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

[PackYourPixieDust]

If you are a returning RPC guest you will notice fewer food offerings (especially during "Twilight Refreshers") and cheaper wines, like Blackstone Merlot (under $10 a bottle). And, alas, Mumm Napa Cuvee M is gone. Unlike in the past, food items do run out...like hard boiled eggs in the morning and select dishes in the evening. And they are not replaced.

Still, there is much to appreciate.

All the best!

I did in fact notice less at breakfast and I'm not too happy about it. I'm pretty sure my price hadn't gone down and yet the offerings have. No cheese and no meat and that's a pretty big deal when I'm celiac and can't eat most of the offerings anyway. AND they had a special order for a small amount of gluten free pasties for me and it wasn't there in the morning and no one knew what to do about it. Whatever. The issue though is I had to purchase some food at the parks and that was supposed to be taken care of.

 

[Lisann]

If you are a returning RPC guest you will notice fewer food offerings (especially during "Twilight Refreshers") and cheaper wines, like Blackstone Merlot (under $10 a bottle). And, alas, Mumm Napa Cuvee M is gone. Unlike in the past, food items do run out...like hard boiled eggs in the morning and select dishes in the evening. And they are not replaced.

Still, there is much to appreciate.

All the best!

I haven't had the pleasure (yet) of staying Club level. But this is upsetting. It's similar to a grocery store or restaurant having a salad bar, advertising that the store hours are until 10 pm, but removing food before the store is closed.

If you are open until 10, then food should be available until 10...employees can clean up after the store has closed. This just creams my corn (to quote Penny from Big Bang Theory).

Club Level should have items available for every minute that is advertised they are open. Why should some guests be jipped? Not right.

 

[MommyGina]

I'm so sorry to hear that RPC food is not being replaced. For the amount of money it cost to stay there, the food should be replenished and served on gold platters.

However, when I was there last, and what I have read, there is a lot of wasted food. Maybe someone did an analysis and saw what was being wasted/thrown out and the GF made adjustments. If I wanted something while I was there and it had run out, I would ask a CM if they could get it for me.

 

[Mousemommy1]

I haven't had the pleasure (yet) of staying Club level. But this is upsetting. It's similar to a grocery store or restaurant having a salad bar, advertising that the store hours are until 10 pm, but removing food before the store is closed.

If you are open until 10, then food should be available until 10...employees can clean up after the store has closed. This just creams my corn (to quote Penny from Big Bang Theory).

Club Level should have items available for every minute that is advertised they are open. Why should some guests be jipped? Not right.

I agree. We very much enjoy CL. Yes, it is expensive, but we feel (most times) it is worth it. I would be very angry if food ran out and they did not replenish it. I will be keeping a close eye on that whole situation as we plan on returning to CL for next years trip.

 

[pas130]

What is strange to me re: GF was how different my SL stay was from my RPC stay. Both in 2011 and 2015 SL Wowed me for sure. RPC was a letdown. Although I would love to have an RPC do-over, I keep getting cold feet. However, I will add it doesn't take away the beauty of the Grand for me AT ALL! LOVE the GRAND

 

[Avery&Todd]

37 days!!! It has been 4 loooong years since our last trip to WDW -and this is our first stay at the GF!! We've booked an outer building - deluxe room and I'm super excited about it!!

I noticed that you can request a late check out but that you have to request that in person at the front desk - does anyone know if you have to do that when you check in or just sometime during your stay? We're there 7 nights and on our departure day won't have ME pick us up until almost 1:30pm for a 4:30pm flight home - we have an ADR that morning at The Wave and then wanted to just hang around and swim and I was hoping we could get dressed in the room vs. the locker rooms at the hotel..

any experience with this?

thanks!

and did I mention I'm SUPER excited about this trip and staying at the GF??!!

 

[pas130]

37 days!!! It has been 4 loooong years since our last trip to WDW -and this is our first stay at the GF!! We've booked an outer building - deluxe room and I'm super excited about it!!

I noticed that you can request a late check out but that you have to request that in person at the front desk - does anyone know if you have to do that when you check in or just sometime during your stay? We're there 7 nights and on our departure day won't have ME pick us up until almost 1:30pm for a 4:30pm flight home - we have an ADR that morning at The Wave and then wanted to just hang around and swim and I was hoping we could get dressed in the room vs. the locker rooms at the hotel..

any experience with this?

thanks!

and did I mention I'm SUPER excited about this trip and staying at the GF??!!

So close! Yes, I've done this and I've requested it at check-in. We weren't granted it, but it was all good anyway. Have a grand time!

 

[dansdad]

37 days!!! It has been 4 loooong years since our last trip to WDW -and this is our first stay at the GF!! We've booked an outer building - deluxe room and I'm super excited about it!!

