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

[Fishy&2guppies]

I have been to MK for 2 christmas parade tapings. It takes pretty much all day for them to tape the parade. Main Street is packed full of people and they have ropes up behind them so it creates a small walkway behind the crowd and between the shops so that you can get to the different areas around the park. But it does take a long time to get down Main Street with it being so crowded. Both times we were there, Regis and Kelly were staying at the Yacht Club.

 

[redheaded mama]

This thread is so much fun. I have been lurking on this site for months. We will be staying at the GF we will be spoiled by RPC from 11/26 to 12/3 (Ten below we might run into you). This is our first trip as a family to WDW. I went during spring break in college and swore that when I came back I would stay at the GF. That was nearly 17 years ago and that dream is finally coming true.

Thanks for all the interesting info. I feel like I know just about everything thanks to all of you.

 

[roryc]

What are the RPC MK view room numbers to request? 4401-4410? What are the third and 5th floor numbers??? I know I've seen it in this thread but I've searched pages and can't find them and I need to give them to my TA to request. Thanks for your help in advance.

 

[TammiMcMan]

What are the RPC MK view room numbers to request? 4401-4410? What are the third and 5th floor numbers??? I know I've seen it in this thread but I've searched pages and can't find them and I need to give them to my TA to request. Thanks for your help in advance.

There is no 5th floor in that section of the main building, only the 2nd, 3rd and 4th. The 2nd floor are the honeymoon suites 4201-4209, 3rd floor is standard concierge 4301-4309 and 4th floor is standard concierge 4401-4409. All the rooms are on the same side, so no need to worry about requesting an odd or even number.

 

[roryc]

Thanks Tammi! That's exactly what I needed

 

[theostwalts]

This thread is so much fun. I have been lurking on this site for months. We will be staying at the GF we will be spoiled by RPC from 11/26 to 12/3 (Ten below we might run into you). This is our first trip as a family to WDW. I went during spring break in college and swore that when I came back I would stay at the GF. That was nearly 17 years ago and that dream is finally coming true.

Thanks for all the interesting info. I feel like I know just about everything thanks to all of you.

We have our first RPC vacaton planned for 11/25/06 - 12/02/06!!!!!

See you there

 

[married@wdw]

I have heard that some of the celebrities stay at the Grand Floridian during the taping of the Christmas Parade and was wondering if that will have any impact on us "regular folks" during our stay?

Kelly stayed with her family at GF for the EE preview earlier this year. Not sure how it is when they travel for the show, but they were just like any other family...well, except that everyone recognized them. They had a Disney escort a few times when we saw them, but most of the time it was Kelly, Mark, her parents and the kids. And, BTW, she was VERY sweet -- came right over to talk to my SIL about how cute my niece is. We never would have bothered them as they deserve a vacation, too, but she came to talk to us! Just a really nice encounter.

 

[theostwalts]

Posted this on the Budget Board, but got no response. I thought maybe some of you may know.....

I was searching the DIS for information on using Gift Cards to pay off room charges. I would like to charge everything to our room and pay it off with some gift cards. Older post said that you can not do that. However, some recent ones said that the system has been upgraded and the resorts were now applying them to room charges. Can anyone tell me what the correct status is? Can you use your KTTK and pay off the charges with a gift card instead of it being applied to whatever credit card you have on file?


Thanks

 

[fish4bills]

Hi-I'm new here and was wondering what is the best way to contact Gf about room requests? We are staying in RPC and didn't know if I should call or email? Any help would be appreciated.

 

[Alicnwondrln]

we had a $300 disney gift card were told we COULDNT use it to pay room charges or have it applied to our room to use around ther parks
that was in august and we were staying WL concierge the system wasnt set up for it yet

 

[Alicnwondrln]

any word of xmas decoration at the gf yet?? when are they going up

 

[lynr]

Posted this on the Budget Board, but got no response. I thought maybe some of you may know.....

I was searching the DIS for information on using Gift Cards to pay off room charges. I would like to charge everything to our room and pay it off with some gift cards. Older post said that you can not do that. However, some recent ones said that the system has been upgraded and the resorts were now applying them to room charges. Can anyone tell me what the correct status is? Can you use your KTTK and pay off the charges with a gift card instead of it being applied to whatever credit card you have on file?
Thanks

When I was a the GF RPC at the end of August I had a gift card I wanted to use and the concierge could not accept it. I had to use it on merchandise. I was very disappointed because I had planned to use it on room charges.

Lyn

 

[Lives4Disney]

Hi-I'm new here and was wondering what is the best way to contact Gf about room requests? We are staying in RPC and didn't know if I should call or email? Any help would be appreciated.

Hi, welcome to the Grand Floridian thread!

You can either phone or email them. Here is the info......

WDWGFPlanning <WDWGFPlanning@disney.com>

Or phone at 407-824-1775

Happy planning,

Lives4Disney

 

[Minnie824]

Hi! I have a question. We'll be arriving in 3 weeks (yay!) for our first GF stay. We're staying in the main building, and will be arriving by noon, meaning most likely our room will not be ready. If its nice, I'd like to maybe go swimming. Is there somewhere we can bring our suitcase, or bag and change clothes? Are there lockers or anything there as well? Thanks!

 

[Lives4Disney]

Hi! I have a question. We'll be arriving in 3 weeks (yay!) for our first GF stay. We're staying in the main building, and will be arriving by noon, meaning most likely our room will not be ready. If its nice, I'd like to maybe go swimming. Is there somewhere we can bring our suitcase, or bag and change clothes? Are there lockers or anything there as well? Thanks!

Hi, how exciting - your first GF stay & in the main building too!! You will LOVE it!

