2014 Grand Floridian Resort & Villas FAQ: Vacationing in Grand Style!

[coopersmom]

In the end it worked out fine. Our plan had been to enjoy the view of the park and castle from our room since our annual passes expired on the 13th and we checked out late on the 14th.

Since we couldn't see the castle they gave us park tickets for the day and dd and I had a few more hours at her favorite place :

As the family"s FHP ( family happiness planner ) since dd accepted the outcome than that's good enough for me . However, if I had been with a first timer this would not have been acceptable.

Very glad to hear they did something to make up for it. Good on Disney! Definitely helps restore the faith.

 

[TinkerBellLiz]

Well I like to leave things on a sweet note, so here it is :

Dessert sampling from RPC lounge :

DH noticed in the upper right hand corner it appears to be my fruit custard tart! I'm doing the happy dance around my office

I actually think I love those more than the chocolate covered strawberries!

Thank you again for the pictures and info!

Liz on

 

[WDWFANCBIIIME]

Thanks for all of the recent photos ~ its making me even more excited for my upcoming vacation

 

[disney92013]

Hi...staying at the GF for the first time. Only going to be there for 2 nights. I am really excited about having a theme park view...can anyone recommend rooms/buildings that might help us assure that we have a great view of the castle. Thank you so much.

 

[gretchenohar@hotmail]

Hi...staying at the GF for the first time. Only going to be there for 2 nights. I am really excited about having a theme park view...can anyone recommend rooms/buildings that might help us assure that we have a great view of the castle. Thank you so much.

We'll be staying here starting the 29th of this month, so I can't answer your question; but I know you'll get plenty of advice soon.
In the meantime, here's a site with great, in-depth info:
http://touringplans.com/walt-disney-world/hotels/disneys-grand-floridian-resort

 

[Eastern]

I think I would have to go down and request another room or a credit for the view upcharge.

+ 1000

 

[BlueSkies]

Those fries sound yummy! The BLT sounds very like the Figaro Fries we lost at Pinocchio Village Haus a couple years back, I'll have to look out for them. Golden Oak Outpost has had some unique offerings off and on - I kept meaning to check out their homemade potato chips, but never got around to it. This trip, we will likely do more snacking in the parks than usual, I'm not making many dining reservations.

Ooh, the boursin cheese sauce and onion straws are our favorite part of that sandwich, too. *drool* I'm sure you are right about the ham, it doesn't have the "fresh roasted" designation on the menu! A very delicious sandwich, though, and filling.

I remember the figaro fries...mouth watering yet again...lol...and back to the Grand sandwich...I agree soooo delicious!

Since you are doing more snacking than ADRs..I think there are may good things that you are going to "need: to try..Love to hear how you liked the waffle fries if you get to try them!

Thank you for the support. I'm surprising the kids (DD10 and DD15) with CL which they love. I was worried about the lounge at BC being temporarily in the presidential suite but when I mentioned it to DD15 in passing (she happened to ask when BCV was getting renovations..so I had an opening) - she said "wow that'd be so cool. So that nailed it.

... and you have two great trips to look forward too..lucky you! U bet having the BC lounge int he presidential suite will be a pretty cool change...Enjoy!

Thanks for the heads up on the waffle fries Blue. Anything with BBQ pulled pork has got to be good, IMO.

You're very welcome... and I agree...can't wait to try them! And I will be happy to report back with my opinion...Although k&a&c'smom might get to try them first...

Thanks for all of the recent photos ~ its making me even more excited for my upcoming vacation

Photos here are the next best thing to being there!

Hi...staying at the GF for the first time. Only going to be there for 2 nights. I am really excited about having a theme park view...can anyone recommend rooms/buildings that might help us assure that we have a great view of the castle. Thank you so much.

Congrats on booking your first GF stay! There is a map on the first page of this thread..it shows you where each outer building is located..just to give you an idea of what you might prefer...but my recommendation would be Conch Key..or Boca Chica..both a bit more centrally located on the property than Sago which also has TPV rooms...

Trisha Welcome back! And thanks for posting all of those terrific pics.. . Happy to see that solar gel has been added to the toiletries being offered... As for the view... We have had a tree view a time or two from various rooms too.... ...Maybe they should add that to the room categories...lol...or as Cali-D said...do a bit mre tree trimming... Nice that you were offered some tickets to make up for the lack of view though...

