"Having a GRAND time - The Official GF Chat Thread"

[praline3001]

more picture testing.... seeing if i can link myspace pics to here...

 

[praline3001]

okay wishes... if you have a myspace page (you can create one for free if you wish) you can upload photos from my space and link them to this board. My space does allow for private viewing of albums. Of course if you post it to this thread that pic wont be private any longer

 

[Lives4Disney]

Brook - CUTE pics!!! OMG...I laughed at that last one!! What a funny shot...she's gonna kill you in 10 yrs....and to know you put it up here on the web!!! The horses are adorable!!! I grew up on the country and my cousins (next door) had horses and we'd ride a lot. What fun!!!! My girls always wanted ponies. We only have two acres and I am not up for the care and cost, so they are outa luck there!!

Mare, I bet that's it - you;re right about the AC....we rented it in March and Nov, so it wasn't an issue and went untouched.

Mandy - I love the cute baby shower cake!!

SPacec - That's a lot of cake for $90. They must have run out of castles or something. I think usually that cake would have cost much more, but I understand it wasn't what you ordered. That's a bummer.

I LOVE birthday cake!!! The only gross or yucky ones have been from the GF....really only the one Minnie head cake...the rest have been yummy. I usually order Chocolate for Jo and with custard and fresh strawberry filling...I do the buttercream as whipped turns me off. The cakes we get out here are scrumptious. I never thought there was such a thing as a bad birthday cake!!!!

Annette, email the IPO...I don't have their addy handy, but it's at the front page of the GF thread. Just ask them about this service. We are repeat guests so maybe that helps us, but I think they would get first pick - RPC guests pay top dollar and expect service & perks. So many times I have seen the cabanas empty!!! I hope you at least get the self serv ones for part of the time. A lot of people don't know those are FREE.

 

[mandymommy4]

maybe this will help jog your memory
I took her to the ranch all dolled up and she turned into a farm hand and is filthy in her new dress

I would have a panic attack....... in fact my hearts starting to race seeing all that dirt around that gymbo dress i'm pyscho with a tide pen and bibsters.....

I love that dress! They have a new line out that is so cute, Lady Daisy! I just bought a new Vera purse in Lady Bird and I want my girls to have those gymbo daisy dresses..... i'm a sucker for matchy matchy family looks

 

[praline3001]

I would have a panic attack....... in fact my hearts starting to race seeing all that dirt around that gymbo dress i'm pyscho with a tide pen and bibsters.....

I love that dress! They have a new line out that is so cute, Lady Daisy! I just bought a new Vera purse in Lady Bird and I want my girls to have those gymbo daisy dresses..... i'm a sucker for matchy matchy family looks

OXICLEAN baby
She usually doesn't wear gymbo to the ranch but it was Easter and I wanted some cute pics... that WAS me keeping her clean up there!!! You should see her when we go to the ranch on a NORMAL day
I swear you would not recognize her!!! Heck I can't find her under all the dirt...but she is happy and loves working with the horses

I did see that Daisy line. I liked the yellow and white short outfit but I am not too crazy about all the black in the daisy dress

 

[praline3001]

this is the short outfit I am thinking of getting her

 

[mandymommy4]

Brook ~ thanks for the FYI about linking pics from myspace.....

I'm giving it a try so hopefully heres my two oldest girls at BBB......
Lilly

Emma

 

[mandymommy4]

this is the short outfit I am thinking of getting her

LOVE IT! your lucky you only have one girl, I can't resist buying it for all 3 of mine! If I had only one girl I would only buy gymbo....

 

[praline3001]

they are adorable!!!!!! I love princesses~~

Yeah I am testing different ways to upload pics... it seems kodak easyshare doesn't link to here... my links worked for 2 minutes and than POOF they were gone

my space looks like it works pretty good.

 

[marcij]

Boy, I go on a business trip and all heck breaks loose on here. It took me forever to catch up, as you guys have been chatty. I was out in Anaheim for a business conference, but did fit some time in for DL and DCA. Did you guys know that they are working on new theming for DCA, and it will be called Disney's California (at least that's what I was told).

I stayed at the Grand Californian and liked it. Not as much as our beloved GF, but it was still fun. I had dinner twice at Napa Rose -- it was divine! That chef's table is awesome! So, thanks for the advice some of you gave me.

