The All New Grand Floridian FAQ - MAY 2009

[minniesota]

Is it just Club Level that has the nightly turn down service, or is it every level?

Obviously not a huge deal, but a CM said it was every level when he went over the features of the resort, but then I have read it is just Club Level.

Thanks so much!

Every room gets turndown service! One thing I have learned from many stays at the GF is to request a time for when I want the room cleaned and a time when we would like turndown. Just call Housekeeping and ask! We usually request our room be cleaned by 2 p.m. and our turndown service happen between 7 and 9. No surprises! We love the turndown service!

 

[minniesota]

Thanks! A picture is worth a thousand words, isn't it? On the fifth floor, I've always wondered about those windows in the middle. Are those part of a suite, do you know?

We stayed in a 2 BR suite in Big Pine (see picture). The large window in the middle is the living room; the master king room is on the right and the 2Q bedroom is on the left. It was a beautiful suite!

 

[BlueSkies]

minniesota Lucky you..that must have been soo nice! Did staying in a suite in one of the outer lodges give you access to the concierge lounges?? How did you like BPK in general? My second choice after SL has always been Boca Chica....

 

[scanne]

I just switched my ressie back over to the GF from the Polynesian.

Can I tell you that I feel SO much better now?

We will be there in June/July 2010 and I booked a theme park view room and requested Sago Cay. We will be there over the 4th of July and I hope to sit on the balcony and watch the 4th of July fireworks....

Also, my DH and I will be celebrating our 10 year anniversary.



I'm very excited !!!!

 

[minniesota]

minniesota Lucky you..that must have been soo nice! Did staying in a suite in one of the outer lodges give you access to the concierge lounges?? How did you like BPK in general? My second choice after SL has always been Boca Chica....

We have stayed in BPK twice - once with a lagoon view(back in the day!) and then in the 2BR suite. My DS reminded me that our 2BR was actually on the other side of the building as we had a lagoon view. I just snapped the photo above as we were leaving so I could remember what the configuration was. We like BPK lagoon views but nor sure I would request GV there.

Yes, we had access to both lounges but we only used RPC.

I just switched my ressie back over to the GF from the Polynesian.

Can I tell you that I feel SO much better now?

We will be there in June/July 2010 and I booked a theme park view room and requested Sago Cay. We will be there over the 4th of July and I hope to sit on the balcony and watch the 4th of July fireworks....

Also, my DH and I will be celebrating our 10 year anniversary.



I'm very excited !!!!

I love the theme park views at Sago!!! And how exciting to watch the fireworks on the 4th from there! Enjoy!

 

[GladGame]

Every room gets turndown service! One thing I have learned from many stays at the GF is to request a time for when I want the room cleaned and a time when we would like turndown. Just call Housekeeping and ask! We usually request our room be cleaned by 2 p.m. and our turndown service happen between 7 and 9. No surprises! We love the turndown service!

Thanks, minniesota! And good advice on calling housekeeping to request a time!

 

[LMO429]

6 weeks from today I will be at the Grand!

 

[GladGame]

Does the GF do movies/campfire on the beach during the winter months? January/February?

If so, is this a popular activity (as in crowded)?

Thanks -- this thread is great!

 

[Old_School]

I would love to know this too, we are going in 3 weeks. Is the screen between Poly and GF? Or is it just at GF? This would be great to wear the kids down so they would go to sleep.

 

[BCV23]

Unfortunately, the tower rooms were not available. I see what you mean about the balconies to the right. They do not have windows. They must belong to the Tower rooms. I was in Sago. It did not have a balcony. I can't remember if it was on the 4th or 5th floor. Thanks for pointing it out to me. Sometimes I can be so dense.

My room was on the 5th floor.

Nothing dense about it. You just told us your experience which I think we all appreciate. That's how we learn from each other. Thanks for sharing.

We stayed in a 2 BR suite in Big Pine (see picture). The large window in the middle is the living room; the master king room is on the right and the 2Q bedroom is on the left. It was a beautiful suite!

Thanks, minniesota. We were in SL a month after 9/11 and all of Sago Cay seemed empty except there was always a light on in the living room of that suite. I've always wondered about it.

Does the GF do movies/campfire on the beach during the winter months? January/February?

If so, is this a popular activity (as in crowded)?

Thanks -- this thread is great!

We haven't gone to it yet but it doesn't sound crowded. Busy enough to keep the activity which is good.

I would love to know this too, we are going in 3 weeks. Is the screen between Poly and GF? Or is it just at GF? This would be great to wear the kids down so they would go to sleep.

It is between the GF and Polynesian but closer to the GF. It is a shared activity for those two resorts. Have fun!

 

[minniesota]

Does the GF do movies/campfire on the beach during the winter months? January/February?

If so, is this a popular activity (as in crowded)?

Thanks -- this thread is great!

I would love to know this too, we are going in 3 weeks. Is the screen between Poly and GF? Or is it just at GF? This would be great to wear the kids down so they would go to sleep.

