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

[baler31]

 

[Dispro1]

So we are starting to look at options for the GF next year - 2 parents and 2 kids under 18. We would love to try the new 1 bedroom villas but I doubt we will get those seeing as we are not DVC and they will probably not be released until February or so. Anyway, was talking to Disney Travel today and they came up with a number of options. One of them was a one-bedroom suite on the concierge level in the main building. I am not seeing a lot of information about these suites. What I do know is that they are crazy expensive for May next year. What on earth do you get for your $1,700 per night?

Can you get connecting normal rooms at GF instead?

We have stayed in the main building many times, but we have always stayed in a deluxe room (2 queen room if we take the kids, or king bed if we don't take kids). I don't know if we would ever book a suite since we love to hang out in the lounge (or by the pool). The deluxe rooms are 700+ square feet! but they only sleep 5 people so you would still need another room. I personally wouldn't want a villa because I don't want to cook my own food when I'm on vacation. We LOVE to listen to the band at night, but unless you stay in the main building, you will have to fight for a seat in the lobby with not only other resort guests but also everyone waiting to eat at 1900 Park Fair. There are very few deluxe rooms, but whether you get deluxe booked or not, I personally would try to get two connecting or adjoining rooms. If you think you would use all the space of a suite, go ahead, but we don't spend that much time in the room. We stayed with my parents once in two regular adjoining rooms (2 kids with us) and we were fine. You do have all of your snacks and beverages covered (as Loveshak22 said) which is so convenient. The espresso machine is awesome too and you can take a cup to go as someone else stated, I don't think you can get a discount on suites, but you can book a couple of deluxe or regular rooms and have the discount applied later when it comes out. Discounts do vary and are never guaranteed just like connecting or adjoining room requests aren't guaranteed, but we have always been able to get a discount (although they seem to be decreasing a bit) and the one time requested, we got an adjoining room. The main building is club level so you do have dedicated concierge staff to help you make reservations, fast passes, etc. and you can even text them to have them help you when you are in a park (reservations or fast passes). You can get all the same food offerings and service in the sugar loaf club level, but you lose the convenience of the main building (proximity to monorail) and "reserved seating" to listen to the band. It really all comes down to your budget and what you want out of your vacation. A few corrections to my post... Only the 2 queen deluxe sleeps 5 (as does the standard room. The Deluxe king does not. Also, I think it's 1900 Park Fare... My kids are older now so we don't eat there anymore. Also, wine, champagne and beer are included in a club level stay (unlike a villa) if you like to drink these on vacation. Good luck with your decision! I'm sure you'll be happy with whatever you decide.

 

[fast43]

We are staying at the Grand Floridian for the first time in a standard view 1 bedroom DVC villa in May. Being unfamiliar with the resort, does anyone have any room suggestions for our recomendations through DVC?

Thanks

 

[bethclayton]

So we are starting to look at options for the GF next year - 2 parents and 2 kids under 18. We would love to try the new 1 bedroom villas but I doubt we will get those seeing as we are not DVC and they will probably not be released until February or so. Anyway, was talking to Disney Travel today and they came up with a number of options. One of them was a one-bedroom suite on the concierge level in the main building. I am not seeing a lot of information about these suites. What I do know is that they are crazy expensive for May next year. What on earth do you get for your $1,700 per night?

Can you get connecting normal rooms at GF instead?

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCdIXGUseYz9rzCXx2we6KaA/videos
^^this is what you get for $1700- or that suite might not even be the $1700 one, it might be more $$

we are a family of four and our kids are both teens but we always just get one room for the four of us at disney. we usually stay club level so we are rarely in the room, when we want to unwind we find ourselves more drawn to the lounge. we traveled twice to GF main building with my parents and requested connecting rooms with them both times, and both times our request was granted. disney says it will not guarantee but i think they certainly try to accommodate. if you really want more space i think you will be just fine with the two normal rooms.

 

[ClareH37]

Interested to know whether the outer lodges are key access at night, does anyone know? Thanks

 

[BlueSkies]

Just wanted to pop in and say Happy Easter...and Passover too!

 

[Sue M]

Just wanted to pop in and say Happy Easter...and Passover too!

And to you!

