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

[JPN4265]

congrats on your trip, the GF is so fun and relaxing! you will love it! may i suggest coral reef as a possible place to eat at Epcot. we really enjoyed it! good luck! beware of the ducks when you lay out at the pool! if you have food...they will find you!

Looks like you have your trip planned out. The only change I would make if it was for my wife and I, would be to change our dinner reservations from ohanna to Narcoossee's. We were very impressed with Narcoossee's. It is more of an adult atmosphere, where Ohanna is more for the family. Also the food at Ohanna is not very good. You can't beat the food or the view from Narcoossee's.

 

[heatherlynn444]

Looks like you have your trip planned out. The only change I would make if it was for my wife and I, would be to change our dinner reservations from ohanna to Narcoossee's. We were very impressed with Narcoossee's. It is more of an adult atmosphere, where Ohanna is more for the family. Also the food at Ohanna is not very good. You can't beat the food or the view from Narcoossee's.

I LOVE narcoossees, but it looks like they already have that as an ADR on their list.

 

[Cinderumbrella]

Thanks for all the great info I get here on this thread! I just called to put a room request on our ressie for August: dormer room in Sago Cay. I requested Sago since I love the idea of being close to Gaspy's since we will eat a lot of breakfasts there (plus the mug aspect). But I must confess, I would love to stay in one of the new rooms if they are done by the time we arrive...

We had a dormer room on our honeymoon and the room just felt huge to me with the vaulted ceiling (even though they are smaller).

Can't wait to go back!

 

[Lives4Disney]

Just got back from a wonderful trip to WDW and a unforgettable stay at the GF. We had booked a last minute reservation at the GF, and only Gardenview rooms were available. When we arrived at check-in, the CM gave us a very large smile and informed us that we had been up-graded to the Honeymoon suite with an incredable view of the Magic Kingdom and the Castle. You can't explain the view, its just something you have to see. Needless to say, I don't think we can every top this visit to the GF, so I guess our next visit will be to the WL. Maybe another upgrade? You never know.

What a fabulous upgrade!! I KNOW that view. Love it! AND it would be even better as an upgrade!

Glad it was a great GF stay. I am missing that place. *sigh*

Heatherlynn, I read your review of Narcossees and enjoyed your cute pics, too. I think I will try it over Thanksgiving. I am NOT a fish eater, so I never booked it. I was underwhelmed with Citricos this past time, so trying something new may be where it's at.

Channing

 

[heatherlynn444]

channing- do you like a good steak? if so, you will LOVE it! I really do not like seafood. i will *try* it to please DH sometimes, but steak. oh I love! you MUST go! and do you like cheesecake? you better! my mouth is watering just talking about it! lol.

 

[Lives4Disney]

channing- do you like a good steak? if so, you will LOVE it! I really do not like seafood. i will *try* it to please DH sometimes, but steak. oh I love! you MUST go! and do you like cheesecake? you better! my mouth is watering just talking about it! lol.

OK! I am THERE!! I love steak and cheesecake!!! The seafood factor just kind of scared me away for all these years. DH and DS like seafood, though, so I think we need to try Narcoosees next trip.

Channing

 

[mlill]

Hi guys! I was just stopping by and noticed that you were talking about Narcoossee's! We just went in December and loved it! I had the surf & turf, filet and lobster, and the filet was awesome. Channing, you'll have a great time at Narcoossee's! I also had a chocolate martini that was wonderful!!! I'm usually not a big drinker, but I had heard good things about this drink over on the dining board, so I had to try it. Yum!

Hope everyone has a great week!
-Michelle

 

[PreppyPolyMom]

Do all the RPC rooms have a castle view?

 

[JPN4265]

I LOVE narcoossees, but it looks like they already have that as an ADR on their list.

Your right, I missed that. We really enjoyed Narcoossee's, the fish was wonderful and the steak the best. For another choice, you might want to try Artist's Point at the WL.

 

[marcij]

Channing -- I agree with the other posters about Narcoossee's. We try to make it a stop every trip. The food and service have been great.

 

[3for Me]

I just had a wonderful birthday meal at Narcoosee's and my entire family agreed it was the best meal of the trip. The service was wonderful and the drinks were great, too. Some of us had seafood, and some steak and both were divine. DH had the lobster, and can I just say YUM! The view is fabulous, and in my opinion, better than CG for a more cozy feeling.

Don't get me wrong, Narcoosee's can be LOUD, but CG was a ZOO - the worst it's ever been. Food was still great, but boy was it CHAOTIC!

 

[Misti]

Do all the RPC rooms have a castle view?

No, rooms may overlook the courtyard and/or either of the pools. Actually, in my signature pic below, you can see how the one side of the main building faces towards the Polynesian/monorail (hence no MK view).

 

[DISNEY FIX]

No, rooms may overlook the courtyard and/or either of the pools. Actually, in my signature pic below, you can see how the one side of the main building faces towards the Polynesian/monorail (hence no MK view).

Looking out from the my Poly. room that is a beautiful freakin building.
Can anybody tell me how long it takes to walk from the Poly to the gym at the GF?
Can I take the monorail over @ 5am?

