A Grand Vacation: The 2012 Grand Floridian FAQ!

[k&a&c'smom]

sydneysmom - aww, thanks! Everyone here is so knowledgeable, between all of us we seem to keep up.

cgulls - I've been surfing the 'net scouting for photos of the restaurants - so far, nothing. Hopefully, someone will post a few in the next week or so. If not, I'm due to head to the World in late August and will take photos then. (if we make it, DD is interviewing for a new job!)

 

[Jungle Cruiser]

Good morning! Been a busy couple weeks, time to catch up on the GF thread!

k&a&c'smom

I know we are getting ready for a lot of construction and closures at the GF, but I have to say I am excited to see the pictures of the new Beach Pool Bar and play area. It will be great to have those walls down (as new ones go up ), but when the construction is done at the end of the year the GF should be beautiful. By then they should be done with the major outside construction of the DVC I would think.

Please whomever is there when the Beach Pool walls come down, take pictures please!!!

 

[Butterflygirl35]

Good morning! Been a busy couple weeks, time to catch up on the GF thread!

k&a&c'smom

I know we are getting ready for a lot of construction and closures at the GF, but I have to say I am excited to see the pictures of the new Beach Pool Bar and play area. It will be great to have those walls down (as new ones go up ), but when the construction is done at the end of the year the GF should be beautiful. By then they should be done with the major outside construction of the DVC I would think.

Please whomever is there when the Beach Pool walls come down, take pictures please!!!

We will also be there in the end of August and will take lots of pics!!!
Although I am not happy about Courtyard Pool walls coming up, I am thrilled that Beach Pools walls will be coming down since that is where we would spend our time anyways!! I cant wait to see new play area too! Only with closure of Courtyard Pool.. It is going to get more crowded than I would like....

 

[k&a&c'smom]

I noticed this announcement on allears - Citricos is to host Food & Wine dinners starting the end of August.

Jungle Cruiser - Good to see you, I hope everything is going well with you.

I'm with you, it will be nice to see the beach pool sans walls, even if walls are going up elsewhere. I'm anxious to see the new splash zone, I know the little ones are going to love it.

I would expect most of the outdoor work to be done by the end of the year, too, but haven't heard anything in that regard.

Butterflygirl35 - Are you getting excited for your trip?! Silly question, I know.

 

[Butterflygirl35]

Thanks k&a&c'smom!!

Is it obvious????

Has anyone seen any renderings / pictures of the new Splash Zone?

 

[k&a&c'smom]

Thanks k&a&c'smom!!

Is it obvious????

Has anyone seen any renderings / pictures of the new Splash Zone?

Well, I just go by how excited I am at this point. I so hope DD gets the job, but in a perfect world, they won't need her to start until AFTER our trip.

I haven't seen any renderings for the splash zone, unfortunately, didn't even realize it was going to be built until a few months ago. Most of us were puzzled by the workers blocking off the beach this past spring.

Here is a link to the splash zone at the CR. I'm assuming it will be similar, but with different theming of course. Here is another angle.

ETA: I should have added this link for the current photos of the construction. You can see the splash zone area near the beach pool bar in the photos near the bottom of the page.

 

[Butterflygirl35]

Well, I just go by how excited I am at this point. I so hope DD gets the job, but in a perfect world, they won't need her to start until AFTER our trip.

I haven't seen any renderings for the splash zone, unfortunately, didn't even realize it was going to be built until a few months ago. Most of us were puzzled by the workers blocking off the beach this past spring.

Here is a link to the splash zone at the CR. I'm assuming it will be similar, but with different theming of course.

Good luck to your DD!!! Fingers crossed for her!! and hopefully she can enjoy Disney before her new job or they will be flexible enough to understand just how important a Disney vacation is....

Thanks for the information!! I am excited to see the changes!!

 

[k&a&c'smom]

Thanks.

I added a link to photos of the construction, in case you missed it - I tend to edit myself a lot!

 

[BCV23]

So, Narcoosee's and Mizner's should be back open after their short closings for updates / rehabs. Has anybody seen them? I'm wondering what they did to those locations (and will be doing to the others).

Thanks!

It sounds like there's alot of "sprucing up" planned at the GF in the coming months! Does anyone know if it's major refurbishment or just cleaning up/painting kind of renovations?

In the past when restaurants have been closed for just a week, I've never noticed a change. Maybe the week is used to freshen up the paint, super deep cleaning, etc.. Perhaps Mizner's will have some minor changes since it will offer new things while Gasparillas is closed.

Awesome, thank you!! I have to say, this is one of THE best threads... you do such a fantastic job keeping us all informed! thank you !!

So true!!!

 

[BCV23]

Just downloaded a new app on my phone. It's called My Disney Experience. Wish I was going really soon to use it for wait times, etc.. However, I did just book lunch for our first full day on it. Fun!

