A Grand Vacation: The 2012 Grand Floridian FAQ!

[Butterflygirl35]

How far is the walk from GF to Poly?

Thanks in advance...

 

[psac]

My husband is NOT a Disney fan. In 6 years I'fe talked him into 3 Disney trips with me (7 nights, 3 nights, 2 nights). He has stayed at BWV, Cont. CL (Split stay), YC, and Pop. He HATED Pop (although he picked it) because he said it was too noisey. He loved Cont because of the club level. We have a trip planned fir Labor Day weekend in a dxl RPC room. Parks aren't a biggie for us. We just want a nice place to relax and enjoy for a few days. DH's only requests was a resort he hasn't stayed in yet and club level. With all the construction going on, his quiet and relaxing do you think the GF will be? I've stayed there multiple times before, but I'm really wondering if I should switch to the Poly and leave Ff fir another trip. Thoughts??

If the parks aren't a big deal, do you need to be on the monorail? Maybe consider Wilderness Lodge or Animal Kingdom Lodge -- club level at both are supposed to be really nice (we're planning AKL Club for April, just didn't book yet), and both will be unphased by construction. Both also have a good signature restaurant for one dinner and other on-site options as well. Plus both will be considerably less expensive, so if you need to take cabs to other resorts for dinners, it would be easy in the budget to do so. And both have huge expansive lobbies (like the GF) that would be nice for hanging out for bits during the day.

I'm looking forward to staying at the Grand again once all the construction is done, but for now I think everyone has to weigh the positives and negatives depending on their personal needs.

 

[Tink rules]

How far is the walk from GF to Poly?

Thanks in advance...

About 10 minutes. It is walled in though right now by the area where they are doing the DVC construction... I'd take the monorail.

 

[Butterflygirl35]

Thanks!

Cant wait!!

 

[Tink rules]

Or if you are going FROM the GF to the Poly.. I'd also suggest the boat... It's a nice way to get from one to the other...

 

[CoachBagFanatic]

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.

Oh that's right. I totally forgot about the Swolphin. Thank you.

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

RPC will be a really nice surprise.

 

[beckysko]

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??

The closets are really big! One thing you might do (we do this when we stay at a value with multiple people and need more drawers) is we bring hanging closet organizers - they are canvas and fold down flat so you can pack them into your suitcase. Then you just hang them up and put your folded clothes in them. You can get ones that are 'sweater' size, or shoe ones (or both!). You could even get different coloured ones for different family members! I got some at the dollar store, they also have them at Walmart and even Ikea.

Something like this: http://www.walmart.com/ip/Whitmor-Hanging-Accessory-Shelves-Blue/11065081?findingMethod=rr

 

[jillmc40]

The closets are really big! One thing you might do (we do this when we stay at a value with multiple people and need more drawers) is we bring hanging closet organizers - they are canvas and fold down flat so you can pack them into your suitcase. Then you just hang them up and put your folded clothes in them. You can get ones that are 'sweater' size, or shoe ones (or both!). You could even get different coloured ones for different family members! I got some at the dollar store, they also have them at Walmart and even Ikea.

Something like this: http://www.walmart.com/ip/Whitmor-Hanging-Accessory-Shelves-Blue/11065081?findingMethod=rr

That is so smart!!!

Ok, I have a question for you GF experts With all the closures going on in October I am trying to think of the best thing to do. I am currently trying to decide between club level, regular view, or theme park view...This is my main decider...Coffee...I think it would be really cool to be able to sit on the balcony and watch fireworks and drink coffee, and I like to drink coffee in the morning. With Gasparilla closed where am I supposed to get coffee for the room? I know it would be right there if we were club level but theme park view appeals to me. I'm assuming they have coffeemakers in the room, do they have keurigs? I thought I saw that somewhere...If only I could win the lottery and do club level theme park view........I know you are thinking it, but it is impossible!

 

[k&a&c'smom]

jillmc40 - We've had a lot of questions about coffee, but I think that's the first time someone has posted they might upgrade to club to get it. Coffee drinkers get pretty desperate while in the World!

