The All New Grand Floridian FAQ - MAY 2009

[Figment1990]

is there a place to post on DIS looking for points?
When we go in Dec next year we want to do a split stay and I need 30 BLT points...
TIA

Yes - the forum is about halfway down the forums page - they are very helpful there! We are staying at AKVKidani in 17 days on points we rented from someone in that forum. Check it out - it's very helpful and friendly!

Wishing all DISers happy holiday travels! I'll be jealous of y'all "up there" at the GF but at least I'm in WDW, right?!

 

[followthatmouse]

You can them to this address:

Grand Floridian Resort
4401 Floridian Way
Lake Buena Vista, Florida 32830

Attention: Royal Palm Club lounge employees

If you have their names, that would be even better! How nice of you to think of them after your trip. They really are wonderful up there.

Thank you for the information, Minniesota. We thought them wonderful, too!

CR Resort Fan 4 Life, I am grateful to you. Being in Australia, I would have forgotten all about Florida tax rules.

Thank you both.

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

Thank you for the information, Minniesota. We thought them wonderful, too!

CR Resort Fan 4 Life, I am grateful to you. Being in Australia, I would have forgotten all about Florida tax rules.

Thank you both.

You're welcome.

 

[leane]

minniesota,



BlueSkies, this trip we're at YC and then BLT. I first tried for GF to no avail but am now looking forward to YC as we've never stayed on that side of the resort.

I hope you enjoy the BLT. Have a good trip



Thank you ( and figment ) for info on the trade board. I think I am going to book BLT for just 2 nights and then try for BWV at 7 mo. Hopefully it being the first week after Thanksgiving it wont be too busy.

 

[BCV23]

I hope you enjoy the BLT. Have a good trip



Thank you ( and figment ) for info on the trade board. I think I am going to book BLT for just 2 nights and then try for BWV at 7 mo. Hopefully it being the first week after Thanksgiving it wont be too busy.

Thanks, Leane. I'm sure we'll enjoy BLT. This will be our second stay there and we thoroughly enjoyed our first.

Do you mean switch from BLT to BWV at 7 mos? The collective wisdom on the DVC forums is that the first two weeks of Dec are very popular with DVCers and reservations are hard to get. Low points and WDW holiday happenings make it hard to resist. I know I tried to change my BLT reservation to BCV and think I was still in the owners' window. No availability. Good luck with your plans.

On topic , does anyone want me to check anything at the GF during our trip? CRFan, I will try to remember to check the yogurt although we won't be eating at Gasparilla's.

 

[jwb713]

T-6 days 'til our first trip to the GF! Any recent construction reports? What's the status of cranes and floors in the main building? Thanks, all.

 

[leane]

Do you mean switch from BLT to BWV at 7 mos? The collective wisdom on the DVC forums is that the first two weeks of Dec are very popular with DVCers and reservations are hard to get. Low points and WDW holiday happenings make it hard to resist. I know I tried to change my BLT reservation to BCV and think I was still in the owners' window. No availability. Good luck with your plans.
.

I mean I will make the BLT ressie and waitlist for BWV. if I can get it - we can stay longer if not I will be happy with BLT. Makes me want to do BWV for the add on instead of AKV.... I know I should buy where I want to stay, did that with BLT but with the add on I figured I could go a little cheaper points (AKV rocks right now) and chance the 7 mo window.



I got an email back from the IPO today makes it so real. Confirmed we are in the sugar loaf building. Now for additional plans ... hhhmmm what can I think up.

 

[panthergirl]

I am interested in hearing your thoughts on your experiences with IPO. I did not have much success with them last year and I am a little nervous about entrusting my 2010 holiday reservations to them. Can you make me feel better?

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

CRFan, I will try to remember to check the yogurt although we won't be eating at Gasparilla's.

Well you don't really need to since my family and I will be going to Gasparilla's next Saturday, so we will find out the answer in a very short time. However thanks for asking.

 

[leane]

I am interested in hearing your thoughts on your experiences with IPO. I did not have much success with them last year and I am a little nervous about entrusting my 2010 holiday reservations to them. Can you make me feel better?

To be honest, aside from seeing if they can get us a better time at California Grill and possibly the tea party I wont be using them much. Iam I guess what you can call an obsessive planner don't see anything wrong with that personally although it is starting to annoy DH. I have been planning our Feb. trip since Dec. 2008

I did inquire about flowers for my mom and the cake for my daughter. They did get back to me in 24 hours as promised. I will let you know how they do.

I too will be staying CL for xmas 2010. I don't know if I will trust them or do things myself as well. I would love to get a cruise so I will be calling MS for that as well as trying to get the IPO to get one. Maybe one of us will luck out.

 

[minniesota]

I am interested in hearing your thoughts on your experiences with IPO. I did not have much success with them last year and I am a little nervous about entrusting my 2010 holiday reservations to them. Can you make me feel better?

I have had nothing but stellar service from IPO at the GF. They have made every dining reservation for the past three trips. For our trip last year, they got us both an Illuminations and Wishes cruise. They arranged for us to be in club level for our entire length of stay even though our first night was in GV due to unavailability. And we have requested and received a castle view in RPC three times. I think they are wonderful!

