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

[Lives4Disney]

Channing, from your second picture I have to agree it looks more like a Newfoundland just because of the porportions and size. But our black lab puppie also has that face, ears, webbed and huge feet, etc.. Of course he is most likely not a purebred as his Mom was a refugee from Katrina. But webbed feet are lab traits as well and there is a school of thought that labs originated in Newfoundland.

I guess I'm a bit off topic aren't I?

LOL, that's OK, I love talking Newfie as much as Disney! My neighbors have two black labs (male) and my Newfie (girl) is so much larger and the faces are so distinctly different. I didn't realize labs have webbed feet, too. My Newfie's feet are so huge compared to the Labs' that she owns. It was just neat being at WDW and having a surprise Newfie sighting. Nana from Peter Pan was Newfie (people think she was a St. Bernard or sheepdog, but she was actually a Newf) so we always have to wave at her on PP's flight. That's why we took all the silly Lego dog pics!

Enjoy your puppy!

Channing

 

[CastleLight]

Heather Lynn, Best wishes to you both and HAPPY DISNEYMOON!!! I hope you have many magical moments!

 

[Lives4Disney]

Channing-
Thanks for posting all of your pictures! Your daughters are adorable! It looks like you all had a great time! It's really interesting seeing pictures of WDW from the same days that we were there!!! It's a totally different perspective! I can't believe you guys braved that monsoon on Christmas Day! We slept late and then lounged around our 2-bedroom Boardwalk villa until our dinner at Yachtsman Steakhouse. The rain had stopped just in time for us to walk over to the Yacht Club.

I can't wait to see/read more! You might want to take all of this over to the Trip Reports board, too!

-Michelle

Michelle, Christmas Day was our best park day believe it or not! We also slept in and didn't leave the GF until about noon. We sat outside by the marina and ate our yummy Gaspies food. We haven't done that before, ever, believe it or not. GF CMs were handing out Xmas sugar cookies and chestnuts and punch as we walked to the bus zone. We had lots of AK fun, but didn't even get over to Dinosaur or that area at all.... I have not been so soaked at WDW before. It was crazy. We did a few things, went to LK show and dried off in the AC. After that, had a quickie late lunch & got wet again. It was great, though, because the crowds were nonexistent. I remember it was supposed to be 80 on Xmas Day, but we were so cold when we got back to the GF we all took HOT showers & got dressed for Ohana.

I have to mention on Xmas Eve, the girls and I spent some time crafting & visiting at the concierge desk. It was a lot of fun for everybody and nice to see so many great GF CMs. They all made the best of having to work the holidays thru. I love the GF and felt like we were guests in somebody's home. I don't think I could have spent a WDW Christmas anywhere else.

Our first day 12/20 at MK was fine until we walked out of CP after lunch about 1 and the place was PACKED. We had FP for PPan so we did that - there was a 40 minute SMall World wait and I think 70 for PPan at that time, so we left the MK. Don't even remember what we did. This trip was a blur. I have remembered more by looking at the pics. We didn't even have our usual late night MK luck, either. We have, in the past, had great times doing Adventureland and Frontier land past 8 pm. Not this trip. Pirates was broken on our first night attempt, Jungle Cruise had 30 min waits, Aladdin's Carpets was packed.....I think we did Enchanted Tiki Room and moved to Frontier land to just mosey along. Just too jammed for us. My girls were defeated. It wasn't worth dragging anybody out at night because the magic wasn't there. I left this time feeling like I had enough Disney. I am not sure, though, if I am actually Disneyed out or just dissatisfied with this trip. The GF was as always - FANTASTIC - but the crowds and rude people were just kind of a bummer. I remember just 10 yrs ago when WDW was a bit different place as far as guests go.

I REALLY miss the days we could book a trip 2 wks out and enjoy the parks so much more due to fewer people in them! Those were the days. *sigh*

Channing

 

[Lives4Disney]

Oh, I forgot one important thing......The Year of a Million Dreams....

We were walking thru Epcot and my DD6 had asked me a few times earlier in the trip if we could do the build the robot thing. I told her not to count on it due to the crowd levels. To me it's not worth standing in a hideous line for.

Anyway, we must have made it to Epcot by about 9:30am ish one morning (aftaer lucking out and getting to ride in the front of that TTC to Epcot monorail & the driver gave us licenses and cool fact cards)and were on our way somewhere and a CM was out near Innoventions trying to round up folks for the robot thing. OK (sigh) we went in.....Good thing because that's where we won the lanyards. My DH had just met us there a couple minutes earlier, too, so luckily he got one. DS was at MSpace, so none for him.

I think the CM KNEW they would be giving these away by the way he was trying to round people up to BE THERE. If you see a CM out promoting an attraction, go for it.

OK, I'm done!

Channing

 

[magical4us4]

Hi Lives4disney,

We felt the same way on our last trip to Disney, the kids were even disneyed out! It was very crowded and there wasn't much to do but walk the parks. Thank goodness we had the GF as our hotel, that is always the best part of our trip.

