The All New Grand Floridian FAQ - MAY 2009

[bethclayton]

we will be at the GF march 1-8, 2010. we are so excited! i want to tell you all that i read this thread every single day, just to make sure i never miss anything!

my question is, we will be getting both kids pirates' league makeovers the morning of the 2nd, and then having dinner at narcoossee's that evening. do the kids need to have their pirate face paint washed off for the restaurant? is that an incredibly dumb question? i realize it is a signature restaurant, but we have eaten at 2 other signature restaurants and they were waaaay more casual than we expected. not sure what to expect at narcoossee's!

if you're not laughing at me... thanks.

 

[rie'smom]

Hi all. Just recently booked our first stay at GF in just two weeks.
We booked the standard GV room but I now see today a Lode Tower Room has come avail.
I have done a search online and think I get what the room is but not sure.
so here are a few questions for you guys...

Is it true it may or may not have a balcony?
What buildings could these rooms be in?
It is an extra $51.00 a night is this a good value?
ARe the rooms bigger or just rearranged differently b/c they only sleep 4

Anything else I need to know about these rooms?

thanks guys appreciate the help.

I'd definitely upgrade. We've stayed in both Sugar Loaf and RPC and I won't stay at the GF unless I can stay in the main building. Not even SL makes me feel like I'm at the Grand. I know that many many others feel differently but since you asked, I thought that I'd give you my honest feelings.
The lodge tower rooms do not have balconies.

 

[minniesota]

we will be at the GF march 1-8, 2010. we are so excited! i want to tell you all that i read this thread every single day, just to make sure i never miss anything!

my question is, we will be getting both kids pirates' league makeovers the morning of the 2nd, and then having dinner at narcoossee's that evening. do the kids need to have their pirate face paint washed off for the restaurant? is that an incredibly dumb question? i realize it is a signature restaurant, but we have eaten at 2 other signature restaurants and they were waaaay more casual than we expected. not sure what to expect at narcoossee's!

if you're not laughing at me... thanks.

I'm not laughing! Just smiling... Your kids can certainly keep their pirate faces on! This is Disney after all. Enjoy your time at the GF and I hope you have a wonderful time!

 

[minniesota]

Hi all. Just recently booked our first stay at GF in just two weeks.
We booked the standard GV room but I now see today a Lode Tower Room has come avail.
I have done a search online and think I get what the room is but not sure.
so here are a few questions for you guys...

Is it true it may or may not have a balcony?
What buildings could these rooms be in?
It is an extra $51.00 a night is this a good value?
ARe the rooms bigger or just rearranged differently b/c they only sleep 4

Anything else I need to know about these rooms?

thanks guys appreciate the help.

Hi! The lodge tower rooms that are bookable can be found in Big Pine, Boca Chica, Conch and Sago. There are lodge tower rooms in Sugar Loaf, the club level lodge, but they are by request only.

Lodge tower rooms do have balconies on the 2nd, 3rd and 4th floors. If you look at the photo below, the balcony is to the right of the seating area (which creates the turret). As you can see, there are no sliders. There is a side door to the balcony.

The rooms are definitely larger and you have the benefit of the additional seating space and a second tv. I love all the room categories at the GF and I'm sure you will love your stay no matter where you end up!

Photos of the room:

Lodge tower rooms (balconies to the right of the turret area where there are no sliders):

 

[panmalv]

We're returning at the end of January for our second visit and have booked a CL Sugarloaf room. I'm trying to decide if it is worth asking for an upgrade to RPC? In the past I've noticed that many people in Sugarloaf were there because of an upgrade from a regular room. Has anyone ever gotten an upgrade from Sugarloaf to RPC? I'm tempted to ask but don't want to overreach. Thanks for the advice!

 

[grannyminnie]

We're returning at the end of January for our second visit and have booked a CL Sugarloaf room. I'm trying to decide if it is worth asking for an upgrade to RPC? In the past I've noticed that many people in Sugarloaf were there because of an upgrade from a regular room. Has anyone ever gotten an upgrade from Sugarloaf to RPC? I'm tempted to ask but don't want to overreach. Thanks for the advice!

I've read of instances where folks have been upgraded from GV to RPC! Wish it would happen to me...the extra money is just too much for me to pay.
As has been said before, only you can figure the "worth" of something".

 

[DisneyFamily123]

What is December like at the GF? Please tell me more.