We did this on Wed., 12/5. Not a hugely busy time of year, but the night before at the MVMCP, the place was PACKED. I have never seen the MK look like that, particularly on a party night. I had to resort to wielding an empty Coke bottle above my head to guide my family through the crowds - it was NOT pretty. All we accomplished that night (other than the 1st parade and fireworks) was the TTA, Buzz Lightyear, and IASW. Then the majority of the family bailed to go back to the resort (amateurs!) - my parents and I stayed and did a couple of the shows, walked around, shopped, etc.

I think I might have broken out in hives if I had had to face the MK the next day "on my own". Everyone had such high expectations traveling with me and DH, and it was just so exhausting after a while. To get to just enjoy my nieces' reactions to everything and not have to worry about FP return times, standby lines, when does this character come out/when, was just fabulous for a day.

I can't remember where our guide started out (although she originally did the college program). She was fantastic, and very much an asset to the Disney company. Marci from this thread has also used her, and might be able to offer some insight into how she got started - but yes, I don't think you can just be hired straight into Guest Relations!



I just wanted to give a perspective of someone who's actually done it. I know you guys wouldn't think I'm a dummy, and even so, it was worth every penny to me and my family, so that's all that matters in the end!

I don't think they advertise or guarantee any FOTL access, due to potential crowd levels - I think it does depend some on that. It's easiest on FP attractions, because we'd just enter the FP line with our guide. The only non-FP attraction we walked right on to was the Tomorrowland Speedway (thank God for that!), and she had arranged some "PD" for that to happen.

The other neat thing was the character interaction - we got some great extended time with Mickey and Ariel, and she knew right when Alice and the Mad Hatter were coming out near the tea cups, and we have the cutest pic of my niece walking between the 2 of them, holding their hands, while they all talked nonsense to each other! They easily spent a good 5+ mins with just my 2 nieces, talking to them on their level, posing for pics, etc.

And the parade viewing was the best. You're in a roped off spot just as the parade passes over the bridge between Liberty Square and FL - and since there's no one else on the other side of the parade route, they totally play to your group - all the characters came by and interacted with my nieces, blew kisses, talked to them, etc. Very cool.



I think, if you can swing it $$, this would be a prime time to do the guide. Marci might be able to come along and testify to this - she used a guide around that time last year.

How many are in your group? If you have more than 10 people, you need 2 guides (doubly expensive, but you could split up at times, and have the older kids go one way, while the young ones go another).

Brook -- Lindsay did a terrific job of explaining everything, but I'm also happy to answer any questions. I've done the guide the week between Christmas and New Years, as well as in the heat/crowd of the summer. I originally tried it because we only had a couple of days in the parks before getting on DCL and I wanted to do a split park AKL/DHS in one day, and we were able to do that. After that, I was hooked... We had that small front row bench for FOTLK - the kids were picked for before and during the show, great seats for Lights, Motor, Action, etc. We had multiple fast passes to use even after we left our guide. I'm spoiled for life. Yes, I could do the parks by myself, and will continue to do so, but I'll have at least one VIP guide day as well. (Unfortunately, my favorite guide is leaving in May, but I met so many others that I have several I can ask for from now on.) So, here's your warning that it is totally addictive!

Me - I'm more of a George Clooney (or Dr. McDreamy ) kind of gal.

But I must say, Johnny is looking mighty hot in that last shot!

Me too!

Here is my REAL boy friend but shhh don't tell DH

Beautiful eye candy! And yes, 100% Texan. In fact, he went to THE University. (Lindsay knows this means University of Texas... ) We went to the first Rose Bowl game that UT played in (not the national championship one) and he was walking the sidelines. I can tell you my binoculars were not focused on the game.

and this is the guy I am cheating on with Mathew:

Nice! Did you see the story about what Faith did when someone in the audience grabbed at Tim? Let's just say she let her know not to do it again...

Okay ladies - I need some creativity here...

So, I called and left a message for Linda AGAIN in PD. About five minutes later, I get a response from my e-mail earlier in the week saying that they can do an 8" yellow cake with white chocolate mousse filling and white chocolate ganache icing, it's a wonderful cake, blah, blah, blah, and then gives me the GF PD regular # to call to order. No acknowledgment of my request for something creative.

I call the PD line, and ask about the cake. I ask what my other options are for icing and/or filling, as a) that sounds like a bit too much white chocolate to me, and b) I can't get my head wrapped around what a white chocolate ganace icing would taste like. I ask about the custard/strawberry filling (as my mom would probably like that), and I'm told no, that's just for 10", and that my icing options are basically plain buttercream, chocolate buttercream, and whipped (ick).

