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

[KonaKaiTom]

Good Morning my Grand friends. I hope you all had a Merry Christmas (or a wonderful holiday that you do celebrate). Mine was tough as mom fell at her nursing home around 1am on the 22nd -- and we had to deal with her and her broken hip -- poor woman went through a nightmare -- but we got her back to the nursing home in time for her 93rd birthday, which is Christmas day -- to her that is "home" and she desperately wanted out of the hospital.

Anyhow. To my split stayer friends, can someone confirm the following for me? Two of us are arriving at the GF on the 1st of February, 3 more will be arriving in the early evening on the 4th. On the 5th we leave the GF for the luxury of 2 bathrooms in an AOA family suite in Cars. While I'm diligently attending my conference on the 5th, in order for the vacationers magic bands to work, I assume I need to drive over to AOA when I get up in the morning, and "check in." Once I do that, the kids can get up, go have breakfast (I'm assuming at that point they can't charge to the GF room anymore) and then off to the parks, is that correct?

TIA,

Tom

 

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[grannyminnie]

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

I know I've been M.I.A. and no excuse other than laziness
No trips planned, except wishful thinking aka dream trips!

Hi Blueskies, MickeyNut, GrannieMinnie, Maxie and anyone else I missed...Hope to be here more frequently next year ;-)


AM

Hello back to you!! Hope your Christmas was wonderful! Sorry you still have no trips in the works. My sis and I will be going in Jan. but not to the GF. We have moved from the WL over to the Poly. Well, actually ya might as well say we're at the GF, because we'll be spending all our time there!! lol I haven't posted in quite a while either and don't know what's going on with anybody or who's been lately. Hope you get to make plans for 2016 to do so!!

 

[Sue M]

Good Morning my Grand friends. I hope you all had a Merry Christmas (or a wonderful holiday that you do celebrate). Mine was tough as mom fell at her nursing home around 1am on the 22nd -- and we had to deal with her and her broken hip -- poor woman went through a nightmare -- but we got her back to the nursing home in time for her 93rd birthday, which is Christmas day -- to her that is "home" and she desperately wanted out of the hospital.

Anyhow. To my split stayer friends, can someone confirm the following for me? Two of us are arriving at the GF on the 1st of February, 3 more will be arriving in the early evening on the 4th. On the 5th we leave the GF for the luxury of 2 bathrooms in an AOA family suite in Cars. While I'm diligently attending my conference on the 5th, in order for the vacationers magic bands to work, I assume I need to drive over to AOA when I get up in the morning, and "check in." Once I do that, the kids can get up, go have breakfast (I'm assuming at that point they can't charge to the GF room anymore) and then off to the parks, is that correct?

TIA,

Tom

Tom, so sorry to hear about your mom. It's never a good time for a mom to have a fall. This past Sept on our last night at Poly before flying home the next day my moms nursing home called me that she had a fall and was transported by ambulance to the hospital. My moms home is in S. Florida. It was dicey for awhile. I didn't know if I was flying home or renting a car and driving south. Luckily she only needed a couple of stitches on her forehead.

Enjoy your split stay and GF!! I don't know how that works, when we do a split stay we all go over to new resort in the morning with our luggage, then head to a park together. I don't know how you can concentrate on a conference while in WDW!! Lol! Is the conf at GF?

 

[Divaofdisney]

My daughter and her future husband have just booked this hotel for their honeymoon in April. They were engaged at our last trip to WDW last Christmas and the wedding is in April 2016. They are booked in a lagoon view- so I am just wondering what building would be best to request. Any other helpful information for them would be so appreciated. I really want to make this special for them. Thanks

 

[Dispro1]

I believe there are some King deluxe turret rooms that do. I don't believe it is as clear a shot as the ones on the 2nd floor, but I could be wrong.

The view of the castle from some of the turret rooms is fantastic! But you can't even book a turret room It's a crap shoot to get a turret room, so I have no idea how I have always been lucky enough to get one with a MK view...except that maybe it's the time of year I go without my kids (a bit slower?). I've always said they should make the turret room a bookable category, but then they would raise the price on those rooms, and it would probably price me out of it

 

[Dispro1]

Good Morning my Grand friends. I hope you all had a Merry Christmas (or a wonderful holiday that you do celebrate). Mine was tough as mom fell at her nursing home around 1am on the 22nd -- and we had to deal with her and her broken hip -- poor woman went through a nightmare -- but we got her back to the nursing home in time for her 93rd birthday, which is Christmas day -- to her that is "home" and she desperately wanted out of the hospital.

Anyhow. To my split stayer friends, can someone confirm the following for me? Two of us are arriving at the GF on the 1st of February, 3 more will be arriving in the early evening on the 4th. On the 5th we leave the GF for the luxury of 2 bathrooms in an AOA family suite in Cars. While I'm diligently attending my conference on the 5th, in order for the vacationers magic bands to work, I assume I need to drive over to AOA when I get up in the morning, and "check in." Once I do that, the kids can get up, go have breakfast (I'm assuming at that point they can't charge to the GF room anymore) and then off to the parks, is that correct?

TIA,

Tom

Tom, I'm so sorry about your mother's accident but I'm glad you got her back home for her birthday! I hope she heals quickly As for the magic band question, that sounds like a very complicated situation! Do you have a different magic band for each hotel? We have AP, so our tickets are tied to every band we own...so we wouldn't bother checking into the other resort until we are ready. But if your tickets for the 5th are tied to the MBs for AOA, that could be a problem. Also, I don't think you can check into AOA until you have checked out of GF which would leave your family without access to the room at GF. If you guys have AP, don't worry about checking into AOA until your family is ready to check out of GF. I know you used to be able to buy 10 days worth of park tickets on a reservation even if you were only staying at the Disney hotel for a few days...you just couldn't have the tickets start before your Disney hotel stay. So, if you don't have AP, maybe all the tickets will be linked to the GF band until you check into AOA...in which case, you would NOT want to check into AOA before your conference. I'm sorry I didn't really answer your question...I guess I was kinda just thinking out loud -LOL. I would definitely call Disney to confirm! Or maybe someone else who doesn't have AP but has done a split stay can better answer your question??

