IMBE's Day 1 - Coming "home" to the Grand!

[imbe@aol.com]

OK, I'm just gonna jump in with this! LOL I SHOULD be doing housework!! and
laundry! and grocery shopping! and a million other things! LOL but .. I'll do
a little at a time of this t.r., if it's ok with you ladies!

I got up at .. 3:15 a.m.!!! LOL Yes, you read that right! The limo was
coming at 5, and I have this unreasonable 'fear' of oversleeping (even though
I never do! LOL) so it was no big deal. Our flight was leaving at 6:40 a.m.,
the drive to the airport is about a half hour, and USAir is always pretty
crowded at BWI, even that early in the morning, so I like to arrive with
plenty of time to spare.

This was a new car service for me, and they were great! I was sort of
holding my breath, hoping we wouldn't be left stranded! LOL only because I
wasn't familiar with them. But it all went very smoothly, and I would
definitely use them again.

Alec's parents came over to say goodbye, and surprisingly, there were no
tears as they bid him farewell (there would be later though! LOL)

We got to the airport around 5:30, and did the curbside check in, then headed
for the USAir Club lounge to wait. No restaurants are open in BWI that
early, and it was nice to have somewhere to sit, watch TV, have coffee &
juice. I've never been in the USAir Club at BWI, and it's very nice! Not as
many food choices as I've seen in other airport clubs - just blueberry
muffins & yogurt - but still .. better than nothing, and it's free! LOL

The flight down was fine - full of course!, but fine, and we actually arrived
about 15 min early. Our driver was waiting in baggage claim, and we got our
things right off and were shortly on our way. By 9:45 a.m., we were pulling
into "home", at the Grand, again! Ahhhhhhhh ... SO NICE to be back!! LOL I
did miss my little cute older man 'greeter' though, but I found out that was
his day off! We were met curbside by a concierge CM, and chatted with her on
the way up to her desk, but the room wasn't ready, which I didn't really
expect it to be, so we just headed right for the MK!!

As usual, there were LOADS of people entering the MK, and for whatever
reason, all of 'em were going to the turnstiles on the right ... so we went
left and strolled right in! They were open, and empty! LOL People aren't
too observant sometimes!
It's still such a rush, even after all these years and all these trips, to
take that very first step onto Main St. each trip - to breathe deeply, eyes
wide open, just inhaling, with all senses, that 'feeling' one gets. (I did
miss the smell of my chocolate chip cookies from the Main St bakery though!
LOL)

After the traditional "skip" down Main Street with Evan! we proceeded to
walk RIGHT ON POC!! I couldn't believe it! Middle of the summer, NO line!
Loved it!
LOL When we came out into the gift shop, I was already so hot I was
practically melting!! so I bought a cute little straw hat, and put it right
on! I've come to the conclusion now (and I don't know what took me so long,
because I've been going to WDW in the summer my whole life! LOL) that for me
anyway, there just is NO chance of having a "good hair day" .. or even a
passable one! LOL while there. Any style I manage to infuse into my hair
before leaving the hotel is sucked RIGHT out within 5 min of being outdoors!!
LOL so it's ponytails, piled up on my head .. hats .. something! for my hair
from now on!!

After the hat purchase, we walked over and got FP's for BTMRR and then
strolled around Frontierland a while. Performed another "first day" ritual
of chicken tenders from Liberty Tree Tavern as the first snack of the trip!
LOL then I took Evan & Alec on Haunted Mansion. This does have FP, but we
didn't need it yet at this point. On our walk back up to BTMRR, we stopped
again, and did the shooting gallery, even sat & played checkers for a quick
game or two in Frontierland.

Once our ride on BTMRR was over, it was time for lunch - at Liberty Tree
Tavern. I'm putting that in a separate 'dining report', and that's coming
soon.

After lunch, we ducked right back into the a/c to the stores in Liberty
Square! LOL and hit HOP. Afterwards, we headed back to Main Street, and did
the first "sweep" of browsing shops there also. The MK had gotten
unbelievably crowded at this point, and we were all SO hot & approaching the
real cranky stage! LOL so we decided to take the launch back to the hotel and
see if our room was ready.

