The Grand Floridian is Grander than Ever

[goofie4goofy]

Just returned from a 6 night stay at the Grand Floridian. All I can say is the Grand is Grander than ever. We have stayed at the GF over a dozen times and always CL, but this time was spectacular!

We were upgraded to the Victorian Suite, which was absolutely beautiful. It is huge - 2 bathrooms, 3 balconies, a foyer with hats and canes, a working victrola, a huge bathroom and dressing area with a small flatscreen TV so you can soak in the tub and see the TV a beautiful living area wth surround sound and a big dining table that seats 4. There are sweeping views of WDW from the castle to the Epcot ball.

When we walked into the room all the things I ordered were there. I had ordered flowers thru IPO from the WD Florist. The flowers were soooo beautiful and lasted all week. I did not order anything specific, I just asked for something "festive" and boy did we get that! A huge huge colorful arrangement in a Mickey vase. The golden ears were also there. A few minutes after getting to our room the other things arrived. Chocolate cigars, tuxedo strawberries and Cristal Champagne. All were excellent. I can't decide which is better the cigars or the strawberries. The cigars lasted all week and took 2 home.

The staff at the GF was lovely - professional and friendly. They have also changed the food offerings at the CL for the better. Every night has a different theme, Asian, Mediterrian, Italian, Mexican..etc. We did not have too much because we did n ot want to spoil our dinners each night. But it was much improved from recent years. Also there is now champagne served besides a large selection of wines - very nice touch.

We ate in Citricos 3 times during our stay and the food and service is so great. We also went to V&A's for diner one night and it was just wonderful. Just a hint....never sit under the dome! We had to move our table because we heard everyone's conversation, some of which was quite unpleasant. The other 2 nights we ate at CG and loved that too!

The crowd level was low and walked onto most rides and at the most a 5 minute wait, and that was for Soarin'.

The weather was not bad, it rained a little, but was more comfortable with the clouds than the full sun.

It was a wonderful memorable trip, they all are but this was espically great!

 

[DisneyMomJen]

Wow, what a GREAT upgrade!!! That would be dream come true for me! The Grand Floridian is my favorite resort!

 

[MermaidsMom]

What sort of unpleasant converstion could anyone have while at V&A? This is too juicy to not explain!

 

[Kimberly]

Sounds like another phenominal trip. The GF will always be my favorite disney hotel.

Did you try out the spa?

 

[BCV23]

Glad you had such a great stay and what an upgrade! It is such a beutiful hotel.

I guess we've never been under the dome at V&A because we've never noticed that!

 

[Hollymom1229]

We also got back from GF not to long ago, and I must concur the staff was amazing. This was my first stay there, but I was blown away beginning to end.

 

[KarlaG4Kids]

Would one of you guys that get to stay at GF please adopt me!!!!

 

[Lives4Disney]

Wow! What a fabulous upgrade!!!

Just out of envious curiousity , why/how do you think you received it?? What level room did you have booked??? I want to know your secrets!!

Those things never happen to me. We are returning to WDW over Thanksgiving, but my kids REALLY want to stay at their favorite, the CR. I know I will be missing the GF RPC.

Sounds like you had a wonderful time at my absolute FAVE resort!! Thanks for all the details

Lives4Disney

 

[YCFAN]

I've had the strawberries and loved them but what are the chocolate cigars?

 

[goofie4goofy]

UGGGHHH...there were 2 tables at V&A's that we just did not want to hear. There was one table with an older woman giving greaphic details about her colonoscopy!!!! C'OMON!

The other table had a man with a bad sinus problem and he continued to clear his sinuses and then procedeed to blow his nose in the dinner napkin, which sounded like the QE2 pulling into port. I'm sorry...but when spending over $600 for dinner I certainly do not appreciate hearing either .

We were moved to a table where all we heard was the beautiful harp music

We were upgraded from a honeymoon suite in the main building, in which we always stay. We were quite surprised and were not expecting it at all. I was told it was a thank you for returning to the GF year after year (and sometimes twice a year) I am not sure but I think the hotel has a profile on their guests, so they see how much you spend by the check out amount and where you stay. Most hotels do this so I would also think WDW hotels do this also, so I think the upgrade may be based on that as well. We always do spend a lot of $$. So I guess the secret is, frequent a hotel (or restaurant) spend a lot of money and tip people well (waiters, bellman, housekeeping) and oh yeah SPEND a lot of money! We do get upgraded at other hotels too, and we have recieved bottles of wine or other goodies from restaurants we frequent. I was surprised many people from the GF rememberd us, which was very nice indeed

I know I have said this before , but the hotel is soooo beautiful and the staff is amazing, including the restaurants. The GF went thru a bit of a slump a while back, but is now better than ever. I think it's due to the staff.

