The All New Grand Floridian FAQ - MAY 2009

[jkstewart1800]

there was noise from a circular saw... I assumed it was the tile being cut... that is what it sounded like to me.... there is still some grouting work that needed to be done (they didn't move the band back to its original spot).

 

[goofygal531]

I can't see how the construction would disrupt a stay in RPC.

Back in June, we saw the cranes around those same outer buildings and it did take away from the beauty of the resort for me, just a little. If I wasn't staying in RPC, I would have probably switched resorts. Those cranes are just so huge you can't miss them. They're a sight for sore eyes!

I personally wouldn't return to the GF until the construction is finished.

Hey Brook, what happened to your TR?

 

[Figment1990]

Okay! That's it! i'm thinking the GF trip really might to have to be put on hold this time. I'm off to explore our other options. Hopefully the Poly CL or BW CL aren't all booked up yet. We were planning on a lot of Epcot time on this trip anyhow, so maybe it's for the best....

Boy am I I spent weeks just reading everything I could to learn about the GF for this "try it out" trip. I debated endlessly between the Beach Club and GF and chose the GF because it seemed more relaxing. I'm SO sick of construction on every road around here that I do not think the trip will be that enjoyable for us if we're walking around cranes all day. I even requested a courtyard pool view!

Thanks to everyone for the updates. Keep 'em coming if anyone has more....

I'm still really torn though, as I planned to spend most of our pool time at the beach pool anyway.... But if you can't even enjoy the lobby or the fireworks music.

 

[jkstewart1800]

So at the moment you aren't hearing or seeing cutting of tiles going on. I can handle a little inconvenience of them laying the tiles, but I would not like the sound of saws cutting and dust flying.

What area of the tile are they working on right now? Have they moved the orchestra back to where it was?

Can you get to the monorail still easily from the Gold Elevators?

Thanks for taking time out of your trip to update.

When we were there the Gold elevator side was completely construction free. It was on the opposite side by the bird cage elevator.

The band was right next to the monorail doors. The construction started right near the photo pass desk and the big staircase. The bird cage elevator was non operational (which made for long waits at the gold ones).

 

[goofygal531]

Okay! That's it! i'm thinking the GF trip really might to have to be put on hold this time. I'm off to explore our other options. Hopefully the Poly CL or BW CL aren't all booked up yet. We were planning on a lot of Epcot time on this trip anyhow, so maybe it's for the best....

Boy am I I spent weeks just reading everything I could to learn about the GF for this "try it out" trip. I debated endlessly between the Beach Club and GF and chose the GF because it seemed more relaxing. I'm SO sick of construction on every road around here that I do not think the trip will be that enjoyable for us if we're walking around cranes all day. I even requested a courtyard pool view!

Thanks to everyone for the updates. Keep 'em coming if anyone has more....

I'm still really torn though, as I planned to spend most of our pool time at the beach pool anyway.... But if you can't even enjoy the lobby or the fireworks music.

I had a disastrous week at the BWI-CL last T-Giving. Go anywhere else other than the BWI!!

We're considering Poly-CL for our Feb trip. It will be DH's 40th birthday and he really wants to stay at the Poly this time. Just waiting for a winter promotion to come out.

 

[jkstewart1800]

Okay! That's it! i'm thinking the GF trip really might to have to be put on hold this time. I'm off to explore our other options. Hopefully the Poly CL or BW CL aren't all booked up yet. We were planning on a lot of Epcot time on this trip anyhow, so maybe it's for the best....

Boy am I I spent weeks just reading everything I could to learn about the GF for this "try it out" trip. I debated endlessly between the Beach Club and GF and chose the GF because it seemed more relaxing. I'm SO sick of construction on every road around here that I do not think the trip will be that enjoyable for us if we're walking around cranes all day. I even requested a courtyard pool view!

Thanks to everyone for the updates. Keep 'em coming if anyone has more....

I'm still really torn though, as I planned to spend most of our pool time at the beach pool anyway.... But if you can't even enjoy the lobby or the fireworks music.

Don't count on the beach pool for quiet in the late afternoon... They play load dj type music and have bingo games and triva contests and all that jazz (all over a microphone and speakers)... Fun for the kiddos... not so much if you want a bit of quiet....

 

[goofygal531]

When we were there the Gold elevator side was completely construction free. It was on the opposite side by the bird cage elevator.

The band was right next to the monorail doors. The construction started right near the photo pass desk and the big staircase. The bird cage elevator was non operational (which made for long waits at the gold ones).

There's always the "secret" elevator near Gaspies.

We used that elevator frequently. It rained most evenings for a good 1/2 hour to an hour. That elevator was perfect for heading to Gaspies to grab the kids dinner while we ordered PD from Narcoossee's. It was always EMPTY! You might also glance a peak into the Walt Disney Suite which is right outside the elevator on the 4th floor.

 

[minniesota]

Well, after going back and forth in my head about RPC or Theme Park view with the DXDP, I bit the bullet and BOOKED RPC!!! I have a basic MYW package and will add the basic DDP later, but I have ALWAYS wanted to stay in the Main Building and I have almost a year to pay for it!

I'm just REALLY SUPER excited!!!! Just had to share!!!

But.........we've got to keep it hush-hush as the RPC part is going to be a surprise for my DH when we get there. He knows we're staying at the GF, but won't know about the main building until we check in!!!

How exciting!!! I think you made a great choice. Now just keeping it from DH...that would be hard for me!

 

[Figment1990]

Don't count on the beach pool for quiet in the late afternoon... They play load dj type music and have bingo games and triva contests and all that jazz (all over a microphone and speakers)... Fun for the kiddos... not so much if you want a bit of quiet....

Yeah... I know what you mean. We did WL last spring and were always back for DS's nap right when it was pool party time!

