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

[Kona2012]

Just Booked our first GF stay.
We are going on the Adrian Friday morning but flying down to Florida on Wednesday night. Our original plan was to stay at Hyatt MCO then head to Kennedy on Thursday morning then sleep near the port. Now reconsidered, thinking Kennedy may not be interesting to a 10 year old girl and 13 year old boy...plus we are all AP holders. So on a whim I logged in to check AP rates and was pleasantly surprised with the rate for two nights. We are staying in Sugarloaf building. Have stayed CL at Wilderness Lodge and Beach Club many times. This is a first for GF. I just did our online check in and didn't make any requests...was that a mistake? I figured it didn't matter in the SL building... Reading through this thread to catch up on the GF! My family is going to be so spoiled after this trip with this CL room then concierge on the Dream.
11 days left for me and praying for no snow!!!

 

[BeenALongTime]

Hello Connecticutian (I just made that up). I have a request in for Boca Chica for our Lagoon View room as well. It seems they are about as close to theme park view as you can get.

Blue, do you know what day it is? No, not hump day, it is your last double digit day!!!!! How many times did you repack this weekend?

I've never stayed in Boca Chica before -- usually I ask for an upper level floor -- but based on the map, it looks like a lagoon view lower level would probably be nice -- any thoughts or comments?

Tom

Hello Nutmegger! Connecticututian? Hmm - it was easier being a NY'er. Thanks for the advice! I checked in and put the request in for BC (went with Upper Floor since the point seemed to be the view) but hoping either way I can't go wrong. Someone posted gorgeous pictures on here (thank you!) so I'm really looking forward. Magic bands showed up today (yay!) so it's starting to feel real. Now if I could get into BOG I'd be thrilled but who knows - I've still got a few days anything could happen

Slightly random question: I've never done pin trading but someone told us it was fun for the kids so we bought a bunch of old Disney pins on eBay (they aren't too bad actually) to trade in the parks. I just need a lanyard to pin them on - any chance they sell them in the gift shops in the GF?

 

[StirlingSilver83]

I believe you can pretty much buy a lanyard anywhere. I have never seen them at grand Floridian bc I have never actually looked for them there. But I am pretty sure u can buy them at 1 of the shops on Main Street in magic kingdom.

 

[BabyFu18]

Hi everyone! I've never stayed at the GF before, but I have visited before to have a meal or just look around at the holiday decorations, but my family and I are planning a vacation for 2016 (I know, probably way to soon, but the early we plan the more time we have to look forward to the trip). Anyhow, from my time spent looking around at the GF I think we really want to stay in the main building, so my question is about the room views.

When I looked at views on the Disney site, I'm looking at RPC theme park view and I was wondering if this view would give you a view of the MK fireworks from the room (or is that still only a request even with that room category)? Some members of our party have mobility issues and might spend a decent amount of time in the room and around the hotel so I'd love to be able to book a room that they'll be gaurenteed to have a nice view during the day and a view of fireworks at night if possible. If anyone has experience with the views from RPC rooms I'd appreciate the input.


Thanks for info about this, I appreciate it!

 

[KonaKaiTom]

Hi Trish, are you there yet???

Blue--some clothes made it into the suitcase, when you have a massive ice storm you don't need to be worrying about short sleeves nor shorts, soon we will be home at the Grand

BTW, we've always had two robes in our room, regardless of room category -- if that matters, I was blurry eyed reading prior posts having stayed up past my bedtime to watch football last night.

Tom

 

[mggeary]

Less than 5 days and counting till our first stay!

We have a standard room and requested "Boca Chica or Big Pine Key, view not obstructed by poolhouse", on our original reservation.

I wanted to politely reinforce this 3-5 days out but got the blowoff from a GF room allocation cast member today, who just said that they check all reservation requests, and basically was done with me. Tried faxing to 407-824-3186, but always busy or disconnected number.

Anyone have a valid fax #? Honestly I usually don't care about room location, but when splurging at a pricey resort, I figure why not go the extra mile.

Also, we are often afternoon breakers. Anyone have any luck recently with making 4th FP+ at GF concierge?

Thanks in advance.

 

[KonaKaiTom]

Less than 5 days and counting till our first stay!

We have a standard room and requested "Boca Chica or Big Pine Key, view not obstructed by poolhouse", on our original reservation.

I wanted to politely reinforce this 3-5 days out but got the blowoff from a GF room allocation cast member today, who just said that they check all reservation requests, and basically was done with me. Tried faxing to 407-824-3186, but always busy or disconnected number.

Anyone have a valid fax #? Honestly I usually don't care about room location, but when splurging at a pricey resort, I figure why not go the extra mile.

Also, we are often afternoon breakers. Anyone have any luck recently with making 4th FP+ at GF concierge?

Thanks in advance.

I don't believe the concierge has any ability for either FP+ nor ADRs. Regarding the room location, I did get stuck in a view of the pool house building in Big Pine Key last year. I was going to ask to change, and then realized, I wasn't going to be in the room long enough to care about the view. They had a king bed for me, and the room was the category I booked so I stayed for the 6 nights where I was.

Tom

 

[mggeary]

I don't believe the concierge has any ability for either FP+ nor ADRs. Regarding the room location, I did get stuck in a view of the pool house building in Big Pine Key last year. I was going to ask to change, and then realized, I wasn't going to be in the room long enough to care about the view. They had a king bed for me, and the room was the category I booked so I stayed for the 6 nights where I was.

