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

[k&a&c'smom]

April/May is a great time to go .

We love the F&G, but then again, if we are that close we may wait until the new HP is open at USO in June or July.

 

[mickeynut1]

We love the F&G, but then again, if we are that close we may wait until the new HP is open at USO in June or July.

It's funny you say that because I was just tossing around the idea of pushing our trip back to end of May/beginning of June . I can get a lesser discount for May/June (provided there is one) and still come out ahead over what it's costing us for March (even rack rate that time isn't far off from what I'm getting in March with 35% ). The killer for March is that it's peak season, so even with a good discount, the rates are still up there. But the thing that really got me rethinking March is airfare. Going down is up to $303/pp (just for that one way )......and it's $166 coming back......so without even doing the math for a total cost, I can say that's not happening.....LOL. I'm going to mull it over for awhile and keep an eye on airfare and who knows, maybe I'll be making a change (although just dates will change......the resort will stay the same ).

 

[ElenaJane]

Today I officially changed the wallpaper on my phone from a picture taken during our recent stay at Poly to a picture I took 2 weeks ago.



Took the boat from MK to Poly and got to see GF in a new light! 195 days to check in and see GF in person (and get a whole new set of photos!). I do kind of feel like I am cheating on Poly by staying at GF, but just don't tell Poly.

 

[mickeynut1]

Today I officially changed the wallpaper on my phone from a picture taken during our recent stay at Poly to a picture I took 2 weeks ago.

Took the boat from MK to Poly and got to see GF in a new light! 195 days to check in and see GF in person (and get a whole new set of photos!). I do kind of feel like I am cheating on Poly by staying at GF, but just don't tell Poly.

Beautiful pic....thanks for sharing .

The Poly is our favorite too, but the GF runs a close second. It's hard not to love the GF .

 

[followthatmouse]

This is the area I mean, I have a photo of the view - have to find it!

Ooh, a photo of our favourite table for breakfast! Thank you the smile I am now wearing.

 

[Mousemommy1]

I hope you are able to start planning another trip soon .

That spot is my favorite for sitting while having my morning coffee waiting for everyone else to get moving. It's a great place to sit and watch the resort "wake up" .

I agree about rack rate. I think WL and AKL are ok as far as rack rate if no discounts were available, but the other deluxe resorts are getting too high, especially for CL . Our March trip is pretty up there even with the 35% discount (peak season ) and although I have considered going cheaper, I just can't let go of that deluxe RPC room .

We are going in the value season with a 40% off and the rate for the RPC TPV room is still

I just have to make myself not think about it...

 

[mickeynut1]

Ooh, a photo of our favourite table for breakfast! Thank you the smile I am now wearing.

I love sitting at those tables next to the window....love the view of the courtyard pool .

We are going in the value season with a 40% off and the rate for the RPC TPV room is still

I just have to make myself not think about it...

No doubt about it.....RPC is pricey. I got 35% off for March for the deluxe room (only had 20% for CR which was peak rate and 30% for Poly which was holiday rate when we were booked for this December), so 35% is great considering, but still a lot....then add outrageous airfare and it's crazy . Needless to say, May/June is looking better and better .....especially since rack rates are less.......so even with a 30% discount, it's not as much as what March is with a higher discount. But, since I can't convince my DSs to go back to an Epcot resort, the Poly pool being closed, and the CR pool not doing anything for me, GF it is.....just have to make a decision when to go . Good thing my DH has a very flexible schedule and can take time off whenever he wants or I would be in trouble .

 

[Mousemommy1]

I love sitting at those tables next to the window....love the view of the courtyard pool .



No doubt about it.....RPC is pricey. I got 35% off for March for the deluxe room (only had 20% for CR which was peak rate and 30% for Poly which was holiday rate when we were booked for this December), so 35% is great considering, but still a lot....then add outrageous airfare and it's crazy . Needless to say, May/June is looking better and better .....especially since rack rates are less.......so even with a 30% discount, it's not as much as what March is with a higher discount. But, since I can't convince my DSs to go back to an Epcot resort, the Poly pool being closed, and the CR pool not doing anything for me, GF it is.....just have to make a decision when to go . Good thing my DH has a very flexible schedule and can take time off whenever he wants or I would be in trouble .

