The All New Grand Floridian FAQ - MAY 2009

[Figment1990]

Okay. So I tend to make a bunch of decisions and change my mind alot. However, this is our current thinking.

We're going to stay with the Grand. (Barring any additional reports of more construction that make us run for the poly!) Here's why... we really only have a few hours planned at the hotel anyhow and since it's just the two of us, we can change some plans on the fly. Such as...

If we learn ahead of time that the Garden View Tea Room is too loud due to construction, perhaps we can have a late lunch instead at the Grand Floridian Cafe that Brook has so artfully photographed and tempted me with. My DH said "A burger with lobster!?!?! MMMMMM!)

I'm not too concerned with our planned pool day. I'm just looking forward to relaxing in the sun, sipping a pina colada, or colava or some sort of fruity concoction while I catch up on my light reading. I don't need peace and quiet to read my fluffy beach reads.

The other pool "day" (really only a few hours) I had planned, we were going to check out the courtyard pool. If we find that too loud or the orange crane scenery too obnoxious, I wouldn't mind visiting the beach end of the beach pool on that afternoon instead.

And the last pool/resort afternoon planned, if we are really tired of looking at the cranes, well, I guess I'll just have to spend some time at the spa instead.

It doesn't sound like the noise level will be an issue in the evening/night, so our nightcap at Mizners shouldn't be an issue. And neither should watching Wishes from the beach, from what I hear.

So that's my plan. I'm also going to be prepared to ask specifically for a different room view and pay for it, if necessary to avoid a view of the cranes from our balcony. I may even do this ahead of time. We're currently booked Garden view with our first request to be away from any construction and the second request is Big Pine Key. If they are still workign on the garden side of the buildings, I'll ask to move up to a lagoon view, as long as there are no cranes! The problem with doing it ahead of time is that I could still end up with a view of the cranes and have to switch to something else anyhow. I hope Disney will accept such a change. They've "downgraded" me before so I think it's possible.

My only other thought right now is to move up immediately to RPC. Trouble is, the only option right now is Deluxe Room King and I'm afraid of not having a balcony. Vacation coffee is well, just better on a balcony (truthfully I'll just take my morning coffee anywhere that my DS doesn't try to knock it off the table or try to drink it) However, the whole concierge lounge experience just might make up for the lack of balcony....

What do you all think?

 

[Scott MC]

I'm going to sound snippy, but I *think* that people spending as much as they are to stay at the Grand Floridian, shouldn't have to be worrying about these things.

 

[billnang]

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?

I believe you are correct, they are not "cranes" they are "lifts" and that would be probably why they are saying no cranes are there...

Angela

 

[billnang]

This is my take on it... Last week I saw pictures.. paniced and DH said, lets go for RPC.. I had a 40% code, a room was available and we switched... along with construction issues we took the leap and upgraded, besides we have a big family and it will be easier being in the main building...

Today I see more pictures and panic again, DH says its up to me, we can move to another resort, but this was our dream resort and really our last chance to stay here seeing our youngest will be over 3 and we would need 2 rooms...

I know my luck, I would switch resorts and come to the GF for a dinner reservation, only with my luck I would see it not as bad as it looks and be sorry I moved...

So, long story short.. we are staying in RPC and I will enjoy our vacation... there are thousands of people there right now and if it was really that bad, we would see a lot of posts about it!!!

It is a personal choice, but I am going with a positive outlook...

Angela

 

[Figment1990]

I'm going to sound snippy, but I *think* that people spending as much as they are to stay at the Grand Floridian, shouldn't have to be worrying about these things.

I don't think you are being snippy at all! It is a huge expense and I'm very much less than thrilled with it! We've actually really reconsidered moving resorts and spent the past few days looking at other pics (again, as if I dont' have them committed to memory by now). We don't want to do Poly, WL,or AKL or Boardwalk, since we've done them recently or going to be soon, and I don't want the refurb situation at the YC either, and the BC only has garden views left and I really wanted a water view. Contemporary is usually not a consideration, since it's really not our style. So we are going to chance it....

What I think is really a shame is that the state of things is so confusing! That is what I think we shouldn't have to be doing. We should have full disclosure to make educated decisions.

