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

[hmp2z]

Michelle, Christmas Day was our best park day believe it or not! 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.

My DH & I were at AK on Christmas, also, though we were there earlier than you - we missed the rain. There were a TON of Asian tour groups, but other than that, the park was dead. I guess most people were exchanging presents, or were at the MK for all the festivities.

Later that week, we were at Epcot, and lines were incredible. We Fastpassed Soarin' right away, which was good, because it ended up being a 160 minute standby wait by the time our Fastpasses were up. Incredible... I've never before had to wait a full 30 minutes just to ride Spaceship Earth or Journey Into Imagination!

Apparently WDW hit all time attendance records over this holiday week, and I could tell just by the traffic on 192. We live off of 192, and starting around 10 every morning, it was incredibly congested. Now I'm glad that we have our anniversary (when we do our big yearly GF trip) in the summer, though I used to think that would be the most crowded time. We're doing BC concierge for the first time over MLK weekend, so I'm hoping crowds won't be too bad over that holiday weekend.

Cheers!
Heather W

 

[minnie my my]

Channing,

I loved looking at your pictures and reading your posts about your stay. I feel like you do about our trip the week before Christmas. We had a wonderful time and I very much enjoyed the GF. All of the cm's in RPC were wonderful. Well the one that checked us in was not friendly at all when we first got there. However, she got really sweet close to the end and as she walked us to our room. I really forgot about it until now because she redeemed herself, lol. Even though the resort was beautiful and everyone was very nice for the most part, I didn't get that overall wow factor that I usually get at Disney. I haven't been able to put my finger on the reason though. All of our meals were just so so. After the last 6 months of being disappointed with numerous meals I almost don't feel the desire to fork out so much money for the more expensive restaurants anymore. One thing I can not stand is leaving a restaurant that I just paid an arm and a leg for and being disapointed with my meal. It is such a waste. I have to also say that I used to look forward to dining at Disney as much or more than any other part of the stay. I don't know how we avoided the long lines but our experience with waits wasn't as bad as your's. We were there the same days, we just came home a little earlier, on the 23rd. We did find a lot of people there but were able to avoid really long lines for rides for some reason or another. We are talking about doing something different during Christmas break next year also. We always like being at home on Christmas but may go somewhere else while the kids are out of school.

Myra

 

[Lives4Disney]

Channing,

I loved looking at your pictures and reading your posts about your stay. I feel like you do about our trip the week before Christmas. We had a wonderful time and I very much enjoyed the GF. All of the cm's in RPC were wonderful. Well the one that checked us in was not friendly at all when we first got there. However, she got really sweet close to the end and as she walked us to our room. I really forgot about it until now because she redeemed herself, lol. Even though the resort was beautiful and everyone was very nice for the most part, I didn't get that overall wow factor that I usually get at Disney. I haven't been able to put my finger on the reason though. All of our meals were just so so. After the last 6 months of being disappointed with numerous meals I almost don't feel the desire to fork out so much money for the more expensive restaurants anymore. One thing I can not stand is leaving a restaurant that I just paid an arm and a leg for and being disapointed with my meal. It is such a waste. I have to also say that I used to look forward to dining at Disney as much or more than any other part of the stay. I don't know how we avoided the long lines but our experience with waits wasn't as bad as your's. We were there the same days, we just came home a little earlier, on the 23rd. We did find a lot of people there but were able to avoid really long lines for rides for some reason or another. We are talking about doing something different during Christmas break next year also. We always like being at home on Christmas but may go somewhere else while the kids are out of school.

Myra

Myra, yeah I don't know WHAT it was, but I feel something was missing too. The GF CMs were awesome and it wasn't them or the GFthat I felt was lacking. The GF CMs made my trip great. I wonder who it was that checked you in?? Weird.

I used Tour Guide Mike's advice for the most part. Maybe I should take him up on his money back guarantee, lol! I didn't use him on our first park day 12/20 because MK was yellow that day but I always like to start the trip at the MK. I missed being able to LOOK in shops, take my time walking down Main St....I always felt people behind me were urging me forward and I didn't want to be one of those pain in the *** people that STOP dead in their tracks in the moving crowd, lol. I just felt we missed too much stuff. I mean I didn't even get to do the Walt thing....I love that display & movie. I was so looking forward to renting a boat, relaxing by the pool, just that extra stuff and it didn't happen for one reason (crowds & weather) or another. I do feel Disney Worlded out. bummer. Maybe we have just gone too often and need a break so it feels special and magical again. I thought I would just take the girls for a short trip during an uncrowded time so we could do our girl things and catch up with stuff we missed, but there doesn't seem to be one!! People are saying the end of Jan (which used to be an empty favorite of ours) and the first week of Feb (another!) are booked up - and I checked and they ARE!! I am sure in the next few months I will be wishing I were going back....we'll see.