There is always the Disney Dilemma...when you are in the parks, you want to be back at the hotel, when at the hotel, you feel like your missing something in the parks.

 

[Lives4Disney]

We were upgraded from a honeymoon suite in the main building, in which we always stay. We were quite surprised and were not expecting it at all. I was told it was a thank you for returning to the GF year after year (and sometimes twice a year) I am not sure but I think the hotel has a profile on their guests, so they see how much you spend by the check out amount and where you stay. Most hotels do this so I would also think WDW hotels do this also, so I think the upgrade may be based on that as well. We always do spend a lot of $$. So I guess the secret is, frequent a hotel (or restaurant) spend a lot of money and tip people well (waiters, bellman, housekeeping) and oh yeah SPEND a lot of money! We do get upgraded at other hotels too, and we have recieved bottles of wine or other goodies from restaurants we frequent. I was surprised many people from the GF rememberd us, which was very nice indeed

Thanks for the tip.

I don't think that works, though. We have been to WDW over 30 times, always frequent our fave deluxes and until last year always paid rack rate (didn't know about codes & didn't buy APs) and spent a fortune. My sister is a concierge at a Ritz resort and she was surprised to find out from speaking with staff at the CR that the WDW resorts don't (well they didn't about 2 yrs ago) keep records of their frequent guests. Maybe this has changed. They sure do at Ritz hotels!

No upgrades came this way!!

Glad you received the royal treatment. It sounds awesome. We were at the GF RPC this past August and I also think the staff was better than ever.

Lives4Disney

 

[Tinkbell]

Nice to hear good reports about the GF again.

Were you in the suite they show on the Travel Channel Great Hotels show? Sounds incredible! Congrats!

 

[BriarRosie]

We were upgraded from a honeymoon suite in the main building, in which we always stay. We were quite surprised and were not expecting it at all. I was told it was a thank you for returning to the GF year after year (and sometimes twice a year) I am not sure but I think the hotel has a profile on their guests, so they see how much you spend by the check out amount and where you stay. Most hotels do this so I would also think WDW hotels do this also, so I think the upgrade may be based on that as well. We always do spend a lot of $$. So I guess the secret is, frequent a hotel (or restaurant) spend a lot of money and tip people well (waiters, bellman, housekeeping) and oh yeah SPEND a lot of money! We do get upgraded at other hotels too, and we have recieved bottles of wine or other goodies from restaurants we frequent. I was surprised many people from the GF rememberd us, which was very nice indeed

I know I have said this before , but the hotel is soooo beautiful and the staff is amazing, including the restaurants. The GF went thru a bit of a slump a while back, but is now better than ever. I think it's due to the staff.

There is always the Disney Dilemma...when you are in the parks, you want to be back at the hotel, when at the hotel, you feel like your missing something in the parks.

I think it's a safe bet you're in the database as a repeat guest. VIP, even.
When I called for a recent modification to an error I found on my confirmation,
the agent at CRO was telling me how many times I've stayed at WDW
resorts. LOL!

Last December, a group of us were able to get a guided tour of some of
the GF suites with the author of the Luxury Guide to WDW, Cara Goldsbury.
I thought the Victorian Suite was the most beautiful, and it was my favorite.
You lucky duck!

I haven't had the pleasure of the "dome" at V&A. I did the Chef's Table
twice, and if you haven't booked it before, call 6 months ahead of
your next trip and do it!

Am I pushy, or what?

 

[goofie4goofy]

Nice to hear good reports about the GF again.

Were you in the suite they show on the Travel Channel Great Hotels show? Sounds incredible! Congrats!

Yes it was that exact room! Even the exact same hats were there. It was just so beautiful. We felt very lucky and very appreciative to have such a beautiful room.

When I was speaking to IPO, they were able to see the rooms we have stayed in for our previous stays, that's why I thought they keep some kind of profile on their guests. I don't know for sure just guessing based on that.

By the way...has anyone ever gone to WDW the week after Thanksgiving??? I am assuming that it would be a good time both crowd wise and weather wise. We would love to go when the weather is a bit cooler, and take in some holiday stuff too!!!

 

[Ladyhawke10]

By the way...has anyone ever gone to WDW the week after Thanksgiving??? I am assuming that it would be a good time both crowd wise and weather wise. We would love to go when the weather is a bit cooler, and take in some holiday stuff too!!!