 

[Sue M]

My daughter and her future husband have just booked this hotel for their honeymoon in April. They were engaged at our last trip to WDW last Christmas and the wedding is in April 2016. They are booked in a lagoon view- so I am just wondering what building would be best to request. Any other helpful information for them would be so appreciated. I really want to make this special for them. Thanks

We had a nice lagoon room in Big Pine Key facing The Poly. We could watch the Electric Water Parade from our balcony. I think there are lagoon rooms in Boca Chica, the building next to Big Pine. Both these buildings are centrally located and right next to the Courtyard Pool.

 

[Divaofdisney]

We had a nice lagoon room in Big Pine Key facing The Poly. We could watch the Electric Water Parade from our balcony. I think there are lagoon rooms in Boca Chica, the building next to Big Pine. Both these buildings are centrally located and right next to the Courtyard Pool.

Thanks so much for the tip! Do you know approximately how long of a walk it is to both the ferry and main building from this location?? Also is there anything you would suggest for them special to do during this time? I am going to send something to their room for them in celebration of their wedding but wanted to do a little more something special for them. Any ideas? Beauty and the Beast is their favorite movie ever!!

 

[Sue M]

Thanks so much for the tip! Do you know approximately how long of a walk it is to both the ferry and main building from this location?? Also is there anything you would suggest for them special to do during this time? I am going to send something to their room for them in celebration of their wedding but wanted to do a little more something special for them. Any ideas? Beauty and the Beast is their favorite movie ever!!

The buildings face the main building. Just a walk across the courtyard. 3 min maybe? The boat dock is at the end of the resort, but that's not far. It's a small resort, nothing is a long walk. I've never timed the walk to the boat dock, but under 10 min.
Book them for the afternoon Tea? If they have any dining reservations at GF, special order a cake for their dessert. They have many designs. I ordered a Castle cake once for a friend's birthday. It was probably big enough for 2 to share. Love dinner at Narcossees timed for Wishes. They pipe in the music.

 

[pas130]

Good Morning my Grand friends. I hope you all had a Merry Christmas (or a wonderful holiday that you do celebrate). Mine was tough as mom fell at her nursing home around 1am on the 22nd -- and we had to deal with her and her broken hip -- poor woman went through a nightmare -- but we got her back to the nursing home in time for her 93rd birthday, which is Christmas day -- to her that is "home" and she desperately wanted out of the hospital.



Tom

Sorry to hear about your Mom. I hope she wasn't in too much pain over the holiday and her birthday I am not sure about the split stay part. But I think that is correct that you can no longer charge to your room after check-out.

 

[pas130]

View attachment 141639

My DD8's favorite jam tarts!

 

[Dispro1]

Good Morning my Grand friends. I hope you all had a Merry Christmas (or a wonderful holiday that you do celebrate). Mine was tough as mom fell at her nursing home around 1am on the 22nd -- and we had to deal with her and her broken hip -- poor woman went through a nightmare -- but we got her back to the nursing home in time for her 93rd birthday, which is Christmas day -- to her that is "home" and she desperately wanted out of the hospital.

Anyhow. To my split stayer friends, can someone confirm the following for me? Two of us are arriving at the GF on the 1st of February, 3 more will be arriving in the early evening on the 4th. On the 5th we leave the GF for the luxury of 2 bathrooms in an AOA family suite in Cars. While I'm diligently attending my conference on the 5th, in order for the vacationers magic bands to work, I assume I need to drive over to AOA when I get up in the morning, and "check in." Once I do that, the kids can get up, go have breakfast (I'm assuming at that point they can't charge to the GF room anymore) and then off to the parks, is that correct?

TIA,

Tom

Off topic but strange coincidence, my MIL fell and broke her hip this morning! We're at the hospital right now...at least it's after Christmas. I hope you get all your trip details worked out...I'm dreaming of GF right now!

 

[mmmears]

Thanks so much for the tip! Do you know approximately how long of a walk it is to both the ferry and main building from this location?? Also is there anything you would suggest for them special to do during this time? I am going to send something to their room for them in celebration of their wedding but wanted to do a little more something special for them. Any ideas? Beauty and the Beast is their favorite movie ever!!

Just chiming in to say that I like the lagoon views from Boca Chica and Big Pine, too. Also they are both close the the pools and the main building. I know that the Disney Florist has nice things you can order and have sent to the room (they are $$$$ but there are lots of nice options).

 

[Divaofdisney]

Just chiming in to say that I like the lagoon views from Boca Chica and Big Pine, too. Also they are both close the the pools and the main building. I know that the Disney Florist has nice things you can order and have sent to the room (they are $$$$ but there are lots of nice options).

Thanks for the replies...much appreciated. I will look to request this location. I am also looking at Disney Florist too and yes they are pricey but I hope worth it Thanks again.

 

[Sue M]

Hi everyone!! Just checking in...I too am guilty of a long absence from the Boards! Just wanted to say hi and say that I hope everyone is enjoying their holidays and getting ready for a happy New Year!!

Happy New Years! We just got up to Whistler today, for New Years. My last hurrah before back to work

 

[followthatmouse]

My best wishes go to Tom, Sue and Dispro and their Moms / Mothers in Law. I hope the coming year brings health and blessed relief for you all.

Last night, we paid the balance for our May trip. I have been giggly ever since - a feeling that is sure to last until I receive my credit card bill!