Frustrated, I move on and ask about decorations. I explained that I wanted something special, I'm willing to pay for it, etc., and I'd like it to look Victorian, have some dimension, maybe play on the Mary Poppins theme (since it's my mom's favorite Disney movie). She says to hold and calls the bakery - and all they can suggest is a screenprint of Julie Andrews. SERIOUSLY?!?! I know these people have to have talent, and the best they're offering is something I could get for 1/2 the price at my local grocery store?!?!

So, I switch gears and ask about the white chocolate figurines - could they do something with the Minnie figurine on the cake? She tells me they can't put the figurines on the cake as they're too heavy . How is this possible when there are plenty of cakes with the white chocolate Minnie and Mickey's out there on top? She then suggests the "castle" cake. Yes, I'm familiar with the castle cake, but that looks wedding-ish to me - not Mother's Day! I say something about Minnie being one of my mom's favorites, and then she suggests the Minnie head cake. SERIOUSLY?! For a 62-year old woman, I'm going to give her a monstrosity of a cake meant for 5 year olds?!?!

I politely told her I'd have to consider my options, and hung up. I cannot believe this! And of course, I just tried e-mailing Linda back, and got an "out of office" notice until a week from Monday!

What do you think I should do? Has anyone ever tried to call the GF Bakery directly, and bypass the whole PD thing? What specific suggestions could I give to get a really special cake? I just can't believe that they seem to have NO CREATIVITY.

Lindsay -- I agree with the other advice. Call back and see if you can get someone less clueless. I called two days before I needed a cake for a Grand I outing on New Year's Day, and I was able to get the 8" with the strawberry custard filling. It was great! I couldn't get a white chocolate Stitch, because I didn't call far enough ahead, but I was happy with what we got.

 

[praline3001]

LOVE IT! your lucky you only have one girl, I can't resist buying it for all 3 of mine! If I had only one girl I would only buy gymbo....

Oh savannah has lots of gymbo...trust me
I also LOVE hannah annderson. Hartstrings is my all time FAV place for little girl clothes but really pricy so I am very selective about those outfits
http://www.hartstrings.com/index.cfm/fuseaction/category.content/categoryID/e9edb47b-d5ff-454f-96f6-044c95432586

 

[praline3001]

Thanks Marci! I think it will be nice to have the guide with Savannah and I... Hey if I pm you... could you tell me if you know anything about my guide?

 

[mandymommy4]

Oh savannah has lots of gymbo...trust me
I also LOVE hannah annderson. Hartstrings is my all time FAV place for little girl clothes but really pricy so I am very selective about those outfits
http://www.hartstrings.com/index.cfm/fuseaction/category.content/categoryID/e9edb47b-d5ff-454f-96f6-044c95432586

I love heart strings because of my matchy matchy obsession......

There is a Heartstrings outlet that I go to that has an awesome sales section and I normally get a coupon either by email or in the flyer they give out at the outlet center. Even with the coupons and sales rack the people hear Ka-chinge ka-chinge when I walk in

 

[praline3001]

I love heart strings because of my matchy matchy obsession......

There is a Heartstrings outlet that I go to that has an awesome sales section and I normally get a coupon either by email or in the flyer they give out at the outlet center. Even with the coupons and sales rack the people hear Ka-chinge ka-chinge when I walk in

oh if we had a hartstrings outlet here I would soooooo be in trouble!!!!
My DH would post a big picture of my face with a sign saying BANNED!!!

 

[Tinkaroo]

Lindsay....she is full of it. I just had a cake with a white chocolate TINK on top!! I posted pics of it!

I think since she's going to be gone for a while YOU MAY BE IN LUCK!!!!! In the past when I called and asked for the bakery, they'd ask waht I was calling regarding and then direct me to LINDA.....maybe since she's gone you struck gold! Hopefully somebody else will take your order.

It is pathetic because they have TALENT!!! THey can do ANYTHNG....such a shame they have LINDA answering and being the go between.....

I have had that MInnie head monstrosity, lol - YES for a 6 year old and it was the nastiest ickiest cake I ever ordered.....AND it was in chocolate chocolate....how could they do it in white?? LOTS of food coloring?

I'd call again tomorrow and HOPE to speak to a nice, cooperative creative CM.

