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

[trishadono]

Hey guys! So, we got back late Saturday night from our 14 day trip. I know you’ll hear people give a lot of negative reviews on these boards, but I have to tell you, we had an amazing time! We started off with 5 days at SSR and it seemed empty. The pool in our section (Springs), was never crowded. Thanksgiving dinner at Narcoosee’s was excellent!!! Tables at that restaurant, as well as any other restaurants we visited during our trip, were completely spaced out. I never felt uncomfortable at any point there or at the parks!
We checked into The Grand the day after Thanksgiving. If you were following along with my posts, it was pretty disappointing that first day. No music in the lobby, no music on property (other than at the beach pool) and no poinsettias/outdoor decor anywhere to even indicate that it was Christmas. However, that all changed and everything slowly came together! There was Christmas music pretty much blaring over all the speakers wherever you walked, which was so lovely! The lobby finally came to life with Christmas music, and even more special, the piano player appeared one evening! Of course, the orchestra can never be replaced, but it was definitely better than nothing. I felt that the cast members were exceptional! Every single person who worked there had a ‘smile’ on their face, and always greeted us back and waved if we were walking by or if we were to say good morning or hello. We struck up conversations with several cast members throughout our stay. I just felt like everyone was so happy to just be back! It was really nice to see! The pool was never overly crowded. We normally stay over at the Beach pool because my kids love the slide, and I love listening to music while I am laying out! However, since we had a few chilly days, we spent a lot more time at the Courtyard pool so we could use the hot tub, and also because the water was a bit warmer over there. The walkway was fantastic! It really is a lovely walk! The one night, I was so tired and wanted to just get back. There was a line for the monorail, and the boat was not back yet, so it was really nice to just be able to walk back and not sit around waiting for transportation. I’ll admit, most nights I was too lazy to walk back, so DD and I would take the boat, while the other two would walk back (well, actually they’d race us. We lost every time.)
We had a one bedroom in the villas and it was so spacious and beautiful! The cast member who cleaned our room did an amazing job and our room was spotless! I’m not sure what it is about The Grand, but I absolutely just love being there. Waking up there, walking the grounds and through that lobby, it’s just magical in so many ways for me. I can’t believe I have another year before I stay here again, with the way we do our trips, but I can promise you, I am already counting down the minutes.

(sorry so long)

Last year I hung out at the pool with ya all this week. Eating lounge choc chip cookies too!

Gosh 14 days. Someday!!!!

We often race transportation/walking too lol.

Thanks for all the pix!!

 

[kimmar067]

....I'll have one of these NEXT Thursday!

 

[mrsap]

Last year I hung out at the pool with ya all this week. Eating lounge choc chip cookies too!

Gosh 14 days. Someday!!!!

We often race transportation/walking too lol.

Thanks for all the pix!!

You were definitely missed!!! Even DH asked if you’ll be there!! Maybe summer we’ll get to hang out again!! But next time, I think we should do Pogmosa’s at the pool instead of cookies!!!

 

[GADisneyDad14]

Love the later closing holiday hours that are posted for some various GF offerings:

Courtyard Pool Bar & Beaches Pool Bar
12/23-12/30 & 1/1-1/2 - 11am-10pm
12/31 - 11am-1am

Enchanted Rose
12/23-12/30 & 1/1-1/2 - 4pm-12am
12/31 - 4pm-1am

Gaspy’s
12/23-12/30 & 1/1-1/2 - 7am-11pm
12/31 - 7am-1am

 

[mrsap]

https://dvcnews.com/resorts/grand-floridian/news/4908-walking-from-magic-kingdom-to-grand-floridian

 

[goofynut41]

We have decided to go to Disneyworld in Dec 2022 hopefully all will be back to normal and NO FACE MASKS!!! WE cancelled our trip for Dec 2020 because of all the madness... Could not imagine going to Disney will a mask on and not hugging the Characters. We decided that we always wanted to stay in the Grand Floridan so this could be our last trip, we are getting up in age and cant do things like we used to. Disneyworld has always been a special place for us.. Is all the rooms in the main building club level? Cant wait to start planning this wonderful trip!!!!!!