 

[BlueSkies]

panthergirl I have had the same experience as minniesota with GF IPO...and have always had wonderful service too....
If you email your requests ADRs,cabana,or whatever you you'd like on your itinerary to them about 1 month before they need to book everything( I always follow up with a phone call about 1 week before the booking window too...)...they will email you back the itinerary as soon as they book...we have always gotten what we have requested...ADRs times have varied a bit but with in about 15 minutes of the times requested...couldnt be any easier...and one of the nicest perks of staying CL..

 

[janeapplemeadow]

panthergirl I never head a problem with IPO, I worked with MaryJane and she was terrific. I called initially about 1 week before my window opend up. She was very helpful and got me all my reservatations with-in minutes of what I wanted, including The Breathless boat for the Illuminations Cruise. She also helped with a few changes after that.

 

[mike48]

Hey all. First time posting here. I've read through 90+ pages of this thread but I had to skip ahead to ask some questions. My wife and I are taking our 6 & 3 yr old sons to Disney and staying at the GF from Jan 15 2010 til Jan 22 2010. We have the Standard room with Theme Park View. I got what I think is a fantastic deal using the 4/3 offer. We're driving down from NJ and will stay overnight in Brunswick, GA before arrivng at GF on the 15th. Anyway, on to some questions:

1) Is it possible the GF Christmas decorations (tree, gingerbread house) will still be around on Jan 15th when we check in?
2)Which pool has the waterslide? The one with the waterfall or the other one?
3)I already have breakfast reservations at Chef Mickey's and dinner show reservations for the Spirit of Aloha dinner. I haven't seen any comments on the Spirit of Aloha show and was curious if anyone has seen it.
4) I was contemplating dinner reservations for the Fantasmic Dinner Package at DHS and was looking for opinions on that.

Thank you all so much in advance for what I know will be excellent answers. My wife and I have been to Disney several times as we were growing up but this will be the first time our sons will be there. Everyone is so excited.

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

1) Is it possible the GF Christmas decorations (tree, gingerbread house) will still be around on Jan 15th when we check in?

By that time it will be gone, since it's usually taken down on Janurary 2nd or Janurary 3rd.

 

[mmmears]

Hey all. First time posting here. I've read through 90+ pages of this thread but I had to skip ahead to ask some questions. My wife and I are taking our 6 & 3 yr old sons to Disney and staying at the GF from Jan 15 2010 til Jan 22 2010. We have the Standard room with Theme Park View. I got what I think is a fantastic deal using the 4/3 offer. We're driving down from NJ and will stay overnight in Brunswick, GA before arrivng at GF on the 15th. Anyway, on to some questions:

1) Is it possible the GF Christmas decorations (tree, gingerbread house) will still be around on Jan 15th when we check in?
2)Which pool has the waterslide? The one with the waterfall or the other one?
3)I already have breakfast reservations at Chef Mickey's and dinner show reservations for the Spirit of Aloha dinner. I haven't seen any comments on the Spirit of Aloha show and was curious if anyone has seen it.
4) I was contemplating dinner reservations for the Fantasmic Dinner Package at DHS and was looking for opinions on that.

Thank you all so much in advance for what I know will be excellent answers. My wife and I have been to Disney several times as we were growing up but this will be the first time our sons will be there. Everyone is so excited.

The pool with the waterslide is the waterfall pool by the beach, not the one in the courtyard.

Haven't tried Aloha dinner, so I can't review it for you.

IMO, if you are sure you want to see Fantasmic, then it's worth it since you'll have a guaranteed seat for the show.

I hope you have a wonderful family trip! The GF is a wonderful resort, and the views from there are lovely.

 

[leane]

3)I already have breakfast reservations at Chef Mickey's and dinner show reservations for the Spirit of Aloha dinner. I haven't seen any comments on the Spirit of Aloha show and was curious if anyone has seen it.
4) I was contemplating dinner reservations for the Fantasmic Dinner Package at DHS and was looking .

I haven't attended the Aloha dinner but have read alot of reviews. The one thing I would say is in Jan. it will be COLD outside at night. Your food will get cold quickly and so will you. These were the only complaints - the cold.
This may be one (given the credits/cost) you might want to skip. Go with the fantastmic instead. Especially with boys.

Good Luck.

 

[Princess.Neve]

Does anyone know what the current prices are to get a portrait done in the GF lobby from the portrait artist?

Thanks!

 

[2manypets]

DH & I just changed resorts from the Poly (stayed there before and loved it) to the GF in Sept. I just love the atmosphere of the Grand, it's so bright and relaxing and the lobby just brings tears to my eyes it's so pretty.

We have the 40% off code and tried to get a MKV room, but they were sold out for that code. We ended up with a LV room and I requested the Boca Chica building.

What's the likelihood of seeing the castle from a LV room in Boca Chica? Should I keep on trying for a MKV room or stay put and hope for the best? Also, is there a walkway on the lagoon side of the building?

 

[mike48]

You might want to try ditching the 40% code and try searching with the 4/3 deal. I got a MK view room that way and I don't think the $$ difference is all that big between the two deals.