The All New Grand Floridian FAQ - MAY 2009

[Three cats]

Great pictures, Loralie! I am going to check out your trip report tonight.

 

[BlueSkies]

shopgirl I would give IPO another call...we did same as you sent them our ADR requests...they confirmed recieving them and on the 90 day mark they booked everything that we requested including the cabanas...then they emailed us our itinerary the next day...worked beautifully.... But since you changed a few things I would try and call again...

We have always have very good experiences with GF IPO...

Good luck and I hope that you get all of your ADRs!

 

[BlueSkies]

Loralie Great pics...thanks for posting them!

 

[johnsonet]

Thanks for the pics, loralie

I have been having a hard time these last couple of days calling the office and no one is replying to my emails. I am getting a little nervous and wondering if I can really trust them to arrange my ADRs!!! I'm going during free dining, so I'm really afraid of not being able to get my requests at the times I want if I don't call first thing in the morning!

I did send in my requests a couple of weeks ago and I heard back from them that they will take care of the ADRs, but then a day later I had to make a change, and I never got a response to my changes! They say someone will reply within 24 hours of my first email, but I never got any...

That's pretty bad I would call for the ADRs myself (the ones that you changed from the original - since the others were confirmed I'd assume they're taken care of) and then if IPO got them for you, cancel one. I hate that feeling. Good luck! Please let us know what happens...

Might be a strange request, but does anyone have a pic of the daybed opened up? We'll be at the GF in late September with a (then) 3 1/2 year old and I'm trying to decide ahead of time where he'll sleep. Thanks in advance!

Sorry, I don't have one of it opened up. I'm sure someone else will

 

[billnang]

question...if IPO makes a reservation...if you have changes after do you have to go through them..or can I do it myself?

 

[BCV23]

question...if IPO makes a reservation...if you have changes after do you have to go through them..or can I do it myself?

You can do it yourself.

Thanks for sharing your photos, Loralie.

 

[billnang]

Hi. We are using (or I am hoping to use) the services of the GF's IPO to help with my ADR window which opens TOMORROW! I have been having a hard time these last couple of days calling the office and no one is replying to my emails. I am getting a little nervous and wondering if I can really trust them to arrange my ADRs!!! I'm going during free dining, so I'm really afraid of not being able to get my requests at the times I want if I don't call first thing in the morning!

I did send in my requests a couple of weeks ago and I heard back from them that they will take care of the ADRs, but then a day later I had to make a change, and I never got a response to my changes! They say someone will reply within 24 hours of my first email, but I never got any.

What should I do???? Should I just trust that they have been reading my emails?? I tried calling but the IPO phone line was not working. Should I book myself??

How soon will they contact you with the confirmation #s to your reservations if they do arrange the ADRs for you? What would you do in my situation?

Just wondering what you did... did you call?
My day for dining is tomorrow...if I dont hear from them.. I think I will do them myself.. I am a control freak...

btw.. I read your TR a few moths ago which is what convinced me to stay at Sugar Loaf...i see we will be there the same time!!!

Angela

 

[billnang]

You can do it yourself.

Thanks for sharing your photos, Loralie.

Thank you
Angela

 

[mmmears]

loralie -- thank you for posting your lovely photos. The one of the "parasol parade" really brings back memories...

shopgirl -- that sounds awful. I would call the IPO office again, or just call and make the ADRs yourself (but I've been reading about one hour wait times on hold for disney dining lately). I've spoken to all 3 IPO offices for our upcoming trip, and can sadly say that I am less than impressed by the GF IPO office CMs (there must be some good ones there, but I have yet to find them).

question...if IPO makes a reservation...if you have changes after do you have to go through them..or can I do it myself?

I go through the IPO office to make any changes. It's much easier and takes much less time than calling the dining # and doing it myself. Also, that way, they send me a revised itinerary with the new ADRs on it.

 

[johnsonet]

question...if IPO makes a reservation...if you have changes after do you have to go through them..or can I do it myself?

Just wanted to add that I do both, depending on the situation. If I have a change while on vacation and I'm in the parks or something, I'll call Disney Dining myself or go to Guest Services if it's convenient. If I'm at the hotel I'll call the CMs or go to the 3d floor to ask for the changes/additions I need.

...if I dont hear from them.. I think I will do them myself.. I am a control freak...

I can relate!

I've spoken to all 3 IPO offices for our upcoming trip, and can sadly say that I am less than impressed by the GF IPO office CMs (there must be some good ones there, but I have yet to find them).

Is Calvin still in GF IPO? He's always been good. It's hard when you've been spoiled by Don & Co. at AKL Also, mmmears, you've had great service from Poly IPO, haven't you?

 

[mmmears]

Is Calvin still in GF IPO? He's always been good. It's hard when you've been spoiled by Don & Co. at AKL Also, mmmears, you've had great service from Poly IPO, haven't you?

I haven't spoken to Calvin, so I don't know. Don & Melissa are great. I had great service from Poly IPO for our April trip, and so far the BC IPO has been pretty good. Every IPO office except the GF was willing to write down our room requests. Don't know why.

 

[shoppgirl]

Hi everyone...thanks for your comments and suggestions. I was reading the dining threads and people who tried calling in for their ADRs were waiting an hour or more on hold!!! I really did not want to do that and had hoped the IPO could do it for me.

Anyways, just an update...I tried calling IPO this morning again at around 10:45 and the phone line was busy, supposedly. I couldn't get through. So I asked my husband to try for me as I couldn't get to the phone again until noon. He called and got through right away!