I KNOW! I've seen plenty of cakes from you and others with the white chocolate figures, so when this girl in PD (not Linda BTW - Linda had e-mailed me, but told me to call to order the cake she mentioned from the regular PD line) said it couldn't be done, that just flabbergasted me. But then she offers the "castle" cake - um, hello - what is that castle!? A white chocolate figurine - just interchange them! Obviously, a cake can hold it.

I had a massage last night after my post, and was feeling a little more "zen" about it afterwards. Of course, after sleeping on it, I'm all fired up again!

It's not even like I HAVE to do something for my mom - it's not like she's expecting something like this since it's not a birthday or anything like that, and she'll just be thrilled to be at the GF. But, I figured something like this would be a nice surprise, plus we'd have it to snack on in the room for 4-5 days. I could do just a figurine and a plate of cookies, but that would be almost as much $$, and wouldn't last as long. Plus, my brother who lives in FL is going to come up for a few days, and like any guy, he eats a TON and wouldn't think twice about just cleaning her out of these treats. I know with an 8" cake, it would last us.

Sorry for the confusion!! I just posted those because they were 10 inch, super duper cute and they were not 1/2 the price of the GF 10 inch cakes and they were creative! THe GF cakes have been lame lately.

I didn't wind up ordering anything for our Easter trip because the cake I wanted was going to be $250.....for a 10 inch cake with a WHITE CHOCOLATE Mickey ON TOP ( see Lindsay! They do it - I even had a pic of the cake from something they've done previously!), and it was piped to look like a topiary - sooo cute and springy...but for that price.... I think not.

I know what cake you're talking about! So cute. What dummies!

For almost 3 months Kelly and I tried to get something really cute and creative done up for DH's birthday... we had plenty of ideas but Linda turned everyone of them down... I mean we tried MANY MANY things.... they wouldn't even do a pirate themed cake?!

Well finally I laughed and told them AS long as their are NOOOO flowers on the cake ... here is what I got when we got to the room:

I paid a pretty penny for what looks just like a walmart cake out of a box

Linda messed up a few of my little surprised in Feb... totally dropped the ball on another cake I ordered for my niece... the cake didnt even show up

She is not my favorite GF person....

Actually, that cake looks better than a lot I've seen on the cake thread recently. Some of those cakes look like a 10-year old did the writing, and don't even measure up to a grocery store cake!

I suspect since the word got out here on the Dis about this they have been inundated with cake requests threfore the service (and quality) went in the toilet.... what a shame!!

That's what I've been thinking, too.

And maybe this is going to sound bad, but...

I'm sorry - I am going to be a paying guest at this hotel. I'm not staying off-site in a condo, and going to have 1 meal at one of the restaurants, and asking you to make me a custom wedding cake for $25. I'm willing to pay for your creativity, and I am your guest - not the Marriott's guest, or HoJo's guest, or even the Boardwalk's guest. I would think that should be worth something!!!!!

(stepping down from soap box now)

 

[mandymommy4]

Brook's got me on a roll.....

Here's a pic from the b-day party I had for Lilly in the MK

L TO R: Lilly, Lilly's BF, Emma

My all time fav Disney pic..... Lilly would not move from between Buzz's legs! Thats our DS 5, Conner

 

[Tinkaroo]

Kelly wanted me to call and complain but I am a wuss when it comes to that

I figure they lost my business when it comes to special order cakes....

I went with peggy this time (as I said before) the cake isn't going to be super duper creative simply because its a sugar free cake... the icing is not easy to work with and get creative with. Peggy bought some adorable little cinderella cake toppers and they are going to put them at the top of the cake for me. As I said before, i dont want Savannah to eat her birthday cake all alone... how sad is that?! So if I am going to share in her birthday celebration the cake had to be completely sugar free.

With the special cake... and she had to shop around at several local bakeries to find one
The full room decorations... including 12 balloons and 1 giant mylar... the centerpiece ...forks, plates, napkins... all that stuff plus streamers and cute decorating things it ran me $150.


If you contact Peggy and explain that you want a super cute cake .... I wonder if she could call around at the local bakeries and set one up for you for a fee and then deliver it to your room? She does a lot of custom type things so it might be worth it to at least ASK!!!!!

Peggy is great to work with - I used her twice previously for custom baskets, and she is top notch!

I was actually thinking last night about trying to find a good outside bakery, but then I just don't know if ANY of this effort is worth it for something that a) my mom doesn't know about, nor is expecting, and b) she'd think it was nice, but it wouldn't put the trip "over the top" for her. She likes nice things, but she's also practical. I may have to think on it and do some research.

