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

[Alicnwondrln]

Breaking news!!! RPC IS UNDER REHAB NOW!!!!

Just found out that they are NOW doing RPC .....they are working on the 5th floor and the lounge. The lounge is now temporarily on the 3rd floor.

Whooohooo!!! Wish I had a RPC ressie for Novemeber.

Kelly, YC is fun.....not sure about the concierge, though.

Denise, I have an AP...let me know if you want something checked on.

Happy planning,

Lives4Disney

Wow thats great news.
I know I am nervous but oh well.

 

[triplefigs]

Can I book that without an AP (I would buy one)? Do you call CRO? I was thinking of buying the DDE as well. Boy, the RPC is so TEMPTING!

 

[lynr]

Anyone here have an AP and be willing to check availability (all categories) for Sept 22-29? A split stay is a possibility too (either at the end or beginning of the trip).

I was having a lot of trouble with the website but it finally came up with a price for your dates.

Deluxe RPC for 9/22 - 9/29 2 adults 3 kids $3626
Standard RPC $2828


Lyn

 

[TxTiggergal]

So glad you had a great time!!!

One question, if you don't mind.... What is a Lodge tower room? Or better question would be what level room did you book? Was it GV or LV? I know Sago isn't a Conceirge level so I assumed you booked one of those two views. Just trying to get an idea if a Lodge room is different in some way.

I specifically booked the lodge tower room. They would all be considered a garden view, although from Sago, the tower rooms have a view of the marina. There is some info on this thread and excellent photos of lodge tower rooms that came up when I searched the boards prior to our trip. (BTW..thanks to all of you experts who have taken the time to post all this good stuff!)

We loved having the little sitting area. It was so nice to have somewhere to hang out other than the bed! On several afternoons, my DD was napping in the bed area and I enjoyed sitting on the couch with my feet propped up.

From our balcony, we could see the marina and all its watercraft. That yacht is gorgeous and I was coveting a trip on it! We could also see Gasparillas and that backside of the main building. We could not see MK from the balcony BUT if we looked out the window behind the couch in the octoganal sitting area, we could see Space Mountain. There were no high fireworks visible from our balcony, but we could barely make out the electric water pageant through the trees. Twice we watched Wishes from the sitting area at the marina where the umbrella tables are. The sound was piped in and it was great. One funny thing did happen out there one night during Wishes...we saw a teeny tiny snake, about the size of a pencil, scurry across the sidewalk into the bushes!!

Mousekeeping was good overall. They kept the room clean and well stocked. We did have one small issue with them, which had to do with the scheduling of the cleaning. To best accomodate our schedule, I had requested our room be made up before noon. And we were trying to be flexible about it by just giving a range...we just wanted it done by noon. On at least two of the days, it didn't happen. I feel 100% certain that the girls working the housekeeping phones put in my request...but the actual mousekeepers couldn't/wouldn't do it. The 2 girls I worked with were Robin and Sumitri (I'm sure I'm butchering her name, but it was something close to that.) They couldn't believe that it wasn't happening and were super nice and helpful and relayed the incidents to the manager. So what happened on those days, was that they had to do it while we were out for dinner that evening. Then ironically enough, on our checkout day, I had gone with the bellman, around 10:00, to the resort airline checkin desk and left DD, who is 16, in the room to finish getting ready. (Teen girl--takes forever ) While I was gone, she told me the mousekeeper knocked on the door and wanted to know when we would be out of the room as they liked to do the checkouts first. She informed her we would be leaving by 11:00, which we did. I had no intention of staying past checkout time, and frankly, it irritated me that they even asked, considering all the trouble we had getting them to clean the room at the time we requested, which is a service they offer. But anyway, I guess if that is all I have to complain about, life is good at the GF!!!

 

[lynr]

I am hoping RPC will be done by the time we get there for Labor Day Weekend.

 

[MA pigletfan]

ooh exciting news!!! Sugar Loaf is being worked on at the same time as RPC! wow. That's good news for us though, since we are staying SL in December..woohoo!

 

[triplefigs]

I was having a lot of trouble with the website but it finally came up with a price for your dates.

Deluxe RPC for 9/22 - 9/29 2 adults 3 kids $3626
Standard RPC $2828


Lyn

Lyn, you got all the dates to come up for RPC? Geez, now I'm REALLY torn! DS loves the CR the most, but RPC...

 

[Tinkaroo]

Can I book that without an AP (I would buy one)? Do you call CRO? I was thinking of buying the DDE as well. Boy, the RPC is so TEMPTING!

I believe so, if you're calling CRO. Obviously, you'd need the pass in-hand to book online. I think you just have to have the pass to show at check-in if you book over the phone with CRO.

