The All New Grand Floridian FAQ - MAY 2009

[Figment1990]

Johnsonet - I think I read on another thread that your upcoming akl/kidani trip was your first stay there. We were at kidani for the first time in december and I loved it. Its very well done and I think you will enjoy it. (If I'm wrong about this being your first stay, please excuse). I was worried at first about the view/grounds because they are as opposite from the lush gardens of gf as possible, but I loved our savannah view - tons of animals to watch and we really felt swept away to another world.

I hope you get to V&A's! I was only there once and I was 12! I really would love to return (many years later!)

 

[minniesota]

Wow you got to your room quickly! I'm thinking with 2 kids, a town car may be easier than ME. After being on the plane for almost 3 hours, I'm not sure I want to have the boys sit on the bus. And I'm not sure I want to wait for my luggage. If the GF were the first and/or only stop, that would be fine. But since ME may stop at other resorts, it may take longer to get to the GF. Last time we stayed at the Poly, it stopped at FW, WL, CR, Poly, then the GF.

What service do you use?

We use Murray Hill Transportation and they have been wonderful! Kind of a no-frills operation but professional and prompt!

 

[johnsonet]

Johnsonet - I think I read on another thread that your upcoming akl/kidani trip was your first stay there. We were at kidani for the first time in december and I loved it. Its very well done and I think you will enjoy it. (If I'm wrong about this being your first stay, please excuse). I was worried at first about the view/grounds because they are as opposite from the lush gardens of gf as possible, but I loved our savannah view - tons of animals to watch and we really felt swept away to another world.

I hope you get to V&A's! I was only there once and I was 12! I really would love to return (many years later!)

Thanks Figment1990! Yes, first time at Kidani! Then we move to AKL for about our 20th time Very excited about our first ever stay in a Villa

If my husband will still be with us for the GF part of the trip then he and I will definitely make a date for V&A Hard to believe that in all our GF stays over the years we have NEVER been!

 

[Native NYer]

Native NYer - we'ver used Happy Limo for all of our trips since 2002 (probably 10 trips) and have always had fine luck with them. We've taken towncars, vans, and even had several surprise upgrades to a limo.

We too love the towncar transfer option! For us its definitely cheaper than renting a car and sometimes we use the grocery stop (when we don't order online ahead). We've had some really really quick transfers too lately, as others have said.

Thanks! I just checked Happy Limo and FL Tours and both are cheaper than booking directly through Disney.

It definitely is cheaper than a rental car, which we probably wouldn't use anyway. And I love not having to wait on a line for a bus at the airport and going directly to the resort.

We use Murray Hill Transportation and they have been wonderful! Kind of a no-frills operation but professional and prompt!

I have to check Murray Hill. Thanks!

 

[micandminforever]

What time does the resort monorail start running in the morning? We have a breakfast reservation at Chief Mickeys at 7:00 am.

 

[mike48]

The monorail starts running 1hr before the 1st park opens.

 

[kaffinito]

Me again.

I think I've narrowed my April choices down to GF SL CL or Poly LV CL. (Trust me, I had a LOT more )

I just have a few more questions on SL CL.

Where is the lounge located?

Do they have first floor rooms? Do all of the rooms have daybeds?

For the evening offerings do they have little bite sized appetizers and some appetizers fro little kids? Or do they just have cheese and crackers and some hot items on skewers?

Thanks for bearing with me! GF is the one resort I never really looked into, and I'm new to the whole CL thing.

Karen

 

[BCV23]

What time does the resort monorail start running in the morning? We have a breakfast reservation at Chief Mickeys at 7:00 am.

The resort monorail begins running at 7am. It might not arrive at the GF right at 7 but you'll be fine at Chef Mickey's.

Me again.

I think I've narrowed my April choices down to GF SL CL or Poly LV CL. (Trust me, I had a LOT more )

I just have a few more questions on SL CL.

Where is the lounge located?

Do they have first floor rooms? Do all of the rooms have daybeds?

For the evening offerings do they have little bite sized appetizers and some appetizers fro little kids? Or do they just have cheese and crackers and some hot items on skewers?

Thanks for bearing with me! GF is the one resort I never really looked into, and I'm new to the whole CL thing.

Karen

The lounge is located on the first floor. There are rooms there as well. At least one room in SL doesn't have a daybed....we've had it three times (accessible room).

Bite size appetizers for sure. Don't remember specifics of kids' offerings...someone will. The appetizers are very good but different than things at the Polynesian. Not as hearty in general I would say.

Two great choices.

 

[k&a&c'smom]

I think the view from GF is about the same as at Poly. Really, the drop dead gorgeous view is at the Contemp.