 

[mickeynut1]

Hey guys! So, we got back late Saturday night from our 14 day trip. I know you’ll hear people give a lot of negative reviews on these boards, but I have to tell you, we had an amazing time! We started off with 5 days at SSR and it seemed empty. The pool in our section (Springs), was never crowded. Thanksgiving dinner at Narcoosee’s was excellent!!! Tables at that restaurant, as well as any other restaurants we visited during our trip, were completely spaced out. I never felt uncomfortable at any point there or at the parks!
We checked into The Grand the day after Thanksgiving. If you were following along with my posts, it was pretty disappointing that first day. No music in the lobby, no music on property (other than at the beach pool) and no poinsettias/outdoor decor anywhere to even indicate that it was Christmas. However, that all changed and everything slowly came together! There was Christmas music pretty much blaring over all the speakers wherever you walked, which was so lovely! The lobby finally came to life with Christmas music, and even more special, the piano player appeared one evening! Of course, the orchestra can never be replaced, but it was definitely better than nothing. I felt that the cast members were exceptional! Every single person who worked there had a ‘smile’ on their face, and always greeted us back and waved if we were walking by or if we were to say good morning or hello. We struck up conversations with several cast members throughout our stay. I just felt like everyone was so happy to just be back! It was really nice to see! The pool was never overly crowded. We normally stay over at the Beach pool because my kids love the slide, and I love listening to music while I am laying out! However, since we had a few chilly days, we spent a lot more time at the Courtyard pool so we could use the hot tub, and also because the water was a bit warmer over there. The walkway was fantastic! It really is a lovely walk! The one night, I was so tired and wanted to just get back. There was a line for the monorail, and the boat was not back yet, so it was really nice to just be able to walk back and not sit around waiting for transportation. I’ll admit, most nights I was too lazy to walk back, so DD and I would take the boat, while the other two would walk back (well, actually they’d race us. We lost every time.)
We had a one bedroom in the villas and it was so spacious and beautiful! The cast member who cleaned our room did an amazing job and our room was spotless! I’m not sure what it is about The Grand, but I absolutely just love being there. Waking up there, walking the grounds and through that lobby, it’s just magical in so many ways for me. I can’t believe I have another year before I stay here again, with the way we do our trips, but I can promise you, I am already counting down the minutes.

(sorry so long)

Thanks for your review. Glad you had a great trip .

We have decided to go to Disneyworld in Dec 2022 hopefully all will be back to normal and NO FACE MASKS!!! WE cancelled our trip for Dec 2020 because of all the madness... Could not imagine going to Disney will a mask on and not hugging the Characters. We decided that we always wanted to stay in the Grand Floridan so this could be our last trip, we are getting up in age and cant do things like we used to. Disneyworld has always been a special place for us.. Is all the rooms in the main building club level? Cant wait to start planning this wonderful trip!!!!!!

We were supposed to be arriving this weekend, but cancelled months ago for several reasons (masks being one of them). We're booked for Oct 2021 for the 50th at the CR, but we may cancel depending on whether or not there are still restrictions in place next year. To answer your question....yes all rooms in the GF main building are CL, which is amazing!!!! Have fun planning for Dec 2022....hope everything goes as planned .

 

[mrsap]

Thanks for your review. Glad you had a great trip .



We were supposed to be arriving this weekend, but cancelled months ago for several reasons (masks being one of them). We're booked for Oct 2021 for the 50th at the CR, but we may cancel depending on whether or not there are still restrictions in place next year. To answer your question....yes all rooms in the GF main building are CL, which is amazing!!!! Have fun planning for Dec 2022....hope everything goes as planned .

Thank you

 

[mickeynut1]

Thank you

You're welcome

 

[goofynut41]

Thanks for your review. Glad you had a great trip .



We were supposed to be arriving this weekend, but cancelled months ago for several reasons (masks being one of them). We're booked for Oct 2021 for the 50th at the CR, but we may cancel depending on whether or not there are still restrictions in place next year. To answer your question....yes all rooms in the GF main building are CL, which is amazing!!!! Have fun planning for Dec 2022....hope everything goes as planned .

Do you know if they ever offer Military Discount on Main Building rooms?

 

[followthatmouse]

I wanted to post this yesterday as it was the 10th Anniversary of our fabulous pixie dusting

LOL I had this phone until earlier this year when I finally went back to an iPhone.
I'll be nice and not tell you where I was when the text came thru
I'm also still looking for my pics

Pixie dust, indeed!!! Did those 10 years fly by?

