A Grand Vacation: The 2012 Grand Floridian FAQ!

[JoBird]

Well so I came home today to a big box from Enviroscents on my front step!

I was almost as hyper as when it's time to leave for the Grand.

I plugged it in and took a sniff of the air and then I wasn't sure if it was right or not. Of course I'd been reading the directions and sort of smelling it in the canister at the same time so I could have been overwhelmed.


I have it in my foyer, which has a vaulted ceiling to the second floor. The scent is VERY strong. My house is right at 3400 sq ft and I can smell it in almost every room upstairs and down. I even turned it down about an hour ago because it was-- *gasp*-- a little strong.

After it had run for an hour, I wanted to test it out to see if I thought I had the same reaction, that maybe it wasn't the right scent, so I went outside with the dog for a bit. When I came back into the house, I opened the door, closed my eyes and stepped in.....
WHAM!!!! It's the GRAND!!!!!!!

I think the difference is that the GF lobby has a ton of lilies in different arrangements and that is what gives a different scent to it. Lilies are my favorite flower and usually I have a fresh arrangement on my dining room table of them but today of course I have the type doesn't smell. I'm pretty sure if I had some of the oriental lilies or star gazers, yep, the scent would be I-dentical! (My Cousin Vinny, anyone? )

My DD 10-- the one who refuses to step onto WDW property if she isn't staying at the GF-- when she came in, I told her to walk in and smell the air and tell me what she thought. She squealed and said "MOM!! It's the Grand!!"

So there you have it! I'm waiting on my other two kids to come in from school to get their reactions. I'll let you know what they think.

If anyone wants to order a machine---- I have a code to share to get 20% off of it. Brings the total to $159. That's the machine and one canister. A canister will last for about a month. Just send me a PM and I'll share it with you!

 

[JoBird]

You know what the worst part of that view is??? The greenish hue to the lagoon. Honestly, yes, that would be a bad view. I would request Conch Key or to be facing in towards the courtyard pool depending on your room type.

I do think it will be pretty when it's done.

So true! Ewww!

 

[k&a&c'smom]

Not a very pretty view, I agree!

Our first stay at GF begins next week. I see on Mizner's menu that they sell cigars. They don't allow smoking in any of the buildings (including in Mizner's), do they?

No smoking in the rooms or restaurants, lobby, etc. There are designated outdoor smoking areas listed on the resort map.

 

[k&a&c'smom]

Oh, JoBird, I would love to have that scent in my house (and so would DD!) but I am sooo sensitive to strong smells. I can't even go into Basin, it overwhelms me.

Glad it was the right scent, now everybody knows for sure. I get what you are saying about the flowers, DD and I thought for a long time the Grand smell was due to the abundance of live arrangements in the lobby.

 

[dreamcruiser]

If this is my view when I stay next week I will be very sad indeed

Well, if that's MY view from the GF in a couple of weeks, I'll be ecstatic, because it means we will be upgraded to CL in RPC!!

(that IS a view from RPC, right?? lol )

 

[k&a&c'smom]

dreamcruiser - I don't think this is a view from RPC. The angle is wrong, more likely from Big Pine Key. Sorry!

 

[CaliforniaDreaming]

dreamcruiser - I don't think this is a view from RPC. The angle is wrong, more likely from Big Pine Key. Sorry!

I'm thinking the stairwell in Big Pine Key, or possibly from the open side of the balcony from rooms 9201/9301.

 

[k&a&c'smom]

I'm thinking the stairwell in Big Pine Key, or possibly from the open side of the balcony from rooms 9201/9301.

Good call! I thought it would have to be right at the end of the building - didn't think of the stairwell.

 

[Sue M]

Well so I came home today to a big box from Enviroscents on my front step!

I was almost as hyper as when it's time to leave for the Grand.

I plugged it in and took a sniff of the air and then I wasn't sure if it was right or not. Of course I'd been reading the directions and sort of smelling it in the canister at the same time so I could have been overwhelmed.


