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

[grannyminnie]

I wish I could answer that question but I can't tell the difference between a lizard and a gecko.

The way to tell is if the creature starts talking about Geico insurance!

Stirling, there IS a support group...this is it! lol

Blue, here I am! Went out of town the weekend. Gotta start the the packing for my Cali trip tomorrow!!!

 

[Nancyg56]

So we are booked for the end of aug... I have read and watched a few reviews that seem to imply that the gf is just not for kids , and that I as a parent will feel very uncomfortable staying there with children. Please tell me I am not going to regret bringing my 4 and 8 year old.

I booked that last week with my two little Princesses who live down the street from me. They will be 5&6. I was there in October, and that place is KID FRIENDLY! Really, it is. I it was awesome, in the lobby during the afternoon we saw little girls, all dressed up in their Disney attire, dancing to the music that the piano player was playing. Kids all over the courtyards, and pools (the Splash Pad is a fun place for littles) and some headed to the beach for movies. I was with adults this last trip, but the entire time I was there I kept thinking that I had had such a misimpression of this lovely resort. It is a really a resort that makes sure that it is inviting for youngsters.

 

[Jennygt]

Thanks for the support all! I was all set, then I watched the review by the pocast team, and easy wdw review and it made me second guess. Our DD will love it, DS will not care, if his sister is happy he will be too. He was looking at some photos from the pool area and likes that the monorail goes right by. We will miss the poly, but I am looking forward to the grand now.

 

[BlueSkies]

I don't think I've posted in this thread before, but in case I did sorry about the double post

We'll be staying in a one bedroom villa in September for our 10th anniversary. To say that I'm excited to check out our home resort is an understatement!

Not sure if you have either....so WELCOME!!..maybe again..lol...what a terrific way to celebrate your anniversary!

So we are booked for the end of aug... I have read and watched a few reviews that seem to imply that the gf is just not for kids , and that I as a parent will feel very uncomfortable staying there with children. Please tell me I am not going to regret bringing my 4 and 8 year old.

Jenny Nothing to worry about at all...just because the GF ihas more of an elegant feel does not mean that it isn't child friendly..there are so many activities in and around the resort that are geared specifically towards children....You are going to truly enjoy it! My children grew up staying at the Grand...and never at any time over the years did we not feel like we were not in a child friendly atmosphere...Its a fave for all of our family for just that reason...Something enjoyable for every generation!

We are staying at the end of August too. I have a 6 and 10 year old. This is our first time staying at Gf too and I had the same concerns. The more I read the more I am not worried.

While we have never stayed at GF, we do visit almost every trip. As we sit in the lobby relaxing (read, people watching...) or dine at the Café', we have always noted how many young family's are enjoying their time there. I think the resort is ONLY as stuffy as you make it. Yes, I'm sure there are some guests that would rather not see kids running around and acting like....kids...., but those are the ones that I wonder Why they are at WDW to begin with !!!! I think this resort will be great for your young families, Go and Enjoy being there, and if you don't love it there is Always a different resort to try next time!!

ocalla... we have had the same observations and the same experience...

The way to tell is if the creature starts talking about Geico insurance!

Stirling, there IS a support group...this is it! lol

Blue, here I am! Went out of town the weekend. Gotta start the the packing for my Cali trip tomorrow!!!

Hey grannyminnie ..Glad all is well.. ..lol on the gecko... ...Yep this is the place...Woohoo..California or bust...!!! Get packing!!! and have a wonderful trip!!!

I booked that last week with my two little Princesses who live down the street from me. They will be 5&6. I was there in October, and that place is KID FRIENDLY! Really, it is. I it was awesome, in the lobby during the afternoon we saw little girls, all dressed up in their Disney attire, dancing to the music that the piano player was playing. Kids all over the courtyards, and pools (the Splash Pad is a fun place for littles) and some headed to the beach for movies. I was with adults this last trip, but the entire time I was there I kept thinking that I had had such a misimpression of this lovely resort. It is a really a resort that makes sure that it is inviting for youngsters.

Nancy Very well said!!! ...and sooo true!

