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

[Dispro1]

Glad it's working out. You sound like the kind of mom who can "go with the flow" - easier on everyone. Have a great trip.

Thank you. DH and I are major planners, and Disney is not one of the best places to "go with the flow," but the older my girls get, the more we have to learn to be that way...which is most difficult for my DH! Life is too short to "sweat the small stuff." As far as taking DD's friend, if you could have seen how excited she is about going with us, it would have brought you joy too She likes the Cinderella dress I made for her to wear to MNSSHP so well that she joked about wearing it to prom! The only problem is, now both DDs will want to take a friend every time...so I will have to say no at some point!

 

[VbChristy]

For those of you who have just returned recently from the GF...does everybody have to wear magic bands to the pool, or can just one person? They still weren't really checking MBs when we were there in February, but they always check at BC, so I'm curious to know if that has changed??

I was just there this week and they never once checked them.

 

[bethclayton]

hi everyone! i have just finally caught up on this thread! i am loving everyone's trip reports, pics, and especially dispro's adventures with bringing the friend!

so i am planning to take ds on a mother/ son trip in either jan or feb. i am patiently waiting for ap rates to come out. i am looking at SL. ok, what i REALLY want to do is book RPC but i really feel that the "value" isn't the same for just two people. i can justify the cost a bit more when there are four of us because frankly, we eat a LOT at the lounge! so for just ds and myself, i would give SL a try if the price were right. we have stayed rpc a few times but never sl.

best case scenario, if the AP discount were 35% (which i think is very unrealistic at this point), the SL room would run us roughly 2 grand for 4 nights. realistically i think the discount will be much lower.

my other option is that a friend has a dvc studio at blt, the first night is bay lake view, but the next 3 are theme park view, and it would run us under $900. it is already booked but she doesn't want it so she is just waiting for me to tell her whether we are taking it or she should cancel it.

here are my random thoughts, in no particular order: if we were talking RPC, my mind would already be made up, but since SL does not have the same ambience, i am worried that i will regret spending SO much extra $$ with that missing. i have never stayed at SL but have walked through it and it is definitely not the same. in 2010 we stayed two nights at GF in an outer building, non-CL and we never want to do that again, we just missed the energy of the main building too much. does this mean i won't like SL? i have always wanted to try the contemporary. while i LOVE the CL food, it would also be nice and easy to have the kitchenette to have bagels and snacks back at the room, as well, and it would also keep us from having to adhere to any schedule as far as the food offerings. but i am worried that the whole time i will wish i had just picked the GF?

do any of you that have any opinions? i'd love to hear other perspectives. my friend needs an answer soon, so i want to be able to make a final decision pretty much as soon as the AP rates come out (because if the AP rates are really bad, then we will just take blt no matter what; i am only considering spending the extra $$ for GF if the discount is better than i expect).

 

[grannyminnie]

Bethclayton, my sister and I enjoy SL, and we've stayed RPC too. It's such a subjective thing; I do get your point about the energy of the main building tho, and being right there in the thick of it!
By the way, I would LOVE to take that BLT ressie of your friend's!!!! It sounds like a pretty good deal...even tho we have never stayed Contemp. or even wanted to. With the lack of good discounts (and we don't even have APs, there is just nothing yet for Jan. or Feb. (and that's when we are looking to go)

 

[pas130]

hi everyone! i have just finally caught up on this thread! i am loving everyone's trip reports, pics, and especially dispro's adventures with bringing the friend!

so i am planning to take ds on a mother/ son trip in either jan or feb. i am patiently waiting for ap rates to come out. i am looking at SL. ok, what i REALLY want to do is book RPC but i really feel that the "value" isn't the same for just two people. i can justify the cost a bit more when there are four of us because frankly, we eat a LOT at the lounge! so for just ds and myself, i would give SL a try if the price were right. we have stayed rpc a few times but never sl.

best case scenario, if the AP discount were 35% (which i think is very unrealistic at this point), the SL room would run us roughly 2 grand for 4 nights. realistically i think the discount will be much lower.

