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

[trishadono]

The poly princess loves her view of the Grand

 

[trishadono]

 

[MinnieF]

Just switched over from the Poly... was getting nervous about all of the construction for our upcoming January stay. Excited to be staying at the GF again!

 

[grannyminnie]

Thanks for the pictures, Trish! Nice way to start my morning... Hope your trip with your mom has been all you wanted it to be!

 

[trishadono]

Thanks for the pictures, Trish! Nice way to start my morning... Hope your trip with your mom has been all you wanted it to be!

It has been great!

The bonus was spending time with Blue and her daughter

 

[mickeynut1]

The poly princess loves her view of the Grand

Great pics, thanks for sharing . Glad you're having your nice trip.

Just switched over from the Poly... was getting nervous about all of the construction for our upcoming January stay. Excited to be staying at the GF again!

January is right around the corner. Hope you have a great trip .

 

[KonaKaiTom]

Beautiful pics -- I can't wait -- a couple of more weeks and we get to do our FPP, which means a couple of months and back to the World! I'm actually thinking of changing to an AP when I get down there in February -- it seems I go twice a year, and the benefits seem to be worth the risk that I might not get there the second time. Any other non-Florida AP holders have any thoughts or comments?

Tom

 

[grannyminnie]

It has been great!

The bonus was spending time with Blue and her daughter

Yeah! That too...

 

[SFunaro]

Well,we just booked a standard room for the 13th to the 18th of Dec, 2015. We have never done GF or Poly and it was tough choice, for those of you who have stayed in both, why would choose GF?


I am completely in the dark, I just know I love the decor and location at the GF but it was hard to tell what poly is like under contruction.

soo..what are the best things about GF!? I can't wait to hear!!

 

[Circusgirl]

Beautiful pics -- I can't wait -- a couple of more weeks and we get to do our FPP, which means a couple of months and back to the World! I'm actually thinking of changing to an AP when I get down there in February -- it seems I go twice a year, and the benefits seem to be worth the risk that I might not get there the second time. Any other non-Florida AP holders have any thoughts or comments?

Tom

Be aware that it is a bit of a slippery slope, or a self fulfilling prophecy...

I started with a Disney World AP and then got a DL AP, and then the Premier Passport when it was introduced.

 

[cattywampus]

Wonderful stay! We are almost landing at home. Thank you all -- your help and advice and help made our trip so much smoother and more magical!!

 

[Sue M]

Beautiful pics -- I can't wait -- a couple of more weeks and we get to do our FPP, which means a couple of months and back to the World! I'm actually thinking of changing to an AP when I get down there in February -- it seems I go twice a year, and the benefits seem to be worth the risk that I might not get there the second time. Any other non-Florida AP holders have any thoughts or comments?

Tom

We live on the west coast & have had APs for years. We go twice a year. January is usually 7-10 days, and August 12-14 days. So totally worth it for us.

 

[Sue M]

Trishadono great pics!!

 

[Sue M]

Hey GF Friends! I am very jealous of those folks that have a trip where they get to experience the Christmas season and more importantly the lovely gingerbread house.

I had been meaning to give a quick trip report on my recent stay at GF - Sugarloaf. We stayed the last week of October and the trip included myself, my almost 3 year old daughter & my mother. This was my first trip to Grand Floridian and the first time in the month of October.

So I will start with the good / great: We loved staying club level and its certainly a fantastic option with a toddler. They are so erratic in their eating that it was great to have access to snacks through out the day - including fruit to take to the parks! The pools were fantastic. I am entirely sold on the zero depth entry with a young child. My daughter loved it and told me that the pool was her favorite part of the trip. Our room had views of the fireworks (slightly obstructed but still great) which we weren't expecting. We stayed on the 4th floor marina side. Also, we had the BEST mousekeeper ever - she made wonderful towel animals that my daughter loved, she always talked to my daughter when we saw her and when we departed she gave my daughter a rabbit made out of wash clothes. It just made our experience more magical! We found the grounds to be completely lovely and my daughter really enjoyed the fountain and flowers. The sandy beach was great fun for my daughter. Finally, there was a great little party on Halloween that included candy, Mickey and Minnie dressed up, and fun games for the children. Overall, it was a great resort for spending a lot of down time & relaxation at (which I find to be an extremely important in having an enjoyable trip at WDW)

The not so great: So my two biggest disappointments were the size of the room and the lack of any halloween decorations at the resort. I was in a dormer room (?) which I think might be smaller but it felt really small. I have only stayed at the Contemporary prior to this and I certainly feel like there is a lot more space in those rooms (not sure if its just a better layout ?). Also, I hated how small the balcony is with the dormer room. As for halloween decorations, there were no pumpkins and it bummed me out a bit. I was in DL in September and the Halloween decoration everywhere were so amazing that I expected more at WDW. Also, I typically go during the Christmas season and I really missed the holiday decorations. I booked a bounceback for next year and chose the week before Thanksgiving. One other disappointment for me (not related to GF) was the amount of construction walls at the parks. It really ruined a bit of the magic for me. I am sure it will be worth it in the end but the construction walls at MK and AK are so all encompassing and in your face right now that it really took away from the parks. (Not to mention the brutal state of Downtown Disney - STAY AWAY!!!!)

Hope that helps folks that planning their upcoming trip. I know that I loved hearing about everyone's experiences at GF in the months leading up to our visit! (Actually, I should have included one more good / great item - the folks on this thread!!! You guys are great and really helped me out with your tips and advice.)

You're right, the dormer rooms are a bit smaller. We stsyed at GF in August and my friend had a dormer room. We went up to see her room and noticed the size difference. I don't like the enclosed balcony either, but if I got a free upgrade to CL I think I could live with it!

 

[eerst5]

Anyone have any thoughts on a nice place to propose at the Grand? My sister is planning on asking her GF to marry her at WDW. We are staying at the Grand, and they are visiting us the first night for dinner. We've never stayed there before so I'm not sure of any of the quiet outdoor spots that would work for that. Thoughts?

 

[BlueSkies]

Hello fellow GF fans!

Wanted to just pop in and say that although not it it full holiday splendor...the GF is well on its way ...Gingerbread house is up...and opened for business on the 21st....and the lobby smells just wonderful....

The tree was not up yet....which was actually preferable for us...cuase even though its so pretty...the lobby does tend to get pretty crowded once it is... lol...

Hope that everyone is having a magical Monday... preppy GF gal...who is counting the months.. weeks.. days.. till our next GF visit!

 

[Paula Sedley-Burke]

Hello fellow GF fans! Wanted to just pop in and say that although not it it full holiday splendor...the GF is well on its way ...Gingerbread house is up...and opened for business on the 21st....and the lobby smells just wonderful.... The tree was not up yet....which was actually preferable for us...cuase even though its so pretty...the lobby does tend to get pretty crowded once it is... lol... Hope that everyone is having a magical Monday... preppy GF gal...who is counting the months.. weeks.. days.. till our next GF visit!

Oh thank you! The house is up! We have plans for coming next Christmas. How we adore that house! I would love to take a sizeable bite out of it.

 

[2012DisneyWorldBride]

Does anyone have a fax number for Grand Floridian?

 

[followthatmouse]

2012DisneyWorldBride, try Fax: 407 824 3186.

All those photos are making me giggly. Thank you, trishadono!

We are only two weeks away! Can't wait. May I dance around for a while?

 

[Sue M]

Anyone have any thoughts on a nice place to propose at the Grand? My sister is planning on asking her GF to marry her at WDW. We are staying at the Grand, and they are visiting us the first night for dinner. We've never stayed there before so I'm not sure of any of the quiet outdoor spots that would work for that. Thoughts?

For quiet spots, the beach is pretty quiet at night if it's not movie time. There's also a walking path to the Wedding Pavillion and continues on to The Poly.