~ For those interested in trying to follow a low carb diet while on vacation ...do the words diet and vacation words even belong in the same sentence ...lol...There is an informative feature article on how to do just that while at WDW on allearsnet....Its always about the food... even diet food...lol...

Hope that everyone is having a magical Monday! preppy GF gal who can't for it to be summer....

 

[Jennygt]

Thanks for the words of wisdom I am in overdrive planning mode our ADR window just opened up over the weekend. I over thinking things!,

 

[HairyChest]

I thought this resort was stuffy before i stayed there.

Then i stayed there. Wow

Here are a few images that pop in my head when i think of my past stay there:

Relaxing in the beautiful big blue pool sorrounded in marble white buildings, red roofs and the pink clouds behind them

Entering my big bright room with the elegent disney resort music playing on the tv (i love that song!) to chocolates on my bed looking over my balcony to the amazing architecture, flowers, fountains, and trees of the resort

Laying on the white sand beach overlooking 7 seas lagoon and the poly with the pools waterfall sound behind me

Entering the lobby off the monorail to a beautiful marble floor, live elegant music, huge white chandelier and the aromas of exotic soaps and fragrences from the nearby shops.

Watching the white and red monorail through the beautiful white buildings and palm trees as it goes by

All this while anticipating a magic kingdom evening 5 minutes away ughhhh i want to be there so bad right now lol

 

[Jennygt]

I thought this resort was stuffy before i stayed there.

Then i stayed there. Wow

Here are a few images that pop in my head when i think of my past stay there:

Relaxing in the beautiful big blue pool sorrounded in marble white buildings, red roofs and the pink clouds behind them

Entering my big bright room with the elegent disney resort music playing on the tv (i love that song!) to chocolates on my bed looking over my balcony to the amazing architecture, flowers, fountains, and trees of the resort

Laying on the white sand beach overlooking 7 seas lagoon and the poly with the pools waterfall sound behind me

Entering the lobby off the monorail to a beautiful marble floor, live elegant music, huge white chandelier and the aromas of exotic soaps and fragrences from the nearby shops.

Watching the white and red monorail through the beautiful white buildings and palm trees as it goes by

All this while anticipating a magic kingdom evening 5 minutes away ughhhh i want to be there so bad right now lol

Thanks for the visuals lol I have often watched your you tube videos

 

[Jennygt]

Is there any outdoor music on the grounds or entrance area? I remember music being played at some outdoor locations/ walkways around the poly, anything similar at the grand?

 

[animalkingdom15]

So for my first deluxe resort solo trip stay 3/2-3/9 I decided due to the construction at POLY that I would move over to the Grand Floridan for my upcoming trip. From what I have read, it's supposedly the nicest of the deluxe resorts, but I'm still a little uneasy if I will enjoy my stay there or not. My first 7 nights are in a club level outer building standard room and my 8th night is in an outer building garden view room.

Any reassurance that I chose the right resort would be great.

 

[Jennygt]

So for my first deluxe resort solo trip stay 3/2-3/9 I decided due to the construction at POLY that I would move over to the Grand Floridan for my upcoming trip. From what I have read, it's supposedly the nicest of the deluxe resorts, but I'm still a little uneasy if I will enjoy my stay there or not. My first 7 nights are in a club level outer building standard room and my 8th night is in an outer building garden view room.

Any reassurance that I chose the right resort would be great.

Just read through this thread, I should have taken my own advice yesterday when I had a little panic. Lol

 

[Jenna319]

So for my first deluxe resort solo trip stay 3/2-3/9 I decided due to the construction at POLY that I would move over to the Grand Floridan for my upcoming trip. From what I have read, it's supposedly the nicest of the deluxe resorts, but I'm still a little uneasy if I will enjoy my stay there or not. My first 7 nights are in a club level outer building standard room and my 8th night is in an outer building garden view room.

Any reassurance that I chose the right resort would be great.

