A Grand Vacation: The 2012 Grand Floridian FAQ!

[Eponine1]

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.

Don't worry....it's Friday

Hopefully they won't open the DVC until after I'm there next year I don't think it will be considerable as far as the amount of people because even with the Contemp and BLT it didn't seem to add on too much when they opened.

I just get frustrated when the deluxe resorts share. I would stay at that BWI but they share with the Dolphin/Swan/Beach/Yacht and villas at BWI and Beach. That's ALOT of people.

Thanks!

 

[MagicKingdom4Ever]

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

Are the Beach Pool walls down now? Does anyone know when they come down?
Does the Courtyard Pool close on the 24th? Thanks.

 

[Eponine1]

Another question.....

Does the GF pipe in the music to Wishes/Holiday Wishes at either the marina or the dock area or beach area?

Just wondering.. thanks

 

[BCV23]

BCV23 - I didn't even notice.

Maybe we have annual passes stuck in our brain.

Another question.....

Does the GF pipe in the music to Wishes/Holiday Wishes at either the marina or the dock area or beach area?

Just wondering.. thanks

We've always been able to hear the music for Wishes from both the marina and the dock area by Narcoossee's. I know k&a&c'smom has not been as lucky.

IIRC the music for the holiday parties is only played in the park. Good viewing from the monorail hotels though.

 

[BCV23]

Oh, did everyone notice that there is now free wifi in the MK. Nice to use with the new app.

 

[k&a&c'smom]

BCV23 -

Free wifi in the MK is sooo nice! Can't wait to take it for a test run.

Eponine1 - All the reports I've seen lately have stated the speakers are working, so you should be able to hear it on the boat dock and near Gasparilla's. I'm looking forward to hearing Wishes on our next trip, too - as BCV23 posted, we have been incredibly unlucky!

Are the Beach Pool walls down now? Does anyone know when they come down?
Does the Courtyard Pool close on the 24th? Thanks.

Welcome! So far, no one has reported the walls around the beach pool being down. We have a link a few posts back to photos posted on July 26 showing the splash zone has not yet been completed, so I assume the walls will remain until that is finished.

According to the schedule released by WDW (posted on the first page of this thread), once the beach pool work is completed, the courtyard pool work will begin - date expected is August 24.

 

[micknme]

Half way down page 3?

Not any more!!! Back to page 1 where we belong!

 

[Jungle Cruiser]

Happy Sunday everyone!

k&a&c'smom, fingers crossed that your DD gets the job and that it doesn't start until after you two get to WDW in a few weeks!!!

I am sure we will get an update from pas when she is at WDW next week! She is staying at the WL, another wonderful hotel, but I know she will be visiting her beloved GF!

BVC free wifi in the MK, sounds great!

 

[mtnmomma3]

Such great info here- thanks do much! We are planning a Sept 2013 trip with our 3 girls ( will be 7 and twin 4 by the trip) and are thinking main building club level is out best bet. Few questions- -if we book a theme park view will be not see any of the new dvc construction?
- it seems the deluxe cl rooms are only bookable for parties of 4, is this true? No way for a family of five to book these? I saw a pic in first few pages that shows a roll away in the 2 queen room... We would really love the little bit of extra room
We have done poly and BLT in the past, I have always wanted to stay at the GF but am a bit worried about the construction... But it seems by the time we go in a little over a year things will be a bit "calmer" right ?
Thanks in advance

 

[k&a&c'smom]

Half way down page 3?

Not any more!!! Back to page 1 where we belong!

Thanks for the bump.

Happy Sunday everyone!

k&a&c'smom, fingers crossed that your DD gets the job and that it doesn't start until after you two get to WDW in a few weeks!!!

I am sure we will get an update from pas when she is at WDW next week! She is staying at the WL, another wonderful hotel, but I know she will be visiting her beloved GF!

Hello, my friend! Thanks for DD, I think she may not have gotten the job. I'll update when we find out for sure. Poor kid, it's tough out there.

Can't wait to hear from pas about the GF AND how she likes WL.

Such great info here- thanks do much! We are planning a Sept 2013 trip with our 3 girls ( will be 7 and twin 4 by the trip) and are thinking main building club level is out best bet. Few questions- -if we book a theme park view will be not see any of the new dvc construction?
- it seems the deluxe cl rooms are only bookable for parties of 4, is this true? No way for a family of five to book these? I saw a pic in first few pages that shows a roll away in the 2 queen room... We would really love the little bit of extra room
We have done poly and BLT in the past, I have always wanted to stay at the GF but am a bit worried about the construction... But it seems by the time we go in a little over a year things will be a bit "calmer" right ?
Thanks in advance

Welcome! Congrats on your trip next year, glad you've joined us.

Main building theme park view rooms overlook Gasparilla's and the marina, so you will not see any of the DVC construction. If you take a look at the map on page 1 of this thread, you can see the marina is on the far side of the resort from the Wedding Chapel, which is where the DVC work is being done.

May not be an issue anyway, as the new building is supposed to be open by late 2013, and we expect the outdoor work to be mostly finished by the end of this year or early next. They are really going gangbusters over there!

