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

[k&a&c'smom]

mickeynut1 - LOL about BLT - it was so obvious they were building DVC, but for some reason they refused to acknowledge ANYTHING was going on. "Construction? What construction?!"

I had to check out Steve's site yesterday, very interesting. I had read some of the speculation several months ago, but now there are more details. I'm shocked they are still saying there will be bungalows over the water, so many of us (including Cast Members) assumed the cost of construction and maintenance would throw that idea right out the window.

PolyAddict - I forgot to say congrats on your upcoming anniversary - 25th, what a milestone! - and a possible Grand vow renewal.

I don't have much input for DVC, but good luck with your planning.

 

[PolyAddict]

mickeynut1 - LOL about BLT - it was so obvious they were building DVC, but for some reason they refused to acknowledge ANYTHING was going on. "Construction? What construction?!"

I had to check out Steve's site yesterday, very interesting. I had read some of the speculation several months ago, but now there are more details. I'm shocked they are still saying there will be bungalows over the water, so many of us (including Cast Members) assumed the cost of construction and maintenance would throw that idea right out the window.

PolyAddict - I forgot to say congrats on your upcoming anniversary - 25th, what a milestone! - and a possible Grand vow renewal.

I don't have much input for DVC, but good luck with your planning.

Thank you so much...there is much debate at our home right now between having it at the Poly or GF but most of all just excited to be married for 25 years.

 

[PolyAddict]

We've never stayed in any of the villas, but I wanted to say I think the GF is a great resort for an anniversary/vow renewal trip .



Thanks, i do agree!

 

[BlueSkies]

BlueSkies I see you have a trip coming up but I forget where you are staying.

I have been watching youtube videos of the grand and found ones from our own ahcupcake and BethClayton

I can't believe I am finally getting to stay RPC

We have annual passes but I think I will find it hard to leave the lounge

Well except to catch last hours of F&W of course

Anybody have more pics? How about that balcony that kind of looks towards monorail entrance????

Cant think of a better place to celebrate your anniversary than staying RPC...and truly you will not want to leave the lounge... Just perfect for a couples vacation... We are booked in SL so far this trip....there have not been any RPC rooms available with the offers .. (I really prefer SL in the spring and summer and RPC in the fall and winter...)..but as in years past I will keep checking and hopefully something will open up ...

I didn't see BethClaytons youtube video..I will have to check it out...I have seen ahcupcakes...Love the music she set to her video...I was lucky enough to be there at the same time that she was Pixie dusted...and got to visit her in that beautiful suite...

Subscribing...

considering a 25th anniversary vow renewal with our 3 girls June 30, 2014.

Throwing around the idea of a 1 bedroom villa

never stayed in a villa before...does anyone know if you can ever get in a ville BEFORE 4pm?

thanks

Congratualtions! 25 years! and a vow renewal at the GF... How wonderful..Happy planning...

We are considering a stay here next fall and just wondering which building everyone would recommend, will be me, dh and our three kids (2,5,7 at trip time!). we will be doing some resort/pool days and two days and MNSSHP for sure at MK!
thanks!

As k&a&c'smom said..my building recommendations would go by what view you are thinking of booking...for GV or LV I think Boca Chica is a great choice..close to the pool and the boat dock...taking the water launch back to the GF at the end of a busy day in the MK is so nice..and convenient..especially with a young family.....for a TPV room I'd recommend Conch Key..great views..close to the pool and close to the boat dock..The the grounds are not that spread out though and everything is pretty much in close proximinty ...

k&a&c'smom Lets see how many times we can post at the same time today!!?? LOL.. I agree about the Poly..really didn't think that those bungalows would become a reality..I wonder how it will change the look of that very pretty view?? How did you guess what resort I would be staying at next trip??? LOL... Or the trip after that... How about you..any trips coming up??

MickeyNut I don't know if there were any opening ceremonies at any of the DVC properties in that past??? I wonder??? So what are your thoughts on your next trip...and I know there will be a family trip in 2014 (amongst other trips!)..would you still book the Poly..even with all of the work going on...

I stayed at the GF through all of the phases of renovations and construction...and honestly...I was happy to be there and it really didn't have a negative impact on our vacation...of the vibe of the vacation either...

ahcupcake and Grannyminnie Whatcha been up to ....

 

[k&a&c'smom]

Thank you so much...there is much debate at our home right now between having it at the Poly or GF but most of all just excited to be married for 25 years.