Here is a photo of the new Cuisinart coffee makers taken by our friend BamaTigger. I just saw a post somewhere with the coffee pods, too, I'll see if I can find it.

 

[k&a&c'smom]

I didn't find the photo, but here is what TheRustyScupper posted about the new Cuisinart coffee makers in another thread:

NEW WDW ROOM COFFEE COMING TO WDW RESORTS: (3/26/2012)

1) Resorts are converting to Cuisinart dual-cup "pod" coffee makers.
. . . the coffee is 100% Arabica bean, very tasty
. . . eventually all resorts will have these during 2012
. . . some DVC rooms might remain with "Mr Coffee" style pots
. . . brews one cup at-a-time, or two cups side-by-side simultaneously
. . . brews 8-oz cup of coffee in less than 3 minutes
. . . illuminated power button and shuts off when water reservoir is empty
. . . separate water reservoir for each side
. . . one side can make coffee while other side does plain water for tea
. . . mugs are provided in room, but uses any standard size cup or mug
2) Each Cuisinart pod filter makes one cup of brew.
. . . decaffeinated and decaffeinated coffee pods are provided in each room
. . . maids will give more pods if asked, not just the two pods supplied
. . . teas bags are also in each room
. . . tea bags are Twinings Earl Grey Black and Twinings Green Tea
3) Pods:
. . . these are not k-cup pods/inserts, but are standard coffee "pods"
. . . they look much like tea a bag without a string, except, filled with coffee
. . . only one pod can be inserted at a time into each slide tray
. . . there are other pods that are available on the open market or Internet

NOTE: Several DVC rooms have the Mr. Coffee style makers. This is a
decision by the timeshare owner group, not WDW.

 

[bethclayton]

i know nothing about coffee. but while we are on the subject, i have been wanting to mention that i noticed when we stayed in RPC our coffeemaker was different than the one pictured. i am almost positive it was a keurig. it was definitely the pod kind but not the cuisinart.

 

[k&a&c'smom]

bethclayton - the Keurigs seem to only be in the suites, baler31 mentioned last year she thought the GF was getting Keurigs, as she had one in her deluxe room. Nothing for months. Then, posters started noticing the new machines, but they were Cuisinart; when baler31 returned, again in a deluxe room, it was a Keurig! I recently saw photos of a Yacht Club suite with the Keurig, and I think they are only in the suites. The deluxe main bldg. rooms are often referred to as "honeymoon suites" by the CMs.

Here is the photo I saw of the pods - it is posted on the first page of the Y&BC FAQ, I hope they don't mind us borrowing it.

 

[bethclayton]

bethclayton - the Keurigs seem to only be in the suites, baler31 mentioned last year she thought the GF was getting Keurigs, as she had one in her deluxe room. Nothing for months. Then, posters started noticing the new machines, but they were Cuisinart; when baler31 returned, again in a deluxe room, it was a Keurig! I recently saw photos of a Yacht Club suite with the Keurig, and I think they are only in the suites. The deluxe main bldg. rooms are often referred to as "honeymoon suites" by the CMs.

Here is the photo I saw of the pods - it is posted on the first page of the Y&BC FAQ, I hope they don't mind us borrowing it.

we were just in a standard room in RPC, though, and we still had the keurig (or what i think was the keurig and was def not the cuisinart). i will look through my pics and see if any show the coffeemaker but i am pretty sure we usually had those "closet/ wet bar" doors closed whenever we took pics.

 

[k&a&c'smom]

we were just in a standard room in RPC, though, and we still had the keurig (or what i think was the keurig and was def not the cuisinart). i will look through my pics and see if any show the coffeemaker but i am pretty sure we usually had those "closet/ wet bar" doors closed whenever we took pics.

Oh, I was thinking of the deluxe king room, not a standard. Well, maybe all the main building rooms have them, though someone posted while in a standard a few months back and did not. Still, maybe they all got them eventually.

 

[PrincessShanShan]

Thanks for the input on construction. We switched from a dxl RPC room to a cl lagoon room at the Poly. We narrowed it down to BC and Poly. BC is the only dxl where I haven't stayed CL. Since DH is not a big Disney fan, I didn't want to chance it there. I love the Poly and I think he'll enjoy it there.