Love the food pics..ofcourse...lol...mango pineapple trifle...what a nice new twist on an old favorite...

Liz Loving all of your beautiful pics... Looking forward to seeing more!! As for the King deluxe room numbers 4201 (which Trish had ) is the last room on the end..the room with the most centered TPV is room 4204... I believe 4208 is the first deluxe king room in that row of rooms..and closest in towards the elevator... HTH...

BC1836 One more day!

~ Just wondering ...did anyone else try to find some hidden Mickeys in the new wall paper pic that Trisha posted... ??? I bet if they are there MickeyNut will find them..she has some sort of hidden Mickey radar...lol...


Hope that everyone is having a super Saturday! preppy GF gal...who is hoping not to be over on smilies today!

 

[MrsB919]

Hi everyone. Hubby and I will be staying at VGF next month. I was just wondering if there is a closer place to fill the refillable mugs other than Gasparilla's? TIA.

 

[mommyrosa2]

Got a few minutes before we are on the go again!

Weather has been so so...t-storms/rain have been coming much earlier in the day so we haven't gotten much pool time but hoping we'll be able to tomorrow since we have the morning open . We've enjoyed some really great dinners so far. Tried Sanaa for the first time on our first night...DH & I really enjoyed that (sadly both our girls weren't as impressed ). Thursday night, we had another fabulous dinner at Narcoossees, last night, we enjoyed Tapan Edo and tonight we had another great dinner at Ohana (very sad to see the lobby the way it is though). Off to hit PM EMH at MK....

Will see what we end up with this time, but if room isn't what we want, the key is not to touch anything, and just go back to desk. That's the first question asked. Did you touch anything?

I've bought Dooney at Summer & Lace. The store on Main Street also has a good selection. So if you don't see it or like pattern placement at Summer & Lace, you can always go to Main Street. I've also seen them at Epcot Mouse Gears, I think at DHS, as well as WOD in DTD. At ak too!

Lol...the first thing I said to my girls and DH was "Don't touch a thing!"

I was just at Summer Lace yesterday and they do have Dooney's but I didn't see that particular one. I did, however, find one that I really liked and DH ended up getting it for me as a belated birthday gift. I got his one:

Can anyone who has stayed at the Grand post-room refurb say whether the televisions have HDMI ports that can be accessed by guests? Wondering whether we can bring a cable and watch movies from our iPad/iPhone.

I know you used to be able to hook-up composite cables, but the current generation iPad no longer supports analog-out video.

There are two HDMI ports on the back of the TV (I had DH just check it ).

 

[mrorke]

So excited....under the 30 day mark and Magic Bands came in the mail today!

 

[Tinkerkell007]

Quick question. Has anyone had bug bites of some sort at the beach?
My sis and I watched the movie at the beach last night but had to leave
Cause she was getting eaten alive! It's 4 am and she just woke up cause the
Bites were annoying her. Doesn't sound like normal mosquito bites. I was sitting
Next to her and am untouched(which is weird cause I'm always bit)
Thanks in advance. . Trying to see what, if anything, will help her.

 

[trishadono]

Quick question. Has anyone had bug bites of some sort at the beach?
My sis and I watched the movie at the beach last night but had to leave
Cause she was getting eaten alive! It's 4 am and she just woke up cause the
Bites were annoying her. Doesn't sound like normal mosquito bites. I was sitting
Next to her and am untouched(which is weird cause I'm always bit)
Thanks in advance. . Trying to see what, if anything, will help her.

My daughter gets puffy, red marks with nearly every bug bite. What works the best is Benadryl products but don't take the oral ones unless you want to sleep. They make a few topical versions that are spray and a new kind that was a gel.
If the grand doesn't have that then hydrocortisone cream or gel works good too.

At the grand these would be in the store on the first floor. If they don't have go to the concierge and explain the problem and see if they will send someone to a drugstore for you. I have been offered this at gf and poly so hopefully they still do.

My dd will get relief pretty quick (Minutes) with these so it's worth the effort if she is still uncomfortable. Sorry I just missed you, we left Friday and I had these with me.

