The All New Grand Floridian FAQ - MAY 2009

[billnang]

From what I was told from the room assigner... whom was very sweet..
for the RPC building is the last week in Aug to the first week in Sept...

Exactly my dates.
oh well we are still going to be at the GF and this is our first " family trip" without parents or anyone else with us!!! It will be magical.

Angela

 

[Scott MC]

Figment,
Have a wonderful time! I'm in the same boat as you (with the same room view booked etc). I know it's hard to not worry about the construction, but as others have said, you just have to make your mind up to see that it's there, and then make the decision to look the other way. I am trying to do that myself. If you do end up with a crane in front of you, then politely march down to the front desk and ask to be moved. From what I've heard about the staff at the Grand, I'm sure that if they can possibly move you, they will. A friend last night also pointed out that the vast majority of people who will be staying there have no idea that any work is going on at all, so those of us who read the DIS and know what to expect have the distinct advantage of being proactive in our room requests.
I hope the next 46 hours fly by and that you're sprinkled with lots of pixie dust on your trip.
Keep those of us going next week (Hi MommyGina!) posted! We'll look forward to your reassurance.

 

[MA pigletfan]

Thanks for the update..looks like we will be safe ..i hope everyone going has a wonderful time, regardless of the crazy re-habbing!!! I feel like they just did this in 2007, when we first went to the GF!!

 

[toodycat]

Everyone's updates and photos are so helpful. Our reservation is for Sugarloaf. We booked that with a 35% off code. Now that I am reading about people from RPC getting moved to SL, do you think I have to worry about being bumped?

 

[dinatwin]

How does everyone know what building there in? I booked a garden view but they never said what building it is.

 

[Figment1990]

I HIGHLY doubt it. I think they will only move the people from RPC to SL if there is room. To do otherwise would be suicide. I'm think they would offer some other compensation to the RPC people that didn't fit into SL.... Like a free room service gift card for the amount of the price difference, a deeper price discount, free park tickets, or something else, like a huge spa credit, golf credit, or some other wonderfully magical concierg-y type thing. At least, that's what I would do if I were running the place!

 

[billnang]

Everyone's updates and photos are so helpful. Our reservation is for Sugarloaf. We booked that with a 35% off code. Now that I am reading about people from RPC getting moved to SL, do you think I have to worry about being bumped?

NO.... I was one who got bumped.. I was in a hurry to decide what to do and I said to the girls I am affraid if I dont decide this minute you will have all the rooms booked in SL and I will have to go somewhere else.. she said...oh no.. we have "x" amount of rooms reserved and until we have confirmation from everyone you will have a spot.. I asked if it affected anyone staying there she said NO.. they had enough rooms... so I don't think you have any need to worry.

 

[billnang]

Lisa... I wish you were runnig the place... I kept hearing, "we are so sorry.. but refurbs happen and we need to go with it when the contractor can do it.. isn't it better to find out now then when you arrive..."

I must say I spoke to the girl so many times, she did say some people took the SL building and many moved to other resorts...


Good vibes!!
Pixie dust for all
Angela

 

[brandt79]

How does everyone know what building there in? I booked a garden view but they never said what building it is.

Hi! When posters on this thread are referring to SL (or Sugar Loaf) or RPC (Royal Palm Club), they have booked club level (or concierge level) rooms. The reason they know their building is because Sugar Loaf is an all club-level building unto itself, and Royal Palm Club is exclusively housed within the main building of the resort.

Your garden view room will be in one of the other outer buildings on the property besides Sugar Loaf. If you look at a map of the resort or hear recommendations on here and would like to request a certain building, feel free to call Disney and have them add that request to your reservation - just know that nothing is guaranteed. Have a great vacation and enjoy your stay at the GF!

 

[dinatwin]

Hi! When posters on this thread are referring to SL (or Sugar Loaf) or RPC (Royal Palm Club), they have booked club level (or concierge level) rooms. The reason they know their building is because Sugar Loaf is an all club-level building unto itself, and Royal Palm Club is exclusively housed within the main building of the resort.

Your garden view room will be in one of the other outer buildings on the property besides Sugar Loaf. If you look at a map of the resort or hear recommendations on here and would like to request a certain building, feel free to call Disney and have them add that request to your reservation - just know that nothing is guaranteed. Have a great vacation and enjoy your stay at the GF!

Thank you for explaing it to me

 

[Figment1990]

Lisa... I wish you were running the place...

Oh how fun that would be! Of course, you GF people would definitely keep me on my toes!

But then where would I vacation???

 

[UK Princess]

Just to distract us from the refurbs for a while....

What do you all do for your coffee fix while at the GF????

What are the in room facilities for coffee (brand, servings etc.)?

Is it worth getting a refillable mug or is it bad coffee?

Should we jump on the monorail to the Poly???

