HAVING A GRAND OLD TIME! The 2013 Grand Floridian Resort & Villas FAQ

[marlaine8]

If you are on a ground floor (SL in particular) can you walk out of your patio door and walk around the grounds or is there something that stops you from doing that? In stays at The Poly, you could just go out your door and walk straight out.

 

[mag73]

The lounge is on the ground floor. You can not watch the fire works from the Sugar
Loaf building, but only a few steps away you can watch it from the boat launch or in front of Gaspies. They do pipe the music in. We have never watch it from the beach but I'm sure you can see the fire works buy I'm not sure about the music. As far as ground floor I would not request it unless you have a medical reason. Over the years we have seen quite few snakes by the benches outside the SL by the marina. Last time we stayed at SL we used to bring our afternoon cocktails outside the lounge and sit by the marina until my son saw a large snake on the back of our bench.

 

[Ferrentinos]

The lounge is on the ground floor. You can not watch the fire works from the Sugar
Loaf building, but only a few steps away you can watch it from the boat launch or in from of Gaspies. They do pipe the music in. We have never watch it from the beach but I'm sure you can see the fire works buy I'm not sure about the music. As far as ground floor I would not request it unless you have a medical reason. Over the years we have seen quite few snakes by the benches outside the SL by the marina. Last time we stayed at SL we used to bring our afternoon cocktails outside the lounge and sit by the marina until my son saw a large snake on the back of our bench.

lions, tigers and SNAKES oh my! No thank you! We will request high up because the only reason we wanted lower level was if we could have a walk out patio. Thanks so much about the Wishes info. We will plan to watch it outside a few times at GF.

 

[Diamond_Girls]

Thanks DDIM for the news about BC building and refurbishment! I definitely want to see the new look and sleep in new bedding. I can't wait to get there!

 

[abk96]

How does this request for SL sound...
1 - no dormer room
2 - marina view
3 - high up in the building

I would put them in the order of importance too. I heard that room assigners try to give you the first request on your reservation if possible.

 

[k&a&c'smom]

Welcome to all our new friends. There is a lot of info on the first page, with photos, you may want to explore - enjoy your planning, I think you will love the Grand.

Congrats to everyone who snagged a great summer discount!

DisneyDreamingInMI Yes--those pictures from CircusGirl did show a nesting table labeled on the box so I am hoping they get those loaded into the rooms. Otherwise....where did they go???? Hoping to get more refurbed room pics to scope out any new touches added...... (thought I would add the praying angel for a little help)

Ferrentinos The ground floor rooms do not have a typical open patio environment like other resorts. Ground floor rooms have a balcony railing which is great for added privacy but bad if you were hoping to walk off the patio to run for food/drinks or to let the kids play in the grass. The cabanas are at the feature pool near the villas. The cabanas are at the beach pool on the end next to the water slide. HTHs

It would be nice to hear from anyone they have gotten a room with the nesting tables, wouldn't it?!

Your balcony answer was right on the mark, btw.

Isn't it hitting anyone else as a little strange, that we had a few (fortunate) pics here of the new rooms... but they haven't shown up ANYWHERE else on the internet???

I wonder if they saw our reactions to some of the decor...

LOL - wish it mattered what we think, but I get the feeling it doesn't. I, too, have found it interesting there are no more photos, didn't realize there were none out there in the ether.

Thank you for the information! I think we would love a marina view and will probably request that. What floor is the lounge on? We've only stayed CL at the Poly and I'm trying to figure everything out at SL!



Thank you for that information as well - I don't think that the ground floor would be beneficial then - maybe we will request higher up instead - what are dormer rooms? Are those enclosed balconies? We have a 3 year old so we would prefer not to have one of those.

How does this request for SL sound...
1 - no dormer room
2 - marina view
3 - high up in the building

Last question (for now) - is there a place in the lounge or on the beach that we can watch Wishes with the music piped in? I'm only familiar with doing that at the Poly CL so I'm not sure how GF does it.

Thanks so much!

Dormer rooms are the (slightly smaller) top floor rooms with enclosed balconies, yes. As someone else posted, the SL lounge is in the center of the first floor - the Wishes music is not piped in, as you cannot see the fireworks from inside the building. You can sit out on the landing around the marina/near Gasparilla's, or on the boat dock to watch. Some have heard Wishes music, there are speakers around these areas. We have always seemed to be there when the speakers weren't working, but I think we're in the minority.

