Resort Thread Disney's GRAND FLORIDIAN Resort & Spa + Construction Updates!! **LOBBY REFURB STARTED 4/14**

[boltjames]

What are your dates again? They just extended hours today up to mid-April...

Tomorrow! 3/27 to 4/3. Are the hours extended this upcoming week?

 

[mrsap]

Tomorrow! 3/27 to 4/3. Are the hours extended this upcoming week?

Here you go....PARK HOURS

Hope you have a wonderful trip!!!

 

[boltjames]

Here you go....PARK HOURS

Hope you have a wonderful trip!!!

Thanks! I’ll check in tomato!

 

[mrsap]

Thanks! I’ll check in tomato!

No problem! Just please check in with us tomorrow

 

[chasgeese]

Does anyone know why Disney isn’t opening up the Main Building rooms to book without CL service? I get that they can’t do CL service rn, but it seems like these rooms, unlike other CL rooms, have value on their own. It’s not like the Main Building isn’t otherwise open or there are enough rooms to create an overcapacity issue.

 

[boltjames]

No problem! Just please check in with us tomorrow

We have a standard room with two queen beds…wondering about the shared power outlets around the nightstand between the beds. Do I need to bring an extension cord or anything? The three of us will need our phones plugged in there.

 

[GADisneyDad14]

Does anyone know why Disney isn’t opening up the Main Building rooms to book without CL service? I get that they can’t do CL service rn, but it seems like these rooms, unlike other CL rooms, have value on their own. It’s not like the Main Building isn’t otherwise open or there are enough rooms to create an overcapacity issue.

I agree. I think this is short-sighted thinking by Disney. They lost money from me - I would have paid more to book in the main building.

The only thing I can figure is they just don’t want to mess with it/deal with any confusion that people may think CL is available. Also they’d need to spend the time to come up with pricing the rooms w/out CL. Seems pretty doable/manageable if they really wanted to though.

For better or worse, a lot of Disney’s operational decisions seem to have been about “surviving” rather than “thriving” in COVID. I was totally on board with that early on, but I’d like to see Disney start to be more ‘aggressive’ in offering some new things, such as being able to book the main building.

In my humble opinion!

 

[mrsap]

We have a standard room with two queen beds…wondering about the shared power outlets around the nightstand between the beds. Do I need to bring an extension cord or anything? The three of us will need our phones plugged in there.

There are plenty of plugs throughout the room/by the beds. I don’t believe an extension cord is necessary. Have fun!!

 

[boltjames]

There are plenty of plugs throughout the room/by the beds. I don’t believe an extension cord is necessary. Have fun!!

Thanks! One last question (I swear)....

Is all of Epcot open until 11 including the rides like Soarin and Test Track or do they close them early and the lateness is for the Countries?

 

[GADisneyDad14]

Thanks! One last question (I swear)....

Is all of Epcot open until 11 including the rides like Soarin and Test Track or do they close them early and the lateness is for the Countries?

DS and I closed down Epcot on an 11pm close last week. All of the major rides are open (although check the app for smaller tier rides like Figment and Nemo in case they close earlier). World Showcase was sort of hit or miss. Many stores open, some closed as it gets later. Many Flower and Garden food booths open, some closed.

Pretty sure we were on the last Soarin’ run of the night as our ‘flight’ took off right right around 11pm.

So fun! It was like PM EMHs from old times.

 

[chasgeese]

I agree. I think this is short-sighted thinking by Disney. They lost money from me - I would have paid more to book in the main building.

The only thing I can figure is they just don’t want to mess with it/deal with any confusion that people may think CL is available. Also they’d need to spend the time to come up with pricing the rooms w/out CL. Seems pretty doable/manageable if they really wanted to though.

For better or worse, a lot of Disney’s operational decisions seem to have been about “surviving” rather than “thriving” in COVID. I was totally on board with that early on, but I’d like to see Disney start to be more ‘aggressive’ in offering some new things, such as being able to book the main building.

In my humble opinion!

