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

[burnetta696]

I will be checking into the Grand in 17 days!!! So excited!

 

[mickeynut1]

In total agreement here...

Hi grannyminnie . Your trip is getting very close

I will be checking into the Grand in 17 days!!! So excited!

 

[grannyminnie]

Hi grannyminnie . Your trip is getting very close

I know!! So excited!!

 

[Candy Orlando]

I booked the one bedroom GFV for June and LOL when I showed DD the pictures she said "hey I feel like I am at home, that is our bathroom!". I totally get what the CM says. I do want to feel like I am at home!! I am not a Victorian person at all and honestly that is why I loved BWI but haven't returned either...If furnishings aren't my thing I can't stay at the resort. Weirdo I know!!! Did you like the GFV though? I cant wait to see them in person but now I am worrying about the mattress.....

I stayed in a one bedroom at the VGF for a week in Dec and a week in Jan. The mattress was the best I've ever had in all the villas. They must not be using the same mattress.

When we toured the model last May we felt like we were home so we sold the 500 points we had at the other villas and bought 750 points at the Grand. We like to stay for three weeks a year in a one bedroom.

My granddaughter who is 20 years old kept saying I feel like I'm home, I love it here. Her Mom and Dad just bought her 50 points at the VGF for her birthday.

It has a very elegant feeling that we cherish.

Candy

 

[phyllis1966]

While I am truly happy for everyone who's happy about the new GF decor, I most certainly do NOT want to feel like I'm at home while I am on vacation! I'm home every other day of the year, and I want to get away from it all at a hotel that makes me feel like I'm on a great vacation.

As I mentioned in a post a few weeks back, my 15-year-old daughter, who has loved the GF since her first stay there at the tender age of 3 1/2, actually cried when I showed her photos of the refurbed rooms. They look like rooms at every other generic, decent hotel. Where's the whimsy? Where's the "Disney?" If they just added a couple Disney-themed prints to the walls it would help a great deal with the Disney feel.

It's a Victorian-themed resort - the room decor should be a bit fussy.

The Alice-themed rooms in Conch Key were our favorite:




Super-bummed about those new rooms...

 

[mommyrosa2]

Thank you all for your kind words...

Lisann... have enjoyed reading your mini report...can't wait for our first stay at the Grand! Oh and I like the "floridian frown"...goes right up there with "magical depress"

 

[grannyminnie]

"Here I am to save the day..."....not really...just another rescue from the second page!! Come on people, stay focused!!

And by the way, I'm in single digits!!!

 

[Mousemommy1]

Just an FYI, it is now being reported that guest staying at the Poly will NOT have use of the GF pool. They will have their one day at Blizzard Beach and then be able use the East Pool for the remainder of their stay.

So, that's goodness for those of us staying at GF.

 

[mickeynut1]

While I am truly happy for everyone who's happy about the new GF decor, I most certainly do NOT want to feel like I'm at home while I am on vacation! I'm home every other day of the year, and I want to get away from it all at a hotel that makes me feel like I'm on a great vacation.

As I mentioned in a post a few weeks back, my 15-year-old daughter, who has loved the GF since her first stay there at the tender age of 3 1/2, actually cried when I showed her photos of the refurbed rooms. They look like rooms at every other generic, decent hotel. Where's the whimsy? Where's the "Disney?" If they just added a couple Disney-themed prints to the walls it would help a great deal with the Disney feel.

It's a Victorian-themed resort - the room decor should be a bit fussy.

Super-bummed about those new rooms...

I couldn't agree more. Also, very cute pic of your DD when she was little .

Thank you all for your kind words...

Oh and I like the "floridian frown"...goes right up there with "magical depress"

I hope you are doing ok .

I like that too....."floridian frown" just about says it all .

"Here I am to save the day..."....not really...just another rescue from the second page!! Come on people, stay focused!!

And by the way, I'm in single digits!!!

Thanks for the rescue. And yay for single digits

 

[Grace&Carolinesmom]

"Here I am to save the day..."....not really...just another rescue from the second page!! Come on people, stay focused!!

And by the way, I'm in single digits!!!