 

[lynr]

ooh exciting news!!! Sugar Loaf is being worked on at the same time as RPC! wow. That's good news for us though, since we are staying SL in December..woohoo!

Gina:

We are staying in SL in December also 12/7 -12/16 maybe we see each other there. I am married to a

Lyn

 

[lynr]

Can I book that without an AP (I would buy one)? Do you call CRO? I was thinking of buying the DDE as well. Boy, the RPC is so TEMPTING!

I booked through DU and they didn't need my AP number.

Lyn

 

[magical4us4]

Breaking news!!! RPC IS UNDER REHAB NOW!!!!

Just found out that they are NOW doing RPC .....they are working on the 5th floor and the lounge. The lounge is now temporarily on the 3rd floor.

Whooohooo!!! Wish I had a RPC ressie for Novemeber.

Kelly, YC is fun.....not sure about the concierge, though.

Denise, I have an AP...let me know if you want something checked on.

Happy planning,

Lives4Disney

Lives4Disney, you're the best!!! Thanks for the great news!!!!!!!

 

[triplefigs]

I booked through DU and they didn't need my AP number.

Lyn

Lyn, thanks. Did you see my post about all the dates being available? Nobody else got that to pop up, and I want to make sure before I call. Thanks again!

 

[karebear1]

I just cleared my cookies and tried on the AP site again to see if all thedates would come up- nad I didn't get anything again- just the 3 days I told you about before Denise. PLEASE let me know if all the dates come through for you! that would be so great!! We'll be at the GF from the 29- Oct. 1st..... mayeb we'll bump into each other!

 

[Lewanc]

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.

Hi BVC 23 -- From one Senior to another, I can't splain, guess or visualize the location of a "dumpster view" from Conch Key . In fact, ever since reading the post, like others, have been trying to visualize where a dumpster would be put, and how a truck could access it. I 'm definitely in the group of those folks having a senior moment. I 'm very curious as I have never viewed a dumpster from any location at the GF or any deluxe resort on property, as Disney seems to take every effort to limit views of any type maintenance, especially garbage. I believe this was an isolated/temporary incident, due to the construction taking place at this time.

I really wish Heather had mentioned this "unadvertised view" to GF management. Since she was unhappy with her view, which is a very important part of accommodations, she probably would have been offered another room or an upgrade.

Hey guys, have a great day!!!

 

[lynr]

Lyn, thanks. Did you see my post about all the dates being available? Nobody else got that to pop up, and I want to make sure before I call. Thanks again!

I just checked again when I got home from work and now it is not coming up. Sorry to get your hopes up.

 

[Lewanc]

Anyone here have an AP and be willing to check availability (all categories) for Sept 22-29? A split stay is a possibility too (either at the end or beginning of the trip).

Hi Triple Figs -- Here is a list of AP discounts for room only rates, through September 29, 2007. I haven't had to use my pass number when booking rooms, and I have only been asked twice to show it on check-in. Hope this helps.

CURRENT DISNEY PASSHOLDER DISCOUNTS

ROOM ONLY DISCOUNTS

Annual Passholders visiting Disney World can now take advantage of special savings:

TRAVEL DATES DISCOUNT CODE

6/03/07 - 8/04/07 FDK*
7/01/07 - 8/04/07 FDJ**
8/05/07 - 9/29/07 FDV***

* - The FDK discount is for the Boardwalk, Old Key West, Saratoga Springs, Beach Club and Yacht Club

** - The FDJ discount is for the Moderate Resorts

*** - The FDV discount is for all Disney Resorts

Prices for FDV begin at:

$164 for a studio at a DVC Resort
$99 for a standard room at a Moderate Resort
$64 for a standard room at a Value Resort
$140 for a standard room at a Deluxe Resort

 

[mr.mike]

I wrote to IPO about a month ago asking about the rehab in the main building. I got an email back saying the main building was scheduled for July/August and would definitely be complete on schedule.
It is strange that the rehab is kept so quiet, the AKL info is all over the place. Maybe the work at the GF is not as intrusive.

This is exactly what I was told last month. They said it would be done before I arrived which is August 17th.

 

[Sammie]

With all things Disney, subject to change but I was told the Sugar Loaf building would be completely closed, for rehab not a floor by floor rehab and the tentative time frame was middle of Sept to middle of Oct.

Of course this was told to me weeks ago, I have not heard different but things do change when rehabs are going on.

 

[Contemporary_Man]

This is exactly what I was told last month. They said it would be done before I arrived which is August 17th.

I was told the same thing about my August 18-26 RPC stay.

 

[marcij]

Can I book that without an AP (I would buy one)? Do you call CRO? I was thinking of buying the DDE as well. Boy, the RPC is so TEMPTING!

GO FOR IT!

Channing -- excellent news! Thanks for the update!