Just back from Grand Floridian Royal Palm Club

[disneyfor3]

We were at the Grand Floridian Royal Palm Club in a Honeymoon Jacuzzi Room from 9/12 to 9/19. We obtained a great rate with the fairytale package to stay there and we were given the choice of a jacuzzi honeymoon room on the claredon level or an octagon honeymoon room. We were not celebrating our honeymoon (married 17 years) and we took our 2 and 1/2 year old son with us. We rented a toddler bed from A Baby's Best Friend which worked out terrific (although we did find upon check-in that the room does have a pull out couch in the room). Our son loved the dalmation bedding on the rented toddler bed. The view from our room of the castle was wonderful. We were in Room 4201 - we did have some trees blocking the fireworks somewhat - I think the rooms next to us 4202, 4203 and 4204 would probably have views without any palms blocking them. The music played at night on the patio outside when the fireworks were going off was nice and also the music for the water pageant was heard each night although we could only see the dragon part of the pageant. You can go up to the lounge and see the entire water pageant from there which we did one night. Our son enjoyed having bubble baths in the jacuzzi tub and I enjoyed soaking in the tub myself!
Check in was very quick and efficient (I was supposed to have some items from AAA when I arrived but the concierge staff didn't even know what I was talking about when I mentioned the diamond parking pass and just referred me to the AAA office on Main Street which worked out in the end). The AAA diamond parking at the parks was really close to the entrance at MGM, Animal Kingdom and we parked in castmember parking at Epcot because the Diamond Parking Lot was closed and the castmembers told us to park there - very close too!)
I contacted the housekeeper upon arrival and requested the room to be cleaned before noon each day and turn down before 7 p.m. to accomodate our son's nap and sleep schedule and this was done every day as requested. We also requested a refrigerator again upon checkin which was delivered within minutes - the maid service was terrific - my son's lion arranged in new positions each night on his bed which he loved and the last night a little towel animal chick next to the lion. The room was always spotless.
The concierge staff were very nice - we were concerned about the airport being closed on Friday, 9/19, here in Maryland, and one of the concierge staff members told us not to worry - they would work with us if we couldn't get home which eased my concerns (thankfully the airport reopened the morning we left!) I will say all of the concierge staff members were very good at their job - they took care of any cancellations of our priority seatings when requested and always asked if we needed anything.
Our room was very quiet and we never heard any of our neighbors at all. We also had a washer/dryer as well as the ice machine in a room three or four doors down in the hallway which was great for doing a couple of loads near the end of the trip. There were only 9 rooms on our hallway - all honeymoon suites.
Food offerings in the lounge were good although I'll admit I was really craving a hot breakfast meal after a few days of cereal and danishes!
Some of the offerings - we missed quite a few of the evening ones:
Breakfast - danishes, muffins, cereal, bagels, toast, coffee, orange juice.
Midday - three dips and breadsticks, dry toast for dips.
Tea: scones, iced tea, lemonade pink and yellow and a few other offerings
Evening: One evening was chicken nuggets for the kids, cupcakes, and brownies, and for the adults stuffed chicken breast, mussels, etc.
Very good wines from 5 to 7 and cordials and chocolate covered strawberries, mini eclairs, (big cookies out all day from 12 noon on), etc.
The only negative (depending on how you look at it) I found was the guest parking (it was a long hike down the road) - we chose instead to pay the $6.00 per day to valet park which was always done quickly - sometimes we called downstairs a couple minutes ahead of time and the car was waiting for us upon arrival.
The pools were both terrific - our son loved the zero entry pool although he never seemed to be at that end - he was always floating in the deep end (he's a real daredevil!) - they always seemed to only have half a dozen people in either pool when we went.
We also ate lunch at the Grand Floridian Cafe when we went - wonderful! Our son's food was brought out in a matter of minutes and ours followed very shortly. Cobb salad with chicken for me, chicken sandwich for my husband, and chicken fingers for our son - all terrific! I also saw a burger at another table which I was really thinking I should have ordered! We had the crabcake appetizer and the strawberry cheesecake. The cheesecake we asked to be to go and it was presented beatifully in a to go container and tasted heavenly!
Any questions, feel free to ask!

 

[mariamouse]

Thanks for the great review! We will be staying in a GV room this February and can't wait! It has always been a dream of mine to stay at the GF and it's finally coming true (although it seems so far away)! I'm happy to hear nice things about the RPC... I have read so many bad things about it in the past- hopefully, it's improving! One question: Did any of the buildings seem better located than the others? We are trying to decide which to request later on. Thanks again!

mariamouse

 

[CaliforniaDreaming]

Welcome back! Glad you had a great time. Did you take any pictures of the room? I didn't realize the sofa in those rooms was a pullout, I guess that'll be good to keep in mind.

