Best building/view at GF

[disneybound05]

has anyone ever stayed in the Big Pine Key building at Grand Floridian? i requested a garden view in that section on my reservation because it appears close the pool and near the beach. also, has anyone done the Kids Adventure in Cooking? thanks.

 

[Greg K.]

...we have stayed at Sago and Conch. Conch, fwiw, has superb views of the Magic Kingdom and the Seven Seas Lagoon, if you request them, and is very convenient to the boat dock!

Really, all the buildings are convenient to everything. You won't have more than a five minute walk from any building to the pool, the beach, the main building, and the monorail.

For my money, it's the prettiest resort in The World -- and just strolling the grounds is a joy. If you're up and about early -- and who at Disney isn't? -- keep your eyes peeled for the Floridian Ladies. The housekeeping crew heads out in a little parade around 8 am, twirling peach parasols

Enjoy!

 

[MinnieM21]

There are rooms in Big Pine Key and a few in Boca Chica that have obstructed views because of the building by the pool.

We requested to be in Conch Key during our last trip and the view of the gardens was beautiful and we also could look out over the lagoon from our room. It was wonderful. It was also right next to the boat doak which was great.
Sago Cay was a great building for wonderful views. There rooms overlooked the marina and the monorial/water.

 

[disneybound05]

MinnieM21- thanks for the info. it's so hard to tell by looking at the map. i will casually mention something during check-in. i wouldn't be so picky about the view if it were just me and my husband, but with the kids it makes all the difference.

 

[TigrLvsPooh]

Since you are booked for a garden view room I would recommend a marina view in Sago Cay. If you do lagoon view then I would recommend Conch Key.

 

[MinnieM21]

MinnieM21- thanks for the info. it's so hard to tell by looking at the map. i will casually mention something during check-in. i wouldn't be so picky about the view if it were just me and my husband, but with the kids it makes all the difference.

Your welcome!

 

[TammiMcMan]

The GF resort is really not that big. To walk between the two furthest points is probably no more than 5 minutes.

I've never stayed in Big Pine Key, but I know that it's steps from the courtyard pool. This is the pool that's open 24 hours, so I'm not sure what the noise level would be. I can't imagine you'd hear anything with the sliding door closed, but it's probably a bit less private when sitting out on your balcony.

Conch Key is the furthest from the main building, beaches & pools, but there's also less foot traffic in this area, so it tends to be quieter.

Erika mentioned Sago Cay and that's an excellent choice. Your very close to Gasparilla's Grille (24 hour counter service), the main building (monorail) and there's a little pathway right to the bus stop. The backside garden view overlooks the monorail, which is kind of cool for the kids and the frontside has a marina view, which you can request as part of garden view in that building. A perfect view of the fireworks is right outside that building. Again, very little foot traffic in this area, so another quiet spot.

Tammi

 

[TigrLvsPooh]

Another nice thing about Conch Key, that I forgot to mention, is that it's very close to the boat dock. When we stayed there we always took the boat to and from MK.

 

[Janet2k]

has anyone ever stayed in the Big Pine Key building at Grand Floridian? ...also, has anyone done the Kids Adventure in Cooking?

Disneybound05, welcome to the Dis!

Try not to fret too much over which building to request. In my humble opinion, the entire resort complex is wonderful and you can’t go wrong with any of the lodge buildings. To view a map of the Grand Floridian Resort, click here.

As to the children’s events at the Grand Floridian, my daughter has been attending them for years. She loves ‘em all, especially the Grand Adventures in Cooking Class (which I find terribly amusing since I do not cook – she obviously takes after her father ). I have shared a few of my daughter’s experiences in one of my trip reports. If you’d care to read it, I’ll post the links below:

Click here for Grand Adventures In Cooking Class (look for post entitled “Grand Floridian Day Four, Part 1”)
Click here for Wonderland Tea Party (look for post entitled "Grand Floridian Day Three, Part 2")
Click here for Pirates Cruise (look for post entitled “Grand Floridian Day Three, Part 1”)
Click here for My Disney Girl Princess Grand Tea Party (look for post entitled "Grand Floridian Day Two, Part 1")

I should note that there are links to photos of the events in those posts.

Lastly, click here to view Disney's official video of the Grand Floridian Resort. I hope you enjoy your stay there. And I hope it won’t be your last.

 

[noopy]

disneybound05-

I have requested 2 rooms in Big Pine Key, but I asked for a lagoon view. I'm going with my father - his 1st trip to WDW, and he's 69 yrs. old. It will be a kind of honeymoon for him. My mom died almost 2 yrs. ago of cancer, and he has met a special person he wants to marry. I asked that their room be a lagoon view in Big Pine Key because he loves to swim, and I was hoping we would be able to see the beach and the theme pool.
Has anyone ever had such a room? I'd really like to know about it! If it isn't worth the view, we could sure use the money saved by getting a garden view room.
Thank you!!!