DisneyDoogie - We need to do something about the GF's food offerings!! Too bad the 3 monorail resorts don't do a rotation or something. We LOVE the Poly's pineapple bread and hot oatmeal.....LOVE the CR's Krispie Kremes and yogurt & instant oatmeal cups......I get sick of ham and cheese every morning and the same melons & yogurt dip. At the PBH they had blueberries and granola and yogurt. THAT was the only thing I liked about PBH, lol - even the Swan/D (when they had CL) had a better spread IMO. GF also had the SAME appetizers they have had for the past 2 yrs!!! It gets OLD. It's nice to be surprised sometimes.

Happy planning all!!!

Lives4Disney

 

[minnie my my]

Channing, I guess I don't feel so crazy now that I know you have the same feeling as I do about our recent trips. There definitely was something different this time and it wasn't for the good. Oh well, we still did enjoy our trip and I am still glad we went. I was just thinking about one night at the MK. I think it was the day that I met y'all. We had dinner reservations at the castle. I am so glad that we all know our way around the MK so well. Our reservation was at 9:00 - right after the parade and right before the fireworks. There were so many people on Main Street you could not move (literaly). We were separated almost from the beginning of our trip down main street. We finally got so separated that we didn't see each other again until we got to the restaurant. My sister had my ds (6) hand and I had the stroller. I remember getting in front of the castle and everyone just stopping. All of the sidewalks were blocked, the wheelchair access ramps onto the sidewalk included. No one would move to let others pass through. I know they were all trying to see the fireworks but that was crazy. What made it even worst was that the people without strollers were pushing me out of the way to squeeze through smaller spaces. If someone trying to pass through would have just stopped and let me go on I may could have made it a little easier. We were late for the reservation but they understood. I have only seen the MK like that once before a few years ago. I don't care to ever be in a crowd like that again, anywhere. It is a wonder that there aren't more children lost in those crowds than there are. It just makes me nervous.

 

[Lives4Disney]

Myra, that sounds awful. Maybe that crowd stress is part of why we felt different this time?? I was in a castle jam like that over Columbus Day weekend in 1999. Couldn't go forward or back. Not fun & that had to be scary with your little ones.

It was surprising how rude people were in general, too, this time. I am just so disappointed in the type of people that have been going to WDW in the past few years. Sounds bad of me, lol, but it used to be a much more kinder, gentler & more polite, nicer dressed, well behaved group of families. WDW used to be more of an escape.

Lives4Disney

 

[DisneyDoogie]

Hi all,

Thought some of the GF fans might be interested in this. My parents came across an old Disney Vacation Information brochure from one of the trips we took to the GF when I was a kid, in 1989.

Back then, the GF had many more view categories than they do now. They had two seasons - value and regular. Regular rates were $205 (garden), $215 (pool), $225 (marina), $235 (lagoon), $270 (lodge tower room), and $295 (RPC). Value season rates were $20 less for each category. I know that in the past 17 years, the rates have soared. But, I thought it was interesting that back then the difference from garden to RPC was only $90, and now it's around $300!

Wow... too bad the RPC isn't $295 now!

 

[minnie my my]

DisneyDoogie, thanks for posting that. I was just thinking this morning at how much more expensive it is and how I wish I could get a room at one of those wonderful old rates. That RPC rate makes me sick when I compare it to how much I paid a couple of weeks ago. It sure has gone up over the years.

 

[hmp2z]

I actually wish they had more room categories now. I'm glad they've sorted lagoon view rooms from MK view rooms - I would rather pay the extra money & be guaranteed an MK room than fork out the cash only to have a Poly view. We have awful luck when booking garden views - we invariably get Conch Key with a view of the dumpster area. Yech...

It steams me, though, paying that much for a room & then having it face something that unattractive, which is one of the reasons why we now only stay RPC honeymoon. I wish for those, though, that they would just charge us extra for an MK facing room, so I don't have to stress about that view.

I still think garden view should be just that: a garden view, not a view of a parking lot or a dumpster. They should label those "standard view" and charge less for the budget-conscious travelers. I'm one of those mega-planners, so I don't like having my room left completely to chance & the whims of Room Control.

Cheers!
Heather W

 

[Lives4Disney]

Heather, I didn't even know there were any bad views at the GF! I thought the worst GV room would be looking at the roof of the pool building. I would not be happy looking at a dumpster at WDW.

I changed calendars today and saw I have a quote from CRO for a WDW spring break trip - 10 nts RPC and the quote is $9200+. That is awful. Good thing I found somewhere else to vacation this March. I think for as wonderful as the Grand is the rates are getting me down. THAT may be part of my unDisney feeling right now. I am almost having a bit of buyers' remorse, I think. Had a nice stay, but still..... And now that Disney Doogie posted those rates!! My own little family of 5 started going yearly and more to WDW in 1990. I remember staying Tower Club at the CR for about $200/nt. Those were the days!

