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

[krbq]

At present they seem to be using both "MK" and "Theme Park" views, it just depends on the source. On the website one page lists the room rates for 2007 broken down into standard, garden view, lagoon view, Magic Kingdom view, lodge tower, suites, and so on. Another page describes the views: lagoon view and garden view, no mention of theme park or MK. When I punched in the dates for our visit I got an offer for lagoon view or theme park view, nothing else. When I called CRO, I was told that for our dates they have availability in MK view, lagoon view, garden view, standard, but all concierge was completely booked. (Of course, I was calling because by then I had decided to change our ressies to RPC.)

 

[TammiMcMan]

I think this is really just a case of semantics. The Magic Kingdom is technically one of the theme parks. Maybe they were getting complaints from guests who define the MK as Cinderella's castle, or they just wanted to expand on the definition to include views of Spaceship Earth within the Epcot theme park. Unfortunately, they've now added the same layer of confusion that they have with concierge vs club level and guest services vs lobby concierge. They aren't doing themselves any favors here.

 

[KristenHoneymooner]

Hi,

I'll be staying at GF in August and I find myself needing to consult the DIS GF experts! I have read the last 50 or so pages of this thread, but I don't know how accurate the information from several years ago is.

I thought I'd ask a little question that might be important to my fiance. Someone on another thread (the one asking if GF was "worth it", I believe) said the GF has teeny tiny TVs (20 inches or so, smaller than moderate hotels, etc.). Is this true? I can't believe that the most expensive hotel on property would have poorer amenities than the much cheaper places.

Thanks,
Kristen

 

[Tinkaroo]

Hi,

I'll be staying at GF in August and I find myself needing to consult the DIS GF experts! I have read the last 50 or so pages of this thread, but I don't know how accurate the information from several years ago is.

I thought I'd ask a little question that might be important to my fiance. Someone on another thread (the one asking if GF was "worth it", I believe) said the GF has teeny tiny TVs (20 inches or so, smaller than moderate hotels, etc.). Is this true? I can't believe that the most expensive hotel on property would have poorer amenities than the much cheaper places.

Thanks,
Kristen

The GF has just started rehabbing the guest rooms, and are transitioning to the newer flat screen TV's that the Poly, CR, and WL have received in the last year or so (if you go back a few pages, you will see a post by mlill with a link to another post here on the Resorts Board with the 1st pics of a refurbished room). However, you're probably most likely to get a room that has not been refurbished yet (just given the percentage of the resort that is already complete), and so you could end up with one of the smaller TV's, which was the norm across the whole resort until a couple of years ago. (Disney really doesn't want you in your room, watching TV!)

You can see an eBay listing of a current TV armoire on eBay here, and they quote the opening for the TV at about 20-21": http://cgi.ebay.com/DISNEYS-GRAND-F...69QQihZ002QQcategoryZ1380QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

 

[KristenHoneymooner]

The GF has just started rehabbing the guest rooms, and are transitioning to the newer flat screen TV's that the Poly, CR, and WL have received in the last year or so (if you go back a few pages, you will see a post by mlill with a link to another post here on the Resorts Board with the 1st pics of a refurbished room). However, you're probably most likely to get a room that has not been refurbished yet (just given the percentage of the resort that is already complete), and so you could end up with one of the smaller TV's, which was the norm across the whole resort until a couple of years ago. (Disney really doesn't want you in your room, watching TV!)

You can see an eBay listing of a current TV armoire on eBay here, and they quote the opening for the TV at about 20-21": http://cgi.ebay.com/DISNEYS-GRAND-F...69QQihZ002QQcategoryZ1380QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

Thanks for the quick response! I wouldn't care about the TV, but my Sweetie will need to watch ESPN to keep up with sports scores

 

[KristenHoneymooner]

Another quick question from a Disneyworld newbie! It occurred to me that, regardless of TV size, my fiance could check on sports scores in the newspaper. Does the Grand Floridian deliver a newspaper to every room each morning, or otherwise offer a free paper?

Thanks

 

[BCV23]

USA Today outside your door M-F. On the weekends, you can buy a paper at Sandy Cove in the main building.