 

[Scott MC]

Agreed!
We decided that we would stay at a monorail resort this time. The travelers are me, my DBF, my DS (sister) and DSBF(Sister's Bf)...when we pooled our thoughts of where to stay this is what we came up with...

Me=GF, then Contemp, then Poly
DBF=Contemp, then Poly, then GF
DS=Poly, then GF, then CR
DSBF=Contemp, GF, then Poly

Clearly, GF was not a unanimous choice, but it's almost become a joke amongst all my friends and family that "Scott needs to stay at the GF." I'm afraid though, that my bubble will be burst though on this trip and I hate to have that happen.

 

[cosmicrays]

Hi everyone

I am not worried about the cranes and such right now. I am booked in the main building and I am using a TA who has helped several people on this thread and they got amazing rooms. So I am thinking I will be okay. I do understand why you would be upset Scott and I hope that you get it all worked out. Did you get a discount?

 

[Scott MC]

There's no discount involved unless you count free dining. We have a garden view, and we're paying full price for it. We did not use a travel agent, we booked it all on our own.
I actually just spoke to DBF about the possibility of moving to the CR which would involve about $35 extra per person, but his reply was, "You ain't getting another penny out of me."

 

[PaulaSB12]

I agree about the service carts but if you look, the construction workers are on people's balconies and they are doing work on the inside (the stairways) so there are construction workers in and out stomping around in each lodge... so yeah the photos don't look TERRIBLE until you take into account what is being done on the inside...and I would have issues with a strange man on my balcony...

Also, look closer at Conch ` half a side of the building has boards and they are working on (the half that faces the dock). If I were staying IN conch (which people still are) I would have been upset and asked to be moved if they had room

I have to admit it is worrying me, I paid for my holiday (had to pay it last month) and the idea as single woman of finding strange men on my balcony would be worrying to say the least.

 

[MommyGina]

I called the GF right after my last post. Now this is the story I got. I spoke to Loddy who did call the GF for me. She came back on the line and told me that "all the high reach areas" of the buildings have been complete resulting in no more cranes or lifts being in the way. Did not have an exact date of when that will be done, but "should" be done in two weeks from now. Great, I leave two weeks from tomorrow.

However, the luggage room, near the entrance I'm guessing, is being done over as well as the tile work in the main lobby, which we all knew about.

I'm hoping we hear from others who are there now and can give us updates on what is REALLY going on.

 

[k&a&c'smom]

We are heading to the GF soon, and I was quite relieved when I saw jkstewart's photos! From the written descriptions, I thought the whole resort was torn up, but to me, it looks as though the work is pretty well contained to just a few areas. The maintenance carts that are shown in several photos are always out and about, the maintenance dept. uses them to get to and from the outer buildings when called, and they are used to pull the towel carts out in the mornings. So, take those away, and you've got a couple lifts, some scaffolding and a few workers. Not so bad, in my opinion.

I'm quite sure that the rooms where you see workmen on the balcony itself are not in service at this time.

We stayed at the GF more than once during the 2007 renovations, and it had little to no impact on our trips. Hopefully, most of the work will be completed quickly, and it will be a non-issue for everyone leaving soon.

 

[HarMinnie]

Narcoossees? We have always wanted to walk around the GF, but could never afford to stay there. With free dining we are planning to eat at Narcoossees and then see wishes from the beach/dock. Will the construction be bad in those areas? Should we plan another meal elsewhere? We are getting a sitter so we can enjoy a little romance without the kids and I don't think construction will be very romantic!

 

[simplymama]

I'm quite sure that the rooms where you see workmen on the balcony itself are not in service at this time.

I agree with most of what you said, EXCEPT for the above. We were there the last week of June/first week of July. The first 5 days we were in RPC and at that time, they hadn't even started the floors yet so no problems there.

However, for the last two days of our trip we were in Sugarloaf rooms that looked right out onto the construction site with the big white boards surrounding the area, and we did have workmen on lifts right outside our rooms and that did upset me.

I will say though, that other than the last two days where we were in Sugar Loaf and had the construction area and workers right outside our room, the construction did NOT impact our trip in anyway when on the grounds. Things may have changed since then though.

 

[janeapplemeadow]

I will be there for a week, starting Thursday. I will report back to all of you when I return. I'll be staying RPC in the main building, so hopefully we won't hear too much.

