The All New Grand Floridian FAQ - MAY 2009

[Scott MC]

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!

It's your first WDW vacation!
You're staying at the Grand!
You're allowed to be obsessed!
Obsess away!

 

[minniesota]

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...

Hi Blue! Doing well, thanks. And you? Any trips planned in the near future? I'll be at the GF in RPC in January. Can't wait. I've never been in January so a little worried about weather. But, hey, I'm from Minnesota so how bad can it be???

 

[minniesota]

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!

We like obsessed! Hope you have a magical stay!

 

[tartemis]

Hi, everyone! We just booked our third trip to the GF for February 2010 and we are staying Club Level Sugar Loaf for the first time. I would love to hear any recent reviews or suggestions to make our stay better!

 

[MA pigletfan]

Could someone please tell me the correct IPO email address?
I have Grand.Floridian.Itinerary.Planning@disneyworld.com and it got bumped back to me as an error.
I just want to touch base with them before our disneymoon! ( which is super soon! yay!!!)

 

[MA pigletfan]

sorry double post!

 

[minniesota]

Could someone please tell me the correct IPO email address?
I have Grand.Floridian.Itinerary.Planning@disneyworld.com and it got bumped back to me as an error.
I just want to touch base with them before our disneymoon! ( which is super soon! yay!!!)

Hmm...that's the address I have. Maybe try again. Have a beautiful and memorable wedding!

 

[LMO429]

Could someone please tell me the correct IPO email address?
I have Grand.Floridian.Itinerary.Planning@disneyworld.com and it got bumped back to me as an error.
I just want to touch base with them before our disneymoon! ( which is super soon! yay!!!)

Hi! I can't believe your wedding is in 3 days congratulations. I am staying at the gf (we are beach club regulars) in dec. let me know how much you enjoy it when you get back from your honeymoon.

 

[fayt19]

So I was just re-reading the Grand Floridian description, and it talked about a campfire where everyone makes s'mores and then watches a Disney movie? That sounds like fun. Has anyone here attended it? Do they still do this? Anyone gone without kids?

 

[AnnieS]

Hi all -

My H and I just got back a few days ago from a quick trip to the Grand Floridian in the Sugar Loaf building. This was our first time staying at GF and our first time staying club level. We had a fantastic time!

We arrived Monday 9/28 via ME. It was about 11:00 am and we were met by Jason who greeted us and walked us over to our room at Sugar Loaf. We were in room 6212 - 2nd floor right off the elevator. Room was great - beautiful view of the courtyard pool and so quiet and convenient to the lounge. The only noise we heard all week was the first morning we were there - we had slept in a bit later that morning and we heard people waiting for the elevator. Our room was always very clean - mousekeeping had the room cleaned by late morning every day - and the turn down service was very nice. It was so nice walking into the room after a long day - beds turned down, lights dimmed, ceiling fan on, curtains closed - Towels were replaced and waste baskets emptied.

The second day we were there, I was surprised by a knock at the door. The CM brought in a tray with champagne on ice, 2 glasses, a rose, and a signed congratulatory card from Mickey and Minnie! My H and I were celebrating our anniversary and this was such a nice touch. We wore our anniversary pins and were congratulated everywhere we went. We got a special desert at the Yachtsman and our names printed on the menu at Artist Pointe. We saw a lot of other couples celebrating anniversaries at GF.

We really enjoyed having the club lounge right downstairs. Food was plentiful and as we spent a lot of time at the resort, we took advantage of it. I only had a couple of ADRs which I had made myself so I didn't use that service. The lounge was never terribly busy and crowded when we were there - I think the mornings were busiest.

There was definitely construction going on but nothing that bothered us where we were. We did see cranes at other buildings and workers on balconies painting and I hope that no one was staying in those rooms. I loved the quiet and location of Sugar Loaf and was happy that we were not staying in the main building this trip - hopefully alll that floor work will be done soon.