 

[Lives4Disney]

Lives4Disney,
The hammerhead rooms are not considered GV rooms - either theme park view or lagoon view. There are hammerhead rooms in Boca Chica that look directly onto Narcoossee's, but since one of the balconies looks onto the Seven Seas Lagoon, they are not GV rooms. About half of Boca Chica GVs have a great view of the pool, but the other half are looking on to the back of the pool bar. Big Pine is the same. We like the rooms in Big Pine that end in -02, -04, -06, 08, or 10. These rooms have a near clear view of the pool and they are at the end of Big Pine closest to the beach and the main building. The other half of Big Pine GVs have the back-of-the-pool-bar view. Most of the other rooms in Big Pine are lagoon view - across to the Poly and the Wedding Chapel. The other rooms look across to the Contemporary and if you look left you can see the castle and Space Mountain.

DisneyDoogie, thanks for all that great info. I requested Sago & a hammerhead room (now I know THAT request is out, lol) originally with CRO just for the Gaspie proximity and main building entrance near by. I also thought somebody said there was a little pathway to the buses from Sago so it seems very convenient location....I thought to steer clear of BPine and Boca Chica knowing with my luck I'd wind up with that view of the pool building roof or Heather's dumpster view in Conch. My experience will all the resort (except GF RPC) has been that the room assigners don't pay attention to requests anyway.....they'll look at my silly Sago/Hammerhead request and laugh. Actually I know any of the buildings would be great just because I love the GF, but Sago seems a good choice for us. Now after coming home from another wonderful RPC stay I am just itching to upgrade my ressie - but nothing but GV available. It is a great deal I have on GV so hopefully my upgrade itch will pass.

Lives4Disney

 

[hmp2z]

We just bought & had delivered to us a desk, chair, and armchair from the GF rooms being refurbished. They're selling off the Conch Key furniture right now, and Conch Key is the only building besides the main lodge that we've stayed in, so we thought it was appropriate that we get the furniture. Our house here in FL is nearly complete (whoopee!), so it was good timing for us. Now our library will have a small flavor of the GF.

We wanted the armoire, but, with the way our guest bedroom is laid out with a bay window, there wasn't any good place to put the armoire there that wouldn't block the view of our lovely oaks.

Cheers!
Heather W

 

[sadiegene]

Are there any temporary, check-in parking spots at the Grand Floridian? I was wondering if we will have to park in the self-parking lot, walk all the way to the lobby, check-in, and then walk all the way back out to self-parking to put our parking pass in the window. If that's the case, I think we'll just valet.

 

[KristenHoneymooner]

USA Today outside your door M-F. On the weekends, you can buy a paper at Sandy Cove in the main building.

Thanks so much! That sounds just perfect!

Yet another question -- does GF have refillable mugs, and, if so, where can they be refilled? I have heard that at some other resorts you have to wait in line for a CS restaurant just to get your mug refilled, which doesn't sound worth it.

Thanks,
Kristen

 

[TammiMcMan]

Are there any temporary, check-in parking spots at the Grand Floridian? I was wondering if we will have to park in the self-parking lot, walk all the way to the lobby, check-in, and then walk all the way back out to self-parking to put our parking pass in the window. If that's the case, I think we'll just valet.

When you arrive at the GF, you want to pull into the resort driveway. The security guard on duty will give you your parking pass to put on your windshield. Continue to drive forward under the port cochere and you can unload your luggage and family there. When you're done, you can either drive out and across the street to self parking, or let the valet park it for you.

 

[BCV23]

Kristen, mugs are sold in Gasparilla's. I think you can also refill them at the pool bars but I'm not certain of that. At Gaspy's you refill them yourself and I've never seen more than a second or two wait while someone ahead of you fills their mug.

Channing, yes, there is a back walkway near Sago Cay. It is a shortcut to the convention center, buses or walkway to self parking. But it gives you a glimpse of backstage and you need to be careful as that is where delivery trucks, garbage trucks etc enter the GF.