 

[Candy Orlando]

Just wanted to pop in and say Happy Easter...and Passover too!

Happy Easter and Happy Passover to my Grand Friends!!

 

[loveshak22]

I thought I'd throw this out to my GF friends for an opinion - I am assuming that if (fingers crossed) they announce a Fall RO discount it will be the standard "up to 30%". But I was just looking at historical discounts offered on MouseSavers and it shows that for Spring/Early Summer 2015 (4/6/15 - 6/15/15) that there were up to 35% RO discounts. I thought the 35% was usually only for Florida residents or APs but it clearly says, "Up to 35% off room-only rates for general public." First, is GF usually in the higher category for RO discounts (so the 30%)? For the current offer it is in that category so I'm hoping that's common. And, second, do you think they'll be as high as 35% for this Fall?

I know it's all a guess - but I like to hear other peoples thoughts as we wait to see what will happen!

 

[Dispro1]

I thought I'd throw this out to my GF friends for an opinion - I am assuming that if (fingers crossed) they announce a Fall RO discount it will be the standard "up to 30%". But I was just looking at historical discounts offered on MouseSavers and it shows that for Spring/Early Summer 2015 (4/6/15 - 6/15/15) that there were up to 35% RO discounts. I thought the 35% was usually only for Florida residents or APs but it clearly says, "Up to 35% off room-only rates for general public." First, is GF usually in the higher category for RO discounts (so the 30%)? For the current offer it is in that category so I'm hoping that's common. And, second, do you think they'll be as high as 35% for this Fall?

I know it's all a guess - but I like to hear other peoples thoughts as we wait to see what will happen!

The key words there are "up to __%". Only a select few resorts will have the maximum % discount. For our trip May30-June 6, we got a 37% discount at BC but GF was lower (AP discounts). Unfortunately, I have often seen GF excluded from the highest level discount, but not always. The lower discount seems to be 25% (regular discount) but I have also seen it at 30% for general public (35% for AP). You never know what you are going to get, but like you said...fingers crossed Once upon a time, you could get 40% off without an AP! But that was when the economy was really bad and people weren't taking as many vacations. Let's hope for a good discount and a good economy

 

[loveshak22]

The key words there are "up to __%". Only a select few resorts will have the maximum % discount. For our trip May30-June 6, we got a 37% discount at BC but GF was lower (AP discounts). Unfortunately, I have often seen GF excluded from the highest level discount, but not always. The lower discount seems to be 25% (regular discount) but I have also seen it at 30% for general public (35% for AP). You never know what you are going to get, but like you said...fingers crossed Once upon a time, you could get 40% off without an AP! But that was when the economy was really bad and people weren't taking as many vacations. Let's hope for a good discount and a good economy

As always, thanks Dispro1!!

I know you never can tell what they are going to do but I'm so hoping that since GF is in the 30% tier for the summer that it will be the same for the Fall!! I'm SOOOOOOOOOO hoping for 30%!! But if it's 35% I will be ecstatic!! And if by some small miracle (which I'm not expecting at all) they did 40% for the Fall for GF then they would hear me yelling woo-hoo all the way in FL!!

Now if it's 20-25% I'll still be happy they did something. I was wondering today if they announce free dining first if I should call and add it to our trip even though I want RO just so if for some crazy reason they don't do RO at least I have something? I guess it wouldn't hurt anything even though I would find it hard to believe they would do FD and not do RO, even if RO comes out later.

 

[Sue M]

I thought I'd throw this out to my GF friends for an opinion - I am assuming that if (fingers crossed) they announce a Fall RO discount it will be the standard "up to 30%". But I was just looking at historical discounts offered on MouseSavers and it shows that for Spring/Early Summer 2015 (4/6/15 - 6/15/15) that there were up to 35% RO discounts. I thought the 35% was usually only for Florida residents or APs but it clearly says, "Up to 35% off room-only rates for general public." First, is GF usually in the higher category for RO discounts (so the 30%)? For the current offer it is in that category so I'm hoping that's common. And, second, do you think they'll be as high as 35% for this Fall?

I know it's all a guess - but I like to hear other peoples thoughts as we wait to see what will happen!

