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

[Dispro1]

Thanks for the tips. I often advise guests to check in early at the Grand Californian (which is close to 100% occupancy, year round), but will likely be arriving at the Grand Floridian later in the day (due to DW's plans). The distance to the 2nd floor rooms does not seem too bad, my walks to the Grand Californian concierge lounge are usually quite long.

Our February trip to RPC is always our anniversary trip, so maybe listing a celebration on your reservation will help. Or maybe just having your trip in January will help, unless it's MLK Jr weekend??

 

[Sue M]

Thanks friend, I hate saying anything negative, especially since all my Grand friends here have such grand experiences The one CM who poured my wine each night was lovely. I told her that she was the only star in the clouds for me. She was really sweet. I also was really hoping my DH would be Wowed by the CMs at RPC but not so much. It's the little things like a good morning, or how was your day that are so special. I haven't lost hope, I think BWI will be nice

You're right, the CMs can make or break your stay. The CMs in the lounge were ok during our visit, but the CM at 3rd floor desk was outstanding. Our room was on 3rd floor so we past the desk daily. She Always had a nice greeting, asked how our day was, etc.
They hadn't gone to the serving wine yet, which I was happy about. I prefer the self serve.
I also hope you write a letter, your experience was totally unexceptable for any CL experience, but especially for RPC. And when you're trying to make a special experience for your family.

 

[mexi]

Pas...I'm sorry to hear your trip was less than magical. I'm glad you tried your best to be positive and not let it ruin your trip. I'm happy you got to see Denny. He's a sweetie.

I really hope you enjoy your BWI stay. It's my FAVORITE resort.

 

[baler31]

You're right, the CMs can make or break your stay. The CMs in the lounge were ok during our visit, but the CM at 3rd floor desk was outstanding. Our room was on 3rd floor so we past the desk daily. She Always had a nice greeting, asked how our day was, etc.
They hadn't gone to the serving wine yet, which I was happy about. I prefer the self serve.
I also hope you write a letter, your experience was totally unexceptable for any CL experience, but especially for RPC. And when you're trying to make a special experience for your family.

The CM's and even their small gestures can make or break your stay. During Spring Break at our BC CL stay not one CM ever greeted us during our almost week long stay. We received no arrival gift and were told "we don't do that, no CL does that anymore." Our neighbors checked in the next day and received an arrival gift. Honestly, as much as I hate to type this: they really need to learn from large chains that consistency is key.

I love Denny, he used to do all my reservations when he was with IPO, even though he has been a concierge greeter for awhile I still miss him so much in the IPO that I hardly bother using them anymore. He always made the IPO service personal and embodied excellent service.

pas130, I am sorry your stay was not what it should have been. I am very sad to hear that it seems as though the small improvements they were making to to the offerings has already vanished. Honestly, if it were not for our favorite CM's and the location advantage over offsite we would not return. The food and extras are no longer enhancing our experience, they are diminishing it. The only addition that I can say I appreciate is the texting service.

 

[TJA]

I will say that the beef kabobs were the best appetizer I've ever had there, and the sliced pork (maybe similar to the carving station) was delicious and new to me too)!

Pas: Were the hot apps mentioned by Dispro (quoted above) still there? I saw some other recent pics with some great looking hot apps, but your experience seems to be opposite. My trip isn't until March, so lots can change before then, but with CL offerings starting to get a bit better again (BC and BWI, at least), I'd really have to wonder why RPC would go the other way!!

As a side note, this is sort of an inside joke that seaspray would appreciate, but over in the Poly or maybe CL thread, I had posted pictures of the hot appetizer offerings each night at Poly for a week over July 4. Included almost every night was corn dogs and it quickly became a joke in those threads....now I almost can't believe you said you had corn dogs at GF!! Hopefully it was just one night...or maybe in the kids section? lol.

 

[Dispro1]

Pas: Were the hot apps mentioned by Dispro (quoted above) still there? I saw some other recent pics with some great looking hot apps, but your experience seems to be opposite. My trip isn't until March, so lots can change before then, but with CL offerings starting to get a bit better again (BC and BWI, at least), I'd really have to wonder why RPC would go the other way!!