I have it in my foyer, which has a vaulted ceiling to the second floor. The scent is VERY strong. My house is right at 3400 sq ft and I can smell it in almost every room upstairs and down. I even turned it down about an hour ago because it was-- *gasp*-- a little strong.

After it had run for an hour, I wanted to test it out to see if I thought I had the same reaction, that maybe it wasn't the right scent, so I went outside with the dog for a bit. When I came back into the house, I opened the door, closed my eyes and stepped in.....
WHAM!!!! It's the GRAND!!!!!!!

I think the difference is that the GF lobby has a ton of lilies in different arrangements and that is what gives a different scent to it. Lilies are my favorite flower and usually I have a fresh arrangement on my dining room table of them but today of course I have the type doesn't smell. I'm pretty sure if I had some of the oriental lilies or star gazers, yep, the scent would be I-dentical! (My Cousin Vinny, anyone? )

My DD 10-- the one who refuses to step onto WDW property if she isn't staying at the GF-- when she came in, I told her to walk in and smell the air and tell me what she thought. She squealed and said "MOM!! It's the Grand!!"

So there you have it! I'm waiting on my other two kids to come in from school to get their reactions. I'll let you know what they think.

If anyone wants to order a machine---- I have a code to share to get 20% off of it. Brings the total to $159. That's the machine and one canister. A canister will last for about a month. Just send me a PM and I'll share it with you!

I noticed you have a dog, and wanted to let you know Lilies are very toxic to pets. Even if a leaf falls off and ends on the floor where the dog can get it, or the pollen.

I didn't know this and have 2 cats & a dog. A friend bought me a flower arrangement with Lily in it for Easter, and another friend told me about the toxic thing to cats & dogs. The effect is similar to ingesting antifreeze. And by the time they show symptoms it's too late.

 

[dreamcruiser]

dreamcruiser - I don't think this is a view from RPC. The angle is wrong, more likely from Big Pine Key. Sorry!

Ah well....my bad~

 

[Jeannegirl326]

Do the rooms in the GF have night lights in the bathrooms? Thx

 

[k&a&c'smom]

I noticed you have a dog, and wanted to let you know Lilies are very toxic to pets. Even if a leaf falls off and ends on the floor where the dog can get it, or the pollen.

I didn't know this and have 2 cats & a dog. A friend bought me a flower arrangement with Lily in it for Easter, and another friend told me about the toxic thing to cats & dogs. The effect is similar to ingesting antifreeze. And by the time they show symptoms it's too late.

Thanks for this info, I know there are many plants and foods that are toxic to animals - seems I find a new one every day!

Ah well....my bad~

Good try, though! An upgrade to RPC WOULD be worth that view.

Do the rooms in the GF have night lights in the bathrooms? Thx

No, I usually just leave the bathroom light on and pull the door to - but bringing a night light is a good idea. I don't remember a plug in for the bathroom area, but you could put it in the sink/dressing area.

 

[sydneysmom]

No, I usually just leave the bathroom light on and pull the door to - but bringing a night light is a good idea. I don't remember a plug in for the bathroom area, but you could put it in the sink/dressing area.

That's exactly what we did...we went and got a nightlight from the Dollar Store and plugged it in by the sink. It gave enough light without disturbing anyone. It's funny, I got it for my DD (who was 4 1/2 at the time) in case she had to run to the bathroom in the middle of the night.... I was wrong... with all the excitement and walking around, she fell asleep and didn't wake up until morning!

 

[k&a&c'smom]

sydney'smom - I wouldn't even have to go buy one, we have TONS of night lights here at home. We originally had one in each bathroom for the kids, but as DH and I age, we have them all over the house near the floor, like landing strips.

I could throw one in my toiletries bag - in fact, I think I'll go do that right now. I don't know why it has never occurred to me, thanks Jeannegirl326!

 

[CaliforniaDreaming]

There was a VGF filing with Orange County, complete with some floorplans. Interesting and answers a lot of questions. I see they eliminated the second bath in the one bedroom units, and there will be four bedroom units in that front portion facing the lagoon.