Our friends were at the GF earlier this month and said the Campfire/Movie night started at 7 with the campfire. You could purchase a marshmallow kit for $3 and a s'mores kit for $7 I think. The movies started at 8. There is a schedule posted with a different movie each night though they said there wasn't a movie on Monday and Tuesday. I'm sure the season/crowds dictate the schedule. The activity is held right on the beach past the waterslide.

 

[leane]

After HOURS of time listening to "clang clang clang goes the bell" and trying to get through for 2 hours I got every single one of my ADR's, 2 Illumination Cruises Cali Grill for wishes seating and so much more.

It was as if my dad was watching over me. I didnt have a clue that EVERYTHING switched to 180 days. glad i saw a post on TGM's site that she got a cruise otherwise i never would have known.

What a crazy day. I now have all of the dining plans and my touring plans done. All i have to wait for now is 122 days to pass.

BCV -- I an not quite at the double digits yet. But I can see the light

 

[BCV23]

leane, congratulations. Two Illumination cruises! Wow!

I laughed about the double digits...I can see by your ticker that you're not quite there yet. I misunderstood something you wrote.

Way to go on your reservations!

 

[leane]

Truth be told I had to jump at the opportunity for the cruises. I know that they are SO hard to come by and that if I didnt book I would loose them. I have one extra - booked 3 total will cancel 1. One for our last day (3/6).Family from FL will be joining us at Yachtsman for dinner and then the cruise. I will have a cake for my mom on board thanking her for our trip of a lifetime.

The second (3/1) I am hoping to be able to do just with DH and myself. This august we were in cocoa beach for our 10 yr anniversary needless to say IT SUCKED! I hate cocoa beach! so that is to make up for the terrible 5 days were were there. If I can't manage to stick to my savings plan I will ask for company but the kids aren't going on this one.

The final one I booked on DD's 8th Bday. I thought it would be super magical but i am concerned about jealousy with dd#2. Hello, she isn't getting disney ON her bday ... so I didn't want to over do stuff we do on her actual day. They have Akerhaus (sp) princess breakfast at EP and then we are doing Chef Mickeys for dinner. I thought that along with her presents it would be enough.

I am new to all of this so it is confusing. However.... MAYBE we will do all 3 and spurge. I can always put the date out on the boards-I am sure I can find 4 more on dd's bday.

Any opinions?

 

[dato63]

We are going on DCL next year and thinking about adding one night at WDW before coming home. DH mentioned he felt a monorail resort would be easiest, as we would spend that one night at MK. So that made sense to me.

My DDs love the look of GF - we went there last year, but just for the meals.

I was debating booking CL for the closeness to the monorail - as I am clueless how close all the different buildings are to the main building. I did a search on this thread - and I got a few threads that made it sound like they are pretty close together.

Can anyone give me a worse case idea of distance from the main building?

Thank you!

 

[BC1836]

There is no "worse case" scenario regarding transportation from the GF to the MK. Either you're in a building close to the monorail or you're close to the wonderful launch that takes you to the MK (via one Poly stop). Even if you're in a MK-view room in Sago Cay or Conch Key, the walk is a short one to the Main Building if you prefer the monorail route to the MK.

All the best.

 

[dato63]

There is no "worse case" scenario regarding transportation from the GF to the MK. Either you're in a building close to the monorail or you're close to the wonderful launch that takes you to the MK (via one Poly stop). Even if you're in a MK-view room in Sago Cay or Conch Key, the walk is a short one to the Main Building if you prefer the monorail route to the MK.

All the best.

Thanks!!

 

[Tam1067]

Our first Sugar Loaf stay is coming up, and I'm trying to decide if it's worth requesting a marina view, or if we should just wing it. Does anyone have any photos of what that view would be? I looked through this thread and couldn't find any. Thanks!

 

[BC1836]

Our first Sugar Loaf stay is coming up, and I'm trying to decide if it's worth requesting a marina view, or if we should just wing it. Does anyone have any photos of what that view would be? I looked through this thread and couldn't find any. Thanks!

The only view that you have to concern yourself with is the view of the multiple food and beverage offerings provided at Sugar Loaf!

The marina view is just that: a marina view...along with a view of Sago Cay. But come to think of it, that's not a bad view at all.

All the best.

 

[BlueSkies]

leane Two hours on the phone trying to make ADRs!!! I am glad that it was worth the wait...I agree with BCV two fireworks cruises WOW!!! They just went back to the 180 day booking a few days ago and I guess it has been jamming up the phone lines!!!

Tam1067 Either view from SL is nice...the courtyard view overlooks the pool area which is also lovely...

dato63 If it is in your budget why not splurge for the one night stay to be CL...there are two though Royal Palm Club which has rooms located in the main building and the closest to the monorail..and in the outer lodge building there is Sugar Loaf which is right in the center of the property and an equal distance to the monorail or the launch...

BC1836 I agree about traveling back and forth to the MK via the launch...we love sitting at the boat dock waiting for it and watching all of the boats out on the lagoon...it is our very favorite way to travel to the MK and especially back in the evening when the monorails can be very crowded...