Lives4Disney

 

[traci]

I know this is o/t but how do you book a CR MK view if you want an 11th or 12th floor? I am assuming it's concierge? What is it called though?

my oh my, if I had to look at the dumpster at the GF I'd be sore to - especially at those rates.

 

[Lives4Disney]

I know this is o/t but how do you book a CR MK view if you want an 11th or 12th floor? I am assuming it's concierge? What is it called though?

my oh my, if I had to look at the dumpster at the GF I'd be sore to - especially at those rates.

Traci, if you want a guaranteed MK view at the CR, you book that room category and you could be on floors 6 to 11. If you book the "Atrium Club", which is the 12th floor concierge, you will just be able to request MK view.

Good luck! My kids LOVE the CR. (just had to throw that in there, lol)

Channing

 

[hmp2z]

Heather, I didn't even know there were any bad views at the GF! I thought the worst GV room would be looking at the roof of the pool building. I would not be happy looking at a dumpster at WDW.

Yes, I didn't realize that either, until it happened to us twice in a row. Now it's RPC honeymoon room every time; at over $300/night, it irks me to look at a dumpster.

We seem to have bad luck with GV rooms - we just stayed GV at the Poly and had a beautiful parking lot view. Not as bad as the dumpster, but still, NOT a garden. I just resent that labelling - call it a standard view or something else, but don't call it garden when what you mean is dumpster or parking lot. Sorry, my personal vent.

Anyway, Channing, when your daughters are old enough, get them into the College Program - CMs get great room discounts.

Cheers!
Heather W

 

[Lives4Disney]

Yes, I didn't realize that either, until it happened to us twice in a row. Now it's RPC honeymoon room every time; at over $300/night, it irks me to look at a dumpster.

We seem to have bad luck with GV rooms - we just stayed GV at the Poly and had a beautiful parking lot view. Not as bad as the dumpster, but still, NOT a garden. I just resent that labelling - call it a standard view or something else, but don't call it garden when what you mean is dumpster or parking lot. Sorry, my personal vent.

Anyway, Channing, when your daughters are old enough, get them into the College Program - CMs get great room discounts.

Cheers!
Heather W

Heather, wow!! Great idea!! I will have to FORCE them into it, lol.

Lucy already wants to maybe be a concierge CM and Jojo...She could be just about any princess and play the part PERFECTLY! At least they would be CMs that KNOW Disney World.

I knew Poly had GV rooms with a parking lot view, but I kind of thought it would be rare to get that - let alone twice!!


Channing

 

[traci]

If we stay CR anytime soon it will have to be when it's cold outside. I need that zero entry pool for my babes, so it's GF or Poly here. I guess I'm confused - help me out... if you want a MK view at CR than you book it as such , but you get 6-11, right? But if you book concierge there is no guarantee you will get MK, you can only reqest it, no?

Just trying to understand incase I can squeeze in a winter time trip next year. Those MK views seem to go fast. I just want to know what does a girl has to do to get higher up?

Channing, did you get your spring break plans all figured out?
Heather, what are the views in the Honeymoon rooms?

 

[hmp2z]

Another thought - this is something that my husband & I have been discussing for a while. I feel like WDW should do more to make staying concierge a special experience. Already, they give those gold room key cards. What is the point of that? It's the card itself, not the color, that makes the elevator work. Why not use the gold cards as automatic FastPasses? It wouldn't require any additional expense on Disney's part; they've already staffed the lines with workers who check FastPasses - they could just have those workers accept gold cards just like they would accept a FastPass ticket.

My other idea was that they should allow concierge CMs the chance to book restaurant ressies the day before regular guests could - say 181 days out, instead of 180. Just a small edge, but it would make staying concierge more desirable and more worth the whopping $$$ that we fork over so blithely. This would require possibly more money in technology - I don't know how extensive the system changes would have to be to allow concierge CMs the chance to book the day before all other reservation CMs.

I feel like, for what we spend staying concierge, we should be getting something besides those cutesy little snacks. When I make ADRs using IPO's services, it requires the same amount of effort on my part as if I'd called WDW-Dine myself. Also, we've had some strange mistakes made by IPO, like reservations made for the wrong dates, or their reservations not showing up at the restaurant computers. We've actually been turned away from places because of this, which should not happen to anyone, and definitely not because we used IPO instead of Guest Services.

Wondering whether anyone else felt the same, and if you had had any ideas for improving concierge level amenities.

Cheers!
Heather W

 

[triplefigs]

Traci, yes, you can book a guaranteed Tower MK view room and it's floors 6-11. You can request a higher floor on your reservation. The 12th floor is the Atrium Club. You can request MK view, but it is a request only. We had a MK view in the Atrium Club in September. It was amazing. I didn't like the concierge there as much as GF, though. I personally don't think any Tower MK view room would have a bad view at all. So, if we stay at the CR again, we will skip concierge, book the Tower MK view room, and just request floor 11.

