we come up here every year and it is just a beautiful island. the weather is very nice mid 70s, cool in the evening. we are staying at the island house,very nice rooms,but small. next time we are going to splurg and use our points, 80 points a night peak season includes breakfast and 5 course dinner everyday, plus the one time booking fee $95. just to visit the grand hotel it cost $10 to go inside if your not staying there, you could have the $10 be applied to your breakfast, lunch or dinner. any questions please post..........
Live from Mackinac island, but not staying on points, but next time for sure !
- Thread starter wdwstar
- Start date
bobbiwoz
I'm happy to dance with you!
- Joined
- Aug 26, 2003
- Messages
- 175,584
Hi, I'm glad that you're having a nice time. We visited the island once, and paid the $10 for the tour and applied it to the lunch. It was a fabulous buffet. We've thought about doing the Grand Hotel for points as well.
Have you ever biked around the island? One day was not enough time to visit, I'd love to go back to see more. We did the butterfly house. What sort of things have you done?
Bobbi
Have you ever biked around the island? One day was not enough time to visit, I'd love to go back to see more. We did the butterfly house. What sort of things have you done?
Bobbi
rocketriter
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Nov 14, 2003
- Messages
- 2,316
The Grand Hotel is a wonderful place--stately rooms, great food, stunning verandah with a great view. I'd use points DVC points to stay there myself if it included meals, which are very expensive otherwise.
By the way, Greta Garbo used to stay there for weeks at a time. Legend has it that they'd close the pool after dark so that she could skinny-dip.
Don't eat too much fudge!
By the way, Greta Garbo used to stay there for weeks at a time. Legend has it that they'd close the pool after dark so that she could skinny-dip.
Don't eat too much fudge!
Hey wdwstar.
We were just up on the Island on Monday and it was quite "chilly" then, too.
Isn't the Grand Hotel Beautiful???? One of these days we will use our points there.
My DS had the opportunity to sing there with is choir a few years ago and ate breakfast there and pronounced it UNREAL!
Enjoy your stay!
pinnie
We were just up on the Island on Monday and it was quite "chilly" then, too.
Isn't the Grand Hotel Beautiful???? One of these days we will use our points there.
My DS had the opportunity to sing there with is choir a few years ago and ate breakfast there and pronounced it UNREAL!
Enjoy your stay!
pinnie
Susan
SueEllen
<font color=red>Proud Iced Tea Snob<br><font color
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- Sep 20, 1999
- Messages
- 6,829
Same here! That is one of my all-time favorite movies EVER!!!! I would LOVE to visit there sometime just specifically for that reason alone!!!!! It just mskes me think that so much romance will take place there!!
Bobbi
colleen costello
DVC Fan
- Joined
- Jul 23, 2002
- Messages
- 3,229
Enjoy that magical place!
Our DVC guide, Lisa, told me last summer that she and her family vacationed there using her points. They like to go somewhere cooler for their summer vacation and she said that the staff at the Grand Hotel treated them like royalty when they discovered she was there via DVC. She was also pleasantly surprised at how much there was to entertain her preschool daughter. They had a wonderful time; she said the rooms were well-maintained. I am going someday whenI can tear myself away from Mickey!
Our DVC guide, Lisa, told me last summer that she and her family vacationed there using her points. They like to go somewhere cooler for their summer vacation and she said that the staff at the Grand Hotel treated them like royalty when they discovered she was there via DVC. She was also pleasantly surprised at how much there was to entertain her preschool daughter. They had a wonderful time; she said the rooms were well-maintained. I am going someday whenI can tear myself away from Mickey!
MDonley
Still learning
- Joined
- Jan 9, 2004
- Messages
- 290
We used to stay at the Island House quite a lot. We loved it!
When we joined DVC, we finally splurged and used our points to stay at the Grand Hotel. (DW figured that was the only way we'd be able to stay there) It was the highlight of years of trips to the island where we'd bike around it, visit all the cemeteries, forts, and caves. Once we found an old map and had to search for the "crack in the island" located near the airport.
I'd have to consider both that and the Alaskan Cruise the best use of our points in a trade that we've ever had.
Hope your trip is just Grand!
When we joined DVC, we finally splurged and used our points to stay at the Grand Hotel. (DW figured that was the only way we'd be able to stay there) It was the highlight of years of trips to the island where we'd bike around it, visit all the cemeteries, forts, and caves. Once we found an old map and had to search for the "crack in the island" located near the airport.
I'd have to consider both that and the Alaskan Cruise the best use of our points in a trade that we've ever had.
Hope your trip is just Grand!
HauntedMansionGeek
Will arm wrestle DISshopkeeper for a date with Ron
- Joined
- Jan 1, 2003
- Messages
- 1,772
I could have written this post except the points part. LOL
We don't have enough points to be able to use them for stays other than at DWorld.
The biking, the cemetaries and yes, the caves!!
And did you (MDonley) ever find the "crack in the island"??
Island House is a wonderful place, with that big front porch! We've done the Chippewa (rather dumpy LOL) and The Inn On Mack....just the thought of of the OP hearing taps at night...ohhhh man, I'm jealous!!