 

[disneyfor3]

to californiadreaming: I meant to take pictures but, of course, forgot. It was basically a standard size room that you walk in and the bathroom is on your right with the tub and toilet in it's own room and a double marble sink on your right and a closet on your left. Then a king bed on your right with a nightstand on each side with a chest with the tv in it across from it as well as the minibar (they put the fridge under the double sinks in the bathroom) and then next the sliding glass doors was the double sofa with a table and two chairs and a round ottoman our son loved to sit on across from it.

As far as building location I found all the buildings seemed fairly close. The boat launch was over near Narcoosees and was very handy in returning from the MK so a room near that would also put you close to the quiet pool. I liked the quiet pool on chilly evenings since it was heated but loved the theme pool during the day for my son and husband to play in. I found the whole resort relaxing and quiet. If you pick a building in the middle of the resort the doors go through on the bottom floor so you would have the benefit of heading to the boat dock and pools from one door and the main building and the monorail or Gasparilla's on the other.

 

[KaterBell]

*sigh* .. great review. you just made me miss one of my favorite places. Love the GF!!! Nothing beats listening to the band play in the main lobby!! I didn't know the Octagon Jacuzzi rooms even existed!!! We had the Octagon honeymoon suite for our honeymooon - wish I knew about the jacuzzi! Welcome home, hope you get to go back soon!

 

[>>^..^<<]

Hi,

Sounds like a great stay at the GF RPC. Only 9 rooms on the whole floor? I am not familiar with the GF other than walking through the lobby... but it's hard to believe there would be so few rooms ~ what else is on that floor?

Was the lounge nice with lots of places to sit and was there a TV for the kids with cartoons?

The food sounds nice and I love the GF Cafe as well, good food and fast service.

>>^..^<<

 

[disneyfor3]

There isn't an octagon jacuzzi room - there are two different types of honeymoon rooms - one is located on the second floor claredon level and is a standard shape room with a jacuzzi and balcony with a view of the castle; the other 6 honeymoon rooms are octagon shaped, larger than the jacuzzi rooms, and located on floors 3, 4 and 5 in the south towers of the main building - these do not have balconies and although having a great view with all the windows located in the room I was told did not face the castle.

The second floor is where the shops and monorail are; the reason there are only 9 rooms on that floor is that you have to take a private elevator to that hallway and the end of the hallway is blocked off from the rest of the second floor so it is private and very quiet. The rest of the concierge rooms are located on floors 3, 4, and 5. You do have to take a second elevator to get to the claredon level on the 2nd floor so it involves taking the elevator to either the concierge checkin area on the third floor or the lounge area on the fourth and going down another hallway and taking another elevator to get there. But you can take that private elevator down to the first floor and it comes out right next to Gasparilla's where it is easy to get to the boat or the pools that way.

 

[disneyfor3]

Forgot to comment on the lounge - yes there were two tv's on in the lounge - one usually had news going and the other tv was in an area with a couple of small tables and chairs (mini-versions of the big upolstered ones) and a small couch for the children and there were usually a couple of kids sitting here and eating and/or watching cartoons. My son, my husband and I all loved to listen to the band and/or the piano player up here. We would pick a table next to the railing and my son would look through the railings and watch the band as they played on the second floor.

 

[momofmikey]

Thanks for the review! I'm particularly interested in how kid friendly you found the resort. We also have a 2 1/2 yo DS (almost three when we go in November) and a 8 month old DS. We've stayed at the Poly, which I found to be very kid friendly, but are trying the GF this time (have stayed there on our honeymoon). Did you ever feel out of place with your little boy? Did you ever get looks from people if he acted "his age" ? I'm so afraid of being uncomfortable the whole time with him there if he acts up (runs, screams, etc.).

I'm happy to hear about the zero entry pool - I'm sure my son would love that!

Thanks for your help!

 

[disneyfor3]

I never felt uncomfortable with my son at the Grand Floridian - he's 33 months and can get a little loud and occasionally would run down the hallway with us in hot pursuit. We mainly saw families with small children at the resort - we did see a lot of privacy signs on the honeymoon suite doors when we walked by so that must have been where all the couples were hiding out(smile). My son enjoyed playing in the kiddie pool with some little girls one evening and in the lounge one day there were quite a few little ones that all crammed onto the couch together to watch cartoons. I have stayed at the Polynesian before (7 years ago)and loved it but wanted to try something different this time. The only problem we had was at nap time each day when our son would lay down in the room - a couple of minutes later he would hear the train whistle at the Magic Kingdom and immediately jump up and say "listen!!!, wow, a train!!!" so we never did get the nap in (the quiet time each day did help though). You'll have a great time!

 

[Janet2k]

What a wonderful trip report, Disneyfor3. Like CaliforniaDreaming, I wish you had photos to share, but at least you gave us an excellent description of your room. Thank you.