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

[Lives4Disney]

Anyone know this - I'm interested as well. Thanks.

We reserved them twice, but thru IPO. I believe they are done thru the GF marina. Maybe you could call the GF directly and be connected to the marina's extension? I am not sure of the timing - I think it's 90 days out. The first time we reserved was last March when they were just rolling them out and we reserved fairly late into it. Then we did it again in July 06. No trouble again. Every time I have been down to the pool during our stays these cabanas were empty. I think only us Disers know about reserving them.

Have fun!

Lives4Disney

 

[DisneyMomx7]

Thanks. We've always reserved cabanas at HRH and were very happy with them. THis is the first time we'll be doing it at GF. I'm going to try for the first day/last day cabanas so we won't feel homeless.

 

[vbarry]

Just signing in...planning our first trip to the GF in August!! I am sooo excited.

I am just afraid I will like it tooo much and not want to stay anywhere else.

I have DD6 and DD2 .

I am sure we will love it!!

 

[soxnation]

Just signing in...planning our first trip to the GF in August!! I am sooo excited.

I am just afraid I will like it tooo much and not want to stay anywhere else.

I have DD6 and DD2 .

I am sure we will love it!!

We were at the GF this past August and as long as you are ok with the heat and some rain showers you will never want to stay anywhere but the GF!!! Happy Planning

 

[dingoballs]

We were at the GF this past August and as long as you are ok with the heat and some rain showers you will never want to stay anywhere but the GF!!! Happy Planning

We were at the GF this past November and it's ALWAYS the greatest! We've stayed at various other resorts in the past, but we always return to the GF!
I'm sure you'll love it too!

 

[disyady]

We reserved them twice, but thru IPO. I believe they are done thru the GF marina. Maybe you could call the GF directly and be connected to the marina's extension? I am not sure of the timing - I think it's 90 days out. The first time we reserved was last March when they were just rolling them out and we reserved fairly late into it. Then we did it again in July 06. No trouble again. Every time I have been down to the pool during our stays these cabanas were empty. I think only us Disers know about reserving them.

Have fun!

Lives4Disney

Thanks very much. We were booked for 4 nts in RPC as a surprise for my oldest DD's HS grad/18th BDay celebrations this year, but when the 40% pincode arrived at my house we switched our entire 8 nts to GF Gardenview, so we can't go through IPO now . I will take your advice and try calling the GF directly and hope for the best as I would like to set up some special surprises for Melissa. Thanks again for your time!

 

[Lives4Disney]

Thanks very much. We were booked for 4 nts in RPC as a surprise for my oldest DD's HS grad/18th BDay celebrations this year, but when the 40% pincode arrived at my house we switched our entire 8 nts to GF Gardenview, so we can't go through IPO now . I will take your advice and try calling the GF directly and hope for the best as I would like to set up some special surprises for Melissa. Thanks again for your time!

I am just so curious about (and envious of ) this 40% pincode postcard or email that EVERYBODY seems to be getting but ME!!!! I am a bit miffed I have been left out because I know we spend a fortune at WDW yearly and sure would like some frequent visitor rewards!

Hope the cabanas work out for you all. Please post what you find out about reserving them. Have a wonderful stay at the GF. The garden view rooms all have great, pretty views. No parking lots. Just watch out for the rooms in Big Pine Cay that overlook the roof of the pool building. Other than that small bunch, the garden views are great.

I sure agree that once you stay at the GF, no other Disney resort can compare.

Enjoy!

Lives4Disney

 

[Cinderella Fan]

I am just so curious about (and envious of ) this 40% pincode postcard or email that EVERYBODY seems to be getting but ME!!!! I am a bit miffed I have been left out because I know we spend a fortune at WDW yearly and sure would like some frequent visitor rewards!

Hope the cabanas work out for you all. Please post what you find out about reserving them. Have a wonderful stay at the GF. The garden view rooms all have great, pretty views. No parking lots. Just watch out for the rooms in Big Pine Cay that overlook the roof of the pool building. Other than that small bunch, the garden views are great.

I sure agree that once you stay at the GF, no other Disney resort can compare.

Enjoy!

Lives4Disney

Channing, don't feel bad. I haven't received a pincode either!!!