We were there when the monorail went off line because of the short circuit. There were extra buses running between the monorail resorts. We enjoy walking so would walk over to the Poly and then the TTC to catch the monorail to Epcot and the F & W festival.

This was a quick trip for us as we only stayed 3 nights. I wasn't sure how happy we would be at GF - our last stay was at BC and we loved the Epcot location - but we really enjoyed our stay and would highly recommend it.

 

[BlueSkies]

Annie Thanks for the review...I am a long time SL fan...think it is a great lodge to stay in!! The thing about staying CL though is that once you do there really is no turning back!! Glad that you enjoyed your trip..

minniesota I will be there in January too for a short trip...it will be a nice break from the cold weather (hopefully!!)...

tartemis SL is very centrally located on the property. The views of the courtyard pool or marina are both lovely...If you are going to the MK I would say that taking a launch from the boat dock is a nice alternative to the monorail...going it makes a stop at the Poly before the MK but returning it is direct...IPO is very helpful for pre trip planning and can make your ADRs for you...the lounge in SL is located in the lobby which makes it very convenient to grab a snack or beverage whether on your way out or on your way back!!! Enjoy your trip....

 

[Native NYer]

We're staying at the GF December 2010. I've wanted to stay here forever and finally convinced my family that this would be the best place to stay for our holiday trip.

I'm hoping someone here will be able to help. We're trying to decide between Sugar Loaf Club Level and Royal Palm Club Level. What room categories can be booked in each? Each time I access the online system, it just says Standard Rooms for each. Are there deluxe rooms? Lodge Tower rooms at the RPC or SL? Or are these special request only?

TIA

 

[minniesota]

We're staying at the GF December 2010. I've wanted to stay here forever and finally convinced my family that this would be the best place to stay for our holiday trip.

I'm hoping someone here will be able to help. We're trying to decide between Sugar Loaf Club Level and Royal Palm Club Level. What room categories can be booked in each? Each time I access the online system, it just says Standard Rooms for each. Are there deluxe rooms? Lodge Tower rooms at the RPC or SL? Or are these special request only?

TIA

Congratulations on your first stay at the GF!

Most of the club level rooms in RPC and SL are the same as the standard rooms in the other lodge buildings. They are booked as “standard club level” which means they are in the main building (RPC) or “standard club outer lodge” which are in SL.

You can also book Deluxe Queen rooms in the main building that are about 600 square feet and include a living area. These rooms have two queen beds and sleep four. There are two types of Deluxe King rooms or “honeymoon” rooms. Standard size Deluxe King rooms are located on the 2nd floor above Gasparillas – they are similar in size to the standard rooms, have a Magic Kingdom view and a Jacuzzi. Turreted king honeymoon rooms are on floors 3 through 5. These are much larger rooms & have floor to ceiling windows but no balconies and no direct Magic Kingdom views. Both room types are by request only.

There are three Lodge Tower Rooms in SL that are request only. These
also sleep 4 with two queen beds and have an extra little seating area in the turret. The top floor Lodge Tower Room does not have a balcony. These tower rooms have courtyard views.

 

[Native NYer]

Congratulations on your first stay at the GF!

Most of the club level rooms in RPC and SL are the same as the standard rooms in the other lodge buildings. They are booked as “standard club level” which means they are in the main building (RPC) or “standard club outer lodge” which are in SL.

You can also book Deluxe Queen rooms in the main building that are about 600 square feet and include a living area. These rooms have two queen beds and sleep four. There are two types of Deluxe King rooms or “honeymoon” rooms. Standard size Deluxe King rooms are located on the 2nd floor above Gasparillas – they are similar in size to the standard rooms, have a Magic Kingdom view and a Jacuzzi. Turreted king honeymoon rooms are on floors 3 through 5. These are much larger rooms & have floor to ceiling windows but no balconies and no direct Magic Kingdom views. Both room types are by request only.

