Just back from RPC!!!

[suzywindy]

My DH, DD, DSIL, and I all just got back (literally just got back, as in within the last hour) from a wonderful week at the RPC in the Grand Floridian. I'll have much to post about our stay there, an update on the concierge, the MK fireworks cruise, MNSSHP, and some restaurants, etc. Just back, and already trying to gather up the energy to plan the next trip. The Royal Palm Club was fabulous, and did not disappoint us or the other couple we went with...CAN'T WAIT TO GO BACK!

 

[Debbart]

Awesome!!! Can't wait for more details...we'll be there during the Christmas holidays and would appreciate anything you want to share about your trip and RPC!!

 

[suzywindy]

We had a party of 7 adults and one child. We had 3 different rooms. 2 adults were on their honeymoon and they stayed in the sugar loaf building to get away from the rest of us. My DH and I had room 4420 which is a deluxe room right on the same floor as they serve the food. Our other party had room 4307 which is on the third floor and they could see the monorail and the Cindy's castle at the Magic Kingdom.

We were picked up at the airport by a Towncar and this guy "Jack" that we use every year. He brought a friend and a second towncar as well.

My DH called the concierge for RPC and the Sugar Loaf while we were on our way from the airport and they met us outside like they said they would.

Our rooms, of course, were not ready but we were ready with our Park Faire reservations for 11:00 so off we went to breakfast which was most delicious.

Everyone had their room before 2pm except us since we were waiting specifically for Room 4420 since we had it last year. They bumped us up for free - never charged us the difference. We did use codes to get both rooms in the RPC - the price was about $450 a room.

We then ran to the Magic Kingdom to do a few things. It was a little crowded - but this was on a Saturday. We waited for Space Mountain 35 mins which I think is pretty good for late afternoon on a Saturday.

That night we all met to do the Fireworks Cruise for the Magic Kingdom. We left from the GF Marina and it was just great. We also reserved a mickey head cake to be served while we were watching the fireworks.

Great first day.

In the Concierge lounge they were just putting away all of the food as we arrived. There were nutty cinnamin buns, 3 or 4 types of cereal, breads, bagels, toasters, jellies, cream cheese, butter, fresh fruit all cut up with yogurt dips, fresh whole fruit, 2 or 3 kinds of pastries that were flaky and some had rasperry filling, coffee, teas, oj, cranberry, skim milk and flavorings for the coffee.


Please feel free to ask any specific questions while it is fresh in my mind.

I will say this, I read many pros and cons on this board before going about the staff at this hotel. We had to be fortunate, because everyone I ran into was most pleasant with a "Grand" attitude to go along with it, from the maids, to the concierge to the waiters in the Grand Floridian Cafe to the little old guy standing outside every day wishing me "A Grand Day"

 

[CaliforniaDreaming]

Welcome home! Glad you had a great stay! Sounds like I need to book a stay there - the concierge must really be improving (that's a good thing, too!).

 

[ead79]

Glad you had such a great trip! It's also great to hear some positive reviews of the RPC!

 

[princess angel]

glad to hear you had a fabulous time at the GF RPC! sounds like the GF RPC was just wonderful to you!

I know exactly the little old guy you are talking about at the GF! He one time drove DH and I to the WL when we were having dinner at Artist Point! what a nice guy!

welcome home!

Laura

 

[CaliforniaDreaming]

Originally posted by princess angel
I know exactly the little old guy you are talking about at the GF! He one time drove DH and I to the WL when we were having dinner at Artist Point! what a nice guy!

Yep, I also know! My sister and I got our picture taken with him!

 

[4merlurkerchris]

Hi,
Glad to hear you had a good trip! Did you make any priority seatings with the advanced planners before your trip? If so, did you call them or e-mail them and how were they to work with? Thanks!
Chris

 

[suzywindy]

4merlurkerchris: We did not use the advance planners? concierge to make any of our priority seatings. Sorry.

