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

[Wood Nymph]

Also they have to give disney approved advice. I of course prefer the real deal lol!

I am the same way.

 

[Ngwira]

We check in Tuesday for a 2 day stay, then Disney cruise, then another 4 night stay! We picked Boca Chica!

 

[Dispro1]

Hello, everyone! I just got caught up on this thread! Trish said she prefers the "real deal" to the disney approved answers, so I just wanted to give some info on what I know from personal experience concerning the pool hours...since someone asked. When the 24 hour pool became a non 24 hour pool a few years back, we asked a CM why it changed. We were told that FL state law had changed requiring that the pools close at 11pm but that Disney wasn't happy about this change so although they had to post 11pm closure to follow state guidelines, they do not enforce it...at the "quiet" pools. They do enforce the rule at the feature pools. At GF in June, my DD17 stayed in the hot tub until 1am talking to some other people. At Poly the last week of July, we swam past 12am numerous times along with tons of other families even with young children...in the Oasis pool not the Lava pool which was closed. As you probably know, the resorts could suddenly start enforcing the rule at any time, but I really don't think they will as long as people are respectful by not being extremely noisy or making a mess of the pool area!

Editing to add that the reason behind the pool closure time change was given to us by one CM, and as most of us know, we might get a different reason from another CM...but we never asked again. I just know that they haven't enforced the 11pm closure at the quiet pools when we have been there.

 

[grannyminnie]

Hello, everyone! I just got caught up on this thread! Trish said she prefers the "real deal" to the disney approved answers, so I just wanted to give some info on what I know from personal experience concerning the pool hours...since someone asked. When the 24 hour pool became a non 24 hour pool a few years back, we asked a CM why it changed. We were told that FL state law had changed requiring that the pools close at 11pm but that Disney wasn't happy about this change so although they had to post 11pm closure to follow state guidelines, they do not enforce it...at the "quiet" pools. They do enforce the rule at the feature pools. At GF in June, my DD17 stayed in the hot tub until 1am talking to some other people. At Poly the last week of July, we swam past 12am numerous times along with tons of other families even with young children...in the Oasis pool not the Lava pool which was closed. As you probably know, the resorts could suddenly start enforcing the rule at any time, but I really don't think they will as long as people are respectful by not being extremely noisy or making a mess of the pool area!

Editing to add that the reason behind the pool closure time change was given to us by one CM, and as most of us know, we might get a different reason from another CM...but we never asked again. I just know that they haven't enforced the 11pm closure at the quiet pools when we have been there.

Leave it to a "Dis-er" to know the real answer! lol When I need to know something, I come here! Thanks, Dispro.

 

[cwis]

I can see the quiet pool of the Grand Floridian from my window, and I confirm people are using it 24/7.

 

[keithnmissy71302]

We just checked into GF yesterday and we have had 3 or 4 different CMs tell us that the Courtyard Pool is now open 24/7. This is our first time staying here, we usually stay at CSR, and it is absolutely amazing! We requested Sago but ended up with a lagoon view in Big Pine Key! We'll take it! We got to see the water pageant last night from our balcony! Can' wait to spend 9 more nights here!

 

[Maxie86]

Hi grannyminnie, your trip is coming up soon. Sorry we are missing you again. We check into the Grand on Monday for three nights before moving to the Poly to meet up with Blueskies.
Maybe I should think about getting the suitcases out of the attic...Blueskies has been packed for weeks.

Hi Dispro,

Thanks for the pool information keithnmissy. I know the pool was very popular late at night in the warmer months, glad they changed it back to 24 hours or at least not enforcing the 11 PM closure.

 

[lovewdwfun]

Has anyone shipped prime pantry to Grand Floridian? Do we go to Bell Services or the convention center?

 

[grannyminnie]

Hi grannyminnie, your trip is coming up soon. Sorry we are missing you again. We check into the Grand on Monday for three nights before moving to the Poly to meet up with Blueskies.
Maybe I should think about getting the suitcases out of the attic...Blueskies has been packed for weeks.

