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

[traci]

let me think...i believe our first room was 4418. it was very close to the lounge. so close i thought it would be noisey. honestly, didn't hear a peep! then we were moved to 4409 (castle view). i was so pleased with our room locations. even if we never got to switch i would have been happy in the first room. it was just steps away from the lounge and we had a fun view of the pool. i loved looking out and seeing people just strolling by. of course, we couldn't really relax because our kids are monkeys and we were both so paranoid with them close to the balcony rail. i had sick feelings of them pushing one of the chairs up to the edge...okay it makes me shudder...new thought now...i didn't see your favorite cm channing i kept looking though! the food was yummy. i most especially loved the cupcakes i'm a simple girl i guess. the coffee was also good, and i am very picky about my coffee. the kids loved the cookies and dh loved the dips in the afternoon with the veggies and cracker selections.

the gf cm's gave us a late check-out on departure day of 1pm. we then went back to mk for a couple of hours. after that back to the lounge to wait for the magical express to take us to the airport. it was so relaxing, and a good way to end the trip. no one rolled their eyes when both our kids made a lap around the 4th floor with my husband trying to catch them - not because he was trying to play w/them, but because they wouldn't listen!! it was kind of comical to hear the band playing beautiful music with little squeals coming from my kids a floor above as they ran from daddy.

we did not do the halloween party this year. our kids are very easily distracted, and at their age, they just wouldn't appreciate it. they are so overwhelmed with disney world in general for them it would have just been another trip to the mk...only with CANDY!!

oh and i am such an rpc novice. before we changed rooms i called the front desk in the main lobby. they wanted us to be packed and out of our room by 9am, with no idea when our mk room would be ready. with little kids that is next to impossible. we can't be w/out a room for 6 hours! it then dawned on me to call the rpc cm's...they said to stay put and they would call when the room was ready. they would then send someone to get our bags and take us to our new "home." if we were going to be gone just give them heads up and they would have an idea when to be ready to move. it was so painless. ahhhh i just wub them

 

[traci]

here i am with piglet - the place was so quiet this morning.

i just wanted to share this pic to show you how empty main street was. keep in mind this was before the park opened, but even then there is generally a few handful people out for morning adr's.
after breakfast the crane by the castle was gone because the weather was cloudy and misty. we had some great pics taken then w/photopass, but i'm not sure if i can post those because of copyright?!

 

[Lives4Disney]

Traci, I am loving reading your posts. I am amazed at your pic of mainstreet. Love the one of you & Piglet!

I am bummed you didn't meet Vonnie. She is awesome and I know she would have added some extra magic to your stay.

It sounds like a great time. We were in 4409 once, too! Isn't it at the bend of the hallway, just past that Walt Disney Suite?? ( that suite!!!)

I am soooo glad it all worked out for you. The GF is the best.

Channing

 

[traci]

channing, wasn't that your suite???

yes, 4409 is at the bend. i really liked the location.

we like to travel when crowds are low anywhere. that is one of the things i research when planning our trips. last year i used the unofficial guide for park days and it was pretty accurate. this year i did the same thing. we had 4's for crowd levels with 5's on wed and thur. thursday was when it started getting crowded to us. i believe wednesday was slower because of the cloudy weather. again, we go to parks when everyone else is going to a special event (like mnsshp). it works good for our family. thursday we couldn't believe people were waiting 40 minutes to ride peter pan...my husband commented to another family when we were waiting for smallworld and they thought he was crazy - they usually travel to come in the summer months so for them these lines were nothing! we're just spoiled i guess

 

[Lives4Disney]

channing, wasn't that your suite???

yes, 4409 is at the bend. i really liked the location.

we like to travel when crowds are low anywhere. that is one of the things i research when planning our trips. last year i used the unofficial guide for park days and it was pretty accurate. this year i did the same thing. we had 4's for crowd levels with 5's on wed and thur. thursday was when it started getting crowded to us. i believe wednesday was slower because of the cloudy weather. again, we go to parks when everyone else is going to a special event (like mnsshp). it works good for our family. thursday we couldn't believe people were waiting 40 minutes to ride peter pan...my husband commented to another family when we were waiting for smallworld and they thought he was crazy - they usually travel to come in the summer months so for them these lines were nothing! we're just spoiled i guess

Traci, yes....that was "my" suite. sigh.

We used to take the kids out of school the end of January and had those same type of "crowds". It was so nice. Now, my son is 16, daughters are 10 and 6 and we just can't pull them out anymore. Maybe my girls and I will do a trip on our own some time, but my DH would miss us, I know, and miss WDW, too. Now we have to go when everybody else does. It is fun of course, but not the same! We have pretty much been there, done that, so our trips have become more about relaxing and enjoying the atmosphere & resort than running from ride to show to ride as we used to do.

Thanks for posting and for the pics! I am getting soooo excited about our upcoming trip. It is nice having it to look forward to. My husband is all for RPC, so that is where we are for now. Do you have the post trip blues yet?? Are you going to start planning another trip right away?? That is kind of what I did after my July bday trip. Just kind of ran the Xmas trip idea by my family and started secretly planning it out.

Take care!

Channing

 

[theostwalts]

Thanks for the replies about using the gift card to pay room charges. I emailed Disney and this is the response I received:

Dear XXXXXXX,

The hotels of the Walt Disney World Resort are now able to accept the Disney Gift Card as payment for all front desk charges, including charges made to your room key. Just present your Disney Gift Card as your form of payment at the front desk.

Please let us know if we may be of any additional assistance.

Sincerely,

Disney Gift Card Guest Service

It looks like they have updated the resort system.

