(Complete!! 2/23) How Bougie Can We Be? - Nov 2024 TR

[Araminta18]

Snack goals! You guys really made the most of that event. Looks super fun

all the snacks! it was really a ton of fun - highly recommend

 

[Araminta18]

Over to the Grand Floridian - Sunday, Nov 17 2024 (part 1)​

We definitely slept in a bit this morning - we got up at 9, and then it was time to pack! I was worried that packing would take us a while but we were done by 9:45 (so getting ready AND packing up). So I was like "wow that's fast!" but then realized I was fast 'cause I was packing for hotel transfer, not for the airport - aka, I didn't have to fit stuff into just a couple bags, and didn't have to worry about liquids and all that. As an aside, I now take notes for trip reports using voice memos, and Trevor heard me saying the above and was like "yup, 10 bags instead of 6!" Rude.

But now, cinnabon and popcorn for breakfast!

When we got back to the room last night I stuck the cinnabon in a ziploc baggie (having extra ziploc bags for the win!) and it worked out! The cinnamon roll was all soft and nice on the inside. And we had extra frosting 'cause they were passing it out last night - I wasn't gonna say no.

Trevor despite not liking sweet and salty together was also eating hulk popcorn (aka regular popcorn with green coloring) for breakfast.

We always eat such weird things for breakfast on our trips. #noshame

We also were like recapping the Orlando Informer events while eating: overall, it was fun. We definitely enjoyed fewer crowds and being able to play with the spell spots and not have to wait at every one, or have only one person wait for us to finish instead of like 4 people. We did think the food was overhyped - most of it was sitting under heat lamps and wasn't amazing. The only really "good" food we had was the garlic knots (well the soft half - some of them were a bit crispy on the underside ), the burger from Burdger Digs, and the chicken tenders from Mel's Diner. The ice cream and such was super fun to try (and like the icees and such) and we had a good time, but now that we've done it, there's less incentive to do it again (aka, we're not going to try all the ice cream flavors again). If you do the event you don't really need a park pass for during the day, but if you stay at their deluxes (which we like cause the water taxi) then you get the express pass and it seems like a bit of a waste to not go during the day. We did feel like going on a weekday with our express pass (Thursday) we did about as much we did during the event. We also didn't love that they didn't have the photos up and running during the events but we were able to request the pictures via the "Missing Pictures" help link and got all our photos, so that was cool.

Comparing the event on Friday to Saturday it seemed like they were expecting or set up for more people on Saturday night. Friday night they were sending us through all the express pass lines but on Saturday they were sending us through regular lines. But still very few people on both nights.

Overall we had a lot of fun and were really glad we did it. Whether or not we do it again...we'll see. Part of the reason we're on the fence has nothing to do with Universal or the event but me - can I fit on the rides or not. New year, ready to go back to my good habits.

ANYWAYS! We called for Bell services to help us with the bags, and they came just a bit after 10 am, and we just followed them to the main lobby.

Trevor is focused!

By 10:25 we were in the uber heading to Disney.

Hello!

It was a gorgeous day - sunny and lovely.

Monorail!


Definitely a "pinch me" moment as we turned into the Grand Floridian.

We arrived at 10:45 am, handed our bags to the Bell Services CM who came out to meet us, and headed into the hotel!

Pretty Christmas decorations!

I love the decorations on this tree.

We checked in at the main desk, and when they saw that we were staying club level they called for a Club Level CM to come down and get us but kept checking us in in the meantime. We were paying with gift cards and the poor CM's computer was fighting her the whole time! It did not like the gift cards. But eventually we got it all paid for and the Club Level CM walked us over to the elevator and up to the 3rd floor where the Grand Floridian concierge was. They brought us out a welcome drink:

This was delicious: violet and lavender-infused lemonade. Lemonade base, violet syrup, lavender syrup, lime juice and sparkling water. A+

I honestly don't remember really what they were telling us here - we were all checked in but I think maybe doublechecking our magic bands and some logistics stuff about lounge hours and such? It was just all so exciting and overwhelming I really don't remember. Oh! I forgot - down at the main check in desk, they gave Trevor a birthday button.

Then it was time to go to our room - it was ready! We weren't expecting that but it was a nice surprise.

AAAAAAAAAAND picture limit. Next post I'll show you our room!

 

[Araminta18]

Bougiest Room Ever - Sunday, Nov 17 2024 (part 2)​

The CM walked us to our room - she was going to show us the lounge but they were changing over between breakfast and lunch so she just took us to our room, up on the 5th floor (top floor of the main building!).

I loved the view from the hallway down into the main lobby, especially all decorated for Christmas.

Then she brought us to a little hallway and our room was there at the end... she opened the door and we were blown away.

Our room! It was huge!! We got one of the turret/tower rooms (whatever you call them), with just a king bed.



The TV was wishing Trevor a happy birthday:

And look at the view! (Well, one of the views - this is the one from the window nearest the bed):

Pool view!

We loved all the Mary Poppins touches. There's a little hallway from the door into the room:

and it's Mary Poppins!

From the pillow on the bed - I really want to buy this by the way.

