Help Any other Grand Floridian-GV posters excited about their stay?

[Cmbar]

We are staying at the GF in a GV room in November and to be honest I am not enjoying my "build up" before the stay. Usually with each new resort we stay at, I spend hours reading others thoughts and opinions. I usually read the "official xyz Resort thread" to learn all I can learn. But with the Grand Floridian I am feeling less than excited about the resort. The "New GF resort thread" has lots of helpful people on there but the thread mainly deals with people who stay conceirge and get wonderful surprises and upgrades. I feel like I am destitute only having a GV room booked for our stay.

To any of those great ladies on that thread (Heather, Alicewonderln, Lives4Disney and others) You all are wonderful and very helpful to us GF newbies. No disrespect intended, but I just can't relate to all the RPC Deluxe (I don't even know what that means ), SL (I think that is Sugar Loaf) , Private Dining , Private Planners and all those yummy looking cakes and stuff you all get and order. I feel like we are totally out our league staying at this resort. Tonight when everyone was comparing room rates at 500- 1000 PER night, I thought.... I shouldn't be staying at a place like this. We got a code for 255.00 a night (only GV,) and I am questioning paying that a night!

SO are there any GF GV people out there who want to help me get excited about the resort. I have read so many posts that say the GF is stuffy, but I just don't want to believe it! I am afraid that when I check in for GV I envision the CM at the desk rolling her eyes.. and saying "oh, only a Garden View guest".

Help me get over my fear that the Grand Floridian is for the rich and famous (which my family very much is not!) Help me understand how to enjoy this resort. For instance , I know the pianist plays and I have heard him playing while waiting for Park Fare, but I would never think to just sit and listen. I don't think we have ever really taken the time to explore and enjoy a resort. Is that what we are doing wrong?

Help! My DH will divorce me if I say I don't want to stay here! We have already done the Resort dance. And of course now if I want to change anything, I will lose the 40% off! He will be a little bit mad, so help me get revved up about the Grand Floridian! Thanks

 

[deide71]

I am soooo bumping this.

I could have written it word for word.

We are stayin 2 nights in a GV room @ GF in September. I have also read through the "official" GF thread and it seems like everyone stays concierge.

We wanted the Poly, but no AP rooms avail. I just hope the kids like the GF. I think it looks beautiful, but if my kids had their choice they would be @ Pop!

 

[DisneyJoo2008]

My Mum and Dad stayed in the Grand Floridian in a GV room about 6years ago. They loved their stay and didn't feel at all 'different' because they weren't in a concierge room.
It was their dream holiday (until they went back 2year later with me in tow!!) and I think you're both going to have a super fantastic amazing time.
I am jealous - I wish we could afford to stay in GF!!!
Perhaps I should get my fiance (he'll be my husband then!) to treat me to Afternoon Tea!!!

Julie xxx

 

[Disney Planner Mama]

We leave in 6 days for a GV room at GF (woohoo!). It's our first stay there as well. I'll let you know how it turns out.

 

[minniesota]

I have stayed at the GF about nine times - twice at the concierge level. The other 7 stays were in either garden or lagoon view. My family is vey casual and not at all on the "we're oh so important" side. We LOVE the GF and have always felt comfortable there, especially when staying GV or LV! The outer lodges are cozy and you feel like you're going "Home" to your building at the end of the day. The rooms are wonderful and I guess what keeps bringing us back is the service and atmosphere.

It's kind of a calming place and I need that after the pace in the parks. One of my very favorite rooms was in Sago (a garden view) that faced the monorail side. We were 4th or 5th floor and it was so quiet - the balcony was my refuge! We have stayed in every building except Sugar Loaf and they have all been great. The kids love Gasparillas though it can get a little loud in the evenings. Sometimes we just board the boat at the launch and ride it around the lagoon to the Poly and MK and back again (especially fun if you get "caught" out in the middle during the Electric Water Parade - the boat stops and you get a water view of the parade!) Or you can find a grassy spot near the banks of the lagoon and watch the parade from there.

