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

[The Sasquatch]

Can anyone comment on the monorail refurb and any impact to monorail resort guests? I am being told it does not impact the resort service but the posted closings are confusing.

 

[BlueSkies]

We are getting closer to our August trip so now I'm thinking of room requests... We are booked Outer Building Garden View - we lucked out with a LV upgrade the last time we stayed on a GV reservation so I am not expecting that again. Are there king bed rooms with daybeds anywhere in GV rooms? It is myself, DH and DD5 - she loves the day beds! I don't really want a pool view (when we had one in SL it was louder than we liked) but are there any GV rooms that don't look at the pools? Thanks for any thoughts you may have!

I'm going to second what Sue said..lovely marina views in both Conch and Sago..and are considered GV...

We are only two weeks away! I emailed our TA about room requests and if she would be faxing our request for us, and her response was "I don't know what you are talking about. That isn't how travel agents make requests." I just dropped the issue - she has been super weird about room requests! I understand she can't guarantee what location we get, but geez she doesn't have to be rude / short with me. So the question is - do I just fax it myself or do I have faith that she is taking care of us?

What your TA should be doing is making sure that your requests are listed on your reservation...no reason why you can't double check that with her..

Can I ask why you don't like the dormer room? I was thinking of asking for one because the vaulted ceilings looked nice. Maybe I should rethink it?

The dormer rooms do have a vaulted ceiling. .nice extra visual space IMO...but also an enclosed balcony...which is a bit smaller also..and not the open railing of a non dormer room...opinions vary on this...two distinctly different feels if you like to sit out on the balcony....I do believe that there are pics on page one that will give you a good idea...

Can anyone comment on the monorail refurb and any impact to monorail resort guests? I am being told it does not impact the resort service but the posted closings are confusing.

Not sure where the info is posted about monorail closures...Kenny the Pirate usually has detailed info..In our experience when the resort line has had closures...generally mid day..not at peak times...you will be provided with alternative modes of transportation. .there are always the resort water launches...but also additional bus service ...HTH...

 

[Lisann]

Can I ask why you don't like the dormer room? I was thinking of asking for one because the vaulted ceilings looked nice. Maybe I should rethink it?

I ADORE the quaintness of the dormer rooms!

 

[Ferrentinos]

Can I ask why you don't like the dormer room? I was thinking of asking for one because the vaulted ceilings looked nice. Maybe I should rethink it?

It's mostly because my DD5 is to little to look out of the balcony with the enclosed with dormer rooms. Without having to hold her up she couldn't see anything - and that kind of took away from the relaxing experience because she just wanted to see! I had a much better experience with open balconies as she can see easily and doesn't feel like she is missing out on something - when a little girl feels that she is missing something, it isn't exactly a "relaxing" time!

 

[Sue M]

Agreed! We had a dormer a couple of summers ago and it just wasn't for me! I see you are also going in August to GF - have you done your room request yet?

Sorta! I had TA request Boca Chica! No dormer, however I was looking at touring plans room views and I noticed over on the side by Narcoossee at end of hall they have some rooms classified as GV, but look out at CR. Not good enough to classify as lagoon view. It's north facing, so now I'm thinking rooms may be dark, and being behind the restaurant, smells from restaurant may blow that way and may hear vent fans? Dunno. As I say, I always rethink and agonize on rooms!! But, I'll be there 2 weeks and dont want to be stuck with a bad room!!
So, for now I'm sticking to Boca pool view

Can I ask why you don't like the dormer room? I was thinking of asking for one because the vaulted ceilings looked nice. Maybe I should rethink it?

I don't like dormer rooms because they have a small balcony with a solid wall. So if you're sitting on the balcony you're just looking at a wall. Can't see out unless you stand. It also lets less light in so room is darker. Also room is smaller.
Some people love the dormers and request them. It's all a matter of personal pref.

 

[Sue M]

Just reading a thread about viewing Wishes from GF. It really surprised me that some people are saying you can watch from Narcossees veranda even if you aren't dining there that they've done it, who knows how many times. This never occurred to me to do such a thing if I wasn't eatting at the restaurant. And don't really understand why someone would think its ok? I wonder how many people crash the veranda? So sad, and unfair to the people paying to dine there. Ugh.