Tom

Out of curiosity, did you make any room requests?

Many have reported the concierge able to make 4th FP+ selections recently, it is definitely within their power. Just wondering if the GF concierge is playing along.

 

[trishadono]

A great day to visit GF!!

 

[trishadono]

 

[Candy Orlando]

I'm sitting at the beach pool right now. The sun is so warm on this beautiful, sunny day. The temperature is 70 degrees. It's my favorite type of day, the inside and outside are the same.

I love my vacation home so much. The Palm trees make this resort feel so tropical.

We don't spend a lot of time in the parks because we enjoy the Grand.

It's fun listening to the children playing in the pool.

 

[goofy4wdw2]

Does anyone know if the pool bar and grills offer gluten free options or gluten free bread/buns or only at the Gasparilla Island Grill? Thanks!

 

[KonaKaiTom]

I'm sitting at the beach pool right now. The sun is so warm on this beautiful, sunny day. The temperature is 70 degrees. It's my favorite type of day, the inside and outside are the same.

I love my vacation home so much. The Palm trees make this resort feel so tropical.

We don't spend a lot of time in the parks because we enjoy the Grand.

It's fun listening to the children playing in the pool.

Clearly you are someone that just gets life!

Enjoy your vacation!

Tom

 

[KonaKaiTom]

Does anyone know if the pool bar and grills offer gluten free options or gluten free bread/buns or only at the Gasparilla Island Grill? Thanks!

I do not, but if no else does, I will definitely confirm in 15 days! Two of our 4 have gluten allergies so it will be no trouble to check.

Tom

 

[pixarmom]

Less than 5 days and counting till our first stay!

We have a standard room and requested "Boca Chica or Big Pine Key, view not obstructed by poolhouse", on our original reservation.

I wanted to politely reinforce this 3-5 days out but got the blowoff from a GF room allocation cast member today, who just said that they check all reservation requests, and basically was done with me. Tried faxing to 407-824-3186, but always busy or disconnected number.

Anyone have a valid fax #? Honestly I usually don't care about room location, but when splurging at a pricey resort, I figure why not go the extra mile.

Also, we are often afternoon breakers. Anyone have any luck recently with making 4th FP+ at GF concierge?

Thanks in advance.

We stayed GF RPC earlier this month and received an e-mail indicating that the CL CMs could help with this. They gave us a number to text with questions, FP+ requests, etc. So during our stay, we texted from MK to request a 4th FP+ and they set it up right away. I understand this is a pilot program for CL guests at GF and a few other resorts. We also stayed CL at AKL and Poly earlier this month, and the service was not available there.

 

[KonaKaiTom]

Out of curiosity, did you make any room requests?

Many have reported the concierge able to make 4th FP+ selections recently, it is definitely within their power. Just wondering if the GF concierge is playing along.

I'm going to guess that the 4th FP+ was made by GL concierge and not the general concierge. I don't stay CL, so I've never experienced that perk, but it wouldn't surprise me. Yes, I did make a room request, either Boca Chica or Big Pine Key as I hadn't stayed in them. I was booked garden view and that is what I got.

Tom

 

[mggeary]

I'm going to guess that the 4th FP+ was made by GL concierge and not the general concierge. I don't stay CL, so I've never experienced that perk, but it wouldn't surprise me. Yes, I did make a room request, either Boca Chica or Big Pine Key as I hadn't stayed in them. I was booked garden view and that is what I got.

Tom

No, many reports are that non-CL concierge can often book a 4th FP (though only CL appears to be able to text requests to concierge from park for FP selections)

 

[KonaKaiTom]

No, many reports are that non-CL concierge can often book a 4th FP (though only CL appears to be able to text requests to concierge from park for FP selections)

Interesting, I haven't seen the reports. I will try when I'm there in a couple of weeks.

Tom

 

[goofy4wdw2]

I do not, but if no else does, I will definitely confirm in 15 days! Two of our 4 have gluten allergies so it will be no trouble to check.

Tom

Wow, Tom, thank you!! I emailed Special Diets but haven't heard back yet. I know in the past they are hesitant to give too many specifics. Thanks again and have a wonderful trip!!

 

[phyllis1966]

Less than 5 days and counting till our first stay!

We have a standard room and requested "Boca Chica or Big Pine Key, view not obstructed by poolhouse", on our original reservation.

I wanted to politely reinforce this 3-5 days out but got the blowoff from a GF room allocation cast member today, who just said that they check all reservation requests, and basically was done with me. Tried faxing to 407-824-3186, but always busy or disconnected number.

Anyone have a valid fax #? Honestly I usually don't care about room location, but when splurging at a pricey resort, I figure why not go the extra mile.

Also, we are often afternoon breakers. Anyone have any luck recently with making 4th FP+ at GF concierge?

Thanks in advance.

It is my understanding that faxed room requests haven't been accepted for quite a few years now. I stopped sending them to the GF prior to 2010. We got that pool house view back in 2007...luckily we were on the third floor so we could see above it and our view wasn't completely obstructed, but we weren't thrilled with it, either. We've stayed there so many times now that I think they see that Conch Key is our preference! Who knows...

I would request a different building to make sure, but maybe you like those buildings for a reason?

Here are photos I found of our view, third floor room: