A Grand Vacation: The 2012 Grand Floridian FAQ!

[k&a&c'smom]

cgulls - thanks for that info! I use TP all the time for crowd calendar, etc. I haven't bought the UG in years, but enjoyed them.

Angel16 - Welcome back! You are so close, yay. ETA: Congrats on your 30th anniversary.:

I can't really answer about the monorail, sorry. Like you, I haven't read too much lately about shut downs, but I have no current info. Maybe one of the DISers who have been in the last few weeks can help.

I promise to REMEMBER to have & charge the camera

 

[MommyGina]

Angel16 I was at the GF a few weeks ago and nearly every day, the monorail was down due to maintenance. One day, we took the monorail to the TTC and then had to take a bus to EPCOT. Another day coming out of MK, everyone was getting back off the monorail to take the boats back to the GF and TTC. There was no specific time that the monorails were down.

We did lose time trying get from one place to the other, especially to the MK by boat since you have to go the Poly first. One night, we couldn't even get out of the GF upstairs to ask anyone what was going on. We were waived back in with no answers. Could not even ask a question. Basially, you were not allowed out!

 

[BCV23]

Happy Wednesday. I can't find the original post or question about "times apps" but I see some replies. I assume everybody already uses Lines, yes? Sorry if that isn't related to the original question or suggestion.

I haven't used that app. Thanks for telling us about it. Used to enjoy reading the Unofficial Guide although I was a Disney veteran before he started publishing. It used to drive me nuts that he listed the Polynesian as having smaller rooms than most WDW deluxe rooms. Hello.....just the opposite. Anyway, the new app is free and from Disney. It's part of the Next Gen and offers many things besides wait times which are real time. Here's an article in the Orlando Sentinel about it.
http://www.orlandosentinel.com/the-...s-on-ride-wait-times-20120805,0,3588483.story

k&a&c'smom, I noticed in the article that it does work on the Touch, too.

I promise to REMEMBER to have & charge the camera

We'll be thinking of you tomorrow. Safe travels and happy anniversary. Can't wait to see your photos.

Angel16 Hope your trip is perfect, too.

 

[k&a&c'smom]

MommyGina - it is frustrating when you have to sit on the monorail or de-train. We once had to get off the monorail, then waited on the boat dock for over an hour for a boat, something had gone awry. Didn't even occur to us to go out front and catch a cab to our dinner res. at WL!

I hope it didn't take up too much of your vacation time.

BCV23 - thanks for that link, and the info about the Touch. I see this is a revamp of Verizon's Disney Mobile Magic app, which DD just said this afternoon was the highest rated wait times app. Can't wait to try it out!

 

[BCV23]

So glad it will work for your DD's Touch.

I don't think it is a revamp of Mobile Magic. The article says it replaces it but Mobile Magic is still operating and has nothing to do with Next Gen so I think that is the writer's take on it, KWIM? I have Mobile Magic and it is not nearly as good as this app. Maybe it replaces it in the sense that it is the newest Disney supported app???

I know you're planning on V&A. Any other GF reservations so far?

 

[Angel16]

Angel16 - Welcome back! You are so close, yay. ETA: Congrats on your 30th anniversary.:

I can't really answer about the monorail, sorry. Like you, I haven't read too much lately about shut downs, but I have no current info. Maybe one of the DISers who have been in the last few weeks can help.

Thank you so much Alice

Angel16 I was at the GF a few weeks ago and nearly every day, the monorail was down due to maintenance. One day, we took the monorail to the TTC and then had to take a bus to EPCOT. Another day coming out of MK, everyone was getting back off the monorail to take the boats back to the GF and TTC. There was no specific time that the monorails were down.

We did lose time trying get from one place to the other, especially to the MK by boat since you have to go the Poly first. One night, we couldn't even get out of the GF upstairs to ask anyone what was going on. We were waived back in with no answers. Could not even ask a question. Basially, you were not allowed out!

Thank you for sharing your experience. I am sorry this happened during your vacation. You have me thinking about some options for us if there are problems with the monorail while we are there. We are meeting friends one night at The Wave, thinking about using a cab for that.

Anyway, the new app is free and from Disney. It's part of the Next Gen and offers many things besides wait times which are real time. Here's an article in the Orlando Sentinel about it.
http://www.orlandosentinel.com/the-...s-on-ride-wait-times-20120805,0,3588483.story

Angel16 Hope your trip is perfect, too.

So great to see you my friend Thank you for your wishes we are pretty excited. Staying at Beach Club for the first time. I had not heard about new Disney app THANK YOU. I uploaded it today and plan to play with it tomorrow. It looks really good at first glance.

Angel16

 

[MommyGina]

k&a&c'smom-waiting didn't take up too much time. It was frustrating tyring to figure out how to get where we wanted to go, especially with dinner reservations. Now I know why you allow yourself extra time to get to places!