The orchestra and piano music in the lobby are great. Seems they are often playing Disney tunes and it's fun to just sit back in a comfy chair and listen. My DH loves to sit around the courtyard pool which is usually quieter - he can catch a nap and read a book (his idea of vacation!)

I think staying at the GF is what you make it. The atmosphere and the service are there for you to enjoy. I really do think you will love it!

One thing I do during my stays just to make sure I'm not disappointed is call Housekeeping every morning before we leave for the parks and request that our room be cleaned by 1 p.m. That way when we are hot and tired, we can come back to a wonderful, cool, clean room! I also call every evening and request a specific turndown time (before 8 PM, for example). That way my kids (and me!) are not disappointed when they return to the room. The lights are on low, the beds are turned down, you have clean towels, a picked up room and wonderful chocolates on your pillow. And Housekeeping has always been gracious about my requests.

I hope I've helped a little. Staying at a new resort can be a little nerve-wracking, especially when it has a certain "reputation". I'm one who will say that, from experience, the GF is a wonderful place to stay!

 

[Morgstar]

Can someone clearup what exactly is differnet about the concierge level at GF. In other threads I have that it is not really worth the money. But the OP here seems to believe that everyone thinks GF concierge is different.

Many thanks

 

[Katesdad]

Hey CmBar, don't dispair! My DW and I will be at the GF in late October. We, like you, can't afford the CP or the IPOs, or the Cabanas or the cruise on the GF!, or the cakes and private meals or all those other fancy things that some of the ladies of the "official" GF thread talk about. However, we've been looking at the place ever since we saw it being built and have said to ourselves, "one day we are going to stay there". Well, this is the year. I think over the years the DW and I have slowed down and enjoyed our time at the various resorts we've stayed at (CR, Poly, WL, FW, POR, S/D) and we plan on doing that with the GF. I do enjoy reading about all the wonderful things that others do at the GF (Heather, great trip report), and realize that the only way DW and I might be able to even sample some of that is to spend some time at the resort, taking in the orchestra and the piano player instead of killing ourselves at the MK or AW parks. So my advice, revel in the stories and greatness you have read about on the GF main board, then plan on slowing down a little on your trip and take some of those things in that are there for the taking. One thing I will say about the GF, in all of our visits there over the years (when we've been staying at other locations), we've never felt unwelcomed or that the atomosphere was stuffy, only the opposite. The mood we've always felt is one of being welcome in a warm and friendly place. Hope you have a really great trip, I know we will.

 

[BrianD]

First of all, DON'T LOSE THAT RATE! You can't get that good of a rate these days.

Secondly, we've stayed at the GF three times, twice in a garden view room, and let me tell you that the GF has the best garden views (or lowest category) rooms anywhere on property. With every deluxe resort's lowest category room, there is a chance, sometimes a decent chance, that you will get a parking lot view. This is simply not the case with the GF. All of the views are very nice!

The GF is our favorite resort for several reasons. One big one is that we have young children and spend a lot of time at the MK, so being one monorail stop away is very nice. There are so many restaurants there too, the grounds are beautiful, and things just seem to be "kicked up a notch" there compared to the other deluxes (in our opinion). Also, every room receives nightly turndown service, not just concierge like at the other deluxes. This is one example of them treating every guest equally.

Speaking of that, everyone there has always been so nice to us, and we love the service.

As for the friendly folks on the GF Faqs, it has turned into more of a concierge discussion forum, but most of the ladies have also stayed non-concierge before and they are all always happy to answer any questions about the GF whatsover. I'm one of the only guys who hangs out on that thread and I have never stayed concierge, and I feel totally welcome there.

