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

[DisneyBelle99]

Hello Fellow GF lovers! We are working on a last minute trip might see my beloved GF next week!!!!!!

 

[mickeynut1]

Thank you, thread! I have always avoided GF because I didn't like the look of the rooms. But now that I read about the refurb, I booked Sugar Loaf for the 2nd week of July! If they start the refurb in SL in June, I hope they will be complete by 2nd week of July. Any one know? The GF is the only deluxe we haven't tried yet. My 8yo is really looking forward to the Mad Hatter's splash zone; she was pining for it when we walked by on our way back from dinner to the Poly last summer.

Congrats on booking the GF . The GF is a beautiful resort, I'm sure you'll have an awesome stay .

Good luck with your December trip planning - and the temps! Spring will arrive, but whether or not it will be soon is another question.

DS is doing well, thanks, he goes for his Thyrogen shot today and tomorrow, in advance of the iodine treatment later this week.

Thanks about the trip planning . I haven't booked yet, but I'm working on it. Hopefully it works out that we can head down for a few days .

LOL on spring.....we are due for another cold snap tonight into tomorrow as well as tomorrow night into Thursday, so winter doesn't seem to be going away any time soon .

I hope everything went well with DS today . Sending good thoughts for the other shot tomorrow as well as his treatment coming up next week .

Hello Fellow GF lovers! We are working on a last minute trip might see my beloved GF next week!!!!!!

How exciting....have a great time .

 

[mmkenn]

baler31, it is our favorite, too! We have it requested for our next trip. I am making a note to photograph the wallpaper, pictures and certain pieces of furniture. We will be there before the renovations attack the RPC.

Based on all the recommendations here, we have requested this room too!!

 

[BreezysMom]

Hi all! Thanks for the nice welcome!

It is official now! After getting hubby and daughter to relent and move from the Poly to the GF I contacted my TA and we are officially moved! I look forward spending the next few months leaning all there is to know about the GF!

Before our very first trip to Disney I dreamed of staying at the GF and while the Poly will always be my fav I cannot fathom the mess that the resort is and could possibly be in come October and being that this is the first time we are heading back in two years I want to not stress about construction and it forces us to try another resort which is a good thing!

While we are used to staying CL, we decided to pass this trip. So it will be a new trip all around!!

Nothing beats fall at Disney! Food and Wine and MNSSHP! I can't wait!

Happy Planning all!

 

[k&a&c'smom]

BlueSkies, are you posting right now?!

MommyGina -

MommyGina, if you see us introduce yourself)) I'll be the short lady drinking a glass(es) of wine while pretending to listen to my even shorter 8 and 12 year old girls argue.

k&a&c'smom, thanks!

LOL about "glass(es) of wine"!

Hello Fellow GF lovers! We are working on a last minute trip might see my beloved GF next week!!!!!!

Ooh, fingers crossed! I love last minute trips!

....

Thanks about the trip planning . I haven't booked yet, but I'm working on it. Hopefully it works out that we can head down for a few days .

LOL on spring.....we are due for another cold snap tonight into tomorrow as well as tomorrow night into Thursday, so winter doesn't seem to be going away any time soon .

I hope everything went well with DS today . Sending good thoughts for the other shot tomorrow as well as his treatment coming up next week .

Argh! We had snow overnight. Dropped to 12 degrees, there was a slight chance of flurries, but I didn't think we'd get it. Luckily, it was a dusting - nothing major, it's just that I hate snow and we've had far more than I'd like this winter. More projected for Friday and Sunday. I shouldn't complain, it's much colder for you, I think.*I need a teeth chattering smiley, lol*

Thanks about DS, his shots went fine. Tomorrow's the big day, then it should be finished for a while, anyway.

Based on all the recommendations here, we have requested this room too!!

You'll love the deluxe queen room, so much space! We joked you could play catch in those rooms.

Hi all! Thanks for the nice welcome!

It is official now! After getting hubby and daughter to relent and move from the Poly to the GF I contacted my TA and we are officially moved! I look forward spending the next few months leaning all there is to know about the GF!

Before our very first trip to Disney I dreamed of staying at the GF and while the Poly will always be my fav I cannot fathom the mess that the resort is and could possibly be in come October and being that this is the first time we are heading back in two years I want to not stress about construction and it forces us to try another resort which is a good thing!

While we are used to staying CL, we decided to pass this trip. So it will be a new trip all around!!

Nothing beats fall at Disney! Food and Wine and MNSSHP! I can't wait!

Happy Planning all!

YAY! Now, on to the planning! You will love the Grand, it's so lovely, similar to the Poly in that you enjoy just strolling the grounds in the beautiful landscaping.

Don't blame you a bit, the construction from summer through fall at the Poly sounds pretty dire!

I think you've made a good decision regarding CL. We do not book it when we plan to be in the parks a lot - and with F&W, you will be eating more snacks in the parks so it would be kind of a waste. MMMMM, F&W... (That's the best I can do to represent snacking around the World.)

 

[mickeynut1]

Hi all! Thanks for the nice welcome!