And we BOTH know how much we spend in the RPC!!!

 

[DisneyMomx7]

I am just so curious about (and envious of ) this 40% pincode postcard or email that EVERYBODY seems to be getting but ME!!!! I am a bit miffed I have been left out because I know we spend a fortune at WDW yearly and sure would like some frequent visitor rewards!

Hope the cabanas work out for you all. Please post what you find out about reserving them. Have a wonderful stay at the GF. The garden view rooms all have great, pretty views. No parking lots. Just watch out for the rooms in Big Pine Cay that overlook the roof of the pool building. Other than that small bunch, the garden views are great.

I sure agree that once you stay at the GF, no other Disney resort can compare.

Enjoy!

Lives4Disney

Never a postcard or email rate for us either. I'm starting to wonder if you go frequently (as we do also) maybe they don't feel they need to offer a special rate. Maybe they know we'll just keep coming back anyway. I'd love to get a 40% code.

 

[BCV23]

Never a postcard or email rate for us either. I'm starting to wonder if you go frequently (as we do also) maybe they don't feel they need to offer a special rate. Maybe they know we'll just keep coming back anyway. I'd love to get a 40% code.

Never get them either and I think you're right. The special rates are probably to entice people who haven't been in a while or to encourage people to try the next level of resort.....value to mod, mod to deluxe. Or at least that is what I've read over the years on the boards.

The rest of us....they know we'll be back and soon.

 

[Lives4Disney]

Channing, don't feel bad. I haven't received a pincode either!!!

And we BOTH know how much we spend in the RPC!!!

Angela, I think DMx7 and BCV have it right. I always thought that's what they do - send it to entice people to make reservations & GO or upgrade.....I just feel kind of ripped off and left out!!
How's about WDW taking care of it's frequent guests??!!

Lives4Disney

 

[phyllis1966]

I totally agree with this assessment - we go every year, sometimes twice, but my in-laws, who last accompanied us in 2004, just got the postcard! I guess they know we'll be back, but they want to entice those who haven't been in a couple of years to come back.

No fair - I need a discount to help me with all these trips! For our trip this past December, there was actually a package discount out, but the GF was not included!! That has never happened to us before and I was annoyed, to say the least. I'm not wealthy just because I always stay at the GF - it's a huge splurge for us! 2006 was the first year, after finding DU and the DIS, that we ever had to pay rack rate.

I'll never forget that trip in 2003, when early November was still Value season, and the Fairytale Pkg. came out - stay for 4 nights and get 3 free, even the park tickets! That was about a 45% savings off of rack rate...aaahh, memories!

 

[disyady]

I am just so curious about (and envious of ) this 40% pincode postcard or email that EVERYBODY seems to be getting but ME!!!! I am a bit miffed I have been left out because I know we spend a fortune at WDW yearly and sure would like some frequent visitor rewards!

Hope the cabanas work out for you all. Please post what you find out about reserving them. Have a wonderful stay at the GF. The garden view rooms all have great, pretty views. No parking lots. Just watch out for the rooms in Big Pine Cay that overlook the roof of the pool building. Other than that small bunch, the garden views are great.

I sure agree that once you stay at the GF, no other Disney resort can compare.

Enjoy!

Lives4Disney

Thanks again! We have stayed at the GF before, just never in RPC (I'll get there one day). I have visited WDW almost yearly since 1979 and you are right - no other Disney resort compares (for us, anyway) to the GF. If I book a cabana, I will definitely post here. I check this thread daily, so the least I can do is help all of you if I can! We have always had gardenview rooms on previous trips, and the only building that we have never been in is Sago Cay. They all have their advantages, and we have never been disappointed so far. The pincode card I used was sent to my address in my mother's name, so I was shocked when I called and they let me use it. I do believe that they are trying to lure people who aren't regulars like us so I am very grateful that for the first time in 28 years I can use a pincode! That's why we aren't in RPC now - there was nothing available that our family of 5 could use for our dates with the code, so I just booked the entire 8 night vacation in gardenview. I'm thrilled that it worked out this way in some ways because now we don't have to spend 4nts @ ASMu and then pack up and move to the GF. This is my favorite thread on these boards, and I really appreciate the way that everyone shares their time and knowledge to help all of us to maximize the GF/Disney magic. I feel like I know some of you from your posts and pics and I certainly relate to your Disney/GF passion! From one addict to another - thanks for all of your help!

