A Grand Vacation: The 2012 Grand Floridian FAQ!

[Stan Solo]

LOL! Good luck, hopefully the stars will align. For another idea - you might take a taxi from your resort to the GF, might make it just a little easier. We rarely pay more than $20 with tip for anywhere on WDW property.

I was thinking if it wasn't for having to lug our luggage all over the GF for the entire evening we could just take a cab from the convention center strait to the GF. We would just then have a late check in at our resort.

I think if we leave at 4:00 we should be able to make it to our ADR in time.

 

[k&a&c'smom]

I would have thought this would not be a strange situation and that there would be some kind of solution as well. I suppose that there is not, and that we will either have to pay the resort room charge for days that she will not be there or we will have to pay for separate transportation to the airport. I am quite frustrated by this situation, or more specifically, that rules aren't rules once you arrive at the resort .

It's not so much that the rules change once you are at the resort; it's more about you booking a package AND wanting to take ME AND wanting to add a person who will not be with you the entire trip. If you had booked a room only, you would still have her listed for the entire trip, but wouldn't have to pay in advance - meaning, you'd pay for her in the one night's deposit, but when you arrived at the resort explain she is only there until X day and the CMs would be better able to work with you.

The packages were designed to force the purchaser to buy the complete package for everyone in the party - hence the great deal. There really isn't any way for the CMs at DRC to add someone for only a portion of the trip, the computer kicks it out.

By waiting until you arrive at the resort, the CMs at check in have the ability (at their discretion) to add another person to the room, rather than the package. To be honest, I've only done this with room only.

Since you are required to pay a package in advance, it is more difficult for the check in CM to fix things - but there is still a chance, I suppose. If you are this upset about it, I would call DRC and ask for Guest Services - they may be able to circumvent the computer system. Or, I'd put her on the package and hope that the check in CM feels generous and gives a credit for the nights your friend won't be in the room. The problem with this is you may not get the credit.

Good luck, I hope GS is able to arrange things for you in advance.

We arrive in 3 weeks
We are staying at the main building concierge.

We are celebrating our BabyMoon

I can not wait to relax by the pool and enjoy the parks at night.

I am loving all the posts - they are making me so excited.

Welcome! Congrats on your upcoming stay in the main bldg. - and about the baby. I am not familiar with the term "baby moon" but assume it is a celebration for expecting a baby?

Relaxing by the pool is one of our favorite pastimes.

I was thinking if it wasn't for having to lug our luggage all over the GF for the entire evening we could just take a cab from the convention center strait to the GF. We would just then have a late check in at our resort.

I think if we leave at 4:00 we should be able to make it to our ADR in time.

I'm sure you can get checked in and over to the GF in 4 hours, no problem.

On the other hand, no reason to drag your luggage around with you - I'm sure bell services would hang onto your bags while you have dinner and watch Wishes. I would hate to check into my resort so late, though, as the open rooms would be limited by that time.

 

[CoachBagFanatic]

CoachBagFanatic - I totally understand about the packing, and making sure appropriate attire is in the bag. I've always done the packing for my whole family, even when the kids were teens, as I am better at getting more things in one bag - and I have a chance to remind them of forgetting their socks, or adding a nice set of clothes for TS dining.

DD is pretty good at the last part, but the guys...not so much.

We love visiting the GF even when we are staying elsewhere. In fact, we drove over from PBH last month! Shopped, took photos, soaked up the atmosphere.~sigh~

You are spot on about the guys. They don't care just as long as they have a tee shirt and shorts. It could be stripes with plaid for all they care.

Just a side note, still haven't packed yet. Have done a lot of organizing but no packing. 7 days until we visit the GF.

 

[Momof2Disneyboys]

Hello again I told you I would be back with questions between now and December!!

I know a lot of you rent cars, but does anyone happen to know what other resorts share the ME bus with the GF and what drop off order is?



Thanks!

 

[tnkrbl289]

If memory serves correctly, last year it was Wilderness Lodge, Contemporary, Polynesian and then Grand Floridian on the DME and the drop off was in that order as well. It may have change since then, it was last August. Congratulations on your trip.

 

[Jungle Cruiser]

Good morning!

I have been missing for a week. We went to California for my daughter's graduation, she now has her Phd!!! I also came back and had to immediately do chemo, so I am just now catching up.

Coachbagfanatic, your trip is soooo close! I remember when you were talking about 4 long weeks to go, now it is just days. Can't wait to hear all about your trip!

Momoftwodisneyboys, tnkrbl289 gave you the worst case for DME to the GF. We have done the trip many times over the years, most recently in April. Depending on how many people of checking in to the hotel on a given day, DME adjusts the buses accordingly. We have several times only stopped at the Polynesian before the GF. In those cases the WL and the CR shared a bus. So, the worst case would be the GF is the 4th stop, but it could be less.

beckysko, 2 bedroom suite in the Main building

k&a&c'smom

 

[pas130]

Hello again I told you I would be back with questions between now and December!!