I have a few Disney trips planned this year without DH, but the two of us are tentatively planning another weekend trip for my birthday at the end of Sept 2013. Hopefully on one of my trips over the next year, I'll be able to snag another bounceback rate for the GF and spend my birthday therenext year!

 

[k&a&c'smom]

Thanks for the input on construction. We switched from a dxl RPC room to a cl lagoon room at the Poly. We narrowed it down to BC and Poly. BC is the only dxl where I haven't stayed CL. Since DH is not a big Disney fan, I didn't want to chance it there. I love the Poly and I think he'll enjoy it there.

I have a few Disney trips planned this year without DH, but the two of us are tentatively planning another weekend trip for my birthday at the end of Sept 2013. Hopefully on one of my trips over the next year, I'll be able to snag another bounceback rate for the GF and spend my birthday therenext year!

I'm glad you found something you are happy with, and I'm sure you will have a great trip! For what it's worth, I love the BC almost as much as the GF - but haven't tried CL there yet. We are booked for YC CL in August, so I will finally have something to compare as they are similar. Poly CL is wonderful, I know your DH will enjoy it.

Good luck with your BB, I think we are all hoping for most of the renovations/construction to be complete by late 2013.

 

[tartemis]

Arghh...I just learned of the GF closures and we are scheduled to stay at the Sugarloaf at the end of October. And I just booked and nobody mentioned anything about this to me!!! I already have my plane tickets, so no changing dates now.

This is so disappointing as we are paying rack rate for rooms (although have free dining), but with the Sugarloaf right next to the courtyard pools, I can't imagine how relaxing it will be. We usually spend half of our day or more hanging out at the pools and specifically choose the GF because it is so relaxing.

I'm so upset and don't know what to do. We stayed at the BC last year and hated it and swore up and down we would never stray from the GF again.

I know complaining is useless, but any thoughts on whether they would upgrade us to the main building? At least that way we would be closer to the Beach pool.

If they don't compensate guest some how they are going to have a lot of unhappy folks on their hands.

 

[CoachBagFanatic]

Arghh...I just learned of the GF closures and we are scheduled to stay at the Sugarloaf at the end of October. And I just booked and nobody mentioned anything about this to me!!! I already have my plane tickets, so no changing dates now.

This is so disappointing as we are paying rack rate for rooms (although have free dining), but with the Sugarloaf right next to the courtyard pools, I can't imagine how relaxing it will be. We usually spend half of our day or more hanging out at the pools and specifically choose the GF because it is so relaxing.

I'm so upset and don't know what to do. We stayed at the BC last year and hated it and swore up and down we would never stray from the GF again.

I know complaining is useless, but any thoughts on whether they would upgrade us to the main building? At least that way we would be closer to the Beach pool.

If they don't compensate guest some how they are going to have a lot of unhappy folks on their hands.

Unfortunately, most CM's at CRO do not know that there will be rehab's, closures or construction at the resorts.

It is very frustrating but personally, I don't see Disney upgrading anyone because there is construction. Overbooking, yes but construction, no.
Like k&a&c'smom said below, your best bet is to book the main building if you can.

 

[micknme]

We are booked for YC CL in August, so I will finally have something to compare as they are similar.

I can't wait to hear how you like YC CL. We are also staying CL there for the first time. We love the BC CL but are looking forward to trying something new this fall. Will still miss the GF though

 

[k&a&c'smom]

tartemis - Your best bet is to book the main building now if that is where you prefer to be located. Hoping for an upgrade on site may leave you disappointed - the main bldg. often books up in advance, and there are no free rooms even for those who wish to pay to upgrade at check in.

If that isn't feasible, I would look into changing your reservation to another resort. Much better to switch now than get there and be upset by the construction. The Grand will be better than ever when the renovations are complete.

micknme - We have never stayed CL at the BC or YC, so this will be a new experience for us. We can't wait to be lounging at SAB! We have a split with the GF booked, best of both worlds.