The All New Grand Floridian FAQ - MAY 2009

[Scott MC]

My biggest issue is that I don't want to have the view of the poolhouse that the Unofficial Guide warns about in Big Pine Key and Boca Chica.
How open are the CM's to changing your room if you don't care for the view?
We'll be going in the last week of August when it *should* be quiet. In fact, due to the down season aspect, we're crossing our fingers for a Lagoon or Theme Park upgrade!

 

[allseas1586]

My biggest issue is that I don't want to have the view of the poolhouse that the Unofficial Guide warns about in Big Pine Key and Boca Chica.
How open are the CM's to changing your room if you don't care for the view?
We'll be going in the last week of August when it *should* be quiet. In fact, due to the down season aspect, we're crossing our fingers for a Lagoon or Theme Park upgrade!

There shouldn't be a problem changing rooms. I'd go straight to the balcony when you get in the room and look, if you don't like it have the bellman call the front desk and get you another room.

 

[BigOnDis]

I just booked our vacation, taking advantage of the discount for CL and booked the Royal Palm Club.

My question is, all it said was "Standard Room". What kind of view does the RPC have? It's not that big of deal to me, but I was just curious.

Thanks in advance.

 

[allseas1586]

I just booked our vacation, taking advantage of the discount for CL and booked the Royal Palm Club.

My question is, all it said was "Standard Room". What kind of view does the RPC have? It's not that big of deal to me, but I was just curious.

Thanks in advance.

You would either have a view of the Marina/Magic Kingdom, the Courtyard Pool, or the Theme Pool/Wedding Pavilion.

 

[heatherlynn444]

I just booked our vacation, taking advantage of the discount for CL and booked the Royal Palm Club.

My question is, all it said was "Standard Room". What kind of view does the RPC have? It's not that big of deal to me, but I was just curious.

Thanks in advance.

they are all good views, last time we could see from the monorail to the weeding pavillion and pool, the lake, the poly, it was realyl very pretty! I wouldn't be worried!



10 days for me!

 

[sarahsar]

I'm so glad to see this thread is back! We are so excited to be staying for the first time at the GF this coming September. I love all the pics. Praline3001 - I especially love yours of the ParkFare character dinner. We really want to do that with DD. She loves the idea of meeting the wicked stepsisters for some reason!

 

[heatherlynn444]

I'm so glad to see this thread is back! We are so excited to be staying for the first time at the GF this coming September. I love all the pics. Praline3001 - I especially love yours of the ParkFare character dinner. We really want to do that with DD. She loves the idea of meeting the wicked stepsisters for some reason!

the stepsisters are a BLAST

in january, one was being really lous as I was walking up to the buffet so I "shushed" her (I'm a teacher I can't help it) and she looked adn me and yelled to her mom "MOTHER she just SHUSHED ME!" and the stepmother goes "good, I think I like her!" and so the sister gave me a hard time the whole night and we kept "fighting" back and forth. IF you really get into it they will have fun with you!

 

[bethclayton]

can anyone give me info about the RPC laundry situation? do they really only have 1 washer and dryer? we are going with my parents in march and we all planned to do laundry while we were there to avoid packing so much (8 days X 6 ppl). the only deluxe we stayed at so far was akl and they had tons of washers and dryers, so i was completely assuming the rpc situation would be the same or better.

 

[PolynesianAlex]

Curious anyone who stays at the GF do you use the Refillable mugs often even if your in like Boca Chica

 

[allseas1586]

Curious anyone who stays at the GF do you use the Refillable mugs often even if your in like Boca Chica

The resort really is not that big, even Boca Chica is less than a 5 minute walk from Gasparilla Grill.

 

[k&a&c'smom]

Scott MC - I've gotten the Big Pine view of the pool house, and I simply called the front desk and requested another room. They gladly moved us to another building, but it was the following day. (we checked in quite late, around 11 p.m., I think) We got up, sent our luggage to bell services, spent the morning in the parks and came back to move into our new room in the early afternoon.

They have always happily accommodated a request for another room whenever I have asked - sometimes they can move me that day, other times they are fully booked and I have to wait until the following day, at which point I can decide if the wait is worth it to me. You shouldn't have any problems requesting a reassignment.

bethclayton - All of the outer buildings except Sugar Loaf have their own laundry room, each with 2 washers and 2 dryers - so that would be 9 washers/9 dryers total for the resort, making it on a par with most of the other resorts. (I can't remember if there is one or two machines in the main building, but if a recent guest says there is one of each, I'm sure that is correct.) I've never had a problem with doing laundry there, but I did it a little at a time, not waiting until there is 5 loads, so it was not an issue for me. Sorry for the bad news! I hope it doesn't affect your vacation too much.

PolynesianAlex - we don't use the refillable mugs anymore, since we rarely drink pop, so I can't help with that, sorry. But as the PP mentioned, it isn't far to Gasparilla's from any of the outer buildings.

