The All New Grand Floridian FAQ - MAY 2009

[bethclayton]

k&a&c'smom and heatherlynn, thanks for sharing your pictures!!!!!! that was so nice of you!

 

[dpndka]

Thanks for posting the beautiful pics. It makes the wait till december easier. I'm also thinking about requesting an upper level room. I just read the snake in resort room thread.

Does anyone know if a babysitting service is available in room at the GF? I thought I read about it on this board but I ran a search nothing came up.

I know there is the kids club but my little one is only 3 so he can't go there. I really want to try Citricos during next visit, but don't think my 3yr old will sit still for that long.

 

[johnsonet]

Thanks for posting the beautiful pics. It makes the wait till december easier. I'm also thinking about requesting an upper level room. I just read the snake in resort room thread.

Does anyone know if a babysitting service is available in room at the GF? I thought I read about it on this board but I ran a search nothing came up.

I know there is the kids club but my little one is only 3 so he can't go there. I really want to try Citricos during next visit, but don't think my 3yr old will sit still for that long.

I have used Kids Nite Out in-room babysitting several times over the years. We have always had good experiences

www.kidsniteout.com

 

[Scott MC]

I did it!
Yahoo!
I asked for a GV room at Conch Key with a Marina view.
*Here's Hoping!*

 

[hill6]

if i could pick anything, it would be a pic of the view from the balcony of a deluxe rpc room! not sure if that is do-able, but it never hurts to ask!

i'd also love pics of: 1) rpc food offerings, 2) narcoosee's, and 3) citricos.

aw, shucks, any pics at all will do, i have until MARCH! waaaah!

I have a bunch of pictures including some of Narcoossees. I will be posting this weekend. I took 1,500 pictures in 7 days. I even took pics from the Searaycers of the resort. (one water cop waved at me - I was in idle. The next one two minutes later yelled at me)

 

[dpndka]

I have used Kids Nite Out in-room babysitting several times over the years. We have always had good experiences

www.kidsniteout.com

Thanks Johnsonet. I'm going to bookmark the website this time.

 

[allseas1586]

I did it!
Yahoo!
I asked for a GV room at Conch Key with a Marina view.
*Here's Hoping!*

Excellent choice! That is what I had on my first Grand Floridian stay.

 

[Little Lulu]

I did it!
Yahoo!
I asked for a GV room at Conch Key with a Marina view.
*Here's Hoping!*

Oh! When I call to make a payment, I'm going to add that request, too!

 

[loralie]

I just got back a few hours ago from my first visit to the Grand. I will be doing a full trip report with some pics but just wanted to say I LOVED the GF. I don't know how I will be able to stay anywhere else. LOL. The worst part was that we arrived on Friday May 15th and it was nice the first couple of days and then it rained every day for the rest of the vacation. It rained HARD...not just rain for a 1/2 hour and then goes back to sunny. We were not prepared for the type of rain we had there. It was dark and cloudy and windy most days. People who go all the time were shocked at the weather. We still had a wonderful time but it would have been much better if the weather was nicer.

We booked a GV and I requested a marina view. I got a partial marina view. We were in Sago Cay room 5409. If you look straight out the balcony you can see the beginning of the marina where the boats are docked. It was not the best view but it was not that bad either. We loved being so close to Gasparilla Grill and the bus stop.

We ate at the Grand Floridian Cafe a few times during the week and the food was good. We had steaks for dinner twice and they were good but Le Celier was much better. We were on the basic dining plan but we splurged and had the french onion soup twice. It was delish! I had the french toast for breakfast there and it was really good. We also had dinner at 1900 Park Fare and it was a fun night. The step sisters and the step mother were really in character. The food was good for a buffet but think we prefer a sit down dinner better than a buffet dinner. If we are going to have a buffet we prefer a breakfast buffet. We did have an ADR for Citrico's but had to cancel because my DH was not feeling well. I was a little bummed but what can you do. That is why we ate at Grand Floridian Cafe so many times.

Anyway...I will post more tomorrow hopefully with pics. I did not take as many pics as I would have liked. I think the rain drained me and I was not feeling well in the middle of the week. It was a good thing I had some antibiotics with me to take and I felt much better 2 days later.

I gotta go to sleep but for some reason I am still on the computer.

TTFN,

Loralie

 

[Little Lulu]

Welcome back home, Loralie !

 

[JoeyAnyc]

Great Topic!

I had previously stayed in the King Club suites for 3 years in a row.
Last year, they were booked when I was planning our trip. So we ended
up with a GV of the Marina. We requested a King bed. Always keep in mind
that it's JUST a request. No guarantees.

