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

[BlueSkies]

Morning fellow GF fans!

Only skimmed... .....but wanted to pop in and say...Hi! and do the

Trip is almost here dance!!!

Welcome to all of our first timers... A GF vacation is simply grand!

cattywampus

ppiew Nor flames here..you are certainly entitled to your opinion ...,For us there are many more pluses than minuses to our GF stays...which is why we keep going back.. ...I too miss that beautiful floral arrangement that used to be in the lobby as you entered... and I am not a fan of some of the changes...the band for instance does have new uniforms...blue and a rusty brown...??? The vibe of the newly refurbished rooms to me is more Pottery Barn than victorian...but I had a recent stay and I did like the room decor better than I thought that I would based on the pictures...the lounge and carpets are another story.... lol...

Liz Best of luck with the kitchen remodel...Looking forward to your review...couldn't agree more about the GF CMs..top notch is a good description!

maia Its interesting getting to used to a "new" resort..when you have a WDW home resort..We were tried and true CR fans..until that very first stay at the GF...Thanks for your comparisons...I am looking forward to making some very soon....the stay next summer with my persuasive pal MickeyNut will be our 2nd Poly stay...this upcoming trip will be our first...construction and all.. lol...

Happy weekend, GF pals..!

Mickeynut, I am looking closely at that Labor Day deal! On the edge of booking....

Re: my Cali visit next week, I bought a 3 day pass so hope to pop in more than once!! We'll be close enough to justify it...

Do it grannyminnie !!!! If you have any doubts..MickeyNut will give you just the encouragement that you need...lol...

As for your DL visit....WTG on getting the 3 day pass.... Can't wait to hear all about it...

MickeyNut I think that someone needs a bit of help taking the Poly plunge....

Trish See ya real soon!

k&a&c'smom Hope all is well....

Hope that everyone has a good weekend! preppy GF gal on her way being a Poly princess...lol....

 

[ahcupcake]

Good Evening from semi soggy PA

I have no excuse for being gone other than laziness......

Still no trip planned except the one in my head
But there is a mini GF lovers get together soon!

Safe Travels for those going & staying at GF & Welcome home to those who just returned

 

[grannyminnie]

Good Evening from semi soggy PA

I have no excuse for being gone other than laziness......

Still no trip planned except the one in my head
But there is a mini GF lovers get together soon!

Safe Travels for those going & staying at GF & Welcome home to those who just returned

Hey there ahcupcake! Glad you popped in! I know you are ready to have a (real) trip planned so hope it can happen sooner rather than later!

 

[mickeynut1]

The only saving grace, in my opinion, is the staff. The service they provide is top notch!

I agree, we have always found the service to be some of the best .

Mickeynut, I am looking closely at that Labor Day deal! On the edge of booking....

Re: my Cali visit next week, I bought a 3 day pass so hope to pop in more than once!! We'll be close enough to justify it...

Take the plunge and book ......there's nothing to lose as you can always tweak the dates or cancel for a full refund if it doesn't work out .

Hope you have a great trip to Cali and enjoy DL .

I am looking forward to making some very soon....the stay next summer with my persuasive pal MickeyNut will be our 2nd Poly stay...this upcoming trip will be our first...construction and all.. lol...

Do it grannyminnie !!!! If you have any doubts..MickeyNut will give you just the encouragement that you need...lol...

MickeyNut I think that someone needs a bit of help taking the Poly plunge....

I'm sure you will have a great Poly stay, construction and all, especially since you know the shape the Poly's in now and it won't be a shock upon arriving .

LOL on me giving Poly encouragement . I do love the Grand, but I am also a very good Poly persuader .

Maybe between the two of us we can convince grannyminnie that a Poly trip next August is just what she needs .

Good Evening from semi soggy PA

I have no excuse for being gone other than laziness......

Still no trip planned except the one in my head
But there is a mini GF lovers get together soon!

Safe Travels for those going & staying at GF & Welcome home to those who just returned

Hi ahcupcake, nice to "see" you again .

Hope you are able to start planning a trip and get back to the GF soon .

 

[Candice30]

So totally bummed. I am 27 days from my first ever stay at RPC and my furnace died!! To replace it and pipes and such is gonna cost me 10K. I may have to chg resorts. So sad

 

[maryj11]

So totally bummed. I am 27 days from my first ever stay at RPC and my furnace died!! To replace it and pipes and such is gonna cost me 10K. I may have to chg resorts. So sad

So sorry to hear that I know the cost of a furnace is just way to high !

 

[maryj11]

Happy weekend, GF pals..!