We're looking more at the 10am - 2pm pool time for this trip for our relaxing day. That's when we rented our cabana.

Could you really not enjoy the band with the noise? What about afternoon tea!? Was it a headache even to shop while they were working in the main building? (These are my main GF activities planned....)

 

[jkstewart1800]

Yeah... I know what you mean. We did WL last spring and were always back for DS's nap right when it was pool party time!

We're looking more at the 10am - 2pm pool time for this trip for our relaxing day. That's when we rented our cabana.

Could you really not enjoy the band with the noise? What about afternoon tea!? Was it a headache even to shop while they were working in the main building? (These are my main GF activities planned....)

By the time the band started playing the workers had gone home.

I didn't go to tea. Sorry.

 

[goofygal531]

Yeah... I know what you mean. We did WL last spring and were always back for DS's nap right when it was pool party time!

We're looking more at the 10am - 2pm pool time for this trip for our relaxing day. That's when we rented our cabana.

Could you really not enjoy the band with the noise? What about afternoon tea!? Was it a headache even to shop while they were working in the main building? (These are my main GF activities planned....)

My DS2 napped everyday at the courtyard pool. It was VERY quiet. He's a stroller sleeper, so I made sure to bring the Protect a Bub suncanopy. It covers the entire stroller from the sun and keeps him cool. It absorbs the UVB rays. It was the best thing to have in the summer at WDW. (that's my stroller in the photo)

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0..._m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_r=0SK6XRBXH7PG1NY7MY9A

The cabanas are not quiet in the afternoon. All the action takes place over by the beach pool. The cabanas are located near the Wii Cart area, it can get pretty loud over there. Also, we found the music to be loud as well. We had speakers right behind our cabana.

We rented the cabana last June and decided to skip it this year. It just doesn't work well with young children. Also, the shallow end of the pool is on the opposite side of the cabanas.

While my DS2 napped, we sat just a few feet away from my DS5 in the kid's pool. It just worked out better at the Courtyard Pool. (just didn't like looking at the cranes )

 

[Figment1990]

Lol. I should clarify we rented the cabana more for the shade and tv factor for dh who doesn't love the sun as much as I! . We don't mind the noise of people, just construction!

Also. Ds is not coming with us this trip but that is something to keep in mind for future trips there with him. Thanks!!!

 

[Scott MC]

This is SO frustrating!
I called last week and spoke to Kim who was supposedly at the front desk whou assured me that all outside work to the Grand would be done by the time I got there on 8/19, and that only the tiling would continue. After seeing the most recent round of pictures, I called again, and this time I could not get through to the front desk, and I had to make do with the call center, and I was told that while I'm there, Sugarlof and Sago would be under construction, the tiling in the lobby would continue, and they would be redoing the luggage house (?) which the CM admitted meant that the front entrance would be all torn up.....
I can't believe that I've waited 20 years to stay here and I had to pick this time to visit.
SO upsetting!

 

[MommyGina]

What do you think the chances are that all this will be finished in two weeks? I called too, just like ScottMC did. I was told that there was no construction work going on, no cranes on the property, but just touch up paint work being done. I spoke to a CM named Sam who was "on-site". I am not happy either. We are going with another family and I really talked up the GF. This is their first trip to GF and their first trip to WDW in 7 years. I'm going to keep calling until I get to talk to someone at the front desk at the GF.

I guess the CM's don't know what construction work means is or what cranes are.

 

[Scott MC]

I've just called 3 times in a row, and the tune has changed since one week ago. Pretty much all of the resort is indeed under construction and will continue to be so for the forseeable future. I tried to move to the Poly or CR but was told that those are now completely booked. We're stuck at the Grand Floridian (those are words I NEVER thought I'd hear myself utter).

A page or so back, someone responded by saying that you could look past the construction equipment and see the beautiful resort, and with all due respect, I have to ask....will you be taking a trip that will be impacted by this? If you are, then I truly tip my hat to you, and if you're not, I really feel like it's easy to say that when it's not going to affect you. Also, there are some here who frequent the Grand, and I'm SO jealous of you! For me, this will likely be the only time I'll be able to afford the Grand, so yes, it is a HUGE dissapointment to find this and it is VERY difficult to look past the construction.

 

[BlueSkies]

Hi there Goofy Gal and Minniesota!!

ScottMc I was in SL in June with all of those lovely orange cranes!!! I can tbelieve they are not done with that building yet??? Usually in the past refurbishment has been done on a smaller scale than I saw this year and was generally very unobtrusive...small sections being painted with areas of scaffolding etc....hopefully most of the work will be done before you get there!!!

mmmears Hope that you ar having a grand time!!

 

[Figment1990]

I'm betting that they are playing with semantics and those lifts are not really called "cranes" and that's why they keep saying that. Wow. If we withheld that sort of info in our biz we'd be out! (And believe it or not I'm in the car business. LOL. Don't even get me started on the cash for clunkers debacle going on. Just another reason I need this trip!).

I'm still not sure what to do. I might be able to look past the construction. I am planning to come back with kids someday for the mk convenience factor alone! I certainly won't judge the resort's amenities or grounds on this construction experience should we end up staying there.

I wish that the yacht club was done with its refurb. That would be our next choice for this trip. Dh and I really want to try somewhere new.

So is the main bldg tile construction currently right in front of mizners?

 

[Scott MC]

It sounds like they've made it to the main stairway in the main building now.....

 

[thaggie]

Do you think the construction, mainly the tile in the main building will be done by mid Dec? We are staying in RPC and I would hate to see all of the Christmas decorations amidst tile work.

It is almost 4.5 months so what do you think?

 

[Scott MC]

Yes, lucky you....everything will be done by December, or in other words, you'll actually get what you're paying for...unlike some of us :grumble: .