I didn't make myself clear with my post, sorry for the confusion. When kaffinito asked about the Sugar Loaf CL, I remembered she was already booked in Poly LV CL - so I was comparing those 2 buildings specifically. Since Sugar Loaf has only courtyard pool and marina views, I meant that the room would not have a view of the castle and the Poly CL lounge has a castle view that's hard to beat!

I agree, the GF has beautiful views, it is our favorite resort!

kaffinito - good luck with your decision, it's a tough call! As BCV23 said, there are definitely little bite-sized appetizers, but it's very different from the Poly CL. I've seen small plates of chicken and vegetables; little ham and cheese biscuits; gazpacho shooters, etc. Tapas style, if you will, with a very nice vegetable tray with dips and hummus as well as cheese and crackers. I can't remember what's on the kids' table, as my kids were older, but there is at least the ever-present unCrustables!

johnsonet - again, love those photos!

 

[BlueSkies]

Karen I am a long time SL fan...and although as k&a&c has said there are no MK views there..the views of the marina or courtyard/courtyard pool area a just lovely...

As BCV said the SL lounge is on the first floor..it really is so convenient when coming or going...makes it easy to grab a quick snack or a drink...

I was just at the GF for a long weekend..and they have alot of new evening food offerings...there are more (and new!) hot foods available..and some cold ones too...anyone who has stayed CL over the years know that the offerings have been the same for a long time...

Some of the new offerings were chicken wellington..lobster salad..some new cheeses...and lots of other yummy stuff!

I know that there are not day beds in the lodge tower rooms..although those rooms (which there are only 3 in SL) do have an extra sitting area with a sofa..but no day bed and the sofa does not open to a bed either...

SL really is such a nice lodge to stay in and is very centrally located on the GF grounds...right between the monorail and the water launches...we always enjoy staying there! I am sure you will too...

 

[mmmears]

Me again.

I think I've narrowed my April choices down to GF SL CL or Poly LV CL. (Trust me, I had a LOT more )

I just have a few more questions on SL CL.

Where is the lounge located?

Do they have first floor rooms? Do all of the rooms have daybeds?

For the evening offerings do they have little bite sized appetizers and some appetizers fro little kids? Or do they just have cheese and crackers and some hot items on skewers?

Thanks for bearing with me! GF is the one resort I never really looked into, and I'm new to the whole CL thing.

Karen

It's so hard to choose -- I know! The lounge at SL is in the little lobby area of the SL building. It's very convenient to get to the courtyard pool, main building, and even the boat launch when you stay in SL.

I have to agree with the PP who noted that the Poly LVCL has a much better view than a room in SL would have. When we stayed in SL, we enjoyed it but really missed having a view of the lagoon and the castle.

As for the food, I would say that the food at the GF was really good. Less substantial than the food at the Poly, a little bit "fancier", but we really enjoyed it. Especially the afternoon tea with the scones and the Devonshire Cream...

The SL lounge doesn't have a great view, but we found it very comfortable there.

Good luck with your choice!

 

[LittleStinkerbelle]

Me again.

For the evening offerings do they have little bite sized appetizers and some appetizers fro little kids? Or do they just have cheese and crackers and some hot items on skewers?

One night they had a hot dish of chicken nuggets for the kids. Another night they had uncrustables (whole ones still in the package).

The first room we were assigned to did not have a daybed but we ended up moving to another floor and that room did. Good luck with your decision!

 

[heatherlynn444]

Karen I am a long time SL fan...and although as k&a&c has said there are no MK views there..the views of the marina or courtyard/courtyard pool area a just lovely...

As BCV said the SL lounge is on the first floor..it really is so convenient when coming or going...makes it easy to grab a quick snack or a drink...

I was just at the GF for a long weekend..and they have alot of new evening food offerings...there are more (and new!) hot foods available..and some cold ones too...anyone who has stayed CL over the years know that the offerings have been the same for a long time...

Some of the new offerings were chicken wellington..lobster salad..some new cheeses...and lots of other yummy stuff!

I know that there are not day beds in the lodge tower rooms..although those rooms (which there are only 3 in SL) do have an extra sitting area with a sofa..but no day bed and the sofa does not open to a bed either...

SL really is such a nice lodge to stay in and is very centrally located on the GF grounds...right between the monorail and the water launches...we always enjoy staying there! I am sure you will too...

new food?! of course, I go stay RPC 4 times in 3 years and ahve same old same old food. I go try a new resort and NOW they change the food!

 

[kaffinito]

The lounge is located on the first floor. There are rooms there as well. At least one room in SL doesn't have a daybed....we've had it three times (accessible room).