my other option is that a friend has a dvc studio at blt, the first night is bay lake view, but the next 3 are theme park view, and it would run us under $900. it is already booked but she doesn't want it so she is just waiting for me to tell her whether we are taking it or she should cancel it.

here are my random thoughts, in no particular order: if we were talking RPC, my mind would already be made up, but since SL does not have the same ambience, i am worried that i will regret spending SO much extra $$ with that missing. i have never stayed at SL but have walked through it and it is definitely not the same. in 2010 we stayed two nights at GF in an outer building, non-CL and we never want to do that again, we just missed the energy of the main building too much. does this mean i won't like SL? i have always wanted to try the contemporary. while i LOVE the CL food, it would also be nice and easy to have the kitchenette to have bagels and snacks back at the room, as well, and it would also keep us from having to adhere to any schedule as far as the food offerings. but i am worried that the whole time i will wish i had just picked the GF?

do any of you that have any opinions? i'd love to hear other perspectives. my friend needs an answer soon, so i want to be able to make a final decision pretty much as soon as the AP rates come out (because if the AP rates are really bad, then we will just take blt no matter what; i am only considering spending the extra $$ for GF if the discount is better than i expect).

Our AP rate for next month is 30% and that seems to be as good as it gets, but the GP discount is horrible for Jan/Feb. SL is definitely not RPC, but I am glad to have GF period I think it'll be great for you and your DS (same price as a non-CL TPV room after all. Walking to MK from BLT would be awesome, but I'll take GF over BLT. Tough choice, but honestly I'd do GF. Think of SL as a non-CL room with the snacks My kiddos loved it! Happy planning!!

 

[grannyminnie]

PS...I'd pick the GF over BLT anytime too, it's just that with no good discounts, even Bay Lake is sounding good at the rate quoted!!

 

[TJA]

hi everyone! i have just finally caught up on this thread! i am loving everyone's trip reports, pics, and especially dispro's adventures with bringing the friend!

so i am planning to take ds on a mother/ son trip in either jan or feb. i am patiently waiting for ap rates to come out. i am looking at SL. ok, what i REALLY want to do is book RPC but i really feel that the "value" isn't the same for just two people. i can justify the cost a bit more when there are four of us because frankly, we eat a LOT at the lounge! so for just ds and myself, i would give SL a try if the price were right. we have stayed rpc a few times but never sl.

best case scenario, if the AP discount were 35% (which i think is very unrealistic at this point), the SL room would run us roughly 2 grand for 4 nights. realistically i think the discount will be much lower.

my other option is that a friend has a dvc studio at blt, the first night is bay lake view, but the next 3 are theme park view, and it would run us under $900. it is already booked but she doesn't want it so she is just waiting for me to tell her whether we are taking it or she should cancel it.

here are my random thoughts, in no particular order: if we were talking RPC, my mind would already be made up, but since SL does not have the same ambience, i am worried that i will regret spending SO much extra $$ with that missing. i have never stayed at SL but have walked through it and it is definitely not the same. in 2010 we stayed two nights at GF in an outer building, non-CL and we never want to do that again, we just missed the energy of the main building too much. does this mean i won't like SL? i have always wanted to try the contemporary. while i LOVE the CL food, it would also be nice and easy to have the kitchenette to have bagels and snacks back at the room, as well, and it would also keep us from having to adhere to any schedule as far as the food offerings. but i am worried that the whole time i will wish i had just picked the GF?

do any of you that have any opinions? i'd love to hear other perspectives. my friend needs an answer soon, so i want to be able to make a final decision pretty much as soon as the AP rates come out (because if the AP rates are really bad, then we will just take blt no matter what; i am only considering spending the extra $$ for GF if the discount is better than i expect).

I'm thinking that the AP discount will only be 20% for GF because the GP discount at GF is only 15%. I know this really threw me for a loop because we are going Easter week and I'm pretty dead set on staying at GF, so I had to maneuver things a bit and split my trip since the rates are so high and discounts so low. Only hope is that there will be so many empty rooms that the AP deal will be better, but I know that won't happen.... I will say that Easter week still shows lots of availability, even at the moderates which I've also priced out this time.