Well, we did luck out with the King bed at check-in. The crazy part is, the room is the same as the King Suite, but much cheaper!!! So we just booked the GV again for this December and trying our luck.

 

[bethclayton]

heatherlynn, i just thought of something else.... are you staying rpc? if so, can you inquire in the lounge about whether it's true that there is only 1 washer and dryer in the building? i know you offered pics, not fact-finding, lol.... but hey, it never hurts to ask! i recently became aware that this may be the case and it has me stressed as we definitely planned to not have to pack for 6 people X 8 days and wanted to do at least a load or two while there. with 1 washer and dryer, that might really be inconvenient, because i have visions of them always being taken when we go to use them.

loralie, i'm glad you loved the gf!!! i'm sorry to hear about the weather. we had 2 days of pouring down windy rain that lasted all day on our jan/ feb trip, and it was soooo cold, in the 40's. people make comments about who cares if it rains while you're there, but i was sick to begin with and this rain was just awful, we were soaked and freezing even with ponchos. so i think i can feel your pain even though ours was only 2 days. glad you had those antibiotics with you.... i let me cold go and it had turned into pneumonia by the day after we got home. i think i just pushed myself way too hard and didn't rest enough.

 

[allseas1586]

I just got back a few hours ago from my first visit to the Grand. I will be doing a full trip report with some pics but just wanted to say I LOVED the GF. I don't know how I will be able to stay anywhere else. LOL. The worst part was that we arrived on Friday May 15th and it was nice the first couple of days and then it rained every day for the rest of the vacation. It rained HARD...not just rain for a 1/2 hour and then goes back to sunny. We were not prepared for the type of rain we had there. It was dark and cloudy and windy most days. People who go all the time were shocked at the weather. We still had a wonderful time but it would have been much better if the weather was nicer.

We booked a GV and I requested a marina view. I got a partial marina view. We were in Sago Cay room 5409. If you look straight out the balcony you can see the beginning of the marina where the boats are docked. It was not the best view but it was not that bad either. We loved being so close to Gasparilla Grill and the bus stop.

We ate at the Grand Floridian Cafe a few times during the week and the food was good. We had steaks for dinner twice and they were good but Le Celier was much better. We were on the basic dining plan but we splurged and had the french onion soup twice. It was delish! I had the french toast for breakfast there and it was really good. We also had dinner at 1900 Park Fare and it was a fun night. The step sisters and the step mother were really in character. The food was good for a buffet but think we prefer a sit down dinner better than a buffet dinner. If we are going to have a buffet we prefer a breakfast buffet. We did have an ADR for Citrico's but had to cancel because my DH was not feeling well. I was a little bummed but what can you do. That is why we ate at Grand Floridian Cafe so many times.

Anyway...I will post more tomorrow hopefully with pics. I did not take as many pics as I would have liked. I think the rain drained me and I was not feeling well in the middle of the week. It was a good thing I had some antibiotics with me to take and I felt much better 2 days later.

I gotta go to sleep but for some reason I am still on the computer.

TTFN,

Loralie

Welcome back! Can't wait to see pictures

 

[mmmears]

I just got back a few hours ago from my first visit to the Grand. I will be doing a full trip report with some pics but just wanted to say I LOVED the GF. I don't know how I will be able to stay anywhere else.

Loralie

Thanks for the update. I am so glad you enjoyed the GF. One (or more) of us always feels sick when we take a long trip to WDW. I'm glad you had some medicine and that you felt better. I'm looking forward to hearing more about your time at the GF. One question -- with all the rain, do they offer any indoor activities (in place of the pool/beach/outdoor movies) that are held outside daily?

heatherlynn, i just thought of something else.... are you staying rpc? if so, can you inquire in the lounge about whether it's true that there is only 1 washer and dryer in the building? i know you offered pics, not fact-finding, lol.... but hey, it never hurts to ask! i recently became aware that this may be the case and it has me stressed as we definitely planned to not have to pack for 6 people X 8 days and wanted to do at least a load or two while there. with 1 washer and dryer, that might really be inconvenient, because i have visions of them always being taken when we go to use them.

I have this same concern. I'm telling myself that it will ok, because we can always go to one of the outer buildings if we have to and use their machines. But I'm still worried, like you seem to be. One machine just isn't enough.

