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

[TinkerBellLiz]

/Wave everyone! It seems like forever (and a new forum thrown in) since I visited. I'm in the process of rescheduling last weeks visit to GF. We succumbed to a nasty bug that actually closed one of our schools for a few days. Sadly it is looking like we won't be staying at the GF although we're eating there quite a bit. I'm also looking forward to some shopping at Summer Lace! Candy Orlando can you tell me if they have the Dooney leather purses there still?

Editing to say: New boards are really odd! (Well new to me at least)

Since I've not figured out quoting yet I'll just say Wishes have my greatest admiration for planning for 14. I tried that for only 6 once and last year for 5 I just friended them on MyDisneyExperience app. If they wanted to go with us they could copy our plans! Good luck with you're planning!

Liz

 

[Sue M]

Oh, wow! Wouldn't you just love to ride in that carriage? Thanks for the info on the deluxe room. I think the 3rd floor is more quiet than the 4th, as the previous posters have pointed out. I will try and remember that, too.

Yes, I would love a ride!! We saw that carriage quite a few times during last Aug trip. Seems a popular wedding time at GF.

We did find 3rd floor quiet, even though our room was fairly close to CM desk, and checker table. It was so convienent to stairs or elevator going up to lounge or lobby too.

No matter what resort your in, there can be an inconsiderate family in a room nearby. My pet peeve are families that let their kids go running down halls yelling, lol. I actually read a post on another Deluxe resort thread, someone posted one of their fav things was seeing their kids run with excited shouts down the hall going to a park

There's also a nice deck on 3rd floor to watch the Water Parade from, facing Poly. So you are actually watching the Poly EWP. Never would have known deck was there, CM pointed it out.

 

[Sue M]

/Wave everyone! It seems like forever (and a new forum thrown in) since I visited. I'm in the process of rescheduling last weeks visit to GF. We succumbed to a nasty bug that actually closed one of our schools for a few days. Sadly it is looking like we won't be staying at the GF although we're eating there quite a bit. I'm also looking forward to some shopping at Summer Lace! Candy Orlando can you tell me if they have the Dooney leather purses there still?

Editing to say: New boards are really odd! (Well new to me at least)

Since I've not figured out quoting yet I'll just say Wishes have my greatest admiration for planning for 14. I tried that for only 6 once and last year for 5 I just friended them on MyDisneyExperience app. If they wanted to go with us they could copy our plans! Good luck with you're planning!

Liz

You'll get used to new board! I didn't know what to think of it first, but now love it. So many more features, incl alerts!

 

[grannyminnie]

/Wave everyone! It seems like forever (and a new forum thrown in) since I visited. I'm in the process of rescheduling last weeks visit to GF. We succumbed to a nasty bug that actually closed one of our schools for a few days. Sadly it is looking like we won't be staying at the GF although we're eating there quite a bit. I'm also looking forward to some shopping at Summer Lace! Candy Orlando can you tell me if they have the Dooney leather purses there still?

Editing to say: New boards are really odd! (Well new to me at least)

Since I've not figured out quoting yet I'll just say Wishes have my greatest admiration for planning for 14. I tried that for only 6 once and last year for 5 I just friended them on MyDisneyExperience app. If they wanted to go with us they could copy our plans! Good luck with you're planning!

Liz

Hi Liz...welcome back! And sorry you had to cancel your trip... I HATE those nasty bugs...Disney-bound or not! Wishes seems to have everything under control...maybe she should put out a shingle as a vacation planner! Like you, the most I have had to plan for was 5 (well, 6...one a small child, but they count too, right? LOL) I just got done making a couple of dining ressies for mine and my sister's upcoming trip. We don't eat much, usually snack at lounges or counter service but this time, we are not CL, so we thought we'd do Boma. I really like it there, and the food is somewhat adventurous, depending on what you're will ing to try! Our only other ressie is Chefs de France, which is one of our faves.

You'll get used to new board! I didn't know what to think of it first, but now love it. So many more features, incl alerts!

That's a feature on these new boards I like too, Sue!

 

[busymommy2pink]

Hello everyone!!!

We were looking through the pictures (my daughters are on spring break) and we noticed a store with Beth products. Well my 8 year old lost her mind (she enjoys the finer things in life hehe). Well now she would like to know if they carry bath bombs or anything else to make her Disney baths special. Does anyone know?

 

[baler31]

Hello everyone!!!

We were looking through the pictures (my daughters are on spring break) and we noticed a store with Beth products. Well my 8 year old lost her mind (she enjoys the finer things in life hehe). Well now she would like to know if they carry bath bombs or anything else to make her Disney baths special. Does anyone know?