Definitely something to celebrate, whichever resort you choose.

....

k&a&c'smom Lets see how many times we can post at the same time today!!?? LOL..

I agree about the Poly..really didn't think that those bungalows would become a reality..I wonder how it will change the look of that very pretty view?? How did you guess what resort I would be staying at next trip??? LOL... Or the trip after that... How about you..any trips coming up??

....

Sadly, I have no trips on the horizon at the moment - wish I did! My travel buddy, DD, is saving up her time off to come home at Christmas, so we'll have to wait and see if we can go after the first of the year, but before Spring Break. (Hopefully, the new HP section at USO will be open by then...shhh!)

LOL about guessing which resort you'll be at...I wonder?!

Do you prefer SL in the spring and summer due to the proximity of the pool? We usually prefer staying in RPC (or club in general) when we know we won't be spending as much time at the parks, which tends to be in warmer weather.

 

[Hisgirl]

And speaking of coffee at the GF...

I've been reading posts about awful coffee around the parks/resorts and that's kind of a big deal for folks who really savor their coffee in the a.m.

Does the GF have the typical 4-cup coffee maker? Has anyone figured out how to bring their own grounds to use? I'm assuming there is a provided filter?

 

[k&a&c'smom]

And speaking of coffee at the GF...

I've been reading posts about awful coffee around the parks/resorts and that's kind of a big deal for folks who really savor their coffee in the a.m.

Does the GF have the typical 4-cup coffee maker? Has anyone figured out how to bring their own grounds to use? I'm assuming there is a provided filter?

I think it makes a cup at a time (I don't drink coffee, so don't use it) with pods. There are photos of the coffee maker and pods on the first page. Here is the link, scroll down about 2/3 of the page.

The GF Cafe has great coffee, btw.

 

[Lisa75]

Hi all! Thanks for your responses. I didn't have much time to post thanks to ds 20 months . It was a beautiful room. May have been an upgraded view but also the two balconies unless that's standard for a corner room. Not familiar with room categories at GF. Beautiful resort! The water play area was closed, yes. That was disappointing. Plenty else to do though.

 

[Lisa75]

Also, it looked like the problem they were fixing with the water play area is a drainage one.

 

[k&a&c'smom]

Hi all! Thanks for your responses. I didn't have much time to post thanks to ds 20 months . It was a beautiful room. May have been an upgraded view but also the two balconies unless that's standard for a corner room. Not familiar with room categories at GF. Beautiful resort! The water play area was closed, yes. That was disappointing. Plenty else to do though.

The standard room categories are divided by view, so that is what the upgrade amounted to - TPV rather than garden view. Most corner rooms do have an extra balcony.

Glad you enjoyed the room and the resort.

Also, it looked like the problem they were fixing with the water play area is a drainage one.

Thanks for the update, that makes sense. Obviously a problem they found after it had operated for a time. Hopefully, it will be fixed soon and no more problems.

 

[trishadono]

ME just arrived!!!

Shhh I am waiting for WWOHP to open new ride too! Hopefully dd and I can do like last time. Start there then transfer to the World!US just doesn't compare.

 

[mickeynut1]

mickeynut1 - LOL about BLT - it was so obvious they were building DVC, but for some reason they refused to acknowledge ANYTHING was going on. "Construction? What construction?!"

I had to check out Steve's site yesterday, very interesting. I had read some of the speculation several months ago, but now there are more details. I'm shocked they are still saying there will be bungalows over the water, so many of us (including Cast Members) assumed the cost of construction and maintenance would throw that idea right out the window.

Ya, not sure why Disney waited so long to announce BLT......Disney didn't fool us Dis'ers as we knew exactly what was going on . I haven't been following the Poly construction news too closely, but those bungalows are a mystery to me....not sure how they came up with those .

there is much debate at our home right now between having it at the Poly or GF but most of all just excited to be married for 25 years.

Congrats on 25 years .

MickeyNut So what are your thoughts on your next trip...and I know there will be a family trip in 2014 (amongst other trips!)..would you still book the Poly..even with all of the work going on...

I stayed at the GF through all of the phases of renovations and construction...and honestly...I was happy to be there and it really didn't have a negative impact on our vacation...of the vibe of the vacation either...