And on the lampshade -

the umbrella!!

(Picture limit...more room pics to come! Honestly, this is really where it starts getting super bougie - this room!)

 

[Araminta18]

Turret Room Continued - Sunday, Nov 17 2024 (part 3)​

And on the chandelier/lights thing -

Birds, but also a penguin!!

OK, bathroom pictures:

I love this mirror and the light all around it.


Really the only downside to the room was no bathtub.

But look at this closet!

SUPER ginormous - just like the room itself - huge.

We called for the bags to be brought up while we kept looking around - in the past Disney Bell Services tends to take a while so we weren't sure how long it would take them to bring our bags.

Another view!

We found some chocolates left for us:

Yum


The main TV screen - I was so sad ever since they started putting these in all the rooms 'cause it meant that my lovely WDW Today channel with the hours and nice instrumental music was gone. But at least its pretty?

BUT THEN WE CLICKED INTO THE TV AND LOOK WHAT WE FOUND:

WDW Today! I love this channel so much! YAY!!!! I like to have it on in the background with the music as we get ready. Brilliant.

After about 10 minutes our bags arrived - kudos to Bell Services! It was about 11:40, so I went about unpacking and putting everything away. Trevor kept exploring and found in the coffee/tea drawer that one of the teas they have is one of his favorites (aka, the one he buys in England in Epcot) so definitely grabbed that. We were going to ask them to restock but we never did. Oops!

We finished unpacking at about 12:15, and the plan for the day was to go to Disney Springs for lunch, watch a movie at Disney Springs (I'll tell you more next post ), and then Mickey's Very Merry Christmas party. But we were running ahead of schedule - we didn't need to leave until 1 pm. So what time was it? Nap time!!

The only bad thing about having just one king bed in a room is that you don't have a nighttime bed and a day time bed (a bed for naps), so I just napped on the bed but Trevor took advantage of the full-size couch:

Ok, I'll leave you to the naps. Let me know if there is anything else about the room you want to know or anything! More info on the lounge in the next post.

 

[alohamom]

OH MY GOODNESS!
That room is incredible!
I can't even imagine how you must have felt walking into it the first time, it is just amazing.
I especially love the glass birds on the chandelier, that is just so whimsical yet elegant.
And the closet! That is nicer than my own!
I really love all the colours too.

 

[Paulaparm]

That room is amazing!

 

[Noreen411]

I love your report - I can feel your excitement as I’m reading it.

 

[mi*vida*loca]

Wow what a gorgeous room! Is that room a bookable category or just luck of the draw to get it?

 

[Araminta18]

OH MY GOODNESS!
That room is incredible!
I can't even imagine how you must have felt walking into it the first time, it is just amazing.
I especially love the glass birds on the chandelier, that is just so whimsical yet elegant.
And the closet! That is nicer than my own!
I really love all the colours too.

Right? Everything you’re saying I agree with 100% -the colors, the birds on the chandelier, the closet…(also nicer than ours at home lol) We were just so psyched and so excited!! Best birthday room for Trevor ever

 

[Araminta18]

That room is amazing!

Isn’t it? So amazing!! Who even knew there were rooms in the turrets?!

 

[Araminta18]

I love your report - I can feel your excitement as I’m reading it.

Aw thank you! We were VERY excited lol

 

[Araminta18]

Wow what a gorgeous room! Is that room a bookable category or just luck of the draw to get it?

King room club level is a bookable category, but beyond that I think it’s just luck of the draw!

 

[buteraa]

Excellent report so far!

 

[ThreeBoyMama]

Holy smokes that room is amazing!

 

[SimplyGoofy]

Oh my goodness, that room is INCREDIBLE! I was impressed that you were on the 5th floor overlooking that spectacular lobby, but that room is on another level. What a special surprise!

(Also, that closet… what?! And you had a DRAWER of coffee and tea in the room? )

 

[bettertheangel]

Wow, that room is amazing! It's so bougie lol. That's awesome that they stocked the tea that Trevor liked. Looking forward to your Disney Springs post!

 

[Araminta18]

Excellent report so far!

thank you!!

 

[Araminta18]

Holy smokes that room is amazing!

right?! I still can't quite believe it.

 

[Araminta18]

Oh my goodness, that room is INCREDIBLE! I was impressed that you were on the 5th floor overlooking that spectacular lobby, but that room is on another level. What a special surprise!

(Also, that closet… what?! And you had a DRAWER of coffee and tea in the room? )

It was so incredible!!! I felt the same way - yay to a room overlooking the lobby but then that room?! Wow!

LOL I may have oversold the drawer - I think it was about the same included tea/coffee in most rooms but they had it in a drawer instead of just being out in a tray or something. Dang, I didn't get a picture of it! (I realize that's shocking considering I took a picture of basically EVERYTHING else lol)

 

[Araminta18]

Wow, that room is amazing! It's so bougie lol. That's awesome that they stocked the tea that Trevor liked. Looking forward to your Disney Springs post!

Definitely epic-ly bougie! Yea, Trevor was pleased though I think he bought more later in the trip too lol. Thank you for reading!!!