I saw posts about Christmas music in the lobby, Mickey and Minnie in Victorian clothes for photos in the evening... Hot cider and roasted chestnuts.... sounds wonderful! Did anyone have these experiences in early December...or only the week of Christmas?

We are undecided about where to stay during December (one of the first 2 weeks of Dec. 2010). Just stayed at Polynesian in 2009 and loved it, especially the monorail and boat convenient transportation... but looking to do something different.

We visited the GF for breakfast and dinner and remember the band upstairs in the lobby and a piano player downstairs and lots of wonderful floral arrangements. We also liked 1900 PF, Citrocos, and Narcoosees.

Thank you.

 

[roomthreeseventeen]

Anyone know the approximate transportation time from AKL back to GF? If we leave AKL about 7:30pm, do you think there's time to get back to GF and shower before a 9:15 res at Victoria & Alberts?

 

[norybell]

I have a question for all of you GF experts out there...I'm sure it's answered somewhere on this thread, but I'm too excited to book to take the time to read it all!

I'm planning a May 2010 trip, split stay with two nights at the GF and two nights at the YC. It will just be me and my mom. I was originally going to go solo and stay at POR, so you can imagine how excited I am about this!

We've stayed at the YC many, many times, but never at the GF, where I've wanted to stay since they built it. But I'm at a bit of a loss when it comes to the room requests. I'm thinking we'll pay for a TPV, but not for CL. Would I be safe with these requests?:

1. Balcony (do I even need to request this? it is very important to us, so I'd hate to get one of the few rooms without one)
2. Unobstructed MK view (again, is this request necessary? are some of the views blocked by trees?)
3. Quiet room (or should I be more specific, and say "far from elevators," or something? we're both light sleepers)

I'm also wondering if I should request "upper floor," since we tend to like those better...but I'm not sure how I feel about the dormer room balconies. Any thoughts?

Thanks in advance for any advice!

 

[Scott MC]

I've read of instances where folks have been upgraded from GV to RPC! Wish it would happen to me...the extra money is just too much for me to pay.
As has been said before, only you can figure the "worth" of something".

It happened to us!
Read my trip report (which I desperately need to update!).

 

[grannyminnie]

It happened to us!
Read my trip report (which I desperately need to update!).

Lucky you!!!!!!!!

 

[Figment1990]

Hi! The lodge tower rooms that are bookable can be found in Big Pine, Boca Chica, Conch and Sago. There are lodge tower rooms in Sugar Loaf, the club level lodge, but they are by request only.

Lodge tower rooms do have balconies on the 2nd, 3rd and 4th floors. If you look at the photo below, the balcony is to the right of the seating area (which creates the turret). As you can see, there are no sliders. There is a side door to the balcony.

The rooms are definitely larger and you have the benefit of the additional seating space and a second tv. I love all the room categories at the GF and I'm sure you will love your stay no matter where you end up!

Minniesota - THANK YOU for this explanation. I was always under the impression that the tower rooms did NOT have balconies and therefore never wanted to stay in one. Now that I know they do.... yeah! Maybe we will try that out someday!

 

[bethclayton]

I'm not laughing! Just smiling... Your kids can certainly keep their pirate faces on! This is Disney after all. Enjoy your time at the GF and I hope you have a wonderful time!

thanks, minniesota!

 

[panmalv]

Thank you all for your ideas on the RPC upgrade. I will beg, but not get my hopes up.

I have one more question for all you GF gurus: will there be movies on the beach during our late-January visit? Our last visit was in March, and we LOVED sitting on the beach by the campfire and watching movies. I did a quick search on these Boards and found a poster that said that the movies are only "in Summer" but since we had them in March I though I'd ask again. Any opinions?

Thanks!

 

[BCV23]

What is December like at the GF? Please tell me more.

I saw posts about Christmas music in the lobby, Mickey and Minnie in Victorian clothes for photos in the evening... Hot cider and roasted chestnuts.... sounds wonderful! Did anyone have these experiences in early December...or only the week of Christmas?

We are undecided about where to stay during December (one of the first 2 weeks of Dec. 2010). Just stayed at Polynesian in 2009 and loved it, especially the monorail and boat convenient transportation... but looking to do something different.

We visited the GF for breakfast and dinner and remember the band upstairs in the lobby and a piano player downstairs and lots of wonderful floral arrangements. We also liked 1900 PF, Citrocos, and Narcoosees.