YAY for single digits!!! Very exciting. You do know there is NO WAY to concentrate on anything else prior to departing for vacation, right?....except for posting on the DIS and buying last minute...."essentials" So happy for you!!

Just an FYI, it is now being reported that guest staying at the Poly will NOT have use of the GF pool. They will have their one day at Blizzard Beach and then be able use the East Pool for the remainder of their stay.

So, that's goodness for those of us staying at GF.

I was reading this on tikiman's facebook this morning. WOW! Very happy for those staying at GF as they will not have the pools overcrowded. BUT very sad for those staying at Poly. I wonder if they will set up a temporary slide at the east pool or just leave it as is? Of course they will bring over more chairs/tables and I would hope that they also set up a temporary bar/snack stand as well.

Once this news goes more widespread, I expect many who can will switch resorts making GF, CR and WL basically sold out during the late summer/early fall. Glad we got our discounts while we could!!

 

[ClareH37]

Yesterday was a hard day, arrived back in the UK early morning after a very bumpy flight and then of course the realisation that I was in the UK and not the Grand Floridian

As promised here are some photos, unfortunately once I've resized them they're not as sharp but hopefully they come through OK, although for some reason they're still too large.

My room was 4424, on the 4th floor opposite the lounge with a great view of the lagoon/Polynesian/GFV and the monorail, I couldn't have asked for a more perfect view.







Some of the food offerings:

 

[trishadono]

ClareH37 we had 4429 in November. We loved that view too

I liked having room so close to lobby overlook as well. Of course close to food didn't hurt either

Thanks for the pics.

 

[mickeynut1]

Yesterday was a hard day, arrived back in the UK early morning after a very bumpy flight and then of course the realisation that I was in the UK and not the Grand Floridian

As promised here are some photos, unfortunately once I've resized them they're not as sharp but hopefully they come through OK, although for some reason they're still too large.

My room was 4424, on the 4th floor opposite the lounge with a great view of the lagoon/Polynesian/GFV and the monorail, I couldn't have asked for a more perfect view.

It's very sad being home, but that just means it's time to start planning the next trip .

I'm glad you had a great time and the pics are great, thanks for posting them . Seeing them makes me wish I was sitting in RPC enjoying the Grand .

 

[Raven0207]

The Grand Floridian Villas are by far some of the best DVC rooms my wife and I have stayed in. It is the first place we look for every trip we plan

 

[ClareH37]

ClareH37 we had 4429 in November. We loved that view too

I liked having room so close to lobby overlook as well. Of course close to food didn't hurt either

Thanks for the pics.

The only negative I had was a connecting door but it worked out fine, the sounds from the band and piano covered up any noise from neighbours

It's very sad being home, but that just means it's time to start planning the next trip .

I'm glad you had a great time and the pics are great, thanks for posting them . Seeing them makes me wish I was sitting in RPC enjoying the Grand .

I also loved the WL OFC, both resorts were so amazing and similar. There was something about sitting in the RPC lounge though listening to the band and piano that made it extra special

Trip planning will commence shortly

 

[DisneyMomChristine]

Last week was my family's 1st stay at GF. I planned and planned....scoured the Dis for tips and tricks in the parks and learned all I could about the GF. We arrived early, around 10:30, and an upgraded room was available immediately - Garden View to a Lagoon View. WOO HOO! We were in Big Pine Key with a view of the Villas, Wedding Pavilion and Poly - lovely! We were able to get a FP+ to meet Anna & Elsa, and for Be Our Guest as well. My girls were in their glory! While we spent most of our days in the parks, just being able to hop on the monorail or boat and quickly be at the resort swimming with our girls, dinner at Beaches Pool Bar, roasting marshmallows and sipping on coconut mojitos, made it the most relaxing vacation ever. I had no idea Disney with kids could be RELAXING! We can't wait to return to GF again in Fall 2015! It truly is a magical resort. So magical, that my dear husband who thought I was a Disney freak, is officially a convert and doesn't want to stay anywhere else...love it!

 

[mickeynut1]

The Grand Floridian Villas are by far some of the best DVC rooms my wife and I have stayed in. It is the first place we look for every trip we plan

We haven't stayed in the villas, but they look amazing. We do, however, love the GF .

