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

[davale4]

No, no, no.....no rack rate here! We've been lucky enough to use the military discount over the years.

But....we also stay 10 nights at a time, and 10 nights at RPC (even at 40% off) makes me

That's great that you can count on the military discount . I have to cross my fingers every year for that pin and have been lucky so far. I hope I can get a discount in the future, when i don't get that pin. We've been spoiled. This year we are doing 9 days at RPC and I decided last minute to add 3 days at CR Atrium Club Level TPV as a surprise for the family. The price was just too good to pass up and my DD has talked about trying it, but not as the main resort for our vacation. They believe we are going to visit family after the 9 days. I can't wait,

 

[davale4]

We are the same way. We spend a lot more time at the resort than we do the parks. We're lucky if we spend 8-10 hours total at the parks during a 7-8 night stay. We enjoy the parks, but tend to hit one in the morning (but not every day) for an hour or two (if that), then head back to the resort to swim, relax, etc. and sometimes head to another park for an hour or so after dinner (although sometimes we just visit other resorts, head to DTD, or just head back to our resort and enjoy the evening there). The parks are fun, but there are so many other things to do at Disney and we've gone so many times that not going to the parks at all wouldn't be a big deal for us. With that said, we are thinking of doing a resort only trip in January, which is rather appealing to me .

Wow! That is exactly how we Disney as well. I have family and friends that think we are crazy. I love our disney experiences. To me it's more than just the parks. My DD just turned 13 and she gets it. My DS is 6 and when he talks about going on vacation, he doesn't say I want to go to Disney. He says I want to go to the GF . He's too funny .

A resort only trip sounds heavenly, but the kids will still want to go a visit the parks if even for a couple of hours.

 

[Mousemommy1]

That's great that you can count on the military discount . I have to cross my fingers every year for that pin and have been lucky so far. I hope I can get a discount in the future, when i don't get that pin. We've been spoiled. This year we are doing 9 days at RPC and I decided last minute to add 3 days at CR Atrium Club Level TPV as a surprise for the family. The price was just too good to pass up and my DD has talked about trying it, but not as the main resort for our vacation. They believe we are going to visit family after the 9 days. I can't wait,

That sounds like it's going to be an amazing trip!!!

 

[Grace&Carolinesmom]

Good morning OK....GF vets, I have a question. I was over on the MAGIC website forums yesterday perusing the latest permit filings and there are a ton of permits for HVAC and Sensor installs at several resorts/attractions. There was a permit at GF for this and the locations were 1900 Park Fare and Chat-N-Chew. What/Where is Chat-N-Chew? Huh? First off, weird name, Secondly, doesn't sound very "grand" like. Anyone know where this is referring to? Or could this be the name for a CM area possibly?


ETA: LOOK LOOK.....my ticker is under 3 months!!!! So excited!!

 

[PrincessPaczki]

Good Morning. All of the talk about the RPC brings back such wonderful memories! I wonder what Chat-n-chew is? It doesn't sound very GF.

 

[abk96]

Good morning OK....GF vets, I have a question. I was over on the MAGIC website forums yesterday perusing the latest permit filings and there are a ton of permits for HVAC and Sensor installs at several resorts/attractions. There was a permit at GF for this and the locations were 1900 Park Fare and Chat-N-Chew. What/Where is Chat-N-Chew? Huh? First off, weird name, Secondly, doesn't sound very "grand" like. Anyone know where this is referring to? Or could this be the name for a CM area possibly?


ETA: LOOK LOOK.....my ticker is under 3 months!!!! So excited!!

I was thinking that it might be the CM lounge too while I was reading your post.

Yay on your ticker!! Mine should say 3 months because we added a day last night. Now we have a glorious 10 days at Disney to look forward to this July.

ETA Silly me my ticker should say less than 3 months. doh

 

[mickeynut1]

I agree with you all. I'd be happy to spend most of my time at the resort. We always plan our vacations around the resort and, of course, food.

A cabana by the beach pool, close my eyes and forget my cares under the warm May sun...back to my beautiful room for a shower with Spa products left by mousekeeping...then out the door to Summer Lace...candles and lotions at Basin White...tea and scones...a monorail over to Poly just for fun...Citricos for dinner....

What's not to like?

Us too.....the resort and ADRs are the most important things for our trips . We pretty much decide what we're doing each day that morning we wake up. We just keep in mind what time our dinner is and which resort it's at and we plan according to that .

