The All New Grand Floridian FAQ - MAY 2009

[2manypets]

Thank you!! I never would have guessed that.

 

[BCV23]

I emailed IPO since are going back in June to ask about it and was told its has been delayed and is not running at GF yet.

That was certainly a quick response from IPO. Good for them.

From what I've read on the Transportation, it appears that site had bad info.

We didn't use RAC... it was closed by the time we tried to use it. They close at 1pm on Sunday, and we didn't get back from the parks until after 3pm.

My favorite thing about GF was the orchestra That was so much fun. We ate at Gasparilla's (not so good), the Cafe (excellent) and Citrico's (beyond excellent). The filet I had at Citrico's was the best meal the entire trip.

Isn't the orchestra delightful? Ditto the pianist. We love the GF Cafe and Citricos, too.

RAC closes at 1pm every day as I recall. I suppose to make sure everyone gets out of the rooms.

Thank you!! I never would have guessed that.

It is a wonderful service. It is so nice to get your boarding passes, drop your checked luggage off and see it next at your home airport.

 

[roomthreeseventeen]

Isn't the orchestra delightful? Ditto the pianist. We love the GF Cafe and Citricos, too.

RAC closes at 1pm every day as I recall. I suppose to make sure everyone gets out of the rooms.

We were certainly out of the room... we were just at MK and Epcot, getting our last kicks in!

 

[johnsonet]

Just got back from our AMAZING GF vacation -- this is the view from our room, RPC 4309.

What a beautiful photo

I just wanted to say thank you for all of the great info everyone has been posting here. The excitement is getting to be unbearable as our trip slowly approaches. Only 5 more weeks to go! Our ME tags should be arriving this week. Thanks again!

So exciting!

i just got back last night and cannot wait to tell you all about our wonderful first visit to GF! that place is totally amazing!

gotta get the kids to school and then get ready for work but i'll be back later!

Can't wait to read about your trip. I've been watching the Orlando area weather and I know yesterday was BEAUTIFUL! Hope you got to enjoy it and weren't traveling all day...

It's been 36 whole hours since I was at GF. Someone take me backkkkkk.

Sounds as though you've been bitten by the GF bug Was this your first stay there?

...
My favorite thing about GF was the orchestra That was so much fun. We ate at Gasparilla's (not so good), the Cafe (excellent) and Citrico's (beyond excellent). The filet I had at Citrico's was the best meal the entire trip.

I agree about the music in the lobby - I think that's one of the most special things about staying in the main building

 

[roomthreeseventeen]

johnsonet, it was my second visit, but my first since I was 2.5 years old

 

[johnsonet]

johnsonet, it was my second visit, but my first since I was 2.5 years old

Cute!

So - you loved it, obviously. I was just reading a thread on the Restaurants board and people were talking about GF Cafe - I love having a relaxed lunch there in the afternoon. That and afternoon tea at the Garden View Lounge are just soooo relaxing, quiet, but festive. I like it a lot. I was going to stay at the GF in June but changed to Beach Club... I need to get back to the GF sometime soon, though I miss being there

 

[bethclayton]

i only have a sliver of time right now, but i'll write what i can! we stayed march 1-8 at GF RPC, room 4426, and had the time of our lives! it was myself, my dh and kids, and my parents (on their first disney trip ever).

our room location could not be beat, it was right across from the RPC lounge. we stuffed our faces and drank way too much, lol! we had a beautiful view of the feature pool, the beach, and the lagoon. we could see the poly very well and we could also see some of the epcot fireworks. we could hear the piano and the orchestra well, even with the door closed. we had connecting rooms with my parents, much to my mother's relief.

i bugged the concierge staff on the 3rd floor way too many times over way too many silly things (changing reservations, making more reservations, could they help me locate certain things, etc.) and they were so helpful with everything. they were very pleasant. at one point we could not get the battery door open on ds's toy monorail that he had bought at the MK and i went to the concierge to ask if they had a small screwdriver (see, i told you i bugged them over silly things!). the concierge disappeared for about 5 mins and came back with a whole new monorail for him!

the food was amazing and they changed it up enough where we never got bored. we really did eat at the lounge a LOT!

the weather was cold about 4 days out of the 8 but the kids still swam several times. they actually enjoyed the courtyard pool more for some odd reason, i think maybe just because it was so big. it was also definitely warmer. they won first place in the treasure hunt at the themed pool the first day we were there and got very nice prizes! dd loved spending time on the beach playing in the sand.