Can someone 'splain to me the location of the dumpster that Heather saw from Conch Key. We've stayed in Conch Key three times and have dined (or lunched) at Narcoossee's dozens of times and I just can't picture a dumpster much less a road for a garbage truck to use. Senior moment I guess.

 

[HockeyMomR]

We just returned last night from a renovated Magic Kingdom View room in Conch Key #7429. Beautiful view, I don't have anything to compare the new room to as this was our first stay at GF. Pictures to come if none have been posted to date, I have been away from the boards as we were at Disney for 8 days (first 6 nights at Yacht Club).

 

[Tinkaroo]

We just returned last night from a renovated Magic Kingdom View room in Conch Key #7429. Beautiful view, I don't have anything to compare the new room to as this was our first stay at GF. Pictures to come if none have been posted to date, I have been away from the boards as we were at Disney for 8 days (first 6 nights at Yacht Club).

We'd love to see your pictures! Hope you had a nice stay at the GF!

 

[TammiMcMan]

Can someone 'splain to me the location of the dumpster that Heather saw from Conch Key. We've stayed in Conch Key three times and have dined (or lunched) at Narcoossee's dozens of times and I just can't picture a dumpster much less a road for a garbage truck to use. Senior moment I guess.

If you're having a senior moment, then I am too, because I can't remember any dumpsters around Conch Key. I just looked up the satellite view of the resort and there appears to be a dumpster on the side of the convention center, which I believe may be viewable from a few of the rooms in Sago Cay. I looked through some of my resort photos and couldn't find anything either. Maybe it was a temporary thing due to a rehab... perhaps during the time the lobby's were being done over???

 

[Lives4Disney]

We just returned last night from a renovated Magic Kingdom View room in Conch Key #7429. Beautiful view, I don't have anything to compare the new room to as this was our first stay at GF. Pictures to come if none have been posted to date, I have been away from the boards as we were at Disney for 8 days (first 6 nights at Yacht Club).

Hope you had a nice time! We did a YC/GF split the first week of July and I think that is a good fit for our family and that may become our standard plan. We enjoyed both resorts.....did just garden view at YC and that was fine and concierge at GF is always wonderful.

Can't wait to see your pics.

BCV, thanks for that pathway info.

Heather, that is neat that you will have part of the GF with you in your home....I had my eye on a few items but most are pickup only. Enjoy!

Kristen, It is just like BCV said....You just help yourself at the GF. At YC I saw a huge line at B & C with folks wanting to refill their mugs - they had to wait for the CMs behind the soda fountain counter to do it. I think at BW you wait in line at the Bakery too so that the CMs do the refilling. GF is easy!

Lives4Disney

 

[TheLastPrincess]

I am just poking my head in because I love the GF more than anyplace else in the entire world!!! When I'm there, I feel like I am REALLY at WDW. Probably because that was the first place we stayed when I was a kid. I remember sitting on the swing at the beach, listening to the whipporwhill with my mommy....SIGH. GOOD TIMES.

 

[Alicnwondrln]

hey does anyone know when sugar loaf is getting rehabbed
I booked Spet 7-10 at the GF sugar loaf but I dont wanna be their ifs it gonna be under construction.

anyone ....

 

[Lives4Disney]

I am just poking my head in because I love the GF more than anyplace else in the entire world!!! When I'm there, I feel like I am REALLY at WDW. Probably because that was the first place we stayed when I was a kid. I remember sitting on the swing at the beach, listening to the whipporwhill with my mommy....SIGH. GOOD TIMES.

That is so cute. CR was our family resort & it holds so many fun memories....I remember so much about it from 30 yrs ago (even the blue shag carpet ) and how it has changed!!! I also remember hanging out with my sister and mom and dad on hammocks on the Poly beach -when people still windsurfed there & watching - and taking our shoes off to wade in that water. .I remember staying at teh CR watching the GF being built across the Seven Seas Lagoon. The GF seemed so frou frou to me and blah I honestly never had the urge to stay there (crazy, but true - it seemed so vanilla)....the CR was so exciting and fun back then....then one fall I booked a last minute Thanksgiving trip, CR & Poly were full so we "settled" for GF. We/ve been hooked ever since.

Lives4Disney