You paint a great picture of a GF stay . And I agree....what's not to like??? (except, in my case, the new room décor ).

Just wanted to pass on that although we are at the Waldorf for this trip we visited some good friends at the GF and got to visit with some of our favorite CM's. Seems as though the plan for the refurb in SL involves enlarging the lounge.

We will be back in July although our RPC reservation was changed to SL because of the refurb. Hopefully, they follow thru on the plan as I was worried about the lounge after reading everyone's comments on the size. Will be our first trip to SL.

That would be great if they redid the SL lounge and made it bigger. I think the SL building is in a great location as it's very convenient to the courtyard pool and is close to the main building, but I didn't like the lounge. I just think the center of the lobby is a strange location for a place that should have a more relaxed feel (just my opinion). Did the CM say if it was just being expanded or if they were moving it? I guess there's no way for them to really move it to a different location in the building, but not sure how they would expand it in it's current location, either . It will be interesting to see what happens.

This year we are doing 9 days at RPC and I decided last minute to add 3 days at CR Atrium Club Level TPV as a surprise for the family. The price was just too good to pass up and my DD has talked about trying it, but not as the main resort for our vacation. They believe we are going to visit family after the 9 days. I can't wait,

That sounds like a great combination . We are hoping to try CR CL on a future trip. Would love it if you gave a report after your trip .

Wow! That is exactly how we Disney as well. I have family and friends that think we are crazy. I love our disney experiences. To me it's more than just the parks. My DD just turned 13 and she gets it. My DS is 6 and when he talks about going on vacation, he doesn't say I want to go to Disney. He says I want to go to the GF . He's too funny .

A resort only trip sounds heavenly, but the kids will still want to go a visit the parks if even for a couple of hours.

That's too funny about your DS .......gotta love a boy who loves the GF .

When we first started going to Disney, we spent a lot of time at the parks, but the more we went, the more time we spent away from the parks. Our DSs are young adults now and although they still like the parks, they also like lounging at the pool or just vegging......lol.

Good Morning. All of the talk about the RPC brings back such wonderful memories!

I love thinking about the GF and RPC .

 

[tobin04]

Hello everyone!

We leave on Wednesday for the Grand. I'm looking for suggestions on how much to leave for Mousekeeping? We've never done it before. DO you think they'll leave more towel animals if we do? I know my kids will get a kick out of them. (We are staying RPC if that matters).

 

[davale4]

I agree with you all. I'd be happy to spend most of my time at the resort. We always plan our vacations around the resort and, of course, food.

A cabana by the beach pool, close my eyes and forget my cares under the warm May sun...back to my beautiful room for a shower with Spa products left by mousekeeping...then out the door to Summer Lace...candles and lotions at Basin White...tea and scones...a monorail over to Poly just for fun...Citricos for dinner....

What's not to like?

Ok, now August can't get here fast enough . We are planning on doing the cabana this year and relaxing. Reading your post makes me want to be there right now .

That sounds like a great combination . We are hoping to try CR CL on a future trip. Would love it if you gave a report after your trip .

That's too funny about your DS .......gotta love a boy who loves the GF .

I will try, but I'm "technologically challenged". Even downloading pictures is a challenge for me . Hey, but I just learned to "multi quote" here just now .

Hello everyone!

We leave on Wednesday for the Grand. I'm looking for suggestions on how much to leave for Mousekeeping? We've never done it before. DO you think they'll leave more towel animals if we do? I know my kids will get a kick out of them. (We are staying RPC if that matters).

Congratulations on your upcoming trip! We have to wait much longer. I've always wondered if we are tipping the right amount at RPC. We do leave the tip on a daily basis. Would also like to know the opinion of others.

 

[Scott MC]

Has there been any confirmation since the remodeling began of the disappearance of the "Good Night" turndown cards? Not all deluxe resorts have them (we've gotten them at GF, BWI and AKL), and I love them. It may be a really minor detail, but I'd be really upset if they were gone for good. I'm hoping that they too are undergoing a refurb better suited to the new decor.
Here's hoping!

 

[Lisann]

Two weeks until my vacation at the Beach Club. Now I'm wondering if we shouldn't change to the Grand? Ugh!

We love the proximity to Epcot...just stroll on over to France....but we have a hard time being away from our beloved Grand Floridian!!

Agh!!

