The All New Grand Floridian FAQ - MAY 2009

[BlueSkies]

Just had to share my glee--my TA just booked DD10 and I for our Christmas 2010 trip to the Grand Floridian. My daughter wanted to stay here so bad we're skipping Disney this Christmas so we can stay at the GF next Christmas. Okay, well not necessarily 'skipping' because she wanted an iMac computer.

Anyways, still trying to decide what building we want to stay in but wanted to share my glee.

Congratulations!! What a great time to stay at the GF!!! (my DD and I love to spend time here together..) The holiday decorations are incredible...I would recommend Boca Chica if you are staying in one of the outer lodge buildings!! It has a great view of the MK/Lagoon or of the beautiful courtyard pool and main building....

 

[Native NYer]

Native NYer No help from me on the Disney Florist info...but as far as contacting IPO I would contact them about a month prior to when they need to make your ADRs( email is probably your best bet)...I think its back to 180 days...??? so about 7 months before your trip....and give them the list of ADRs that you would like them to make(we booked the cabanas thru them too..)I would follow up with a phone call a week before they are due to make them just to be sure they have everything in order......then they will email you your itinerary the day after they have them made...that has been our experience...nice and convenient...

Thanks! So glad ADRs are back to 180 days

 

[minniesota]

Native NYer No help from me on the Disney Florist info...but as far as contacting IPO I would contact them about a month prior to when they need to make your ADRs( email is probably your best bet)...I think its back to 180 days...??? so about 7 months before your trip....and give them the list of ADRs that you would like them to make(we booked the cabanas thru them too..)I would follow up with a phone call a week before they are due to make them just to be sure they have everything in order......then they will email you your itinerary the day after they have them made...that has been our experience...nice and convenient...

I agree with Blue's advice on contacting IPO. Also, if you need any ressies that require a credit card deposit, you will need to call with your account number. But IPO should tell you that! Sometimes we have received an email-generated request form from IPO but I always deal with them through emails.

Friends of ours ordered a tree through Disney Florist and loved it! She said the pictures on the website don't do it justice. She continues to use it every year. Other people have used other services but she's the only one I've had a personal recommendation from.

Oh! And she told me she thinks there are 6 deluxe queen rooms - all on the 3rd and 4th floors. Hope that helps!

Hi Blue! Hope you had a great weekend with the kids! I sure enjoyed my time with DD!

 

[Native NYer]

I agree with Blue's advice on contacting IPO. Also, if you need any ressies that require a credit card deposit, you will need to call with your account number. But IPO should tell you that! Sometimes we have received an email-generated request form from IPO but I always deal with them through emails.

Friends of ours ordered a tree through Disney Florist and loved it! She said the pictures on the website don't do it justice. She continues to use it every year. Other people have used other services but she's the only one I've had a personal recommendation from.

Oh! And she told me she thinks there are 6 deluxe queen rooms - all on the 3rd and 4th floors. Hope that helps!

Hi Blue! Hope you had a great weekend with the kids! I sure enjoyed my time with DD!

That is VERY helpful, thanks

I think I'm going to request one on the 4th floor.

 

[Lilmattie13]

Congrats!! I booked Saturday for December 2010. We can endure the long wait together

Here's another fellow waiter lol We are booked for Nov 27 through Dec 4 staying at Sugar Loaf GF. Can't wait, this will be our first time at Disney around the Christmas holiday.

We did have the opportunity to see Disneyland in Nov in 07 but not Disney world. We are so excited.

Its nice to see others here sharing the wait with us.

 

[Native NYer]

Here's another fellow waiter lol We are booked for Nov 27 through Dec 4 staying at Sugar Loaf GF. Can't wait, this will be our first time at Disney around the Christmas holiday.

We did have the opportunity to see Disneyland in Nov in 07 but not Disney world. We are so excited.

Its nice to see others here sharing the wait with us.

This is our first time at Disney during the holiday season as well. I'm so excited. We're booked for Dec. 8th-12th. Just an extended weekend b/c of work.