 

[baler31]

Can I ask why you don't like the dormer room? I was thinking of asking for one because the vaulted ceilings looked nice. Maybe I should rethink it?

We do not like the dormer rooms because they are darker and a bit smaller.

 

[Ferrentinos]

Sorta! I had TA request Boca Chica! No dormer, however I was looking at touring plans room views and I noticed over on the side by Narcoossee at end of hall they have some rooms classified as GV, but look out at CR. Not good enough to classify as lagoon view. It's north facing, so now I'm thinking rooms may be dark, and being behind the restaurant, smells from restaurant may blow that way and may hear vent fans? Dunno. As I say, I always rethink and agonize on rooms!! But, I'll be there 2 weeks and dont want to be stuck with a bad room!!
So, for now I'm sticking to Boca pool view

That would be a nice view to have of the CR - How high up are those rooms? I'll have to check over on TP room view again... I'm also agonizing over our room because we will be there for 11 days! I just want to have a happy spot!

 

[BabyFu18]

Reading all this about dormer rooms, I don't think we'd really enjoy the enclosed balcony (probably couldn't see over the railings in a wheelchair). Does anyone know if there are dormer handicap rooms? I thought maybe since people say the dormer rooms are smaller, they wouldn't be handicap/wheelchair accessible dormer rooms because they might be to small. If they do have dormer rooms in all categories, I might need to add no dormer to my request.

 

[MommyGina]

I'm going to chime in about dormer rooms and why I don't care for them. It's all about the balcony! I love sitting out and being able to see what is going around the resort no matter what room location I have. A while back, I think the dormer rooms didn't have a day bed either. No way were two kids going to share one bed. It would have ended very badly. As I understand now, the dormer rooms do have day beds. It's just my opinion.

On another note, DD committed to a college yesterday! Yay for her, not so much for me. Too far away. Maybe spring will come back to Connecticut soon. More snow here today, Yuck.

 

[Sue M]

That would be a nice view to have of the CR - How high up are those rooms? I'll have to check over on TP room view again... I'm also agonizing over our room because we will be there for 11 days! I just want to have a happy spot!

Lol. We can agonize together! I think floors 2&3. Maybe 4. But 4 may be a dormer. At first I thought they may be nice, but then I'm not sure being in the back of Narcossee's if there will be smells from venting or morning deliveries? Ugh. I may just stick with pool view. I liked our courtyard pool view a few yrs ago. I never heard any noise. And you get to see all the comings & goings in the courtyard.
Our last stay we had a lagoon view in Big Pine. Enjoyed that too.

 

[Dispro1]

I'm going to chime in about dormer rooms and why I don't care for them. It's all about the balcony! I love sitting out and being able to see what is going around the resort no matter what room location I have. A while back, I think the dormer rooms didn't have a day bed either. No way were two kids going to share one bed. It would have ended very badly. As I understand now, the dormer rooms do have day beds. It's just my opinion.

On another note, DD committed to a college yesterday! Yay for her, not so much for me. Too far away. Maybe spring will come back to Connecticut soon. More snow here today, Yuck.

Congrats on your DD's college decision! My DD will be a senior this fall, so we are visiting FSU this summer....that's pretty far from home too (8.5 hours) but if she ends up there, at least I will get to go to FL more often As for the dormer rooms, you are correct that they did not have a daybed before. When my parents went with us once years ago, we had adjoining rooms and theirs was a dormer with no daybed. Honestly, I loved the vaulted ceilings and the room was great for them since there were only two of them. The balcony wasn't really an issue since it was really too hot to sit out there anyway, and we don't spend much time in the room when we are there. I do see where a dormer room would not be ideal for a family with younger kids with it's smaller room size and enclosed balcony, but I think it's a nice room for a smaller family (with an older child), particularly if the room has a marina view like my parents' room had

 

[pas130]

I'm going to chime in about dormer rooms and why I don't care for them. It's all about the balcony! I love sitting out and being able to see what is going around the resort no matter what room location I have. A while back, I think the dormer rooms didn't have a day bed either. No way were two kids going to share one bed. It would have ended very badly. As I understand now, the dormer rooms do have day beds. It's just my opinion.