If you are on a ground floor (SL in particular) can you walk out of your patio door and walk around the grounds or is there something that stops you from doing that? In stays at The Poly, you could just go out your door and walk straight out.

As Grace&CarolinesMom posted, you cannot walk off the first floor balconies in any building, there is a railing just like on the upper floors. The first floor balconies at the Poly are different, more of a patio.

 

[Tink rules]

LOL - wish it mattered what we think, but I get the feeling it doesn't. I, too, have found it interesting there are no more photos, didn't realize there were none out there in the ether.

I've googled it each day and nothing has come up.. strange...

 

[mmjones1021]

I've googled it each day and nothing has come up.. strange...

Not sure if you've seen it, but there are one or two photos on TripAdvisor in the Traveler Photos (#87 for instance). I wish there were more!

 

[lhall7]

First time at GF staying July 27-August 2!!!!! So excited!! We are booked for outer building garden view. What building and/or room requests do you all recommend? Do all rooms have full balcony? We would love to be able to see Wishes from our room and maybe be in quiet area if one exists because I am a light sleeper. View more important though and would like to be close to pool and main building. I know, asking a lot perhaps. Any help would be appreciated.

 

[Tink rules]

Not sure if you've seen it, but there are one or two photos on TripAdvisor in the Traveler Photos (#87 for instance). I wish there were more!

I saw those and the ones we've had here... but nothing else...

Maybe nobody stays in Conch Key? (except me... it's my favorite building...)

 

[grannyminnie]

Isn't it hitting anyone else as a little strange, that we had a few (fortunate) pics here of the new rooms... but they haven't shown up ANYWHERE else on the internet???

I wonder if they saw our reactions to some of the decor...

I find this strange as well. And as for the nesting tables, maybe someone will report in soon and tell us they have been placed in the rooms now.

 

[k&a&c'smom]

I've googled it each day and nothing has come up.. strange...

That is strange, I'm surprised no one else has taken photos yet, or if they have, they've not been posted anywhere.

First time at GF staying July 27-August 2!!!!! So excited!! We are booked for outer building garden view. What building and/or room requests do you all recommend? Do all rooms have full balcony? We would love to be able to see Wishes from our room and maybe be in quiet area if one exists because I am a light sleeper. View more important though and would like to be close to pool and main building. I know, asking a lot perhaps. Any help would be appreciated.

Congrats on your first GF stay! You will love the resort.

Your room requests really depend on what you, as a family, find most important. The resort is pretty compact, so no building is all that far from anything - Sago Cay being the furthest from the pools and Main Building back entrance, but even that building has its good points in terms of location (close to Gasparilla's and back path to bus stop and it's quiet). Most Garden Views will be of the courtyard pool, but the marina side of Conch Key and Sago Cay are also considered garden view; both would be an option for a quieter room, but might put you a little further away from the pools. Check out the map in the first post of this thread, and the rest of the first page for lots of photos and info.

The only garden view rooms with a view of the fireworks are the upper rooms on the Main Bldg. end of Big Pine Key, and those only afford views of the upper bursts - the direct views of Wishes are booked as TPV rooms. It is possible there are a couple rooms on the lagoon end of Sago and Conch with some obscured views (but I think the way the buildings are shaped this is unlikely) and I believe a few garden view rooms on the end of Boca, facing Narcoossee's, may catch an obscured view of fireworks.

Yes, full balconies on all standard rooms (the dormer rooms have the enclosed, dormer balconies but they are still big enough for chairs/table).

HTH!

I saw those and the ones we've had here... but nothing else...

Maybe nobody stays in Conch Key? (except me... it's my favorite building...)

We love Conch Key, too, but have a hard time getting assigned there. I always assumed that was due to it being the most requested, but maybe I'm wrong!

 

[mickeynut1]

We are staying in a garden view room for Easter of this year and are very excited.... really hoping to get a refurbished room.

Have a great trip. The GF is an amazing resort .

We have looked so many times at DVC and I just can't commit. I think its the kitchen...lol!! I just don't want to see one while I am away!!! Never mind the laundry room!!

