Grand Floridian Café for lunch, how much time to and from MK?

[mroulier]

Wanting to do a lunch escape from MK and it was kinda between Steakhouse 71 and GF Cafe, but my DW will ALWAYS prefer a place that does breakfast at lunch, so we're going there! Just trying to plan how much time between catching the Monorail and walking inside the hotel, and then actual eating time. PLUS we've never set foot in there so we'll probably gawk at stuff, too! We're rope dropping and may or may not stay all the way thru to fireworks, but we're gonna try!

 

[thanxfornoticin]

It certainly would be easier to walk to SH71, eat, and walk back. But if doing the GF Cafe, I'd allow a couple hours total to get there, eat, gawk, and return! Since the monorail will be going the long way around from MK to GF, I might consider taking the boat to lunch and then the monorail back. And if the walking path is open from MK to GF at that time, you might consider that as a Plan B. Enjoy! Both SH71 and GFC will be nice for lunch.

 

[Her Dotness]

Oh, stars above! Don't take the monorail from MK to the GF.

It goes MK-CR-TTC-Poly-GF and can take 40-45 minutes given who all are getting on and off at each stop.

Look for the Resort Launches sign next to the ramp up to the monorail at MK. You'll want the one to the right for the boat to GF and Poly. If you've a large stroller or ECV, you'll have to wait for the larger boat which will come along soon. The route's pretty short. Otherwise, hop onto the smaller boat with bench seats in rows. (I think of that one as Disney's rowboat even though it certainly isn't one. )

This boat goes to the GF first and is a lovely, cool, relaxing ride though a bit of a trek from the dock to the main building and GF Cafe.

We had a couple of terrific experiences this last trip at Stk71. It's an easy 10-minute walk from MK or as I said, a mere single stop from MK. Can't beat the thrill of sliding into the station IN THE TOWER no matter how many times we've done that.

DH said his steak frites were better quality than the filet he had at Yachtsman the night before. We're huge Yachtsman fans, so that's high praise indeed.

 

[holden]

Definitely take the boat to GF. You can take the monorail back to MK.

I’d allow around 2.5hrs for travel, gawking and eating.

 

[Anthony1971]

I will throw whispering canon into the mix as well. They have Skillets until 2 that include lunch and breakfast. Both order a skillet one can let a lunch one the other Breakfast you can share again as long as both order a skillet. It is about 10 minutes by a very nice boat ride -launch near the bus stops- or 5 minutes by bus. If your are in a rush the bus wait is never long because of close the resort is. Also a very nice resort to check out….. be warned you may nap in one of the rocking chairs by the fireplace. If you find the fireplace and chairs on the DVC side you could easily spend 2 hours sitting there. Not taking away from GF also an amazing lobby if you take the monorail stay to the right when you enter there you will be on the second floor there is an amazing staircase to walk down GF cafe is on e first floor anyway. If time is most important CR and steakhouse 71 will be the fastest as there really is not much to see there but the monorail running through the resort is always fun to Ride/Watch steakhouse 71 does not have a view of this.

 

[mroulier]

Oh, stars above! Don't take the monorail from MK to the GF.

It goes MK-CR-TTC-Poly-GF and can take 40-45 minutes given who all are getting on and off at each stop.

Look for the Resort Launches sign next to the ramp up to the monorail at MK. You'll want the one to the right for the boat to GF and Poly. If you've a large stroller or ECV, you'll have to wait for the larger boat which will come along soon. The route's pretty short. Otherwise, hop onto the smaller boat with bench seats in rows. (I think of that one as Disney's rowboat even though it certainly isn't one. )

It's advice like this that makes me like this board!
Somebody needs to make a Google maps for Disney as the Transportation maps on the DW website are lame and don't give very specific 'point-to-point' guidance!

 

[Her Dotness]

It's advice like this that makes me like this board!
Somebody needs to make a Google maps for Disney as the Transportation maps on the DW website are lame and don't give very specific 'point-to-point' guidance!

Who needs Google maps when you've got us?

