Disney Grand Floridian VIP Cruise on The Grand I Yacht

[MHolleman]

I am just wondering if anyone out there has done the Disney Grand Floridian VIP Cruise on The Grand I Yacht.

Here is the info I found on this one:
You have earned this! The Grand I is a luxurious 44-foot Sea Ray yacht staffed by a captain and deckhand. Enjoy this pampered VIP boating experience on the waters of the Seven Seas Lagoon behind the resort and in front of the Magic Kingdom.

Private dining is available through the Grand Floridian and can include Beluga caviar, exotic fruits, sushi, and your choice of fine wines and champagnes. A private service butler can be retained to cater to your every need! Live the dream!

Price: $300 per hour for up to 12 guests


If any of you have done this one please let me know. We are thinking of having this fir my brother who will be turning 21 while we are at Disney.

Thanks, Melissa

First trip will be Sept. 13-21, 2002 Sheraton Vistana Resort

 

[nativetxn]

Hi Mholleman and welcome to the DIS, I've very glad you found us.

I'm going to move this over to our resorts board and perhaps some of the GF experts there can answer this question for you.

Katholyn

 

[Angela]

Yes, we rented the Grand Floridian Yacht for my husband's birthday a few years ago.

His Florida cousins, one who works at the GF, surprised him at a dinner at the GF Cafe. We had 12 people. After dinner, I told him we were having cake, etc. later at OKW. So, we walked outside and I said, "Let's go over and look at that boat". As we walked up they were just bringing the chocolate Mickey cake and champagne onto the boat. I started to walk up the ramp and he told me not to go there, couldn't I see there was a private party being prepared? I said, "Yeah, for YOU!!

He lOVED it!!! WE toured around the lake, over to Fort Wilderness, then back to the Magic Kingdom. They pulled the boat as close as possible to MK just before the fireworks and they piped the music into the boat. It was wonderful!!!! Our own private show.

Total cost for boat, cake, sodas for kids, and 3 or 4 bottles of champagne (can't remember, but it was ALOT!) a captain and a steward who served and poured, and tip was about $575. A once in a lifetime experience to be sure.

I think some of it was lost on the kids. They just wanted to stay in the stateroom and watch TV!!

The whole crew, from catering to the two guys on the boat, were wonderful. I called about 3 or 4 months before we wanted it, but I think I had to wait until either 30 or 60 days prior to actually book.

My 17 year old son always asks to do it again, but we won't for quite a while. Maybe when he's 21. It's a pretty expensive hour and a half. We were quoted price for one hour, but they gave us extra.

I say go for it. It was really fun keeping it a surprise.

Angela

Oh, the captain said it was fun seeing our enjoyment of the experience. He said it's usually rented by blase corporate types who don't think it's such a big deal. We were very enthusiastic!!!!!!!!

 

[zurgswife]

Thats like lots of fun....

 

[MHolleman]

Angela,

Thanks for your response. Did you think of doing the optional meal with the boat ride? If so, what rest. would have done the food? I hope to hear more positive responses like yours.

Thanks, Melissa

Also: My family never gets to do anything like this also, so I think everyone will be thrilled.

 

[Angela]

Melissa,

No, I never considered a whole meal on the boat. There really isn't much time, nor space for a big meal. We didn't want to be climbing all over the boat with china, etc., especially with 4 kids. But for birthday cake and drinks it was wonderful. I think I called Grand Floridian catering after I booked with the boat reservation people, who gave me the catering phone number. They can pretty much do anything you want. There really isn't room for a big sit-down meal for more than 4-6 people.

Does the GF Cafe still serve dinner? We thought that was an excellent choice. Not too expensive for dinner for 12 and pretty decent food. Also, it added to the build up of the excitement for all of us except my husband, who was clueless! The kids even did a good job of acting disappointed when I said no cake for now, we'll wait til later. Let's go walk off our meal first!! It was so much fun to surprise him because he was so busy talking to his cousins he didn't even think that was weird. We make a big deal about birthday cake at our house, and usually I'd make a big deal of a birthday in a restaurant.

We went July 29 and the weather was perfect.

Hope it works out for you. Keep us posted.

Angela

 

[hmp2z]

Hi! We are going to be using the Grand One yacht for a cocktail hour after our wedding reception this August. We have a party of 10 people, so couldn't do a sit down dinner there. Because of that, we are having the dinner reception itself at V&A's private room, then will use the yacht for an hour during the fireworks.
We checked the yacht out on our wedding planning trip a few weeks ago. It is quite nice, though I wish the dining area was larger. It has a horseshoe table that could fit about 4-6 people comfortably for a sit-down dinner. The cabin is air conditioned, so if we get too hot, we can come inside.
We posted some photos of the yacht interior on our ofoto page - let me know if you'd like the link to check these out.
Cheers!
Heather P

 

[MHolleman]

Angela~ I will have to check out about the cake, it sounds like a great idea to me. My brother will also be clueless about the boat trip. We prob. will not be able to do this trip on his birthday so it will be a huge suprise to him.

Healther~ I would love to see this pictures that you have. I have not seen a picture of this boat anywhere. Also congrats on your upcoming wedding. It sounds like you will have a beautiful day.

Melissa

 

[hmp2z]

Thank you! We are so excited about our Disney wedding
Here is the link to our page. It has a few pictures of the yacht on it:
http://www.ofoto.com/I.jsp?m=76028048303&n=1648654803

Pictures 12-16 are of the yacht interior, and #24 is of the yacht's exterior.
Cheers!
Heather P

 

[MHolleman]

Heather, Thanks for sharing the pictures with me. The yacht looks like one that I went on last summer in South Carolina. I at least now know what I will be renting for the hour. I hope that the wedding is wonderful and that you have a beautiful sunny day.

Melissa