just got back from GF!

[csamom]

Hey everybody,

My family just returned last night from a week at the Grand. May I just say that it was the most magical family vacation we have ever ever had. The lobby is just breathtaking when you enter. We had a heavy dose of pixie dust sprinkled on us as we were upgraded from standard to concierge!

Brides and stretch limos were everywhere...just like the smell of gingerbread and the sounds of choir bells performing. Very festive! (even w/ the shorter tree and the missing miniature gingerbread house-but maybe I just couldn't find it).

I am totally spoiled by the cookies and cupcakes and hot chocolate every night with my newspaper before I turned in.

The kids absolutely loved it and said they wanted to move there. If you have any questions-just ask-I had stayed at many deluxe and home away from home resorts at WDW, but none compared to my experience at the Grand.

 

[cdpa4d]

csamom,
Thanks for your post. I am planning on staying at Grand in the first week of May. Your post makes me more excited about the experience since we never stayed at a Magic Kingdom resort before. Did you get an AP rate? What was it? Did you have a great view of the Magic Kingdom? You sure were lucky to get upgraded to Concierge. Glad you had a great trip!
Thanks,
ADP

 

[disneydill]

So glad you had a "grand" time - I'm all goosebumpish just thinking about it - we leave for the GF on the 16th!

Thanks for posting!

 

[Candice30]

congratulations of the upgrade. i have never stayed at GF either but am planning a trip next year. i'm interested to hear how you liked your room and view? also, how did you manage to get that upgrade? maybe the clerk got hit with some of your pixie dust and something came over him.

please, tell me all about the room and don't leave anything out!

 

[csamom]

Our lodge was Sugar Loaf and I loved the location. You used your room key card to get inside the building. Fresh flowers were put out in the lobby each day with the surrounding yummies (breads, scones, jams, fruits, etc). We were on the first floor which was great-I could sit on the sofa in the lobby and see our room to make sure the sleeping kids were safe.

The room had the robes for us but the bellman said they discontinued offering the kids' robes (never asked anyone else). The bedspread was Tinkerbell themed and the bathroom wallpaper had mint green Mickeys. The toilet paper had GF on it. The bathroom had plenty of plush towels and enough room in the dual sink area for a crib or pack in play (they had both). We never went out on the balcony but had a pool view room. The room seemed spacious for a family of 5 and had a nice sofa bed area and table w/ 2 chairs. Each night concierge would leave us a message on the phone about the weather and park hours etc.

By the way my extended family came and all 3 rooms were upgraded to concierge. We asked if there was an upgrade to lagoon and they said that none was available but we had been upgraded to concierge (woo hoo). The lobby had paper ornaments of the characters to color and put on the lobby tree. If you wanted something they didn't have out-they were very accommodating and kind. Very homey and relaxing and had little chairs and table-like in the main lobby for the kids.-any other questions? the gingerbread house had cute gingerbread ornaments for $6 that made good teacher gifts (for letting kids out of school). The beach was great-an attraction in itself with cabanas and a view of the Poly. The boat dock was great for watching fireworks and electrical water parade and was just a few steps away. There was also someone passing out roasted chestnuts at the entrance to the Grand. Oh, and the kids loved the bedtime stories on the tv at night where they could read along....can you tell I'm excited still over my trip?

 

[cinmell]

Sounds wonderful! I'm glad you had a fantastic vacation!!!!!

 

[Wendi]

First off let me say Congratulations on the Upgrade. The only word that comes to mind is WOW! We have always paid for the room that we wanted an even at that would be totally thrilled if we ever got an upgrade. I have 2 lagoon view rooms booked for Jan. and boy would my parents flip if we got upgraded to concierge. Did you ask for a lagoon upgrade at check-in or did you fax a request? I am just curious if maybe something you said might have given you the upgrade. Have you stayed at the Grand before or was this your first visit? Either way, that was such a Wonderful Early Christmas present for your family. I am so glad you enjoyed your stay. Send some pixie dust our way.
Happy Holiday's!
Wendi

 

[The Land and Sea Guy]

What time of day did you check-in at the front desk when receiving the wonderful upgrage? I always love reading about these experiences!

 

[blanq]

If I ever win the lottery, I'm staying at the GF! When I see that resort from across the lagoon, or pass by on the monorail, I sigh a big sigh in awe. It is such a beautiful resort! I am so happy for you that your trip, and your stay at GF, was so magical! I know I will never be so lucky to get the kind of upgrade you received, at any WDW resort, but I am always so happy for those who do!! What a wonderful sprinkling of pixie dust!!

 

[Wendi]

Bump!

 

[csamom]

I checked in that morning between 9 and 10am. I had not faxed a request. I don't know how we got so lucky-but it was a fantastic Christmas present.

Now, I'm throwing some pixie dust your way.......

 

[Sammie]

Originally posted by csamom
I checked in that morning between 9 and 10am. I had not faxed a request. I don't know how we got so lucky-but it was a fantastic Christmas present.

Now, I'm throwing some pixie dust your way.......

Probably because you did not fax they surprised you with some unexpected, unasked for magic. Very nice when that happens.

 

[MinnieGi]

Wow! Congratulations on such a fantastic upgrade! That sure is some pixie dust magic at work!! I'm jealous! Glad to hear your trip was wonderful.

 

[Wendi]

Thanks Csamom,

I only have a request of adjoining rooms, so maybe they won't mind that. I am hoping for a Magical time. After all I will be in Disney.

Best Wishes to everyone else going.
Wendi

 

[BCV23]

Nice report. Certainly sounds like you had a fantastic time....and what a cool upgrade!

 

[songbert]

WOW - an upgrade to concierge would be a dream come true!!
You sound like you had a wonderful trip - that's fantastic. I love happy endings!!

I'm thrilled that my countdown is finally less than a year!! We were at FW in July, but our GF trip is going to be a dream come true for me

 

[claudia]

The bedspread was Tinkerbell themed

Well that was all I needed to know!!!LOL!!! Tink is my favorite and my kids tease me constantly about loving Tink so much....wait till them see the bedspreads, they will just go nuts!!!We will be there in less than 2 weeks now and I am getting really excited. We did request a room on the first floor (our youngest... a couple weeks of 13, but he is still our baby!!) really enjoys going to the lounge on his own to bring back surprise morning treats for everyone, so the CM suggested this would be a great location so that he would not need to be on the elevators.
I am so happy that you had such a wonderful vacation....you just never know when the Disney magic will appear and what a wonderful surprise for all of you. I am glad to hear that the room was spacious enough for 5. We have all five of us on this Christmas trip, but the older 2 kids are 25 and 20...so we were a little concerned that we might feel cramped. I am so glad that you had such a wonderful time, as some other reports on SugarLoaf had me concerned.

 

[swilphil]

Originally posted by Sammie
Probably because you did not fax they surprised you with some unexpected, unasked for magic. Very nice when that happens.

So does this mean that we SHOULDN'T fax requests? Have others experienced upgrades more if they fax or don't fax??

 

[MJTinNH]

Originally posted by csamom
We had a heavy dose of pixie dust sprinkled on us as we were upgraded from standard to concierge!

That was a great surprise! Thank you for posting!