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

[Alicnwondrln]

there also the hawkins page but it hastn been working

 

[mirlow]

I just wanted to chime in and say we got back from a six night stay at WDW and ended our stay over in Sugarloaf. Our friends were staying there all week and we thought it would be fun for us all to hang out. We checked in at 9 am and our room was ready. We didn't leave for the airport until 5:30 pm the next day. We spent alot of time just hanging out at the resort.
I really like the GF, but I'm not sure how I feel about SL. This was our first time staying at CL at the GF, we had a SV room last visit. We usually stay CL at the PR and AKL, and concierge at SL is so different. One of the reasons I enjoy CL is the lounge and you don't really have much of a lounge in SL. I did enjoy the different food and drink offerings. I'm sure we will be back and give it a longer try on another visit. Next trip I have to go back to the LVC at the Polynesian. If I could just take the food and drink offerings from SL over there then it would be perfect

We had some magical moments with our friends on our short but sweet stay at the Grand

 

[triplefigs]

Hi, Traci. The food offerings are good, but the ONLY thing MISSING is Krispie Kremes!!! WHY oh WHY don't they have Krispie Kremes like the other concierge lounges do??? My kids love them (so do I) and here in Northern IL (out in the sticks) we cannot get them except thru a certain grocery store we don't make it to often. They are a big treat & when we used to stay at CR they had different varieties of KKs. I guess that's my only beef with the offerings. Well, also that the CR has (had - don't know if they still do) yogurt cups and instant oatmeal.

The GF bfast consists of danish, coffee cake type things, fruits, yogurt to dip it, dry cereals, milk & juices, coffee tea etc, ham & turkey & cheeses (strange, but true)

There are late morning snacks like chips pretzels nuts breadsticks & dips about 1100am

Tea at 2 ish. That is yummy! Little cookies & scones & treats, soda, teas, juices etc.

Good appetizers at 5 pm.

Yummy desserts & cordials 8 pm.

Have a FABULOUS time!! Enjoy!!!

Channing

No Krispie Kreams, yogurt, or oatmeat at the CR Atrium Club. Had muffins, fruit, juice, and cereal. The food at SL CL was MUCH better. And, boy, did DH and I miss the Capaccino machine. CR just had plain coffee.

 

[Lives4Disney]

Denise! You're kidding??!!! They used to have (and our last CR CL stay was Nov 04) instant oatmeal in those little plastic indiv bowls that you could just add the hot water to, and yogurt cups on ice, and lots of donuts. My kids all time favorite, though, were the varieties of Krispie Kremes. I CANT believe they did away with that good stuff! Really, my kids miss those food offerings vs GF's. That is one reason they ask me if we can do a split CR/GF stay - the food they thought was still served at CR! I like GF's, but I also missed those yummy CR days. It was more "me".

Mirlow - Welcome back! For as much as I love the GF, SL didn't do a whole lot for me. No wow factor there. I missed a real kind of lounge area, too, with sun shining in and a view. Glad you had a magical trip, though.

Lives4Disney

 

[triplefigs]

Denise! You're kidding??!!! They used to have (and our last CR CL stay was Nov 04) instant oatmeal in those little plastic indiv bowls that you could just add the hot water to, and yogurt cups on ice, and lots of donuts. My kids all time favorite, though, were the varieties of Krispie Kremes. I CANT believe they did away with that good stuff! Really, my kids miss those food offerings vs GF's. That is one reason they ask me if we can do a split CR/GF stay - the food they thought was still served at CR! I like GF's, but I also missed those yummy CR days. It was more "me".

Mirlow - Welcome back! For as much as I love the GF, SL didn't do a whole lot for me. No wow factor there. I missed a real kind of lounge area, too, with sun shining in and a view. Glad you had a magical trip, though.

Lives4Disney

They did have some danish, but no KK. The food offerrings were not very good in the CL at the CR. That's one reason that we will just book the Tower MK view next time and skip the CL. Now, at the GF I thought the CL was great!

 

[Lives4Disney]

They did have some danish, but no KK. The food offerrings were not very good in the CL at the CR. That's one reason that we will just book the Tower MK view next time and skip the CL. Now, at the GF I thought the CL was great!

