The All New Grand Floridian FAQ - MAY 2009

[mmmears]

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.

Thanks!

I'm in the Bay Area (the cool side, not the hot side) and I know that the way it cools off here at night is unusual (but really nice). I agree -- I was thinking that it would be better in the dark than when the sun was right above us.

I guess we can pack lighter than we did in April, but it sounds like we'll be doing alot more laundry!

I don't really care if it means I get to go to WDW again!

 

[BlueSkies]

thanks BCV...I guess no new Mickey lamp for me...cause I am not buying that $250 one!!!

mmmears Although the summer is hot I would definitely bring along a hoodie or lite sweater because some places are quite cold from the air conditioning(I go that tip here and I was glad I brought them along)... and while it does usually rain every day it doesnt last all day (thank goodness!!) it is usually brief like a 1/2 hr or so...

Dont worry you wont pass out from the heat!!! but you will need to drink plenty of water (oh yeah keep a map of whrre the bathrooms are handy...) and use lots of sunscreen too...as for spring pictures being more "complementary" I'm sure thats true...I couldnt use enough hair products to make mine stay put!!!

 

[BWVNUT]

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.

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

Thanks again for your comments! We are so excited to try the GF!

Praline - your camera is amazing! Have fun with it and I can't wait to see your photos from GF!!!

 

[garada3]

Do I need a GF KTTW card to access or get out of the self-parking? Will I pass by the guard house/gate to get to the self-park?

I have asked similar questions about the self-parking before, but I am still confused

Trying to get to the MK as early as possible on on hotel switch day. Since we will have our own vehicle, DH wants to move the luggage ourselves. I am thinking drive over, self-park, hop the monorail to the MK and then return mid-afternoon, get the truck out of self park, drive to the unloading area and proceed with check-in.

Will that work?

 

[heatherlynn444]

what I like about sandy cove is they are always switching out/getting new merchandise. I got some cute GF coasters in september! it's my fav. store.

sticky is a good word to describe the hear. def. more bearable after the sun sets though. we like to do EMH in the parks, better than in the heat of the day!

 

[JoeMickey]

Well, we're here. When we checked in, they told us that we had been upgraded from a GV room to a TPV corner room in Conch Key. The room # is 7425. It is a dormer room, but we can't believe how big the corner rooms are. The only disappointing thing is the tree that is obstructing the view of the castle. Not that I advocate the cutting down of trees, but the CM at the front desk kept boasting about the non obstructed views that we would have!! I am also a bit surprised at how dirty the balconies are. I would expect more from Disney. Not sure if we should say something or not??

The same thing happened to us last Oct. We got upgraded from GV to the exact same room! We noticed the same tree, but when the wind was blowing the view was pretty good. I got lots of pix from the balcony including fireworks, lighted boat parade, the boats, monorail and the castle. Counting down the days til our next trip to the GF in Nov.

 

[mmmears]

thanks BCV...I guess no new Mickey lamp for me...cause I am not buying that $250 one!!!

mmmears Although the summer is hot I would definitely bring along a hoodie or lite sweater because some places are quite cold from the air conditioning(I go that tip here and I was glad I brought them along)... and while it does usually rain every day it doesnt last all day (thank goodness!!) it is usually brief like a 1/2 hr or so...

Dont worry you wont pass out from the heat!!! but you will need to drink plenty of water (oh yeah keep a map of whrre the bathrooms are handy...) and use lots of sunscreen too...as for spring pictures being more "complementary" I'm sure thats true...I couldnt use enough hair products to make mine stay put!!!

As long as the rain is brief it'll be fine. It was like that one time when we went in Oct -- there was a hurricane out at sea and it would rain a ton for about an hour and then be over. We don't get thunderstorms like that out here (only once). I'll buy several cases of water and lots of sunsceen so we don't melt away. I was thinking of a cabana for an afternoon, but I think we'd be done by 4:30 or 5:00 and that wouldn't be a good deal then.

what I like about sandy cove is they are always switching out/getting new merchandise. I got some cute GF coasters in september! it's my fav. store.

sticky is a good word to describe the hear. def. more bearable after the sun sets though. we like to do EMH in the parks, better than in the heat of the day!

I remember it was sticky in Sept & October. We're early morning / late evening park goers, with the afternoons spent at our resort, so hopefully that will work out well on this trip!

