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

[kylenne]

Interesting that many of the issues you had while at the YC are not unique to the YC.
DME not leaving the envelopes - Wherever I stay I’ve just called DME when I notice they haven’t been left the night before & then swing by the front desk on my way out where they are waiting for me the morning of. W/ DME sadly going away, this particular glitch will disappear as well.
More often than not for me w/ split stays I have to ‘re-up’ my credit card. Indeed, I just make it a point to buy something small soon after check in at the new resort to see if the credit card needs re-validation.
Door batteries die at all of the resorts & when it happens it seems to be a hassle - how much of a hassle being proportional to how far your room is from the front desk it seems & how many treks you need to make before they figure it out.
The room service/food ordering issue I assume would be tied to the current restrictions & will be less of an issue as things return to normal, I hope.
IME, whenever they have to add buses for unplanned situations it’s a mess - the worst I’ve experienced are when the Epcot monorail goes down & you have to scramble to bus to the MK resorts.
SAB can be crazy, I personally like the YC quiet pool.
All of that said, if I’m doing a split stay which includes the GF, I make the GF my last stay. One time I started at the GF then moved to the YC - after I left the GF I spent the rest of the trip gazing wistfully @ the GF whenever I saw it, wishing I was still there

I get that, and I also get that people want to defend places they like, but these issues happened to me at YC. I also had my worst dining experience on the BC side this trip, when I was seated at B&C and the CM made a comment about me being alone on my birthday that made me feel terrible. In all my solo dining experiences I've never had that happen before so forgive me for not feeling especially charitable about the rest of it. It wasn't a bad stay, and I want to be clear about that, but it did not match what I left at GF. I am open to staying again but don't think I would do more than a long weekend there in the future.

 

[sndral]

I get that, and I also get that people want to defend places they like, but these issues happened to me at YC. I also had my worst dining experience on the BC side this trip, when I was seated at B&C and the CM made a comment about me being alone on my birthday that made me feel terrible. In all my solo dining experiences I've never had that happen before so forgive me for not feeling especially charitable about the rest of it. It wasn't a bad stay, and I want to be clear about that, but it did not match what I left at GF. I am open to staying again but don't think I would do more than a long weekend there in the future.

I’m not defending the YC per se, just relating to the perfect storm of issues you had there. Sorry about the insensitive server.

 

[Dispro1]

Wow I didnt know they made dining and fast pass reservations!!! I would be scared to let some one else do them if!!! maybe they are better though? My reservation isnt until June 2022 so maybe things will be back to how it used to be....

I always make my own reservations for dining and fast passes, but in the past, DSS has been able to get me some dining reservations I was unable to get. Obviously, that wasn't always the case. AS for FP+, they were most helpful if you were purchasing the extra fast passes because those you were able to get early. That was definitely a benefit, but who knows what fast pass plus will even look like when it returns (and I hope it does return in some form at least). Also, if your fast passes get messed up on times somehow (which ours did more than once, especially if we added a person to our reservation later) they were able to fix it. So basically it was just a nice resource to have if needed but wasn't always necessary. I hope things will be returning to something close to "normal" very soon for all of us, and I hope you have fun planning your trip!

 

[Datfan1]

GF booked for April '22. From the very beginning I tried for CL for our stay but no luck. I spoke to a travel agent who said none of them had any luck for the month of April for GF CL. Has anyone successfully booked this yet? Of course I will keep trying every day!

 

[DisMaven]

I’ve been trying also along with ourvTA but no luck. If the services don’t equal the elevated prices we will pass so just riding it out. We’re traveling with another couple who will probably do CL regardless of cost but we are actually considering the Polynesian or even WL but would prefer to stay at same hotel as our friends…but we have a budget even with CL. We’re hoping Sugar Loaf will be more reasonable but if there’s no FP advantage we may skip CL all together.

 

[Dug720]

I had no DME info on my door or in the room when I returned from Epcot last night and I was way too tired to make the 5 mile trek back to the front desk so I had to make an extra stop this morning for that.

I'm curious now, just because I've seen several people who did split-stays who have issues getting their DME letter. I don't do split stays (personally don't see the appeal of moving every few days - that's me), but I'm wondering if they throw a glitch into the DME system.

 

[kylenne]

I'm curious now, just because I've seen several people who did split-stays who have issues getting their DME letter. I don't do split stays (personally don't see the appeal of moving every few days - that's me), but I'm wondering if they throw a glitch into the DME system.

I wonder too. I've not had this issue before on previous resort stays, and this was my first split stay experience. But I'm not sure I'm the best person to go by...I have had a mixed track record getting documents from DME to begin with. Even on this trip I never got mail for my ride from MCO to GF, and it only showed up on my online check-in info in MDX at the 11th hour.