we enjoyed the campfire one night and stayed for a little bit of the movie. they also did a little dance party during the campfire, which my kids loved.

shopping there was great. i think we shopped every day and still were not bored even on the last day. dining was also wonderful. we ate at narcoosee's and 1900 pf. i really did not like 1900 pf last time we went but they re-did their menu and this time the food was very good. i ate lots of sushi there!

mousekeeping was stellar.

transportation was really .... every time we walked out of the building to the monorail station, the monorail pulled in immediately. the exact same thing happened with the bus, too, with the exception of only one time when we waited maybe 5 mins. the boat was also at the dock already waiting every time except for once, too! it was really weird! we did not share buses, which i was relieved about.

we did the grand 1 yacht one night for fireworks and it was SUCH an experience!

it was just a completely amazing vacation. we had high expectations and it far exceeded them. everyone there was wonderful (including the guests; we met some very nice people!). the room was fantastic and our location could not be beat, as far as i am concerned. the grounds are just gorgeous, and the transportation and proximity to MK were wonderful.

and, btw, apparently we used RAC yesterday- i did not even know it existed (we have always used ME in the past so our luggage was taken care of anyway). the bellhop came and got our luggage and we didn't see it again until we arrived at philadelphia international airport, even though we used a limo and not ME.

thanks to all of you who made me an "expert" on the GF before i even arrived! i've been reading this thread for a year and i'm so glad i can finally contribute!

 

[pixie921]

We ate at Gasparilla's (not so good), the Cafe (excellent) and Citrico's (beyond excellent). The filet I had at Citrico's was the best meal the entire trip.

Can I ask you a question about your Citrico's meal? My dh and I both prefer very simple food (no sauces, etc.) and love a good filet. We've been hesitant to try Citrico's in the past because we felt it might be a bit too upscale for our plain tastes. But your comment has me rethinking that ... it looks like an amazing restaurant and I'd love to try it if we wouldn't be getting in over our heads cuisine-wise, LOL.

Can you (or anyone who's eaten there) give me any guidance? TIA!

 

[roomthreeseventeen]

Can I ask you a question about your Citrico's meal? My dh and I both prefer very simple food (no sauces, etc.) and love a good filet. We've been hesitant to try Citrico's in the past because we felt it might be a bit too upscale for our plain tastes. But your comment has me rethinking that ... it looks like an amazing restaurant and I'd love to try it if we wouldn't be getting in over our heads cuisine-wise, LOL.

Can you (or anyone who's eaten there) give me any guidance? TIA!

My SO has a fairly plain midwestern palate, and he thought his meal (pork, if I recall correctly) was by far the best of the trip, as well.

 

[pixie921]

My SO has a fairly plain midwestern palate, and he thought his meal (pork, if I recall correctly) was by far the best of the trip, as well.

Okay, that sounds good! Thanks for the input.

 

[roomthreeseventeen]

Okay, that sounds good! Thanks for the input.

Oops, actually, he had the chicken breast.

 

[johnsonet]

bethclayton - your trip sounds perfect. That is awesome! Thank you for sharing so many details. Sounds like the GF is in fine form! I'm really happy to hear about the variety in the RPC lounge and the improvements at 1900 PF.
Your rooms sound perfect. I LOVE that location, right off the lobby. Really the best of the best!

 

[roomthreeseventeen]

When we walked into 4309, I thought I was going to die from happiness. Watching the castle turn colors every night was spectacular, and watching it behind the fog every morning was heaven.

 

[BCV23]

We were certainly out of the room... we were just at MK and Epcot, getting our last kicks in!

Sounds like fun!

johnsonet, it was my second visit, but my first since I was 2.5 years old

Aww. Do you have any of those flash early childhood memories of your first trip?

Can I ask you a question about your Citrico's meal? My dh and I both prefer very simple food (no sauces, etc.) and love a good filet. We've been hesitant to try Citrico's in the past because we felt it might be a bit too upscale for our plain tastes. But your comment has me rethinking that ... it looks like an amazing restaurant and I'd love to try it if we wouldn't be getting in over our heads cuisine-wise, LOL.

Can you (or anyone who's eaten there) give me any guidance? TIA!

Citricos like all other WDW restaurants is very accommodating in our experience. Our younger son is a juvenile onset diabetic and we sometimes have to request no BBQ sauce, etc... They're great about it. For instance, there was nothing on the dessert menu that my son could have but Jaimie (sp?), our server said he could get him some sorbet or gelato....I forget which now!

