The All New Grand Floridian FAQ - MAY 2009

[Cntrybear]

They will make small exceptions to the lounge offerings, but nothing to different from what they already offer. Your best bet, once you get checked in, thell the Desk Cast Member that you have someone in your party with food alergies. They will get you in touch with a Chef who help with your needs.

 

[billnang]

They will make small exceptions to the lounge offerings, but nothing to different from what they already offer. Your best bet, once you get checked in, thell the Desk Cast Member that you have someone in your party with food alergies. They will get you in touch with a Chef who help with your needs.

Not sure who you were saying this to, but I just wanted to let you know if you let them know of allergies before you arrive.. arrangements will be made for you... I have a plan for my son with allergies .
Angela

 

[Cntrybear]

I just got back from the GF, and yes, there are a number of projects going on. The main reason I go there is for the beauty and the service. The past 22 times I have gone, no construction. This time I got to see first hand how they keep a place like the GF so nice. Quite honestly, most of our time was spent elsewhere and the construction was and afterthought. For those moved out of RPC, yes it's an inconvience, but Disney has a way of making it right and it's not always monetarily done.

 

[toodycat]

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 don't know if this will have any impact on CL food, but the luxury guide to WDW gives the number of an allergy hotline: 407-824-2634. You might want to give them a call.

 

[happymommy]

We have SL booked for December, and haven't stayed at the GF in 9 years. I remember in our past two stays, there was a laundry room in each building. Is this still the case? We are booked for 10 days, and I do laundry every 3 days or so.

Also, is GF the only Disney concierge level that offers afternoon tea? I remember that from breakfast to evening appetizers at AKL there were only drinks and gummy bears and chips, maybe cookies. I thought GF had more to offer. As it will be a busy time of the year (we are planning on checking out Dec 26) I know we'll spend a lot of time at the resort. Still debating adding the dining plan - it was fun last year to have, but still a lot of food. I loved how you could use it for room service - pus it covered the tip.

 

[mmmears]

We have SL booked for December, and haven't stayed at the GF in 9 years. I remember in our past two stays, there was a laundry room in each building. Is this still the case? We are booked for 10 days, and I do laundry every 3 days or so.

Also, is GF the only Disney concierge level that offers afternoon tea? I remember that from breakfast to evening appetizers at AKL there were only drinks and gummy bears and chips, maybe cookies. I thought GF had more to offer. As it will be a busy time of the year (we are planning on checking out Dec 26) I know we'll spend a lot of time at the resort. Still debating adding the dining plan - it was fun last year to have, but still a lot of food. I loved how you could use it for room service - pus it covered the tip.

I believe that every building at the GF, with the exception of Sugar Loaf, has laundry facilities. Both the GF & AKL club lounges serve a wonderful afternoon tea in the late afternoon, between the snacks and the dinner appetizer servings. To my knowledge, they are the only 2 resorts to offer this -- and it is wonderful by the way.

 

[minniesota]

Sigh.... We are 24 hours from arriving in Orlando (I would be if I wasn't so sleepy ). Now i'm wondering if I should have just changed my reservation to Lagoon view in the first place.... (we have GV booked) I don't even know what my room request reads anymore. I know it says "away from any construction!" The view I really really really would love would be of the beach pool/poly/lagoon. Any suggestions of what to do/book/request to get that view? Is it too late? (other than cross my fingers and hope for a magical upgrade)

I hearby declare that after our December trip, I am handing the dis-planning baton over to the CL CMs. I have such a from this trip and I'm sure Dec will not be a picnic because I'll be coordinating 3 families. I'm thinking of paying the upgrade difference for my parents and sis to stay at Poly CL in April just to take a break from it...

If I was in your shoes at this point, I would wait until you get to the check-in desk. Smile and tell them you've had a rough week stressing about the construction and ask where your assigned room is located. Then you might add that you were thinking about upgrading to lagoon view and is that even a possibility? See what they offer you. ANd remember, if your room location is unsatisfactory, deal with it right away. Don't unpack or mess up the room. Simply tell either the CM who is delivering your luggage and/or call the front desk to ask what else is available. Good luck and let us know how it goes! Have a grand trip!

 

[BlueSkies]

Figment Have a wonderful trip!!!

 

[happymommy]

I believe that every building at the GF, with the exception of Sugar Loaf, has laundry facilities. Both the GF & AKL club lounges serve a wonderful afternoon tea in the late afternoon, between the snacks and the dinner appetizer servings. To my knowledge, they are the only 2 resorts to offer this -- and it is wonderful by the way.

