Help me get psyched up for GF...also have some last minute ?'s!

[micmacmissy]

Okay, we leave Fri for our first trip to Disney, staying at the GF for 5 nights in a Sugarloaf suite. I have read a ton of info on this board, and for some reason, all of the negative posts I've read about GF are sticking with me.

So please, tell me how great it's going to be--I'm so nervous we won't get our $s worth! I planned this trip for the entire extended family--so it's my butt if anything gets screwed up...I just want everyone to have a great time!

A few questions about the GF:

Do we need to pack shampoo/soap/toothpaste or are they provided in the suite? What about hairdryer?

When I called the concierge desk to inquire confirm our special request (mouse ears waiting in the suite for the kids w/a card from mickey), the CM I talked to said she saw they had my credit card # on file and she was "sure whomever took the order would take care of it"...not that reassuring to me...but I don't want to hound them double checking--and I didn't get a name!

Okay, someone smack me out of my neurotic state and set me straight!

 

[randyl]

We have stayed at the GF three times although never in a Sugarloaf suite. We were, however, lucky enough to have stayed in one of those rare rooms that face directly at MK and the Castle.
I doubt you have to pack any of those toiletries you mentioned nor a hairdryer. Even the standard rooms have those.
I don't think you will be disappointed in the GF. We weren't. I think other people that have stayed there mentioned mainly that it has yet to reach it's fullest potential and other similar hotels off-site offer superior service, amenities, etc. And that may be true. But this is Disney's flagship hotel and you will notice that as soon as you arrive. We have stayed at the YC many times and I think that is the closest competition to the GF on property. It is less expensive, is very nice, but there is just something about GF.

 

[Misti]

The GF is a beautiful resort! I'm sure you will enjoy it! Plus, the holiday decorations are out of this world. For a holiday visit, I think the GF is one of the most festive of the Disney resorts.

Toiletries are in the room and replenished daily but you still may want to bring your own. The shampoo/conditioner is of the generic kind. The male gender may be able to use them but I'm not sure about us girls! LOL I'd have to use about ten of those tiny conditioner bottles to get one tangle out of my hair. LOL The hairdryer is wall-mounted but you can call housekeeping if you want a more powerful one.

As far as checking up on the mouse ears, if it is important that they be there, I'd check again. The GF concierge isn't perfect so it is always wise to double check. Or, you can check your credit card bill. If you don't want to call again, you can always email them and inquire.

Have a great trip and here are some pix of mine to get you excited about the resort:

GF Pix

 

[ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!]

We have stayed at the GF three times although never in a Sugarloaf suite. We were, however, lucky enough to have stayed in one of those rare rooms that face directly at MK and the Castle.

did you happen to be in a dormer room? I'd like to request a dormer for our next trip, any info is appreciated

 

[lmhall2000]

We are going to GF in January for our first GF visit. But I've been to Disney over 10x and feel I have a good handle on it....if you're a big traveler then I would suggest you knock down your expectations a bit. I loved the Poly but had higher expectations...because of the price. I'm a bargain shopper...never pay full price for anything and even got that Poly trip for 40% off (Fairy Tale Package)....so I expect more for my dollar. I have stayed at top notch hotels in San Francisco, Atlanta, Dallas etc. that cost 1/2 of what the Poly does (all discounted of course) and guess I expected the Poly to exceed those stays. I've come to understand that 40% of the value of these monorail resorts is purely for the monorail...which I feel is highly worth it with a large group or if small children are included. So if I knock off 40% of my expectations of the resort I'm rather pleased and not let down. The kids are always ECSTATIC no matter where we stay...it's just the picky mom in me who usually gets alot more for the dollar than I pay.
So don't go with an expectation of a grand resort to please you but rather the convenience and charm that will make your family have a special getaway to a place unlike any other.

And please post your impressions!! Have a great time and pat yourself on the back for planning a wonderful getaway for your family!

Tara

 

[DisneyMomx7]

Lots of people post that they don't think they'll like GF because it seems too stuffy. We didn't think it was stuffy at all. We have three small children and never felt out of place. The CMs were genuinely nice and always go out of their way. We love the restaurants and the kids love sitting at the marina and getting their Mickey bars at Gasparilla's to watch the fireworks at night. DH will not stay anywhere else. Overall I think it's a wonderful resort. Oh yeah, we love the pools and the pool bar too!

 

[cocinelle]

GF is fabulous!!! We stayed there just after Charley for two weeks in busy busy August, and it still managed to look immaculate. The resort is beautiful and tastefully themed, and not at all stuffy- it just feels exclusive!! I am sure you'll love it as much as we did..

 

[randyl]

did you happen to be in a dormer room? I'd like to request a dormer for our next trip, any info is appreciated

We stayed in a dormer room twice out of the three times we stayed there. The dormer rooms are great - I highly recommend them and we request them now. The balcony is alot more private in a dormer room than the "non-dormer" room - the way it's built and spaced from the other balconies is great. The room feels larger because of the very high ceiling and the vaulted ceiling just adds more "character" to the room. Other than the balcony and the ceiling, the rest of the room is pretty much the same as a "non-dormer" room, per our experience.