Hope the rest of your trip is better

 

[trishadono]

I just tried to multi quote but I missed so many days I got overwhelmed

So good morning!! For those of you just back hope you had a great time! For those of you there now and for those planning or dreaming

Hope you liked my pics and thanks for your responses

Mommygina, the first semester is the hardest but having a planned time to check in each day helps. Of course yours is a boy and may not want to. Dd called me after a morning class and checked in. Then texted on days as we got better. At least once a week she face timed me too. That really helped.

Then winter break comes and you have lots of time together and of course summer I have had from 5/9 until this upcoming friday with my girl.

I have heard from moms when they permanently move out it's worse so...
To my peeps missing their kids.

I need to head to cr thread next. Miss a week miss a lot

 

[trishadono]

DH noticed in the upper right hand corner it appears to be my fruit custard tart! I'm doing the happy dance around my office


Liz on

Yes that was the fruit tart! Too funny!

Also Blue, the mango pineapple trifle was delish!!! Had to go back for more!!!

I forget to respond to Scott's request about outdoor shower area at the beach pool. There was shampoo, liquid soap and a blow dryer. (No conditioner). We tried all 3 showers and the water was cold. It was an hour after a storm and the pool was closed so it wasn't due to overuse. We were alone.

I am still so tired. Ok going back to read some moreand more coffee!!!

 

[gretchenohar@hotmail]

Quick question. Has anyone had bug bites of some sort at the beach?
My sis and I watched the movie at the beach last night but had to leave
Cause she was getting eaten alive! It's 4 am and she just woke up cause the
Bites were annoying her. Doesn't sound like normal mosquito bites. I was sitting
Next to her and am untouched(which is weird cause I'm always bit)
Thanks in advance. . Trying to see what, if anything, will help her.

We sometimes get bitten by "sand fleas" at the beach here in the Northeast. Have no idea if FL has them. They do make me itch intensely tho. Almost unbearably so. Agree with the topical gels And another thing that works surprisingly well is heat. Take a clean metal spoon & leave it in very hot water for a minute or so then apply it to the area till it cools. Or, if she got bit on her feet/ankles like I usually do, have her soak her feet in water as hot as she can stand without burning herself. You'll be surprised how well this works. HTH

 

[coopersmom]

There are two HDMI ports on the back of the TV (I had DH just check it ).

Thank you! Have a great vacation!!

 

[jerseygal]

We sometimes get bitten by "sand fleas" at the beach here in the Northeast. Have no idea if FL has them. They do make me itch intensely tho. Almost unbearably so. Agree with the topical gels And another thing that works surprisingly well is heat. Take a clean metal spoon & leave it in very hot water for a minute or so then apply it to the area till it cools. Or, if she got bit on her feet/ankles like I usually do, have her soak her feet in water as hot as she can stand without burning herself. You'll be surprised how well this works. HTH

My DS had some type of "reaction" by his eye about 2 hours after returning from Blizzard Beach...It was HORRIBLE! Immediately went to Urgent Care and his whole eye was not infected like pink eye, but the surrounding area was inflamed...Had to "suffer" through about 4 days left of vaca, then immediately went to our internist...His eye was "so bad" and swollen that the internist then kiddingly asked if he got punched in the eye, by me???
Anyway, we think now that it was a sand flea that came off a towel when he shook it out! I was EXTREMELY WORRIED about him and remember researching "like crazy" when we returned what it could be! I felt horrible for him as he had to return to work with his horrible looking eye, all swollen! To this day, think that it was a "sand flea" or something! BEST OF LUCK! Hope that your sister is better!

 

[abk96]

Hi everyone. Hubby and I will be staying at VGF next month. I was just wondering if there is a closer place to fill the refillable mugs other than Gasparilla's? TIA.

Hi! There's a refill station at the Beach Pool.

Have a great trip!

 

[Tinkerkell007]

Thank you all for your suggestions! I'm gonna try them

 

[grannyminnie]

Wow, you guys have been busy since I last checked in!! The company just left, and for maybe the first time ever, I had 3 different sets of guests within a week!! Enjoyed them all, but as I said, did have more kitchen duty for several days...

All about the food....waffle fries topped with yummy things sound delish! They're on the list for the next trip...
The Grand sandwich: I'm all about the onion fries and Bousin spread too.
And mango pineapple trifle?! Can't wait for that one!!!!

I forget who posted the pic of the castle all dressed up for Christmas...but AHHHHHH!