Basin is at GF and DTD and is basically one big bath bomb store. They have soaps and other things but the bath bombs are our favorites. I recently bought the solid moisturizer bar and really liked that as well. They have a website basinwhite.

 

[WishesQueen]

Morning All!! I am in total denial that its going to snow today. I have to decided to ignore it and maybe it will go away!!

Got my whole group the Disney Visa room only offer yesterday So far so good, I got dinner reservations and a discount!!! FP+s are next and then we need to put the plan in motion. Everyone is mostly looking forward to being together in our favorite place (GF), sitting by the pool, having too many drinks and of course as Blue would say...its all about the food. The parks are mostly for the kids, we're only doing half days everyday, planning to check on the new Disney Springs on a non Cabana Day and our tradition of monorail hopping.

TinkerbellLiz - Thanks....its 14 of my closest friends and my brother in law. On paper its working out, most of the kids are big except 3 and their not babies. We'll see how it goes...my worry not is the weather, but thats not something anyone can plan for.

Grannyminnie - Thanks, your so sweet. I plan for everyone I know, I guess its my thing!! So far its been a pleasure because its all working out.

I hope everyone has a great weekend, if you live East I hope you get to ignore your weather too!!

 

[grannyminnie]

Basin is at GF and DTD and is basically one big bath bomb store. They have soaps and other things but the bath bombs are our favorites. I recently bought the solid moisturizer bar and really liked that as well. They have a website basinwhite.

And remember, Basin has the cute bath bomb with the Mickeys "hidden" inside, so the 8 yr old will likely love that!

Wishes, yep, it's the food as we get older....tho I wouldn't say the parks are just for the kids.........(of course, some of us are just big kids anyway! LOL)

 

[pemberley]

Hi All....

I will be staying at the Grand next month with DH and DD(3). The last time I stayed there I was a kid so I'm fairly clueless. We have an Outer Building Lagoon View booked. Any help with room requests would be great!!! Ideally we'd like to be fairly close to the main building for transportation. We'd also like a quiet room if that's possible. Any thoughts on what building or location to request?? TIA!!!

 

[dansdad]

Hi All....

I will be staying at the Grand next month with DH and DD(3). The last time I stayed there I was a kid so I'm fairly clueless. We have an Outer Building Lagoon View booked. Any help with room requests would be great!!! Ideally we'd like to be fairly close to the main building for transportation. We'd also like a quiet room if that's possible. Any thoughts on what building or location to request?? TIA!!!

Your best bet is to word your request as "close to main building and a quiet location". Having talked to a couple room assigners they much prefer when guests describe what they are looking for. There's more than one area that will meet most needs and if you only request an area, if they can't put you in that area they have no idea why you wanted that area.

 

[baler31]

Your best bet is to word your request as "close to main building and a quiet location". Having talked to a couple room assigners they much prefer when guests describe what they are looking for. There's more than one area that will meet most needs and if you only request an area, if they can't put you in that area they have no idea why you wanted that area.

This...plus I would request no connecting door. We find those rooms to be super noisy from neighbors.

 

[buzzmom12]

Good Morning,
I am also ignoring the snowy first day of spring!! We are booked for theme park view in the rpc in August. Any suggestions for rooms to request or are they all pretty much the same? Thanks

 

[BlueSkies]

Happy First day of spring all.....

Thanks for the well-wishes, Blue and Sue! (hey, I made a rhyme!...LOL)

It's 7:00pm and 81 degrees. I'm sitting on a bench with my family in front of Sago Cay. It's so peaceful with the sound of the boat horn and the sun setting in the lagoon.

Love your descriptions.....and have I mentioned how much I enjoy all of your lovely pictures!!

Good Morning All!!

I've been a long time friend of many Grand friends, but I have been MIA forever!!! Every time I've tried to come stop by the new changes on the boards chased me away....I hate change!!! I looks so strange.... lol!!!

Grannyminnie - Happy Birthday!!!

Blue - Miss you!!!

Candy Orlando- WOW sounds wonderful!

We're planning a big trip in July to the Grand as usual every year. We have stayed RPC a few times, but this year will be in my second favorite Big Pine Key (hopefully). I already have the cabanas and dinners booked. Big group 14 of us and thank goodness we got everyone favorite restaurant even the difficult ones, I was stressing out for that.

Hope all is well, I'll be back to check in....I'll try not to get chased away from this strange looking board...lol!!

Wishes!!! So happy to "see" you around here...Miss you too! .... Happy planning..you are amazing putting a trip together for such a big group...Hope that they know how lucky that they are to have such a knowledgeable master planner taking care of things for the trip!