 

[loveshak22]

Well, she's going...but everything is not exactly worked out...but I have some Valium if I need it -lol We are going to have to wing it on a couple of ADRs, but the IPO said there's a pretty good chance they will seat her with us since we are often seated at a table for 6 anyway...although we may have to wait a little longer, but that's no big deal. Worse case, DH, DD11 and I will take the ADR and the two 17 year olds can do whatever they want (which they might like better anyway)! At least I got an additional ADR for Cali Grill so we can watch Hallowishes from up there Friday night! We got all of her FPs booked except SDMT of course, but she can ride that at MNSSHP.

For some last minute planning you seem to be in pretty good shape! It sounds like it's all working out...and what a fun trip for DD and her friend with the family!!

 

[loveshak22]

Our AP rate for next month is 30% and that seems to be as good as it gets, but the GP discount is horrible for Jan/Feb. SL is definitely not RPC, but I am glad to have GF period I think it'll be great for you and your DS (same price as a non-CL TPV room after all. Walking to MK from BLT would be awesome, but I'll take GF over BLT. Tough choice, but honestly I'd do GF. Think of SL as a non-CL room with the snacks My kiddos loved it! Happy planning!!

I am not an annual pass holder right now, but if I could get an AP discount at the GF for our trip in November then I'd buy the pass. We usually only go to Disney every 2-3 years so the pass doesn't make sense, but I may go again next year with my parents. However, even for 2 trips the pass doesn't make sense unless I could get a room discount with it this trip. I call every couple weeks when I see rooms open up at the GF for our week, but so far nothing.

I'd love to get lucky and find 30% off a room in the main building and then switch one ticket package to an AP, which will help if we do go next year. My 45 day mark was last week and I was hoping to see a lot of people cancel and rooms open up. Several rooms did open up but the only AP discount was for the 2 bedroom suite. That's not really a deal for us at $1,500 a night!!

 

[hunthearin]

I went through the same process when booking, having stayed in neither RPC nor SL, and this is how I justified the purchase. I just love the atmosphere of the main building too much. If I were to stay in an outer building, I don't know that I'd pay for CL.

 

[VbChristy]

@bethclayton regarding your choices? Will you be going to Epcot or MK more? If Epcot more- then BLT will be closer (to do the monorail change.) it's so hard to decide.

 

[VbChristy]

I'm trying to firm up and pull the trigger on my May stay. We will be returning to the world for my son's 3rd birthday. Will be there a month before he turns 3. We just stayed RPC in a deluxe King and I'm leaning towards doing it again. We LOVED the main building. And we loved hearing the music from bed when my son was sleeping. We are booked at Poly but I think we are moving back to the GF. I'm torn. Can you hear the music in the standard RPC rooms? Does anyone have a picture of those rooms? Anyone with feedback on what we should do?

 

[Dispro1]

hi everyone! i have just finally caught up on this thread! i am loving everyone's trip reports, pics, and especially dispro's adventures with bringing the friend!

so i am planning to take ds on a mother/ son trip in either jan or feb. i am patiently waiting for ap rates to come out. i am looking at SL. ok, what i REALLY want to do is book RPC but i really feel that the "value" isn't the same for just two people. i can justify the cost a bit more when there are four of us because frankly, we eat a LOT at the lounge! so for just ds and myself, i would give SL a try if the price were right. we have stayed rpc a few times but never sl.

best case scenario, if the AP discount were 35% (which i think is very unrealistic at this point), the SL room would run us roughly 2 grand for 4 nights. realistically i think the discount will be much lower.

my other option is that a friend has a dvc studio at blt, the first night is bay lake view, but the next 3 are theme park view, and it would run us under $900. it is already booked but she doesn't want it so she is just waiting for me to tell her whether we are taking it or she should cancel it.