 

[k&a&c'smom]

MommyGina - Glad the monorail issues didn't affect you too much.

Angel16 -

BCV23 - We are booked at the tea on the 25, and b'fast at GFC on the 26, two of our favorite pastimes at the World!

All of the articles I've read about MDE suggest they used the MM app to build a newer, cleaner version for use with NextGen. Most of them say MM is still available in iTunes, maybe due to its DL content since MDE doesn't have any yet? One article even says Verizon customers will have exclusive access to special MDE games and videos on their cells, for a limited time.

At any rate, everyone is raving about MDE and say it has a cleaner interface, more features and better technology.

 

[pas130]

We'll be thinking of you tomorrow. Safe travels and happy anniversary. Can't wait to see your photos.

Camera is charging as we speak...no DIStime allowed for me when I am away...

but I am allowed to text..so look for some super steath messages from sarah

Thanks for the well wishes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Is it wrong I am on the Dis instead of packing

 

[Butterflygirl35]

Pas130. Have a magical trip!

 

[somesong2sing]

morning Dis'ers!

never in a million years did i think i would like the GF.

HOWEVER, we were there for a wedding in June and OMGAWSH! it was amazing!!!

Do they EVER have any room discounts, etc? My other half would kill me if I spent 350 to 400 a night for a room there. He was also taken away by its beauty though.

Hopefully there is a Yes answer to that question!

If so, what are they ?

THANKS SO MUCH!

 

[pas130]

Pas130. Have a magical trip!

Thank you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Butterflygirl35]

morning Dis'ers!

never in a million years did i think i would like the GF.

HOWEVER, we were there for a wedding in June and OMGAWSH! it was amazing!!!

Do they EVER have any room discounts, etc? My other half would kill me if I spent 350 to 400 a night for a room there. He was also taken away by its beauty though.

Hopefully there is a Yes answer to that question!

If so, what are they ?

THANKS SO MUCH!

Magical Vacations Travel has an agency exclusive for this labor day weekend. $159 a night.... I ended up switching dates b/c of this deal!!!

 

[k&a&c'smom]

pas130 - We'll be looking forward to photos on your return, and possibly updates from Jungle Cruiser.

somesong2sing - Welcome! Glad you've joined us, and have discovered a love of the Grand!

Yes, the GF is included in most of the discounts given out at various times for the WDW resorts. The most recent ones available through WDW are the general public discount for stays August 15-Sept. 29, 2012, and the annual passholder discounts, one through Aug. 14 and another begins Aug. 17 through Sept. 29.

You can also get a AAA discount; rooms are limited and may not be available for specific dates. There are Disney Visa discounts throughout the year, and the free dining promo is usually included at the GF.

HTH!

 

[Butterflygirl35]

K&a&c's Mom..

Has your DD heard back about the part time? Any luck?

 

[bdklein]

In an email I just got from GF IPO, Courtyard Pool is scheduled to go down for refurbishment 8/28 and Gasparilla's on 8/24. No word on anything else.

 

[k&a&c'smom]

Butterflygirl35 - No, she didn't hear anything back, I'm sorry to say. Very disappointing, it would have been nice to hear something regarding that position, though she didn't technically apply for it. Thanks for asking.

bdklein - thanks for the info, good to know. Sounds like they've moved the date a bit for the courtyard pool - good news for us, we are scheduled to be there at that time.

 

[bdklein]

Butterflygirl35 - No, she didn't hear anything back, I'm sorry to say. Very disappointing, it would have been nice to hear something regarding that position, though she didn't technically apply for it. Thanks for asking.

bdklein - thanks for the info, good to know. Sounds like they've moved the date a bit for the courtyard pool - good news for us, we are scheduled to be there at that time.

Us too. 18th to the 25th. Hoping construction impact will be minimal. And monorail to be running right. Have a great trip.

 

[Blessed_wth_Triplets]

This will be our first and only stay at GF....can anyone recommend what I should request as far as room location? Keeping in mind we are booked standard garden view...so cheapest? Has anyone ever received an upgrade at check in? I know...one can dream!

 

[cgulls]

bcv23 I'm looking forward to that app being available for my Droid phone <tapping fingers waiting patiently> I'm wary of the app displaying "real time wait times", though. Most likely they will display "posted" wait times which, at best, represent the amount of time the most recent Guest has waited not how long you will wait (those cards you hand to the CMs when you get to the front of the line tell them how long YOU waited. They don't tell them how long the most recent last person in line will wait).

That's funny (and potentially confusing) about the Poly room size flub. There's a fun photo in the recent "Color Companion to the Unofficial Guide" showing Len Testa sitting in color tape showing the typical room size by value/mod/deluxe.

You can find it by googling "touring plans what you get for your money"

The rooms look so much smaller when they're outlined in tape!