Glad you found my suggestion helpful.

 

[Her Dotness]

From the GF boat dock, it's a fairly straight shot across the courtyard to the main building.

You'll approach it at the long side. Watch for the sign at the outside entrance to Gasparilla Island Grill, the QS. Then, go up onto the veranda and head left following alongside the main building until you reach the automatic sliding door.

Enter and swing to your right. If you can't find your way to GF Cafe from there, your nose isn't any good at all for following it. <giggle>

 

[LRdismom]

We left the MK and had brunch at GF Cafe. We underestimated how much time it would take. I think we allotted 30 mins to get there, but it took a little longer to walk out of the MK, wait for a boat, and then walk to the cafe. It was well worth it, but we had to hustle. Maybe 45 mins would have been better?

 

[kylenne]

We left the MK and had brunch at GF Cafe. We underestimated how much time it would take. I think we allotted 30 mins to get there, but it took a little longer to walk out of the MK, wait for a boat, and then walk to the cafe. It was well worth it, but we had to hustle. Maybe 45 mins would have been better?

I think it also depends on where you're coming from in MK. Walking out from the back of Fantasyland is going to take a fair bit longer than if your last ride before lunch is like, Jungle Cruise or something closer. I made that mistake the very first time we did that and we barely made it to our ADR in time.

 

[philharmagic fan]

I will throw whispering canon into the mix as well. They have Skillets until 2 that include lunch and breakfast. Both order a skillet one can let a lunch one the other Breakfast you can share again as long as both order a skillet. It is about 10 minutes by a very nice boat ride -launch near the bus stops- or 5 minutes by bus. If your are in a rush the bus wait is never long because of close the resort is. Also a very nice resort to check out….. be warned you may nap in one of the rocking chairs by the fireplace. If you find the fireplace and chairs on the DVC side you could easily spend 2 hours sitting there. Not taking away from GF also an amazing lobby if you take the monorail stay to the right when you enter there you will be on the second floor there is an amazing staircase to walk down GF cafe is on e first floor anyway. If time is most important CR and steakhouse 71 will be the fastest as there really is not much to see there but the monorail running through the resort is always fun to Ride/Watch steakhouse 71 does not have a view of this.

Just want to mention that Whispering Canyon a la carte entrees are a unified breakfast/lunch menu as well. I've had pulled pork at 7:30am and oatmeal at noon. Also, service at Grand Floridian Cafe can be painfully slow (although, in fairness, at our last visit a couple of months ago it was much quicker than our 3 previous visits).

 

[erinch]

In our June 2022 trip GF cafe sat promptly but was paaaainfully slow. Wasn’t crowded, and server was great, but kitchen must have been staffed by Ents.

Whispering Canyon was slammed at 2 pm and we were sat 45 minutes after our ADR. But then went quickly. For both meals, we missed LLs, which cast members restored.

 

[LeeLee'sMom]

Boat to GF Cafe. The resort is just lovely and I do think with travel, eating and resort viewing 2.5 hours is about right. It smells fabulous in GF.

 

[gottalovepluto]

2.5 hours sounds long but it’s probably about right. Fwiw GF Cafe is always one of my slowest dining experiences so extra time is wise.

 

[daisylovesdisney]

We stayed at the GF last summer and would take the monorail to the MK and the boat to the GF. Sometimes we got lucky and caught them right away, sometimes there was a bit of wait. We went to the GF a few times and enjoyed all of our meals there, but it was not fast (which was fine for us). I'd plan for a solid 2.5 hours to get out of the park and to the resort, have a relaxing meal, and then back to the MK. There are some cute shops in the main building of the GF and we also got some great photopass photos both inside and outside, if you see the photographers it's definitely worth the stop!

 

[NickC]

We stayed at GF last year and walked to/from MK quite a bit. It is maybe 3/4 of a mile walk. I heard that it might be closed (?) due to construction, but it might be back by your trip. It's certainly easier to take a boat, but I thought I'd mention it because we like to walk. There are videos of the view from the path on YouTube.