I'll say the split stay experience itself was very painless, and I would definitely do it again, even though our next split is just around the lagoon from CR to Poly lol. The way I organized my stuff helped a lot, since I use packing cubes. I packed my clothes based on resort stay, so the cubes in my checked bag had my YC outfits and the cubes in my carry on had the GF stuff. I have Away luggage so just crammed stuff into the built in laundry bag as I went. It was a lot easier the night before I left GF just having to repack the one bag and my toiletries. The bag transfer from GF to YC was very easy. I did find myself missing the ability to pop quickly into MK on the last day, but I spent my last couple of hours in Epcot after riding Rise/RnRC/ToT/MMRR one last time at rope drop. It worked out really well and even though I liked GF a lot better it was great being able to walk to 3 parks on this trip. If I had to do it over I would definitely switch it around in the future and do GF last, but with the way the dates worked out I desperately wanted to be at GF & MK on my actual birthday.

 

[goofynut41]

Ok in the morning for breakfast what do they normally have to offer? MICKEY WAFFLES I hope?

 

[mrsap]

Ok in the morning for breakfast what do they normally have to offer? MICKEY WAFFLES I hope?

RPC did offer Mickey waffles prior to closing… but obviously, until we get some additional information, we’re not really sure what to expect right now. Definitely hope they’ll return, though!!

 

[rick1zoo2]

I'm curious now, just because I've seen several people who did split-stays who have issues getting their DME letter. I don't do split stays (personally don't see the appeal of moving every few days - that's me), but I'm wondering if they throw a glitch into the DME system.

We did a split stay in February, going from GFV to Riviera (as DVC stays) and it worked just fine, we received the documents on the room door for our departure. We are actually doing it again, Riviera to GF next week (regular resort stay). I submitted separate ME requests for the arrival and departure, got two separate confirmation letters at home last week. And for the move day, we just take luggage down to bell services in the morning, go on our way to a park, then on to the new resort later in the day.

 

[03GirlsMom]

GF booked for April '22. From the very beginning I tried for CL for our stay but no luck. I spoke to a travel agent who said none of them had any luck for the month of April for GF CL. Has anyone successfully booked this yet? Of course I will keep trying every day!

We have two standard CL RPC rooms booked for next July before our Wish cruise. I didn't see any available for our dates for this year's Oct/Nov trip.

 

[DisMaven]

We have two standard CL RPC rooms booked for next July before our Wish cruise. I didn't see any available for our dates for this year's Oct/Nov trip.

Do you mind telling us when you made your CL reservation? I’m another person who hasn’t been able to find any availability since CL opened again. Our dates are in April 2022

 

[Tri-Delta4Life]

Do you mind telling us when you made your CL reservation? I’m another person who hasn’t been able to find any availability since CL opened again. Our dates are in April 2022

I was able to book RPC for this coming October (10-16) this past week.

 

[DisMaven]

I was able to book RPC for this coming October (10-16) this past week.

Oh! I thought your post said you booked CL for next July which I took to mean July 2022. If you meant this coming July then that makes sense. I’m guessing you are going again in October?

 

[03GirlsMom]

Do you mind telling us when you made your CL reservation? I’m another person who hasn’t been able to find any availability since CL opened again. Our dates are in April 2022

I want to say it was either Friday or Saturday of this past week. They also had TPV RPC rooms available for my dates (7/8/22-7/11/22) when I booked.

 

[Tri-Delta4Life]

Oh! I thought your post said you booked CL for next July which I took to mean July 2022. If you meant this coming July then that makes sense. I’m guessing you are going again in October?

No, sorry for any confusion, I just have the 1 trip this coming October. I thought you were generally asking if anyone had successfully booked CL, not just for July.

 

[trishadono]

I'm curious now, just because I've seen several people who did split-stays who have issues getting their DME letter. I don't do split stays (personally don't see the appeal of moving every few days - that's me), but I'm wondering if they throw a glitch into the DME system.

I have had issues with split stays and getting my letter. All of my trips this year especially! I think I had 4 splits and those all
Missed my letter.

Since the bus is about 3 hours prior to flight I don’t stress. I know you can print it at check in right up until you have to leave.

If I don’t get it the morning prior on my door I usually ask when I get back midday. If I’m busy I just try when I’m in lobby and it doesn’t look busy.

 

[DisMaven]

T

No, sorry for any confusion, I just have the 1 trip this coming October. I thought you were generally asking if anyone had successfully booked CL, not just for July.
[/QUOTE

No, sorry for any confusion, I just have the 1 trip this coming October. I thought you were generally asking if anyone had successfully booked CL, not just for July.

That’s really interesting because nobody I’ve seen on the boards has seen any availability as far out as July 2022 and not even for April 2022. Oh well, we’ll just keep looking but if prices stay as high as they are listed now without FP extras, etc. I will stay with a regular room or move to WL.

 

[trishadono]

Curiously cl not available at gf in February, Mar, April. It’s back in May 2022. They may be updating those rooms or lounge? There’s no way at rack they are sold out every day.

We shall find out soon.
Why isn’t Citricos opened yet? It’s been closed forever!

 

[GADisneyDad14]

I mean, at some point GF has to be next on the refurb list.... right? There's probably only so long that GF can sit by as the sole MK resort to not have nice fresh/new rooms. I would think?

If availability is really that limited... things must be being held back for some reason... major groups, TA blocks, renovations, holds to move people at other closed resorts around, or whatever (I'm just spit-balling here).