Or, I may just give the GF Bakery one more shot to "wow" me, and call it a day.

Here is a photo of the cake I got at the beginning of the month. Not exactly what I ordered but at least it was close. It was suppose to have a castle on top instead of the 3 layer.

The cake with all of the delivery charges, tax, and tip was about $90. I went throught Linda.

I saw your cake on the cake thread. It looks very pretty. Did they tell you why you didn't get your castle, though? That would have bummed me!

Is that icing the buttercream icing, or the whipped? I'm finding that my idea of buttercream, and some bakeries idea of buttercream, are different. I do know that I don't want whipped, and that is what this looks like to me. But, if that's buttercream, then I know I don't want their buttercream either. I don't like that "toothpasty" icing.

I only wish it tasted as good as it looked.....I guess you can't have it all

Uh oh. What were your flavors?

Good Morning GF Gals!!!

I am going to cut to the chase and tell you I got the Cabana!!!!

Only 7 more days to go!!!

So, this is the story I start dialing at 6:57, I get the message call back during normal hours. I hit redial twice and get through, the guy quickly told me I had the wrong number for Cabanas !! Freaking out, trying not to kick his @ss over the phone, I tell me LOOK, LOOK, I know this the number. Well,..... he said I'll be...... they snuck that in!!! SNUCK!!! I am calling for a couple of years now what does he mean SNUCK!!!

Anyway, he informs me OOOHHH!!! Theres only one left!! How can that be, how could there only be one left at approximately 6:59????? Anway, I got it and I have to set my alarm for the weekend and pray!!! When is this guy leaving and who does he know? I wonder if he's RPC and Concierge is doing it before 7 a.m. Is that a service they would offer?

Mom is looking better today!! Not Great!!! Just Better!!!

Excellent news!!!!! I bet you he's staying RPC for sure. Sorry, I thought you were, too, when you mentioned that concierge was trying to help you!

Congratulations! Good luck this weekend as well!

Linda (not the cake lady)

Believe me, if I were the cake lady, you would not be as kind as you have been in describing the actual cake lady Linda. I do not bake. At. all. I leave that up to dh, who is the chef / baker / cook in the family. It's so bad in our family that my younger one in KG class one day, when asked what her mother was going to make for dinner that night, promptly said, "My daddy cooks dinner for us. My mommy sits and reads the newspaper."

Linda

A woman after my own heart!

Good morning ladies! I'm still cooling off after yesterdays cabana boy chat

Wishes Good job getting that Cabana!

I can't believe the cake horror stories! You would think a hotel like the GRAND would have a decent cake department....... I am wondering if any of you have complained about Linda? I'm sure upper management would be shocked at the lousy customer service, Disney prides it self on customer service and i'm sure they would not be to proud of this Linda chic

Cakes by Maggie in Auburndale FL does cool dimension custom cakes! The place is only 30 minuets from WDW and I'm sure they would deliver or this Peggy lady that Brooke uses could work with her. Her cakes are relly nice but I don't care for her cake..... really dry. They look amazing but blah taste. For an AMAZING cake their is this place in Lakeland called Deli Delicacies that has the most gorgeous and delicious cakes. I use to work in wedding catering and I have NEVER tasted a bad cake. The are spectacular! My BFF's had them do my baby shower cake for baby #2 and it was better than my wedding cake ( they are booked out 2 years for wedding cakes, people plan there wedding around when they can do the cake!) It looked like a wedding cake, was 3 tiers and the top tier had a bassinet on top...... I have a picture of the bassinet from a friends shower...... let see hope this works, wish I had digital pics of mine it was so nice!

Anyways, my point is I'm sure there are great places outside Disney and Peggy may be able to hook y'all up! If we have great places in my area I'm sure Orlando has em!

That looks amazing!! I guess Lakeland is too far to hope for delivery?

 

[Cinderumbrella]

Hi!

Nothing to contribute this AM... need to get DS from preschool soon

It is starting to thunder

 

[praline3001]

Everytime I read that cake thread I get frustrated

in one pic you will see the most adorable cake and the next a walmart cake.... there seems to be no consistancy.

 

[praline3001]

Hi!

Nothing to contribute this AM... need to get DS from preschool soon

It is starting to thunder

WHAT?!?! Thats all we get?!?!?! WOW sounds like Kristin is down in the dumps!!!