We made all of our own at the following:
Park Fair, Grand Floridian Cafe, Chef Mickey's breakfast and dinner, O'hana's, Hollywood and Vine for Fantasmic, Sci-fi, Cindy's breakfast, Tea Party at the GF for the 3 year old.

We had additional PS that we could not keep at the Liberty Tree, Whispering Canyon and Kona Cafe. Just ran out of time.

The only things we counted on the concierge for was the cake for the fireworks cruise, and the balloons and note from Cindy for the child in our party that was delivered to her room no charge. It was their idea.

The only reason we did not use them for any of our PS is because my DH likes to do it himself. It is part of the trip for him.

 

[Timon71]

Hello,
My future wife and I leave tommorrow for our fairy tale wedding on Tuesday at Sunset Pointe. We are staying at GF conceirge for the entire 7 nights. We too are alittle concerned after reading all the negative comments about GF here lately. I must say it is reassuring to see a POSITIVE one this close to the MAGICALLY day. Anything you'd suggest trying on con. level? First time staying con., normally just stay at deluxe standard rooms.

Thanks for your report. Would love to hear more.


Jay & Monica
Sunset Pointe
10/29/02

 

[Tonyspad]

Your trip sounded great----

I have two questions:

1. Why did you chose room #4420? I am trying to get a view of the MK from our room, did this room have this view???

2. Did the room smell of smoke?, I am booked into a deluxe RPC room and have been told that the deluxe concierge rooms are only avalible "smoking optional"

Thanks, Tony

 

[suzywindy]

We loved the desserts at night, top shelf along with the cordials.

Room 4420 does not have a view of the castle. We could see Space Mountain straight ahead and epcot over to the right and the riverboats where they docked. We could also see the quiet pool and the edge of the new pool.

We liked this view because we could watch for my daughter walking from sugar loaf into the main building or waiting for others coming from the boat.

Our friends were in 4307 - third floor and had a view of the castle. Their little girl would run to the window each morning to make sure it was still there and at night would watch it change colors.

No smell of smoke at all. Not this time or last time. The room is just so huge and we also wanted it because we had friends stopping in to spend a few hours before we went to the MNSSHP and that way we had plenty of room for everyone right in our room.

Usually at the contemporary we chose the Magic Kingdom side of the tower. But at the GF RPC I cannot imagine a bad view and the lounge is just so relaxful especially at night when the band is playing.

Sitting back and listening to music while eating chocolate covered strawberries - it just does not get much better than that!

 

[Tonyspad]

Thanks for the help. I want to be on the fourth floor so that our boys can go to the concierge lounge without having to go down and up the elevator. Can you suggest a deluxe room # on the fourth floor that would have a MK view ?? thanks again

 

[CaliforniaDreaming]

Originally posted by Tonyspad
Thanks for the help. I want to be on the fourth floor so that our boys can go to the concierge lounge without having to go down and up the elevator. Can you suggest a deluxe room # on the fourth floor that would have a MK view ?? thanks again

None of the deluxe rooms have MK views.

 

[Tonyspad]

Well that answers that ! Sounds like I will be asking for any deluxe room of the fourth floor. Are all the rooms close to the lounge/ elevator. Last May we stayed at the YC concierge and were lucky enough to be only a minute away from the lounge/ elevator area, while most of the rooms were a journey away. Sorry for the continual questions.

 

[CaliforniaDreaming]

Originally posted by Tonyspad
Well that answers that ! Sounds like I will be asking for any deluxe room of the fourth floor. Are all the rooms close to the lounge/ elevator. Last May we stayed at the YC concierge and were lucky enough to be only a minute away from the lounge/ elevator area, while most of the rooms were a journey away. Sorry for the continual questions.

Yep, two are in the lobby area, two are right off the lobby area. All are close to the main elevators.

 

[4merlurkerchris]

Thanks so much for the information!
Chris