I know a lot of you rent cars, but does anyone happen to know what other resorts share the ME bus with the GF and what drop off order is?



Thanks!

All good! When we stayed at the Poly in November it was the second stop. Poly was the first. It was Poly-GF-CR-WL. Don't know if it is always like that.

coachbagfanatic So close!!!! A week!!!!

beckysko Sweet Suite

k&a&c's mom & junglecruiser (missed you sarah)

Cancelled my Sept trip...well postponed...but still...having some health issues/evals fo my DD5, and a trip away when she is just starting Kindergarten doesn't feel right. I need to be home. I miss our Grand and so does HRH, but it will be new & improved when we get back there hopefully

 

[HFC1969]

Got our 10 day letter from Gflo yesterday..

 

[CoachBagFanatic]

Good morning!

I have been missing for a week. We went to California for my daughter's graduation, she now has her Phd!!! I also came back and had to immediately do chemo, so I am just now catching up.

Coachbagfanatic, your trip is soooo close! I remember when you were talking about 4 long weeks to go, now it is just days. Can't wait to hear all about your trip!

I hope you are feeling well after your chemo treatment. and a big Congratulations to your DD on her Phd.

It seems like just yesterday I was starting the double digit dance and here we are 5 days out.

coachbagfanatic So close!!!! A week!!!!

Cancelled my Sept trip...well postponed...but still...having some health issues/evals fo my DD5, and a trip away when she is just starting Kindergarten doesn't feel right. I need to be home. I miss our Grand and so does HRH, but it will be new & improved when we get back there hopefully

Hey J Sending lots of love and hugs to your DD. I hope everything turns out well for her.

We are so excited and guess what, I still haven't packed yet. I am probably going to pack on Saturday. Have way too much to do on Sunday and need my head clear to pack.

 

[Momof2Disneyboys]

Thank you everybody for the quick replies about ME!! That helps give me an idea of what to expect.

 

[jd99]

We are back (already!!). Had a great four night visit at the GF. In fact, we did less park running around because we were enjoying the resort so much. The construction is there but unless you are at the Waterfall Pool, it's pretty out of sight, out of mind. And we did go to the Waterfall pool for a bit but didn't camp out there.

One thing we did NOT find was too much noise/crowd at the courtyard pool. It was lovely. Yes there were some activities but by no means was it loud or obtrusive at all.

We had a wonderful Father's Day dinner at Citricos. I also had a massage over at Saratoga Springs and the shuttle there was not a huge deal at all. Got me there in plenty of time and picked me up as soon as I was ready to go. Sure it'd be better to walk to the spa but I found it much less painful than some of the reviews I had read.

The only obnoxiousness we saw was from some of the other Sugarloaf guests at the snack hour. (you can read about it in my blog)

All in all a great trip. Perfect weather. Great CMs, just love love love the grand.

 

[beckysko]

We are back (already!!). Had a great four night visit at the GF. In fact, we did less park running around because we were enjoying the resort so much. The construction is there but unless you are at the Waterfall Pool, it's pretty out of sight, out of mind. And we did go to the Waterfall pool for a bit but didn't camp out there.

One thing we did NOT find was too much noise/crowd at the courtyard pool. It was lovely. Yes there were some activities but by no means was it loud or obtrusive at all.

We had a wonderful Father's Day dinner at Citricos. I also had a massage over at Saratoga Springs and the shuttle there was not a huge deal at all. Got me there in plenty of time and picked me up as soon as I was ready to go. Sure it'd be better to walk to the spa but I found it much less painful than some of the reviews I had read.

The only obnoxiousness we saw was from some of the other Sugarloaf guests at the snack hour. (you can read about it in my blog)

All in all a great trip. Perfect weather. Great CMs, just love love love the grand.

Wowww...just read your blog! I wonder if it was the people from the wedding? Here at our concierge club it is DEAD! Whenever we go down there, no one is there! I am on the 5th floor of the main.

 

[MommyGina]

CoachBagFanatic-I have to laugh at your DS and the band shirts. I have DS who is 16 and in the band also! It must be the age thing when they really don't care what they look like.

I hope you have a great trip and I'm sorry that we won't be there the same time as you. I started pulling things out yesterday and making a pile on my bedroom floor of things that need to be packed. If I didn't pack for them, no one would have clothes to take on vacation!

JungleCruiser - hope you are feeling good.

K&a&c'sMom- again, thanks for all you do.

 

[CoachBagFanatic]

CoachBagFanatic-I have to laugh at your DS and the band shirts. I have DS who is 16 and in the band also! It must be the age thing when they really don't care what they look like.

I hope you have a great trip and I'm sorry that we won't be there the same time as you. I started pulling things out yesterday and making a pile on my bedroom floor of things that need to be packed. If I didn't pack for them, no one would have clothes to take on vacation!