There days Disney releases discounts based on bookings. If a resort is booked enough they either exclude or give lower discount. This is why I never book untill discounts are released. IMO it works against you to book rack rate then try to switch when discount is released. So as for GF discounts, it depends on bookings.

The key words there are "up to __%". Only a select few resorts will have the maximum % discount. For our trip May30-June 6, we got a 37% discount at BC but GF was lower (AP discounts). Unfortunately, I have often seen GF excluded from the highest level discount, but not always. The lower discount seems to be 25% (regular discount) but I have also seen it at 30% for general public (35% for AP). You never know what you are going to get, but like you said...fingers crossed Once upon a time, you could get 40% off without an AP! But that was when the economy was really bad and people weren't taking as many vacations. Let's hope for a good discount and a good economy

In the good old days I got 45% AP rate!

 

[loveshak22]

There days Disney releases discounts based on bookings. If a resort is booked enough they either exclude or give lower discount. This is why I never book untill discounts are released. IMO it works against you to book rack rate then try to switch when discount is released. So as for GF discounts, it depends on bookings.

I'm on another thread where this came up and my theory, being hopeful maybe, is that there has to be more to discounts than just how booked a resort is...I know there's probably some head shaking going on but hear me out

I think Disney knows a lot about us as consumers. I think they keep saying they are trying to ween consumers off discounts, but they keep raising prices more and more while discounts keep decreasing (like the good old days of 40-45% room discounts). But they have to give us discounts so we don't start bailing on them for new vacation spots. But in actuality, the discounts are still racking in the money because they keep increasing prices and decreasing the value of the discounts available. And they use the discounts to fill the 'low' seasons, which seem nonexistent these days, but they are lower than summer and Christmas weeks and even with discounts they can't hit that occupancy year round so even with advanced bookings there should be lots of availability throughout the year that needs to be filled.

Plus, they know how many of us are repeat customers and they have to know that even if they have a high booking that many of us rely on some sort of discount with FD or RO and that many people book in advance and wait for the offer to be released. They have to know that a certain percentage will switch to off site or go down a hotel category if they are forced to pay rack rate. And with not having to pay for your trip until 45 days out, with the deposit being fully refundable up until that point, that could leave Disney with a lot of rooms to fill with not much time to do it.

I do agree wholeheartedly that the higher discounts are given to the less full resorts so if a lot of people book in advance at GF then when discounts are released we may be shooting ourselves in the foot by getting a 20% discount as opposed to 30%.

So that's my two- cents on booking early LOL!

 

[Sue M]

I'm on another thread where this came up and my theory, being hopeful maybe, is that there has to be more to discounts than just how booked a resort is...I know there's probably some head shaking going on but hear me out

I think Disney knows a lot about us as consumers. I think they keep saying they are trying to ween consumers off discounts, but they keep raising prices more and more while discounts keep decreasing (like the good old days of 40-45% room discounts). But they have to give us discounts so we don't start bailing on them for new vacation spots. But in actuality, the discounts are still racking in the money because they keep increasing prices and decreasing the value of the discounts available. And they use the discounts to fill the 'low' seasons, which seem nonexistent these days, but they are lower than summer and Christmas weeks and even with discounts they can't hit that occupancy year round so even with advanced bookings there should be lots of availability throughout the year that needs to be filled.

Plus, they know how many of us are repeat customers and they have to know that even if they have a high booking that many of us rely on some sort of discount with FD or RO and that many people book in advance and wait for the offer to be released. They have to know that a certain percentage will switch to off site or go down a hotel category if they are forced to pay rack rate. And with not having to pay for your trip until 45 days out, with the deposit being fully refundable up until that point, that could leave Disney with a lot of rooms to fill with not much time to do it.

I do agree wholeheartedly that the higher discounts are given to the less full resorts so if a lot of people book in advance at GF then when discounts are released we may be shooting ourselves in the foot by getting a 20% discount as opposed to 30%.

So that's my two- cents on booking early LOL!

I totally agree with the fact that WDW keeps raising prices and lowering discount %. I'm one of the people who won't book unless it's a good discount. Especially at Deluxe resorts. We go 2x a year, winter is usually at a moderate, and summer at Deluxe resorts. So I don't book a resort that's less then 35% with AP discount

 

[Lisann]

View attachment 86256

So beautiful.

