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

[k&a&c'smom]

Hello, GF fans! I am back from STL, it's been a tiring week but glad to have DS moved.

mickeynut -

trishadono - thanks for the photos, love the scones and champagne!

I was asking about the outer buildings. Thank you!!

Hello all!

First time staying at the Grand Floridian. I stayed many times as a child at the Contempory Tower, but I took my first steps as a baby in the Grand Floridian resort . My girlfriend and I our coming down the 12-19th of December, she thinks we are staying at a moderator (the first of many surprises.) Like I said its a week long trip her first time on property and first time visiting anything but the Magic Kingdom when she was a child. We have reservations that first night at V&A's, which is where I will be popping the question Now my question is what building(s) should I request?

And any other GF tips/tricks/ that maybe helpful for this once in a lifetime trip. Thanks guys enjoy your vacations! and if you happen to be at the Grand Dec 12-19th and see an ecstatic couple walking by feel free to say hi.

Welcome, and best wishes for your trip and engagement. Awesome about V&A's, you will love it. The service is incredible, as is the food.

As mickeynut posted, if you are booked in a garden view, any of the outer buildings have their merits. Love the views from the upper floors of Big Pine Key - but keep in mind, many of the lower rooms look right into the back of the pool house.

Boca Chica has a lovely view of the pool and Main Bldg., and is close to the boat dock. Conch Key has a great central location, near the boat dock and out the back door, the marina and Gasparilla's. Decent views of the pool area, very pretty views of the marina. Sago Cay is away from the main courtyard, so it is a quieter stay - but close to Gasparilla's and the back path to the bus stop. Pretty marina views and decent views out the back of the landscaping & monorail. If you would like to see photos of the views, check out the first page - lots of info there, as well as a lot of photos. Link to Guest Room Photos, posted on first page (links at top for view photos).

With a garden view, you may request a marina view in either Sago or Conch, it is considered the same category.

HTH! If you have any further questions, don't hesitate to ask.

Good morning friends. Trying to catch up on my reading here! I love seeing pictures of the GF! I, too, wish that I was there yesterday. We woke up to snow flurries as well here in CT. Yuck.

When we came home in July from the GF, I tried to book RPC again for next July. It was unavailable. Even TA could not book. I had mentioned a while back that I thought that this is when the rooms were being done over. From what I have read, sounds like this is timeframe...all of July for RPC. I think many rooms in SL are unavailable in June because of the refurb as well.

If rooms are put back in RPC for July, we will move over to there from SL. We love being in the main building and having the extra space in the lounge to move around. Food is still the same, but the feel is different.

I remember that discussion about the lack of CL rooms next spring/summer, I think you are right, seems like the refurb must be the reason.

Sorry about the weather. I am NOT ready for winter.

It's only 27 degrees right now in Massachusetts.

Our vacation is in 30 days. Our magic bands will be shipped to us soon.

I am so happy Disney built the Villas. I have wanted to stay at the Grand for so long but couldn't because I needed a kitchen.

I love Christmas at the Grand.

Only 30 days, woohoo! I'm very happy for you that you are able to stay due to VGF. We love Christmas at the Grand, too, it's DD's favorite season in the World.

my semi-random thought for the night: with all the talk about summer and refurbs (as well as talk on other threads of the poly and summer and construction)... the more i think about it, staying RPC at the GF last summer was such a lifesaver. i am not sure whether i would do summer again without that option.

.... hanging at the pool is not very enticing to us as we have a pool at home, one that has no one else's bodily fluids in it, lol!

Argh!! I try not to think about that aspect!

You make an excellent point about the summer heat and staying in the Main Bldg. We love it, too, as we have a similar agenda. We rarely make it to early afternoon in the parks, though - we are done pretty early in the heat! We love to head back to the resort, have some snacks, a swim and a shower, then dinner. If we are very ambitious, we might venture back into a park after dark - but it is rare these days.