Same here. We have looked into DVC 3 or 4 times and finally decided it's just not for us as it doesn't fit the way we vacation. The extra space might be nice, but I don't cook or do laundry on vacation and since our 2 DSs are now young adults, the pull out sleeper would never work .

OMG...I had huge post that just poofed!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Sorry your post disappeared....I hate when that happens .

Agree no bad views from RPC, I personally love the courtyard pool view

That's my favorite view too .

Hello, my GF friends! I was offline one day and the thread took off!

Same happened to me...LOL. It's been a busy couple of days and I come back to find myself 3-4 pages behind .

Blue, it was a good visit with my Dad, altho still sad. It was good to hug my sisters again.

Well....the discount roulette wheel landed on GF this morning! I was able to get a 35% discount off a GV room July 23 - 29. Was cheaper than CR and Poly which had lesser discounts or disc only on higher room categories. Go figure Anyhoo......REALLY hoping that the refurb room touches will be modified just a bit to include at least the nesting table. If not, we will make the best of it. Probably have to bring in an extra chair from the balcony...lol

Congrats on the discount . I agree about the rooms, but I'm sure you'll have a great trip as the GF is such a gorgeous resort overall that it's hard not to love it (despite the new decor).

Joining you guys over on this thread! I switched us from a CR GW room to a GF GV room for the 35% discount this morning! Sooooo excited!!! Can't wait for July!!

 

[lgajohnson]

With the new discounts out, we just switched from BC to the GF ....beyond excited! We will be there 7/26-8/5. Thank you for all this great information!!!

 

[Maxie86]

Thank you for the information! I think we would love a marina view and will probably request that. What floor is the lounge on? We've only stayed CL at the Poly and I'm trying to figure everything out at SL!



Thank you for that information as well - I don't think that the ground floor would be beneficial then - maybe we will request higher up instead - what are dormer rooms? Are those enclosed balconies? We have a 3 year old so we would prefer not to have one of those.

How does this request for SL sound...
1 - no dormer room
2 - marina view
3 - high up in the building

Last question (for now) - is there a place in the lounge or on the beach that we can watch Wishes with the music piped in? I'm only familiar with doing that at the Poly CL so I'm not sure how GF does it.

Thanks so much!

The lounge is on the first floor. You can see Wishes if you go out the back door by the marina. You can also see wishes from some, but not all of the rooms on the marina side of SL. You can't see the castle but you have a good view of the fireworks. You can get the music and view of the castle in front of Gaspies. The boat dock is another good spot for wishes, but I prefer Gaspies because there is a lot of places to sit.

 

[Ferrentinos]

The lounge is on the first floor. You can see Wishes if you go out the back door by the marina. You can also see wishes from some, but not all of the rooms on the marina side of SL. You can't see the castle but you have a good view of the fireworks. You can get the music and view of the castle in front of Gaspies. The boat dock is another good spot for wishes, but I prefer Gaspies because there is a lot of places to sit.

Thanks so much! I'm so excited for our first stay at GF - I have always wanted to try it out! I figure SL is a pretty good first time!

 

[Tink rules]

That is strange, I'm surprised no one else has taken photos yet, or if they have, they've not been posted anywhere.

Maybe once Boca Chica is done...

I'm hoping that there are more touches going into the rooms that they are adding as it goes along...

I'll keep checking...

 

[trishadono]

Thanks so much! I'm so excited for our first stay at GF - I have always wanted to try it out! I figure SL is a pretty good first time!

I remember seeing you often on the poly thread

For lounge space I like Hawaii best followed by atrium club and RPC and SL last.

However for food gf is #1!!!

For location to pool, food, transportation poly CL and gf SL about the same. Cr and gf RPC a little more inconvenient for pools.

SL space is small but your room is lovely so take a tray up to your room and sit on the balcony. They keep trays in the lounge just ask where they keep them and they will show you.

Tea time is the BOMB and you will love it for sure

 

[grannyminnie]

Whoa! We're almost relegated to the second page! Can't let that happen....

 

[gretchenohar@hotmail]

I there anyplace for 2 adults to get a midafternoon cocktail at the GF? Maybe something like a mimosa or glass of wine? I see that Mizners doesn't open till around 5PM & we will be on vacay afterall....
TIA