There are three Lodge Tower Rooms in SL that are request only. These
also sleep 4 with two queen beds and have an extra little seating area in the turret. The top floor Lodge Tower Room does not have a balcony. These tower rooms have courtyard views.

Thanks so much for the info!

So far whenever I check the Disney website, I can only book a standard room RPC. I'm wondering if I have to call to book the deluxe queen room.

How is the IPO for the Grand Floridian?

 

[minniesota]

There aren't that many deluxe rooms and they do go quickly so if you're not seeing them on the website, there probably aren't any available. You can keep checking online or call central reservations. I have had great experience with IPO. There are a couple of CMs in particular who are fabulous. PM me if you need more info.

 

[shoppgirl]

So I was just re-reading the Grand Floridian description, and it talked about a campfire where everyone makes s'mores and then watches a Disney movie? That sounds like fun. Has anyone here attended it? Do they still do this? Anyone gone without kids?

If the weather is all clear (ie no rain!) then they will bring out all the equipment and set up a movie screen/sound system right on the beach for the movie. There are some small fire pits set up and you can purchase your marshmellows or smores kits. We walked by with our young girls to check it out and inquire, but did not stay to watch the movie or purchase the marshmellows/smores. No one was there the night we went. I'm sure if you just want to lounge on the beach at night to watch a movie and chat with the CMs, you can certainly do that without feeling out of place for not having children with you!

 

[Tam1067]

If this has been answered already, I apologize--

We're staying in Sugar Loaf club level for our upcoming trip (for Xmas!!!! and our first time ever in WDW for Xmas). Here are my questions:

1. If we buy stuff in the parks and have the packages delivered to the resort, do I still pick them up in Sandy Cove, like for guests in the other buildings, or does the concierge staff have them in the SL building?

2. Is there anything special going on at the resort on Christmas Eve, Christmas morning, or Christmas day? I just want to make sure we don't miss anything worth seeing or doing on those particular days. I know the decorations and such will be there, but I'm curious about specific activities for those specific days.

Thanks!

 

[BCV23]

Tam, welcome to the GF FAQ.

Christmas at the GF...perfect.

There were some special things at the GF when we stayed there over the holidays. We received letters in our rooms about them. I guess that may be a way to keep the resort specific activity schedule for holidays from making the internet. I suspect all the resorts do this.

One word of advice is to make your dining reservations for Christmas Eve and Day as soon as your booking window opens. All the restaurants at the GF were booked solid which I discovered when we considered making a change. I was glad I had already booked dinner at Citricos for Christmas Eve. We did the Candlelight Processional for Christmas dinner. Ah, lovely.

We stayed in Sugar Loaf one year from 12/24 to 1/1 and made special memories. I'm sure you will, too.

 

[minniesota]

If this has been answered already, I apologize--

We're staying in Sugar Loaf club level for our upcoming trip (for Xmas!!!! and our first time ever in WDW for Xmas). Here are my questions:

1. If we buy stuff in the parks and have the packages delivered to the resort, do I still pick them up in Sandy Cove, like for guests in the other buildings, or does the concierge staff have them in the SL building?

2. Is there anything special going on at the resort on Christmas Eve, Christmas morning, or Christmas day? I just want to make sure we don't miss anything worth seeing or doing on those particular days. I know the decorations and such will be there, but I'm curious about specific activities for those specific days.

Thanks!

Hi! How exciting - Christmas at the Grand! Concierge will deliver your purchases to your room. We have never been to the GF on Christmas but I remember people talking about having Christmas cookies and gingerbread house shingles delivered to the rooms courtesy of the hotel. We participated in impromptu caroling in front of the lobby tree the week before Christmas. And there are roasted chestnuts for purchase out in front of the hotel!

Hi BCV23!

 

[MommyGina]

I can answer the part about packages sent from the parks back to the hotel. Our experience in August was since we stayed in SL, the package was delivered to our room and put in the closet.