Has anyone stayed in one of the club suites that sleep 6? Staying in one for the first time and would love to hear about the layout, views and or see pics! Thank you!!!

I know that Baler has already given you a very thorough description of those particular suites...which hopefully will be rehabbed very soon...just wanted to mention that all of the balconies associated with these are are the enclosed dormer style ones...Not sure if that makes a difference...??? I happen to like them...but not everyone does...I do have several pics...but am not very adept at posting them....

Morning!!

Candy Orlando - Thanks so much for the great pictures

Grannyminnie - Yeah the kids are in the school, my DD graduates HS the end of May so we're looking forward to nice long summer break. My DS will be finished with College next year. Crazy how time flies!!

My planning for 14 is going pretty well, everyone is regular visitors to WDW so the know you need to roll with the punches sometimes. But it is the first time for one family to stay at the Grand and honestly thats all they care about. Dinner reservations had to be made in some locations in two separate groups, which is fine because the kids can definitely be separated from the adults...lol lol!! Now we just have FP's and I think we have it figured out.

Hope everyone is having a great day, we're getting SNOW again....I am done and over it!!!!!

Phenomenal...!!!!! ...I am sure that you will work it all out....I am so sick of winter....Isn't today supposed to be the first day of spring!???? ..maxie reminded me of that this morning..while I was complaining about the impending snow! lol.....

Congrats on being able to apply the summer discount to your reservations!!! That's terrific...and I'm sure quite a savings.... That means more $$ to put towards shopping...lol....

/Wave everyone! It seems like forever (and a new forum thrown in) since I visited. I'm in the process of rescheduling last weeks visit to GF. We succumbed to a nasty bug that actually closed one of our schools for a few days. Sadly it is looking like we won't be staying at the GF although we're eating there quite a bit. I'm also looking forward to some shopping at Summer Lace! Candy Orlando can you tell me if they have the Dooney leather purses there still?

Editing to say: New boards are really odd! (Well new to me at least)

Since I've not figured out quoting yet I'll just say Wishes have my greatest admiration for planning for 14. I tried that for only 6 once and last year for 5 I just friended them on MyDisneyExperience app. If they wanted to go with us they could copy our plans! Good luck with you're planning!

Liz

Hi Liz Nice to see you! ..So sorry that you had to cancel your trip ...there are quite a few nasty bugs around this season...Hope that things work out and that you are able to re book the GF... ....

Hi All....

I will be staying at the Grand next month with DH and DD(3). The last time I stayed there I was a kid so I'm fairly clueless. We have an Outer Building Lagoon View booked. Any help with room requests would be great!!! Ideally we'd like to be fairly close to the main building for transportation. We'd also like a quiet room if that's possible. Any thoughts on what building or location to request?? TIA!!!

My suggestion would be Pig Pine Key..it is pretty close to the main building..both pools and and the boat dock too....and I agree with dansdad the more concise of a description the better! Those lagoon views are beautiful....Have a wonderful trip!

Good Morning,
I am also ignoring the snowy first day of spring!! We are booked for theme park view in the rpc in August. Any suggestions for rooms to request or are they all pretty much the same? Thanks

While very beautiful....those TPV rooms in RPC some what far from lounge...the farthest room being 43 (third floor) or 44 (forth floor) 01...and the closest being 08 I believe....so if you would like closer to the connecting hallway then I would suggest a higher room number....I also believe that Trish while in a king room..but same view...only from the 2nd floor ..said that a lower numbered room..perhaps 02 or 03 had some of the view obstructed by a big old palm tree....Maybe she will jump in here and be able to verify which room it was....No matter what....a great room category ..not to mention you can hear the music ( aka the train whistle and the boat horns) of the MK with your sliders opened.......

eckatiel Great pic ...and what a nice view that is!!

grannyminnie I know you have a trip coming up soon....Any special plans...GF dining??? LOl...you know what its all about....

Hope that all of my fellow GF fans are having a fabulous Friday!!! TGIF is all that I have to say... snow hating GF gal....lol.....

 

[kungaloosh22]

Happy First day of spring all.....

While very beautiful....those TPV rooms in RPC some what far from lounge...the farthest room being 43 (third floor) or 44 (forth floor) 01...and the closest being 08 I believe....

This is a good point. I think 09 is the closest theme park view room. As for distance, everyone has different priorities, but we stayed in 4406 last Sept and thought the distance from the lounge was perfect! We would not want to be much closer because of noise, and I loved that the TPV room category guaranteed that we wouldn't be right by the lounge area.

