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

[ClareH37]

We experienced the same frustration a few months ago. It seems that Calvin is the only person who handles e-mail. He was out for a couple of days and the mailbox filled up and was actually rejecting messages!

Just keep trying, and you'll get through.

Thanks for explaining, but still not good for the GPI IPO I'll leave a couple more days than hopefully they'll reply.

 

[heatherlynn444]

We experienced the same frustration a few months ago. It seems that Calvin is the only person who handles e-mail. He was out for a couple of days and the mailbox filled up and was actually rejecting messages!

Just keep trying, and you'll get through.

i dealt with a really sweet girl last year named Beth, we emailed multiple times a week and she was always very quick to asnwer and very helpful. i wonder if she is there anymore?

 

[johnsonet]

Happy 4th of July everyone!

I am getting so excited about being back at The Grand I can't wait to hear updates and hopefully see photos from those who are vacationing right now

 

[Jen66]

Happy July 4th!! We will be checking in in just 11 days! I am so excited!

 

[LoveThatDarnMouse]

We're right behind you, checking in in 16 days! Woohhoooo!

As far as rehabbed rooms, has the Boca Chica building been refurbished yet?

 

[mlill]

We (myself and my new bride) will be Disneymooning starting on 7/16. If we see the "new and improved" we will get and post pics at some point

Congratulations! I hope you have a wonderful Disneymoon at the GF! I look forward to hearing about your stay when you get back!


Happy 4th of July everyone!

-Michelle

P.S. I heard from Channing, and they made it to WDW safe & sound. They should be moving to the YC today. I can't wait to see pics of Kelly & Channing at the GF!

 

[TammiMcMan]

Erika, from what's been reported, Sago Cay was shut down entirely for room rehab and Conch Key seems to be next, although there have been reports that they are working on that building floor by floor. No news that Boca Chica has been started yet.

****ALERT**** Okay, here's an assignment for anyone currently at the GF or going soon.... another DIS'er has a question about the hours of operation for the cruise desk at the GF. Any help you can offer, is greatly appreciated!

 

[lynr]

Just wanted to let everyone know I just heard back from IPO "Calvin". I guess he was off for a few days. It seems like he is the only one that is answering emails.

Lyn

 

[BCV23]

Happy 4th everyone!

Lucky people to be going so soon! I hope Kelly and Channing and families are having a ball.

Tammi, I hadn't read that Sago Cay was completely shut down. Other than SL, I though it was all supposed to be floor by floor. Is Sago Cay open again?

 

[TammiMcMan]

Tammi, I hadn't read that Sago Cay was completely shut down. Other than SL, I though it was all supposed to be floor by floor. Is Sago Cay open again?

I may have made an assumption on this building. Initially it was reported that buildings would be taken out of commission while the rehab was being done. That's why I was very surprised when returning guests reported rehabs taking place on the floor above them in Conch Key.

 

[Tinkaroo]

Happy Fourth of July everyone!

I sure hope we hear something from the GF'ers currently at the World soon. We're waiting....

 

[DizMom11]

Does anyone have an idea of what the updated rooms will look like?

 

[matsterrocks]

Any chance you guys can start this thread over again there is just too much info to read through and don't know whats up to date or not as the thread started 3 years ago???????

 

[mirlow]

I'm back on board at the GF. We originally booked SL for a few nights at the end of our Polynesian stay. Then I saw that there was availability for our family of five at the AKL so I booked that instead. I was looking forward to staying there one last time before the DVC takes over all the Deluxe rooms. Well I got the call today. They offered SSR but I said no. I told him we really wanted to stay in CL so he gave us SL for the same price we were paying for our Deluxe SV CL room.

Now I'm really interested in finding out about the rehab for SL. I can't wait until Kelly gets back. Plus I really want to hear what she has to say about SL this time around.