For the person that asked about the GF concierge being worth it, it's definitely not from a value standpoint. There are two types of concierge, Sugar Loaf (an outer lodge building), and the main building. Sugar Loaf runs you about $115 more per night over a garden view room, which puts along the lines with the cost of concierge at other resorts. But then for the main building, tack on another $160 or so, just to be able to stay in the Main Building. Also the lounge is much bigger there, and if you've been in the main building, you know that it is a very nice building to be in. So is it worth it? Only if you LOVE the GF (which I do), and can afford it (which I can't).

But even in the "lowly" garden view, the place is extremely nice!

Have a great vacation!

 

[ElizabethB]

Count me in as staying GV soon and very excited! We, too, are on a 40% off rate due to a postcard we received a few months ago. Even so, we're preceding our week's stay at GF with a couple of nights at the All Stars -- just plain cheap, I guess!

We usually stay in the Epcot resort area (Boardwalk is our favorite) because we love all of the dining and entertainment options available within walking distance. But, we usually end up spending a fair amount of time at GF, though, as we love V&A (especially the Chef's Table). We also enjoy just relaxing in the lobby and listening to the pianist. We haven't enjoyed the band much lately -- they need more practice, IMO.

GF has always held a special appeal for us, so we're excited about staying there! And, we're even looking forward to staying lowly GV!

Relax and enjoy planning for your stay at a great rate! I'm excited about our stay, but I'm ecstatic about our rate!

 

[disyady]

We have stayed at the GF 5 times (it will be 6 in 13 days!). Most of our 20 or so stays have been at POR with a couple at BC and 1 each at FQ, Poly and CB so we have tried quite a variety of Disney resorts. All of our GF visits have been GV and it is, far and away, our favorite resort. We only tried it for the first time in 91 with our 19 month old daughter because the Poly wasn't available and I was not very excited about it. We had walked around the lobby the year before and I was certain that it was stuffy and that our family just wouldn't fit in. The old saying "don't knock it 'til you try it" is so true. It is the most relaxing of our Disney homes and the MK is our favorite park so transportation is a dream. We sat in the lobby for over 2 hours one late afternoon last August and just listened to the orchestra playing all those fab Disney songs and watching the little ones sing and dance while 2 of our DD's watched the lobby artist at work. This was just after a lovely afternoon tea in the GV Lounge overlooking the garden and quiet pool (order a la carte so that the cost isn't so "steep"!). We also enjoy the sea raycers at the marina and the gorgeous (esp at night) views across the Seven Seas Lagoon. We have been lucky enough to have had rooms in all of the bldgs (except Sago Cay - maybe we'll get that bldg this year) including Sugar Loaf before it was concierge only and there isn't a bad one among them. We have always been treated beautifully by the staff (with one or two exceptions which is the same anywhere you go) and come away feeling like we were actually on vacation. It's probably good that your expectations are low right now as mine were the first time we went because I am sure that you are going to be pleasantly surprised. Please let us know all about your experience when you return. In the meantime, if you have any questions - just ask. Have a Grand time!

 

[DisneyMomx7]

We've stayed at GF 4 times and 2 times have been gv and once was a great lagoon view - castle view. We never stay concierge because I like to make (and change) my own ADRs and I know from staying club level at HRH that we stopped going to breakfast and the kids filled up on the appetizers at night.

The first couple of nights the kids loved watching the fireworks, but then they started wanting to watch them in front of Gasparillas with the other kids! We have always have a great time at GF, never felt stuffy or out of place. The first time we went the kids were only 2, 4 and 5. They've done all of the kids activities and had a ball.

My favorite building is Sago Cay, marina side. You will have a great trip - and a great rate!

 

[DLo]

OP thanks for starting this thread and thanks to everyone for their advice and opinions!!

We are staying at GF for the 1st time in Nov. My dad has a convention there and we got a great rate but only for GV. We went there for the first time last year to eat at GF Cafe for b'fast and weren't sure if we would want to stay there. When my dad found out about his conf., we jumped at the chance to go - who knows if we will ever get such a great rate again.