here are my random thoughts, in no particular order: if we were talking RPC, my mind would already be made up, but since SL does not have the same ambience, i am worried that i will regret spending SO much extra $$ with that missing. i have never stayed at SL but have walked through it and it is definitely not the same. in 2010 we stayed two nights at GF in an outer building, non-CL and we never want to do that again, we just missed the energy of the main building too much. does this mean i won't like SL? i have always wanted to try the contemporary. while i LOVE the CL food, it would also be nice and easy to have the kitchenette to have bagels and snacks back at the room, as well, and it would also keep us from having to adhere to any schedule as far as the food offerings. but i am worried that the whole time i will wish i had just picked the GF?

do any of you that have any opinions? i'd love to hear other perspectives. my friend needs an answer soon, so i want to be able to make a final decision pretty much as soon as the AP rates come out (because if the AP rates are really bad, then we will just take blt no matter what; i am only considering spending the extra $$ for GF if the discount is better than i expect).

I'm glad you enjoyed reading about my adventures with teenagers!! Yes, I can laugh about it now! Anyway, like Grannyminnie said, where you like to stay really is subjective, but hearing other people's opinions really does help me decide about certain things, so here goes my two cents...
If cost weren't a factor, we'd always choose GF, but with our yearly trip average at four trips lately, cost is a factor! We chose BC in June because we got a 37% AP rate, but we also like the decor, and SAB (the pool, for those who don't know) is awesome! The new CL lounge is big and beautiful too! I think the best discount you could hope for would be 30% like pas said, but as TJA said, 20% is more realistic considering the current GP discount (which is still better than nothing - it will pay for a couple of nice dinners! Even if we can't stay at GF every time, or more specifically, RPC, we love CL!! I feel more pampered staying CL. I don't want to prepare any food or wash any dishes when I'm on vacation. On the other hand, BLT villas look very nice, and it would be nice to have the option of walking to MK. The price there is much lower, and if your son doesn't care about the CL lounge/food/drinks or the luxurious feel of GF, then you may want to stay at BLT. If your son wants to spend a lot of time at the parks and just wants to relax in front of the tv in his down time, then that would be another vote for BLT. As for SL, you may not get a nice view from the lounge, but you still get all the food and the BELOVED Nespresso machine (one of my favorite things about CL). And you would be steps from the main building... I love talking to Wes the pianist and Pat the band director and requesting songs! I don't know how old your DS is, but my DDs sleep late, and I love hanging out in the lounge when they are sleeping or watching tv. I have met so many nice people in the lounge And if the weather turns out to be nasty since you never know what you're going to get that time of year, you can always hang out in the lounge! I have enjoyed trying out new resorts, but I think I would rather try out a different resort CL than a villa...it's just different...and I know some people like that better and buy their own wine and cheese to create their own Club Level. It really does come down to what would give you and DS the most bang for your buck (in your opinion, no one else's)! Good luck with your decision!

 

[BlueSkies]

Good morning fellow GF fans...

Dispro you are a good mom..your DD will undoubtedly remember that you let her bring along her friend (sure sounds like she could use a nice trip too) and will be adding to the memories that you are making! We have also on occasion had to add an extra person to our ADRs...and also been advised that adding one should not be an issue. ..particularly with a family of 5...and it's really not been a problem at all...not even at a signature... Glad most every thing has fallen into place so close to trip time...I'm sure it will be just Grand!!!

Beth being a true fan of both CLs...and we do mostly stay in RPC ...I would encourage you to book SL...while as grannyminnie has pointed out very different in ambience. ..it is very nice...same food and drink offerings..fab CMs...and still that extra level of service that you get when staying CL at the GF...I don't think that you will be disappointed. ..as long as you have the mind set that it's different than RPC...

Vbchristy tough decision......Both are so lovely...You can hear the lobby music from most of the standard RPC rooms that open onto the atrium side of the floors..43/4424 to 27...some of the others have foyers and you really can't hear it as well...I will look for some pics to post...We stayed CL at the Poly last year for the very first time...and were pleasantly surprised...but...it's not the GF...lol..just my opinion...both great options!! Best of luck chosing!

Our trip is quickly approaching! ! and I am sooo excited...lol...

Hope that everyone is having a super Sunday......GF gal who can't wait to go to MNSSHP. .