 

[Mrsdonaldduck]

Hello everyone! We leave on Wednesday for the Grand. I'm looking for suggestions on how much to leave for Mousekeeping? We've never done it before. DO you think they'll leave more towel animals if we do? I know my kids will get a kick out of them. (We are staying RPC if that matters).

hope you have a wonderful stay at the grand!!! Only a few more days until you are there!! We leave a tip in an envelope each day for mouse keeping. There are five of us so, I leave five dollars each day. Not sure if this is the right amount it is just what we do. When we went last August there were no towel animals; however, August 2012 mouse keeping left a lot.

 

[mickeynut1]

Hello everyone!

We leave on Wednesday for the Grand. I'm looking for suggestions on how much to leave for Mousekeeping? We've never done it before. DO you think they'll leave more towel animals if we do? I know my kids will get a kick out of them. (We are staying RPC if that matters).

You will be leaving before you know it. You are going to love the GF and RPC .

Towel animals are not a guarantee even with leaving tips as it just depends on the CM. We've gotten a few towel animals at various resorts, but we don't get them every trip at every resort.

I will try, but I'm "technologically challenged". Even downloading pictures is a challenge for me . Hey, but I just learned to "multi quote" here just now .

I'm in the "technically challenged" group too ......I always have to have one of my DSs help with anything computer related as I'm not very computer savvy . BTW, great multi-quote .

Has there been any confirmation since the remodeling began of the disappearance of the "Good Night" turndown cards? Not all deluxe resorts have them (we've gotten them at GF, BWI and AKL), and I love them. It may be a really minor detail, but I'd be really upset if they were gone for good. I'm hoping that they too are undergoing a refurb better suited to the new decor.
Here's hoping!

I think BlueSkies posted after her January trip that the turndown cards are no longer being left, but I haven't seen any reports/confirmations of this recently. Hopefully someone who is there now or is going soon can report back .

Two weeks until my vacation at the Beach Club. Now I'm wondering if we shouldn't change to the Grand? Ugh!

We love the proximity to Epcot...just stroll on over to France....but we have a hard time being away from our beloved Grand Floridian!!

Agh!!

The BC is a great resort and we did enjoy our stay, but we love the MK area and if it were me, I'd have to go with the GF .

 

[Koh1977]

I see for garden view rooms (outer building and SL) that there are rooms with a king bed and double sleeper sofa? Anyone know where these are?

Sent from my iPad using DISBoards

 

[trishadono]

I see for garden view rooms (outer building and SL) that there are rooms with a king bed and double sleeper sofa? Anyone know where these are?

Sent from my iPad using DISBoards

Me again Krystal !


King rooms are request only with a twin. ( sofa flips down like cr and poly).

Sleeps 3.

Having a fussy dh I have found the only king bed room with a sofa sleeper (queen) is the deluxe garden room at cr , (there are only 3 of them). Sleeps 4 (we only stay at mono resorts so other options may be available)

 

[Koh1977]

Me again Krystal ! King rooms are request only with a twin. ( sofa flips down like cr and poly). Sleeps 3. Having a fussy dh I have found the only king bed room with a sofa sleeper (queen) is the deluxe garden room at cr , (there are only 3 of them). Sleeps 4 (we only stay at mono resorts so other options may be available)

Lol. Thanks.

Sent from my iPad using DISBoards

 

[Salisa826]

Hi everyone! My family and I booked GF for august. We have stayed there a few times. We always get a theme park view in Boca Chica. Last summer I wasn't thrilled with our view. It was slightly obstructed by a tree. Are the only theme park views in boca Chica?

 

[grannyminnie]

Hi everyone! My family and I booked GF for august. We have stayed there a few times. We always get a theme park view in Boca Chica. Last summer I wasn't thrilled with our view. It was slightly obstructed by a tree. Are the only theme park views in boca Chica?

No, there are other options. RPC, Sago, and Conch Key have rooms with theme park views. And as far as I know, they are not obstructed. BPK may have a few but not sure how good they are. If you prefer Boca, you could always check out the room you are assigned and then ask to be moved if you are not satisfied.

 

[Salisa826]

No, there are other options. RPC, Sago, and Conch Key have rooms with theme park views. And as far as I know, they are not obstructed. BPK may have a few but not sure how good they are. If you prefer Boca, you could always check out the room you are assigned and then ask to be moved if you are not satisfied.

Thank you. It's not that we prefer BC. It's all that we were ever given

 

[grannyminnie]

Thank you. It's not that we prefer BC. It's all that we were ever given