Hi everyone,

I am thinking of doing a stay for fourth of July. It will be my second stay at the Grand Floridian. Do they show the fireworks on both the 3rd and 4th every year or was this a special event for 2013. Thanks.

Hi Mickeynut, thanks again for your help but still can't decide on fourth of July. At least I still have March in a Deluxe King in RPC.

Hi everyone on this board. I have just finished reading through all the threads and this is the nicest group I have found on any forum. You all know way more that I, a Florida resident, that has been going to Disney since 1974. I am learning a lot about the Grand Floridian and would love to post more when I learn to use the computer properly. Thank you all for such great information and for being so welcoming!

Welcome, glad you are finding so much info. This is a great group, everyone is very friendly.

I wish I could answer, but we do not stay during the 4th. Hopefully, someone who knows can pop in!

Good luck with your computer skills!

Beth, I hear ya on the heat down there (we have about the same here in Atlanta so it's not like I'm not used to it). However, as I said yesterday, my sister can tolerate it even less so we rarely go then.

....
More thoughts on my trip:

I looked several places for the new Vera B. purses and other accessories but no luck. What's up with that? I found two large duffles in a shop on Main St. but that's not what I was looking for. We didn't get to Downtown Disney so if they are at the big Disney store, I missed them.

As I said, we thought the new building just blended in beautifully with the GF and it was a pleasure to walk around the grounds and have that view over toward the VGF and beyond.

We used the monorail over to the MK and the water launch back. Never any interruptions of service. And really, never a wait.

I booked a BB for the first part of May, but might have to change it due to a family graduation around that time. I wish the prices were not out the roof during March because I think the first week would be a fab time to go, weather-wise as well as crowd-wise.

Did I mention Mousekeeping? We had good ones, several different ones, but all very nice and accomodating when you ask for more toiletries, which we do. I do miss those big green bars of soap with the nubby side. The other ones are just meh.

Oh, I forgot....the PARKING! Guests are now allowed to park up near the building where valet once was!!! Yay!! So much nicer!

I think I've covered about everything, but if anyone has any questions, I'll try to help. Wish I knew how to post pictures...that Dream castle was exquisite! People would just stand on Main St. and stare at it, us included!!

We have very similar heat to FL, too, but as each year passes I have less patience with it.

Thanks for all the little details. Sorry about the VB bags, I wonder why they had such a low inventory? Maybe they weren't sure they would sell? Kind of silly, as you see VB everywhere at Disney!

I am in total agreement about the old green soap vs. the new. Not so much. And the prices for peaks season - insanely high.

THANK YOU!! The parking situation has been a thorn in our sides for years, right?!? So happy to hear they have returned guest parking closer to the entrance, moving it clear across the road has never made sense to me.

Good Morning my Grand Floridian Friends -- I am very happily updating my ticker -- as I will be coming home on the first week in February! Can't wait to walk into the lobby, nor enjoy all the Grand has to offer.

Tom

Welcome back, Tom!! YAY for the new ticker!

 

[mickeynut1]

It's only 27 degrees right now in Massachusetts.

Our vacation is in 30 days. Our magic bands will be shipped to us soon.

I am so happy Disney built the Villas. I have wanted to stay at the Grand for so long but couldn't because I needed a kitchen.

I love Christmas at the Grand.

Same weather here in Indiana . The GF is amazing at Christmas time.....I'm sure you will have a very magical trip. Can't wait to hear all about it when you get back .