No, AKL did not have afternoon tea at all. They just had the gummy bears, chips, and cookies. I understand GF has a real tea, with scones, berries, or something? And champagne! Yum.

Also, I don't know about laundry, but the official Disney website only indicates the main building having that. We have stayed in two different buildings that both had laundry rooms, so I thought the SL did also. I will call later, but just wondering. I always do laundry; hate to bring home dirty clothes as well.

 

[goofygal531]

We have SL booked for December, and haven't stayed at the GF in 9 years. I remember in our past two stays, there was a laundry room in each building. Is this still the case? We are booked for 10 days, and I do laundry every 3 days or so.

Also, is GF the only Disney concierge level that offers afternoon tea? I remember that from breakfast to evening appetizers at AKL there were only drinks and gummy bears and chips, maybe cookies. I thought GF had more to offer. As it will be a busy time of the year (we are planning on checking out Dec 26) I know we'll spend a lot of time at the resort. Still debating adding the dining plan - it was fun last year to have, but still a lot of food. I loved how you could use it for room service - pus it covered the tip.

For Afternoon Tea they have warm scones and occassionally triffle. Out of 8 days, I saw the triffle twice. It's the same triffle served in the tea room - delicious!

We stayed RPC with the DxDDP this past June and really took advantage of room service. We had two evenings of severe thunderstorms. We stayed in and ordered from Narcoossee's both nights. The food was fantastic! Using the dining plan saved us a ton! If paying OOP, they charge an additional 20% to order from a GF restaurant. Tip, surcharge and service fee are all including when using the DDP.

I'm thinking of getting the basic DDP for our next trip, but DH is so spoiled with room service from using the DxDDP!

I'm not sure where the laundry is in SL or RPC? But you can use any laundry room. The laundry in Big Pine Key is right on the ground floor to the right. It's the closest to the courtyard pool. I did the laundry while we spent time at the pool - it's not a chore when you have a pina colava waiting for you!

 

[Scott MC]

If I was in your shoes at this point, I would wait until you get to the check-in desk. Smile and tell them you've had a rough week stressing about the construction and ask where your assigned room is located. Then you might add that you were thinking about upgrading to lagoon view and is that even a possibility? See what they offer you. ANd remember, if your room location is unsatisfactory, deal with it right away. Don't unpack or mess up the room. Simply tell either the CM who is delivering your luggage and/or call the front desk to ask what else is available. Good luck and let us know how it goes! Have a grand trip!

Thanks for this...it's probably the best plan to have and it puts you, the guest in the best possible position to get what you dream of!
Here's hoping for Pixie Dust!

 

[johnsonet]

No, AKL did not have afternoon tea at all. They just had the gummy bears, chips, and cookies. I understand GF has a real tea, with scones, berries, or something? And champagne! Yum.

Also, I don't know about laundry, but the official Disney website only indicates the main building having that. We have stayed in two different buildings that both had laundry rooms, so I thought the SL did also. I will call later, but just wondering. I always do laundry; hate to bring home dirty clothes as well.

I just returned from AKL CL and they DID have the golden raisin scones w/ cream plus brownies, several cookies, etc. during tea time (3-4:30). They also have a selection of teas, etc. as I'm sure you know...

GF RPC has a bit more of a "grand" tea offering - but nothing compared to tea in the Garden View Lounge. Also, they used to have a sparkling wine in RPC in the late afternoon/evening but I thought I'd heard on here that it had been discontinued sometime in the past year (I haven't stayed RPC since last August).

All buildings at GF but Sugar Loaf have laundry rooms. Main Bldg. has one washer and one dryer. The outer lodges have 2 or 3 of each.

 

[happymommy]

Thanks everyone.

I had heard champagne was put out all day at GF (from a friend who went recently). I thought that was such a treat (of course I can always bring my own, we use a towncar).

I am surprised the Sugar Loaf has no laundry room - it would be convenient. I also am surprised that AKL now has afternoon tea; when we went over the holidays once they didn't. We loved it anyway; it was great to have somewhere to hang out as it was super busy Dec 26th and beyond for the week. This time we'll go home on the 26th.

 

[mmmears]

No, AKL did not have afternoon tea at all. They just had the gummy bears, chips, and cookies. I understand GF has a real tea, with scones, berries, or something? And champagne! Yum.

Also, I don't know about laundry, but the official Disney website only indicates the main building having that. We have stayed in two different buildings that both had laundry rooms, so I thought the SL did also. I will call later, but just wondering. I always do laundry; hate to bring home dirty clothes as well.

