The All New Grand Floridian FAQ - MAY 2009

[BCV23]

Question for you GF gurus...my hubby and I are staying there in December...for our first time...w/o kids! I booked a lagoon view (very important to my DH). I would love to upgrade to concierge, BUT don't want him to lose his lagoon view.

What do you all suggest? Is there a category that I should book to give us a better chance? Would that type of view not be guaranteed?

Unfortunately you can not upgrade to a concierge room and be guaranteed a lagoon view. Sugar Loaf rooms look at either the courtyard and pool or the marina. Rooms in RPC overlook the marina with the lagoon in the background, the courtyard or the volcano pool area with the lagoon beyond.

There are some suites with lagoon view. If you're interested in those, some of the others who have booked them might know how to guaranteed the view with a suite.

Maybe just order some nice goodies on your own. Enjoy...the GF is lovely.

Praline, congratulations on your MD gift. I'll be looking forward to your pictures.

 

[johnsonet]

...doesn't Sugar Loaf have suites in it?

Yes. The one time we stayed in Sugar Loaf we were in a one-bedroom suite.

BWVNUT If your DH really wants lagoon view I would just stick with that. Forget about the CL part unless you REALLY want the continental breakfast and snacks and beverages in the lounge. As BCV23 explained, you won't be able to have a lagoon view guaranteed in a CL room.
You'll love staying at the GF

 

[janeapplemeadow]

Question for you GF gurus...my hubby and I are staying there in December...for our first time...w/o kids! I booked a lagoon view (very important to my DH). I would love to upgrade to concierge, BUT don't want him to lose his lagoon view.

What do you all suggest? Is there a category that I should book to give us a better chance? Would that type of view not be guaranteed?

The 3 times I stayed concierge I managed to get the same room and never a lagoon view. All those times I had my niece and 2 nephews with me so the concierge service and food in the lounge was more important than the view. Last Feb. I tried for 3 months to book concierge in Sugar Loaf with no luck and ended up in a lagoon view room in Big Pine Keyes. That was a fantastic view. Because it was just myself and a friend it wasn't terrible that we didn't have concierge service or the lounge. (I did miss it though) We would just make coffee in the room or run over to Gasparilla's. I guess it depends how often you are in your room and what you want to look at. In August I'm bringing the kids back for our last all together vacation so I booked concierge again. The kids love the food offerings all day long and it does take a dent out of the food bill.

 

[jkstewart1800]

Julia, what source is that?

As mmmears said, the themes are a thing of the past. All rooms have coffeemakers, there are not walk in closets, all rooms have robes and get turndown not just concierge rooms. I think the square footage is off, too. Oh, and doesn't Sugar Loaf have suites in it?

This very DIS website...wdwinfo....

I thought it sounded quite detailed so I put it up... I had no idea it was out of date...

 

[BWVNUT]

Thanks so much everyone for your quick replies. I think I'll stick with Lagoon View and order our own special goodies like BCV23 suggested...

 

[mmmears]

Thanks so much everyone for your quick replies. I think I'll stick with Lagoon View and order our own special goodies like BCV23 suggested...

Makes sense -- that way your view is guaranteed and you wont be stressing over what kind of a view you'll be getting. The lagoon views at the GF are lovely.

 

[BCV23]

Julia, thanks for your response. That's funny! Oh, well...it's a big site.

BWVNUT, sounds like a good decision to me. That way you know you will have the view that is important to your DH.

Misti, have a Grand vacation!

 

[loralie]

Hi Guys,

Happy Mothers Day! I have a souvenir question. My DH mentioned that he would love to find wine glasses that either say Grand Floridian or some sort of Disney version. Has anyone seen something like that at the Grand Floridian or anywhere else? Also, if we do find them, I think we should ship them home instead of trying to take them on the plane and risk breaking them. Where would we go at the GF to ship them home? Do they charge a lot to ship items home? I know there will be shipping charges but I mean does the GF charge an extra fee aside from shipping cost?

Thanks,

Loralie

 

[BCV23]

Loralie, the Sandy Cove on the first floor sells wine glasses with the GF logo. You can have them shipped from right there. Just tell the CM that you want to do so. You will fill out some paperwork and the next time you see the glasses will be when they arrive home. There is a shipping fee but nothing extra and you don't pay FL taxes. It is easy to ship from any store at WDW.

There are other stores that sell wine glasses. At least one at each park and the wine store in France are some examples.

 

[praline3001]

^ what she said.

They also have adorable throw blankets, xmas ornaments,
shirts, stationary, pins, GF snow globes (though I think those are in mouse merc on second floor) ... they make sure you can get tons of GF stuff, I promise
I even read they were selling the mickey mouse lamp that you see in the resort rooms

 

[BlueSkies]

Wishing everyone a Happy Mohters Day!!

I think Sandy Cove has a really nice assortment of things...this always surprises me considering that it is a little shop...


Brook You can buy that lamp ...I think it is $250!!! Its in the resort collection (think its in a booklet...also on line) where you can also get the bedding and pillows etc....

 

[BCV23]

Happy Mother's Day to everyone, too!