 

[johnsonet]

Do I need a GF KTTW card to access or get out of the self-parking? Will I pass by the guard house/gate to get to the self-park?

I have asked similar questions about the self-parking before, but I am still confused

Trying to get to the MK as early as possible on on hotel switch day. Since we will have our own vehicle, DH wants to move the luggage ourselves. I am thinking drive over, self-park, hop the monorail to the MK and then return mid-afternoon, get the truck out of self park, drive to the unloading area and proceed with check-in.

Will that work?

You will need your key to get into that lot. I know you need it to get OUT, at least. I've only used that lot twice but the first time I was not prepared and for whatever reason did NOT have my room key w/ me. I had to buzz the intercom for help!
Based on what you've said, I'd recommend using valet park when you arrive. Let them take your car and store your luggage at that time and park for you. You can go hop the monorail and when you return to the GF you can check in at the front desk and then call for your luggage once you're in the room. You could then wait and get your car from the valet the next morning and move your car to the self-park lot when you have more time (and your key )
You don't pass the guard gate when going from the porte cochere to the self-park lot.
Good luck!

 

[3Bells]

Hi Grand Friends!

Happy Mother's Day to all the moms out there! Does anyone know if the GF accepts American Express gift cards as payment for room charges? TIA.

I'm in the Bay Area (the cool side, not the hot side) and I know that the way it cools off here at night is unusual (but really nice).

Hi Neighbor,

I'm on the hot side of the Bay, and it was smoking hot today. The A/C is on for the first time in weeks. When we were at WDW the first week in Nov 2005, the weather was perfect - warm but not a drop of rain. It will be interesting to compare it to our trip next month.

 

[mmmears]

Hi Grand Friends!

Happy Mother's Day to all the moms out there! Does anyone know if the GF accepts American Express gift cards as payment for room charges? TIA.




Hi Neighbor,

I'm on the hot side of the Bay, and it was smoking hot today. The A/C is on for the first time in weeks. When we were at WDW the first week in Nov 2005, the weather was perfect - warm but not a drop of rain. It will be interesting to compare it to our trip next month.

Hi! Wow! It must have been really hot over there! We didn't even think about turning on the A/C today!!! It's funny how different the temps can be around here! As for comparing it to FL weather, I guess we'll just have to get ready. Hopefully for you it wont be too bad in June.

Haven't seen to many people from the Bay Area on these boards -- it's nice to know that someone from here knows about the DIS!! Most of the people we know don't get why we'd go to WDW when we can just go to DL, but I have some good friends here who understand it. We really like them both.

 

[3Bells]

Hi! Wow! It must have been really hot over there! We didn't even think about turning on the A/C today!!! It's funny how different the temps can be around here! As for comparing it to FL weather, I guess we'll just have to get ready. Hopefully for you it wont be too bad in June.

Haven't seen to many people from the Bay Area on these boards -- it's nice to know that someone from here knows about the DIS!! Most of the people we know don't get why we'd go to WDW when we can just go to DL, but I have some good friends here who understand it. We really like them both.

A/C is off now as we are getting a really cool Delta breeze. Yes, DL and WDW are both Disney but they are so different. WDW has so much more to see and do. The one thing my family does like about both are the Grand hotels! Disney trips are the only time we spoil ourselves with the deluxe hotels.

 

[mmmears]

A/C is off now as we are getting a really cool Delta breeze. Yes, DL and WDW are both Disney but they are so different. WDW has so much more to see and do. The one thing my family does like about both are the Grand hotels! Disney trips are the only time we spoil ourselves with the deluxe hotels.

We are fans of both the Grand Floridian and the Grand Californian, too! We only stay at the GC when we go to Disneyland -- it's just so pretty there.

 

[BCV23]

Another fan of the GC here. Lovely, lovely hotel.

garada3, johnsonet gave you great advice. However, if your DH is like mine and doesn't like to pay for anything he can do for himself , I have another idea for you. He could drop you off at the front door and you could checkin while he drives across the street to self parking. The CMs can direct him. In the morning, checkin should be very quick. You should have your keys and a number to call to see when your room is ready by the time your husband parks and walks back.