It is official now! After getting hubby and daughter to relent and move from the Poly to the GF I contacted my TA and we are officially moved! I look forward spending the next few months leaning all there is to know about the GF!

Before our very first trip to Disney I dreamed of staying at the GF and while the Poly will always be my fav I cannot fathom the mess that the resort is and could possibly be in come October and being that this is the first time we are heading back in two years I want to not stress about construction and it forces us to try another resort which is a good thing!

While we are used to staying CL, we decided to pass this trip. So it will be a new trip all around!!

Nothing beats fall at Disney! Food and Wine and MNSSHP! I can't wait!

Happy Planning all!

Congrats on being officially moved to the GF . I understand about the Poly and not wanting to deal with construction. With that said, the GF is a great alternative and I'm sure you'll have an awesome time. You will find a lot of great information on this thread from some very friendly, as well as very informative, GF lovers . I agree, fall at Disney is great, with MNSSHP being one of my favorite things to do during that time of year .

 

[mickeynut1]

BlueSkies, are you posting right now?!

Argh! We had snow overnight. Dropped to 12 degrees, there was a slight chance of flurries, but I didn't think we'd get it. Luckily, it was a dusting - nothing major, it's just that I hate snow and we've had far more than I'd like this winter. More projected for Friday and Sunday. I shouldn't complain, it's much colder for you, I think.*I need a teeth chattering smiley, lol*

Thanks about DS, his shots went fine. Tomorrow's the big day, then it should be finished for a while, anyway.

Looks like Blue is slacking .....(JK Blue ).

No snow here (for now), but very cold temps....with even colder temps due overnight tonight and tomorrow .....with that said, the forecast yesterday showed we could get up to 10-12" of snow Sunday into Monday . Will it ever stop???

Glad everything went well for DS . Hope everything goes just as well tomorrow .

 

[pas130]

Nice to see some of the friendly poly peeps trying out GF, very cool!! Snowing in Jersey today, and luckily I have a moment to hop in and say hi to my friends here

 

[mickeynut1]

Nice to see some of the friendly poly peeps trying out GF, very cool!! Snowing in Jersey today, and luckily I have a moment to hop in and say hi to my friends here

Hi pas.....good to "see" you .....hope things are going well with you .

I agree about the Poly peeps trying the GF . The Poly will always be my favorite, but the GF is also .

 

[BlueSkies]

Good afternoon All...

BlueSkies, are you posting right now?!

Oops...missed our tandem posting this morning! Its been one of "those" days..lol..Getting better tho...

Looks like Blue is slacking .....(JK Blue )..

Who you calling a slacker girl!!!??????????? JK.. lol...Here I am!!

Nice to see some of the friendly poly peeps trying out GF, very cool!! Snowing in Jersey today, and luckily I have a moment to hop in and say hi to my friends here

Hey there pas

We are finally staying at the VGF. Can't wait.

We usually travel to DW in Sept but this year we are going the last two weeks of June. Because of the time of year and the limitations with FP+ we are going to take advantage of rope drop.

My question is what time should we arrive at the platform for the monorail in order to make rope drop for 8:00am MK? Also, where is the monorail at gf?

thanks

I would get to the monorail at 7:30...platform is on the second floor of the main building... Doing RD sounds like the best way to get the most out of the limitations with the new FFP... congrats on booking VGF..those villas are just lovely...

This is great news! I was hoping that this would be the case and am delighted to hear of your good experience! Thanks for letting us know. If there is more availability to the point of even being able to reliably walk in to some places for TS that would put back some of the spontaneity I feel I am losing as everything becomes so planned to the hour.

Boy do I miss those days of spontaneity... I bet that the ability to walk up to a TS will be an option in the future...during less crowded times at least...

Thank you, thread! I have always avoided GF because I didn't like the look of the rooms. But now that I read about the refurb, I booked Sugar Loaf for the 2nd week of July! If they start the refurb in SL in June, I hope they will be complete by 2nd week of July. Any one know? The GF is the only deluxe we haven't tried yet. My 8yo is really looking forward to the Mad Hatter's splash zone; she was pining for it when we walked by on our way back from dinner to the Poly last summer.

Judging by the refurb schedule..you will be in some brand spanking new rooms in July! How nice!

Hi SwirlyGirly - All work will be completed in the SL building at the end of June. It will be open for July. I will be there the same time as you in SL! My kids, since they were small, have loved the GF! They have never wanted to stay anywhere else.

Hi Blue and k&a&c'smom!

Hi again MommyGina... How is the college wait going???

MommyGina, if you see us introduce yourself)) I'll be the short lady drinking a glass(es) of wine while pretending to listen to my even shorter 8 and 12 year old girls argue...

Hello Fellow GF lovers! We are working on a last minute trip might see my beloved GF next week!!!!!!

How exciting! Last minute trips are such fun! Maybe you will be in one of the recently refurbed rooms!

baler Lovely pic...what a zoom! Such a nice view...