It's a good thing that my DH doesn't really have a breakdown of how much is spent on the resort!!!

But, it won't get any cheaper than what I've got, so if I don't do it now I probably never will and then I'll regret it.

 

[mickeynut1]

It's a good thing that my DH doesn't really have a breakdown of how much is spent on the resort!!!

My DH never wants to be bothered with details . He tells me to book what I want and doesn't want to know what it costs.....all he wants to know are the dates we'll be gone . But I will say that he knows I would never book something that was out of our budget, so he's fine with whatever I do .

 

[Mousemommy1]

My DH never wants to be bothered with details . He tells me to book what I want and doesn't want to know what it costs.....all he wants to know are the dates we'll be gone . But I will say that he knows I would never book something that was out of our budget, so he's fine with whatever I do .

Sounds exactly like my DH!

I get a number to stay within and take it from there. I have to say that I am coming in $600 under budget for this GF/Dream trip!

I usually have a lot more to spare though...guess I'm just making up for those years...

 

[mickeynut1]

Sounds exactly like my DH!

I get a number to stay within and take it from there. I have to say that I am coming in $600 under budget for this GF/Dream trip!

I usually have a lot more to spare though...guess I'm just making up for those years...

I wish my DH would give me a number to stay within....I'm on my own....which is sometimes dangerous . I don't even get suggestions on where to stay.....my two DSs just tell me where NOT to stay . I'd love to do an AKL CL/RPC split, but we'd have to go for at least 9 or 10 nights for a split and since we're doing the 4 night cruise + WDW stays before and after in December next year, I need to quit while I'm ahead . Plus a girls weekend might be in the works, so it may be a busy Disney year in 2014 for me.....LOL.

 

[disneydreamin247]

k&a&c'smom You should see the witch she is now! Very independent and strong willed. No idea where that comes from.

 

[followthatmouse]

Budget? What Budget?

 

[mickeynut1]

Budget? What Budget?

Exactly......budget and GF don't quite go together

 

[Mousemommy1]

Exactly......budget and GF don't quite go together

No. No, they don't.

And, ooooh, a girls trip!! Did that last month and it was fab!!!

Stayed at POFQ though since the fam and I were at YC CL for 10 nights in April....

 

[mickeynut1]

And, ooooh, a girls trip!! Did that last month and it was fab!!!

They are fun, aren't they?

Each time I went I had a great time, although I did miss my DH and both of my boys......but it was nice to get away with friends for some me time .

 

[bethclayton]

Music Several nites that we were there Christian Frederick was the pianist...If you have not ever heard him play..take some time to listen..he is incredible...

GF Society Orchestra was as fun to listen too as always.. LOL..Ok I know that is a rock band smilie..but its as close as I could get!


Courtyard Pool... I am getting used to the fencing ..they certainly did a nice job at choosing something that blends with the rest of the resort... I did spend some pool time there...in some very comfy chairs... a new addition is a chair with a small ottoman and nice change from a traditional counge chair..and lots more small tables next to the chairs..Still..really miss all of the umbrella tables that were around the whole pool area... this too was very crowded..many of the lounge and chairs taken...

Blue, thanks for the additional review! loved reading it! i agree, CF and the GFSO are wonderful. I have both CD's and listen to them often when it the pool or hot tub because it makes me feel like i'm on vacation! they're SO not my usual kind of music but somehow i just love them anyway. the the GFSO guys are so nice, i had them take a pic with ds who just recently started playing the trumpet and they were just great.

i also agree about the fencing- it really is fine. those chairs with ottomans sound great. i don't recall seeing them when we were there in august. but, the pool was closed a LOT for lightning so we were only in the pool area once, briefly.

Sorry! We can be buddies, waiting to plan our next stay. I'm not sure when DD will be able to get time off work, so I have to wait. How is your job going?