My SO has a fairly plain midwestern palate, and he thought his meal (pork, if I recall correctly) was by far the best of the trip, as well.

Hey, hey, hey....we have all kinds of palates in the mid-West just like the rest of the country.

bethclayton, thanks for sharing your report. Don't you love it when everything goes so well.

Sounds like both you and roomthreeseventeen had perfect locations for your own preferences.

 

[mousefan1972]

i only have a sliver of time right now, but i'll write what i can! we stayed march 1-8 at GF RPC, room 4426, and had the time of our lives! it was myself, my dh and kids, and my parents (on their first disney trip ever).

our room location could not be beat, it was right across from the RPC lounge. we stuffed our faces and drank way too much, lol! we had a beautiful view of the feature pool, the beach, and the lagoon. we could see the poly very well and we could also see some of the epcot fireworks. we could hear the piano and the orchestra well, even with the door closed. we had connecting rooms with my parents, much to my mother's relief.

i bugged the concierge staff on the 3rd floor way too many times over way too many silly things (changing reservations, making more reservations, could they help me locate certain things, etc.) and they were so helpful with everything. they were very pleasant. at one point we could not get the battery door open on ds's toy monorail that he had bought at the MK and i went to the concierge to ask if they had a small screwdriver (see, i told you i bugged them over silly things!). the concierge disappeared for about 5 mins and came back with a whole new monorail for him!

the food was amazing and they changed it up enough where we never got bored. we really did eat at the lounge a LOT!

the weather was cold about 4 days out of the 8 but the kids still swam several times. they actually enjoyed the courtyard pool more for some odd reason, i think maybe just because it was so big. it was also definitely warmer. they won first place in the treasure hunt at the themed pool the first day we were there and got very nice prizes! dd loved spending time on the beach playing in the sand.

we enjoyed the campfire one night and stayed for a little bit of the movie. they also did a little dance party during the campfire, which my kids loved.

shopping there was great. i think we shopped every day and still were not bored even on the last day. dining was also wonderful. we ate at narcoosee's and 1900 pf. i really did not like 1900 pf last time we went but they re-did their menu and this time the food was very good. i ate lots of sushi there!

mousekeeping was stellar.

transportation was really .... every time we walked out of the building to the monorail station, the monorail pulled in immediately. the exact same thing happened with the bus, too, with the exception of only one time when we waited maybe 5 mins. the boat was also at the dock already waiting every time except for once, too! it was really weird! we did not share buses, which i was relieved about.

we did the grand 1 yacht one night for fireworks and it was SUCH an experience!

it was just a completely amazing vacation. we had high expectations and it far exceeded them. everyone there was wonderful (including the guests; we met some very nice people!). the room was fantastic and our location could not be beat, as far as i am concerned. the grounds are just gorgeous, and the transportation and proximity to MK were wonderful.

and, btw, apparently we used RAC yesterday- i did not even know it existed (we have always used ME in the past so our luggage was taken care of anyway). the bellhop came and got our luggage and we didn't see it again until we arrived at philadelphia international airport, even though we used a limo and not ME.

thanks to all of you who made me an "expert" on the GF before i even arrived! i've been reading this thread for a year and i'm so glad i can finally contribute!

So glad you had a good trip! What airline did you fly home? Many already participate in RAC; it was Southwest specifically that does not but it was rumored to have started up at the GF in the last couple of weeks.

 

[minniesota]

bethclayton - Thanks for your report! Sounds like it was perfect!

 

[heatherwillmom]

I am trying to find out the difference in a concierge room & whether or not it is work it.

 

[roomthreeseventeen]

I am trying to find out the difference in a concierge room & whether or not it is work it.

Do you mean worth it? For us, it totally was. When our luggage was missing, Joe from Concierge worked tirelessly and went out of his way to find our bags, and at the same time, make sure we were comfortable. We got fancy new duds for dinner at Citrico's, a bottle of champagne sent to our room, and follow-ups the whole vacation.

 

[pixie921]

Citricos like all other WDW restaurants is very accommodating in our experience. Our younger son is a juvenile onset diabetic and we sometimes have to request no BBQ sauce, etc... They're great about it. For instance, there was nothing on the dessert menu that my son could have but Jaimie (sp?), our server said he could get him some sorbet or gelato....I forget which now!

That's good to know! We're not very adventurous eaters and I'm always hesitant to go to nicer restaurants and potentially be perceived as a "difficult" or "demanding" customer by asking them to prepare things differently/simply for me.

 

[bethclayton]

mousefan, it was us air.