I am now looking forward to our time there.

 

[Cmbar]

I hope I've helped a little. Staying at a new resort can be a little nerve-wracking, especially when it has a certain "reputation". I'm one who will say that, from experience, the GF is a wonderful place to stay!

You have helped greatly! Thanks for all the ideas and I think this just confirms for me that the Resort will be what WE make of it. I just have to stop reading the threads on the "NEW GF FAQ thread"!

We haven't enjoyed the band much lately -- they need more practice, IMO.

GF has always held a special appeal for us, so we're excited about staying there! And, we're even looking forward to staying lowly GV!

Relax and enjoy planning for your stay at a great rate! I'm excited about our stay, but I'm ecstatic about our rate!

SO true! I thought that about the band too last time we were there! We are excited about the GF too, but I was just feeling like we were out our league. But I am going to try to really enjoy the resort this time. That is what I wanted to get from other guests, is the ins and outs of what is nice to do there. But most of the ladies on the "official" thread stay concierge and I was thinking that the resort only catered to that group of guest. I wasn't sure if turndown was for everyone or concierge etc..

We are THRILLED at the rate, so that is why I know my DH would be upset if we changed resorts because he said basically this is the only chance we have at staying here! Especially with all the new price hikes!

It's probably good that your expectations are low right now as mine were the first time we went because I am sure that you are going to be pleasantly surprised. Please let us know all about your experience when you return. In the meantime, if you have any questions - just ask. Have a Grand time!

I like this idea I will keep my expectations low and probably LOVE the place! Since you have stayed so many times do you recommend I put any requests on the reservation for our room location? I always think too many requests might tick them off! On the other hand if I don't ask.... We already have noted on our ressie that is it our 15 yr Anniversary and we had on there " non smoking" because my DD is allergic, but I don't think that matters anymore since they went completely non smoking everywhere. I was thinking about putting a request for a higher floor because I really like to be high up. Should I just pick a building?

 

[Cmbar]

Thanks everyone for making me feel better about our upcoming trip. After all we will be at DISNEY!

 

[minniesota]

Cmbar-
For garden view, I'd definitely recommend Sago. The gv's are either on the side of the building that overlook part of the back lagoon and the monorail or they overlook the marina and you might even get a glimpse of the MK from those rooms. Here's what I'd say in my request:

Sago, marina side, higher floor

Sago is close to Gasparilla's Grill and the marina where you can watch Wishes. It's also close to the Main building but it seems a little remote and quieter. There is a "secret" path to the buses if you cut between Sago and the Main building.

Have a Happy anniversary!

 

[KimR]

First of all, DON'T LOSE THAT RATE! You can't get that good of a rate these days.

Secondly, we've stayed at the GF three times, twice in a garden view room, and let me tell you that the GF has the best garden views (or lowest category) rooms anywhere on property. With every deluxe resort's lowest category room, there is a chance, sometimes a decent chance, that you will get a parking lot view. This is simply not the case with the GF. All of the views are very nice!

Ditto! The GF is the only resort where I specifically choose Garden View because the grounds are so beautiful. We did have a Lagoon View once - it was the only category with the code I had, thus making it the same price as GV, so I figured why not? We had a view of the castle and it was nice, but to be honest, I enjoy our GV rooms just as much. We really have no desire to stay conceirge since I enjoy making my own ADRs and I doubt we'd take advantage of the food offerings. So it's standard GV for us and we love it!

Oh, and that is a fantastic rate!!!! We go during peak season and usually pay around $450.00 a night. I really don't think you will be disappointed - there is something so relaxing and peaceful about this resort; you just feel like you are in a different world.

 

[kev kendall]

I'm feeling the exact same as you!

