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

[trishadono]

BCV23 - Welcome back!

Sounds like a wonderful trip - can't wait to see what you think if the VGFs!

We're staying at the GF in July.

My first GF stay was at the end of June into July(2005). It was one of our best family trips.

Is there anything special your family is looking forward too? The 7 dwarf train should be open by then

 

[mariamouse]

Wow! This thread is hopping lately!

We were hoping to return to the Poly/GF this January (16th-21st), but I pulled a total blank and didn't realize that MLK weekend (17-19) is usually blacked out for the RO discount. Just not sure that we will be able to swing it with a RO discount at either of those resorts for only two nights. We could do S/P/D for the length of our stay, but just don't think we would be able to justify paying those rack room rates even with the discounted DDP. Will have to check out what the AAA rate for January at the GF is since maybe that will make a difference for the non-discounted nights. I think that would require our making three reservations, though. How good is Disney about keeping you in the same room even if you have different reservations at the same resort?

Sort of bummed to not return to a monorail resort-- we'll likely end up at the WL this time, which is certainly no hardship, but will miss the sounds of MK across Seven Seas Lagoon.

Will keep you posted if we decide to bite the bullet and return to GF. If anyone has any thoughts/ideas that I may not be thinking of, please do let me know!

 

[trishadono]

Wow! This thread is hopping lately!

We were hoping to return to the Poly/GF this January (16th-21st), but I pulled a total blank and didn't realize that MLK weekend (17-19) is usually blacked out for the RO discount. Just not sure that we will be able to swing it with a RO discount at either of those resorts for only two nights. We could do S/P/D for the length of our stay, but just don't think we would be able to justify paying those rack room rates even with the discounted DDP. Will have to check out what the AAA rate for January at the GF is since maybe that will make a difference for the non-discounted nights. I think that would require our making three reservations, though. How good is Disney about keeping you in the same room even if you have different reservations at the same resort?

Sort of bummed to not return to a monorail resort-- we'll likely end up at the WL this time, which is certainly no hardship, but will miss the sounds of MK across Seven Seas Lagoon.

Will keep you posted if we decide to bite the bullet and return to GF. If anyone has any thoughts/ideas that I may not be thinking of, please do let me know!

I know what you mean, the sounds are my favorite

Discounts are so hard to predict

WL is beautiful though. I often take the boat over just to visit the lobby

As far as a busy thread. I have only stayed here twice previously and now I have 4 reservations in the next 4 months. I have 2 split stays.

Have to say the women here are as awesome as GF itself.

 

[mariamouse]

I know what you mean, the sounds are my favorite Discounts are so hard to predict WL is beautiful though. I often take the boat over just to visit the lobby As far as a busy thread. I have only stayed here twice previously and now I have 4 reservations in the next 4 months. I have 2 split stays. Have to say the women here are as awesome as GF itself.

Agreed on all counts! The lovely ladies on here are among my favorites on the DIS. k&a&c'smom knows how often I am posting on here even when I don't have a trip to the Grand planned!

 

[DisneyFave]

Hi everyone!!

I am very excited for my first GF stay (a lifelong dream) and my fist solo trip November 10-12. Just two nights since I'd start to miss the hubby after that, but I couldn't be happier and seriously think I might cry tears of joy when I check in. I'll also catch Food & Wine, the Osborne lights, and MVMCP!

I was wondering if anyone has a recommendation for a room request? I booked the cheapest level--outer building garden view. But since I like to write outside in the mornings, a nice balcony view wouldn't hurt

Also--will the Christmas decorations be up in the lobby by November 10?

Thanks y'all!!

 

[grannyminnie]

I agree grannyminnie.....sounds like more work than I would be up for . We are a go-with-flow kind of family and if we get a fastpass for a ride, great; if not, we're fine with that too. I love making ADRs and deciding where we're going to eat far in advance, but I just can't get into making a decision on rides ahead of time.....especially since we don't decide which park(s) we'll go to which day until we wake up that morning .



I would make sure connecting rooms is listed as a request on your reservation and then mention it again at check in. If you are not given connecting rooms upon check in, ask if they are available. Requests are not guaranteed, but the CM will do everything he/she can to accommodate you. If connecting rooms aren't available right away, they might be available later on in the day if you're willing to wait for your rooms. Good luck and have a great time at the GF .

We're the same way, mickeynut...make no plans except maybe a meal or two.

I just read your exciting news, Blue!! I wish you were going to be there the first week of November...
How exciting for you!! Two trips in such a short time!