On another note, DD committed to a college yesterday! Yay for her, not so much for me. Too far away. Maybe spring will come back to Connecticut soon. More snow here today, Yuck.

Yay and congrats to your DD, for you! And where did Spring go anyway??

Congrats on your DD's college decision! My DD will be a senior this fall, so we are visiting FSU this summer....that's pretty far from home too (8.5 hours) but if she ends up there, at least I will get to go to FL more often As for the dormer rooms, you are correct that they did not have a daybed before. When my parents went with us once years ago, we had adjoining rooms and theirs was a dormer with no daybed. Honestly, I loved the vaulted ceilings and the room was great for them since there were only two of them. The balcony wasn't really an issue since it was really too hot to sit out there anyway, and we don't spend much time in the room when we are there. I do see where a dormer room would not be ideal for a family with younger kids with it's smaller room size and enclosed balcony, but I think it's a nice room for a smaller family (with an older child), particularly if the room has a marina view like my parents' room had

I think if your DD is going to be far away, Florida is a most excellent place to go visit her

 

[pas130]

Hi Grand groupies!!! I wanted to share some Easter egg pictures I took this past weekend. It was so beautiful at the Grand!!! As always of course and spring is alive and well there

 

[KonaKaiTom]

Thanks for the great pictures @pas130

Tom

 

[Nancyg56]

Just reading a thread about viewing Wishes from GF. It really surprised me that some people are saying you can watch from Narcossees veranda even if you aren't dining there that they've done it, who knows how many times. This never occurred to me to do such a thing if I wasn't eatting at the restaurant. And don't really understand why someone would think its ok? I wonder how many people crash the veranda? So sad, and unfair to the people paying to dine there. Ugh.

Until recently, Narcoossees allowed people to enter the porch to watch Wishes. This was their decision, and in all of the times I have dined there, it was never crowded or uncomfortable due to the number of guests congregated there. If an establishment is fine with the practice, it is not unfair to anyone.

I have heard that now only guests of the restaurant may enter the porch now, although I do not know if this is true.

 

[followthatmouse]

Until recently, Narcoossees allowed people to enter the porch to watch Wishes. This was their decision, and in all of the times I have dined there, it was never crowded or uncomfortable due to the number of guests congregated there. If an establishment is fine with the practice, it is not unfair to anyone.

I have heard that now only guests of the restaurant may enter the porch now, although I do not know if this is true.

We did notice people, who were coming up from the boat, stand on the verandah for a better view. They were not moved on. However, this was a little over a year ago and the policy may have changed.

 

[Sue M]

We did notice people, who were coming up from the boat, stand on the verandah for a better view. They were not moved on. However, this was a little over a year ago and the policy may have changed.

I'm glad if they changed this policy. Our last time fining there, we timed it for Wishes and got a window table. Before Wishes started, people walked onto the Veranda and stood right in front of us blocking any viewing.
We did go outside and watched where we could see.

 

[Sue M]

Until recently, Narcoossees allowed people to enter the porch to watch Wishes. This was their decision, and in all of the times I have dined there, it was never crowded or uncomfortable due to the number of guests congregated there. If an establishment is fine with the practice, it is not unfair to anyone.

I have heard that now only guests of the restaurant may enter the porch now, although I do not know if this is true.

I hope it is. I never would have guessed it would be ok for people who weren't dining there to use their veranda. And if everyone knew this there wouldn't be any room for diners to find a spot, because everyone would be taking advantage.

 

[Ferrentinos]

Lol. We can agonize together! I think floors 2&3. Maybe 4. But 4 may be a dormer. At first I thought they may be nice, but then I'm not sure being in the back of Narcossee's if there will be smells from venting or morning deliveries? Ugh. I may just stick with pool view. I liked our courtyard pool view a few yrs ago. I never heard any noise. And you get to see all the comings & goings in the courtyard.
Our last stay we had a lagoon view in Big Pine. Enjoyed that too.

I'm still a bit torn... Do you know if there is a monorail view (that isn't lagoon view)?
I think that our request will be: No dormer, king bed please, away from the pool - that is in our priority order...but it is still up for debate!