First, I'm so happy to hear how well your trip went and about that fabulous upgrade! It's also delightful to hear that the gesture was not lost on you. On occasion, you see reports of people who got upgrades and then complained about horrible staff, etc. Not that they don't have a right to complain, but part of me is always wishing...wow, I wish that'd upgrade had come to me--I'd be in heaven It's wonderful that you are able to enjoy life so much AND that you got that incredible suite!

Second, yes, I have gone during the week after Thanksgiving (and stayed well into December). I remember when we checked into GF it was pouring, and we had a couple more days of rain, but overall, the weather was lovely. Slightly cool at night, perfect days...low crowds and holiday decorations. It was perfect!

We have also gone during the week before Thanksgiving and those few days before the school holiday begins have low crowds and (typically) good weather as well. I think that late Nov/ early Dec may be my favorite time to visit based on all factors (value season, crowds, weather,availability, seasonal decorations). Have a great trip! Now that my son is in school, I can't visit during that time anymore

 

[goofie4goofy]

Thanks Ladyhawk

I think we will be going next November. We were there once before thanksgiving and it was great, I do know it gets crazy over thanksgiving week. The heat is tolerable but the humidity is just insane! It's not even like sweat, it's more of a mist that collects on your body and it's just horrible. I can't even imaging what it is like during the summer months OMG! We were lucky to have cloudy days and some rain thanks to hurricane Rita, which we did not mind at all. When the sun was out full blast, it was just way too hot. I would love to go when it's cooler so you can wear shorts and a sweatshirt and not sweat!

 

[Meezers]

I am so happy for you on your upgrade.

Mom and I went on the Monday after Thanksgiving 2 years ago....it was wonderful. The decorations are just fantastic....we stayed at Pop and it was like when I was a little girl. Went over to GF for our ritual breakfast and WOW! Did you know they start working on the gingerbread house around Easter time?

Since we are going to GF and have been seeing alot of unhappy people and poor service posts your thread has done me a world of good....and trust me...today I needed it badly!

 

[Jen D]

Just a hint....never sit under the dome! We had to move our table because we heard everyone's conversation, some of which was quite unpleasant.

The dome is something, isn't it? We were well into the second seating when we heard a man across the way say to his date, as clear as if they were at our table, "Would you calm down? You can have your joint after dinner!"

And when the bill came, another couple, the man saying to the woman in a British accent, "ExPENSE it? We can't ****ing expense it! We have all this ****ing wine and champagne... This is an $800 bill, luv, how can I ****ing expense it!"

When we left I said we'd never do the dome again but my husband said are you kidding, that was the best part!

 

[triplefigs]

Wow! What a fabulous upgrade!!!

Just out of envious curiousity , why/how do you think you received it?? What level room did you have booked??? I want to know your secrets!!

Those things never happen to me. We are returning to WDW over Thanksgiving, but my kids REALLY want to stay at their favorite, the CR. I know I will be missing the GF RPC.

Sounds like you had a wonderful time at my absolute FAVE resort!! Thanks for all the details

Lives4Disney

TRAITOR~~~!!!!! And how dare you go twice before I even go on my first trip!

 

[goofie4goofy]

The dome is something, isn't it? We were well into the second seating when we heard a man across the way say to his date, as clear as if they were at our table, "Would you calm down? You can have your joint after dinner!"

And when the bill came, another couple, the man saying to the woman in a British accent, "ExPENSE it? We can't ****ing expense it! We have all this ****ing wine and champagne... This is an $800 bill, luv, how can I ****ing expense it!"

When we left I said we'd never do the dome again but my husband said are you kidding, that was the best part!

That is so ****ing funny! It is true, it does sound as if these people are sitting right at your table..it's incredible. Gee, you had much more interesting people than we did, we mush have had old ****ers night with the conversation and noises that we heard.


Meezers...you are going to have the best time at the GF. I have never seen the hotel look more lovely. Clean, bright, fresh flowers everywhere and lots of smiles. I kinda didn't want to leave the hotel for the parks it was so nice.

Oh I forgot to add, at the CL, not only do they have better food offerings, but they now serve some of it (the cold food) in small serving dishes. I guess it stops lots of people from picking with their hands and being glutenous. The hot fod is in chafing dishes to keep it hot. It's now on trays in single serving dishes. The food offerings are teriffic, and on asian night, they even had sushi, which was really really good. Also they now have a cappucino/espresso machine, which makes excellent coffee They still have the regular coffee urn too.


Hmmm.... it was such a great trip, I'm ready to go back...just for the hotel