We can all start planning and waiting together

 

[MsStinkerBelle]

Congratulations!! What a great time to stay at the GF!!! (my DD and I love to spend time here together..) The holiday decorations are incredible...

The Christmas decorations is what finally convinced me. For the past 2 trips DD and I have been visiting the GF on Christmas Day. Time to actually *stay* there!

I would recommend Boca Chica if you are staying in one of the outer lodge buildings!! It has a great view of the MK/Lagoon or of the beautiful courtyard pool and main building....

Thanks--this is great info! I told my TA Sago Cay as a first choice as it's closer to the main building. This would definitely be a great 'second choice' for us.

 

[BCV23]

Hi BCV23!

Hi back at you, minniesota!

I see you have a trip planned for January. I tried to get two nights at the GF months ago for January without success. We need a roll inshower room and none were available. Anyway, the weather varies all over the place. I remember one trip when my DH wore shorts the whole time (not me though!) and other January trips when we wore hats and gloves. It can be 40 at 8am and 75 by 2pm. Layers is the key to January IMO.

Love your pictures of the deluxe room. BTW your DH looks like he could be a brother of a good friend of ours.

Just had to share my glee--my TA just booked DD10 and I for our Christmas 2010 trip to the Grand Floridian. My daughter wanted to stay here so bad we're skipping Disney this Christmas so we can stay at the GF next Christmas. Okay, well not necessarily 'skipping' because she wanted an iMac computer.

Anyways, still trying to decide what building we want to stay in but wanted to share my glee.

How exciting, MsStinkerbelle. I'll look forward to your photos even though it will be a year.

Have you ever ordered a tree from the Disney Florist? I doubt I want to bring one from NYC

Our elder son surprised us with a beautiful tree from Disney Florist when we stayed in SL over Christmas some years back. It is 6 feet and now graces our dining room every year. They haven't offered that size for some time now but I have ordered two others and love them as well. I agree with minniesota's friend that the pictures on the web site do not do the tree justice.

Here's another fellow waiter lol We are booked for Nov 27 through Dec 4 staying at Sugar Loaf GF. Can't wait, this will be our first time at Disney around the Christmas holiday.

We did have the opportunity to see Disneyland in Nov in 07 but not Disney world. We are so excited.

Its nice to see others here sharing the wait with us.

The GF at Christmas.....
Congratulations and happy planning.

 

[Scott MC]

Those are pics of Room 4422 so we were right above where you stayed. Do you have pics of your deluxe queen room that you are willing to post? I know lots of readers are interested in seeing those rooms!

Actually, upon further review, we were actually in 4323, which I don't believe was a deluxe room, but it did seem to be a different layout than other rooms. Using MSPaint, I tried my best to draw out how it was set up.....

 

[Lilmattie13]

To use IPO how far in advance do you call them? Also is it better to try and have them make your ADR's or is it better to try on your own? Is that what they do? lol Can you tell I am clueless lol

We stayed at GF before but we were upgraded to RPC so I didnt use IPO, didnt even know what they were actually

 

[minniesota]

To use IPO how far in advance do you call them? Also is it better to try and have them make your ADR's or is it better to try on your own? Is that what they do? lol Can you tell I am clueless lol

We stayed at GF before but we were upgraded to RPC so I didnt use IPO, didnt even know what they were actually

Yes, let them do the work!!! Since the ADR ressie window is going back to 180 days (6 months) later this month, I would contact IPO about 7 months before your trip. You can email them a list of the ADRs you would like - days and times - and they do the rest! I just received an email today confirming all my requested ADRs for January! Easy peasy....

 

[LMO429]

is it easier to walk to tta from the gf or take the monorail?

 

[minniesota]

is it easier to walk to tta from the gf or take the monorail?

I'm assuming you meant the TTC! I think it's easier to take the monorail though if you were in the mood for a nice walk and the weather was cooperating, you could walk. My guess is it would take about 25 minutes.

