The All New Grand Floridian FAQ - MAY 2009

[minniesota]

Here are a few more pictures from our trip:

We were lucky enough to see the castle lights!

And the next day, the crane appeared and the lights started coming down.

This is the waiting area/entrance by the GF Cafe. They added the benches while we were there.

You can see the beautiful tile work in front of Garden View Lounge.

The GF Orchestra Society play every day - love them!

More tile work at the bottom of the grand staircase.

Love this scene near the theme pool entrance. All of the new tile is gorgeous!

 

[BCV23]

More great pictures, minniesota. Thanks for sharing with us.

Those benches were there when we had lunch at the GF Cafe on 1/6 although they were side by side at the time. I wonder if they removed them and then put them back?

Don't you love those holiday lights on the castle.

 

[Native NYer]

Beautiful photos Minniesota!

Is the RPC kid-friendly?

 

[LittleStinkerbelle]

Great photos, Minniesota! I've loved hearing about your trip.

 

[BCV23]

Beautiful photos Minniesota!

Is the RPC kid-friendly?

Yes. There's a little TV area for children with small furniture...or at least there was when we stayed RPC. I'm sure minniesota will be along with the latest. All the club levels we've stayed at WDW have groupings for children as well as food offerings aimed at simpler tastes.

 

[MsStinkerBelle]

Gorgeous photos, Minniesota! Especially love the 'Peter Pan' floor tile shot. Makes me even more excited for our trip December 2010. I'm already starting to sketch out which GF restaurants we're dining at on which days.

 

[Native NYer]

Yes. There's a little TV area for children with small furniture...or at least there was when we stayed RPC. I'm sure minniesota will be along with the latest. All the club levels we've stayed at WDW have groupings for children as well as food offerings aimed at simpler tastes.

Thanks! So happy to hear that. I was afraid if I upgrade to RPC, it'll be too formal for my nephews.

 

[minniesota]

Thanks for your nice comments! Hope I don't bore you with too many pictures!

This was our view from the RPC lounge.

I love the architectural details in the GF lobby!

The GF lobby has 2 kids' seating areas - this is one of them.

This is my screensaver today! Take me back!!!

Taken last Saturday on arrival day at 1 p.m. The weather was "for the birds" but it didn't dampen our fun!

Up next: Spa and Fitness Center

 

[Native NYer]

The GF lobby is just so beautiful!

 

[minniesota]

More great pictures, minniesota. Thanks for sharing with us.

Those benches were there when we had lunch at the GF Cafe on 1/6 although they were side by side at the time. I wonder if they removed them and then put them back?

Don't you love those holiday lights on the castle.

Thats' funny about the benches because the day DD and I had lunch at the GF Cafe the lobby area was completely empty and we commented how nice it would be to have a place to sit! The next day, benches were there! We thought someone must have magically granted our wish.

Beautiful photos Minniesota!

Is the RPC kid-friendly?

Thanks! Yes, RPC is definitely kid-friendly. As BCV23 mentioned, there are kid-sized tables and chairs and their own TV. I did notice there seemed to be fewer kid food options this visit but most of the kids we saw were eating off the "adult" buffet anyway. The most kid-friendly options are at breakfast with 4 cereal choices, 3 yogurts, watermelon, pineapple, cantelope and honeydew melon; lots of toast choices; mini-bagels, pastries, etc. Drinks at breakfast included apple juice, orange juice, milk and packets for hot chocolate.

 

[Native NYer]

Thanks! Yes, RPC is definitely kid-friendly. As BCV23 mentioned, there are kid-sized tables and chairs and their own TV. I did notice there seemed to be fewer kid food options this visit but most of the kids we saw were eating off the "adult" buffet anyway. The most kid-friendly options are at breakfast with 4 cereal choices, 3 yogurts, watermelon, pineapple, cantelope and honeydew melon; lots of toast choices; mini-bagels, pastries, etc. Drinks at breakfast included apple juice, orange juice, milk and packets for hot chocolate.

That's terrific!
Now to finalize a decision about going from SL to RPC.

 

[minniesota]

That's terrific!
Now to finalize a decision about going from SL to RPC.

Not to confuse you, but I did stop in the SL lounge a couple of times and it's very nice - kind of cozy and quaint. And there is a kids' seating area there as well. It's very convenient to the main pool.

