A Grand Vacation: The 2012 Grand Floridian FAQ!

[jillmc40]

They do have a CD, I'm pretty sure it's in the gift shop, but can't say 100% that it will be there when you go. Most likely - of course, you'll have to ask which one as Sandy Cove is due to be closed. Probably moved to M. Mouse Mercantile at that time.

Thank You!

Theme park view we will be able to see fireworks at night, correct?

 

[k&a&c'smom]

You must have been reading my mind as I was thinking what if Michael has a girl friend by the time we go to the GF in 2014. This is something that I have to think about as well.

....

Michael's two friends are like my son's. We have known them since 2nd grade. I adore these kids.

I know what you mean, my kids' friends have been in our lives since they were tiny, we live in such a small town.

LOL about the possibility of a gf for the next WDW trip. Keep the Swolphin resorts in mind, they often have great deals on their suites.

After an hour on the phone to Virgin Atlantic they have finally let us change to the WL and keep our free DDP and free Disney dollars!!!! They are not even aware of the resort closures so were reluctant to let us move without penalising us.

Excited to be trying the WL but sad to not be going back to my favourite resort.

Oh, that's wonderful!! So glad it worked out. I'm sorry you won't be at your favorite, but we love the WL, so pretty and so many things to see and do there. You may have a new favorite.

Can I ask what you (or anyone else) have heard/read about construction at the Poly? I haven't heard about this and have ressies there in December....

I found some info on this, I'll see if I can find the link. Seems the Great Ceremonial House has some kind of structural issue that needs immediate attention. I'll try to find the thread, but you may get more help on the Poly thread.

Thank You!

Theme park view we will be able to see fireworks at night, correct?

Yes! Well, you should be able to - if you get to the room and don't have a good view of the castle, I would ask to be moved right away. We once had a TPV room in Boca Chica that had the view blocked by a tree, and decided not to bother asking for a new assignment. We could see the fireworks, but through limbs, lol.

 

[pas130]

Oh your hubby is going to be thrilled if you stay at RPC. Notice I said "if".

Well I have talked him into the Grand....RPC will be a surprise

A lot of activity on the thread today.

pas130 - Yay for RPC!!

 

[HFC1969]

Alrighty...

Called and spoke with the MGR of concierge..... He got out his offical spreadsheet and went over everything. (We scheduled our bounce back for October 25)

Anyway... we are still go! The pool will be closed. Gasparillas will be getting made bigger and better. Some of the stores will be getting a make over... but its still Gflo!

The pool bar will be open til 7pm.. then Mizners will serve a limited menu until 2am.

I guess the biggest bummer will be for our 12yo... no arcade..

 

[jenneth79]

Alrighty...

Called and spoke with the MGR of concierge..... He got out his offical spreadsheet and went over everything. (We scheduled our bounce back for October 25)

Anyway... we are still go! The pool will be closed. Gasparillas will be getting made bigger and better. Some of the stores will be getting a make over... but its still Gflo!

The bar pool will be open til 7pm.. then Mizners will serve a limited menu until 2am.

I guess the biggest bummer will be for our 12yo... no arcade..

Thanks for sharing this information! It's good to know they are making some changes to allow for the closure of Gasparillas.

My husband and I talked for quite awhile about this yesterday, and we both agreed we didn't want our first (and perhaps only) visit to GF to be under these circumstances. We made the change to CL at Poly and will hope for a bounceback offer to return to a less construction filled GF early next year.

Thank you EVERYONE who has been so helpful on this thread

 

[Figment1990]

Here's where I was reading about Poly renovations, for those of you who were wondering. I don't think anything has been officially announced yet.

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?p=45109628&highlight=construction#post45109628

k&a&c's mom - I doubt they will do anything to the GCH until the GF construction is complete or at least both pools open again, but who knows. I just have a feeling it will be a lot of monorail resort construction for the next few years. (I sure wish they would offer some bigger discounts to go along with the disruption....) The rumor is that they might add DVC tower where the GCH is since it supposedly needs renovations anyhow.

When it's all complete though - I think all of this will be so beautiful! And I am considering DVC now because of the GF DVC whereas I wasn't convinced before (despite loving Kidani, it's just not in my preferred MK area). So maybe I'm biased.

 

[HFC1969]

Thanks for sharing this information!