Bite size appetizers for sure. Don't remember specifics of kids' offerings...someone will. The appetizers are very good but different than things at the Polynesian. Not as hearty in general I would say.

Two great choices.

Thank you! I made sure to request a room with a daybed.

I did call to switch this afternoon - and wouldn't you guess it, I got the same gal who changed my ressie from Poly GV to Poly LV last weekend! She's got to be the best agent CRO has.

kaffinito - good luck with your decision, it's a tough call! As BCV23 said, there are definitely little bite-sized appetizers, but it's very different from the Poly CL. I've seen small plates of chicken and vegetables; little ham and cheese biscuits; gazpacho shooters, etc. Tapas style, if you will, with a very nice vegetable tray with dips and hummus as well as cheese and crackers. I can't remember what's on the kids' table, as my kids were older, but there is at least the ever-present unCrustables!

Thank you - that helps make it clear. I'm not as concerned with the view as I am with the GF in general. We've visited there, had tea there, and had meals there - but honestly I've never wanted to stay there.

I was hoping there would be some little something for DN4 to eat. He loves unCrustables so he'll be just fine with that.

Karen I am a long time SL fan...and although as k&a&c has said there are no MK views there..the views of the marina or courtyard/courtyard pool area a just lovely...

Some of the new offerings were chicken wellington..lobster salad..some new cheeses...and lots of other yummy stuff!

SL really is such a nice lodge to stay in and is very centrally located on the GF grounds...right between the monorail and the water launches...we always enjoy staying there! I am sure you will too...

Oh, that sounds wonderful! I hope they have the chicken Wellington when we are there. I've seen pics of the views and they do look lovely from SL!

It's so hard to choose -- I know! The lounge at SL is in the little lobby area of the SL building. It's very convenient to get to the courtyard pool, main building, and even the boat launch when you stay in SL.

I have to agree with the PP who noted that the Poly LVCL has a much better view than a room in SL would have. When we stayed in SL, we enjoyed it but really missed having a view of the lagoon and the castle.

As for the food, I would say that the food at the GF was really good. Less substantial than the food at the Poly, a little bit "fancier", but we really enjoyed it. Especially the afternoon tea with the scones and the Devonshire Cream...

The SL lounge doesn't have a great view, but we found it very comfortable there.

Good luck with your choice!

Tea with Devonshire cream also sounds delicious! We had the Afternoon tea at GF last April and DS9 and I loved it. I am really looking forward to it!

I am kind of sort of looking forward to GF SL, but will really miss staying at the Poly. I was looking forward to watching Wishes from our room. Well hopefully we'll be able to stay there in August. I smell a Poly/BWI split stay coming up!

Me again.

For the evening offerings do they have little bite sized appetizers and some appetizers fro little kids? Or do they just have cheese and crackers and some hot items on skewers?

The first room we were assigned to did not have a daybed but we ended up moving to another floor and that room did. Good luck with your decision!

Wow - I really hope we get that daybed in our room! It sounds like there's a good chance that I won't get one after all, despite my request.

Well thanks again everybody - you've been a big help!

 

[mmmears]

new food?! of course, I go stay RPC 4 times in 3 years and ahve same old same old food. I go try a new resort and NOW they change the food!

Don't things always work out that way?

 

[mmmears]

Thank you! I made sure to request a room with a daybed.

I did call to switch this afternoon - and wouldn't you guess it, I got the same gal who changed my ressie from Poly GV to Poly LV last weekend! She's got to be the best agent CRO has.

Congrats on your decision... again! Seriously, we really like the GF and I hope you'll like it, too.

That's amazing about the CM!!! I never get the same one twice, but I'm sure if I did it wouldn't be the best one -- good for you!!!

 

[Native NYer]

How are the CMs at the GF? In particular, how are the RPC CMs? I just read a review that has made me a little nervous about staying at the GF. Are the CMs friendly? I've been reading that they're not as helpful as at other resorts, like the Poly. I hope this not true.

 

[kaffinito]

How are the CMs at the GF? In particular, how are the RPC CMs? I just read a review that has made me a little nervous about staying at the GF. Are the CMs friendly? I've been reading that they're not as helpful as at other resorts, like the Poly. I hope this not true.

I'd like to know this too. The CM's at BWI CL were very friendly and helpful - I hope they are at GF as well.

 

[DonaldDoleWhip]

I've consistently found service at GF (including RPC) to be better than any other resort. For us, GF delivers every time, while other resorts are more inconsistent.

 

[Native NYer]

I'd like to know this too. The CM's at BWI CL were very friendly and helpful - I hope they are at GF as well.

I'm hoping the review was just an isolated case.