Mickeynut, I am looking closely at that Labor Day deal! On the edge of booking....

Re: my Cali visit next week, I bought a 3 day pass so hope to pop in more than once!! We'll be close enough to justify it...

We booked the Labor Day deal and will be staying at the GF for the very first time I say go for it ! it is a great deal

 

[mickeynut1]

So totally bummed. I am 27 days from my first ever stay at RPC and my furnace died!! To replace it and pipes and such is gonna cost me 10K. I may have to chg resorts. So sad

I'm sorry about the furnace, those are never fun repairs . I hope you are able to keep your reservation at the GF, but I'm sure you will have a great time even if you do have to change resorts .

We booked the Labor Day deal and will be staying at the GF for the very first time I say go for it ! it is a great deal

Congrats on booking your first GF stay, you are going to love it .

I agree, that Labor Day deal is an awesome one .

 

[jacquelynb]

I am interested in a deluxe queen room in the main building. I know this category must be booked on the phone rather than online due to the limited number. Only 6, I think. Anyway, what I'm wondering is if anyone has experience with discounts on these rooms. Are they usually excluded since there are so few and are presumably always booked anyway. Or is it actually possible to get a discount on them?? Thanks!!

 

[RookieLady]

Well, I had my heart set on trying this resort next summer, but I need a discount. I was counting on booking a bounceback last weekend for Jul 2015. While the bounceback offer for 2015 room only dates is out, they had nothing club level at the Grand for my dates. Alas, I am back to the Poly.

Do you think there is no availability for club on the bounceback at the Grand or were they really gone that fast?

 

[mickeynut1]

I am interested in a deluxe queen room in the main building. I know this category must be booked on the phone rather than online due to the limited number. Only 6, I think. Anyway, what I'm wondering is if anyone has experience with discounts on these rooms. Are they usually excluded since there are so few and are presumably always booked anyway. Or is it actually possible to get a discount on them?? Thanks!!

The deluxe CL rooms are sometimes included, so it is possible to get a discount on one. With that said, I would call as soon as any discounts come out since there are only so many of them .

Well, I had my heart set on trying this resort next summer, but I need a discount. I was counting on booking a bounceback last weekend for Jul 2015. While the bounceback offer for 2015 room only dates is out, they had nothing club level at the Grand for my dates. Alas, I am back to the Poly.

Do you think there is no availability for club on the bounceback at the Grand or were they really gone that fast?

CL is usually offered with a discount and while things can change, I almost always see availability for CL at the GF. This is just my opinion, but I don't think all rooms would be gone already. With that said, I would keep checking as things can/do change. Good luck .

 

[BlueSkies]

So totally bummed. I am 27 days from my first ever stay at RPC and my furnace died!! To replace it and pipes and such is gonna cost me 10K. I may have to chg resorts. So sad

Sorry to hear that Candice30 Lots of good Disney resorts to stay at.. even if you do have to change.. .GV rooms at the GF are very lovely...and you will still get to enjoy all that the resort has to offer with out CL...or if CL is a must there YC/BC..BWI and WL all have CL rooms that are far less costly than RPC...even SL (the other CL option at the GF is quite a bit less costly)..

We booked the Labor Day deal and will be staying at the GF for the very first time I say go for it ! it is a great deal

Congrats!!!

I am interested in a deluxe queen room in the main building. I know this category must be booked on the phone rather than online due to the limited number. Only 6, I think. Anyway, what I'm wondering is if anyone has experience with discounts on these rooms. Are they usually excluded since there are so few and are presumably always booked anyway. Or is it actually possible to get a discount on them?? Thanks!!

Yes the deluxe queens room category is typically included in the discounts..GP..pass holder and BB as well... Best of luck...hope that there is availablability for you dates!

Well, I had my heart set on trying this resort next summer, but I need a discount. I was counting on booking a bounceback last weekend for Jul 2015. While the bounceback offer for 2015 room only dates is out, they had nothing club level at the Grand for my dates. Alas, I am back to the Poly.

Do you think there is no availability for club on the bounceback at the Grand or were they really gone that fast?

The BB offer for next year only came out about 2 weeks ago..strange that they would have no availability left this soon... As long as yo hav a BB booked you can keep calling and checking on availability...

MickeyNut You Poly persuader you!!! Love it...lol...

ahcupcake Great seeing you the other day! Gotta love a mini GF gal meet!

grannyminnie When do you leave for California...and DL??? Hope I didnt miss your send off....Safe travels!!

Hope that all of my fellow GF fans are having a magical Monday! preppy GF gal who has packed..repacked and really needs to stop checking the weather reports for our trip.... ...lol...