So it looks like the IPO has not been totally ignoring my countless emails with changes and have made a note every time to my file...they just failed to let me know that they did make the changes. I got everything I wanted and very close to requested times too if not exact, except my Ohana dinner reservation!! I heard that Ohana's is booked solid the week we are going. Unbelieveable. My faith in the GF's IPO has been restored and I'm so grateful for their assistance!

Good luck to everyone else with upcoming trips and getting those ADRs!!

 

[mmmears]

Hi everyone...thanks for your comments and suggestions. I was reading the dining threads and people who tried calling in for their ADRs were waiting an hour or more on hold!!! I really did not want to do that and had hoped the IPO could do it for me.

Anyways, just an update...I tried calling IPO this morning again at around 10:45 and the phone line was busy, supposedly. I couldn't get through. So I asked my husband to try for me as I couldn't get to the phone again until noon. He called and got through right away!

So it looks like the IPO has not been totally ignoring my countless emails with changes and have made a note every time to my file...they just failed to let me know that they did make the changes. I got everything I wanted and very close to requested times too if not exact, except my Ohana dinner reservation!! I heard that Ohana's is booked solid the week we are going. Unbelieveable. My faith in the GF's IPO has been restored and I'm so grateful for their assistance!

Good luck to everyone else with upcoming trips and getting those ADRs!!

shopgirl, I'm so glad they got your ADRs for you, although they should have let you know that they received your emails. 'Ohana is getting very hard to get into, in my experience, even though it's a really large restaurant. Keep trying -- I was able to get a dinner reservation by having the IPO check again about a week after there was nothing available. People cancel all the time.

Glad they did it all for you -- it sounds like calling to make ADRs right now is not a fun experience.

 

[shoppgirl]

Just wondering what you did... did you call?
My day for dining is tomorrow...if I dont hear from them.. I think I will do them myself.. I am a control freak...

btw.. I read your TR a few moths ago which is what convinced me to stay at Sugar Loaf...i see we will be there the same time!!!

Angela

Hi Angela
I had DH call in for me and he got through right away. I think it was my fault I couldn't get through as I was trying to be cheap about it and using a calling card that didn't work properly. Anyways, all is good! I just got an email confirmation from the IPO with everything except 'Ohana. They said they are working on trying to get me one (with a cancellation or whatever) and will let me know if a time opens up. I have Kona Cafe in just as a back up for the time I requested.

Thanks for reading my report and I'm glad it helped convince you to stay at SL. We loved it there and are really looking forward to going back at the end of Aug. Hopefully the weather will hold up well for us! Maybe I'll run into you without knowing I'm running into you!

 

[billnang]

Oh GREAT news... So IPO made your reservations and you got what you wanted and they send you your dining schedule already...

I will have to find a picture of all of us... so if we run in to each other we can say hello.. we arrive the 25th.

Kudos to your husband for calling, mine wouldn't have a clue!!! LOL
Angela

 

[BCV23]

Just wanted to add that I do both, depending on the situation. If I have a change while on vacation and I'm in the parks or something, I'll call Disney Dining myself or go to Guest Services if it's convenient. If I'm at the hotel I'll call the CMs or go to the 3d floor to ask for the changes/additions I need.

I always do whatever is most convenient for me, too.

Whether IPO makes the reservations or I do it myself, all show up on the itinerary including any changes made. I just email IPO and ask for a copy of my itinerary.

Angela, you're welcome. Happy planning!

shoppgirl, I'm glad it all worked out so well.

 

[loralie]

Here are a few more GF pics

Here is our building Sago Cay and we are on the balcony

Here is a closer pic of us on the balcony

Some Lobby pics

That's it for now...I will try to post more later,

Loralie

 

[BlueSkies]

Loralie More beautful pics! What a nice way to start the day...

 

[snowwhitenyc]

Hi everyone,

I am just back from my first stay at the GF -- we loved it! I may write a quick review of my experience (seems like so many people are curious about it, or have misconceptions that keep them from trying it), but I wanted to say thank you to everyone in this forum for all of your great information, photos, etc. It has been great to come here during the planning process to daydream and get excited...and to get up to speed with all of the ins and outs of the GF.

I didn't realize it until I saw the rest of the people in my group wandering around kind of lost ("oh, there is a buffet restaurant? oh, look, a beach! where is the monorail?"), but after all of your wonderful reviews and photos I really felt like I knew my way around, knew what amenities were offered, and knew what to expect. I guess there is something to be said for spontaneous exploration, but no matter how many times I tried to tell my family that Gaspie's was NOTHING like the food court at ASMo, they didn't really get it until they saw it. Of course, I had seen millions of pictures, and it was just like I thought it would be (except who knew how delicious that soft serve ice cream would be...???).

Thanks again...I'm looking forward to checking back here to read about all of your upcoming GF trips...and maybe I'll even be able to answer a question or two

PS -- Loralie, I'm sure we crossed paths a million times (I was there from the 19-26)! Glad you had a great time despite the rain. We bought Crocs and just went out and braved the rains, but by yesterday we were all truly happy to be able to throw our ponchos away. At least we didn't get sunburns!

 

[loralie]

PS -- Loralie, I'm sure we crossed paths a million times (I was there from the 19-26)! Glad you had a great time despite the rain. We bought Crocs and just went out and braved the rains, but by yesterday we were all truly happy to be able to throw our ponchos away. At least we didn't get sunburns!

I am sure we must have crossed paths since we were there from the 15 - 22. It went by so fast, I wish I was back. We also braved the parks with our mickey ponchos but I felt like the rain drained me and made me more tired. If it was not raining I am sure I would have gone out at night more but the days we were at the parks in the rain, when we got back to the room after dinner I just wanted to stay in so that is what we did most nights. Hey, if you have to stay in at night, the GF is the best place to do it.

Glad you had fun,

Loralie