See this post for instructions of how to pull the document up: http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=48012650&postcount=159

 

[WDW1970]

Great information on this board. We are going to be at the GF in June 2013 and had a few questions relating to room locations, etc. I have literally been through hundreds of posts which have been a great help but I could not find information that was exactly on point to the following questions (any help would be greatly appreciated!):

1. We have booked a lagoon view room (LV only - no theme park view) and would like to know which buildings offer this view. I know Big Pine does but could not tell if any others do. I know Boca Chica faces the lagoon but I could not tell if all of the Boca Chica rooms are theme park views or do they have some with just lagoon view. Are there any other buildings besides BP and BC that offer lagoon view only rooms?

2. For those who have stayed in a Big Pine lagoon view room since the DVC construction began does this ruin the entire view or is the view still nice looking over to the poly, etc.

3. Does anyone have or know where to find a room number layout to each of the GF buildings. I have seen the map of the buildings but can't find something that shows exact individual room number locations. I am surprised this has not been put on the boards somewhere. There is a nice room number layout for the Wilderness Lodge under their FAQ thread and was hoping to find something similar for the GF.

Thanks for any information you can provide!!

 

[k&a&c'smom]

Thanks, Cali-D, what great info! I went to the link, but need to take some time to read the disclaimer page before I commit. I will look it over in a bit.

I wonder why they chose to eliminate a planned extra bathroom? I'm sure people will be disappointed, an extra bath is an exciting prospect for most families.

WDW1970 - to the DIS!!

After the change in room categories a few years ago, it became more difficult to figure out what rooms WDW considered lagoon and which they felt were theme park view. I assume there are some lagoon view rooms in each of the outer buildings (except Sugar Loaf) but I don't know that for sure.

I believe some of the BPK-end rooms in Boca are considered lagoon, simply from posts of returning guests. If the view of the MK is totally blocked in any room facing the lagoon, that room should be a lagoon view, IMO.

All of the photos of the lagoon views from BPK have the DVC construction featured pretty prominently, so each guest will have to decide if it will mar the view of the Poly to the extent they prefer another room. For me, I'd much rather have a garden view room, as the views of the resort are so pretty. I felt that way even without the construction, btw.

I have never seen a room layout diagram like the one for WL. From what I gather, the WL layout was provided to a DISer who was friends with someone high up at the resort years ago. There are some diagrams for a few other resorts on a website called DisneyZone, but the Grand isn't one of them. I know the layouts for Y&BC on that site are a bit outdated at this point, but it still gives some insight as to where you might end up.

 

[mariamouse]

Just got back from 8 nights at the GF. 3 in a Deluxe Garden and 5 in a Theme Park View. The property is fabulous, but the beauty of the exterior and grounds does not carry through to the rooms themselves. The rooms, while fine, are more of a 1994 interpretation of Victorian decor. The phones in the bathrooms are 3 different colors of oxidized plastic. There are no HDMI connections on the TVs. There are no DVD players in the room. The carpets are tired. The fabrics are tired. The wifi is barely 2mbps on a good day. Ie, it's time for a big redecoration/renovation of the interiors IMO in order to match the quality of the exterior and grounds, so that the beauty isn't just skin deep. Anyone else?

I thought I had read somewhere that the GF was about to (or had already) undergo(ne) room refurbishments (i.e. the same white duvets that the Epcot resorts and Poly now have). Was I imagining this? We are considering either the Poly or GF this January and room refurbishment might make the difference in our choice. Is the Poly room refurbishment already complete?

And it's been a while since I last checked in here, so hi all!

 

[Tink rules]

From what I've heard.. it's supposed to be done after the Poly gets it's rooms redone and they are in the midst of the refurb now.

No exact dates though... Disney doesn't give them...

They usually go about 6-7 years before a refurb so they are due.

 

[MagicPrincess]

We booked our summer vacation this morning! GF Sugarloaf here we come! YAY!!!!
This time we are not telling our kids until the day before we leave...I don't know how I am going to keep this a secret from them for the next 3 months- ACK! I'm so excited!!!