New some advice on the GF

[Disney4my2boys]

Hello Everyone,
I just found these boards today – they are GREAT! We are heading to the GF September 22 with our 2 little boys (3 yrs and 9 months). We stayed at the GF in March and really enjoyed our stay – we were in the Boca Building with a MK view. So I have booked us there again since the monorail is so nice for the little ones. This time we decided to stay in a room with the concierge service. We booked a room in the Sugar Loaf building for the week. I have been reading so many reviews I am starting to get confused! I called the GF today to ask some questions about the rooms and they told me I need to talk to the concierge service (I left a message for them). So I was hoping that I could get some help with some questions I have about the GF.

1. We really enjoyed our MK view (kids go to bed early) would anyone recommend a MK room view over a concierge room?
2. Dose anyone know if the Sugar Loaf is remolded? I would like to stay in one of the newer rooms since my little one is crawling all over the place.
3. Do you know if they have flat screen TVs in the Sugar Loaf? Normally not a big deal – but my husband needs to watch the market all day.
4. Anyone have any recommendations on which room to ask for? Marina View or Pool View? Can you see the fireworks from anywhere?
5. How is the food in the Sugar Loaf?
6. Also are there any good restaurants you can recommend that have dinner and a view of the fireworks that are very kid friendly?

Thanks for all of you help! We are really excited for our trip!

 

[jlewisinsyr]

1. We really enjoyed our MK view (kids go to bed early) would anyone recommend a MK room view over a concierge room?

If you enjoy the MK view then that should answer it yourself.

2. Dose anyone know if the Sugar Loaf is remolded? I would like to stay in one of the newer rooms since my little one is crawling all over the place.

I believe SL is being remodeled currently. But if you're afraid of them crawling around, thinking that its cleaner don't make the assumption.

3. Do you know if they have flat screen TVs in the Sugar Loaf? Normally not a big deal – but my husband needs to watch the market all day.

I know for me, a CRT is much better to be watching tickers all day long. CRT screens are much higher contrast ratios and are still the best to watch. CNN, MSNbc and the like won't be broadcasted in HD so its not like you'll be benefiting from the new TVs HD connection. In this case, it would be better to get an older room without the flat panel.

4. Anyone have any recommendations on which room to ask for? Marina View or Pool View? Can you see the fireworks from anywhere?

Confused, thought you wanted a MK view, that is completley different then Garden View room. Fireworks from a MK view room can be seen, but MK view could be the Castle or Space Mountain, so you may have to turn to look. You can see the fireworks from the beach.

5. How is the food in the Sugar Loaf?

I defer to someone else.

6. Also are there any good restaurants you can recommend that have dinner and a view of the fireworks that are very kid friendly?

Kid friendly, how old? California Grill has a great view of the fireworks, but the fireworks from this angle don appear right over the castle, if that is an issue. I cannot speak to the other restaurants. California Grill is a little posh, not crazy, but if your kids are too young they may get restless.

 

[jw50]

6. Also are there any good restaurants you can recommend that have dinner and a view of the fireworks that are very kid friendly?

Probably the only one that really meets this requirement is 'Ohana at the Poly. But the view of the fireworks is better on the beach at the Poly than from inside 'Ohana.

 

[Disney4my2boys]

Jlewisinsyr -
Thank you for all of your comments. As far as the room goes we did really enjoy our MK view. When I called they did not have any rooms with a view available. So I booked the SL. I called a few days ago to add a crib and asked if they had any MK rooms they said there were some open now. I just wanted to see if all the service at the SL was worth skipping the view. I have heard such mixed reviews on the service at the SL.

Since we are currently booked at the SL I was hoping that someone could suggest a good room - or if they knew of any rooms there that did have some sort of view of the fireworks. Our little guy goes to bed early and my older one enjoys seeing the fireworks from our room.

I appreciate all of the responses!

 

[TammiMcMan]

1. We really enjoyed our MK view (kids go to bed early) would anyone recommend a MK room view over a concierge room?

Unfortunately, due to the way Sugar Loaf is situated on the property, there are no MK views. You can put in a request for garden or marina. A few rooms in Sugar Loaf do offer somewhat of a fireworks view. Specifically, you'd need to look at room 6313 and 6315.

2. Dose anyone know if the Sugar Loaf is remodeled? I would like to stay in one of the newer rooms since my little one is crawling all over the place.

I haven't heard anything recent. You may want to post this question on the GF FAQ thread or I can ask over there for you.

3. Do you know if they have flat screen TVs in the Sugar Loaf? Normally not a big deal – but my husband needs to watch the market all day.

Remodeled rooms have the new flat TV's.

4. Anyone have any recommendations on which room to ask for? Marina View or Pool View? Can you see the fireworks from anywhere?

Answered above, but if you want to see the fireworks from your balcony, then you need 6313 or 6315. If you don't mind sacrificing the view for some extra space, you may want to put in a request for a lodge tower room. There are 3 in Sugar Loaf, all with garden views, all bigger than a standard room, with sort of a bump out containing living room furniture. Normally, you would have to book this room level and pay extra for it, but in Sugar Loaf, they're available by request. Just an FYI though, the top floor room doesn't have a balcony.

5. How is the food in the Sugar Loaf?

Leans a little on the gourmet side, but very good and plentiful. Afternoon tea is offered with scones and Devonshire creme (yummy) and they do have kid friendly items.

6. Also are there any good restaurants you can recommend that have dinner and a view of the fireworks that are very kid friendly?

Assuming you mean restaurants at the GF, Narcoossee's is a bit more upscale, but it's very popular with families and it can be noisy (so need to worry about your kids being super quiet). They have floor to ceiling windows and a wrap around deck that look out towards the MK. Most tables offer a view or you can step outside to watch Wishes or the Electric Water Parade. The best view of Wishes is to simply grab a dessert or something from Gasparilla's Grill and sit at one of the outside tables around the marina. It's sort of like front row seats. Private dining can even set you up at an outside table if you'd like to eat room service while watching the fireworks. Doesn't get much better than that.

I have some room layouts on my website if you wanted to take a look at the difference between a standard concierge room and one of the lodge towers. Just let me know and I can send you the link.

 

[Sammie]

Sugar Loaf has not been remodeled yet and unless the schedule has changed it wont be until Oct.

Conch Key is the only building completely finished. I would take a MK view over Sugar Loaf due to the views and ask for Conch Key.