We are not staying club level so no lounge to take advantage of!
I ask mainly because my fiance is Italian and generally drinks fresh coffee from a stove top (moka) so has pretty high standards! I'm not so fussy although I do take it white - what milk (if any?) is provided.

Thanks!

 

[billnang]

Well we got the call Saturday night to move from RPC. We were so disappointed. We at first moved to a different hotel and then moved back to Sugar Loaf. We know it won't be the wow that we anticipated but we will still be staying at the GF. We have a cabana booked for 1/2 day of our stay. We are hoping that the construction won't take away from relaxing by the pool.

billnang - I have a questions. Were you told you couldn't call the Wdisney number and can only call the 407-248-1727 number? We called the Wdisney number and were told they were not permitted to discuss our reservations any longer.

Yes, that is the number I was given... and every time I tried to call I got a message... to leave a message... a few times I called the main number.. they told me they could not give any information.. and would transfer me to that number ... I talked to the same girl so many times she knew me by my voice when I said hellp to her!!!LOL

Oh.. btw.. make sure you tell them you want an email confirmation!!!

Will be be there the same time
Angela

Angela

 

[Cinderumbrella]

Just to distract us from the refurbs for a while....

What do you all do for your coffee fix while at the GF????

What are the in room facilities for coffee (brand, servings etc.)?

Is it worth getting a refillable mug or is it bad coffee?

Should we jump on the monorail to the Poly???

We are not staying club level so no lounge to take advantage of!
I ask mainly because my fiance is Italian and generally drinks fresh coffee from a stove top (moka) so has pretty high standards! I'm not so fussy although I do take it white - what milk (if any?) is provided.

Thanks!

I am NOT a coffee expert by any means, but WDW stuff is the pits (Nescafe). There is a Joffrey's stand in the CR (Contempo Grounds, if memory serves) and the Kona stand at the Poly. There is a nice walking path that connects the GF to the Poly and is much quicker than running the monorail.

 

[Mickdeb]

Did anybody find out what happened to Brooke - I was thoroughly enjoying her trip report and then it vanished. I know people on this thread expressed concern and wondered if anybody had heard anything - hope she is OK.

Is anybody able to tell me what items they have for children in the Resort Gift Shop that have the GF logo on?

Oh yes, what happened, such a great report! Hope everything is all right.

 

[johnsonet]

Just to distract us from the refurbs for a while....

What do you all do for your coffee fix while at the GF????

Hi. I'm very into my coffee. When traveling to WDW I take my own coffee and filters (your room will have a coffeemaker) and buy milk from the resort's quick service (at GF that's Gasparilla's ) to keep in the in-room fridge. Sometimes I use bottled water, other times I use it straight from the tap. It's always better than what you'd get in the refillable mugs

The Poly coffee stand has a very good cappuccino but when staying at the GF I don't go all the way over there for it. But it certainly is a good option. Good luck.

 

[dpndka]

For those of you who will be staying at Sugar Loaf in the near future, I would like to request some pics of the club lounge and other common areas (if possible) This is my first time stayin CL at GF and I want some pics to get me excited. So, please please post some pics if possible.

Also, would GF be able to accomodate allergies for food offerings in the lounge? Has anyone had any experience with that?

 

[MommyGina]

I have 9 days left until we are at the GF, just like Scott MC (Hi Scott MC!!!). I was very much up in arms this past weekend about the construction going on. But, I have had a very difficult two days and the constructions aspect of my vacation put things into perspective. I am lucky that I am able to go with my two childen and husband.

I am going to have a good time and enjoy every minute of it. I thought that my mother would have been back with us on this trip, but she is too ill to travel anymore. So, to everyone fortunate to go on vacation, enjoy it!!!! Look past the construction and have fun. I know that I will.

 

[UK Princess]

Thanks Cinderumbrella & johnsonet

In room filters sounds good - not too keen on my future husband realising other resorts have better coffee when I've been spending the last year convincing him that the GF is the best of everything!

That's why I have to be prepared

 

[billnang]

For those of you who will be staying at Sugar Loaf in the near future, I would like to request some pics of the club lounge and other common areas (if possible) This is my first time stayin CL at GF and I want some pics to get me excited. So, please please post some pics if possible.

Also, would GF be able to accomodate allergies for food offerings in the lounge? Has anyone had any experience with that?

I have been in contact withthe bakery chef who provides some food for the lounge.. and she is aware of my sons dairy allergy... she will be sending up foor for him to eat and wrap it seperate with his name.. she said all I had to do was ask for it when we go to eat in the AM and they will have it for him.

She said she would have another chef contact me for food in the afternoon and evening...the IPO people told me to contact them 2 weeks (tomorrow) befre arrival to see if they will have rice milk for him...

So, this was a big reason too we chose to stay in SL, I knew I had these things lined up already for him!
Angela