 

[LMO429]

I'm assuming you meant the TTC! I think it's easier to take the monorail though if you were in the mood for a nice walk and the weather was cooperating, you could walk. My guess is it would take about 25 minutes.

thanks and yes I meant the ttc!

 

[Cinderumbrella]

is it easier to walk to tta from the gf or take the monorail?

I would probably take the monorail. We like to walk from the GF to the Poly for breakfast, but for whatever reason, I think walking to the TTC from the Poly is annoying We always seem to miss our turn on those paths in there!

Time wise, it would probably be about the same to walk as to take the monorail (assuming you don't get lost, like we always do )

Lil Mattie- I emailed IPO as soon as I made my ressie. They sent me a form to fill out with all our travel info, tour requests, ADR's etc. I sent it back to them about 10 days before our ADR day. They called me the same day to get my CC # for the the pre-paid ressies. I received my itinerary with all my ADR's the day after they were made. (They were having computer issues that day, but I did receive a lovely email telling me that they were made and I would have the list the next day). They have also been wonderful about making any ADR changes/Itinerary changes since that day.

HTH!

 

[dinatwin]

Any updates on the construction going on? I'm headed in 20 days

 

[MsStinkerBelle]

is it easier to walk to tta from the gf or take the monorail?

It's easier to take the monorail--trust me. They come along quite frequently and it's a relaxing ride. You'll stop at the MK, then the Contemporary then the TTC.

You could walk to the TTA but its a bit of a hike from the GF.

I would probably take the monorail. We like to walk from the GF to the Poly for breakfast, but for whatever reason, I think walking to the TTC from the Poly is annoying We always seem to miss our turn on those paths in there!

OMG, I thought it was just me--I consider walking to the TTC from the Poly absolutely aggrivating. And that's only 5 - 10 minutes of walking.

 

[BlueSkies]

To use IPO how far in advance do you call them? Also is it better to try and have them make your ADR's or is it better to try on your own? Is that what they do? lol Can you tell I am clueless lol

We stayed at GF before but we were upgraded to RPC so I didnt use IPO, didnt even know what they were actually

Lil Mattie I remember your wonderful anniversary upgrade...talk about magic... I have had the same experience as minniesota and Cinderumbrella have had...I just contact (email is probably best) IPO about a month before the ADRs need to be made and then follow up with them a few days before they need to be made just to be sure everything is in order and then they will make your ADRs and email you your itinerary....so convenient...one of the nice perks of staying CL..

I think one of the nicest ways to travel from the GF to the Poly is via the launches....I like traveling by boat while at WDW almost as much as the monorail...

HI minniesota and Cindrumbrella!!!

 

[AnnieS]

is it easier to walk to tta from the gf or take the monorail?

My H and I recently stayed at GF and loved being able to walk over to the Poly and then to the TTC. I believe it took us about 15-20 mins (longer if we stopped at the Poly for "refreshments") . If you aren't too tired and like to walk it is really nice have the option. I can't believe that the monorail is any faster by the time you factor in wait times and stops but I could be wrong.

 

[BCV23]

Actually, upon further review, we were actually in 4323, which I don't believe was a deluxe room, but it did seem to be a different layout than other rooms. Using MSPaint, I tried my best to draw out how it was set up.....

That is a different layout. How did you like it? What view did you have? TIA.

is it easier to walk to tta from the gf or take the monorail?

Easier to take the monorail but can be faster to walk.

My H and I recently stayed at GF and loved being able to walk over to the Poly and then to the TTC. I believe it took us about 15-20 mins (longer if we stopped at the Poly for "refreshments") . If you aren't too tired and like to walk it is really nice have the option. I can't believe that the monorail is any faster by the time you factor in wait times and stops but I could be wrong.

I think you're right. We usually take the monorail but if we are concerned about making a dining reservation or just in a hurry, we walk. Sometimes the monorail waits a while at the MK or CR before making it to the TTC.

Hi Blue Skies. I agree...taking the launches is a delightful way to travel between the GF and Polynesian.