Thank you.

The GF is at its loveliest in December. We dined there several times this year in the first full week of Dec.. I didn't see the cider or Mickey and Minnie in their Christmas finery but may have just missed them. There were hot chestnuts though.

Anyone know the approximate transportation time from AKL back to GF? If we leave AKL about 7:30pm, do you think there's time to get back to GF and shower before a 9:15 res at Victoria & Alberts?

Time will vary but you would probably make it. WDW transportation now says the buses will run approximately every 30 minutes.

If it were me, I would either leave AK earlier or take a cab. V&A is sooo special that I do not like to rush when getting ready for dinner. Bon apetit!

I have a question for all of you GF experts out there...I'm sure it's answered somewhere on this thread, but I'm too excited to book to take the time to read it all!

I'm planning a May 2010 trip, split stay with two nights at the GF and two nights at the YC. It will just be me and my mom. I was originally going to go solo and stay at POR, so you can imagine how excited I am about this!

We've stayed at the YC many, many times, but never at the GF, where I've wanted to stay since they built it. But I'm at a bit of a loss when it comes to the room requests. I'm thinking we'll pay for a TPV, but not for CL. Would I be safe with these requests?:

1. Balcony (do I even need to request this? it is very important to us, so I'd hate to get one of the few rooms without one)
2. Unobstructed MK view (again, is this request necessary? are some of the views blocked by trees?)
3. Quiet room (or should I be more specific, and say "far from elevators," or something? we're both light sleepers)

I'm also wondering if I should request "upper floor," since we tend to like those better...but I'm not sure how I feel about the dormer room balconies. Any thoughts?

Thanks in advance for any advice!

1. All standard rooms have balconies although those on the first floor are ground level of course....still enclosed and just like the other floors except for the dormer room balconies.

2. I've seen different reports. When we've had TPV in Conch Key, the view was completely unobstructed.

3. I think quiet room is a great way to form that request. The assignors will know better than any of us which rooms fill that bill. We've never had a dormer room. While they look charming, I do prefer the open balcony.

Have fun!

I have one more question for all you GF gurus: will there be movies on the beach during our late-January visit? Our last visit was in March, and we LOVED sitting on the beach by the campfire and watching movies. I did a quick search on these Boards and found a poster that said that the movies are only "in Summer" but since we had them in March I though I'd ask again. Any opinions?

Thanks!

Only in summer is certainly incorrect. There were movies this September when we last stayed at the GF. I imagine they will be offered in January as well. Y&BC does them year round and BLT/CR was showing movies earlier this month when we were there.

 

[Belinderella]

We stayed at GF last March and my kids loved the activites they had everyday on the beach and by the pool. We are going back this March and was wondering if anyone knows when they put out the list of activities? My kids were disappointed when there was something fun to do and we had dinning ressies. I would like to plan around the "fun" things at the resort if I could get a schedule in advance.

 

[minniesota]

I will be at the GF in six L O N G days! This week can't go fast enough. If anyone has something they'd like me to check out, just let me know. We plan to spend a lot of time at the resort (staying RPC) and will be hitting the spa as well. Might even get over to work out!

 

[BlueSkies]

I will be at the GF in six L O N G days! This week can't go fast enough. If anyone has something they'd like me to check out, just let me know. We plan to spend a lot of time at the resort (staying RPC) and will be hitting the spa as well. Might even get over to work out!

Minniesota Six days!!!! ...enjoy RPC...and the spa too...I would just forget about the working out part...

Have a grand time!!!

 

[mkymouse4ever]

I will be at the GF in six L O N G days! This week can't go fast enough. If anyone has something they'd like me to check out, just let me know. We plan to spend a lot of time at the resort (staying RPC) and will be hitting the spa as well. Might even get over to work out!

Have a great time! Wondering if you could check out any construction or plans for construction.

Thanks so much, mky

 

[Figment1990]

I will be at the GF in six L O N G days! This week can't go fast enough. If anyone has something they'd like me to check out, just let me know. We plan to spend a lot of time at the resort (staying RPC) and will be hitting the spa as well. Might even get over to work out!

Enjoy your trip! If you do get over to the spa can you give us a full report on it and the fitness center part too. I have worked out in disney before so I don't think its that odd. After all - we all probably eat four times what we normally would!

You'll have to hang out on the thread all week to help the time pass more quickly. Are you packed?!