 

[k&a&c'smom]

BCV23 - Thanks for that perspective on past closures, I can't remember any very well. If the menus or decor had been changed it would have been more newsworthy, don't you think? Like the changes proposed for CA Grill.

ETA: Cool app! I'll have to tell DD to look it up.

 

[pas130]

Thanks! I see you are soon heading to the World.

One week!!!!!!!!!!!!!

to your DD on her interview!!!!!!!!!

Awesome, thank you!! I have to say, this is one of THE best threads... you do such a fantastic job keeping us all informed! thank you !!

Agreed

Good morning! Been a busy couple weeks, time to catch up on the GF thread!

Please whomever is there when the Beach Pool walls come down, take pictures please!!!

Yes!!!!! NEED pics!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Just downloaded a new ap on my phone. It's called My Disney Experience. Wish I was going really soon to use it for wait times, etc.. However, I did just book lunch for our first full day on it. Fun!

I REALLY need an uptodate cell...for EXACTLY that reason, DISNEY APPS

 

[BCV23]

pas130, one week!!!!

app not ap. Whoops. Time to edit.

 

[Tink rules]

they may have done some updates to the kitchen.

 

[Eponine1]

Hello Everyone,

I usually stay at the Poly but I just booked the GF for November 2013.

Does anyone have any information on when the DVC will be completed? I know that the GF is undergoing many changes right now and I'm hoping by 2013 they will be done.

I haven't stayed at the GF since 2007. I believe they have done the rooms over.

Thanks!

 

[Butterflygirl35]

pas130, Have a great time and post lots of pics!!!

Sending you Pixie Dust for your trip...

 

[k&a&c'smom]

BCV23 - I didn't even notice.

One week!!!!!!!!!!!!!

to your DD on her interview!!!!!!!!!

Thanks - she had her second interview and is waiting for the results.

One week to go, woohoo!

they may have done some updates to the kitchen.

Good point!

Hello Everyone,

I usually stay at the Poly but I just booked the GF for November 2013.

Does anyone have any information on when the DVC will be completed? I know that the GF is undergoing many changes right now and I'm hoping by 2013 they will be done.

I haven't stayed at the GF since 2007. I believe they have done the rooms over.

Thanks!

Welcome! Congrats on your GF stay, will this be your first trip there? I think you will love it, and it is so easy to access the Poly.

Yes, the rooms were renovated in 2007. I'm not a huge fan of the new decor, I still pine for the old, more whimsical rooms. They are starting to grow on me, though - probably just in time for them to be changed again!

The only date they seem to be giving for DVC completion is "late 2013" as far as I know. Most of us feel the outside construction will be completed by the end of this year or early next, and once that is finished the disruption to GF guests should be minimal.

Here is the link I posted a couple pages back to the most current photos of the DVC and beach construction if you'd like to see the progress so far.

 

[Parrotheadgoofy]

Does anyone know if GF has the contoured type bed pillows available upon request? I should probably take mine since we are driving.

Leaving in 6 hours and I just thought about my pillow!!

 

[Eponine1]

Hi Everyone,

Thank you so much for the information and link K&A&C'sMom. I appreciate it.

This will be my fifth time staying at the Grand. But my first time since 2007 so it's been a while.

I'm wondering how much more crowded the resort will be when the DVC is up and running. Do you think they will adjust the bus schedules (most routes share with up to 2 other resorts).

I think all the deluxe resorts should have a dedicated bus service for that resort only but that's just me

Thanks again!

 

[k&a&c'smom]

Does anyone know if GF has the contoured type bed pillows available upon request? I should probably take mine since we are driving.

Leaving in 6 hours and I just thought about my pillow!!

Leaving in just a few hours, yay! I wish I could answer this for you, but I really don't know - never seen one, but then, we haven't asked. Since you're driving, probably take your own just in case.

Safe travels, have a Grand vacation.

Hi Everyone,

Thank you so much for the information and link K&A&C'sMom. I appreciate it.

This will be my fifth time staying at the Grand. But my first time since 2007 so it's been a while.

I'm wondering how much more crowded the resort will be when the DVC is up and running. Do you think they will adjust the bus schedules (most routes share with up to 2 other resorts).

I think all the deluxe resorts should have a dedicated bus service for that resort only but that's just me

Thanks again!

D'oh! I even responded about the room renovations since 2007, but didn't catch the previous stays. My brain isn't with me today.

I agree, I wish the buses made fewer stops. We used to love the bus service, but in recent years it has seemed more of a challenge.

I have no clue what they will do regarding the additional guest load - maybe some of those who have stayed at resorts prior to and after DVC being built can chime in. The only one I've had much experience with is AKL, and it had its own bus route to begin with, so not much help.