Big Pine Key @ the GF

[mirlow]

We are going to stay at the GF this summer It will be our first time staying there. We are very excited since our 10 yr anniversary will be during our visit. Right now I have a LV room booked. I wanted a GV room. The only other time we were going to get a LV room was at the Polynesian concierge. We ended up with a second floor room and I didn't think it was worth spending the money if we didn't have a balcony to enjoy the view. We switched to a GV concierge room and saved $600. Ever since that happened I didn't want to take any chances with a LV room. Well the only rooms they have available during our stay at the GF is a LV room.
I was looking at the map and it looks like Big Pine Key is a good location for us. We will spend a lot of time at the pool and beach. I like that it has the Alice themed rooms. What kind of LV do you have from there? Is the view just facing the Polynesian?
I think Conch Key has Alice themed rooms as well. I have read that people have great views of the castle from here. I'm just trying to envision the view. Do you just see a bunch of trees and the castle popping out from the top? How far is it to walk to the themed pool from Conch Key?
Where are the non-smoking rooms?

 

[jel0511]

Big Pine Key, does face the Poly and Wedding Pavilion, so the MK views are limited to none existent in that building, also the two top floors of Big Pine Key are smoking (this is an issue with me, since DS is ashtmatic). Conch Key is the furtherest building from the Theme Pool, but it's probably a 5 minute or so walk from Conch Key to the Theme Pool. There aren't many lagoon view rooms in Conch Key, so availability in this building is limited. Those with a lagoon view look out directly at the monorail and MK (completey unobstructed), as well as the boat dock. If you're a late sleeper, that might cause a problem, since the boats to start running early and do sound their horns and can be disruptive to light sleepers. IMO, the best lagoon view rooms are located in Boca Chica. They don't have the Alice themed rooms there, they are floral. Those rooms have a MK view, as well as, a full view of the entire lagoon. All rooms at GF have balconies, so you won't have to worry about having the view, but no where to sit and enjoy it.

 

[k&a&c'smom]

We stayed in Big Pine Key in 2002, I think our room # was 9245, but I'm not positive. It is on the second floor, the end of the bldg. by the lagoon. I looked up my pictures from that trip, and you can see the castle quite clearly from that room, with the CR and Poly to the right. Yes, the castle rises above a line of trees, but you can see it!

This bldg. was very convenient to the main pool and main bldg.

 

[mirlow]

Originally posted by jel0511
IMO, the best lagoon view rooms are located in Boca Chica. They don't have the Alice themed rooms there, they are floral. Those rooms have a MK view, as well as, a full view of the entire lagoon. All rooms at GF have balconies, so you won't have to worry about having the view, but no where to sit and enjoy it.

Whenever we would take the mouse boats out on the lagoon we would go by Boca Chica and think what a great view. Maybe I could get over the floral theme
Are there not chairs on the balconies?

 

[Wendi]

I have to put in a vote for Boca Chica here. That is our absolute favorite building. It has the best views of MK, Contemp. and just over view in general. It's a quiet building (since it is your Anniversary ~ Happy Anniversary) and it's theme is softer on the eyes than some of the other ones. In complete honesty, I wish they would not have changed the theme. I LOVED the colors, even my husband prefers the old look. I think the lady named Misti has some great pictures of the room we stayed at online here. Ask for the 4th floor, most rooms have the vaulted ceilings and they feel larger.

Have fun.

Wendi

 

[mirlow]

Originally posted by k&a&c'smom
We stayed in Big Pine Key in 2002, I think our room # was 9245, but I'm not positive. It is on the second floor, the end of the bldg. by the lagoon. I looked up my pictures from that trip, and you can see the castle quite clearly from that room, with the CR and Poly to the right. Yes, the castle rises above a line of trees, but you can see it!

Was your room at the very end? I still can't envision how Big Pine Key is angled? It's nice to know that you could see the CR and the castle We are going to stay at the PR at the tail end of our trip stay and I didn't really want to look at just that.
I'm just not sure since there is smoking on two floors of that bldg

 

[k&a&c'smom]

Yes, our room was on the very end of the bldg., the short end of the rectangle.

I always request non-smoking, as I have asthma, so maybe in 2002 this floor was non-smoking?

 

[MILEMRKR63]

I stayed in Boca Chica for 15 days in August 2003. I had the most incredible view from my room. I was on the 4th floor and in dead center of the building. I could not have asked for any better view. Completely unobstructed view of MK, monorail (my all time favorite thing to watch), Contemporary, fire works and the water parade was practically in my room.

I will say it again, the view was just unbelievable. I could hear the music from the MK from my balcony in the distance and what a way to wake up by hearing the whistle of the train in Disney tooting away.

I will say though that as I was checking in, the Manager happened to be in the lobby and approached me. It turned out that he was a guest at the hotel I am GM at and recognized me. He stepped behind the desk and asked if I could wait about 1 hour for a "room that I would be most happy with". I said sure and he completed my check in. He gave me and my guest a voucher for a meal and he asked that we meet him when we finished our early lunch. he personally escorted us to our room while telling us about the property and could not have been nicer. That evening when we returned to the room, there was a HUGE tray of chocklolate covered strawberrys, a big chocolate Micky and Minnie, about 20 balloons along with a note saying "welcome to our home" from the staff and management.

The entire trip, we were always acknowledged by the CM's as VIP guests of the Hotel Managers no matter where we were (it was almost embarrasing at times)

The trip was a once in a lifetime thrill.

I cant wait to return.

BTW, he has since been to my property about 4 times you bet your *** he is treated like a king!!!