Yah I have to imagine, even with their sometimes problematic customer facing IT, Disney could still could figure it out on their end, and pricing-wise they definitely have people who know how to do that. The only other concern I could think of is how to deal with the situation when they bring CL back and people are already booked in those rooms non-CL, but that could easily be solved by only opening those rooms for booking a couple months in advance and maybe even a shorter window closer to when they know they are going to open CL back up again. It’s not like they are going to not know well in advance before they ultimately decide to open CL again so it shouldn’t be that hard.

 

[boltjames]

DS and I closed down Epcot on an 11pm close last week. All of the major rides are open (although check the app for smaller tier rides like Figment and Nemo in case they close earlier). World Showcase was sort of hit or miss. Many stores open, some closed as it gets later. Many Flower and Garden food booths open, some closed.

Pretty sure we were on the last Soarin’ run of the night as our ‘flight’ took off right right around 11pm.

So fun! It was like PM EMHs from old times.

Awesome! How were the lines for Soarin and Test Track at, say, 9:30? 10:00? I am trying to figure out if we should be waking up early for rope drop or to change the strategy entirely, sleep late, and go for an all nighter. Thoughts?

 

[GADisneyDad14]

Awesome! How were the lines for Soarin and Test Track at, say, 9:30? 10:00? I am trying to figure out if we should be waking up early for rope drop or to change the strategy entirely, sleep late, and go for an all nighter. Thoughts?

Lol, tough call. Depends on ages in your group I guess. It was 12:20 before we got back to our room and I was PAYING for keeping DS up that late the next day. But it was fun at the time.

I hesitate to be specific on ride waits as we were doing more eating (and drinking. ) than riding. Hopefully others with more specific experience can answer, or check out what the folks on the Theme Park board have to say. I do know that Soarin was effectively a walk on just a few mins before closing when we got there.

 

[boltjames]

Just thinking about tomorrow’s arrival .....parking at the GF......on Google Maps there seems to be two parking lots. One close to the hotel and the other looks like it’s across the road and a decent walk. Is parking at GF limited and is that other lot overflow or something?

 

[mrsap]

Just thinking about tomorrow’s arrival .....parking at the GF......on Google Maps there seems to be two parking lots. One close to the hotel and the other looks like it’s across the road and a decent walk. Is parking at GF limited and is that other lot overflow or something?

The lot for the main hotel is straight ahead, past the guard, to the left. The DVC building lot is to the right past the guard.

 

[GADisneyDad14]

Just thinking about tomorrow’s arrival .....parking at the GF......on Google Maps there seems to be two parking lots. One close to the hotel and the other looks like it’s across the road and a decent walk. Is parking at GF limited and is that other lot overflow or something?

The lot across Floridian Way is CM parking. There are three parking ‘areas’ for guests - the main lot roughly in front of the main lobby (this is part valet / part self-park). There are also smaller guests parking ares over by the convention center and another closer to the DVC building.

I probably posted this but when we arrived a few Sundays ago the lot in front of the main building was full. At the time I didn’t think to drive around to the convention or DVC areas. I drove back around to the front and a nice valet bent the rules and parked my car in their lot, although YMMV on that of course.

 

[boltjames]

You guys are the best, really made this so much smoother for me these past two weeks. Much obliged for all the help. I'll let you know how it goes when I arrive. Have to get to bed early (not easy for me). Bye!

 

[mrsap]

You guys are the best, really made this so much smoother for me these past two weeks. Much obliged for all the help. I'll let you know how it goes when I arrive. Have to get to bed early (not easy for me). Bye!

Happy to help! Now all we ask in return is lots of amazing pictures! Enjoy your trip!!

 

[MMSM]

I am here now. We were at Poly last night and now DVC Grand Floridian. Pool was busy but not awful. Lots of smaller children under 5 whereas we saw more 10-16 years old kids at Poly. Both places were new to us. I like our room but I agree with previous poster that the bathrooms could have some more love. Looking forward to the next 4 days!

 

[mrsap]

I am here now. We were at Poly last night and now DVC Grand Floridian. Pool was busy but not awful. Lots of smaller children under 5 whereas we saw more 10-16 years old kids at Poly. Both places were new to us. I like our room but I agree with previous poster that the bathrooms could have some more love. Looking forward to the next 4 days!

Have a great time!!!!