We're going to GF for first time in August 2008. Me, DW, 2 DS (9 and 3). We're staying GV and already beginning to feel indimidated by the whole thing! I guess we're really All stars kind of a family, but have saved up for nearly four years to be able to afford next summer to stay at GF! I'm worried that we'll be so intimidated by the whole thing that we wont enjoy it and just hide in our room all the time (unless we're at a park!!!)

I wouldn't know what to do in a cons room - are the snacks etc. free - ????? It's not for us really!!!

We stayed at CR last time - which is also deluxe but so laid back. It was lovely!!!!

 

[Cmbar]

Cmbar-
For garden view, I'd definitely recommend Sago. The gv's are either on the side of the building that overlook part of the back lagoon and the monorail or they overlook the marina and you might even get a glimpse of the MK from those rooms. Here's what I'd say in my request:

Sago, marina side, higher floor

Sago is close to Gasparilla's Grill and the marina where you can watch Wishes. It's also close to the Main building but it seems a little remote and quieter. There is a "secret" path to the buses if you cut between Sago and the Main building.

Have a Happy anniversary!

Oh thank you so much! I will do that today

 

[asta]

We have stayed at the GF eight times so we obviously love this resort. I am also one of those who would never really want to stay at the concierge level and agree that the GF FAQ seems to be overboard with all of the posts about concierge level issues. While I think that the main building is beautiful, I actually prefer the outer buildings. We do stay in a lagoon room because I think sitting out on your balcony with a view of the water is just a little more private but the GV rooms will also have beautiful views. I also think that all of that money that people are paying for concierge level services can be better spent on dining arrangements that you make for yourself. I am turned off by the thought of food being set out in a communal setting were you have to share food and table manners with total strangers. Just not for me. I suggest that for a real treat order a room service breakfast (if it is in your budget). The last time we did that it arrived on time and on a table with white linens that they wheeled into the room. Gasparillas also has good food for quick dining and the tea in the GV Lounge is one of my favorites things to do at WDW. On our trip last month the meal we had at Narcooses was the best we had ever had at WDW. You can view the fireworks and the Electrical Water Parade from the grounds. And one of the best perks is that when you are tired and exhausted from a fun day at the MK, you are able to quickly be back at the GF via the monorail to rest and recharge. The staff we have dealt with are always pleasant and I don't think the resort is stuffy at all. Honestly, when I am there, I feel so welcome and pampered that I am not even aware that there is another level of service available. Get excited because it is a great resort.

 

[Cmbar]

I'm feeling the exact same as you!

We're going to GF for first time in August 2008. Me, DW, 2 DS (9 and 3). We're staying GV and already beginning to feel indimidated by the whole thing! I guess we're really All stars kind of a family, but have saved up for nearly four years to be able to afford next summer to stay at GF! I'm worried that we'll be so intimidated by the whole thing that we wont enjoy it and just hide in our room all the time (unless we're at a park!!!)

I wouldn't know what to do in a cons room - are the snacks etc. free - ????? It's not for us really!!!

We stayed at CR last time - which is also deluxe but so laid back. It was lovely!!!!

OH My!! Did I read your signature right? THREE WEEKS? WOW, Have you looked at the new prices for 08. I sure hope you get a good deal! There is no way we could afford that! We would have to save for 10 years!

You will love it I am sure. I will post when I get back and let you know. WOW, I still can't believe three weeks at Disney, never mind the GF! Your lucky family!

Have you stayed at the Boardwalk area? If I had three weeks I would split it between the two areas. It really is lovely staying over there at Bw or BC. And since you are going in August, what a great pool to use at BC while it is hot! That would feel like two vacations in one! I wouldn't expect you would save too much by doing that because the YC/BC is just as costly!

I think Conscierge is snacks all day long. They start with breakfast stuff and then move to apptz stuff. It sound lovely, and I would love to be Upgraded to that , but I don't think I just justify paying the difference for food. I don't think I would take advantage of the planners and stuff since I love to plan my own trips!


Have fun planning that awesome trip!