The All New Grand Floridian FAQ - MAY 2009

[Tigger24U]

Thanks Everyone for the Quick Replies!!!

I will just carry the portable with us.

TTFN!

 

[loralie]

I will be at the Grand on Friday and I just checked the weather from weather.com and it shows rain for the first 6 days of my trip. I can't check the last 2 days of my trip because they are not showing the weather for those dates yet. It says either thunder storms or scattered showers. I am so bummed. We picked May because the last time we went in May of 2005 the weather was wonderful and no rain at all. I hope it will not rain everyday and if it does rain that it only lasts a short time.

I need to go buy ponchos.

Loralie

 

[mmmears]

This is the canon G10. Its a point and shoot on steroids LOL
It has a lot of the same features as DSLR's but is a lot easier to use. Its also 14.7 megapixels woohoo

I am planning on setting my tripod up on my balcony one evening and take some great sunset photos. It has a really COOL sunset filter than makes the sky look really cool!
I am trying to con DH into letting me buy the telephoto lens so I can take killer fireworks shots with my tripod

I may end up sneaking the telephoto and not telling him until we get there lol

That might just work out! I for one am really, really looking forward to the photos from your upcoming trip! They will get me ready to be at the GF, too!

 

[heatherlynn444]

I will be at the Grand on Friday and I just checked the weather from weather.com and it shows rain for the first 6 days of my trip. I can't check the last 2 days of my trip because they are not showing the weather for those dates yet. It says either thunder storms or scattered showers. I am so bummed. We picked May because the last time we went in May of 2005 the weather was wonderful and no rain at all. I hope it will not rain everyday and if it does rain that it only lasts a short time.

I need to go buy ponchos.

Loralie

I wouldn't worry to much. the weather will chnge so much by friday. Also, usually there are quickafternoon showers and then they go away, so crossing my fingers for that!

 

[TinkTatoo]

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!

Our trips are usually during July / August and although it doesn't really cool down at night it does get less humid but you can pretty much assume it's going to be hot and sticky for most of the time. The kids and I also went late September last year and found that much more pleasant so if you found September uncomfortable then July / August will be much worse. When we're touring the parks we tend to walk in the shade and cut through air conditioned shops as much as possible

 

[garada3]

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)

Without a room key?

My reasons for needing this information sound spoiled...

We are staying RPC. I am looking forward to the whole "greet you at the entrance and escort us in and up stairs" arrival

I had hoped to self-park for the morning, then during the afternoon park break, pick up our vehicle and show up at the guardhouse saying "we are here to check-in". That way we hit rope drop and I get my RPC check in experience.

I am worried about checking in at 7:30am or so before hitting the parks because I know my kids will want to visit the lounge and that will delay arrival at the MK. I just do not want to miss rope drop on a July morning.

Do guests visiting for meals or entertainment use self-park or are they required to valet (given the key card departure for the self-park?

I know this seems petty and tiny but I like figuring out my Disney details!

 

[loralie]

O.K...I am trying not to let the fact that it will rain every day of my vacation bother me but it is not working. I just checked the 10 day forecast on Weather.com again and the day that I planned to have a nice resort day has a 60% chance of precip. and scattered T-Storms and the high will be 89 deg. We planned on renting a cabana, going over to the CR for parasailing and waterskiing. Sounds like we need to make different plans. The only good thing will be all the money I am saving by not doing all these things. See I am trying to look at the bright side. What things can you do at the GF as a family when it is raining and T-Storms? It will be me, DH and our 2 boys who are 13 and 11 years old.

Thanks,

Loralie

 

[JPN4265]

O.K...I am trying not to let the fact that it will rain every day of my vacation bother me but it is not working. I just checked the 10 day forecast on Weather.com again and the day that I planned to have a nice resort day has a 60% chance of precip. and scattered T-Storms and the high will be 89 deg. We planned on renting a cabana, going over to the CR for parasailing and waterskiing. Sounds like we need to make different plans. The only good thing will be all the money I am saving by not doing all these things. See I am trying to look at the bright side. What things can you do at the GF as a family when it is raining and T-Storms? It will be me, DH and our 2 boys who are 13 and 11 years old.

Thanks,

Loralie

Buy your poncho's before you leave. Let the good times roll. The crowds will be smaller, and the rain will add to the adventure.

 

[loralie]

Buy your poncho's before you leave. Let the good times roll. The crowds will be smaller, and the rain will add to the adventure.

Yes...we are not going to let the rain stop us from having fun at the parks but we wanted a non-park day to relax and enjoy the GF. That was why we were getting the cabana and we were going to do the parasailing and waterskiing at the CR. What can we do at the GF to enjoy the resort and have a relaxing day as a family if it is raining?