That's a bummer. Sounds like they really cut back in the past couple years. I like the GF food, but the CR's used to be awesome and that's what I remember. Much more selection. Although, it seems from what I read that they are cutting down a lot in the CL lounges all accross the board. Honestly, my kids miss the CR FOOD that they remember and that is the ONLY reason they keep asking to stay there again!! Now I can tell them it has changed big time anyway. GF is the best!

I am surprised they don't have that funky coffee maker at the CR.

Happy planning!

Lives4Disney

 

[PatriciaH]

I just got back from my DD's hip hop class where I sat and listened to 4 moms that I don't know very well talk on and on and on and on about WDW and the hotels, rides, food, etc. I am hipped to go!!! One even had her DVD player with the WDW planning DVD running! And to think I will be staying at the "Hotel del Coronado", lol in December. That's what they kept calling the GF.
Lives4Disney

The Grand Floridian was actually modeled after the Hotle Del Coronado in CA. Maybe they got confused

http://www.hoteldel.com/

 

[Lives4Disney]

The Grand Floridian was actually modeled after the Hotle Del Coronado in CA. Maybe they got confused

http://www.hoteldel.com/

Yea, I figured. It was funny because I was planning on staying there - at the Hotel Del Coronado over spring break 07, so when I heard them talking about it my ears perked up, lol. Thought I would learn something as I was considering it and have never been. Then they brought up all the WDW stuff and kept referring to the GF as the Hotel Del. I had to stick up for the WDW resorts when they started cutting them down and saying the monorail resorts are all "old". AND they were gushing about Universal. There is just no comparison IMO. Some people just don't appreciate nostalgia.

Lives4Disney

 

[BCV23]

We haven't seen KKs at the Polynesian or AKL club levels either. It may have been a shortlived thing at all the resorts.

 

[Quinn222]

Help please! I've never paid a lot of attention to the GF, it wasn't a resort on my radar to stay at but my mom wants to stay there. I'm thinking next December (since it's so lovely at holiday time.)

Here's my question:
Would we be better off with a Lodge Tower room or a standard Sugar Loaf Club room? There will be three of us, my mother (80 but active) and my sister and I. Normally when we go we get two rooms but two rooms and the GF are not in the budget. We spend a lot of time at our resort when we go. How are the balconies in the lodge tower rooms? Views from either of these options?

Opinions? Suggestions?

Thanks!

 

[traci]

Quinn,
I am still a GF newbie, but there are many experts in this forum - I'm sure you will get lots of insight

Well we're off to Disney World in 2 hours!!!! I'll post when I get back~thanks again for all the advice ladies.

oh, one more question (I will check right before we leave) do they offer bed rails for a toddler? Just curious. I was planning on making a pillow fortress so my daughter wont fall off the bed, but I thought if they have rails I may request just one side.

{{{DISNEY HUGS!}}}

 

[BCV23]

Have fun, Traci!!!

Quinn, if it were me I'd go with SL. One lodge tower room per building lacks a balcony I think. Although the extra seating area would be nice, in some rooms there are only two queens and a couch. Some have two queens and a sleeper from what I've read but the daybeds that you would have in most regualr rooms wuld be more comfortable I would think. I would make sure to request a daybed though if you want one as there are some regular rooms with just two queens. Happy planning.

 

[lynr]

oh, one more question (I will check right before we leave) do they offer bed rails for a toddler? Just curious. I was planning on making a pillow fortress so my daughter wont fall off the bed, but I thought if they have rails I may request just one side.

Traci:

I read on another post that they do have bedrails you will have to call for them or request them at check-in. Have a great time.

Lyn

 

[traci]

Thanks!

We're off!

Bye

 

[scanne]

Traci,

Yes they have bed rails and we used them in Sept. 2006. BUT, the beds at the GF are so high that they hardly did anything. We used the rails and made a pillow fortress around our kids so they wouldn't fall off the bed. It worked just fine.

Have a great trip!!!

 

[Lives4Disney]

We haven't seen KKs at the Polynesian or AKL club levels either. It may have been a shortlived thing at all the resorts.