 

[mirlow]

I've been wondering about this and would like to get this all figured out (if I could). It seems like there have been so many conflicting stories about the rehab at the GF. Who do you think would have the best info? Would Guest Services have a clue? I'm wondering if I should call the guy back who I was dealing with about our AKL switch? Would IPO have any idea?
I really don't want to end up in a makeshift concierge. It was already small enough in SL to begin with. Then again maybe it wouldn't be so bad if there were MK views? We like to spend time hanging out at the resort and the lounge. SL is my least favorite lounge for doing that, but I deal with it because I really enjoy the GF and enjoy the convenience of concierge.
I'm just tired of making plans and then having to change them

 

[TammiMcMan]

This is purely speculation on my part, but my guess is that they are either going to take over Sago Cay for concierge or wait until Conch Key is finished and use that one. We were there during the last renovation in 2000(?) and initially we were told by IPO that we would be in Conch Key. A few days before we arrived, they re-opened Sugar Loaf and we were able to check into a newly renovated room. The lobbys of the buildings are the same size, so I wouldn't be overly concerned that you're losing space in the lounge. They'll probably just move the lounge furniture from one building to the other. It was pretty seamless when we went through it. Construction schedules do vary and probably nothing will be confirmed until your close to your arrival date. Maybe Kelly will have some more info when she gets back.

 

[mirlow]

I don't think it would be bad being in Conch Key. It would be nice to get a new room! I thought that SL was a little bigger because they took out the laundry to make room for the CM's desks? That's the space of a couple of tables.
One of the perks for me with concierge is knowing we'll be in a specific building. I have no desire to be in Sago Cay since our family spends so much time at the pool and the beach. I know the walk isn't that much more, but I like having the convenience of the lounge right there if I want to grab something.


It always works out

 

[Lives4Disney]

Hi, guys!

OK....Sago is open but they are definitely working on it. I could see construction even from the outside from my beautfiul 4405 balcony.

Conch is having furniture removed daily.

Contrary to previous postss RPC has not been worked on at all. They told me that the main building would be last and that they are now predicting Nov/Dec - which seems odd, but that's what the latest news seems to be. Of course the CMs are as much in the dark as we are, I think.

Kelly is having lots of fun. We met a couple days ago and sat and chatted for hours in the RPC lounge. It was great. We both saw Joan Rivers in the lounge in RPC. She was staying in the Walt suite while we were there. Kelly and I were talking and Joan came strolling down the hallway to get coffee.

We are now at the YC. We have a great room with a pretty view. It is a GV but looks toward the pier & lighthouse and the lake and SAB. It wasn't what the front desk wanted to give me, but it's what I wound up with haha.

No rehab pics. I didn't have time to really scout it out. Sorry. I think I'd really have to be a pushy snoop to get some! Maybe Kelly will come thru, but I don't know........

I did get those things sent out yesterday, IMGONNABE40.

Well, the GF is beautiful as ever. I had FABULOUS service from concierge and housekeeping all around. GREAT GREAT GREAT time. I LOVE that place - we all do in my family. We had a bubbly girl meet us at the curb. She took us up to the desks to check us in as our room wasn't ready. For some reason, another new curbsider did the check in.....Mejay and Dan were off and Vonnie and Joe hadn't started their shifts yet. Anyway.....I could tell she was inexperienced. It just wasn't the same professional check in. No itinerary printed and no info given - not that we needed it, lol, but it was a bit lacking. Then, I go down to buy some $9.99 item from M. Mercantile a couple hrs later and my room charge card was denied. (Loser) By this time the great concierge CMs were on duty so I felt confident it would be fixed....she found that the lady that checked us in used my room charge to pay for the room, haha....well, there went that bit of fun money on my card. It was fixed quickly and then the concierge CM walked us down to the store to make sure the charge went thru. We had turndown every night w/out any calls and they did have the larger, Belgian chocolates wrapped in the pretty GF pic paper. I have always had turndown every night there - no problems except a couple Tgiving stays ago no chocolates, which was strange. YC....I requested turndown til we check out. Had it last nt,(surprised me that it even did happen) but we just got back tonight it wasn't done. Unfortunately, when I originally called, the housekeeper did not even seem to speak English. She had no idea what turndown was, either. I have always had the best housekeeping at GF. To those of you going soon - you will LOVE it.