Bell services will hold your luggage for you until your room is ready. If you're lucky it may even be ready, but you never know.... There is a very nice pool house right next to the waterfall/slide pool with bathrooms, showers, blow dryers, etc....I am not sure about lockers though. Don't remember - I don't think there are.

Have a great time,

Lives4Disney

 

[traci]

wow! what a great trip. forgive me in advance for small caps - limited time..

well i got that million dollar view! we had to wait a couple of nights but well worth it. rpc was wonderful. the first night my daughter left her sippee cup in the lounge. the next day one of the sweet ladies brought it up to me. i was shocked she even knew it was my daughter's. they really pay attention there. we felt so pampered. parks were so UNCROWDED! we didn't wait for anything. nothing. i walked onto everest and test track. me and my soon to be 3 year old son sat on barnstormer 4 times one morning (this was after 10am) and never left our seat. we could have kept riding, but mommy needed a break (we rode it 11 times total during the trip). crystal palace adr at 8:25 on wednesday - the place wasn't even half full. it was great. MK started to get BUSY on thursday. we left then, so we felt really lucky. we timed parks when there were events at others. for instance, we went to epcot during mnsshp - we had the place to ourselves. by wednesday we were walking around saying, what should we do now?! how wonderful is that?

one of the times i was taking my son on barnstormer, my husband took our daughter to see minnie mouse (in toon town). they had been waiting at the front of the line before minnie comes out. anyway, my little avery was waiting very patiently. all of the sudden here comes minnie and all the children behind my daughter and husband rush up in front of her. then the parents come swarming (they had to get to their kids). dh is now in the back with my daughter, who can't see a thing, and is just standing there. next thing, minnie walks through the crowd of kids and parents and grabs avery's hand. she then walks with her through the rest of toontown to the photo spot. once in there, she escorts my husband and daughter into a private area for pictures, and one on one time. my hubby said they weren't rushed at all. afterwards avery (who will be 2 in january) gave minnie a kiss and said thank you. i was so touched, because i think "minnie" saw what had happened. it was so sweet. mind you, i missed all of this because i was on barnstormer for the 8th or 9th time...

i'll post more later. it was a great trip. wonderful weather, low crowds during our park visits. just beautiful. it was raelly picking up when we left though.

thanks for everyones help! i loved the castle view from our room. my kids now call it "mommies castle."

here are a couple of quick pics:
avery with minnie mouse

room view

watching the old cartoons in the lounge

playing in the sand at gf

another sand pic

 

[disyady]

I have read every post on this thread (but only made a couple myself) but I just had to tell you that yours made me cry. I have been going to the GF since my oldest was 19 mos (she's 17 now) and your pics and stories just touched a nerve. Thank you so much for sharing. Your kids are so beautiful and I can't wait to share your memories with my DD's (I also have 11 year old twin girls who also LOVE the GF). So glad that your trip was magical - and thank you again for bringing back such wonderful memories!

 

[traci]

i am touched that they brought back memories for you. last year when we took our kids for the first time they were 8 months and 22 months. people said we were crazy. then i found the disboards...here no one thinks we're crazy

wednesday night we stayed to watch the fireworks at mk. i cried walking out of the park (my hubby was even teary-eyed). i was thinking, this time next year my son wont need a stroller. in a couple more years they wont beg us to ride just dumbo. they will out grow sitting on our laps through a small world, peter pan and winnie the poo. i dread the day when we just walk past the poo playground instead of stopping in there to "play." it is all so bittersweet. i was given such good advice when i started posting here. i honestly cannot remember if it was channing, tammi or tripfigs...but one of them said to cherish this time - to really just enjoy it - that our babies will grow up so fast and we will look back on our trips when they were little and find they are some of our best memories. i do just that.

 

[Lives4Disney]

TRACI!! I am so glad you posted! I have been thinking about you this week and hoping you were enjoying yourself. I am so glad you liked RPC. The CMs are just the best, aren't they??

What room did you have?? (well, rooms it sounds like - where was your first and then what number did you have the MK view from??)

Did you see my favorite CM & say "hi"???

Your pics are wonderful. What cuties! Oh man, the time goes so quickly and it seems to go quicker the older they get. I was cleaning up around here and found a Mickey backpack (the kind that looks like Mickey is taking a piggyback ride on your back when you wear it) and I remember when my son (now 16) wore that all around WDW proudly! Inside he kept his Donald duck pez and his folding Mickey brush, lol, and some hotwheels of course. If it makes you feel any better, my DD6 used a stroller til she was 5 at WDW. Just enjoy enjoy enjoy these special years. I never ever ever felt bad about taking them out of school for 2 wks family vacation. Time just slips by. My older DD is reaching the point where she isn't too comfortable dressing up as a character or princess. Once she gets there, though, it all comes back to her. Make memories!!!

Tell us more stuff!!!! Did you do the Halloween party??? Did you enjoy the RPC goodies???

Glad it was great and you're home safe,

Channing

 

[Tinkaroo]

i am touched that they brought back memories for you. last year when we took our kids for the first time they were 8 months and 22 months. people said we were crazy. then i found the disboards...here no one thinks we're crazy

wednesday night we stayed to watch the fireworks at mk. i cried walking out of the park (my hubby was even teary-eyed). i was thinking, this time next year my son wont need a stroller. in a couple more years they wont beg us to ride just dumbo. they will out grow sitting on our laps through a small world, peter pan and winnie the poo. i dread the day when we just walk past the poo playground instead of stopping in there to "play." it is all so bittersweet. i was given such good advice when i started posting here. i honestly cannot remember if it was channing, tammi or tripfigs...but one of them said to cherish this time - to really just enjoy it - that our babies will grow up so fast and we will look back on our trips when they were little and find they are some of our best memories. i do just that.

Welcome home, and what a great trip! I'm very happy for you and your family that you had such a good time. Your view was awesome! Thanks for sharing!