 

[Jenna319]

We have our trip booked at VGF (renting points) from 10/31 - 11/7, our first time staying at the Grand Floridian and our 1st trip with our baby girl, who will have just turned 1 year old. I wanted to make a splurge and stay at a monorail resort. I cant WAIT to share my Disney love with my daughter!

 

[animalkingdom15]

We have our trip booked at VGF (renting points) from 10/31 - 11/7, our first time staying at the Grand Floridian and our 1st trip with our baby girl, who will have just turned 1 year old. I wanted to make a splurge and stay at a monorail resort. I cant WAIT to share my Disney love with my daughter!

Sounds like fun. Normally I wouldn't spend this much on a trip but like you I splurged as I told myself one day when I can make it work out I will stay at one of the monorail resorts for a WDW vacation. I never figured it would end up being the Grand Floridian and in a club level that I would be staying at. I will admit that I love the idea of it only taking 5 min or so to get from GF to Magic Kingdom instead of the normal 15-20 min via the buses.

 

[mevelandry]

The way to tell is if the creature starts talking about Geico insurance!

That's pretty much all I know about geckos.

 

[animalkingdom15]

Just looked at the room/resort/club level info and I'm sold. I never knew that GF is a 4 star AAA rated resort.

 

[busymommy2pink]

Our feeling like -40 with windchill today is making me wish I was there right now!! Keep looking at Candys beautiful pics!!

To the person above with children. We have never stayed, but have visited, and saw lots of children. We didn't get a stuffy feel at all. It's Disney after all we booked and our daughters are 6 and 8. We booked it as their choice! Your kids will love love love it. We are looking forward to the unbirthday pool party!! Does any one know how much a cabanna rental is and when I could make one?

 

[dansdad]

Does any one know how much a cabanna rental is and when I could make one?

From the recreation post, post #14:


Cabana Rental: Rental Cabana amenities include:
. Two padded chaise lounge chairs
. Two padded straight-backed chairs
. Plush towels
. 22 inch LCD television with cable access and optional earphones
. Ceiling Fan
. Mini refrigerator stocked with complementary sodas and water
. Complimentary fruit basket
. Private dining and poolside massages are available at an
additional cost.

A half day is $110.00+ tax, and is from 10am - 2pm OR 3pm - 7pm
A full day is $185+ tax for 10am - 7pm

Credit card needed to reserve; 24-hour cancellation policy; weather-related cancellation less than 24 hours, no fee, but any other reason and your CC will be charged.

Call 407 WDW-PLAY to reserve.

the following info contributed by CoachBagFanatic on 1/10/2012: "The cabanas can be rented 180 days out and all you have to do is give a CC # just to hold the cabana. You pay when you check in for the cabana. Last time I remember we were able to charge the additional cost of the cabana to our room."

 

[busymommy2pink]

From the recreation post, post #14:


Cabana Rental: Rental Cabana amenities include:
. Two padded chaise lounge chairs
. Two padded straight-backed chairs
. Plush towels
. 22 inch LCD television with cable access and optional earphones
. Ceiling Fan
. Mini refrigerator stocked with complementary sodas and water
. Complimentary fruit basket
. Private dining and poolside massages are available at an
additional cost.

A half day is $110.00+ tax, and is from 10am - 2pm OR 3pm - 7pm
A full day is $185+ tax for 10am - 7pm

Credit card needed to reserve; 24-hour cancellation policy; weather-related cancellation less than 24 hours, no fee, but any other reason and your CC will be charged.

Call 407 WDW-PLAY to reserve.

the following info contributed by CoachBagFanatic on 1/10/2012: "The cabanas can be rented 180 days out and all you have to do is give a CC # just to hold the cabana. You pay when you check in for the cabana. Last time I remember we were able to charge the additional cost of the cabana to our room."

Thank you!! I will do this with our dining then

 

[animalkingdom15]

You can rent personal cabanas at GF. This resort keeps getting better and better. If you have a club level room is this something the club level CM's can do for you.

 

[dansdad]

You can rent personal cabanas at GF. This resort keeps getting better and better. If you have a club level room is this something the club level CM's can do for you.

If you give them your credit card to hold the reservation, yes they will make it for you.