 

[Dispro1]

I'm trying to firm up and pull the trigger on my May stay. We will be returning to the world for my son's 3rd birthday. Will be there a month before he turns 3. We just stayed RPC in a deluxe King and I'm leaning towards doing it again. We LOVED the main building. And we loved hearing the music from bed when my son was sleeping. We are booked at Poly but I think we are moving back to the GF. I'm torn. Can you hear the music in the standard RPC rooms? Does anyone have a picture of those rooms? Anyone with feedback on what we should do?

I like the Poly, but I prefer the luxurious feel of the GF! Just like the King turret rooms are luck of the draw, so are the good standard rooms I've never stayed in a standard RPC room since the price of the deluxe rooms really isn't much more than the standards and it's so nice having the extra room, but I know there are some standards that overlook the main atrium/lobby between the King turrets 4321/4421 and the King turrets on the other end of the atrium where you were. I'm not sure how many there are, but I'm sure Blueskies knows! When we stay in the Deluxe Queen room, we can hear the music a little...I'm talking about the deluxe rooms right off the lounge 4319/4320 and 4419/4420. I don't think you would be able to hear the music from standard rooms further down that hallway since the first two rooms are deluxes, but maybe someone else knows for sure if they have stayed in one of those. But the Poly is still a nice option for less money, as long as all the construction is done!

 

[Dispro1]

Good morning fellow GF fans...

Dispro you are a good mom..your DD will undoubtedly remember that you let her bring along her friend (sure sounds like she could use a nice trip too) and will be adding to the memories that you are making! We have also on occasion had to add an extra person to our ADRs...and also been advised that adding one should not be an issue. ..particularly with a family of 5...and it's really not been a problem at all...not even at a signature... Glad most every thing has fallen into place so close to trip time...I'm sure it will be just Grand!!!

Beth being a true fan of both CLs...and we do mostly stay in RPC ...I would encourage you to book SL...while as grannyminnie has pointed out very different in ambience. ..it is very nice...same food and drink offerings..fab CMs...and still that extra level of service that you get when staying CL at the GF...I don't think that you will be disappointed. ..as long as you have the mind set that it's different than RPC...

Vbchristy tough decision......Both are so lovely...You can hear the lobby music from most of the standard RPC rooms that open onto the atrium side of the floors..43/4424 to 27...some of the others have foyers and you really can't hear it as well...I will look for some pics to post...We stayed CL at the Poly last year for the very first time...and were pleasantly surprised...but...it's not the GF...lol..just my opinion...both great options!! Best of luck chosing!

Our trip is quickly approaching! ! and I am sooo excited...lol...

Hope that everything everyone is having a super Sunday......GF gal who can't wait to go to MNSSHP. .

You must have posted while I was writing a reply to Vbchristy...I knew you'd know all about those standard rooms, lol BTW, thanks for reassuring me about the ADRs...I'm a little nervous about that one!

 

[maryj11]

Thank you. I just requested high floor so far. Did you do online check in?? Haven't done that before so not sure if I should or not

Yes we did online check in for a garden view room and requested Big Pine Key ground floor on the end near Boca Chica and ended up getting an upgrade with lagoon view on the end ground floor ! So we were very happy. We did have to add towards the end by having our travel agent call and adding it to our reservation since there is not option for it. We also sent a fax on touring plans room finder. I think that fax is what really got our room request granted because the lagoon view room was right across from the room that I requested in the fax.
http://touringplans.com/hotel_maps/disneys-grand-floridian-resort

 

[Dispro1]

Ugh! I just saw on allears that Disney raised the price on AP and tables in wonderland! They added some new tiers that would be good if you live in FL, but that doesn't help most of us

 

[maryj11]

Ugh! I just saw on allears that Disney raised the price on AP and tables in wonderland! They added some new tiers that would be good if you live in FL, but that doesn't help most of us

I read some where they were changing all the annual passes.

 

[TJA]

Ugh! I just saw on allears that Disney raised the price on AP and tables in wonderland! They added some new tiers that would be good if you live in FL, but that doesn't help most of us

I know! I know we'll probably bite the bullet and still get the AP's....but we might not get the TiW anymore. Probably just use the 10% AP discount at restaurants.