 

[BlueSkies]

I have also read that you can refill your mugs at the pool bar...which happens to be closer to Big Pine...


But I agree with k&a&c'smom everything is in pretty close proximity...

 

[Belinderella]

The resort really is not that big, even Boca Chica is less than a 5 minute walk from Gasparilla Grill.

We stayed in Boca Chica in March and we used our mugs often...it really is only a short walk and the grounds are so beautiful that you really enjoy the journey! We took many walks around the grounds and found a positive from every building, none of them would be a bad choice.

 

[hill6]

Hi everyone we just got back today from 7 wonderful days at the GF. We had one of the best views of the MK. We were in 5344 and 5345 (Sago). We had a view of castle, Space Mountain and Bay Lake Tower/Contemporary. The fireworks were directly in front of our room. (They are actually to the left of the castle for the most part).

Here is a picture from early morning from our balcony. One of many to come.

http://travel.webshots.com/photo/2227482880048107033GFopAH

 

[bethclayton]

thank you, k&a&c'smom. i'm with you, i would only do 1 load at a time anyway, i'm just worried about the inconvenience factor of having that little slice of time to get laundry done, only to find the washer taken and then be stuck trying to fit it in some other time. it will be my parents' first trip, so we want to see and do a lot, and i don't want to be stressing out about when (and in what building) we can find an unoccupied washer.

another related question: my mom has mobility issues and will be using an ecv for everything while she is there. because of her health, she will also probably spend a little more time back at the hotel than the rest of us. does anyone know whether the rpc concierges would help her cart the laundry to the laundry area if need be? it would be hard (if not impossible) for her with her ecv to carry a whole load.

or, do they offer a laundry service???

 

[praline3001]

There has been a bit of an update for the Alice and Wonderland tea party. As most of you know, the time has changed and is now 2-3pm. Due to this they are no longer offering lunch (sandwiches and the like) it only includes the cupcake and apple juice tea.

I am also hearing that the characters don't stay as long as they used to for the party. I am not sure exactly how long as IPO couldn't give me a strait time frame.

I just wanted to pass that along to those who are planning on going soon. I have it booked for Savannah and she is really excited about it. I am not thrilled over the changes (even though they are still charging the same amount) but I am not going to cancel because she would be heartbroken.

 

[mmmears]

There has been a bit of an update for the Alice and Wonderland tea party. As most of you know, the time has changed and is now 2-3pm. Due to this they are no longer offering lunch (sandwiches and the like) it only includes the cupcake and apple juice tea.

I am also hearing that the characters don't stay as long as they used to for the party. I am not sure exactly how long as IPO couldn't give me a strait time frame.

I just wanted to pass that along to those who are planning on going soon. I have it booked for Savannah and she is really excited about it. I am not thrilled over the changes (even though they are still charging the same amount) but I am not going to cancel because she would be heartbroken.

That's too bad, Brook. It sounds like some cost-cutting measures we keep hearing about. Not great since they are charging you the same price. I personally think that feeding kids sugar and not giving them some real food along with it tends to lead to disaster... Glad I'm not running those parties.

 

[praline3001]

That's too bad, Brook. It sounds like some cost-cutting measures we keep hearing about. Not great since they are charging you the same price. I personally think that feeding kids sugar and not giving them some real food along with it tends to lead to disaster... Glad I'm not running those parties.

I totally agree! I am really not happy at all about this change.
I would cancel in a heartbeat if Savannah didnt have her heart set on going. From some of the reviews I have read (no confirmation from IPO as they couldn't give me even a general time guideline of how long the characters stay)...anyway from some recent reviews I read the characters only stay about 10 minutes
IPO said the time they spend with the kids *varies* but I couldn't nail down a time frame from them.... so it doesn't sound too good to me. All they could confirm for me is no more sandwiches and lunch.

 

[BlueSkies]

Brook Thanks for posting this information...at that time of day having lunch included would make sense...hopefully there will be a good character interraction....

 

[BCV23]

Hi everyone we just got back today from 7 wonderful days at the GF. We had one of the best views of the MK. We were in 5344 and 5345 (Sago). We had a view of castle, Space Mountain and Bay Lake Tower/Contemporary. The fireworks were directly in front of our room. (They are actually to the left of the castle for the most part).

Here is a picture from early morning from our balcony. One of many to come.

http://travel.webshots.com/photo/2227482880048107033GFopAH

Glad you had such a great trip.

Did you dine in any of the restaurants?

The view of Wishes is to the left from the GF but centered from the Polynesian.

another related question: my mom has mobility issues and will be using an ecv for everything while she is there. because of her health, she will also probably spend a little more time back at the hotel than the rest of us. does anyone know whether the rpc concierges would help her cart the laundry to the laundry area if need be? it would be hard (if not impossible) for her with her ecv to carry a whole load.

or, do they offer a laundry service???

The GF does offer laundry service.

I doubt toting laundry in in the job description for concierges. Perhaps you could do your mother's laundry for her.

Have fun!