I think room 4201 is the room blocked by a tree (maybe upper floor 01 rooms, as well?). My son and daughter-in-law were in room 4202, so I went down specifically to check out the tree as it was a "hot topic" on the message boards at the time of our stay, and it wasn't an issue at all from 4202.

 

[Candy Orlando]

I'm trying to put up photos of the Easter Eggs the Grand put out today but it's not working.

We sat and listened to a sweet young cast member sing songs with the piano player.

Now it's another summer like evening at 86 degrees as we sit and eat in Epcot at Japan.

 

[Candy Orlando]

 

[Sue M]

And remember, Basin has the cute bath bomb with the Mickeys "hidden" inside, so the 8 yr old will likely love that!

Wishes, yep, it's the food as we get older....tho I wouldn't say the parks are just for the kids.........(of course, some of us are just big kids anyway! LOL)

My daughter loves the solid shampoo & conditioner bars!

 

[grannyminnie]

Blue, didn't Maxie used to do a "countdown to spring"? Know you guys up north are just so OVER the snow and cold!!

I booked Boma and Chefs de France for 2 meals we want to enjoy. The others will be at the GF Cafe and Kona Cafe (a maybe on that one) and we'll just walk up and hope to get in.

 

[Dispro1]

Lisann, isn't it fun working out a new trip?! As baler31 has pointed out, the two types of Queen Deluxes have pros and cons. We have stayed in only two of the six rooms. 4320, a rectangular room overlooking the courtyard pool and grounds and 4422, a triangular room overlooking the beach and beach pool area. The nice thing about triangular rooms is that the more functional areas - bathroom, kitchenette etc. - are separated somewhat from the living space of the beds, couch, tables etc. It lends a cosiness to the room. 4422 (and I assume 4322) has the added bonus of a wrap-around balcony to give a wider view! We found that while 4422 was the noisier of the rooms, it was not the lounge so much as the lobby sounds. The band does seem louder on the 4422 side. This can be a positive or a negative! 4320 is a rectangular room. It has a bright, open plan and a calm view across the grounds toward Boca Chica. The main negative of this particular room is that deep tub. I'm relatively short, my DM has hip problems and that tub will not soon be forgotten! Also, kids have a fascination with the checker tables, which stand just around the corner from this room. They play and clack those checkers down at all times of the day and night and you can hear the little dears. Other than that, it is a lovely, bright and quiet room. We have been very happy in both room types and luxuriated in the extra space these rooms afford. If you choose to go with a Deluxe Queen room I wish you the same!

Candy, thank you, I am changing into the bikini right now! Ooh, I can see our favourite spot!

I'm new to the DIS (but not new to GF/Disney) so forgive me for replying to an older post. I just found this thread. I wanted to say thanks for the info on 4422! I didn't realize it was a Deluxe! We always request 4320 when we go with our kids and have been fortunate to get it every time, so far ( I hope I didn't jinx myself). We would be ok with 4319 too, but I'm afraid the lounge noise would be awful in 4419 and 4420. My kids are 16 and 11 now so they sleep really late! I think I would be ok with 4422 ( if it's not that much smaller). My husband and I were in 4421 last month (king turret room), and it is so nice and quiet, but I wonder if that's because of the hallway that leads back to the turret room which takes you away from the noise a bit? We've been in 4421 before and like the convenience to the lounge, but 4021 (5th floor king turret room) was SO quiet because there aren't any rooms above you. It makes me sad that my girls won't ever get to enjoy the king turret rooms because they won't allow 4 people. I'm talking about the spectacular 180 degrees of windows in the room with a dead on view of the castle ( not to mention the walk in closet with the built in dresser). It does have the big garden tub (like 4320), but we all love bubble baths, so we like the tub!

 

[busymommy2pink]

Ok....so a super newbie question regarding room requests. I have only ever stayed at AKL and BC. And there was never any choices for room requests, or place to input. Is that different with GF? I see everyone talking about requesting rooms and I'm unsure how/when to go about that. With BC...we get Garden view and at AKL we got pool view. We've never been anywhere with outer buildings before. Are there any suggestions for us? We are an Outer Building Garden View. We don't mind being further away from the main lobby and prefer to be away from elevators. We like quiet and our children are also quiet. We are tossing around the idea of upgrading to a deluxe room just to have the extra space. Is there anything that really makes it worth the extra $100 or more a night?

Do any of the rooms in our category have a bathtub that will fit a tall adult? I always feel uncomfortable in my bathtub at home, but look forward to maybe having a bubble bath on vaca. BC and AKL only had standard tubs.

Thank you for any help!