Well, my kids grew up on KKs during their Disney trips. They had them at the CR for years - long before we even knew what they were, lol. I know in the past we didn't see them at any resorts other than CR, but I thought it was a fluke & maybe they just ran out, but it seems for some odd reason only CR had them. At least I can tell my kids they're not missing anything, right? Maybe we will have to do a grocery stop this trip so they will have them Xmas morn. Does anybody know if Albertsons carrys them?? It is funny what kids remember & think of as "tradition".....for them it's Chinese food on Xmas eve and donuts on Xmas morn.

Lives4Disney

 

[Quinn222]

Have fun, Traci!!!

Quinn, if it were me I'd go with SL. One lodge tower room per building lacks a balcony I think. Although the extra seating area would be nice, in some rooms there are only two queens and a couch. Some have two queens and a sleeper from what I've read but the daybeds that you would have in most regualr rooms wuld be more comfortable I would think. I would make sure to request a daybed though if you want one as there are some regular rooms with just two queens. Happy planning.

Thanks!

 

[macrosswife]

For all you Krispy Kreme lovers...I looked it up, and there are two KK stores in Orlando:

4080 Millenia Avenue
Orlando, FL 32839 US
Phone: 407-447-5285

and

11571 University Blvd
Orlando, FL 32817 US
Phone: 407-273-5550

It's been my experience that if there's a KK store in town, most grocery stores will carry the doughnuts.
I feel it my duty to tell you, though, that if you can actually go to the store, and the "Hot Doughnuts Now" sign is on, you MUST try one that is fresh off the line! OMG!!!!! They are absolute nirvana!! They almost literally melt in your mouth!!

I feel that no one should be deprived of their KK's, so if any of you want me to ship you some, I'd be happy to buy a fresh box, seal it in a zip-loc and send it to you!!!


~Kimber

 

[BCV23]

Channin, I don't know about Albertsons but Winn Dixie carries KKs.

I didn't even know they were in the Orlando area that many years ago. I've only seen them in the stores and read about them being around there on the boards for a few years now....maybe 4 or so.

Good luck with donut hunting. I agree that Christmas traditions are the best and so important to kids!

 

[thmar]

I attended a Grand 1 cruise this summer. The cruise was booked by friends, and since they handled the arrangements, I can’t offer you pricing info or anything like that. However, I can share a few photos of the treats that were aboard our cruise:
Photo # 1
Photo # 2

The cake that was served was customized by the Grand Floridian Bakery and it turned out beautifully. I don’t know the size of the cake or how many people it served, but there were ten people aboard our cruise and everyone had at least one slice of cake. After all was said and done, only half of the cake was eaten. It was definitely more than sufficient for a party of our size.

The decorative touches on the cake were as follows. The palm trees were made of chocolate and they were highlighted in gold. The pirate chest was also made of chocolate and it was accented with gold. That chest was filled with all sorts of white chocolate seashells, a white chocolate octopus, and even a plastic string of pearls (pirate’s loot). The pirate chest sat atop a bed of sand that was made of light-brown, granulated sugar. There were also a few white chocolate seashells scattered about the cake.

As to the “sign” that was sitting inside the pirate’s chest, I ~believe~ the Bakery took a copy of my friend’s “Lizority Princesses” sign and printed it on a piece of white chocolate (my guess is that some sort of rice paper was placed atop the chocolate). That unique touch was arranged ahead of time by my friend as a special surprise to the rest of us. I don’t know how she pulled it off, but she did. The Grand Floridian Bakery did an incredible job with everything. Not only did our cake look wonderful, it tasted wonderful too. It really was a fun & unique touch that made our cruise aboard the Grand 1 even more memorable than it already was.

Besides munchies, we also enjoyed cold beverages: soft drinks, water, and margaritas. I don’t have a photo of this to share, but the soft drinks came in cans (Coca-Cola products), the water came in plastic bottles, and the margaritas were stored inside carafes. All the beverages were placed on the counter in the galley, inside containers that were filled with ice. On the countertop also sat glassware and ice cubes. Everyone was free to help themselves during the cruise.

I hope this helped.

Thanks for the photos...this looks great!