 

[mmmears]

I did see cranes this morning, all on the back side of Sago facing the monorail.

There has been no construction around the marina at all. Our room is facing ther. And we would have seen it.

The resort doesn't feel or look all torn up to me.

I hope this helps some of you.

Haven't heard any of the floor construction noise in the lobby either, and we are staying RPC.

Things change so much from day to day, so unless you are coming in the next week, I doubt that they can really tell you what it's going to be like.

IMO there is always maintenance of some sort going on at these resorts. They were painting at Poly last summer, this Spring, and it's still going on today.

 

[BCV23]

We are heading to the GF soon, and I was quite relieved when I saw jkstewart's photos! From the written descriptions, I thought the whole resort was torn up, but to me, it looks as though the work is pretty well contained to just a few areas. The maintenance carts that are shown in several photos are always out and about, the maintenance dept. uses them to get to and from the outer buildings when called, and they are used to pull the towel carts out in the mornings. So, take those away, and you've got a couple lifts, some scaffolding and a few workers. Not so bad, in my opinion.

I'm quite sure that the rooms where you see workmen on the balcony itself are not in service at this time.

We stayed at the GF more than once during the 2007 renovations, and it had little to no impact on our trips. Hopefully, most of the work will be completed quickly, and it will be a non-issue for everyone leaving soon.

Coulnd't agree with your post more, k&a&c'smom.
Have a Grand trip!

PaulaSB12, I really don't think you have to worry about a worker being on your balcony. I agree with k&a&c'smom that it is unlikely that room was occupied.

The luggage room is not near the front entrance to the GF. It is on the side of the building and should not affect anyone's Grand entrance.

mmmears, I meant to say that I'm glad to hear your vacation is not being affected. Are you having fun on your nice, long vacation?

 

[k&a&c'smom]

simplymama - sorry! I should have been more clear. I didn't mean your photos, where you see the workmen in the lifts. I don't blame you, I wouldn't want to open my curtains to see someone looking in at me, either!

I meant the photo that jkstewart had, with workmen on a balcony, with the hard hat perched on the railing.

 

[simplymama]

simplymama - sorry! I should have been more clear. I didn't mean your photos, where you see the workmen in the lifts. I don't blame you, I wouldn't want to open my curtains to see someone looking in at me, either!

I meant the photo that jkstewart had, with workmen on a balcony, with the hard hat perched on the railing.

Actually I'm pretty sure they were on balconies of occupied rooms. The rooms in our area all had people coming and going and they were definitely ON some of the balconies in our area when we looked up from outside. There was blue tape on our balcony, which they were going to paint. That's why they were on the lift outside our room. To paint and to lift the men up.

 

[BlueSkies]

While I do agree that from the photos that I saw the grounds do not look terrible...and certainly wouldnt ruin my vacation...they are doing work on occupied rooms! I know this from first hand experience...And yes I did open my curtains one morning to find myself face to face with a workman on my balcony!!! He smiled and I turned everyshade that you can think of.... I did say good morning...polite is in my blood!!! And then I reclosed my curtains!! They do need to do refurbishments..but the rooms that they are working closely on ...like a balcony that is being sanded and repainted!...really should be closed off for those few days that it will take to do that work...


We spent much time at the court yard pool and the front of SL had at least 3 large lifts/cranes whatever you'd like to call them in front of it...behind a construction wall though...and I did not feel that that detracted from the enjoyment of the pool...you did hear some of the work noise including the beeping of vehicles backing up and of course the additional traffic of the workmen and those vehicles but that was contained to the area around that particular building...

 

[BCV23]

While I do agree that from the photos that I saw the grounds do not look terrible...and certainly wouldnt ruin my vacation...they are doing work on occupied rooms! I know this from first hand experience...And yes I did open my curtains one morning to find myself face to face with a workman on my balcony!!! He smiled and I turned everyshade that you can think of.... I did say good morning...polite is in my blood!!! And then I reclosed my curtains!! They do need to do refurbishments..but the rooms that they are working closely on ...like a balcony that is being sanded and repainted!...really should be closed off for those few days that it will take to do that work...

I stand corrected!

At least everyone reading this knows to request a room away from the painting!