 

[triplefigs]

Another thought - this is something that my husband & I have been discussing for a while. I feel like WDW should do more to make staying concierge a special experience. Already, they give those gold room key cards. What is the point of that? It's the card itself, not the color, that makes the elevator work. Why not use the gold cards as automatic FastPasses? It wouldn't require any additional expense on Disney's part; they've already staffed the lines with workers who check FastPasses - they could just have those workers accept gold cards just like they would accept a FastPass ticket.

My other idea was that they should allow concierge CMs the chance to book restaurant ressies the day before regular guests could - say 181 days out, instead of 180. Just a small edge, but it would make staying concierge more desirable and more worth the whopping $$$ that we fork over so blithely. This would require possibly more money in technology - I don't know how extensive the system changes would have to be to allow concierge CMs the chance to book the day before all other reservation CMs.

I feel like, for what we spend staying concierge, we should be getting something besides those cutesy little snacks. When I make ADRs using IPO's services, it requires the same amount of effort on my part as if I'd called WDW-Dine myself. Also, we've had some strange mistakes made by IPO, like reservations made for the wrong dates, or their reservations not showing up at the restaurant computers. We've actually been turned away from places because of this, which should not happen to anyone, and definitely not because we used IPO instead of Guest Services.

Wondering whether anyone else felt the same, and if you had had any ideas for improving concierge level amenities.

Cheers!
Heather W

We didn't even get the gold ones in September. In Dec we did, but our Sept KTTK cards were the regular blue ones.

I like the secure floors and snacks with concierge, but I wish they changed them. It was the same food each day. Get's boring! I felt better making my own ADRs with less chance of error. I do think WDW should offer a few perks to concierge guests as expensive as the rooms are.

 

[traci]

Thanks Tripfigs

 

[Lives4Disney]

Traci, yes, you can book a guaranteed Tower MK view room and it's floors 6-11. You can request a higher floor on your reservation. The 12th floor is the Atrium Club. You can request MK view, but it is a request only. We had a MK view in the Atrium Club in September. It was amazing. I didn't like the concierge there as much as GF, though. I personally don't think any Tower MK view room would have a bad view at all. So, if we stay at the CR again, we will skip concierge, book the Tower MK view room, and just request floor 11.

Many years ago before we discovered the 12th floor we stayed on almost all the floors. There is not a bad MK view. The higher up has a bit less lobby & Chef Mickey's noise and less noise in the valet area, though. Just request floor 11.

Heather, I totally agree with you. I think maybe that's why I have a bit of buyer's remorse. I just think for the steep price of RPC there should be more of a wow to it. Not saying it's not lovely, and service is great, and maybe I have just done it too many times too close together. There should be something MORE to staying concierge than the gold card and the snackies in the lounge. I love it, but still think it is overpriced for what you get. (that sounds bad, but I don't know how else to put it!) Also IPO needs improvement. Enough said on that one!!

And Denise, you're right - we don't always even get the gold cards.....sometimes they are blue. And if they are, I am secretly bummed. I noticed some people in the elevator using blue cards to key up to concierge.

You know, I am booked for the Grand Californian Hotel for spring break and I am paying even a bit more for it than I paid for our Xmas trip/nt in RPC but NOW I am hearing the DL hotels do not even have IPO dept or preplanning services at all. All the concierge stacks up to be is SNACKS! I am really bummed because THIS trip is where I could really use some help! I booked it yesterday thru AAA and so I am stuck, I think. I wanted concierge, but I am not sure it is worth it at DL at all.

Traci, I totally agree with you about the pool situation at the CR. And the pool is ugly IMO. All concrete and flat and blah. We used to NEVER swim on our CR WDW trips but be park marathoners all the way. Once we started taking it slower, we branched out to other hotels for the pools and lush atmosphere. The only way I would do CR is in the colder months when we wouldn't swim anyway.

Lives4Disney

 

[magical4us4]

I have been reading along, and I can't believe how busy DW has gotten! I even called yesterday to see if any rooms were available this month and the beginning of February for RPC, and there is nothing! Rumor has it that it is convention time in Disney and it calls for over 100,000 conventioneers! That's insane. We have been many times in January and into Feb. and it was sooooo slow in the parks, we felt we had it to ourselves! We were looking for a quick trip also, but I don't think it will happen. We have been there at the end of August, and it has been bearable, but not as great as January. There have been times in the past that I have called Disney a few days in advance and they had rooms for us. I just can't believe it has gotten sooo busy. Is there another baby boom??????

Anyway, maybe we will try Universal, they do treat their on site guests well by giving them a "magic key" to the front of the line. That sounds pretty good to me for now.

Good luck everyone with your decisions!