 

[johnsonet]

garada3, johnsonet gave you great advice. However, if your DH is like mine and doesn't like to pay for anything he can do for himself , I have another idea for you. He could drop you off at the front door and you could checkin while he drives across the street to self parking. The CMs can direct him. In the morning, checkin should be very quick. You should have your keys and a number to call to see when your room is ready by the time your husband parks and walks back.

Good idea garada3's DH can drop her off with the luggage, which bell services can store for them... that way they still won't have to make a second trip to the lot for their luggage. And that's probably why you DO only need your room key to get OUT of the lot (b/c people who haven't yet checked in won't have their room key when entering the lot)

 

[k&a&c'smom]

mmmears - I second BlueSkies' suggestion to bring a jacket of some sort. We go often during the summer, and DD always needs a sweater or jacket for the restaurants. She was in a lightweight blouse at Cali Grill one trip, and was so cold the waitress offered to bring her a table cloth for a wrap! I have a friend who is a native Floridian, and she always has a windbreaker with her - useful, as it works well in the frequent rain bursts, too!

The summer is one of our favorite times to visit the World, but you do have to keep in mind how to deal with the heat. Go early, take a nice resort or water park break, then go again after the sun goes down. Oh, and you are right - you'll need extra clothes or do more laundry due to sweating through and changing clothes several times a day!

 

[mmmears]

mmmears Although the summer is hot I would definitely bring along a hoodie or lite sweater because some places are quite cold from the air conditioning(I go that tip here and I was glad I brought them along)... and while it does usually rain every day it doesnt last all day (thank goodness!!) it is usually brief like a 1/2 hr or so...

Thanks for the advice! I'll make sure my DD has a jacket with her at all times -- she is always cold... She even wore her North Face fleece at WDW in April!

Another fan of the GC here. Lovely, lovely hotel.

It really is so pretty, especially the lobby. We just relax as soon as walk in at the end of the day.

mmmears - I second BlueSkies' suggestion to bring a jacket of some sort. We go often during the summer, and DD always needs a sweater or jacket for the restaurants. She was in a lightweight blouse at Cali Grill one trip, and was so cold the waitress offered to bring her a table cloth for a wrap! I have a friend who is a native Floridian, and she always has a windbreaker with her - useful, as it works well in the frequent rain bursts, too!

The summer is one of our favorite times to visit the World, but you do have to keep in mind how to deal with the heat. Go early, take a nice resort or water park break, then go again after the sun goes down. Oh, and you are right - you'll need extra clothes or do more laundry due to sweating through and changing clothes several times a day!

Thanks for the advice! We'll definitely need that jacket -- I forgot how cold it is inside when it's really hot outside. We always tour early, swim and rest between lunch and dinner, then go out again after dinner. That's why we're willing to try the summer once and see how it goes -- it sounds like it will fit in perfectly with the way we plan our days anyways. Not looking forward to "needing" to change our clothes, though -- eew! But my guess is that whatever we were wearing for the am touring will probably NOT be going back on after our swims and showers... We only had to do laundry once in April, and to me that was just perfect.

 

[k&a&c'smom]

mmmears - LOL! I agree with your "eeww!", but we have very humid summers here in Missouri as well, so we are more used to it. We usually change once per day if the middle part is spent at the pool; the second change would only be if we did something in the heat (DTD, mini golf, etc.), and wanted to freshen up for a late dinner.

Your plans sound perfect, I think you will enjoy the summer at WDW!

 

[Tigger24U]

I know the DVC resorts have DVD players in some of the units.

Does the Grand Floridian have DVD players in any of the rooms?

Thanks, just trying to figure out whether or not to pack the portable.

TTFN!

 

[hillview]

I know the DVC resorts have DVD players in some of the units.

Does the Grand Floridian have DVD players in any of the rooms?

Thanks, just trying to figure out whether or not to pack the portable.

TTFN!

Ours did not (lagoon view).
/hillary

 

[mmmears]

I know the DVC resorts have DVD players in some of the units.

Does the Grand Floridian have DVD players in any of the rooms?

Thanks, just trying to figure out whether or not to pack the portable.

TTFN!

To my knowledge, all of the Disney Deluxe resorts only have DVD players in the club-level rooms and suites. So it would depend on what kind of room you have booked a the GF. I'm not familiar with the DVC resorts enough to know about them.