I always do laundry, too. You can always ask when you get there, but I believe that you have access to any of the laundry rooms in any of the outer buildings since you wont need a special key card to get into them.

AKL had a nice tea in April this year, and a couple of weeks ago they still had it. It was very nice, but the GF had Devonshire Cream out (I dont remember seeing that at AKL) and that was wonderful. Also, one day they had a wonderful trifle out, but it did not appear a second time during our trip. Both had real tea and tea cookies. Neither had berries. As for champagne, I don't drink it so I didn't pay attention to whether or not it was there.

I just returned from AKL CL and they DID have the golden raisin scones w/ cream plus brownies, several cookies, etc. during tea time (3-4:30). They also have a selection of teas, etc. as I'm sure you know...

GF RPC has a bit more of a "grand" tea offering - but nothing compared to tea in the Garden View Lounge. Also, they used to have a sparkling wine in RPC in the late afternoon/evening but I thought I'd heard on here that it had been discontinued sometime in the past year (I haven't stayed RPC since last August).

All buildings at GF but Sugar Loaf have laundry rooms. Main Bldg. has one washer and one dryer. The outer lodges have 2 or 3 of each.

Sorry we weren't there at the same time. Glad you had a chance to go back to AKL this summer (I thought you would).

Thanks everyone.

I had heard champagne was put out all day at GF (from a friend who went recently). I thought that was such a treat (of course I can always bring my own, we use a towncar).

I am surprised the Sugar Loaf has no laundry room - it would be convenient. I also am surprised that AKL now has afternoon tea; when we went over the holidays once they didn't. We loved it anyway; it was great to have somewhere to hang out as it was super busy Dec 26th and beyond for the week. This time we'll go home on the 26th.

Funny enough, the tea wasn't listed on the club lounge offerings list, so we called and asked about it. They said it was still there (don't know why they didn't put in on the CL docs they gave us) and we managed to enjoy tea up in the lounge pretty much every day.

 

[Scott MC]

Good Morning GF-ers!

We are exactly 1 week out as of this morning.

This is the time for silly little questions right?

Here's my first one...

My DBF and I have a nice dinner planned at Citrico's on our 2nd to last night and I say that a polo shirt and khaki shorts will be more than fine to dine here. He says that he thinks pants (or jeans) would be more appropriate. Who wins this argument?

 

[Needzavacation]

August + Florida + Disney = shorts at dinner! I've always worn nice shorts (not cargo shorts) and a polo short to the "fine dining" locations at Disney World. As a Texas boy, I've gotta say that you'll never get me in long pants until the temperature dips back into the 60s sometime around November or December!

 

[Figment1990]

Scott - I hope shorts and a polo are ok cause that's what my dh packed for our dinner at citricos on friday.

Btw we r in the limo (yay upgrade!) on our way to the GF! Hopefully ill be posting soon about a trip/view not too marred y those cranes and such!

 

[minniesota]

Good Morning GF-ers!

We are exactly 1 week out as of this morning.

This is the time for silly little questions right?

Here's my first one...

My DBF and I have a nice dinner planned at Citrico's on our 2nd to last night and I say that a polo shirt and khaki shorts will be more than fine to dine here. He says that he thinks pants (or jeans) would be more appropriate. Who wins this argument?

Yes, nice dress shorts and a polo are fine. Enjoy and report back on your dinner! It's on our to-do list next visit.

Scott - I hope shorts and a polo are ok cause that's what my dh packed for our dinner at citricos on friday.

Btw we r in the limo (yay upgrade!) on our way to the GF! Hopefully ill be posting soon about a trip/view not too marred y those cranes and such!

Yeah, upgrade! May your upgrades continue! Have a fab time and let us know how check-in goes. Good luck!

 

[billnang]

Scott - I hope shorts and a polo are ok cause that's what my dh packed for our dinner at citricos on friday.

Btw we r in the limo (yay upgrade!) on our way to the GF! Hopefully ill be posting soon about a trip/view not too marred y those cranes and such!

Awesome.. I hope you have a Magical time and the upgrades continue...and I hope you report back with us soon!!

So.. thpse of you going soon.. have you started packing.. I have to pack all of us.. I am thinking I better get ironing.. and such!!!

Angela

 

[Scott MC]

I don't usually pack until the day before I leave.
This time, I'm thinking of bringing about 4-5 pairs of shorts (cargo and dress), 4-5 white t-shirts and 2-3 polo shirts (white also). Other than the "unmentionables," I think that's it. I'm planning on doing laundry about mid-trip. We'll be there for 5 nights, and I think that will be enough.