I agree about the rudeness of some guests in the parks. Me and my family were in line for Philharmagic and a grandmother bumped me out of the way of the door because I was standing next to her. She told me to get in line and not butt in front of her! If your familiar with entering, there is no line, you wait like everybody else does until the doors open when you are near them. Well, she figured it out after everyone else pushed her aside! Boy, was she mad. Her attitude kind of put a damper on my magic for a little part of the day. I wanted to deck her, but I am a lady!

My family and I are probably going to wait a little over a year before we return back to DW. The kids say they want to miss it a little, so that when they do return, it will be magical all over again.

 

[Lives4Disney]

Hi Lives4disney,

We felt the same way on our last trip to Disney, the kids were even disneyed out! It was very crowded and there wasn't much to do but walk the parks. Thank goodness we had the GF as our hotel, that is always the best part of our trip.

I agree about the rudeness of some guests in the parks. Me and my family were in line for Philharmagic and a grandmother bumped me out of the way of the door because I was standing next to her. She told me to get in line and not butt in front of her! If your familiar with entering, there is no line, you wait like everybody else does until the doors open when you are near them. Well, she figured it out after everyone else pushed her aside! Boy, was she mad. Her attitude kind of put a damper on my magic for a little part of the day. I wanted to deck her, but I am a lady!

My family and I are probably going to wait a little over a year before we return back to DW. The kids say they want to miss it a little, so that when they do return, it will be magical all over again.

Yah, I am glad we stuck with the GF and the concierge because they really did make our trip special and it was nice to know we had the GF to go back to. Other than guests leaving their dirty stuff all over the lounge, the guests at the GF are really nice people. Have not run into any rude ones there. Just too bad the parks seem to be crawling with them & their kids (and grandmas, lol)!

I agree....not sure when we will go back. I totally understand what your kids feel....I am there, too. When we got to MK our first morn 12/20, we were walking around looknig at the lines thinking WHAT is worth standing in these lines for?? We bypassed a lot because we felt like "Been there done that". The girls and I usually get up early at least one day and enjoy low crowds, but we were just all kind of blah about even that because we had such little hope for low crowds. Didn't happen. I have been toying with another July trip - it is a different trip because we swim, sleep in, stay up late....but I just don't know. I should book it to get a AAA rate, but I am not in the mood to do it yet.

Take care,

Lives4Disney

 

[MinnieSummer]

If you really want to hear a rude guest story here goes. We were at MK and the Family Fun parade was just announced. I was trying to get my DM into onto the sidewalk at the store entrance at the beginning of Main Street Left hand side. Well, people started lining up for the parade and blocked the wheel chair ramp. I started up it and then stopped and said loudly "Excuse me", no one paid any attention. I tried again only this time louder and the people to my left moved a little but not enough to get through and the people on my right just stood there. So I yelled but the people on my right still srood there. Now, it's pretty hard to miss a person pushing someone else in a wheelchair when they are standing one foot in front of you so I screamed "EXCUSE ME". The woman looked at me then at her husband and said "I can't believe she's screaming at us. Her husband looked at me and said you don't have to scream at us and they proceded to get out of the way -- partially. The woman told me I was rude and could have just asked. I said I had three times to which she responded well we obviously didn't hear you and you don't need to be so rude. I just shook my head and walked away.

 

[heatherlynn444]

If you really want to hear a rude guest story here goes. We were at MK and the Family Fun parade was just announced. I was trying to get my DM into onto the sidewalk at the store entrance at the beginning of Main Street Left hand side. Well, people started lining up for the parade and blocked the wheel chair ramp. I started up it and then stopped and said loudly "Excuse me", no one paid any attention. I tried again only this time louder and the people to my left moved a little but not enough to get through and the people on my right just stood there. So I yelled but the people on my right still srood there. Now, it's pretty hard to miss a person pushing someone else in a wheelchair when they are standing one foot in front of you so I screamed "EXCUSE ME". The woman looked at me then at her husband and said "I can't believe she's screaming at us. Her husband looked at me and said you don't have to scream at us and they proceded to get out of the way -- partially. The woman told me I was rude and could have just asked. I said I had three times to which she responded well we obviously didn't hear you and you don't need to be so rude. I just shook my head and walked away.

ug! stuff like that makes me so angry! I have a bad temper so I'm kind of scared of getting into a cat fight with some crazy person next week! hahaha if you hear about a crazy person punching out someone in disney on the news...it's probably me!

 

[triplefigs]

Heather Lynn, Good luck on your wedding! Have a good time! We Disneymooned at the Poly 12 years ago, and it was the best! Congrats!

Channing, loving your report and pictures. You have a BEAUTIFUL family. I'm amazed how crowded it was. Rees could never handle the crowds. Guess we'll have to stick with taking him out of school during off season, although it seems more crowded all the time. I would love to try Christmas one day, though, and avoid all the "family" issues.