As a side note, this is sort of an inside joke that seaspray would appreciate, but over in the Poly or maybe CL thread, I had posted pictures of the hot appetizer offerings each night at Poly for a week over July 4. Included almost every night was corn dogs and it quickly became a joke in those threads....now I almost can't believe you said you had corn dogs at GF!! Hopefully it was just one night...or maybe in the kids section? lol.

Fortunately, the mini corn dogs are in the kid section, but they were actually good. The pigs in a blanket (also kid section) were burned when we had them so they weren't very good. They had butternut squash ravioli one night that was very good, but I didn't get a picture of that I do have these...the tortelloni was good!
I think the potstickers are from Ohana without the glaze but they are good. On the other side of the beef tips were Samosas (I think that's what they're called). They are the spicy potato filled Indian inspired app that we had almost every night at BC in June. They are good, but we had our fill of them in June

 

[Dispro1]

Whoops....now that I see the pics on the iPad instead of my phone, I can see that the Samosas are next to the tortelloni

 

[TJA]

Fortunately, the mini corn dogs are in the kid section, but they were actually good. The pigs in a blanket (also kid section) were burned when we had them so they weren't very good. They had butternut squash ravioli one night that was very good, but I didn't get a picture of that I do have these...the tortelloni was good!View attachment 133720View attachment 133721 View attachment 133723
I think the potstickers are from Ohana without the glaze but they are good. On the other side of the beef tips were Samosas (I think that's what they're called). They are the spicy potato filled Indian inspired app that we had almost every night at BC in June. They are good, but we had our fill of them in June

Yes! Those hot apps sound great! Along with the other ones you mentioned too . Really hoping that all of those things aren't gone now.

 

[hunthearin]

Counting down the days until we're back in September 2016. I'll be celebrating my birthday and would REALLY love a Turret room. We are booked Deluxe King Main Building, hopefully I play all my cards right and grab one of the 6 available.

 

[loveshak22]

I received an email yesterday about setting up my texting service for any questions or planning I needed before we arrived. The email also said I could text while there as well.

I went ahead and texted my name and arrival date and they asked me if I wanted FP and ADR reminder during our trip. I told them I didn't think I needed reminders but that I would probably like help with 4th FPs and maybe day of ADRs.

I thought that was pretty neat. I didn't think they'd start the texting service until we arrived. And I like the texting service has longer hours than the IPO office if you need something after hours.

 

[TJA]

I received an email yesterday about setting up my texting service for any questions or planning I needed before we arrived. The email also said I could text while there as well.

I went ahead and texted my name and arrival date and they asked me if I wanted FP and ADR reminder during our trip. I told them I didn't think I needed reminders but that I would probably like help with 4th FPs and maybe day of ADRs.

I thought that was pretty neat. I didn't think they'd start the texting service until we arrived. And I like the texting service has longer hours than the IPO office if you need something after hours.

Awesome - I'm really hoping they keep the 4th FP texting service. In April we had this service at BC CL and it was so nice....really spoiled us and changed our trip tremendously. They got us any ride we wanted, even though it was a busy week. Then we went to Poly CL a few months later and they did not have this service -- boy were we disappointed! I should've done more research beforehand so we would've pre-known. In any event, fingers crossed that the current resorts keep the service!

Your trip must be coming right up -- really looking forward to hearing all about it!

 

[trishadono]

Just wondering: The back elevator only goes down to the first floor, but cannot be take up from there?

Our trip is in January, booked for a RPC Deluxe King.
I must admit, I'll be rather disappointed with a second floor room. I'm not telling DW about the turret rooms, so she will be unaware of what we are missing.

Is it common for guests to not receive a requested turret room?

I requested it twice. I did get it with my trip with dh but did not with my "mom and me" trip with dd.

If I went back I do prefer the turrets however any room except 4201 ((the tree room Pas and I had) would be fine. The view is nice. I generally prefer cr and poly cl's because of their view of the castle. The 2nd floor rooms have a nice view so some may prefer that.