 

[disneybound05]

much thanks to all, especially Janet2K. i think i may switch my request to Sago Cay garden/marina view. because of the kids and because we'll be celebrating 2 special occassions (15 yr wedding anniversary and my b-day). is Sago Cay near the beach/quiet pool? can't afford to upgrade to lagoon view.

 

[TammiMcMan]

I asked that their room be a lagoon view in Big Pine Key because he loves to swim, and I was hoping we would be able to see the beach and the theme pool.

A section of this building looks out towards the old Discovery Island and the top of Spaceship Earth. If you want to see the beach and theme pool, narrow your request down to Big Pine Key, Poly view.

is Sago Cay near the beach/quiet pool?

It's probably a 2 minute walk to the courtyard pool and maybe another minute to the beach and theme pool.

 

[noopy]

Thank you, TammiMcMan! I had no idea, and I don't want to pay extra to look at the top of Spaceship Earth. I'm wondering how likely I am to get the Poly view if I request it? Is it a popular view? I want Dad to have a nice one, but maybe we should take our chances with garden view.
Help!!!

 

[Janet2k]

...is Sago Cay near the beach/quiet pool?

Disneybound05, you may have missed it but I gave the link to the Grand Floridian Resort map. I'll give it again -- click here for map. You can see exactly where Sago Cay is located, as well as all the other Grand Floridian buildings.

I have requested 2 rooms in Big Pine Key, but I asked for a lagoon view... I asked that their room be a lagoon view in Big Pine Key because he loves to swim, and I was hoping we would be able to see the beach and the theme pool.

Noopy, I'm sorry about your mom, but I'm glad to hear that your dad has found another very special person to share his life with. If you click here for the map, you should see exactly what view your dad's room would have if he booked a Lagoon View room in Big Pine Key. I should note that the themed pool is not shown on that map. It is located on the beach, in-between the Wedding Pavilion compex and the Grand Floridian's Summerhouse. I had a dinner party at the Summerhouse last year and took a lot of photos of the beach area to share here on the Dis as I was writing my trip report: click here to view that photo album. In there I have one or two photos that show Big Pine Key and its relation to the water/beach.

 

[tongatoast]

This was our view from Sago Cay....

We didn't do the Adventures in Cooking - didn't fit into our schedule, but we did do the Wonderland Tea - very fun for our daughter!

 

[noopy]

Wow! All of the pictures are beautiful!!! Anyone else have some photos I could look at? It's very helpful!
Has anyone out there actually asked for a certain view and a certain building and then gotten both requests?

Thanks!

 

[mirlow]

I requested a ground floor Big Pine Key room and got one three weeks ago. We were the second room from the end (9104). It had a very nice view of the quiet pool and main building. I really liked the location next to both pools. There is a lot of traffic, but I didn't mind. We used the side door to go out of the building. I'm sure some of the other buildings have better GV views, but I wanted to be next to the beach. It is a quick walk everywhere, wherever you stay, but my oldest was able to walk back and forth to the room while we were at the pool.
My kids did the Adventures in Cooking class. My girls enjoyed it, but my ds(6) was disappointed that it wasn't an actual "cooking" class. They got some cute aprons to bring home. Their chef hats with Mickey ears are just so darn cute!

 

[noopy]

I requested a ground floor Big Pine Key room and got one three weeks ago. We were the second room from the end (9104). It had a very nice view of the quiet pool and main building. I really liked the location next to both pools. There is a lot of traffic, but I didn't mind. We used the side door to go out of the building. I'm sure some of the other buildings have better GV views, but I wanted to be next to the beach. It is a quick walk everywhere, wherever you stay, but my oldest was able to walk back and forth to the room while we were at the pool.
My kids did the Adventures in Cooking class. My girls enjoyed it, but my ds(6) was disappointed that it wasn't an actual "cooking" class. They got some cute aprons to bring home. Their chef hats with Mickey ears are just so darn cute!

Did you have to share your ground floor patio with the rooms on either side of you, or was it private? Would you change to another floor if you went back?
I want to be near the beach, too! My father would like that.
Thanks!

 

[mirlow]

Did you have to share your ground floor patio with the rooms on either side of you, or was it private? Would you change to another floor if you went back?
I want to be near the beach, too! My father would like that.
Thanks!

The patio is your own patio. It's nice because the chairs are a little taller than the patio chairs everywhere else. It's nice to sit down and be higher than the railing. I'm not sure if I would change to a higher floor. It was so nice to walk right to your room through the back door. We have a stroller so there was no waiting for the elevator. If I can figure out how to post a picture I'll show you what our view looked like.

 

[disneybound05]

can anyone who has stayed in the GF's Sago Cay building, in a garden/marina view room, recommend a room number (if you remember it)? i would greatly appreciate it. i've had this vaca booked since July and all these months i've been so looking forward to going. now, a week before, i'm nervous about every aspect... the room, the flight, the 'what do we do on what day', the restaurants, the PSs....