We are sticking with the Poly for 2 nights in December even with construction beginning and I'm very excited to try CL . With that said, if we were going during the spring or summer, I would reconsider if the pool was closed. We love the volcano pool (it's our favorite pool on property) and we spend a lot of time hanging by the pool in the warmer months, so if that was closed that would be a deal breaker for us and we would choose a different resort. I have been thinking about a 2014 trip but haven't decided on anything for sure yet. We are considering a trip to California/DL, but I'm afraid I'll miss WDW .

Hi all! Thanks for your responses. I didn't have much time to post thanks to ds 20 months . It was a beautiful room. May have been an upgraded view but also the two balconies unless that's standard for a corner room. Not familiar with room categories at GF. Beautiful resort! The water play area was closed, yes. That was disappointing. Plenty else to do though.

Glad you enjoyed the room and loved the GF .

ME just arrived!!!

 

[2012DisneyWorldBride]

We just paid off our 1st anniversary trip to the grand for December!!! We are getting veryyyyyy excited to stay there again... We stayed last December for our Disney wedding/honeymoon.

 

[trishadono]

We just paid off our 1st anniversary trip to the grand for December!!! We are getting veryyyyyy excited to stay there again... We stayed last December for our Disney wedding/honeymoon.

Yippee! Happy for you! Enjoy the anticipation, you will be there soon!

 

[2012DisneyWorldBride]

Yippee! Happy for you! Enjoy the anticipation, you will be there soon!

Thanks!!! But it can't get here quick enough!!!

 

[grannyminnie]

I'm here, Blue. Been out of town for a few days (visiting my parents, and then on to Jekyll Island for a couple of nights).
I just finished catching up reading what everyone here has been chatting about. Looks like there are a few of us who like enjoying our resort and others, as opposed to being in the parks all day, every day, of our vacation!

We are about a month and a half away from our stay and getting more excited with each passing day!

 

[MommyGina]

I'm here, Blue. Been out of town for a few days (visiting my parents, and then on to Jekyll Island for a couple of nights).
I just finished catching up reading what everyone here has been chatting about. Looks like there are a few of us who like enjoying our resort and others, as opposed to being in the parks all day, every day, of our vacation!

We are about a month and a half away from our stay and getting more excited with each passing day!

Count me in as one of those who like enjoying the resort as well. I love sitting in the lobby and listening to the music or sitting on the beach. It is so peaceful there!

When my mom was with us at the GF, she loved to sit in the lobby as well and watch people and listen to the music. The CMs would talk to her and that is why we have so many CMs friends from the GF. The year that my mom did not come with us due to illness, the CMs asked where she was. They sent their best to her. The next year when we went back, they asked again how she was doing. When I told them that she passed away, they actually cried and hugged me. The CMs have become part of our family over the years and that's another reason why I love the resort and spend so much time there.

 

[mickeynut1]

We just paid off our 1st anniversary trip to the grand for December!!! We are getting veryyyyyy excited to stay there again... We stayed last December for our Disney wedding/honeymoon.

How exciting . December isn't that far away.....you will be checking into the Grand before you know it .

Been out of town for a few days (visiting my parents, and then on to Jekyll Island for a couple of nights).
I just finished catching up reading what everyone here has been chatting about. Looks like there are a few of us who like enjoying our resort and others, as opposed to being in the parks all day, every day, of our vacation!

We are about a month and a half away from our stay and getting more excited with each passing day!

Glad you're back. Hope you had a nice few days away . I didn't know you were headed back to Disney....how exciting that you'll be back at the GF in a month and a half .

 

[grannyminnie]

Count me in as one of those who like enjoying the resort as well. I love sitting in the lobby and listening to the music or sitting on the beach. It is so peaceful there!

When my mom was with us at the GF, she loved to sit in the lobby as well and watch people and listen to the music. The CMs would talk to her and that is why we have so many CMs friends from the GF. The year that my mom did not come with us due to illness, the CMs asked where she was. They sent their best to her. The next year when we went back, they asked again how she was doing. When I told them that she passed away, they actually cried and hugged me. The CMs have become part of our family over the years and that's another reason why I love the resort and spend so much time there.

That is such a sweet story. We also have met CMs that we remain friends with, and visit with each time we go. That's part of the fun for us, renewing old friendships.

 

[grannyminnie]

How exciting . December isn't that far away.....you will be checking into the Grand before you know it .



Glad you're back. Hope you had a nice few days away . I didn't know you were headed back to Disney....how exciting that you'll be back at the GF in a month and a half .

You didn't know because I can't figure out how to do a vacation countdown! We're going the first week of November, and I hope that at least some of the Christmas decorations will be beginning to appear!