Congrats on booking your first GF stay, DisneyFave! There's hardly a bad view in any of the buildings. The worse we ever had was in Big Pine Key. We had a view of the pool building..but looking all around that, everything else was lovely!

 

[DisneyMomx7]

Sorry if I missed the dates that you will be at the GF, but can you let us know again? I'll be there in July too!

July 18-25 at the GF and then we head over to HRH July 25-30!

 

[mickeynut1]

Well I have some exciting news to share... A good friend is going to Disney next month ..she and her DDs attend the MNSSHP every year...and I mentioned how much I enjoyed going in years past for the party..and she invited me to join them!!! Gotta love good Disney friends!!! So in a month I will be at WDW... And I couldnt be more excited... I need to go and make a new ticker...Now that I know how! LOL...

Love the ticker . How exciting that you get to go for Halloween. I love fall/Halloween time at Disney .

I think that would require our making three reservations, though. How good is Disney about keeping you in the same room even if you have different reservations at the same resort?

Sort of bummed to not return to a monorail resort-- we'll likely end up at the WL this time, which is certainly no hardship, but will miss the sounds of MK across Seven Seas Lagoon.

If you do have to make more than one reservation, have them linked together with a request to stay in the same room. When you check in, tell the CM that you have continuing reservations and would like to keep the same room if possible. It's only a request and is not guaranteed, but Disney will do everything they can to keep you in the same room .

I'm sure you'll have a great trip at the WL . It's not on the monorail, but the boat is great for going to MK, as well as to the CR to shop, dine, or just visit there and then hop on the monorail to visit the Poly and GF .

Have to say the women here are as awesome as GF itself.

I agree....everyone here is great .

Agreed on all counts! The lovely ladies on here are among my favorites on the DIS. k&a&c'smom knows how often I am posting on here even when I don't have a trip to the Grand planned!

I love posting here too, even when I don't have a GF trip planned .

Hi everyone!!

I am very excited for my first GF stay (a lifelong dream) and my fist solo trip November 10-12. Just two nights since I'd start to miss the hubby after that, but I couldn't be happier and seriously think I might cry tears of joy when I check in. I'll also catch Food & Wine, the Osborne lights, and MVMCP!

I was wondering if anyone has a recommendation for a room request? I booked the cheapest level--outer building garden view. But since I like to write outside in the mornings, a nice balcony view wouldn't hurt

Also--will the Christmas decorations be up in the lobby by November 10?

Thanks y'all!!

You are going to love the GF . I agree with grannyminnie that there isn't a bad room/view at the GF. There are some less desirable rooms/views, but nothing bad. We had a GV room in Big Pine Key and loved it as we had a nice view of the courtyard pool. With that said, as grannyminnie also posted, some of those views are of the back of the pool house, but if you get on a high floor, it's a nice view (but even the back of the pool house views aren't that bad). Boca Chica is also a great GV building .

We're the same way, mickeynut...make no plans except maybe a meal or two.

No plans is what makes our vacations relaxing .

 

[mariamouse]

If you do have to make more than one reservation, have them linked together with a request to stay in the same room. When you check in, tell the CM that you have continuing reservations and would like to keep the same room if possible. It's only a request and is not guaranteed, but Disney will do everything they can to keep you in the same room . I'm sure you'll have a great trip at the WL . It's not on the monorail, but the boat is great for going to MK, as well as to the CR to shop, dine, or just visit there and then hop on the monorail to visit the Poly and GF .

Thanks for the tip about placing a request!

And you are so right about the WL still being really convenient to the entire MK area. We actually prefer the AKL to the WL in general, but are finding the WL location hard to pass up this time around. It's been a while since we stayed there, so should be a nice change hopefully!

 

[Mainebound]

You should be fine for a February trip. The construction you saw was for the new GF villas, which is nearing completion with a mid-October opening date . Rumor has it that room refurbs are scheduled to start sometime next year, but Disney does a great job of doing those with little to no interference to guests .

Thanks so much!

 

[grannyminnie]

Thanks for the tip about placing a request!

And you are so right about the WL still being really convenient to the entire MK area. We actually prefer the AKL to the WL in general, but are finding the WL location hard to pass up this time around. It's been a while since we stayed there, so should be a nice change hopefully!

We like WL a lot, mariamouse, IF we can't stay at the GF...it's the "second-best" thing, I guess, because you ARE still in the MK area. (even if not on the monorail directly!) That WL lobby takes my breath away every time!

 

[MommyGina]

July 18-25 at the GF and then we head over to HRH July 25-30!

I will be at the GF the same time! We are checking in July 15 and leaving, sadly, on July 23. Staying in SL.

