The *New* Disney's Grand Floridian Resort & Spa Frequently Asked Questions (FEB2004) Part 2

[Alicnwondrln]

thanks channing
if i could get rpc i would try it
the grounds and most of the staff were lovely
i wasnt the only one having issues
there were others and many people were unhappy
there was a family left waiting longer than i was and they had 2 small kids
SL seemed very busy and unorganized
its just not big enough to accomdate everyone breakfast time was nuts one morning i was leaving at 7am and there were already people down there waiting for breakfast

 

[Alicnwondrln]

i also wanted to add robert and paul were great
there were issues with flight checkins due to the bd weather in the north and robert tried for over 30 min and called jetblue for us he went above and beyond

paul was great and got us some nice brekafast ressies at gf cafe tuesday a.m

also i spoke with several waiters and waitresses who said then new menus are bombing everywhere and the old are still available if REQUESTED but they arent volunterring that info

 

[twinmum]

Alicenwonrdln: I'm sorry your stay was disappointing. You may have read my posts here and I'm still shaking off that "gee, it would have been so easy to make us all SO happy, why did this have to happen?" feeling.

I wonder how many CMs and in particular, I wonder if the concierge managers check out these boards to hear what is being said about their resorts, service, CM's etc. There's a lot of info here. Of course, first hand experience with guests is best, but...

I think I was most upset because I really don't know when we'll manage another visit. There are so many folks on the boards who seem to go multiple times a year or even once a year. That's just not going to happen for us. I can't justify WDW when we pay thousands for therapy for our son. Whoops - whining alert! Time for me to slpa on a smile and get moving!

Hope you have happy memories for other aspects of your trip. We do!

Twinmum

 

[Lives4Disney]

Alicenwonrdln: I'm sorry your stay was disappointing. You may have read my posts here and I'm still shaking off that "gee, it would have been so easy to make us all SO happy, why did this have to happen?" feeling.

I wonder how many CMs and in particular, I wonder if the concierge managers check out these boards to hear what is being said about their resorts, service, CM's etc. There's a lot of info here. Of course, first hand experience with guests is best, but...

I think I was most upset because I really don't know when we'll manage another visit. There are so many folks on the boards who seem to go multiple times a year or even once a year. That's just not going to happen for us. I can't justify WDW when we pay thousands for therapy for our son. Whoops - whining alert! Time for me to slpa on a smile and get moving!

Hope you have happy memories for other aspects of your trip. We do!

Twinmum

Twinmum, they do read these boards. I KNOW for a FACT. I think you should write a letter to the GF manager, Kent Mitchell and address it to the GF main address. Let him know what confusion occurred and other issues you had.

Good luck. I hate feeling the way you are feeling. It is a shame and the mistake shouldn't have happened.


PS. I edited this to add, Kelly - you should write, too. At least you'll get it out there and can move on a bit. I know after our BWI bust of a stay I received the dumb questionnaire postcard in the mail. I coudln't wait to go online and answer their little questions. I had a good time venting. I never heard back, but that just speaks for BWI IMO, as we did deal with managers while we were there, but over and over they would leave (go home) and drop the ball w/out informing the next on duty! Hope you write and it helps resolve your feelings at least - maybe more.

Channing aka Lives4Disney

 

[Alicnwondrln]

i feel they more than made it right giving me that huge credit was more than i expected
i said my peace there and its done with
time to move on to planning the next one

 

[Lives4Disney]

i feel they more than made it right giving me that huge credit was more than i expected
i said my peace there and its done with
time to move on to planning the next one

Oh yeah, I forgot about that credit. And the fact that the worst CM is actually gone. It is just too bad that this was your (well pretty much) first impression of the GF. (and IPO was lame too)

Channing

 

[goofie4goofy]

i feel they more than made it right giving me that huge credit was more than i expected
i said my peace there and its done with
time to move on to planning the next one

I read your posts and I am so sorry about your very disappointing trip. I know what that's like...we have had our share as well. The GF is still my favorite WDW resort (Poly 2nd) and have always stayed RPC. I have found over the years of staying there that the employees that have been there for years are teriffic. I have found some CM's just don't know or care how to treat guests. They forget that customer service means everything and staying at the GF is very very costly.

I have found the GF RPC to be hot and cold service wise too. They go thru great phases and not so great. This past September I was trying to call IPO for weeks and cound not get thru....no one ever called me back or answered my e-mails. It was just horrible. We were staying at the CR but the GF and CR have the same IPO. We are going to the GF in a few weeks and are NOT staying CL but just a lagoon view room.

The best thing you did was speaking directly to a manager while you were there. Too many people don't speak up or wait till they get home to deal with it.

 

[triplefigs]

Kelly, I'm so sorry you had problems at SL! We really had a great time there in December, and Robert was wonderful. I hope that your next trip is much better. We had a good time in the CR Atrium Club in Sept, but not good enough to pay for a CL room again. Next time, we're going with a regular room and splurging on Room Service and Private Dining goodies instead.

 

[Alicnwondrln]

thanks triplefigs
i loved the grounds and most of the other staff was great
they went above and beyond in fixing the issue
if i could rpc i would stay there again

 

[tenbelow]

Greetings,

Just wondering if the valet parking was worth the extra cost.