I also loved the WL OFC, both resorts were so amazing and similar. There was something about sitting in the RPC lounge though listening to the band and piano that made it extra special

Trip planning will commence shortly

We love WL CL too as it is relaxing and has great CMs. But I also agree about RPC......there's something about being in the lounge listening to the band and the hustle and bustle down in the lobby that makes it amazing .

Good luck with your planning for the next trip .

Last week was my family's 1st stay at GF. I planned and planned....scoured the Dis for tips and tricks in the parks and learned all I could about the GF. We arrived early, around 10:30, and an upgraded room was available immediately - Garden View to a Lagoon View. WOO HOO! We were in Big Pine Key with a view of the Villas, Wedding Pavilion and Poly - lovely! We were able to get a FP+ to meet Anna & Elsa, and for Be Our Guest as well. My girls were in their glory! While we spent most of our days in the parks, just being able to hop on the monorail or boat and quickly be at the resort swimming with our girls, dinner at Beaches Pool Bar, roasting marshmallows and sipping on coconut mojitos, made it the most relaxing vacation ever. I had no idea Disney with kids could be RELAXING! We can't wait to return to GF again in Fall 2015! It truly is a magical resort. So magical, that my dear husband who thought I was a Disney freak, is officially a convert and doesn't want to stay anywhere else...love it!

Congrats on the upgrade . Glad your first GF stay was a great one. The GF really is an amazing resort with beautiful grounds that just put you in another world to make your vacation a Grand one .

 

[davale4]

Last week was my family's 1st stay at GF. I planned and planned....scoured the Dis for tips and tricks in the parks and learned all I could about the GF. We arrived early, around 10:30, and an upgraded room was available immediately - Garden View to a Lagoon View. WOO HOO! We were in Big Pine Key with a view of the Villas, Wedding Pavilion and Poly - lovely! We were able to get a FP+ to meet Anna & Elsa, and for Be Our Guest as well. My girls were in their glory! While we spent most of our days in the parks, just being able to hop on the monorail or boat and quickly be at the resort swimming with our girls, dinner at Beaches Pool Bar, roasting marshmallows and sipping on coconut mojitos, made it the most relaxing vacation ever. I had no idea Disney with kids could be RELAXING! We can't wait to return to GF again in Fall 2015! It truly is a magical resort. So magical, that my dear husband who thought I was a Disney freak, is officially a convert and doesn't want to stay anywhere else...love it!

You have just described why we love GF so much . My husband didn't enjoy going to Disney every year, but did it for the kids. He totally changed when we stayed at the GF for the first time. The GF is our place to go every year now and we all enjoy it and look forward to it .

 

[OfTheWind]

Hi everyone! I've stayed at the Grand in the past and now I'm trying to stay at VGF.

For those booking the villas, are you owners? Or were you able to rent points from a 3rd party? My arrival date isn't until November and it's almost impossible to find a one bedroom through a broker. I think owners either don't want to rent their points out, and who can blame them, or very few people have enough points for one bedrooms. I've never seen anything like this.

 

[Lisann]

Last week was my family's 1st stay at GF. I planned and planned....scoured the Dis for tips and tricks in the parks and learned all I could about the GF. We arrived early, around 10:30, and an upgraded room was available immediately - Garden View to a Lagoon View. WOO HOO! We were in Big Pine Key with a view of the Villas, Wedding Pavilion and Poly - lovely! We were able to get a FP+ to meet Anna & Elsa, and for Be Our Guest as well. My girls were in their glory! While we spent most of our days in the parks, just being able to hop on the monorail or boat and quickly be at the resort swimming with our girls, dinner at Beaches Pool Bar, roasting marshmallows and sipping on coconut mojitos, made it the most relaxing vacation ever. I had no idea Disney with kids could be RELAXING! We can't wait to return to GF again in Fall 2015! It truly is a magical resort. So magical, that my dear husband who thought I was a Disney freak, is officially a convert and doesn't want to stay anywhere else...love it!

We were there the same time! Glad you love it, but more importantly....glad hubby liked it, too.!!