Second that on the non-rack rule. It has gone up so much in the last few years, I can't bring myself to pay rack...ever. Good luck with your discount hunt. Oh, and I giggle every time someone says, "first world problems" - my middle child tells me that every time I dither over two choices anyone would love to have.

k&a&c'smom, yes, at least someone other than me on this thread doesn't have another trip planned; that's one way to look at it! the job situation is crazy and a really long story. but the abridged version is that they have had to "come crawling back" multiple times to ask me to take on more hours and more responsibilities that they had originally cut back in august. it's a disaster, and i am very conflicted. but i am LOVING not working full time, that part has been glorious!

mickeynut, mousemommy, and k&a&c'smom, i, too, agree about rack rate. i won't pay it, period, and i also do not believe i would ever go during peak season. i can't see paying a fortune to deal with those crowds (i really, really, really hate crowds, and i also have no patience for long lines, lol).

PS for those of you who may not know, trips from the GF to the MK are really quick taking the monorail there, and the boat home.

Also, before our trip there were reports here of the monorail being down during the day, but we never encountered that issue at all.

pea-n-me, thanks again for such great pics, i especially loved the ones in the main building. and the one you took of the splash area- i don't think i've seen one yet from that perspective. it illustrates the changes to the beach area really well!

when we visited in 2012 the monorail was also "down" but it actually never really was, any of the times we needed it... so we had the same experience you did.

and i agree with both you and k&a&c'smom and elenajane- we, too, take the monorail to the MK and boat back at the end of the day. i love waiting in the relaxing boat area after a long day instead of the monorail, and that boat ride is just to die for.

elenajane, thank you for sharing that beautiful pic!

We are going in the value season with a 40% off and the rate for the RPC TPV room is still

I just have to make myself not think about it...

My DH never wants to be bothered with details . He tells me to book what I want and doesn't want to know what it costs.....all he wants to know are the dates we'll be gone . But I will say that he knows I would never book something that was out of our budget, so he's fine with whatever I do .

Sounds exactly like my DH!

I get a number to stay within and take it from there. I have to say that I am coming in $600 under budget for this GF/Dream trip!

I usually have a lot more to spare though...guess I'm just making up for those years...

mousemommy1 and mickeynut, i, too, have a dh that leaves all the planning to me. including determining a budget. the downside is that if i somehow mess up our finances by "going too big," i would also be the one to get us out of that mess! it's ok, though, i am totally the tightwad between the two of us, so he knows i'll never overdo it.

it's a beautiful, crisp day here today! i have the day off today and am looking forward to the mere fact that i won't be at work! i'm off to drop the kids at school, take a nice 3 mile walk with a neighbor through the pretty fall leaves, and then some cleaning and maybe even some crafting. have great day, everyone!

 

[soulmates]

We're taking the WHOLE family next Oct and they want to stay at BLT. Sounds great; monorail resort yadyadayda. We've never stayed so that would be nice...however, we MAY have to split our group up because the chance of getting 3 rooms at 7 months out is slim. That being said, I thought how much I've always wanted to stay at the Grand Floridian but it was just out of our budget. With our DVC it's now a reality. Has anyone stayed in the 1 bedrooms and how far of a walk is it to the monorail?

Thanks Everyone!

Chris

 

[k&a&c'smom]

It's funny you say that because I was just tossing around the idea of pushing our trip back to end of May/beginning of June. I can get a lesser discount for May/June (provided there is one) and still come out ahead over what it's costing us for March (even rack rate that time isn't far off from what I'm getting in March with 35% ). The killer for March is that it's peak season, so even with a good discount, the rates are still up there. But the thing that really got me rethinking March is airfare. Going down is up to $303/pp (just for that one way )......and it's $166 coming back......so without even doing the math for a total cost, I can say that's not happening.....LOL. I'm going to mull it over for awhile and keep an eye on airfare and who knows, maybe I'll be making a change (although just dates will change......the resort will stay the same ).

LOL about possible changes. I don't blame you, paying those incredibly high peak rates are maddening. Good luck, I hope you are able to work it so you end up with the best deal all around - air, resort, etc. That's always my goal!

Today I officially changed the wallpaper on my phone from a picture taken during our recent stay at Poly to a picture I took 2 weeks ago.