Hi Dispro,

Thanks for the pool information keithnmissy. I know the pool was very popular late at night in the warmer months, glad they changed it back to 24 hours or at least not enforcing the 11 PM closure.

Rats! When are we ever going to cross paths down there?!?
Have a blast, and enjoy your visit with Blue.

 

[Dispro1]

Hi grannyminnie, your trip is coming up soon. Sorry we are missing you again. We check into the Grand on Monday for three nights before moving to the Poly to meet up with Blueskies.
Maybe I should think about getting the suitcases out of the attic...Blueskies has been packed for weeks.

Hi Dispro,

Thanks for the pool information keithnmissy. I know the pool was very popular late at night in the warmer months, glad they changed it back to 24 hours or at least not enforcing the 11 PM closure.

Hi, Maxie! Our paths haven't crossed in a little while! Any chance you're going down Super Bowl weekend again? Have a great trip this week! I wish I were going, but school is back in session...DD12 has her first volleyball game on Tuesday! I feel like they just got out of school Keithnmissy, I'm glad your trip is off to a great start! Grannyminnie, I hope you have a great trip too.

 

[Maxie86]

Rats! When are we ever going to cross paths down there?!?
Have a blast, and enjoy your visit with Blue.

Thanks. We keep just missing each other, some day our trips will overlap.

Hi, Maxie! Our paths haven't crossed in a little while! Any chance you're going down Super Bowl weekend again? Have a great trip this week! I wish I were going, but school is back in session...DD12 has her first volleyball game on Tuesday! I feel like they just got out of school Keithnmissy, I'm glad your trip is off to a great start! Grannyminnie, I hope you have a great trip too.

Thanks. We won't be able to go Super Bowl weekend next year. DH is scheduled for knee surgery in January...bad timing. He had one knee done is May and can't wait to have the other done. I think he should wait until after SB weekend. What's another two or three weeks?

Good luck to your DD in her volleyball game.

 

[michelepa]

6 more days until we'll be at GF for our posh mother/daughter(12) trip.

Last year was DD first Disney trip. We stayed at WL which I loved.

With so much to see and do at WDW I told DD that if she wanted to return this year we could.

Of course before we even left last year for our trip she was asking to return. So when we walked into the lobby of GF to have dinner she was in awe of the beauty and atmosphere with the band. We sat in the lobby a few minutes and she asked if we could stay there this year

Luckily I was able to get a great labor day deal.

Now we're playing the this time next week game.

This time next week we will be at GF and spending the day at MK

 

[Dispro1]

Thanks. We keep just missing each other, some day our trips will overlap.



Thanks. We won't be able to go Super Bowl weekend next year. DH is scheduled for knee surgery in January...bad timing. He had one knee done is May and can't wait to have the other done. I think he should wait until after SB weekend. What's another two or three weeks?

Good luck to your DD in her volleyball game.

Thanks! DD12 is excited, so I hope they play well! I remember your DH's knee pain, so I am glad to hear that the first surgery was successful (I assume since he's eager for the next one). However, I do wish you guys could come hang out with us at GF...let me know if your plans change! I know Blue is staying on the Epcot side again, so I'm hoping she'll at least come visit. All of you lucky people who are either at GF now or going soon, PLEASE post pics!! It's going to be a while before we get to go back, and I'm really sad that our typical fall break trip can't happen this year since DD17 (almost 18!!!) is a senior this year!

 

[Dispro1]

6 more days until we'll be at GF for our posh mother/daughter(12) trip.

Last year was DD first Disney trip. We stayed at WL which I loved.

With so much to see and do at WDW I told DD that if she wanted to return this year we could.

Of course before we even left last year for our trip she was asking to return. So when we walked into the lobby of GF to have dinner she was in awe of the beauty and atmosphere with the band. We sat in the lobby a few minutes and she asked if we could stay there this year

Luckily I was able to get a great labor day deal.

Now we're playing the this time next week game.

This time next week we will be at GF and spending the day at MK

I totally understand your DD's excitement over GF...it really is amazing...even the way it smells! Your trip sounds really fun too, but be careful because the next thing you know, your DD will be saying that she wants to get married there (like my DD12 says), and I can only imagine how expensive that would be! Have a great trip!!