my semi-random thought for the night: with all the talk about summer and refurbs (as well as talk on other threads of the poly and summer and construction)... the more i think about it, staying RPC at the GF last summer was such a lifesaver. i am not sure whether i would do summer again without that option. we are not very heat-tolerant people and we would get very overheated at the parks. by the last few days of our trip we were only making it until 1-3 in the afternoon before feeling totally wilted and needing to return to the resort because we had just had it with the heat. it was a godsend to have that lounge. by the time we arrived back, the scones were usually out, and then the live music started around 3. it was an amazing AIR CONDITIONED way to have a lazy rest of our day. we were so wiped out that we would sit and enjoy the scones/ snacks and the music for quite a while. then, go to the room and get showers and relax before coming out again for the twilight refreshers and more music. then a nice dinner somewhere and shopping... all without ever leaving the AIR CONDITIONED building for the whole rest of the day, with plenty to do to keep us occupied. i would hate to come back to a resort that early and be stuck in the room as my only option to stay cool. hanging at the pool is not very enticing to us as we have a pool at home, one that has no one else's bodily fluids in it, lol!

ITA . RPC is great in that you can spend all day there and still have a lot to do without leaving the building and it's such a relaxing place to be .

Hi Mickeynut, thanks again for your help but still can't decide on fourth of July. At least I still have March in a Deluxe King in RPC.

Hi everyone on this board. I have just finished reading through all the threads and this is the nicest group I have found on any forum. You all know way more that I, a Florida resident, that has been going to Disney since 1974. I am learning a lot about the Grand Floridian and would love to post more when I learn to use the computer properly. Thank you all for such great information and for being so welcoming!

You're welcome .

I agree about this being the nicest group. I have learned so much from a few of the gals on here that I might not have ever learned if it wasn't for this thread .

Hi Mickeynut

Hello, Blue.

I booked a BB for the first part of May, but might have to change it due to a family graduation around that time. I wish the prices were not out the roof during March because I think the first week would be a fab time to go, weather-wise as well as crowd-wise.

Wish I knew how to post pictures...that Dream castle was exquisite! People would just stand on Main St. and stare at it, us included!!

I grannyminnie .....thanks for your great review.....I've really enjoyed reading all about your trip .

I hear you about March rates. We are booked at the GF toward the end of March and while I'd love to go at that time, the cost is really eating away at me . I booked GF RPC under the promo that came out recently and although the discount is 35%, rack rate is through the roof so even with that decent discount it's still high . I wanted to move the trip to end of May/beginning of June, but March seems to be the better time for us. End of May/June would probably work and be ok, but March would work better. So I am contemplating switching to CR CL or AKL CL as the savings is quite a bit over RPC......but letting go of that deluxe RPC room is very hard .

Good Morning my Grand Floridian Friends -- I am very happily updating my ticker -- as I will be coming home on the first week in February! Can't wait to walk into the lobby, nor enjoy all the Grand has to offer.

Tom

oh!! I am right behind you!!

I hope you both have great trips .

 

[mickeynut1]

I'll be there then too! My first stay at GF since I was a kid.

Hope you have a great trip .

mickeynut -

Hi k&a&c'smom .

 

[k&a&c'smom]

Hi k&a&c'smom .

Hey! I forgot to respond about your snow - glad it wasn't as much as predicted. We did NOT get back into the 50s the last couple days, it was low-to mid-30s, we were not amused. We were all pretty grumpy about it, lol. Moving boxes and furniture in the cold (and a day earlier, moving out in the cold drizzle!) made for some unhappy campers.

All agreed, it was just rude for the weather to turn on us like it did!

 

[PamelaKay]

Has anyone seen a Vera Bradley hipster in any of the GF gift shops lately? I really want the midnight patter in a Hipster and am headed to the GF on Nov 30.

 

[mickeynut1]

Hey! I forgot to respond about your snow - glad it wasn't as much as predicted. We did NOT get back into the 50s the last couple days, it was low-to mid-30s, we were not amused. We were all pretty grumpy about it, lol. Moving boxes and furniture in the cold (and a day earlier, moving out in the cold drizzle!) made for some unhappy campers.

All agreed, it was just rude for the weather to turn on us like it did!

It's supposed to get up into the mid-50s here this weekend, but I'm not counting on it....LOL. I always tell my DH to take what the weather peeps say and plan on the opposite . I know cold temps and snow is expected this time of year, but that still doesn't make it any better as I am not a cold weather person .