Hey guys! So, we got back late Saturday night from our 14 day trip. I know you’ll hear people give a lot of negative reviews on these boards, but I have to tell you, we had an amazing time! We started off with 5 days at SSR and it seemed empty. The pool in our section (Springs), was never crowded. Thanksgiving dinner at Narcoosee’s was excellent!!! Tables at that restaurant, as well as any other restaurants we visited during our trip, were completely spaced out. I never felt uncomfortable at any point there or at the parks!
We checked into The Grand the day after Thanksgiving. If you were following along with my posts, it was pretty disappointing that first day. No music in the lobby, no music on property (other than at the beach pool) and no poinsettias/outdoor decor anywhere to even indicate that it was Christmas. However, that all changed and everything slowly came together! There was Christmas music pretty much blaring over all the speakers wherever you walked, which was so lovely! The lobby finally came to life with Christmas music, and even more special, the piano player appeared one evening! Of course, the orchestra can never be replaced, but it was definitely better than nothing. I felt that the cast members were exceptional! Every single person who worked there had a ‘smile’ on their face, and always greeted us back and waved if we were walking by or if we were to say good morning or hello. We struck up conversations with several cast members throughout our stay. I just felt like everyone was so happy to just be back! It was really nice to see! The pool was never overly crowded. We normally stay over at the Beach pool because my kids love the slide, and I love listening to music while I am laying out! However, since we had a few chilly days, we spent a lot more time at the Courtyard pool so we could use the hot tub, and also because the water was a bit warmer over there. The walkway was fantastic! It really is a lovely walk! The one night, I was so tired and wanted to just get back. There was a line for the monorail, and the boat was not back yet, so it was really nice to just be able to walk back and not sit around waiting for transportation. I’ll admit, most nights I was too lazy to walk back, so DD and I would take the boat, while the other two would walk back (well, actually they’d race us. We lost every time.)
We had a one bedroom in the villas and it was so spacious and beautiful! The cast member who cleaned our room did an amazing job and our room was spotless! I’m not sure what it is about The Grand, but I absolutely just love being there. Waking up there, walking the grounds and through that lobby, it’s just magical in so many ways for me. I can’t believe I have another year before I stay here again, with the way we do our trips, but I can promise you, I am already counting down the minutes.

(sorry so long)

Oh, what a wonderful review! We are Courtyard Pool people. We enjoy the hot tub, but we enjoy the usually peaceful surrounds even more. Your description of the walkway brought back lovely memories of bygone strolls along a once dead end path and boat rides home from busy days in the MK. But, more than anything, your review took me straight back to the feeling that surrounds, comforts and uplifts as soon as you walk through the GF's front door, especially at this time of the year. I'm not sure when, or even if we'll be able to enjoy those feelings again. We were meant to check in last Wednesday. Unfortunately, this dread year led to our nation's borders being closed for leisure travel until the end of 2021 at the earliest. So, no US trips for a while anyway. While there is a tinge of envy, I am so very happy that you had such a lovely stay at our dear GF! Thank you for the gorgeous photos, too! But, I still can't imagine the place with no orchestra ...

 

[mrsap]

Pixie dust, indeed!!! Did those 10 years fly by?


Oh, what a wonderful review! We are Courtyard Pool people. We enjoy the hot tub, but we enjoy the usually peaceful surrounds even more. Your description of the walkway brought back lovely memories of bygone strolls along a once dead end path and boat rides home from busy days in the MK. But, more than anything, your review took me straight back to the feeling that surrounds, comforts and uplifts as soon as you walk through the GF's front door, especially at this time of the year. I'm not sure when, or even if we'll be able to enjoy those feelings again. We were meant to check in last Wednesday. Unfortunately, this dread year led to our nation's borders being closed for leisure travel until the end of 2021 at the earliest. So, no US trips for a while anyway. While there is a tinge of envy, I am so very happy that you had such a lovely stay at our dear GF! Thank you for the gorgeous photos, too! But, I still can't imagine the place with no orchestra ...

Thats one of the reasons I enjoy these boards so much, we get to live through other people’s vacations! I love when people share their trip photos, so I like to do the same for others. I’m sorry you didn’t get to go on your trip, that had to be disappointing... but you’ll get back there, hopefully sooner than later!!

 

[trishadono]

Do you know if they ever offer Military Discount on Main Building rooms?

I’m not sure however I do remember several using the MD on the Tower CL floor (14th) at CR so most likely. The issue is currently cl is not offered and the rooms are cl in the main building.

I asked in October if I could get a room main building, I was told those rooms not available. However I do know people have booked some of the suites up there. A) I saw lights on B) a family from my home town just did it recently.

Call and ask?

 

[kylenne]

I’m not sure however I do remember several using the MD on the Tower CL floor (14th) at CR so most likely. The issue is currently cl is not offered and the rooms are cl in the main building.

I asked in October if I could get a room main building, I was told those rooms not available. However I do know people have booked some of the suites up there. A) I saw lights on B) a family from my home town just did it recently.

Call and ask?

I am hoping we get some news/clarity on this soon...we are still booked in a Main Building Deluxe King room for the first part of our split stay in May. Our plan B if CL is still not available is to downgrade to an Outer Building room and stretch our GF stay to a week.

I know that things are uncertain, necessarily so, but it is frustrating as an uber planner. I've been a bit heartbroken about this trip because it feels like everything we were looking forward to in our dream resort is gone before we ever got to experience it...but I'm sure after all this I will just be happy to be there.

 

[mrsap]

I am hoping we get some news/clarity on this soon...we are still booked in a Main Building Deluxe King room for the first part of our split stay in May. Our plan B if CL is still not available is to downgrade to an Outer Building room and stretch our GF stay to a week.