MDonley
Still learning
- Joined
- Jan 9, 2004
- Messages
- 290
HauntedMansionGeek,
Yes we did find the crack in the island ... it's located by the airport cave (back side of the airport).
The DVC member that I work with (and introduced me to the DIS) was in a Boy Scout Troop that would help out at the fort for a week each summer.
I could start to miss Mackinac Island as much as WDW .... maybe not! I'm addicted to pixie dust. (that's a good thing ... right?)
Yes we did find the crack in the island ... it's located by the airport cave (back side of the airport).
The DVC member that I work with (and introduced me to the DIS) was in a Boy Scout Troop that would help out at the fort for a week each summer.
I could start to miss Mackinac Island as much as WDW .... maybe not! I'm addicted to pixie dust. (that's a good thing ... right?)
This Year in Mackinac Island was great accept for the weather on the 4th of all days, rain & cold, no fireworks
.
We tried the Island House Hotel, we loved it. It was in the perfect place on the island, right across from the marina were DFIL had his boat. just a few mins walk or 30 seconds on bike , depends on the horse carriage traffic,lol to the main street for shopping, fudge/icecream and restaraunts. They have a indoorpool/hot tub,which we used the whole time.The rooms were small, we asked if we could up grade to a lake view with 2 beds, they didnt have a room available with 2 beds but was offered either a queen or king lake view for $45 more a night. they gave us the keys to 3 different rooms for us to decide which room we would like. the two rooms with the one bed lake view were very small, almost like the bathroom sink was at your feet reach if you were laying on the bed. these rooms were their deluxe rooms we stayed with the tradition room that i had booked, a lilac tree view,lol with 2 beds with a little more room. we did see the premium room, 2 beds and a pull out couch, a sitting chair and the view was of the lake. they only had one room left but only 2 nights were available we needed 3 nights and im sure the up grade would have been $100 a night. we would have took that room if it was available. we did hear TAPS everynight it was nice.
as many times that we have been on the island i still cant get use to the sound of the cannon and the guns that go off in the mackinac fort. lol
we brought our bikes but did not get a chance to ride around the island, i guess we will try next year. dh & dd went golfing, DFIL took my dd & niece on a carriage ride, DSIL & i went shopping.
we ate most of our meals at the island house hotel, they have a breakfast buffet $13 adult $6 for kids, we really dont eat breakfast so im not sure what was on the buffet. we ate lunch at the ice house behind the island house next to their pool, very good sandwiches $7-$10. We ate one dinner there, the room is formal with a person playing the piano, but the dress code was casual. the food was good to very good, we sat in front of the windows to look out at the lake.
there are 2 butterfly houses, we only went to the one that we always go to. carriage rides into town were $3.75 each way for adults & $2.00 for children each way.
we were told that on the fourth we will be able to see fireworks from 4 to 6 different places, with the rain the fireworks were called off, they also were selling tickets for a picnic (all you can eat burgers, hot dogs, ribs and salads, desserts) in the Mackinac fort for $35 adults , $16 for kids, 5 and under free. we didnt buy tickets because of the weather.
the lilacs were still in bloom, and we didnt get to see the crack in the island, i would have like to have hike to see it, but we did read all the myths that caused the crack.
overall our trip was great except for loosing one day because of the rain. our next trip next year we are planning to stay at the grand hotel even if its a few nights and then over to the island house for the rest of our trip.
The grand hotel does include breakfast and 5 course dinner with using your points, but you do have to pay the booking fee of $95.
.We tried the Island House Hotel, we loved it. It was in the perfect place on the island, right across from the marina were DFIL had his boat. just a few mins walk or 30 seconds on bike , depends on the horse carriage traffic,lol to the main street for shopping, fudge/icecream and restaraunts. They have a indoorpool/hot tub,which we used the whole time.The rooms were small, we asked if we could up grade to a lake view with 2 beds, they didnt have a room available with 2 beds but was offered either a queen or king lake view for $45 more a night. they gave us the keys to 3 different rooms for us to decide which room we would like. the two rooms with the one bed lake view were very small, almost like the bathroom sink was at your feet reach if you were laying on the bed. these rooms were their deluxe rooms we stayed with the tradition room that i had booked, a lilac tree view,lol with 2 beds with a little more room. we did see the premium room, 2 beds and a pull out couch, a sitting chair and the view was of the lake. they only had one room left but only 2 nights were available we needed 3 nights and im sure the up grade would have been $100 a night. we would have took that room if it was available. we did hear TAPS everynight it was nice.
as many times that we have been on the island i still cant get use to the sound of the cannon and the guns that go off in the mackinac fort. lol
we brought our bikes but did not get a chance to ride around the island, i guess we will try next year. dh & dd went golfing, DFIL took my dd & niece on a carriage ride, DSIL & i went shopping.