It was .. and I got the room I wanted - #4422!! Yeah!! LOL I've had several
deluxe concierge room types, and this is just my favorite. It doesn't even
have a MK view .. ok, I don't love that part! LOL but it does have a lovely
view of the water, of the new pool, of the Poly, the beach .. so believe me,
I was quite happy!! I also like the larger than normal balcony it has. Since
this room is on a corner, the balcony twists around, giving you more space.

After spending an eternity unpacking, everyone decided to hit the new pool.

My thoughts on it ~ I personally did NOT think it was 'small', as I've read
some other people saying. I thought the size was fine! LOL

However, I DO agree with those who questioned the theming of it. While it IS
pretty, neat slide, etc. etc. ... somehow .... well, first of all, I miss
that long uninterrupted stretch of beach from the Grand to the Poly. And
secondly ... it just seems a little out of place, this big rock formation
type pool, at the Grand. I wish they would've come up with something just a
bit more in line with the rest of the Victorian theme for this new pool.

After just a short while, and one tropical drink! <g>, the skies got black!!
and we beat a hasty retreat to the room, just in time too .... it began to
POUR!! We all just relaxed, soaked up the newness of the hotel, and then got
ready for dinner.

The first night's dinner was at the Contemporary, at the Concourse Steak
House.
(see dining report)

I'd originally hoped that we would .. or at least I would! LOL ... go on up
to the observation deck for the fireworks that night, have dessert at the
Grill ... but that wasn't to be. The boys were kind of arguing, and I was
getting tired, so I just let it go and we ALL headed back to the Grand
together this evening.

 

[Misti]

Hi Judi!

Being form MD myself, I'm curious about what limo service you used to BWI. Were they reasonable? I'm always looking for good transport. Thanks!

 

[MJS]

Welcome back! Thanks for all of the wonderful reports!

We are going to the GF in the spring, and I wanted to ask you a couple of questions. Is there a microwave in the room? How about a VCR? The room that you enjoy, do you know which floor plan it is? Does it have a soaking tub? How about noise? Was it fairly quiet at night?

Thanks so much for your help!

 

[CaliforniaDreaming]

Welcome Home, Judi! I'm glad you had a wonderful stay at he Grand! We are booked for Concierge Deluxe for 8 nights in July 2002 (we will probably also add a 9th night). I have requested room #4419 or #4420, due to the larger sized room (and, I've heard it also has a MK View). Do the concierge deluxes still have sleeper sofas, and VCR's?

Can you tell me why you prefer 4422 over the others?

Can you tell me if the food selections in the concierge lounge (during dinner time) vary from night to night?

I cannot wait to see pictures of a deluxe concierge, did you take any? Thanks!

Talk to you later!
-Cali

 

[imbe@aol.com]

Originally posted by Misti
Hi Judi!

Being form MD myself, I'm curious about what limo service you used to BWI. Were they reasonable? I'm always looking for good transport. Thanks!

Misti, it was either "AAA" or "AAAA" limo company. I'm sorry I don't have the phone number handy, but I can look for it if you'd like. The gentleman that runs it is a Russian fellow, if that helps - when you call, if someone with that accent answers the phone, you'll know you dialed the right place! LOL

 

[imbe@aol.com]

Originally posted by MJS
Welcome back! Thanks for all of the wonderful reports!

We are going to the GF in the spring, and I wanted to ask you a couple of questions. Is there a microwave in the room? How about a VCR? The room that you enjoy, do you know which floor plan it is? Does it have a soaking tub? How about noise? Was it fairly quiet at night?

Thanks so much for your help!

No, there's not a microwave in the room .. yes, there are VCR's in the main building rooms, and as I said, they have tapes available to watch free of charge, from the concierge staff
at the desk. It was very quiet at night! And no, the tub wasn't the larger, oval soaking tub, it was just a "normal" type tub.

 

[imbe@aol.com]

Originally posted by CaliforniaDreaming
Welcome Home, Judi! I'm glad you had a wonderful stay at he Grand! We are booked for Concierge Deluxe for 8 nights in July 2002 (we will probably also add a 9th night). I have requested room #4419 or #4420, due to the larger sized room (and, I've heard it also has a MK View). Do the concierge deluxes still have sleeper sofas, and VCR's?

Can you tell me why you prefer 4422 over the others?

Can you tell me if the food selections in the concierge lounge (during dinner time) vary from night to night?

I cannot wait to see pictures of a deluxe concierge, did you take any? Thanks!