I noticed that you can request a late check out but that you have to request that in person at the front desk - does anyone know if you have to do that when you check in or just sometime during your stay? We're there 7 nights and on our departure day won't have ME pick us up until almost 1:30pm for a 4:30pm flight home - we have an ADR that morning at The Wave and then wanted to just hang around and swim and I was hoping we could get dressed in the room vs. the locker rooms at the hotel..

any experience with this?

thanks!

and did I mention I'm SUPER excited about this trip and staying at the GF??!!

Late check out has to get okayed by Housekeeping. You should call them in the morning of check out day, or maybe the night before, and ask. The latest you will be able to get is 1:00PM. Whether they say okay or not is completely dependent on occupancy and how early they need your room. It never hurts to ask. We are running at about 50% for the times we've asked.

 

[Avery&Todd]

So close! Yes, I've done this and I've requested it at check-in. We weren't granted it, but it was all good anyway. Have a grand time!

I figured we would be hard pressed to have our late check out granted, but I thought I would try it!! and I have the family all prepared to shower in the locker rooms and we'll have a bag we keep from ME that has a change of clothes in it...

EEEEEKKKK!!!!

 

[baler31]

I'm so sorry to hear that RPC food is not being replaced. For the amount of money it cost to stay there, the food should be replenished and served on gold platters.

However, when I was there last, and what I have read, there is a lot of wasted food. Maybe someone did an analysis and saw what was being wasted/thrown out and the GF made adjustments. If I wanted something while I was there and it had run out, I would ask a CM if they could get it for me.

They have had waste and in the last 6 months or so have had the CM's weigh every single thing and try to prepare for services by weight. The problem with this is that the food is prepared for CL. The CM's cannot get any extra when what is prepared is finished. So, by cutting service to the bare bones there is often items that run out now. Sometimes well in advance of the end of service. This has happened on our last two trips.

We were unable to see out of the windows on the front side of the RPC lounge on our last visit. It was obvious they had not been cleaned for sometime. Many of the CM's have faced cuts to their hours and having to work in different roles to get hours. For example, someone who works at the concierge desk working in the lounge or working at another resort entirely.

Until the amount of compensation they are handing out to upset guests is greater than the savings from the cuts they will continue.

 

[Lisann]

They have had waste and in the last 6 months or so have had the CM's weigh every single thing and try to prepare for services by weight.

So, by cutting service to the bare bones there is often items that run out now. Sometimes well in advance of the end of service. This has happened on our last two trips.

Well, then...this method does not work. Back to the drawing board, Grand Floridian. Try again.

 

[baler31]

Well, then...this method does not work. Back to the drawing board, Grand Floridian. Try again.

To them it is working. Between reducing service, lower quality wine/drinks, cutting out self service of alcohol and eliminating certain foods outright(no more celery in either lounge spotty use of breads in RPC nothing but lavash in SL) the savings add up and make the bottom line look much better.

 

[Mikeb1892]

For our resort day, I'd like to plan a surprise scavenger hunt for my family. Participating will be my DW, DS9 and DS3. We're staying at Poly so I'd like to keep it within Poly, GF, CR and WL (we'll take the boat over). I would love suggestions with an estimated difficulty rating included so I know who to assign them to (easy for DS3, medium for DS9, and difficult for my wife).

Ideas would be like
At Contemporary:
"Entrance to Chef Mickey" for my DS3 and
"Sign with 'California Grill' on it" for DS9. Etc.

Any suggestions that you might have for the GF would be most welcomed.

Also, my DW and DS9 love looking for hidden Mickeys so those are welcome also.

Thanks!

 

[conandrob240]

I'm so sorry to hear that RPC food is not being replaced. For the amount of money it cost to stay there, the food should be replenished and served on gold platters.

However, when I was there last, and what I have read, there is a lot of wasted food. Maybe someone did an analysis and saw what was being wasted/thrown out and the GF made adjustments. If I wanted something while I was there and it had run out, I would ask a CM if they could get it for me.

Then bring out smaller quantities at a time. But you don't stop serving it when you run out. That's not fair to people on different or later schedules.

 

[Lisann]

Then bring out smaller quantities at a time. But you don't stop serving it when you run out. That's not fair to people on different or later schedules.

yes, that. oh, well...I guess I don't have to worry any time soon, as I don't have a club level reservation booked as of yet.

 

[StarlightStarbright1]

Hi

We can either stay in a outer room with theme park view or, for an extra £40 in total for 14 nights (about $60), we can stay club outer level. Do you know if the rooms have been refurbished in the Sugarloaf building?

Many thanks

 

[Sue M]

Hi

We can either stay in a outer room with theme park view or, for an extra £40 in total for 14 nights (about $60), we can stay club outer level. Do you know if the rooms have been refurbished in the Sugarloaf building?

Many thanks

All resort rooms have been refurbished.

 

[grannyminnie]

Even the suites? Have they been done too? (I'm referring to those like the Walt and Roy suite)

 

[Sue M]

Even the suites? Have they been done too? (I'm referring to those like the Walt and Roy suite)

Wasn't thinking about those, no idea. Poster just asked about regular rooms and those have been done.

 

[StarlightStarbright1]

Thank you. We have booked a club level room