~GF thought of the day....lol..I am curious as to what the lounges will look like after the refurbs.... I am guessing that the color scheme will change...I thought all blues ( my fave ) and soft greens...but looks like based on the recent refurbed rooms those might not be the primary colors... Guess we will all have to wait until July...

After having almost spring like temps..its snowing again ............ Is this winter ever going to be over???

Hope that you are all having a wonderful Wednesday...

 

[mickeynut1]

Who you calling a slacker girl!!!??????????? JK.. lol...Here I am!!

~GF thought of the day....lol..I am curious as to what the lounges will look like after the refurbs.... I am guessing that the color scheme will change...I thought all blues ( my fave ) and soft greens...but looks like based on the recent refurbed rooms those might not be the primary colors... Guess we will all have to wait until July...

It's about time you showed up .

Interesting thought......I never thought of the lounges .

 

[baler31]

I never thought about the lounge. I guess we will see if they do SL's lounge. I don't know if they will refurb the suites, I know at CR they did not when they did the initial refurb.

Here is another photo. My pictures are far from great but it has been one of those weeks and I just would so love to be sitting in the lobby/lounge or frankly even on top of a trash can at GF.

 

[mickeynut1]

Here is another photo. My pictures are far from great but it has been one of those weeks and I just would so love to be sitting in the lobby/lounge or frankly even on top of a trash can at GF.

Great pic....makes me want to be at the GF right now . LOL on sitting on top of a trash can just to be at the GF .

 

[davale4]

~GF thought of the day....lol..I am curious as to what the lounges will look like after the refurbs.... I am guessing that the color scheme will change...I thought all blues ( my fave ) and soft greens...but looks like based on the recent refurbed rooms those might not be the primary colors... Guess we will all have to wait until July...

After having almost spring like temps..its snowing again ............ Is this winter ever going to be over???

Hope that you are all having a wonderful Wednesday...

I've had the same thought on my mind about the lounges. Just wondering if they were also getting a refurb because the refurbed room colors don't go with it. I was thinking that it was going to look odd if the lounges remained the same.

I'm also with you on this winter. It just seems never ending. We also had snow today and just heard of more for next week .

 

[BlueSkies]

baler Thank you for sharing yet another lovely photo..that GF lobby is so beautiful...and cheerful and welcoming..lol..should I go on???????? Wish I was there right now too....

I am thinking that the suites need a refurb as much as the other rooms do...looking foward to seeing what it all ends up looking like...

MickeyNut Yep just sitting anywhere woud be so GRAND!

Davale Uggh..the endless winter..more snow.... I agree..everything from the rooms to the suites to the lounges generally blend...so it will be interesting to see what the refurbs bring...

I keep thinking that since the lobby area of the main building "pool" elevator was redone in the blues and greens..looking very much like the color scheme in Gaspies..that it will carry up to the lounge areas??? SL too... A very relaxing palette...but then I thought that about the rooms too... We shall see...

k&a&c'smom Are you here posting too??? LOL...

grannyminnie

Was on MDE reviewing our plans and saw the countdown until our MBs ship...

Hope that you are all having a terrific Thursday! And keeping warm too!

 

[Lisann]

:and I just would so love to be sitting in the lobby/lounge or frankly even on top of a trash can at GF.

I'm cracking up! YES! The trash can would be fine!!

I would love to be anywhere in that great big beautiful lobby, especially since I'm tired of all this cold weather!!

 

[bocaj1431]

YAY! Very exciting.

The monorail station is on the second floor of the main building. It takes about 2 minutes to get to the MK from GF, once you board the monorail. We try to get to the monorail station about 20-30 minutes early, if we hope to be at the MK for rope drop. That gives enough time if you've just missed the monorail or if there are so many guests you have to wait for a second one, then get through bag check and the gates. If you prefer to get there right at opening, rather than stand around waiting, you can cut it even closer.

(oops cut oof info to show who posted orig qoute). Thank you k&a&c'smom



Thank you for the information!

Also, thank you to blue skies for your info on the times for rope drop.

And, thank you to Mickey nut for your welcome to the GF.

 

[mickeynut1]

MickeyNut Yep just sitting anywhere woud be so GRAND!

I would love to be anywhere in that great big beautiful lobby, especially since I'm tired of all this cold weather!!

I agree. Our temps were only in the teens today and there is the possibility for us to get up to a foot of snow this weekend . Will it ever end????

And, thank you to Mickey nut for your welcome to the GF.

 

[SwirlyGirly]

Judging by the refurb schedule..you will be in some brand spanking new rooms in July! How nice! :good vibes

I just realized that I'm following a path that Disney has laid out for me. I'm a sheep, I guess. Last year we hit Poly just after the refurb. The year before it was the WL and they said we were the first in our particular room after the refurb. Now it looks like I'm doing it again at the GF. Humm, I wonder where they'll lead me next year!

 

[wishicouldgomoreofte]

I just realized that I'm following a path that Disney has laid out for me. I'm a sheep, I guess. Last year we hit Poly just after the refurb. The year before it was the WL and they said we were the first in our particular room after the refurb. Now it looks like I'm doing it again at the GF. Humm, I wonder where they'll lead me next year!