 

[grannyminnie]

OH! I am SOOO glad to see this! The one time I had a dining reservation at the GF, I had to park across the street. I hated that (not to mention, there wasn't a spot open). That was going to be the reason I was going to valet in February..just so I wouldn't have to cross the street. I never use my car, but it still would be a pain..kinda a CL let down to have to park before being escorted to CL!

We never got in our car all week!

 

[grannyminnie]

Has anyone seen a Vera Bradley hipster in any of the GF gift shops lately? I really want the midnight patter in a Hipster and am headed to the GF on Nov 30.

I don't know where they're hiding it, but last week there was none at the GF, and only a couple of big pieces in a shop on Main St. I was looking too, but even the Disney store online seems lacking.

 

[PamelaKay]

I don't know where they're hiding it, but last week there was none at the GF, and only a couple of big pieces in a shop on Main St. I was looking too, but even the Disney store online seems lacking.

When we were there Halloween week, all the Main Street store had was Large Duffle bags. I keep checking the online store too.

Maybe I will get lucky and they will get a post Thanksgiving, Pre-Christmas shipment at the GF while I am there Nov 30-Dec 5

 

[mickeynut1]

While it was hard to let go of that RPC deluxe room, I switched resorts for March. As much as I want to get back to RPC, I just couldn't talk myself into keeping it. Even with a 35% discount, the nightly room rate was just under $900/nt .....crazy that I even booked it, but the thrill of scoring a deluxe room with a 35% discount (that was only $10 more a night than a standard RPC room), took over . With that said, the resort (and possibly dates ) are subject to change, but for now we're booked CR CL. My DH wants to try the CR and both of my DSs want to go back to AKL. I took the CR for now because I think AKL CL will be easier to get later on should I decide to switch. The CR room type I wanted hasn't been available for our dates, but after checking today, it was.....so I snagged it. Any opinions or suggestions as far as CR CL vs AKL CL for those who have stayed at one or the other or both? We have stayed at AKL before but not CL, so that would be a different experience this time around.....but the CR would be new all together. The only thing that makes me nervous about the CR is that this might be a resort only trip and my gut is telling me that AKL would be the better choice for that as the theme/decor/surroundings are more tranquil to me. I wish it wasn't so hard to choose....LOL.

 

[Mousemommy1]

While it was hard to let go of that RPC deluxe room, I switched resorts for March. As much as I want to get back to RPC, I just couldn't talk myself into keeping it. Even with a 35% discount, the nightly room rate was just under $900/nt .....crazy that I even booked it, but the thrill of scoring a deluxe room with a 35% discount (that was only $10 more a night than a standard RPC room), took over . With that said, the resort (and possibly dates ) are subject to change, but for now we're booked CR CL. My DH wants to try the CR and both of my DSs want to go back to AKL. I took the CR for now because I think AKL CL will be easier to get later on should I decide to switch. The CR room type I wanted hasn't been available for our dates, but after checking today, it was.....so I snagged it. Any opinions or suggestions as far as CR CL vs AKL CL for those who have stayed at one or the other or both? We have stayed at AKL before but not CL, so that would be a different experience this time around.....but the CR would be new all together. The only thing that makes me nervous about the CR is that this might be a resort only trip and my gut is telling me that AKL would be the better choice for that as the theme/decor/surroundings are more tranquil to me. I wish it wasn't so hard to choose....LOL.

Ummmmm.....so funny!!! I just switched from CR CL back to sugarloaf!

We decided that splitting a trip between WDW and a cruise wasn't for us....just not long enough time at either....

So, we switched August back to our 10 nights back to Sugarloaf and moved our cruise to a 7 night Eastern Caribbean in April 2015!!

 

[DisneyDmbNut]

900 a night???

I think you might shoot me if I tell you what our rate is for RPC was quoted.. But I will stick to SL..