 

[mickeynut1]

Thanks for the tip about placing a request!

And you are so right about the WL still being really convenient to the entire MK area. We actually prefer the AKL to the WL in general, but are finding the WL location hard to pass up this time around. It's been a while since we stayed there, so should be a nice change hopefully!

You're welcome . We love AKL too. Some people don't like it because it's out of the way from everything, but that's one of things I love about it....it's peaceful and quiet. It's not as convenient to MK as the WL is, but it's still an amazing resort .

Thanks so much!

You're welcome .

We like WL a lot, mariamouse, IF we can't stay at the GF...it's the "second-best" thing, I guess, because you ARE still in the MK area. (even if not on the monorail directly!) That WL lobby takes my breath away every time!

I agree, grannyminnie....the WL is an awesome resort .

 

[TXPyroMom]

I'm sure this is posted somewhere, but I was wondering about how long it takes to get to each of the parks. Also, it it faster to take the boat back from the MK?

TIA

 

[trishadono]

I'm sure this is posted somewhere, but I was wondering about how long it takes to get to each of the parks. Also, it it faster to take the boat back from the MK?

TIA

For return from MK. Monorails run continually, so if you miss one then another in 4/5 minutes. The ride itself is about 20 minutes or so to get back to GF.

For the boat, it goes in a triangle. MK/GF/Poly. So if it just leaves it might be a wait until the next one comes. Sometimes they run two at once so if you see one at Poly that one is coming to MK next.

Therefore it depends on if a boat is arriving/there and how many people that are taking the boat. If not crowded than a quick ride(5min) back. BUT if a lot of people like after fireworks then the monorail would be faster.

Not sure of exact times but the ride to HS is 10 mins or so and AKL is farther , closer to 20. Epcot you take monoral to TTC and switch so total 20ish(10 and 10).

 

[SleepingBeauty69]

I'm sure this is posted somewhere, but I was wondering about how long it takes to get to each of the parks. Also, it it faster to take the boat back from the MK?

TIA

I have used the TWiz app in the past, it's still on my iPhone and its still working....not sure what veteran Disers think of it but you can plug in your starting point and your destination and it gives you "best" options, all with estimated times if that helps? They also have a website. If you google OLP Twiz you should be able to find it

 

[TXPyroMom]

For return from MK. Monorails run continually, so if you miss one then another in 4/5 minutes. The ride itself is about 20 minutes or so to get back to GF.

For the boat, it goes in a triangle. MK/GF/Poly. So if it just leaves it might be a wait until the next one comes. Sometimes they run two at once so if you see one at Poly that one is coming to MK next.

Therefore it depends on if a boat is arriving/there and how many people that are taking the boat. If not crowded than a quick ride(5min) back. BUT if a lot of people like after fireworks then the monorail would be faster.

Not sure of exact times but the ride to HS is 10 mins or so and AKL is farther , closer to 20. Epcot you take monoral to TTC and switch so total 20ish(10 and 10).

I have used the TWiz app in the past, it's still on my iPhone and its still working....not sure what veteran Disers think of it but you can plug in your starting point and your destination and it gives you "best" options, all with estimated times if that helps? They also have a website. If you google OLP Twiz you should be able to find it

Thank you both for your responses. I think I was over estimating times to get to the other parks. I'm glad to know that it won't take too long to get to any of the parks.

 

[DisneyMomx7]

I will be at the GF the same time! We are checking in July 15 and leaving, sadly, on July 23. Staying in SL.

Maybe we'll get to meet up!
We are staying TPV!

 

[mariamouse]

We like WL a lot, mariamouse, IF we can't stay at the GF...it's the "second-best" thing, I guess, because you ARE still in the MK area. (even if not on the monorail directly!) That WL lobby takes my breath away every time!

Thanks, grannyminnie! I'm sure we will have a great stay if we do end up there after all.

You're welcome . We love AKL too. Some people don't like it because it's out of the way from everything, but that's one of things I love about it....it's peaceful and quiet. It's not as convenient to MK as the WL is, but it's still an amazing resort .

It definitely is one of the most peaceful and quiet resorts! We love the lobby and the restaurants there, but the MK area is really drawing us in this time around for some reason..

 

[mickeynut1]

It definitely is one of the most peaceful and quiet resorts! We love the lobby and the restaurants there, but the MK area is really drawing us in this time around for some reason..

The MK area is our favorite (along with the WL ranking up there at the top), but the AKL lobby is beautiful and Boma is one of our favorites and Mara ranks right up there with Roaring Forks for us .