Since this is our first stay at the GF I am unsure whether I should "self park" or use the valet service. Is the self parking lot conviently located or is it a long haul to/from check in/out? Walking isn't an issue, so much as having to drag our luggage a long distance. Please share your GF valet experiences and thoughts.



Thanks,
Mike

 

[Lives4Disney]

Greetings,

Just wondering if the valet parking was worth the extra cost.

Since this is our first stay at the GF I am unsure whether I should "self park" or use the valet service. Is the self parking lot conviently located or is it a long haul to/from check in/out? Walking isn't an issue, so much as having to drag our luggage a long distance. Please share your GF valet experiences and thoughts.



Thanks,
Mike

We have self parked once at GF and used to almost always when we stayed CR. It was convenient at CR esp if we needed to grab something extra out of the car. It can be a haul at GF. This is what we did, though......my DH dropped me and our kids off infront of GF with our luggage and as bell services loaded the luggage onto a cart, he went and parked. Bell services will ask what you want to do, valet or self, and give you a parking "permit" to put in your windshield. So, I am not even exactly sure WHERE the selfpark lot is, but I have read it's across the road from GF. I don't remember why we didn't valet park during that stay. We did the same type of thing in reverse when checking out. It really isn't a hassle at all (well it wasn't for me, lol, as I got dropped in front)

Happy planning,

Lives4Disney

 

[Alicnwondrln]

self park is VERY VERY FAR from the main building
across a parking lot and then across the road thru a set of gates
I would valet if i were you

 

[TammiMcMan]

The self park lot is a little ways past the main GF entrance, on the left. Walking at Disney World is sort of relative, so a few minutes to get your car is not a big deal to many. The problem is the availability of spots. I'm not sure if they are still allowing the staff to park there, but there have been times when we've driven around waiting for something to open up.

If you aren't planning on using your car very much while on vacation, I'd leave it in self park. As Channing suggested, simply drop your family and the luggage off at the main entrance, follow the driveway around to the left and when you come to the set of lights at the end of the driveway, you're going to go straight across into the self parking lot. If you do plan to use the car daily though, that $9 valet fee is worthwhile in my opinion.

 

[profolly]

Hi Guys
Am reading with great interest all your comments on GF Jo my daughter and I are travelling for the first time to WDW staying at GF next october can you confirm that standard rooms are called garden rooms as well . Whats the chance that if I request a ground floor room in a quiet area ( Jo is 23 but has fibro myalgia) GF will try their best for me ?

Profolly x

 

[jtlover]

Hi Guys
Am reading with great interest all your comments on GF Jo my daughter and I are travelling for the first time to WDW staying at GF next october can you confirm that standard rooms are called garden rooms as well . Whats the chance that if I request a ground floor room in a quiet area ( Jo is 23 but has fibro myalgia) GF will try their best for me ?

Profolly x

I am sure they will - we were upgraded from Garden View (standard) to a lagoon view - it is a beautiful resort.

 

[disyady]

Hi Guys
Am reading with great interest all your comments on GF Jo my daughter and I are travelling for the first time to WDW staying at GF next october can you confirm that standard rooms are called garden rooms as well . Whats the chance that if I request a ground floor room in a quiet area ( Jo is 23 but has fibro myalgia) GF will try their best for me ?

Profolly x

The standard rooms are called garden view at the GF. We have stayed there 3 times since 2003 and have always gotten our requested non-smoking 1st floor room. Our stays were all during the last half of August (not very busy) but this year we transferred to the GF unexpectedly and they still honored our request even though it was the same day. You will love this resort - have a grand stay!

 

[MinnieSummer]

What building would you recommend for a family travelling with an 8 year old and an 82 year old. One will be going to the park every day and the other will be going once or twice during the entire stay. We want to be close to the monorail, lobby and pool. Wheelchair access is also very important. Any suggestions?

 

[Misti]

What building would you recommend for a family travelling with an 8 year old and an 82 year old. One will be going to the park every day and the other will be going once or twice during the entire stay. We want to be close to the monorail, lobby and pool. Wheelchair access is also very important. Any suggestions?

Big Pine Key is the closest lodge building to the pool and main building. Sago Cay is probably closest to the bus stop and 24 hour fast-food/arcade area. I would think that overall Big Pine Key might be the most convenient for your needs.

 

[tenbelow]

Hi Lives4Disney, Kelly and Tammy,

Thank you all for your thoughtful replies regarding self parking vs. valet parking at GF. We don't plan on using the car much during this trip so I think I will go with the plan of dropping luggage and DW off at the main entrance and finding a space in self park. Since we are going during "value" season 11/28 to 12/3, I'll cross my fingers that there will be some available spaces.

Thanks again to all for taking the time to share their Disney tips & knowledge.

Mike

 

[disyady]

The worst part of self-parking is trudging out to get your car on the day you leave. We valet parked the last two visits and they only charged us when we actually used the service. In our case that meant the day we put the car in upon arrival and took it out on departure. That meant $7/day X 2 = $14 + tip on our trip this year.