Talk to you later!
-Cali

Right, 4419 SHOULD be a MK view, because it's on the opposite side of the building from 4420.

Yes, it still had a sleep sofa and a VCR.

I probably prefer 4422 mainly for a sentimental reason - it was the first deluxe concierge room I ever had! LOL I also like the layout, and the "angles" in the room, the little tucked away desk area, the slightly larger tub/toilet area, the foyer/closet area .. just all of it. It's also got a slightly larger balcony that sort of bends around the corner. Also, the view, while not MK, IS very pretty.

The food selections varied really very little from night to night in concierge. I will say, the Grand really should spiff up their concierge buffet some. They DID for a while there, when they were offering alternating selections nightly from V&A's, Citricos, the GF Cafe .. but they've stopped doing that. I don't know why, because AKL did it at dinner and it was very nice! And though it's been a while since I stayed at the Contemporary, a friend of mine said they feature things from the Grill there on the concierge buffet. At the Poly (even though I didn't care for the hotel) they did have a nice evening buffet also, one night it was even sushi! When I was at the BWI, it was just for a short concierge stay, and during the F&W Festival, so I wasn't around at dinner.

Ok yes I took a LOT of pictures of the room! LOL I have to get them scanned in though, so I can put them on here.

 

[Janet2k]

Imbe@aol.com, oh, I am so sorry to hear that the GF needs to spiff up their lounge food offerings. That was the way that I found it during my last stay, too, so I was hoping that things had improved. While I was there, it was hit or miss, and it sounds like it's still that way. And you & I agree on the AKL's food offerings, they were very good (and I found varied during my stay there). I have an upcoming GF stay planned (along with my parents and at least one of my sibling's families, if not the rest, too). I'll let you know if things improve (hope springs eternal). Thanks for your great trip reports.

 

[inky dinky doo]

I loved your reports, Judi! Thanks for being such a "detail" person. How you ever managed to remember everything on the different buffets is beyond me! Photographic memory, perhaps?

I read your PS to day one over on RADP, and I'm curious. Where did you order the snack packs for the kids? Through the Grand Floridian, through WDW Florists, or somewhere else? Are pictures and prices available online? I would love to order something similar for when we're at the Boardwalk this fall!

Also, how did you arrange your tubing expedition? Directly through Sammy's or through the Grand? That sounds like something my son would love to do, and I never even heard of it before.

Thanks again for sharing! I felt like I was right there with you! (Just what you needed . . . another person attached to your side the entire trip! LOL)

Pat

P.S. Congratulations!!!! I read your trip report last year, too, and it sounds like your last cigarette at WDW really WAS your last cigarette. As a former smoker, I know how hard that must been. I admire your courage. Were it not for a bout with Legionnaire's Disease and two weeks in intensive care, I'd probably still be smoking. So, a big CONGRATULATIONS!

 

[imbe@aol.com]

Originally posted by inky dinky doo
I loved your reports, Judi! Thanks for being such a "detail" person. How you ever managed to remember everything on the different buffets is beyond me! Photographic memory, perhaps?

I read your PS to day one over on RADP, and I'm curious. Where did you order the snack packs for the kids? Through the Grand Floridian, through WDW Florists, or somewhere else? Are pictures and prices available online? I would love to order something similar for when we're at the Boardwalk this fall!

Also, how did you arrange your tubing expedition? Directly through Sammy's or through the Grand? That sounds like something my son would love to do, and I never even heard of it before.

Thanks again for sharing! I felt like I was right there with you! (Just what you needed . . . another person attached to your side the entire trip! LOL)

Pat

P.S. Congratulations!!!! I read your trip report last year, too, and it sounds like your last cigarette at WDW really WAS your last cigarette. As a former smoker, I know how hard that must been. I admire your courage. Were it not for a bout with Legionnaire's Disease and two weeks in intensive care, I'd probably still be smoking. So, a big CONGRATULATIONS!

LOL No, no photographic memory here .. I actually usually carry my journal in my purse and would just write the buffet things down once I got back to my table!

I ordered the snack things for the kids through the GF Concierge. I didn't choose from something already made up .. I just told them sort of what I wanted and didn't want, as in no gum or sticky type candy, since both boys have braces, and told them their favorite characters.

I also arranged the tubing through the concierge, but I'd imagine you can do it right through Sammy's directly. It really was a LOT of fun!!