The All New Grand Floridian FAQ - MAY 2009

[kaffinito]

I have a question for all you GF mavens. Are the pools warmer at GF than they are at Poly?

We're currently booked at the Poly in LV CL but the thought of those cold Poly pools leaves me chilled.

So are the pools warmer or are they cold like the Poly's?

TIA
Karen

 

[johnsonet]

I have a question for all you GF mavens. Are the pools warmer at GF than they are at Poly?

We're currently booked at the Poly in LV CL but the thought of those cold Poly pools leaves me chilled.

So are the pools warmer or are they cold like the Poly's?

TIA
Karen

I don't think they're any warmer, although I know what you mean about the Poly (Volcano) pool. CHILLY When will you be there? If it's during hot summer months then I wouldn't worry. We usually go during Spring Break and the last 3 years it's been very cool in the mornings.

I just asked my daughter, who's spent a lot more time IN all those pools than I have, and she doesn't think there's any difference at all

 

[iluvhawaii]

Don't know if they're warmer than Poly's (it's been years since we've been at the Poly), but to us it seems the large courtyard pool at GF is significantly warmer than the themed pool. Perhaps it has something to do with the waterfall and waterslide. Perhaps this holds true at the Poly as well, and the quiet pool is warmer than the volcano pool?!?

 

[kaffinito]

Thanks johnsonet and iluvhawaii! That's what I was afraid of. . The quiet pool at Poly is slightly warmer than the main pool, but honestly my favorite is the warm pool at AKL Jambo.

I was hoping all of GF's pools were warm so I could swim.

 

[johnsonet]

Thanks johnsonet and iluvhawaii! That's what I was afraid of. . The quiet pool at Poly is slightly warmer than the main pool, but honestly my favorite is the warm pool at AKL Jambo.

I was hoping all of GF's pools were warm so I could swim.

I must be a baby b/c even in the summer, I have to clench my teeth getting in at AKL Same with the theme pools at Poly and GF. I haven't been in the courtyard pool at the GF in YEARS.
If it's hot and sunny, the WDW pools are refreshing to me, but if it's at all cool out - it's torture!

Don't forget the hot tub at GF

 

[iluvhawaii]

We generally visit WDW in the summer, so maybe that's helped, but we always find the courtyard pool to be comfortably warm. And we love that it's so big--we can always find lounge chairs poolside, and my girls can practice swimming as there's always plenty of room in the pool. We also love that there's a large hot tub nearby. If we swim at night (my girls are fans of swimming when it's dark outside and there's no need to apply sunscreen), we always jump in the hot tub after we swim to warm ourselves up even more before we head up to our room. That's a bonus for the GF as I don't think Poly has a hot tub.

 

[Native NYer]

Someone should meet you if you are an RPC guest! The CMs have a list of guests arriving by ME and if you are in a car or limo service, the guard at the gate checks your name on a list and I believe the CMs are then notified because we have always been greeted by name upon arrival via towncar. It feels very special!

Fantastic! If there isn't a CM waiting, is there a podium in front of the entrance for club level guests to go to first, like at the Poly?

We're still debating using a towncar/limo service or ME. Did you book your town car service directly through Disney?

 

[kaffinito]

"I must be a baby b/c even in the summer, I have to clench my teeth getting in at AKL"

I know what you mean johnsonet!

I'm the same way-if it's just a little cold I can't swim.

I might end up switching resorts after all - how is GF Sugar Loaf CL?

 

[minniesota]

Fantastic! If there isn't a CM waiting, is there a podium in front of the entrance for club level guests to go to first, like at the Poly?

We're still debating using a towncar/limo service or ME. Did you book your town car service directly through Disney?

Over the years, there has sometimes been a podium and sometimes not. It seems that recently, there are CMs with clipboards and earpieces which I assume transmit arrival information from the guard shack. There was only one time we arrived to no welcome and I just mentioned to the CM at the bell station we were RPC guests and someone was there in a jiffy!

We always use a towncar service. I don't book through Disney, however. I just want to get off the plane and get to the resort with my luggage so ME hasn't appealed to us. When we were there in January, our plane landed at 11:30 and we were standing in our RPC room 12:20! Loved that!

 

[Tam1067]

About arrival

We stayed in Sugar Loaf for Xmas this year and took ME. When we got off the bus, no one was there but there was a podium just a few steps from where the bus let us off. The CM there was super nice, asked my name, looked at his clipboard and said "Of course you are! You got here faster than I thought you would!". He then showed us around, walked us to our room, and checked us in from there. So you should have no problem when you arrive. The podium is easy to find.

 

[k&a&c'smom]

As previous posters have stated, we find the courtyard pool to be warmer than the themed pool at the GF.

I'm a baby, too, johnsonet - I won't swim when it's cool out, the walk back to the room is killer!

kaffinito - we enjoy the CL in Sugar Loaf, but there's no drop-dead view of the castle like at the Poly!!

 

[BCV23]

johnsonet, love those pictures. That room looks fabulous.

 

[kaffinito]

So my choices are warm courtyard pool, hot tub, vs drop dead gorgeous view and soothing island music, eh?

What's a girl to do? There are too many good choices!

 

[roomthreeseventeen]

So my choices are warm courtyard pool, hot tub, vs drop dead gorgeous view and soothing island music, eh?

What's a girl to do? There are too many good choices!

I think the view from GF is about the same as at Poly. Really, the drop dead gorgeous view is at the Contemp.

 

[Figment1990]

So my choices are warm courtyard pool, hot tub, vs drop dead gorgeous view and soothing island music, eh?