I guess I can't get to upset with his shirts as I have to think back to the late 60's, 70's and 80's on how me and DH used to dress. You are correct, kids these days (especially the boys) could care less on how they look. I do have to say that my DS is pretty good with looking neat and clean even if his shirts are gross.

One of these days I will be able to meet a DIS member. We are getting very excited about our trip and can't wait to visit the GF. Still sad that we won't be staying there this trip but I have a future trip to look forward to.

There's a running joke with me here on the GF thread that I have the personality where I would have to pack like 2 months ahead of time. We all have enough clothes where I can do this. Well, my good friend pas130 has convinced me to join the LMPC last minute packers club. So far I am holding out. Well sort of but I have to confess that I have been getting outfits ready and they are hanging in my closet. She calls it "organizing". So yeah, I am organizing right now.

 

[pas130]

We are back (already!!). Had a great four night visit at the GF. In fact, we did less park running around because we were enjoying the resort so much. The construction is there but unless you are at the Waterfall Pool, it's pretty out of sight, out of mind. And we did go to the Waterfall pool for a bit but didn't camp out there.

One thing we did NOT find was too much noise/crowd at the courtyard pool. It was lovely. Yes there were some activities but by no means was it loud or obtrusive at all.

We had a wonderful Father's Day dinner at Citricos. I also had a massage over at Saratoga Springs and the shuttle there was not a huge deal at all. Got me there in plenty of time and picked me up as soon as I was ready to go. Sure it'd be better to walk to the spa but I found it much less painful than some of the reviews I had read.

The only obnoxiousness we saw was from some of the other Sugarloaf guests at the snack hour. (you can read about it in my blog)

All in all a great trip. Perfect weather. Great CMs, just love love love the grand.

So glad!!!! Now to check out your blog!!!!

There's a running joke with me here on the GF thread that I have the personality where I would have to pack like 2 months ahead of time. We all have enough clothes where I can do this. Well, my good friend pas130 has convinced me to join the LMPC last minute packers club. So far I am holding out. Well sort of but I have to confess that I have been getting outfits ready and they are hanging in my closet. She calls it "organizing". So yeah, I am organizing right now.

So proud (with a tear in my eye)

Got our 10 day letter from Gflo yesterday..

We arrive in 3 weeks

Missed this, sorry!!! Is this your 1st baby? Sounds fantastic!!!

It seems like just yesterday I was starting the double digit dance and here we are 5 days out.



Hey J Sending lots of love and hugs to your DD. I hope everything turns out well for her.

We are so excited and guess what, I still haven't packed yet. I am probably going to pack on Saturday. Have way too much to do on Sunday and need my head clear to pack.

So excited for you!!! All will work out for my Princess!!! Thanks for the hugs...I need every last one I can get

 

[Jungle Cruiser]

Coachbagfanatic, I think there are two kinds of packing, virtual and real. Virtual goes on for weeks in my mind. Trying to figure out what to take, checking the weather, rethinking what I need and so on. Then the day before I leave, I actually pack. I find the actual packing easy, it's deciding what to bring that's so hard!

pas

Lulu'mom should be lurking around the GF! I know she is staying at the YC, but I am sure there have been trips to the GF, I know she was going to Narcoossees! Can't wait to hear all about our beloved GF from her.

 

[pas130]

pas

Lulu'mom should be lurking around the GF! I know she is staying at the YC, but I am sure there have been trips to the GF, I know she was going to Narcoossees! Can't wait to hear all about our beloved GF from her.

Can't wait to hear about her trip!!!!

 

[Tink rules]

I might have missed this but did the new H20 ammenities hit the grand yet?

 

[Momof2Disneyboys]

We are back (already!!). Had a great four night visit at the GF. In fact, we did less park running around because we were enjoying the resort so much. The construction is there but unless you are at the Waterfall Pool, it's pretty out of sight, out of mind. And we did go to the Waterfall pool for a bit but didn't camp out there.

One thing we did NOT find was too much noise/crowd at the courtyard pool. It was lovely. Yes there were some activities but by no means was it loud or obtrusive at all.

We had a wonderful Father's Day dinner at Citricos. I also had a massage over at Saratoga Springs and the shuttle there was not a huge deal at all. Got me there in plenty of time and picked me up as soon as I was ready to go. Sure it'd be better to walk to the spa but I found it much less painful than some of the reviews I had read.

The only obnoxiousness we saw was from some of the other Sugarloaf guests at the snack hour. (you can read about it in my blog)

All in all a great trip. Perfect weather. Great CMs, just love love love the grand.

Thanks for the great review. It's so nice to hear that the construction was not a problem for you!

I just read your blog about the other guests in Sugarloaf. Wow. Sorry you had to experience such a thing.

 

[dragonfly57005]

Jd99 great blog post!