No problem... Don't get me wrong.. Amy & I discussed it.. But we are looking at it as an adventure. We are getting to be there while our favorite place on earth is being remodeled... Great photo op..

And I am considering DVC now because of the GF DVC whereas I wasn't convinced before (despite loving Kidani, it's just not in my preferred MK area). So maybe I'm biased.

We were big DVC owners at one time. BLT tower tempted us.. now this has really made us think... BUT... we like concierge.. its the full Gflo experience...fortunately with bounce back and pass holder discounts... it makes it doable..

Dont get me wrong... we are waiting to see what it is going to price for...

 

[bethclayton]

I am looking forward to our first visit Labor day weekend even with all the renovations...

Any special things that cant be missed????

my favorite things to do all involve the main building. the best is just sitting and listening to the music and taking everything in. also, i love the shops there. take lots of time browsing in them! they are small so it's tempting to breeze through them but they have such great stuff if you really look.

Does anyone know if you can buy a cd of the orchestra? I thought I read that you could but I want to make sure that I buy one when I am there for my DH. He is a bass player and chatted for a while with the bass player of the orchestra the last time we were there. I was going to try and get it signed for him since he is getting shafted on the trip

yes, they sell one at sandy cove (not sure where if sandy cove is closed), but
definitely do not count on finding it! i desperately wanted one for my mom and i had a ridiculous wild goose chase for it in april. ri-dic-u-lous!!! the day we arrived, i was on my way back from the pool and saw one in sandy cove. i had no money with me. i "hid" it behind the other cd's. i came back later that day and it was sold. i checked back twice a day every. single. day. for the rest of my 8 day trip and they never had it. the rpc cm's could not get it, they had me asking the other gift shops, the orchestra themselves, etc., and no one had it. one of the waitresses at mizner's apparently is dating one of the band members, and another waitress assured me she would be able to have her get me a copy by the following day- and even she could not get me one. as luck would have it... literally 15-20 minutes before our limo to the airport arrived, i did one final check- my third of the day- and lo and behold, they had just gotten about 10 in! anyway, i believe this is the number for wdw merchandising: 1 407 363-6200, i believe they told me at sandy cove that they would have it.

now after that whole story, you will probably be there and every day of your trip the gift shop will probably have twenty copies! good luck and i hope you find it!

 

[i_heart_the_mouse]

Alrighty...

Called and spoke with the MGR of concierge..... He got out his offical spreadsheet and went over everything. (We scheduled our bounce back for October 25)

Anyway... we are still go! The pool will be closed. Gasparillas will be getting made bigger and better. Some of the stores will be getting a make over... but its still Gflo!

The pool bar will be open til 7pm.. then Mizners will serve a limited menu until 2am.

I guess the biggest bummer will be for our 12yo... no arcade..

Boys and their games . The CR has a pretty big arcade and it's only a quick monorail ride away if he really wants to play.

 

[jillmc40]

yes, they sell one at sandy cove (not sure where if sandy cove is closed), but
definitely do not count on finding it! i desperately wanted one for my mom and i had a ridiculous wild goose chase for it in april. ri-dic-u-lous!!! the day we arrived, i was on my way back from the pool and saw one in sandy cove. i had no money with me. i "hid" it behind the other cd's. i came back later that day and it was sold. i checked back twice a day every. single. day. for the rest of my 8 day trip and they never had it. the rpc cm's could not get it, they had me asking the other gift shops, the orchestra themselves, etc., and no one had it. one of the waitresses at mizner's apparently is dating one of the band members, and another waitress assured me she would be able to have her get me a copy by the following day- and even she could not get me one. as luck would have it... literally 15-20 minutes before our limo to the airport arrived, i did one final check- my third of the day- and lo and behold, they had just gotten about 10 in! anyway, i believe this is the number for wdw merchandising: 1 407 363-6200, i believe they told me at sandy cove that they would have it.

now after that whole story, you will probably be there and every day of your trip the gift shop will probably have twenty copies! good luck and i hope you find it!

OMG - Now it will be my mission I didn't think it would be that hard! Thanks for the number. What is RPC, it is driving me crazy...

 

[bethclayton]

OMG - Now it will be my mission I didn't think it would be that hard! Thanks for the number. What is RPC, it is driving me crazy...

RPC is the Royal Palm Club, the club level in the main building.