 

[trishadono]

We are staying at the Grand Floridian for the first time in a standard view 1 bedroom DVC villa in May. Being unfamiliar with the resort, does anyone have any room suggestions for our recomendations through DVC?

Thanks

http://www.disboards.com/threads/vgf-villas-views-updated-03-20-2015.3192814/#post-49955749

 

[Dispro1]

There days Disney releases discounts based on bookings. If a resort is booked enough they either exclude or give lower discount. This is why I never book untill discounts are released. IMO it works against you to book rack rate then try to switch when discount is released. So as for GF discounts, it depends on bookings.



In the good old days I got 45% AP rate!

I love the deluxe RPC rooms so much that I am willing to risk losing a little bit of discount to secure my deluxe room. Rack rate would be a whole different thing, however. I do hope they take some other things into account like Loveshak said. For instance, we stay in RPC twice a year (and another less expensive deluxe like BC once a year). I know that we are not the only loyal RPC guests. But since RPC is so expensive, if they were to continue to lower the discounts or do away with them completely, we would definitely cutback on the number of stays per year in RPC. Or even seek out other vacation spots (Like I mentioned before, Beaches Turks and Caicos is awesome but more expensive -as of right now). So I hope they want me to keep coming back as much as I want to keep going back!

As for the 45% - wow! I figured that was probably right since AP is often 5% more discount. We didn't get AP until they raised ticket prices so much that it paid for itself in two trips. It used to take 3 trips for it to make sense. And the Tables in Wonderland discount is great too but they are starting to put more restrictions on that too -ugh!

 

[WishesQueen]

Good Morning All!!

Happy Easter and Happy Passover!!!

Sorry to say but I just did a quick scan to stay up to date.

Loveshak22 - How exciting to get Disney Mail. Is that the package you receive when you pay in full?

My house is filthy with everyone home, I am loving Spring break and getting excited for warmer weather.

Have a great day everyone!!!

 

[bethclayton]

i hope everyone had a great easter or passover, or just a great weekend! in three days i will be at the GF for a visit! Alas, we are staying at YC, but our first night there we have ressies at V&A, I just cannot wait to take my friend there for her bday! I have only eaten there once and i know that my friend is going to go absolutely bananas over it. she wants to go to mizner's after, but i warned her that after the V&A wine pairing, mizner's might just be for a glass of water, lol. we can't wait to stroll the shops and listen to the music for a while after dinner. she and i stayed GF RPC during my bday in 2013 and we just love the main building ambience so much! this will be my first adults only disney trip and it was pretty spur of the moment, so i am really excited. although i am cringing to think what i will come home to after 5 days gone, lol. dh normally works till at least 10 pm every weeknight and he literally has not a clue what needs to be done around here to keep this joint running. hopefully my eight typed pages of instructions will help....

 

[trishadono]

i hope everyone had a great easter or passover, or just a great weekend! in three days i will be at the GF for a visit! Alas, we are staying at YC, but our first night there we have ressies at V&A, I just cannot wait to take my friend there for her bday! I have only eaten there once and i know that my friend is going to go absolutely bananas over it. she wants to go to mizner's after, but i warned her that after the V&A wine pairing, mizner's might just be for a glass of water, lol. we can't wait to stroll the shops and listen to the music for a while after dinner. she and i stayed GF RPC during my bday in 2013 and we just love the main building ambience so much! this will be my first adults only disney trip and it was pretty spur of the moment, so i am really excited. although i am cringing to think what i will come home to after 5 days gone, lol. dh normally works till at least 10 pm every weeknight and he literally has not a clue what needs to be done around here to keep this joint running. hopefully my eight typed pages of instructions will help....

MY dd keeps asking for dinner at V&A! I just think she needs to wait for a special occasion, she is spoiled enough already!! Maybe 21st bday or college grad but not this summer!!! I think upgrading to CL is quite the perk!

You will prob get to meet my dis-girl this summer because we definitely heading over to Traders!!! So far there is you, me and mommyrosa with the same dates on the monorail!!!!

I know what you mean about husbands.

Have a great trip! YC is like GF lite.