I agree with you both. Sandy Cove packs a lot in that little shop. I remember those lamps being on sale there. Sometimes there's been another style...brass with Mickey in different costumes. It is a bit more subtle than the one in the rooms...cheaper, too. I shipped one of those home a few years ago and love it.

 

[BlueSkies]

BCV I would like to know more about that brass Mickey lamp that you described...dont recall seeing it...but is sounds like something that I might have to add to my collection of disney decorations!!! How long ago did you get it....

Does any one have the building collectibes...the wooden cut outs that have painted details...very nice...I have the GF and the castle too...

Brook I guess your camera has a good telephoto lens!!! MY DD has the Alice tea for one...it is just beautiful (also purchased in Sandy Cove...)..

Misti You are probably on your way...safe travels...have a great time...looking foward to seeing more of your beautiful pics...

 

[praline3001]

I am driving DH NUTS with my cam at this point

He said he heard about close ups but that is a bit much
I thought it was cool!


I think the Alice tea set will be adorable ~ especially since she is doing the party this time. Do you remember about how much it cost?

Also ~ does anyone know if they do inside games if it rains? I know they have pool side activities but what about when it rains?
We are planning on spending most our afternoons at the resort (due to the extreme heat and crowds) and the kids want to do some of the kids' activities by the pool ~ but knowing Florida and summer ... I just wanted to see if they had a plan B or just canceled?

 

[mmmears]

Also ~ does anyone know if they do inside games if it rains? I know they have pool side activities but what about when it rains?
We are planning on spending most our afternoons at the resort (due to the extreme heat and crowds) and the kids want to do some of the kids' activities by the pool ~ but knowing Florida and summer ... I just wanted to see if they had a plan B or just canceled?

That's a great question. I'd like to the answer to this one, too. We're planning to spend the afternoons at the pools like you, and I was wondering if that would work out ok with the afternoon rain that seems common.

 

[mmmears]

One more question -- about the "extreme heat" in late July/early August...

Does it cool off at night? Is morning and nighttime park touring bearable?

I'd love to hear about it -- never been in summer (just late Sept. & Oct and found even that to be really hot & humid...). Guess we're in for a shock!

 

[BlueSkies]

Brook The Alice tea for one was about $25...so worth it IMO...

mmmears We always have preferred the fall too...but last year did a summer trip and all I have to say is no matter what time of day it is humid!!! Not great for most peoples hair...thank goodness for ponytails!!!

Now I do not know the answer about the pool activities when it rains BUT I do know that it rains every day(or did when we were there...all 8 days)...and if there is any lightening everyone has to get out of the pool...(makes sense even thoough the kids complained!!) My guess is that they just put off the activity until the weather clears up...I just cant seem to remember...and we pretty much enjoyed the pool most afternoons...it is a great summer strategy...

More summer advice...get your rain ponchos ready!!! and maybe it wont rain

 

[mmmears]

Brook The Alice tea for one was about $25...so worth it IMO...

mmmears We always have preferred the fall too...but last year did a summer trip and all I have to say is no matter what time of day it is humid!!! Not great for most peoples hair...thank goodness for ponytails!!!

Now I do not know the answer about the pool activities when it rains BUT I do know that it rains every day(or did when we were there...all 8 days)...and if there is any lightening everyone has to get out of the pool...(makes sense even thoough the kids complained!!) My guess is that they just put off the activity until the weather clears up...I just cant seem to remember...and we pretty much enjoyed the pool most afternoons...it is a great summer strategy...

More summer advice...get your rain ponchos ready!!! and maybe it wont rain

Thanks for the info. We liked Fall, but really LOVE the weather in April -- it's always been perfect for us. But we'll manage somehow in summer. I'm more worried about passing out from the heat than about my hair! I guess the photos from April will be more "complementary" that the ones we take in the summer!

We've decided to take our ponchos with us if they fit, otherwise we know we will NEED to buy more when we get there. I just hope it doesn't rain all day.

 

[Tam1067]

One more question -- about the "extreme heat" in late July/early August...

Does it cool off at night? Is morning and nighttime park touring bearable?

I'd love to hear about it -- never been in summer (just late Sept. & Oct and found even that to be really hot & humid...). Guess we're in for a shock!

I see you're from California--I'm not sure what part, but I grew up in the Sacramento area, and that area can be 100 or higher during the day and then you need a light jacket at night.

We always go to WDW in July or August. This August will be our fourth summer in a row visting the mouse, (but our first GF stay!).

To answer your question--no, he does not cool off in the sense that Californians think of, though it does get a bit cooler after the sun goes down. It's less miserable but still pretty hot and fairly sticky. I think the heat is a lot more tolerable when the sun is not beating down on you, but you will not need jackets or sweatshirts in Orlando during the summer.

 

[BCV23]

Blue Skies, I don't know how long ago I purchased my lamp. At least a few years ago and I suppose it could have been as far back as 1/2002 which was our first GF stay. Really, it could have been longer than that as I always shop at the GF no matter where we stay. But I don't think it was quite that long ago. I haven't seen one recently. They were also sold at the Marketplace and I might have purchased mine there....just don't remember anymore. I know I first saw them in Sandy Cove though. Remember that clearly as I like this one better than the one in the rooms and was surprised that it was quite a bit cheaper. Maybe as much as $100. I remember looking at both tags and being happily surprised.