What's a girl to do? There are too many good choices!

Depends on your idea of a drop dead gorgeous view. I personally think that all of the views at the Grand are the beautiful ones. Beautiful grounds, the lagoon views often are of the beach and the Poly. Theme park views ARE of the castle, but very distant, in my opinion. On the other hand, Poly grounds are nice too, and the Castle view is more direct, I think. Plus there's all those beaches... And on the third hand, I truly dislike the TPV view from the Contemporary because I actually do NOT want to see inside the Magic Kingdom from my room. I like to "escape" to my resort.

Can't really go wrong choosing between Poly and the Grand, in my honest opinion! Good luck with that one!!!

 

[s&k'smom]

I have to agree on the towncard comment, I looooove getting off the plane, and knowing I'll be at the GF within an hour. God only 9 long months to go but I've started the "Disney fund" job so we are on our way financially!

 

[kaffinito]

Depends on your idea of a drop dead gorgeous view. I personally think that all of the views at the Grand are the beautiful ones. Beautiful grounds, the lagoon views often are of the beach and the Poly. Theme park views ARE of the castle, but very distant, in my opinion. On the other hand, Poly grounds are nice too, and the Castle view is more direct, I think. Plus there's all those beaches... And on the third hand, I truly dislike the TPV view from the Contemporary because I actually do NOT want to see inside the Magic Kingdom from my room. I like to "escape" to my resort.

Can't really go wrong choosing between Poly and the Grand, in my honest opinion! Good luck with that one!!!

Thanks! I'm still stressing out over the resort we'll be at.... At least I know it will be in CL somewhere!

 

[Native NYer]

Over the years, there has sometimes been a podium and sometimes not. It seems that recently, there are CMs with clipboards and earpieces which I assume transmit arrival information from the guard shack. There was only one time we arrived to no welcome and I just mentioned to the CM at the bell station we were RPC guests and someone was there in a jiffy!

We always use a towncar service. I don't book through Disney, however. I just want to get off the plane and get to the resort with my luggage so ME hasn't appealed to us. When we were there in January, our plane landed at 11:30 and we were standing in our RPC room 12:20! Loved that!

Wow you got to your room quickly! I'm thinking with 2 kids, a town car may be easier than ME. After being on the plane for almost 3 hours, I'm not sure I want to have the boys sit on the bus. And I'm not sure I want to wait for my luggage. If the GF were the first and/or only stop, that would be fine. But since ME may stop at other resorts, it may take longer to get to the GF. Last time we stayed at the Poly, it stopped at FW, WL, CR, Poly, then the GF.

What service do you use? I'm looking into different town car/limo services.

About arrival

We stayed in Sugar Loaf for Xmas this year and took ME. When we got off the bus, no one was there but there was a podium just a few steps from where the bus let us off. The CM there was super nice, asked my name, looked at his clipboard and said "Of course you are! You got here faster than I thought you would!". He then showed us around, walked us to our room, and checked us in from there. So you should have no problem when you arrive. The podium is easy to find.

Good to know that the podium is there.

I have to agree on the towncard comment, I looooove getting off the plane, and knowing I'll be at the GF within an hour. God only 9 long months to go but I've started the "Disney fund" job so we are on our way financially!

That's the reason we're looking into a town car service. We don't want our trip to begin with a bus ride to different resorts.

 

[Figment1990]

Native NYer - we'ver used Happy Limo for all of our trips since 2002 (probably 10 trips) and have always had fine luck with them. We've taken towncars, vans, and even had several surprise upgrades to a limo.

We too love the towncar transfer option! For us its definitely cheaper than renting a car and sometimes we use the grocery stop (when we don't order online ahead). We've had some really really quick transfers too lately, as others have said.

 

[johnsonet]

... I'm a baby, too, johnsonet - I won't swim when it's cool out, the walk back to the room is killer!

I know. Even in summer sometimes b/c of the AC

... kaffinito - we enjoy the CL in Sugar Loaf, but there's no drop-dead view of the castle like at the Poly!!

Those views are something else. I'll never forget my Poly LV CL view 2 summers ago. WOW

Of course, the views from the GF are wonderful too Here are a couple:

From the Everglades Suite in Conch Key

From Main Building room over Gasparilla's.

johnsonet, love those pictures. That room looks fabulous.

Thanks!

So my choices are warm courtyard pool, hot tub, vs drop dead gorgeous view and soothing island music, eh?

What's a girl to do? There are too many good choices!

What's a girl to do? Stay at them all! That's what's so great about WDW!! You can pick a resort depending on the parks you want to visit or the ambiance... I've booked GF for the end of my split stay this summer. After a week at Kidani and AKL, we'll be enjoying the GF and the monorail to the MK, afternoon tea, chintzy decor and some nearby fine dining (California Grill, Citrico's and maybe FINALLY Victoria & Albert's) Can't wait!

Depends on your idea of a drop dead gorgeous view. I personally think that all of the views at the Grand are the beautiful ones. Beautiful grounds, the lagoon views often are of the beach and the Poly. Theme park views ARE of the castle, but very distant, in my opinion. On the other hand, Poly grounds are nice too, and the Castle view is more direct, I think. Plus there's all those beaches... And on the third hand, I truly dislike the TPV view from the Contemporary because I actually do NOT want to see inside the Magic Kingdom from my room. I like to "escape" to my resort.

Can't really go wrong choosing between Poly and the Grand, in my honest opinion! Good luck with that one!!!

Totally agree with you CR views are, quite literally, views of the theme park. I prefer the fairytale-like castle views from the GF and the Polynesian