 

[jen_mangini]

Hi - We reserved a MK View Room. We need the room config with 2 queens and a day bed. Do I need to special request this? I noticed some come with just 1 king. We have 3 kids. Also, does anyone have a building suggestion?



Thank you!!!!!!!
Jen
countdown 2/28 - 3/4

 

[sandrose]

Hi! This will be my family's first time at WDW (dh & I have been when growing up). We are going "all out" for this trip since it is a rare thing for us...so I've been reading all the helpful comments on this thread-thanks so much for all your insight.

I had wanted to stay RPC during the week after Thanksgiving, (thinking that was a slower week?!) and a MK view is important to us. But my TA has informed us that the only MK view rooms in the Main Building are the rooms with a king bed. (We have 2 kids, so will need 2 queens.) Is this correct? Also, there are no standard-RPC rooms available that week! (Only SL comes up) Is it really possible they are all booked already?

So now we need to decide which is more important to us, the RPC (and go at a different time) or the MK view, non-concierge. (The suites at SL are too $$$.) Is there really no RPC/main building conceirge rooms view MK views for 4(2 adults/2 kids)?

THanks for any input! (and I will be watching for building recommendations like the pp, just in case we choose MK view over RPC, thanks!)

Amy

 

[zipDdoodah]

I think there ARE rooms other than king that face MK. From everything I've read, there are some Queen rooms facing MK too. In fact, I am hoping we will get one on our trip, as we have 2 adults and 3 kids. From all of the pictures I've seen, all the views from RPC are very nice, even the ones not facing the castle.

We just decided to upgrade to RPC from SL. If you really want RPC, I would hold out for a time when it is available. Also, be persistent when you call because I tried to use the free water parks/hopping package, and no RPC rooms were available for our dates nor was room only on-line, but when I booked the regular package it came up. The CM kept telling me it wasn't available, and we had to try it a few different ways before it came up in the system. I'm sure it IS entirely possible that it's sold out for week after Thanksgiving though - I know those are busy dates.

Whatever you do, good luck!

 

[BCV23]

Jen, I would request Conch Key.

Amy, your travel agent is wrong. Although we've not had a RPC room with a MK view, both Tammi and and Channing have had rooms like that with their families of 5.

I also would not give up on the time frame that works best for your family. Things always seem to open up. And if you have no luck with the website, try calling Disney Reservation Center (DRC).

And welcome to the DIS!

 

[Cinderella Fan]

Hi everybody! I hope everyone is having a great Thursday....

I have a trip report that I have been working on for our DFTW on the TR boards. I thought some of you would like to see some of the wonderful pics from the GF....

Have a great night!

 

[irisbud]

Yeah! My dad just booked a trip for me and him at the end of Sept! After I told him all about the great trip I had this December, he decided that we should go back again, since he hadn't been for five years!

I read about that 40% off code on here, and told him to give it a try when he called up to book, even though neither of us had gotten a postcard for it. It worked! We saved almost $1000 on four nights with a Magic Kingdom view. He said that he just asked them about "an offer for 40% off," so it might be worth a try!

 

[TinkerBelle_325]

Angela, I think DMx7 and BCV have it right. I always thought that's what they do - send it to entice people to make reservations & GO or upgrade.....I just feel kind of ripped off and left out!!
How's about WDW taking care of it's frequent guests??!!

Lives4Disney

To put this in a bit of perspective. My family has visited WDW 24 times in the past 20 years, nearly all on property. This past year we visted in March 2006 (Beach Club) August 2006 (Polynesian and Coronado Springs) Oct 2006 (Beach Club) and Dec 2006/Jan 2007 (Boardwalk). With 4 trips in the last calendar year and 20+ trips in the last 20 years I'd say we are safely frequent guests, however, we recieved one of the 40% off codes.

I've been in the position of hearing everyone else with amazing postcard and email discounts, and while frustrating....it is my belief that no one is more or less deserving of a discount.