 

[dragonfly57005]

Just booked our family trip to GF Club Level for Sept 15. 7 nights. We will have 2 adjoining rooms - so I think this puts on into Sugar Loaf?

This post has been a blessing! Thank you all for sharing.

We stayed here 7years ago in Boca Chica so there have been some changes and we are looking forward to all of it.

Questions:
1. What kind of soy milk do they have? I zoomed in on the posted pic from Gasparilla's and it looked like Silk As Soy but the vanilla. Can I get plain Soy milk? The allergy child doesn't like the vanilla taste.

2. Anything I should ask in my room request? I love being able to sit out on the balcony and hated the Poly because all they had was ground floor rooms by the time we checked in (plane was delayed in Detroit due to mechanical issues for 10 hours).

3. Tipping - how much for the person who brings our bags to our room. How much for the maid service? Do you like to tip them daily or at the end?

4. The one thing I did like about the Poly was watching Wishes from the CL room. Where's the best place to watch from GF?

5. I use Amazon quite frequently at home. Would love to have a few things delivered to GF (again, the food allergy kid) - do I use the main address?

 

[cyneswith]

3 weeks from VGF, and I have questions!

1. How does pre-check-in work? We've never been there before, so we don't know our way around, but I'd love to be able to send my mom and kids to the room while I get the double stroller.
2. Is there a publicly available dumpster/large trash drop off and way to get extra trash bags? With a babe in diapers, we need trash often, and we'll set up one extra full-service day, but we don't need towels that often.
3. Can I attach different cards to different magic bands, or are they all tied to the room?

 

[focusondisney]

Sorry, no answers to above posters, but a question of my own. I have seen the pictures from Easter time when the GF has the beautiful Easter Egg displays in the lobby. Anyone know the time frames for those displays? How long before & after Easter are they up? I'm trying to decide on dates for a WDW trip next year. I'd love to see these but would likely not arrive til the weekend after Easter. Wondering if I might still see them. Thanks !!

 

[Sue M]

Looks like Solar Gel has made a return appearance today. I'd take a pic but can't figure out how to resize thr

 

[Sue M]

Trying for pic of toiletries

 

[Sue M]

Just booked our family trip to GF Club Level for Sept 15. 7 nights. We will have 2 adjoining rooms - so I think this puts on into Sugar Loaf?

This post has been a blessing! Thank you all for sharing.

We stayed here 7years ago in Boca Chica so there have been some changes and we are looking forward to all of it.

Questions:
1. What kind of soy milk do they have? I zoomed in on the posted pic from Gasparilla's and it looked like Silk As Soy but the vanilla. Can I get plain Soy milk? The allergy child doesn't like the vanilla taste.

2. Anything I should ask in my room request? I love being able to sit out on the balcony and hated the Poly because all they had was ground floor rooms by the time we checked in (plane was delayed in Detroit due to mechanical issues for 10 hours).

3. Tipping - how much for the person who brings our bags to our room. How much for the maid service? Do you like to tip them daily or at the end?

4. The one thing I did like about the Poly was watching Wishes from the CL room. Where's the best place to watch from GF?

5. I use Amazon quite frequently at home. Would love to have a few things delivered to GF (again, the food allergy kid) - do I use the main address?

1. I'm here now, I'll try to look when I go to Sandy Cove.

2. If you're in Sugar Loaf you can request either marina view or garden view I believe. I'd request 2nd floor, because upper floor is dormer rooms. Some people like thrm, but if you like to sit out on balcony, dormers have solid wall and you can only see out if you stand.

3. Tipping is individual, but common practice is for Bell Service $1 per bag. For room maid service $1 per person in room, then there's evening turndown service, most people leave $2 for the room. Tip daily because mousekeeper S change, and the same person prob isn't doing your room every day. So if you leave a big tip only at the end, only that person who happened to do your room that day will be tipped. And maybe the person who did your room 90% of the time will get nothing.

4. Great Wishes view from Gasperillas courtyard.

5. No idea!!