Good luck in your search!

 

[jillmc40]

RPC is the Royal Palm Club, the club level in the main building.

Good luck in your search!

Ahhh, I am a GF newbie...So much to learn!

 

[Blessed_wth_Triplets]

Hi again! Thanks everyone for being so helpful So we are booked in a standard garden view room, and after looking at room pictures, I'm wondering where everybody keeps their clothes?! Those four or five tiny half drawers look so small! I was thinking I could live out of a suitcase and not unpack...but I don't even know where I would out the suitcase? I realize we are squeezing into this tiny room....hmmmm...I wonder if I asked if the hotel would mind taking out that chair next to one of the beds...just to give us more floor space??

 

[mariamouse]

Hi again! Thanks everyone for being so helpful So we are booked in a standard garden view room, and after looking at room pictures, I'm wondering where everybody keeps their clothes?! Those four or five tiny half drawers look so small! I was thinking I could live out of a suitcase and not unpack...but I don't even know where I would out the suitcase? I realize we are squeezing into this tiny room....hmmmm...I wonder if I asked if the hotel would mind taking out that chair next to one of the beds...just to give us more floor space??

Our room had a large closet as well where you could hang clothes, so that should provide quite a bit of additional space as well. If necessary, you could also put suitcases on the floor of the closet to live out of so that they do not take up any floor space. Not sure about the chair request...

The GF rooms are the biggest standard rooms on property, so the only way you could have more space would be by updating to a 1 or 2-BR villa elsewhere or a suite.

 

[Blessed_wth_Triplets]

Thanks for the info. I've googled lots of video and pics of GF standard rooms and haven't come across pictures of the closet. An upgrade is not an option for us....we feel so blessed to even be able to stay there!

 

[mariamouse]

Thanks for the info. I've googled lots of video and pics of GF standard rooms and haven't come across pictures of the closet. An upgrade is not an option for us....we feel so blessed to even be able to stay there!

No problem! See post #8 on page 1 of this thread for some closet pictures that k&a&c'smom posted. As you can see, the closet is fairy spacious.

You will have a great time!

 

[Tink rules]

Can I ask what you (or anyone else) have heard/read about construction at the Poly? I haven't heard about this and have ressies there in December....

According to Tiki Man... No concierge in December... looks like they are going to start with that building for the rooms refurb...

 

[k&a&c'smom]

HFC1969 - I didn't hear anything after "Mizner's open 'til 2 a.m."!

Have you heard the rumors that the GFV points rate will be double the points at other DVC resorts?! Hope that's not true, for all DVC owners and renters. Can't remember where I read that...

bethclayton - wow, that WAS an odyssey! I'm glad your perseverance paid off in the end, but what a pain.

Figment1990 - thanks for that link. I have read some of this info, but not all. Hope you are right about the major Poly work waiting until the GF pools are finished.

Momof2Disneyboys - here is the thread I read a couple days ago. http://disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2956359 Not as much info as Figment's link, I'm afraid, but I found it nonetheless.

Tink rules - closing the Hawaii bldg. for any length of time will disappoint a lot of guests! Incredibly popular, I'm surprised they aren't planning to use another building, like the year or so they moved CL to Tahiti.

 

[Tink rules]

I hope the move the concierge... I know it's very popular...

From what I've heard... the Great Ceremonial house needs work.. but they haven't put out anything more on that since they announced about the asbestos removal. They also have to upgrade to current ADA compliancies...

They DID do sight balloons in May out by the beach by Luau cove.. supposedly for DVC... It's gonna get very crowded around 7 seas lagoon with all this going on...

 

[k&a&c'smom]

I hope the move the concierge... I know it's very popular...

From what I've heard... the Great Ceremonial house needs work.. but they haven't put out anything more on that since they announced about the asbestos removal. They also have to upgrade to current ADA compliancies...

They DID do sight balloons in May out by the beach by Luau cove.. supposedly for DVC... It's gonna get very crowded around 7 seas lagoon with all this going on...

Boy, ain't that the truth!!

Thanks for the info, I hadn't heard about asbestos removal. I'm out of the Poly loop. It's been a while since we've stayed there, as I don't care much for the new room decor, but we eat and shop there every trip. I feel like the GF & Poly are almost sister resorts, it's so easy to hop from one to the other.