MinnieSummer, good for you. I would have had a few choice words that rude man and woman.

 

[Lives4Disney]

Thanks, Denise .....I MISS the days when we could just up and go whenever we wanted.....Keep pulling the kids out of school. It's so worth it while they're young. Really, I was so surprised that there were so many YOUNG families at WDW during this mega crowded time. If my kids were all younger than 10 I would not hesitate at all about going during school. I mean, there were so many families with toddlers and preschool age kids!! I can't imagine bringing my kids to that mob when they were that young. It would have just stressed me out so much and I know they'd have been overwhelmed. The weather was so funky it's not like you could take swim breaks or boat or anything, either. I am thinking about just taking the girls down sometime when I get the urge - although it seems the low crowds are a thing of the past.

Channing

 

[traci]

Channing are you trying to make me cry with those pictures? How adorable. You daughters are simply beautiful. Thank you for sharing your trip with us. Hey, I have an idea...forget the July trip and meet us there in September. Sure it's hot. And humid. And it's hurricane season. Did I mention hot?? But, for low crowds you can't beat it. aww come on

P.s. (o/t) Heatherlynn, aren't you getting married in a couple of days? When do you leave? How exciting!!

 

[Lives4Disney]

Channing are you trying to make me cry with those pictures? How adorable. You daughters are simply beautiful. Thank you for sharing your trip with us. Hey, I have an idea...forget the July trip and meet us there in September. Sure it's hot. And humid. And it's hurricane season. Did I mention hot?? But, for low crowds you can't beat it. aww come on

P.s. (o/t) Heatherlynn, aren't you getting married in a couple of days? When do you leave? How exciting!!

Traci you're sweet. OK, I may take you up on it. The bummer is Lucy will be starting a new school - Jr. High. I have to wait and see how "settled" she is before I plan to pull her out, lol!! We start the end of August up here so it could be possible.

And yes, Heatherlynn I hope everything is fantastic!!!

Happy planning!

Channing

 

[traci]

Channing, when you mention the crowds with young kids...well that is EXACTLY why we go in Sept/Oct time frame. Having little ones makes it so much easier. Can you imagine having to wait in line with a 2 and 3 year old?? I'd have to smuggle a bottle of wine into the Magic Kingdom if that were the case I know when they start school we wont have it so easy though.

 

[triplefigs]

Traci, I didn't think the last week of Sept was bad this past year at all. No rain, no hurricanes, and the highs were in the mid to upper 80's and 70's some days. And, you're right, the crowds were AWESOME!

 

[traci]

Traci, I didn't think the last week of Sept was bad this past year at all. No rain, no hurricanes, and the highs were in the mid to upper 80's and 70's some days. And, you're right, the crowds were AWESOME!

We will take hot days anyday if it means less folks at Walt's house

 

[heatherlynn444]

thanks everyone! yall are always so kind! my DF and I head to my parents house in New Orleans tomorrow for pre-wedding fun and let the craziness begin! I just cleared off my digital camera memory card so I can take lots of pictures!

It will be gone and over with before I know it though, then back to the real world!

 

[magical4us4]

Just curious , do the GF CM's lurk on this site? If they do, do they appreciate all the nice talk of how great they do, or do they not like it when they are mentioned?

 

[SlightlyGoofy]

Man, my weight shot up just reading about all of that. I think another trip to DW to walk them off is in order, hope it is short order. I'll save you a seat for the parade.

Hugs to my dear friend, SG/Linda

 

[DisneyDoogie]

Happy New Year all GF Fans!

I've been reading all of your posts over last few weeks and it sounds like you had great times at the GF over Christmas.

Lives4Disney, Some of the best trips we've ever had to WDW as a family have been the trips where we didn't do much in the parks. We had many great Christmases at the GF, but the parks were so CROWDED, we got tired of being bumped, shoved, coughed on, pushed, kicked, and waiting in hour+ lines. So, we learned to spend more time at the GF, on the beach, in the pool, and on the pontoon boats. It sounds like things were great at the RPC (as usual), but, like you, I don't understand why they don't change the offerings in the lounge more. I was going to post a question about that because we are considering going back to RPC for a week in May. If we know that we're going to get the same offerings this May that we got last May, we might reconsider. Not that there is anything wrong with the RPC offerings, it's just that a variety (something different) would be appreciated.

Did anyone recently at the GF hear anything about the planned rehab? I think SugarLoaf is closing in September 07 (and I checked the WDW website and they have nothing available in SL for September or October). Are all the buildings being done?

 

[Tinkaroo]

Lives4Disney - loved your pics! So sorry to hear that the crowds were so bad, but at least you had RPC to come home to. We saw an appreciable jump in attendance between Friday, 12/15, and Saturday, 12/16, when we were there, so I can only imagine what it must have grown to!

Heatherlynn - best wishes on your wedding and Disneymoon! I hope it's filled with wonderful memories.

Michelle - I also enjoyed your pics, and can't wait to read your trip report. That tea seemed wonderful!