I know that things are uncertain, necessarily so, but it is frustrating as an uber planner. I've been a bit heartbroken about this trip because it feels like everything we were looking forward to in our dream resort is gone before we ever got to experience it...but I'm sure after all this I will just be happy to be there.

I’m sorry you’re disappointed, and of course, the lack of certainty isn’t helping; but we had an amazing trip, even with the current state of events. It might not be your dream trip, but honestly, I didn’t feel like I missed out on a whole lot. If you go into it with a positive attitude, you’ll have a great time!! I’ll keep my fingers crossed for you! Hope everything works out!

 

[trishadono]

I am hoping we get some news/clarity on this soon...we are still booked in a Main Building Deluxe King room for the first part of our split stay in May. Our plan B if CL is still not available is to downgrade to an Outer Building room and stretch our GF stay to a week.

I know that things are uncertain, necessarily so, but it is frustrating as an uber planner. I've been a bit heartbroken about this trip because it feels like everything we were looking forward to in our dream resort is gone before we ever got to experience it...but I'm sure after all this I will just be happy to be there.

Agree with @mrsap . Dd and I did a trip in August and October. Yes they were different, yes we missed club level. We still had a great time! We enjoyed trying new things. That girl of mine loves her cheese or charcuterie platters so we did those at night instead of cl lounges.

We winged it more vs having to get to A or B in time. It was actually nice!

I am even gonna go over to boardwalk area. I am a mono girl but we are going to do YC to walk to HS and Epcot now that there will be hopping. I think we can find more cheese for her to try lol!

 

[kylenne]

I’m sorry you’re disappointed, and of course, the lack of certainty isn’t helping; but we had an amazing trip, even with the current state of events. It might not be your dream trip, but honestly, I didn’t feel like I missed out on a whole lot. If you go into it with a positive attitude, you’ll have a great time!! I’ll keep my fingers crossed for you! Hope everything works out!

I’m glad you had a great time! That’s really comforting to hear, actually. We will just be so happy and grateful to travel I don’t think it will even matter lol!

Agree with @mrsap . Dd and I did a trip in August and October. Yes they were different, yes we missed club level. We still had a great time! We enjoyed trying new things. That girl of mine loves her cheese or charcuterie platters so we did those at night instead of cl lounges.

We winged it more vs having to get to A or B in time. It was actually nice!

I am even gonna go over to boardwalk area. I am a mono girl but we are going to do YC to walk to HS and Epcot now that there will be hopping. I think we can find more cheese for her to try lol!

I grew up staying at the Dolphin on family trips, did not stay on the monorail until an adult but quickly got spoiled lol. The Boardwalk area is fun too even though I prefer the MK area, there’s so many places to eat and you can’t beat the convenience. I stayed at BC last time I went, last November and it was so nice to just wander over to the Studios or walk around World Showcase on a whim. We are moving from GF to YC for the second week of our stay and I’m hoping by the time we go more things will be open around there. But I’m so excited that we’ll be able to walk to three parks on this trip! I can’t stop watching YouTube videos of the new walkway to MK, it looks so gorgeous. We really enjoyed our walks over to GF when we stayed at the Poly. Any time we can walk around a pretty lake we’re happy!

 

[mlunsford]

Packing our bags for our Thursday arrival. The excitement is kicking in

 

[mrsap]

Packing our bags for our Thursday arrival. The excitement is kicking in

Hope you have a great trip!

 

[ahcupcake]

Pixie dust, indeed!!! Did those 10 years fly by?


Oh, what a wonderful review! We are Courtyard Pool people. We enjoy the hot tub, but we enjoy the usually peaceful surrounds even more. Your description of the walkway brought back lovely memories of bygone strolls along a once dead end path and boat rides home from busy days in the MK. But, more than anything, your review took me straight back to the feeling that surrounds, comforts and uplifts as soon as you walk through the GF's front door, especially at this time of the year. I'm not sure when, or even if we'll be able to enjoy those feelings again. We were meant to check in last Wednesday. Unfortunately, this dread year led to our nation's borders being closed for leisure travel until the end of 2021 at the earliest. So, no US trips for a while anyway. While there is a tinge of envy, I am so very happy that you had such a lovely stay at our dear GF! Thank you for the gorgeous photos, too! But, I still can't imagine the place with no orchestra ...

Yes they did. I think I met @BlueSkies and @Maxie86 in person the first time on that trip.
Also got the cold from h*ll on that trip although I like to blame on the previous occupant because well it was a celeb who was staying there while filming the Christmas Parade, but I know it was brewing before I arrived.

That was one our favorite things to do, listen to the orchestra and the piano player while sipping champagne in lounge above

Packing our bags for our Thursday arrival. The excitement is kicking in

Have fun and Safe Travels