we ate most of our meals at the island house hotel, they have a breakfast buffet $13 adult $6 for kids, we really dont eat breakfast so im not sure what was on the buffet. we ate lunch at the ice house behind the island house next to their pool, very good sandwiches $7-$10. We ate one dinner there, the room is formal with a person playing the piano, but the dress code was casual. the food was good to very good, we sat in front of the windows to look out at the lake.
there are 2 butterfly houses, we only went to the one that we always go to. carriage rides into town were $3.75 each way for adults & $2.00 for children each way.
we were told that on the fourth we will be able to see fireworks from 4 to 6 different places, with the rain the fireworks were called off, they also were selling tickets for a picnic (all you can eat burgers, hot dogs, ribs and salads, desserts) in the Mackinac fort for $35 adults , $16 for kids, 5 and under free. we didnt buy tickets because of the weather.
the lilacs were still in bloom, and we didnt get to see the crack in the island, i would have like to have hike to see it, but we did read all the myths that caused the crack.
overall our trip was great except for loosing one day because of the rain. our next trip next year we are planning to stay at the grand hotel even if its a few nights and then over to the island house for the rest of our trip.
The grand hotel does include breakfast and 5 course dinner with using your points, but you do have to pay the booking fee of $95.
brivers222
Former DVC member
- Joined
- May 19, 2004
- Messages
- 1,591
After looking at the Grand's Website it looks that each room you book there (whether it is cash or points) includes Breakfast and a 5 course dinner.
However, rooms run a good $500+ a night, so the Points are well worth every cent.
My DW and I are looking into going up there sometime on points.
Infact when we read that on was on the list, we got really excited during our tour!
However, rooms run a good $500+ a night, so the Points are well worth every cent.
My DW and I are looking into going up there sometime on points.
Infact when we read that on was on the list, we got really excited during our tour!
We just got back yesterday as well. Mackinac and Disney are our yearly "must-do" trips. wdwstar were you wearing your DVC jackets? We saw some people walk by wearing them while we were there - it was down toward the Island House come to think of it. We stayed at the new Main Street Inn ans Suites. It just opened last month. We enjoyed it very much. It was sort of sad about the fireworks but it was kind of cool watching the ships disappear into the dense fog!
We used points to stay at the Grand Hotel two years ago.
It was worth every point. We had a wonderful lakeside room that had a view of the bridge.
Breakfast and the 5 course dinner are included in the price of the room (and when using points). There are lots of things to do at the hotel and, of course, on the island itself.
If I remember correctly it was 55 points per night, but it was in the middle of the week.
Even though I agree with people that say your best use of points is at a DVC hotel, I believe that using points at the Grand Hotel was well worth it.
It is one of those things that you should do if you are able.
BTW, one of the odd things about the Grand Hotel is that there is "no tipping". I keep thinking about all the tips I give at other places for service. I have to believe this saved us $100.00 for the two days we were there.
It was worth every point. We had a wonderful lakeside room that had a view of the bridge.
Breakfast and the 5 course dinner are included in the price of the room (and when using points). There are lots of things to do at the hotel and, of course, on the island itself.
If I remember correctly it was 55 points per night, but it was in the middle of the week.
Even though I agree with people that say your best use of points is at a DVC hotel, I believe that using points at the Grand Hotel was well worth it.
It is one of those things that you should do if you are able.
BTW, one of the odd things about the Grand Hotel is that there is "no tipping". I keep thinking about all the tips I give at other places for service. I have to believe this saved us $100.00 for the two days we were there.
ronw
OMG! YES, that was us ! DVC navy blue jackets, were we wearing our dvc beach club baseball hats too,lol. and did you see dh wearing his dvc shirt, lol, i bet you couldnt tell we love our dvc .
the jackets were our 2nd greatest purchase of dvc, we wear them all the time(our first was our dvc points).
oh, you should have said hello neighbor, but then we probable would have stood there for hours talking, lol.lol
we got home last night to, but it looks like you had a shorter ride then us, 6 1/2 hours from IL.
and you are right about the boats dissapearing in the fog.
the island house has wine(beer) & cheese(snacky things) reception on fridays, im not sure if they do it monday thru thursday too, it maybe just friday, so that is were we hung out until dinner.
where did you eat your dinners? have you tried the woods restaurant by the grand hotel?
and i didnt know about the tipping at the grand thank you for the info.
OMG! YES, that was us ! DVC navy blue jackets, were we wearing our dvc beach club baseball hats too,lol. and did you see dh wearing his dvc shirt, lol, i bet you couldnt tell we love our dvc .
the jackets were our 2nd greatest purchase of dvc, we wear them all the time(our first was our dvc points).
oh, you should have said hello neighbor, but then we probable would have stood there for hours talking, lol.lol
we got home last night to, but it looks like you had a shorter ride then us, 6 1/2 hours from IL.
and you are right about the boats dissapearing in the fog.
the island house has wine(beer) & cheese(snacky things) reception on fridays, im not sure if they do it monday thru thursday too, it maybe just friday, so that is were we hung out until dinner.
where did you eat your dinners? have you tried the woods restaurant by the grand hotel?
and i didnt know about the tipping at the grand thank you for the info.
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