Loralie

 

[BCV23]

loralie, on one of our trips this year the forecast showed rain or scattered storms every day. There wasn't a single drop while we were there and our trips were all long. Scattered storms in FL can mean it rains at the MK but not Epcot. I really would not change any plans.

The area really, really needs rain though. Let's hope it rains every night between midnight and six am or something like that.

 

[johnsonet]

loralie, on one of our trips this year the forecast showed rain or scattered storms every day. There wasn't a single drop while we were there and our trips were all long. Scattered storms in FL can mean it rains at the MK but not Epcot. I really would not change any plans.

This is so true! Try not to worry.

If you do wind up having a rainy day on your resort day, maybe you could take advantage of being on the monorail line and do a resorts tour. Check out the CR and Poly. Have breakfast or lunch at one of them and check out the shops and arcades. When you return to the GF, I'd head to the spa w/ DH or solo and let the guys maybe rent Sea Raycers from the Marina (if your DH is with them), assuming the rain has let up.

There really are not any family activities at the GF geared for a rainy day with children the ages of yours... My daughter and I love to play card games - if there's a lot of rain in the forecast you might take a deck or two of cards Not sure your boys would consider that or not...

Hope you have lots of sunshine
Good luck!

 

[KathyTX]

This is a Frequently Asked Questions thread for the Grand Floridian.

Many posts (again) are off topic and of a personal chat nature rather than helpful Grand Floridian specific trip planning information.

Please keep your posts on this thread on-topic. We need to do some serious pruning here.

 

[loralie]

How much do you tip for turndown service? I plan on leaving mousekeeping envelopes every morning and most days we plan to return to the room in the afternoon so I figured that is when I would leave a tip for turndown service. Is that what most people do?

Thanks,

Loralie

 

[Tam1067]

I'm seeking information about "bad" rooms to avoid. We're staying GV, and I'd like to know room numbers that we should avoid. These could be unusually loud or with really terrible views. This way, if I'm at check-in and get sent to one of these, I can try to correct the problem before we trek over there.

Thanks in advance!

 

[PaulaSB12]

How well lit are the outdoor areas?

 

[IWISHFORDISNEY]

How much do you tip for turndown service? I plan on leaving mousekeeping envelopes every morning and most days we plan to return to the room in the afternoon so I figured that is when I would leave a tip for turndown service. Is that what most people do?

Thanks,

Loralie

I tipped $1pp so it was $3 per night. I dont know what is customary.

 

[IWISHFORDISNEY]

I'm seeking information about "bad" rooms to avoid. We're staying GV, and I'd like to know room numbers that we should avoid. These could be unusually loud or with really terrible views. This way, if I'm at check-in and get sent to one of these, I can try to correct the problem before we trek over there.

Thanks in advance!

We had room 8120 that was exceptionally loud due to being pinned between the sliding doors and the elevator. I would assume any room that ended in 120 would be in the same situation in any of the out buildings.

 

[IWISHFORDISNEY]

How well lit are the outdoor areas?

Very well lit from above and on the ground.

 

[johnsonet]

I'm seeking information about "bad" rooms to avoid. We're staying GV, and I'd like to know room numbers that we should avoid. These could be unusually loud or with really terrible views. This way, if I'm at check-in and get sent to one of these, I can try to correct the problem before we trek over there.

Thanks in advance!

I've stayed many, many times at the GF and never had a "bad" room. The only thing I can think of was a cigarette smoke smell and I had to insist on being moved. The worst view we've had there was of the walkway between Boca Chica and Conch Key. Even so, we were able to go out on our balcony each night and watch the fireworks from the MK - though we'd only paid for a garden view
I truly wouldn't worry about it BUT if you are, I guess I would try and avoid Sago Cay. I think that it has a higher potential for unappealing views, although it has some wonderful views too. It's a large building.
When you check in you'll be given a map with your room area circled and your room number written in on the bottom. Sago Cay is Building 5. I would still always give the room a try and then return to the lobby if you are not happy with it. Good luck.

BTW, my favorite GVs have been in Boca Chica (looking at the quiet pool and the main building, which is beautiful).

 

[allseas1586]

I truly wouldn't worry about it BUT if you are, I guess I would try and avoid Sago Cay. I think that it has a higher potential for unappealing views, although it has some wonderful views too. It's a large building.

I had a room in Sago Cay once, back side facing the monorail. It was near the end of the hall, and was a nice view. Still much better than directly facing a parking lot! That's the thing I like about the GF, there really aren't any bad views. I think the worst of views would be those with trees right in front of the balcony blocking any kind of view.