Probably what tips the scales in favor of RPC for me is the atmosphere which is, well, "grand"! The lounge is spacious and the lobby ambience (piano music and the orchestra) can't be beat. Finally, I love the views from the main building, especially that castle! Good luck deciding.

 

[minniesota]

Here are some photos of the Spa and Fitness Center. We had the Aurum Manus massage that included the use of hot stones, oil and cool crystals. Fabulous!!!

Here is the locker room area:

The vanity in the bathroom:

The waiting area offers comfy seating, ice water, teas and fruit:

A quiet, darkened seating area offers a place to wait for your services:

The whirpool area also has a steam room and sauna:

Fitness Center equipment:

 

[Figment1990]

Does anyone think I could bribe a GF CM enough to let me reserve a Cabana on our upcoming trip??? (Half-joking) Depite my efforts to persuade, the rest of my party insisted we stay at the Poly instead of the Grand. DH & I rented one on our last trip and it was such a nice relaxing way to spend the day at the pool. Especially since we went in AUGUST!

Please don't flame me. I wouldn't really bribe anyone. Beg and plead maybe, but not bribe or sneak in. Oh well, I'll just have to book another trip....

 

[BCV23]

Thats' funny about the benches because the day DD and I had lunch at the GF Cafe the lobby area was completely empty and we commented how nice it would be to have a place to sit! The next day, benches were there! We thought someone must have magically granted our wish.

OK, forget what I said. It was your wish being granted!

Seriously, the benches look better in your photo. The day we were there both were next to each other directly across from the podium...I think where the one on the right is in your photo. It looked sort of like a bus station or something. More elegant now. Was the DVC desk back...it was missing when we were there. Maybe it was moved elsewhere?

 

[minniesota]

OK, forget what I said. It was your wish being granted!

Seriously, the benches look better in your photo. The day we were there both were next to each other directly across from the podium...I think where the one on the right is in your photo. It looked sort of like a bus station or something. More elegant now. Was the DVC desk back...it was missing when we were there. Maybe it was moved elsewhere?

Oh, that's better! We like our pixie dust!

The DVC desk was not there. In fact, we didn't see on but it could have been in the lobby area near the front doors. We were always in such a hurry to come in from the cold, I didn't look around much!

 

[Native NYer]

Not to confuse you, but I did stop in the SL lounge a couple of times and it's very nice - kind of cozy and quaint. And there is a kids' seating area there as well. It's very convenient to the main pool.

Probably what tips the scales in favor of RPC for me is the atmosphere which is, well, "grand"! The lounge is spacious and the lobby ambience (piano music and the orchestra) can't be beat. Finally, I love the views from the main building, especially that castle! Good luck deciding.

Thanks!

Being near the pool is a plus for SL. But I can book a deluxe queen room in the main building. I can only request one of the three lodge tower rooms in SL. I wish there was a deluxe room option for SL.

Are you able to go to the SL lounge when staying RPC?

 

[minniesota]

Thanks!

Being near the pool is a plus for SL. But I can book a deluxe queen room in the main building. I can only request one of the three lodge tower rooms in SL. I wish there was a deluxe room option for SL.

Are you able to go to the SL lounge when staying RPC?

So you are looking for more square footage? We've stayed in the Deluxe Queen in RPC and the rooms are very generous in size. Your RPC key does work in the SL lodge. I don't know if technically you're supposed to use the SL lounge but I did pop in there for a couple glasses of water.

 

[Native NYer]

So you are looking for more square footage? We've stayed in the Deluxe Queen in RPC and the rooms are very generous in size. Your RPC key does work in the SL lodge. I don't know if technically you're supposed to use the SL lounge but I did pop in there for a couple glasses of water.

Yes, I'd love a larger room. The deluxe room is not much more $ than the standard room. Are there a lot of rooms in the main building? I'm wondering if I don't upgrade soon, the rooms will be booked up.

 

[disneygirl319]

Here are some photos of the Spa and Fitness Center. We had the Aurum Manus massage that included the use of hot stones, oil and cool crystals. Fabulous!!!

The whirpool area also has a steam room and sauna:

QUOTE]

Was the whirlpool area with the steam room and sauna just for women and just for men only? I.e., were they located in the separate locker room areas??