 

[DisneyDmbNut]

. The only thing that makes me nervous about the CR is that this might be a resort only trip and my gut is telling me that AKL would be the better choice for that as the theme/decor/surroundings are more tranquil to me. I wish it wasn't so hard to choose....LOL.

I would vote for AKL.. We went for a week in June.. It was soooo flippin hot, we didn't park much except at night for dinner...we enjoyed the pool, the spa (DD is a sauna addict now) and the pool... It is a vacation just to be at the hotel... And I understand CL is one of the best for the views of Arusha

 

[mickeynut1]

900 a night???

I think you might shoot me if I tell you what our rate is for RPC was quoted.. But I will stick to SL..

Yes....and that's after a 35% discount . March is a bad time as it's peak season, so even with a decent discount, RPC rates are still CRAZY .

I would vote for AKL.. We went for a week in June.. It was soooo flippin hot, we didn't park much except at night for dinner...we enjoyed the pool, the spa (DD is a sauna addict now) and the pool... It is a vacation just to be at the hotel... And I understand CL is one of the best for the views of Arusha

Thanks for your input . I totally agree about the bolded part, which is part of the reason I'm hesitant to stay with the CR, especially if we end up making this a resort only stay. I think the atmosphere is much nicer than CR and although we've never experienced the CR pool, it really does nothing for me and seems kind of blah. We've stayed at AKL and had a great time and loved everything about the resort and I have heard nothing but great things about CL there. I'd love to do a split stay as that would make the decision easier, but I'm getting out voted by my DH and both DSs .

 

[DisneyDmbNut]

Well..like I always say.. A bad stay in Disney is better than the best day at work!! Lol

On another note, I sent an email to IPO about a reservation and got a reply! I wasn't expecting anything until maybe tomorrow.. WL IPO always took 24 hours and didn't answer after 6:30,, color me impressed!

 

[DisneyMomx7]

Ummmmm.....so funny!!! I just switched from CR CL back to sugarloaf!

We decided that splitting a trip between WDW and a cruise wasn't for us....just not long enough time at either....

So, we switched August back to our 10 nights back to Sugarloaf and moved our cruise to a 7 night Eastern Caribbean in April 2015!!

If neither of us changes our minds (LOL) we'll be at the GF the same time!
We just booked the infamous "Labor Day Special" for August `17-27. In order to get the great rate I had to switch from a TPV room (like we had last year) to a GV room. But for a room only rate of $291 I'll take it!

 

[Mousemommy1]

If neither of us changes our minds (LOL) we'll be at the GF the same time!
We just booked the infamous "Labor Day Special" for August `17-27. In order to get the great rate I had to switch from a TPV room (like we had last year) to a GV room. But for a room only rate of $291 I'll take it!

Awesome!!!! I got a quote for that but didn't want to give up CL! We have a 40% off so the Sugarloaf room is "only" $364/night....I'll take it!!!

 

[DisneyDmbNut]

Why is Labor Day so low?? I thought it would be busy.

I am seeing people booking the Poly for $200/nt but with no pool, they are being told they will be bussed to GF

 

[DisneyMomx7]

YC is only $198 a night!

We had to give up TPV but it's a great deal!

We've done CL many times and when the kids were younger it was a God send. As they've gotten older it seems we don't get as much use out of it as i the past. This will be the first non-CL trip we've done in six years, so we'll see how it goes.

 

[mickeynut1]

Hello, GF fans! I am back from STL, it's been a tiring week but glad to have DS moved.

Sorry I missed this earlier. Glad your DS got moved....hope you had a nice time in STL getting him settled .

Well..like I always say.. A bad stay in Disney is better than the best day at work!! Lol

I agree .

Why is Labor Day so low?? I thought it would be busy.

I am seeing people booking the Poly for $200/nt but with no pool, they are being told they will be bussed to GF

It's an agency exclusive deal (for a particular travel agency) that comes out almost every year for travel around Labor Day .