FYI this is the view from 4201. The rest 4202-09 looked like lovely views.

 

[trishadono]

Counting down the days until we're back in September 2016. I'll be celebrating my birthday and would REALLY love a Turret room. We are booked Deluxe King Main Building, hopefully I play all my cards right and grab one of the 6 available.

I would email your request to ipo asap. Make sure to list the birthday too!

Happy planning!!

 

[trishadono]

[QUOTE="BlueSkies, post: 54696771, member: 205425]

* Also another heads up for those with trips coming up...there have been some changes to park hours for November and December.... Easy WDW is a great place to keep up to date on the changes..soooo..I have been fine tuning things ...a bit...well maybe a lot......lol

Hope that everyone is having a wonderful weekend.... ADR & FPP changing GF gal....[/QUOTE]
Oh I better check my hours! Thanks!

 

[McKelly]

We arrive in less than two weeks........hoping to see the gingerbread house and tree. Any news if the house is going up yet? It takes awhile doesn't it? It's not an overnight thing like the trees from what I understand.

 

[loveshak22]

Awesome - I'm really hoping they keep the 4th FP texting service. In April we had this service at BC CL and it was so nice....really spoiled us and changed our trip tremendously. They got us any ride we wanted, even though it was a busy week. Then we went to Poly CL a few months later and they did not have this service -- boy were we disappointed! I should've done more research beforehand so we would've pre-known. In any event, fingers crossed that the current resorts keep the service!

Your trip must be coming right up -- really looking forward to hearing all about it!

I'm at the 6 day mark today!! So I received my texting email yesterday, at the week mark.

The email says we can also text with general questions so I'm hoping I can text when I have questions like, 'what's the monorail schedule today?' I received an email at my 10 day mark saying the monorail is going through maintenance and to ask a CM daily if it's the best mode of transportation for our plans. I plan on texting in the morning for MK and Epcot days and asking...wonder if that's ok?

I'll check in while I'm there and let folks know if the gingerbread house is up, or under construction!

 

[bethclayton]

pas, your honestly is appreciated. we stayed in 2010 and it was perfect. when we returned in 2012, they charged my debit card, which was only on file for incidentals, $14,000.00, and it took the entire week to straighten it out and even longer for the money to be refunded. the CM's were horrible about it. absolutely horrible. all of them. no apologies, no compassion, and it was 110% their mistake, which they freely admitted. i was beside myself and planned to never return. guest relations reached out to us many months later and provided us some incentive to stay again, so we did in 2013. i am so glad we did; it was more than amazing and perfect in every way. it's back to being my favorite, hands down.

i completely agree that the CM's can make or break your stay. i always wonder if things happen when management changes. disney seems to be the kind of place where staff are always on the move to a different job or rising through the ranks, so i am under the impression that management changes hands fairly often. the drastic difference in CM's between my 3 stays at RPC are pretty interesting. we also had a similar difference between our two stays at the poly (once the cm's were totally apathetic, the next time they were all a lot better). any of us who work and have a boss know how much your boss can change the whole culture.

and pas, those evening apps are SO lackluster compared to what they have had on all 3 of my visits.

 

[TJA]

and pas, those evening apps are SO lackluster compared to what they have had on all 3 of my visits.

I agree! Pas has only mentioned the crab Rangoon and a couple kids items so far, I think, unless I missed more. I'm worried that all of the delicious things everything has mentioned are now gone!

 

[francie]

• thanks, blueskies, for your reply regarding the suites in the main bldg. being finished. would you happen to know if all the suites in the gf are finished being renovated? tia

 

[Disneytam]

I agree! Pas has only mentioned the crab Rangoon and a couple kids items so far, I think, unless I missed more. I'm worried that all of the delicious things everything has mentioned are now gone!

I agree with you. I have seen some wonderful videos of the dinner apps. and some pictures on the dis but what I'm hearing and seeing now doesn't look like much! Please anyone going in the next couple of months give us some photo's of what is now being offered so I can put my mind (and tummy) at ease! I haven't heard it mentioned lately but please tell me they still have the champagne flowing, really hoping for a mimosa or three during our stay.