELOW!!!
I can't control my excitement. It will be 5 years since we have stayed at the GF. I am already packed.

Woohoo It's been years for us too and we are really excited. I just created a countdown ticker too.

[The V Gang]

Originally Posted by Blessed_wth_Triplets

I noticed you are a big family too! Just curious...will you get two rooms at GF? We would need two rooms next time and I just can't afford it....at GF at least

Yep...we r a big family! My in laws rent from all star vacations. They offer to take my little ones (ages 6 and 1) home with them in the evenings so we can enjoy EMH. Otherwise GF wouldnt be an option. Definitely too expensive to get two rooms!