The main building deluxe queen rooms sleep 4, deluxe kings sleep 3. They will allow a rollaway as they don't dictate sleeping arrangements, but can't book a 5th person in the room. I too wish they would bump that up to 5, plenty of room there. They seem to set the max by the number of stationary bed options, and there is no daybed in the deluxe queen rooms.

HTH!

 

[MommyGina]

Good morning everyone. I have already started planning my 2013 GF vacation. DH decided that he likes RPC better than SL, so we will stay in RPC next year. The room rates for the time we are going are "value" season.

Here is my question. The dining plan indicates that the time we are going in July of next year is "peak" season. How can Disney have two "seasons" at one time? Room rates and dining rates to not match for the season. I am seriously reconsidering our trip. We are supposed to go July 16-23 of 2103.

Anyone have an answer?

 

[k&a&c'smom]

MommyGina - How annoying. I don't have an answer, but have noticed the "peak dining" costs for certain venues over the last couple years, and it is frustrating.

So you are saying the dining plan will cost more during value resort season?! Weird. On the other hand - I think July is only value season for the deluxe resorts, right? The mods and values are regular until August...I think. Gotta go look that up! ETA: yes, the values have "summer season" through August 3; the mods and deluxe switch to value on July 14.

 

[pas130]

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

Sending you Pixie Dust for your trip...

I will text sarah some pics...we are having BF at 1900 PF Saturday

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

Did I miss an update, or is poor DD still waiting....

I am sure we will get an update from pas when she is at WDW next week! She is staying at the WL, another wonderful hotel, but I know she will be visiting her beloved GF!

You sure will!!!!

Hello, my friend! Thanks for DD, I think she may not have gotten the job. I'll update when we find out for sure. Poor kid, it's tough out there.

Can't wait to hear from pas about the GF AND how she likes WL.

Sorry no news yet...you never know!!!!!! I'll grab some pixie dust from GF when I visit

 

[k&a&c'smom]

Thanks, pas. While DD was in the second interview, they asked her if she would consider a part time job. We are hoping they may offer her something like that, but she hasn't heard anything. Got a form letter by email over the weekend that said the full time position has been filled - kind of mean to do it that way, but I guess it's pretty common these days.

We'll happily take the pixie dust, though; she may still get a call about the PT work. Thanks to everyone for the well wishes, it is much appreciated.

On to GF planning! 1900 Park Fare this Saturday, woohoo!!

 

[pas130]

Thanks, pas. While DD was in the second interview, they asked her if she would consider a part time job. We are hoping they may offer her something like that, but she hasn't heard anything. Got a form letter by email over the weekend that said the full time position has been filled - kind of mean to do it that way, but I guess it's pretty common these days.

We'll happily take the pixie dust, though; she may still get a call about the PT work. Thanks to everyone for the well wishes, it is much appreciated.

On to GF planning! 1900 Park Fare this Saturday, woohoo!!

An email, so impersonal....sounds like they may have something in mind for her maybe

DH is SO excited I booked him 3 breakfast buffets....when I told him about GF, he was like...did you change the reservation Mommy "in a voice just like the girls would say"

I told him it's the best buffet ever I did consider booking the last night at RPC though...must resist....

 

[MommyGina]

The peak price now for deluxe dining is July and that is when the value rates are out for rooms. Talk about frustrating!

 

[tanjiers]

I have been dying to see some pics of the up to date construction of the Grand Floridian grounds Does anyone have any to post??? Is there any info pertaining to when Disney will start selling the units???

 

[k&a&c'smom]

The peak price now for deluxe dining is July and that is when the value rates are out for rooms. Talk about frustrating!

I have been dying to see some pics of the up to date construction of the Grand Floridian grounds Does anyone have any to post??? Is there any info pertaining to when Disney will start selling the units???

Welcome! I've posted a link in the last page or so to photos on the WDW magic site, here it is again.

I have no info on when they will begin to sell GFV units. Perhaps you can find this on the DVC forums.

 

[k&a&c'smom]

An email, so impersonal....sounds like they may have something in mind for her maybe

DH is SO excited I booked him 3 breakfast buffets....when I told him about GF, he was like...did you change the reservation Mommy "in a voice just like the girls would say"

I told him it's the best buffet ever I did consider booking the last night at RPC though...must resist....

How cute your DH is so excited about the buffets. We are not huge buffet people, we never get our money's worth, but the 1900 PF and CP buffets are very nice.

LOL about the last night RPC. Good luck with resisting.

Thanks about DD.

 

[Jungle Cruiser]

pas, Saturday at 1900 Park Fare on Saturday, yay! I will look forward to getting your pictures and posting them on the thread. Sooo, excited you will be at our beloved GF this week!

MommyGina, sorry to hear about the rates for next July. I didn't know the deluxe resorts went to value season mid-July, I thought it was mid-August. I think when we think of value season we think back years ago. It used to be a simple chart based on dates, now it depends on type of resort, dining options, various activities (like marathon weekend) and so on. Hopefully you can make it all work.

k&a&c'smom sorry about the email your DD got about the job. Hopefully the PT option will come through. Fingers crossed. It is really tough for kids these days coming out of school, very few jobs. Hopefully she will get good news soon