The All New Grand Floridian FAQ - MAY 2009

[MommyGina]

Can't wait to hear all about your trip!!!!

 

[Fishy&2guppies]

Just got back from the GF yesterday. We have always stayed in RPC, but this time we stayed in SL and we liked it much better. I didn't think we would, but it was much quieter there and I never saw anyone over there. In the lounge we might see one other family but that was it. I liked that it was closer to the pool. I always hate going through the lobby in a swimsuit coverup to get to the pool. I also liked that it was closer to the boat dock, after a long day in the park it is a closer walk. They are still doing work on SL they are painting the ends of the buildings. Tile work is still being done in the lobby. It was another great trip at the GF.

 

[MommyGina]

Fishy&2Guppies - you really liked SL better then the Main Building RPC? My dream has been to stay at RPC. We were upgraded to SL in August and were hoping to stay in RPC in July. We usually stay in Sago. When we were at SL, it was always very crowded in the lounge. Hard to get a table for the 4 of us. Is RPC lounge bigger then SL lounge? I'm glad you had a good time at GF.

 

[Fishy&2guppies]

I don't know if RPC has more tables? But it is more spread out I think. We must have just been there at the right time, because it was never busy. For awhile we were joking that we must be the only people staying in that building. I do like RPC but I like SL better just because it was so quiet. We didn't even hear anyone in the hallways.

 

[WalkingintheFog]

On Sept 25 a CM at the Yacht Club told me they were full because they were receiving guests being transferred from the Grand Floridian which had overbooked.

Can anyone confirm that (or otherwise?)

Thanks!

 

[LMO429]

On Sept 25 a CM at the Yacht Club told me they were full because they were receiving guests being transferred from the Grand Floridian which had overbooked.

Can anyone confirm that (or otherwise?)

Thanks!

I have to admit I have a reservation to stay at GF for the 1st time in dec and if it was overbooked being transferred to the yacht club would not be unacceptable to me it wouldnt even matter if they upgraded us to a suite at yacht club. I planned our whole vacation around the fact that we are staying at GF. do they ask you if you want to be transferred or do they just do it?

 

[DisneyDoogie]

Hi Everyone,
Well, I can't explain it! Last week - at work and at home - I entered 01/03/10 to 01/10/10 and they had a separate category for RPC - Theme Park View - Club Level Room. I know I saw it! Now, you're all right - it's not there any more! And, under the description for Standard Club Level room, it says the room could have a view of the Magic Kingdom park. I guess the problem is solved. Sorry about the confusion.

 

[Fishy&2guppies]

When I checked in on monday the 28th, I was told there was plenty of rooms in RPC if I wanted to upgrade to the main building instead of SL. When I booked our rooms I was told the hotel was completely full. So I don't know, I have heard two different things.

 

[LMO429]

I booked a garden view for december. what type of view am I going to get. are all the garden views not nice or is there something I can do as far as putting a preference on my reservation to get a nicer garden view?

 

[UK Princess]

OK now I've had some sleep I'll share my thoughts on my first ever WDW stay which was 11 nights GV at the Grand. I had been looking forward to this trip all of my life (been pestering for about 20 years!) and it was our honeymoon so extra special in lots of ways....

We arrived on DME with no problems and were checked in pretty quickly and taken by buggy to Boca Chica room 8420 on the forth floor. I was a little disappointed to have 2 beds as my ONLY request had been a king bed but I decided to just get over it and enjoy the lovely room. View was of the pool and very acceptable to us. There were some cranes around for the refurb but honestly I didn't notice them from our room - will check the pics!

Overall the room was good but not great, we had issues with our lights (only 1 set dimmed) and bathroom sinks - both drained away although on one you couldn't 'open' the plug so it drained very slowly - bit gross when we had used it for washing up dishes!

Our biggest disappointment was housekeeping though, they came for turndown very early (5:30ish) so mostly we just got the chocolates handed to us at the door as we were getting ready to go out, if we had the privacy sign on they didn't come back later we just didn't get turndown, we never rang to request a later time but when we asked housekeepers we were told no and just given chocolates. A couple of times they had taken a robe and not replaced it and one night we got back to find no mugs in the room, when we called to ask for replacements the response times were variable. We did have a great 'mousekeeper' Michelle at the weekend who left notes and arranged our toys in a fun way.

As far as the refurb it didn't spoil our enjoyment at all although I can see why it would be an issue for some people. In the grounds there are a lot of vehicles ranging from cranes to just extra buggies but it could get pretty busy with them all buzzing around! In the main building the tile work seems to be really active, the screens moved on a daily basis meaning routes were open one day and closed the next, which really caught my husband out as he hadn't spent months studying the floor plan like me but seriously at times it was confusing! They seem to be doing the noisier work in the evenings which would be extremely annoying if in that building! Also the floors are patchy with mismatched carpet & tile and lots of gaffer tape to keep it secure - it's pretty uneven. Also they don't seem to be getting it completely right as by Sandy Cove the border tile is incomplete so even though the floor is tiled it's mismatched which makes me think they will be pulling it up at some time to redo it The Cinderella tile by the cage elevator is GORGEOUS tho!