Thanks Again

 

[traci]

hello to the other posters - sorry i haven't been much help. i'm just babbling on and on about our trip.

channing, i don't have the blues. i think it's because i have a cold now and my kids are keeping me so busy. i haven't had time to miss it yet. we got in at midnight so i'm still trying to adjust. my son keeps asking when are we gonna ride goofy's train mommy??? that's what he call barnstormer.

i can see when they get older how it would be more about enjoying the atmosphere of dw. my kids are constantly on the go and we are no where near that point...please tell me someday, as i would love to go during the holidays in the future

i am ready to start planning 07 trip! some of you are so lucky getting to go more than once during the year. this is an only an annual thing for us.

okay i'll stop hogging the thread now. have fun to all of you planning and going soon!! it is wonderful and you will have a lovely time i promise.

 

[thmar]

Traci, what a daring family you have!! It sounds like it was the perfect time to go...thanks for sharing!!

 

[Alicnwondrln]

heres some IPO info for my gf friends
i sent in a ? today and they replied
this was under the reply

This communication is confidential, intended only for the named recipient's) above and may contain trade secrets or other information that is exempt from disclosure under applicable law. Any use, dissemination, distribution or copying of this communication by anyone other than the named recipient's) is strictly prohibited. If you have received this communication in error, please immediately notify us by calling (407) 824-1775. Thank you.


interesting obviously they dont want the info the IPO is giving out to get around

 

[Lives4Disney]

Kelly, I had that same little blurb on several of my replies from them.....yeah, I thought it was kind of awkward. Thought it was just directed at me (ms dis big mouth, lol) Glad it wasn't just me!

Channing

 

[Alicnwondrln]

hey channing
hope things are well
i havent gotten that yet so i was surprised.
i was asking about decorations at the resort
i have the 411 if anyone wants

 

[theostwalts]

For anyone with an upcoming trip, here is the response I got from the RPC staff about using gift cards to pay for room charges:

Yes you may use the gift cards at the resort. So you can charge the purchases to the room and use the gift card at the end of your stay. Please let us know if you have any questions.

Thank you
Have a Grand Day!

It looks like they have updated the system.

 

[hmp2z]

heres some IPO info for my gf friends
i sent in a ? today and they replied
this was under the reply

This communication is confidential, intended only for the named recipient's) above and may contain trade secrets or other information that is exempt from disclosure under applicable law. Any use, dissemination, distribution or copying of this communication by anyone other than the named recipient's) is strictly prohibited. If you have received this communication in error, please immediately notify us by calling (407) 824-1775. Thank you.


interesting obviously they dont want the info the IPO is giving out to get around

That's the standard signature - it's not an indicator that they are trying to keep everything top secret. The school district I'm working for has a similar signature:

Under Florida's "Public Records" law, absent a specific exclusion,
written communications to or from XXXXX School District employees are
considered public records. E-mail communication with this
correspondent may be subject to public and media disclosure upon
request.

Cheers!
Heather W

 

[tenbelow]

i was asking about decorations at the resort
i have the 411 if anyone wants

Hi,

I have an upcoming trip to GF as well and would be interested in the 411 on Christmas decorations and any other special events taking place at the GF from 11/28 to 12/3.

Thanks,
Mike

 

[tenbelow]

Hi,

DW and Dis Crazy Hubby will be staying in a GV Room and I was wondering if anyone on the board had a favorite room # and/or building that they would like to "share".

I enjoy reading everyone's posts and can't wait for our first stay at the GF.

Thanks,
Dis Crazy Hubby
Mike

 

[JennyMominRI]

I will be at the GF in 23 days..I can't wait!!!!!

 

[mlill]

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

You're not crazy at all! I took my son when he was 3 months old and my daughter was almost 3!

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.

It does go by fast! Just look at my kids now! (Although, we really enjoy each 'phase' with them in WDW.) Thanks so much for your trip report! I can't wait to go to GF in December!

-Michelle

 

[Alicnwondrln]

That's the standard signature - it's not an indicator that they are trying to keep everything top secret. The school district I'm working for has a similar signature:

Under Florida's "Public Records" law, absent a specific exclusion,
written communications to or from XXXXX School District employees are
considered public records. E-mail communication with this
correspondent may be subject to public and media disclosure upon
request.

Cheers!
Heather W

i have stayed Cl level before and thats never been on any email i have gotten
so i thought it was something new

 

[traci]

Michelle, your post gave chills! I loved the pics you posted when your kids were so little. And now look at them! You have a beautiful family
I hope you all have another amazing vacation in a few days! Don't you just love the anticipation of the trip? Only 23 more days and counting!!

p.s. My son so far today has asked the following questions:
"mommy, can we go back to the hotel?"
"mommy, lets ride the fast train." **that would be Goofy's Barnstormer**
"I wanna see Mickeeeeey Mouseeeeee mommmmmmmy, pleasssssseeeeee!"

 

[tenbelow]

Hi All,

Just doing some last minute planning for our upcoming trip and would appreciate any advice or tips (pun intended) regarding the following topics.

We are renting a car and if I understand correctly we may self-park for free, which I've read is quite a distance from check in, etc... or we may choose to use the GF valet service which is $7. My questions are is the valet service $7 per use or per day and would we tip the valet driver in addition to the $7 fee or is tip included?

Moving right along, we would like to leave something for mousekeeping each day as they have one of the toughest jobs in the house of the mouse. There are two of us staying in the room, so I was wondering what would be a decent daily tip amount - $3, $5, $10 ? Let me know what your thoughts and/or experiences in the past have been.

Counting down the days to our first GF stay.

Mike