 

[KonaKaiTom]

Well I know I am in the minority but here goes anyway. We have stayed at the GF at least 8+ times. We have stayed in the main building (concierge) and stayed in suites. Yes all were pricey but we LOVED the place. Now my current beefs----. The last time we were there (about a year or so ago) i disliked the redo of the furnishings etc. The lobby used to be so soft and relaxing and now is very harsh and 'dark'. Reminds me of a 1930 funeral parlor! I especially disliked the carpet and the marble tiles. I missed the large floral arrangement on the table when entering. It seemed to set the tone of elegance for the resort and now it is gone. All the rooms have very substandard linens in both the bathroom and bedroom. The sheets are 'sheeting' (think Motel 6) a polyester/cotton blend with brown thread on the hems. The GS people and V&A wait staff ALL need new uniforms!!! The present ones are ill fitting and 'old' on every person. A hotel of the level of GF should be spiffy and up to date!! The Disney cruise ships (at least the 2 new ones) have Frette linens, large size bath amenities, etc. I expected the deluxe hotels at WDW to have the same. At the prices ($600 to $900 per room) it should be mandatory!!! Sorry my view. I feel the cost warrants high end furnishings and amenities. I was just at the Four Seasons and it was VERY up to date and I expected the same from the GF.

While the "style" and "decor" can be a bit subjective, I completely agree with you, there is no reason why it can't still be luxurious and truly set the tone that you have arrived at the premiere DisneyWorld Resort. The last redo seemed to be done more by the beancounters than by the imagineers. I did a split stay between the GF and CBR and found the sheets to be about the same at both, same for the bath linens. One big complaint I've had over the years at that staying deluxe doesn't offer anthing for you park wise -- yes you might be adjacent to the park, but you don't get more fastpasses or anything comparable. If I'm paying 600 per night, I'd like not to wait in line - call me a snob, but I work my butt off year in year out and I don't mind spending money on perks -- however, I'd like to get some!

When we vacation in Hawaii, we usually stay CL at either the Westin Maui or the Marriott on Kauai -- it is a completely different experience. First off on top of a 600 per night room bill, I don't have to pay an additional 100 per person for entertainment -- the room isn't 600 per night and entertainment is free. Once on property, the word "no" doesn't exist. I've never heard, "I'm sorry, I can't do that," instead I hear "let me make some calls and see what we can do for you."

I guess it comes down to the fact that Disney, which I love don't get me wrong, does what they need to do to keep the hotel full -- and not a bit more.

Tom

 

[Tylerandhayleysmom]

I am interested in a deluxe queen room in the main building. I know this category must be booked on the phone rather than online due to the limited number. Only 6, I think. Anyway, what I'm wondering is if anyone has experience with discounts on these rooms. Are they usually excluded since there are so few and are presumably always booked anyway. Or is it actually possible to get a discount on them?? Thanks!!

Yes they are included, as I'm staying in a Deluxe Queen Room in the Main Bldg/RPC in 10 days and I qualified for free dining. Good luck!

 

[jacquelynb]

It's awesome to know that the queen deluxe rpc rooms qualify for discounts!! Thanks for the insight!! I can't even book until August. We're looking for November post thanksgiving to early December 2016. So I obviously have a loooonnngggg wait!

Does anyone have experience with using the military salute on these rooms? I saw free dining and bb mentioned, but the salute is what I am hoping to use. Provided it is renewed for that time period.

 

[Rootskate]

Hello, I am sorry if this has been asked recently but just wanted to confirm...monorail service from GF to MK starts at 7am? Thanks

 

[Aurora0427]

30 days! 30 days from now we will be at the GF! AHHHHHHHHHHHHH

 

[Soopafly]

30 days! 30 days from now we will be at the GF! AHHHHHHHHHHHHH

19 days for us, it's so exciting isn't it?! Our first trip back in three years and our first stay at the grand. Still can't decide which room / area we want to stay in either. Argh still so much to do before we go haha.

 

[cattywampus]

Saturday!!!!

 

[grannyminnie]

Good morning..early morning.. Was supposed to be headed to the airport right now for our Cal. trip but DH got sick, so no go. Very bummed right now, and not even a WDW trip planned to console me!
I spent yest. canceling flights, hotel, car rental, etc. Not fun!

Mickeynut, still considering that Labor Day deal, but probably not at the Poly, unless I can convince my sis to leave the GF! She's spoiled to it's beauty, like I am! (do you know if the percent off at the Poly is even better than the GF's discount at that time?) Blue, it's not that I need any persuading, it's that I have to have my sister's agreement as well!