 

[heatherlynn444]

heatherlynn, i just thought of something else.... are you staying rpc? if so, can you inquire in the lounge about whether it's true that there is only 1 washer and dryer in the building? i know you offered pics, not fact-finding, lol.... but hey, it never hurts to ask! i recently became aware that this may be the case and it has me stressed as we definitely planned to not have to pack for 6 people X 8 days and wanted to do at least a load or two while there. with 1 washer and dryer, that might really be inconvenient, because i have visions of them always being taken when we go to use them.

loralie, i'm glad you loved the gf!!! i'm sorry to hear about the weather. we had 2 days of pouring down windy rain that lasted all day on our jan/ feb trip, and it was soooo cold, in the 40's. people make comments about who cares if it rains while you're there, but i was sick to begin with and this rain was just awful, we were soaked and freezing even with ponchos. so i think i can feel your pain even though ours was only 2 days. glad you had those antibiotics with you.... i let me cold go and it had turned into pneumonia by the day after we got home. i think i just pushed myself way too hard and didn't rest enough.

not a problem!

 

[bcuinohio]

heatherlynn, i just thought of something else.... are you staying rpc? if so, can you inquire in the lounge about whether it's true that there is only 1 washer and dryer in the building? i know you offered pics, not fact-finding, lol.... but hey, it never hurts to ask! i recently became aware that this may be the case and it has me stressed as we definitely planned to not have to pack for 6 people X 8 days and wanted to do at least a load or two while there. with 1 washer and dryer, that might really be inconvenient, because i have visions of them always being taken when we go to use them.

We stayed in Big Pine Key last year and the laundry room in the building had two washer and two dryers. The dryers were not the best. The clothes were still pretty wet when they come out.

 

[Scott MC]

Correct me if I'm wrong...
Sugar Loaf Key is COMPLETELY concierge...correct?
In other words, there's no room for those of us without the major cash to stay in this building right?

 

[mmmears]

Correct me if I'm wrong...
Sugar Loaf Key is COMPLETELY concierge...correct?
In other words, there's no room for those of us without the major cash to stay in this building right?

You are correct, the entire Sugar Loaf building is concierge.

 

[loralie]

Welcome back home, Loralie !

Thanks, I am a little sad to be back but getting ready to write the trip report is making me happy.

loralie, i'm glad you loved the gf!!! i'm sorry to hear about the weather. we had 2 days of pouring down windy rain that lasted all day on our jan/ feb trip, and it was soooo cold, in the 40's. people make comments about who cares if it rains while you're there, but i was sick to begin with and this rain was just awful, we were soaked and freezing even with ponchos. so i think i can feel your pain even though ours was only 2 days. glad you had those antibiotics with you.... i let me cold go and it had turned into pneumonia by the day after we got home. i think i just pushed myself way too hard and didn't rest enough.

Sorry to hear how sick you got. Yes we were very happy to have the meds with us. The rain is not fun but it's better than not being in Disney at all. I was so happy we were at the Grand because we spent more time in the room than we thought we would. We loved the room.

Welcome back! Can't wait to see pictures

I am having a little trouble with the pics. We had 2 camera's with us. I used one camera and my 13 year old son used the other one. He took some great pics that I did not think to take and I think he took more pics than I did. He was able to put his pics on photobucket but we are missing the wire for my camera to upload it and when we tried it with the memory card it was not working for some reason. I am going to take the memory card to CVS later and put the pics on a disc and then I should be able to upload them. Of course my camera had all the pics of the room when we first walked in before we put all our stuff around. Hopefully I will have the pics ready a little later on today.

. One question -- with all the rain, do they offer any indoor activities (in place of the pool/beach/outdoor movies) that are held outside daily?

I actually asked this question while I was there and the answer is basically no. They did tell me the one and only activity they were doing indoors was a pirate thing for the little kids. It was in the main lobby. My kids are 11 and 13 so they are too old so I did not get any info on it but we did see a whole bunch of little pirates in the lobby. I asked them if they had any ideas on what to do during the rain and they basically said DisneyQuest or the movies at downtown Disney. She did give me a list of what movies they had at the movie theater but we did not use it and I don't think I brought the list home. I think they should plan a little more indoor activities for situations like this.

Hopefully I will have my report up and running today or at least some GF pics to post on this board. I am still doing laundry.

Loralie

 

[k&a&c'smom]

loralie - welcome back, and I'm glad you had a great trip, even with the rain.

BCV23 - I'm pretty sure that is room 4021, even though I can't find my folio for that trip (I save everything, lol). It is the turret room on the top floor, the one that everyone wants - I can see why, it is a gorgeous view! I loved the view at night, as you can see, I'm not sure why we didn't get shots during the day.

The deluxe queen room was just two doors down the hall from the lounge or concierge desk, can't remember which now.

heatherlynn - loved your photos!