Took the boat from MK to Poly and got to see GF in a new light! 195 days to check in and see GF in person (and get a whole new set of photos!). I do kind of feel like I am cheating on Poly by staying at GF, but just don't tell Poly.

Thanks for the lovely photo, we don't often see Conch & Sago from that angle.

We'll keep the secret.

Ooh, a photo of our favourite table for breakfast! Thank you the smile I am now wearing.

We are going in the value season with a 40% off and the rate for the RPC TPV room is still

I just have to make myself not think about it...

I know, right?! We had 40% off in April and it was still crazy high, which is why I say I won't pay rack ever again.

Budget? What Budget?

LOL - I had to quote this after the budgeting discussion, as that was my response, too. Budget, schmudget! I set mine, then it inches up...and up...and up.

k&a&c'smom You should see the witch she is now! Very independent and strong willed. No idea where that comes from.

I know she's adorable.

Blue, thanks for the additional review! loved reading it! i agree, CF and the GFSO are wonderful. I have both CD's and listen to them often when it the pool or hot tub because it makes me feel like i'm on vacation! .... the the GFSO guys are so nice, i had them take a pic with ds who just recently started playing the trumpet and they were just great.

....
k&a&c'smom, yes, at least someone other than me on this thread doesn't have another trip planned; that's one way to look at it! the job situation is crazy and a really long story. but the abridged version is that they have had to "come crawling back" multiple times to ask me to take on more hours and more responsibilities that they had originally cut back in august. it's a disaster, and i am very conflicted. but i am LOVING not working full time, that part has been glorious!

mickeynut, mousemommy, and k&a&c'smom, i, too, agree about rack rate. i won't pay it, period, and i also do not believe i would ever go during peak season. i can't see paying a fortune to deal with those crowds (i really, really, really hate crowds, and i also have no patience for long lines, lol).
....

it's a beautiful, crisp day here today! i have the day off today and am looking forward to the mere fact that i won't be at work! i'm off to drop the kids at school, take a nice 3 mile walk with a neighbor through the pretty fall leaves, and then some cleaning and maybe even some crafting. have great day, everyone!

We love the GFSO and Chris, too (and all the other pianists, hate to leave them out!). I need to get the CDs, we keep forgetting and the one trip I remembered, Sandy Cove was closed and they didn't have them up at M. Mouse.

LOL about paying a fortune to fight through crowds. Amen, sister! We went one year on Easter week and swore never again. We were cheek to cheek in MK, it was awful.

Enjoy your day, sounds glorious! And I'm glad they've had to crawl back asking you to take more hours - ha!

We're taking the WHOLE family next Oct and they want to stay at BLT. Sounds great; monorail resort yadyadayda. We've never stayed so that would be nice...however, we MAY have to split our group up because the chance of getting 3 rooms at 7 months out is slim. That being said, I thought how much I've always wanted to stay at the Grand Floridian but it was just out of our budget. With our DVC it's now a reality. Has anyone stayed in the 1 bedrooms and how far of a walk is it to the monorail?

Thanks Everyone!

Chris

I think there have been a few posters on the DVC forum that have posted about the 1 BR, and I think BlueSkies toured one. (hint, hint) If I'm not mistaken, everyone is saying the walk from the VGF to the Main Bldg. is 3-4 minutes and from the photos of the path, that sounds about right to me. You would have to add a couple minutes for the elevator in the Main Bldg., just in case, or of course you can take the stairs.

Good luck, sounds like a great trip! Oh, and I found a review of the 1 BR at VGF for you.

 

[soulmates]

I think there have been a few posters on the DVC forum that have posted about the 1 BR, and I think BlueSkies toured one. (hint, hint) If I'm not mistaken, everyone is saying the walk from the VGF to the Main Bldg. is 3-4 minutes and from the photos of the path, that sounds about right to me. You would have to add a couple minutes for the elevator in the Main Bldg., just in case, or of course you can take the stairs.

Good luck, sounds like a great trip! Oh, and I found a review of the 1 BR at VGF for you.[/QUOTE]

What a doll!! Thanks for the Trip Report!!!!