Gasparilla's was a bit of a mixed bag for us and we often resort hopped to avoid it as we found other places better suited our tastes - although I loved the soft serve and even got a comment from another guest 'gee THAT's a dessert' after making my creation!!!

I have to say that in relation to other hotels I have stayed in around the world the GF cannot compare in terms of service, room quality & amenities but I LOVED it and having hopped to lots of other resorts we agreed that we will definitely be aiming for the GF on our return to WDW!

 

[fayt19]

I'm getting a little worried now. My family just booked a week-long stay at the Grand Floridian for February. I never thought we could afford to stay there, but we decided to splurge for my birthday trip, because of the 4/3 deal.

But apparently they're refurbishing the GF? Should we not stay there? I was really looking forward to being on the monorail, and was planning on taking mid-day breaks at the hotel, since we're staying at such a nice one. Will there be noise? Are there cranes everywhere?

 

[UK Princess]

The only noise was in the main building while tile cutting and polishing the floors and on one day there was a very noisy carpet cleaner when we walked past Sugar Loaf but I guess this happens at any time of year.

There are cranes outside but at ground level they are covered with white boarding which really isn't noticable and we didn't hear any noise as they are just painting.

We loved the convienience of park hopping all day long and always returned to the resort from about 4pm - 7pm and were not disturbed by noise at all.

I personally found it no problem at all and only commented in my review as I know it's a hot topic at the moment!

 

[fayt19]

The only noise was in the main building while tile cutting and polishing the floors and on one day there was a very noisy carpet cleaner when we walked past Sugar Loaf but I guess this happens at any time of year.

There are cranes outside but at ground level they are covered with white boarding which really isn't noticable and we didn't hear any noise as they are just painting.

We loved the convienience of park hopping all day long and always returned to the resort from about 4pm - 7pm and were not disturbed by noise at all.

I personally found it no problem at all and only commented in my review as I know it's a hot topic at the moment!

Thank you for your response! Glad to know you had an overall good trip!

 

[jlindley9]

I'm looking to book CL in Sugar Loaf and requesting a Tower Lodge room. I've found pictures of the interior of the room, but does anyone have a picture of the view from these rooms?

Also, am I correct that these rooms are 6220, 6320, and 6420 in Sugar Loaf?

Thanks!

 

[minniesota]

I'm getting a little worried now. My family just booked a week-long stay at the Grand Floridian for February. I never thought we could afford to stay there, but we decided to splurge for my birthday trip, because of the 4/3 deal.

But apparently they're refurbishing the GF? Should we not stay there? I was really looking forward to being on the monorail, and was planning on taking mid-day breaks at the hotel, since we're staying at such a nice one. Will there be noise? Are there cranes everywhere?

You will have a wonderful birthday stay! All the refurbishments will be done by the time you visit so no worries.

 

[fayt19]

You will have a wonderful birthday stay! All the refurbishments will be done by the time you visit so no worries.

Aww thank you! Glad to hear that.

 

[leane]

Good Morning everyone!

I was doing some itinerary planning on the disney site and when i printed my reservation details I noticed something in the room type and I could use some help figuring it out.

Situation is ---- I booked 2 rooms tpv with 2 q beds. When I looked at the itinerary it says :
Disney's Grand Floridian Resort & Spa

Room Type :
One Bedroom Villa
Vacation Insurance :
Selected


Am I seeing things or does that look like we were actually upgraded already for our 2/27/10 trip? ( ) The total due after our $200 deposit is still $3782 and $5532 which is for 7 nights with ddp.

And if it does look like the 1 br is what we are booked in ... where are those?

 

[BlueSkies]

jlindley I do believe that those are the correct room numbers for a lodge tower room in the SL building...the 2nd and 3rd floor have balconies but the room on the 4th floor does not...there are three of these rooms total in SL and are by request only...they all have the same garden view...which is quite lovely BTW...it overlooks the courtyard pool....

HI minniesota!! How are you doing??

UK Princess 11 nights at the GF!!! WOW...what a nice place to spend your honeymoon!!! Sorry that some things were less than grand...but glad that you enjoyed staying there anyway!!!

leane That is kind of strange...not sure if that would indicate an upgrade...I dont think that they call suites villas in the deluxe resorts... only in the vacation club resorts??? But I have read about other people having that in room category on their reservation before when booking a regular room??? You might want to just give CRO a call and find out about it...

 

[woodkins]

On Sept 25 a CM at the Yacht Club told me they were full because they were receiving guests being transferred from the Grand Floridian which had overbooked.

Can anyone confirm that (or otherwise?)

Thanks!

I was at the GF on the 25th and that is the day I actually moved my room from Conch Key to Sago because of the cranes and construction noise (and our crane was not covered by anything, it was right next to the building entrance and the bucket right outside our balcony). The resort did not seem crowded and they did not have a problem finding us a new room. I didn't see or hear about anyone being moved at all.

 

[leane]

I called and was told that they are doing "product enhancements" online and rooms have defaulted to that but the TPV is for sure what I am booked in. That is still cool with me.

I am going crazy with planning. DH says I am obsessed!