BWV to GFV questions

[TinkerbellLuvr7]

Hello! My family and I are checking into BWI next week for two nights then moving to GFV. I tried to research the following on the GF thread but no luck...

-Is coffee still offered at the bar area of BW for mornings? Hours?

-Is there a shuttle from BWI that will take my family and luggage to GFV? Or do they need to do bag transfer and take the MK bus then boat or monorail?

-At GFV do we check in at the main GF building or the villas building?

-Is there parking outside the GFV building or is it at the main lot outside the GF building?

Thanks for your time!

 

[SpaceMountain77]

Hello! My family and I are checking into BWI next week for two nights then moving to GFV. I tried to research the following on the GF thread but no luck...

-Is coffee still offered at the bar area of BW for mornings? Hours?

-Is there a shuttle from BWI that will take my family and luggage to GFV? Or do they need to do bag transfer and take the MK bus then boat or monorail?

-At GFV do we check in at the main GF building or the villas building?

-Is there parking outside the GFV building or is it at the main lot outside the GF building?

Thanks for your time!

No, a shuttle is not available. You will check your luggage with Bell Services and make a connection at one of the theme parks to board a boat, bus, or monorail to Disney's Grand Floridian Resort & Spa.

Once you arrive at VGF, you can either complete the check-in process with the concierge in the lobby or simply use online check-in to bypass the process.

There is not a lot directly in front of the Villas, it is behind Senses and the fitness center.

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

You could use Uber or a Taxi to transfer if you don't want to have Bell service move the bags.

 

[BillPA]

Do you have a car? If so just drive, if not why care about the parking lot?

 

[miTnosnhoJ]

VGF has a separate parking lot. It is over behind the Senses Spa.

You can check in at VGF villas lobby. The only reason to check in at the Main Lobby is if you arrive after 10PM. But if you wait until you get the text message that your room is ready, you don't have to check in at all. Just go to your room.

The Grand Floridian Bellhops are awesome. When you get in your room, just call Bell Services and they will bring up your stuff in just a few minutes.

We have been able to get in early sometimes at VGF, but never earlier than 2PM. So I would send your luggage by Bell Services and head for the park of your choice. Head over to VGF at your convenience when you get the text that your room is ready.

 

[disneynutz]

For everyone reading, VGF is similar to BWV in regards to bell services. At VGF, Disney CM greeters will unload your car and place your items in storage at VGF. Bell Services will be dispatched from the GF to deliver to your room or to pick up from the room. At BW/BWI the car unloaders and valets are outside contractors, they will take your items and put them in the storage room for bell services to deliver to your room.

Bill

 

[TinkerbellLuvr7]

Thank you everyone! I will have my car but have to work half a day. I told my sister they are welcome to transfer to Gf before I get off work or wait and I can pick them up on my way. They are excited to use the pool areas at gf so I'm guessing they will check out of BW before 11 and head over to gf to swim before I get off and we go to MK.

There are 3 of them plus me so I doubt all 4 of us plus bags and a stroller will fit in my Corolla so most likely they will have to do bag transfer and keep a bag for swim stuff then store it in my car or with luggage if the room isn't ready by 1pm when I arrive.

**are there areas at VGF to change After the pool if the room isn't ready??**

As much as the room ready text is nice, I have a feeling we will still need to go to the desk to make sure the check out and in was processed as well as the remaining dining plan credits that we will have left. We had issues with all of that/resort changing last Jan! Fingers crossed the system upgraded enough!

 

[Sammie]

Someone will need to check in VGF before they can swim. Pools are gated now and you need access through your magic bands.

They will have access at BW until midnight of the day you check out.

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

Thank you everyone! I will have my car but have to work half a day. I told my sister they are welcome to transfer to Gf before I get off work or wait and I can pick them up on my way. They are excited to use the pool areas at gf so I'm guessing they will check out of BW before 11 and head over to gf to swim before I get off and we go to MK.

There are 3 of them plus me so I doubt all 4 of us plus bags and a stroller will fit in my Corolla so most likely they will have to do bag transfer and keep a bag for swim stuff then store it in my car or with luggage if the room isn't ready by 1pm when I arrive.

**are there areas at VGF to change After the pool if the room isn't ready??**

Yes, there is a change area and restroom at the pool closest to VGF.

 

[bumbershoot]

Or do they need to do bag transfer and take the MK bus then boat or monorail?

Yep.

-At GFV do we check in at the main GF building or the villas building?

Villas.

-Is there parking outside the GFV building or is it at the main lot outside the GF building?

Villas, though on Christmas we had to park outside the hotel b/c villas had no parking available.

or simply use online check-in to bypass the process.

IMO there's no "simply" about it. We did online checkin twice, with CC given and everything, and didn't get room ready texts. I have NEVER gotten a room ready text.

At VGF, Disney CM greeters will unload your car and place your items in storage at VGF. Bell Services will be dispatched from the GF to deliver to your room or to pick up from the room.

FWIW that's not how it worked for us on the 24th. There was a greeter guy who got the bell guy to come out, but the greeter guy didn't touch our bags. And the bell guy literally followed us up to the room (though I will state that we had gone in to check in, then decided we wanted Bell, so we knew we had a room and knew the number already).

**are there areas at VGF to change After the pool if the room isn't ready??**

YES.

Someone will need to check in VGF before they can swim. Pools are gated now and you need access through your magic bands.

FWIW there were no closed gates on the 24th-26th, and even over at the pool at the hotel we just pulled up the lock thing to open the gate (before seeing that the pool food area wasn't open yet so we went to the newly reopened Gasparilla's instead). We didn't even see a place to use our bands to get into the pools. And no one checked our bands at all. FWIW.

 

[disneynutz]

Bell Services goes where the tips are. They are not assigned to VGF but if there, they will service you. The volume of work at VGF is so small compared to the GF so they drive carts back and forth to service VGF when necessary.

Bill

 

[TinkerbellLuvr7]

Thanks everyone! Looking forward to staying! I'll have to get some extra cash for tips since we're having to move twice...BW to GF to BC.