They have the H2O products here at YC, but they are different color and scent. Very nice, though! I tipped the housekeeper today and she left us lots!

Happy planning! Having a blast here.

Lives4Disney

 

[Tinkaroo]

Hi, guys!

OK....Sago is open but they are definitely working on it. I could see construction even from the outside from my beautfiul 4405 balcony.

Conch is having furniture removed daily.

Contrary to previous postss RPC has not been worked on at all. They told me that the main building would be last and that they are now predicting Nov/Dec - which seems odd, but that's what the latest news seems to be. Of course the CMs are as much in the dark as we are, I think.

Kelly is having lots of fun. We met a couple days ago and sat and chatted for hours in the RPC lounge. It was great. We both saw Joan Rivers in the lounge in RPC. She was staying in the Walt suite while we were there. Kelly and I were talking and Joan came strolling down the hallway to get coffee.

We are now at the YC. We have a great room with a pretty view. It is a GV but looks toward the pier & lighthouse and the lake and SAB. It wasn't what the front desk wanted to give me, but it's what I wound up with haha.

No rehab pics. I didn't have time to really scout it out. Sorry. I think I'd really have to be a pushy snoop to get some! Maybe Kelly will come thru, but I don't know........

I did get those things sent out yesterday, IMGONNABE40.

Well, the GF is beautiful as ever. I had FABULOUS service from concierge and housekeeping all around. GREAT GREAT GREAT time. I LOVE that place - we all do in my family. We had a bubbly girl meet us at the curb. She took us up to the desks to check us in as our room wasn't ready. For some reason, another new curbsider did the check in.....Mejay and Dan were off and Vonnie and Joe hadn't started their shifts yet. Anyway.....I could tell she was inexperienced. It just wasn't the same professional check in. No itinerary printed and no info given - not that we needed it, lol, but it was a bit lacking. Then, I go down to buy some $9.99 item from M. Mercantile a couple hrs later and my room charge card was denied. (Loser) By this time the great concierge CMs were on duty so I felt confident it would be fixed....she found that the lady that checked us in used my room charge to pay for the room, haha....well, there went that bit of fun money on my card. It was fixed quickly and then the concierge CM walked us down to the store to make sure the charge went thru. We had turndown every night w/out any calls and they did have the larger, Belgian chocolates wrapped in the pretty GF pic paper. I have always had turndown every night there - no problems except a couple Tgiving stays ago no chocolates, which was strange. YC....I requested turndown til we check out. Had it last nt,(surprised me that it even did happen) but we just got back tonight it wasn't done. Unfortunately, when I originally called, the housekeeper did not even seem to speak English. She had no idea what turndown was, either. I have always had the best housekeeping at GF. To those of you going soon - you will LOVE it.

They have the H2O products here at YC, but they are different color and scent. Very nice, though! I tipped the housekeeper today and she left us lots!

Happy planning! Having a blast here.

Lives4Disney

Yay - finally a report!

Glad you guys are having a great time, and thanks for the scoop, although I agree, it doesn't sound like anyone really knows what is going on down there. It would be nice to get a picture of those darn rooms! Maybe one of these days Disney will stop being so secretive about this refurb!

I certainly hope they're not doing RPC during the holiday season - that seems quite counter-productive, IMO. If there will be a lot of construction going on, don't know how I'll feel about paying those rates. I'd rather keep the rooms as they are now (I still think they're lovely) than deal with sawdust and hammering while I'm trying to enjoy the orchestra and Xmas tree!

 

[Dis Ohana]

Lives4Disney: Glad to hear you're having a good time! We're doing the YC after our RPC visit too, I was hoping it wouldn't be a let down. I asked IPO a couple of weeks ago about the construction while we are there in Dec - he wrote back to assure me that the main building would be done by August. Who knows?
Have a wonderful stay and don't forget to tell all when you get home!