 

[heatherlynn444]

so it seems to be the general consensus that everyone loves Narcoossees! why does my trip have to be so far away!?!?!

 

[irisbud]

Can anybody tell me how long it takes to walk from the Poly to the gym at the GF?
Can I take the monorail over @ 5am?

Disney Fix, it is not a long walk at all, and it is an easy, and beautiful, one. I would say that even in the monodrail were running at that hour, which I don't think it is, you would be better off just walking. By the time you walked to the GCH at Poly, went upstairs, rode to the Gf, went back downstairs and backtracked to the gym, you would probably have already been there!

 

[Lives4Disney]

so it seems to be the general consensus that everyone loves Narcoossees! why does my trip have to be so far away!?!?!

Mine too!! I have the Dolphin booked for the beginning of July but most likely no GF til Thanksgiving unless I can talk DH into tacking on a couple GF nights after Dolphin - which I am thinking I need to do anyway! I know your trip is a few weeks past mine, Heatherlynn. How are we going to make it til then??

I am for sure booking Narcoosees for our fall trip. I have not tried Cali Grille yet in alllllll these years, either. I am scared off by the thought of creative cuisine, hahaha. Picky eater here. I did try the buffalo steak at Artist Point and it was so delicious, though - I noticed somebody mentioned AP.

Irisbud, I agree it's a very pretty walk from the GF to the Poly. I really don't think the monorails would be running. I think they start an hour or so before park opening.

Happy planning, GF fans!

Lives4Disney

 

[Micheme]

I'm trying to read thru all the posts to get up to date for our Oct trip but wanted to post a few questions.

This is our 10th anniversary trip so I think a Lagoon View or Magic Kingdom View would be great. Any suggestions for a building or specific room request for either of those choices. I like the idea of the balconies, since when we stayed at the Poly we like breakfast out there. Is there a map showing which rooms are GV, LV and such?

We are also bringing family members who will be staying in a GV room, what buildings do you recommend?

Is there a price you pay to be closer to the main building and the ammenities (ie monorail, food stuff etc) in that your views are not as good and the noise factor?

What rooms did you have that you absolutely loved, hated etc. What can you tell me what you loved/ didn't like about the resort itself.

After 4 stays at the Poly I am almost afraid to branch out (know it like the back of my hand now) but it is time for a change and i think this trip is going to be super special.

Thanks for any info you can give me while a trudge thru this monster thread.

 

[DISNEY FIX]

Disney Fix, it is not a long walk at all, and it is an easy, and beautiful, one. I would say that even in the monodrail were running at that hour, which I don't think it is, you would be better off just walking. By the time you walked to the GCH at Poly, went upstairs, rode to the Gf, went back downstairs and backtracked to the gym, you would probably have already been there!

Thanks for the info now it is just a matter of getting up at 4:30 am on a vacation morning.

 

[Cinderumbrella]

so it seems to be the general consensus that everyone loves Narcoossees! why does my trip have to be so far away!?!?!

I hate to be the dissenter here but I had some bad fish there WAY back in 1997 which rendered me to the bathroom for 30 hours of my honeymoon. We may be the only ones, but we won't be returning this trip!

ETA: Happy 10th Anniversary to Micheme! We too will be celebrating our 10th during our August GF stay!

 

[Tinkaroo]

I'm trying to read thru all the posts to get up to date for our Oct trip but wanted to post a few questions.

This is our 10th anniversary trip so I think a Lagoon View or Magic Kingdom View would be great. Any suggestions for a building or specific room request for either of those choices. I like the idea of the balconies, since when we stayed at the Poly we like breakfast out there. Is there a map showing which rooms are GV, LV and such?

We are also bringing family members who will be staying in a GV room, what buildings do you recommend?

Is there a price you pay to be closer to the main building and the ammenities (ie monorail, food stuff etc) in that your views are not as good and the noise factor?

What rooms did you have that you absolutely loved, hated etc. What can you tell me what you loved/ didn't like about the resort itself.

After 4 stays at the Poly I am almost afraid to branch out (know it like the back of my hand now) but it is time for a change and i think this trip is going to be super special.

Thanks for any info you can give me while a trudge thru this monster thread.

to the thread! You are planning a very special trip! Poly is a wonderful resort, but I bet you'll enjoy GF just as much (if not more!).

I'm afraid I can't help you with LV or MK room recommendations, as I haven't stayed in either room category (and the MK view is a new designation for the GF as of this year). Unfortunately, I don't believe a map exists that designates all the different views in each building, although maybe some of our experts here could walk you through it.

I have stayed in a GV room previously, and after reading this thread and receiving recommendations here, I requested to be in Conch Key. We really enjoyed that location - we had a dormer room (top floor), and were fairly close to the main building, courtyard pool and the boat launch. Sago Cay is another popular request for GV rooms.

You do not pay any extra for rooms closer to the main building, unless you're actually staying in the main building itself, which is all concierge (Royal Palm Club or RPC, as you'll see it referred to here). There are no guaranteed views in the main building (it could be MK or garden views), but the lounge, food, planning services, and proximity to everything is what you're paying for.

I don't think there is much in the way of noise factor at the GF at all. I've only stayed there once thus far, but we found the resort quiet and relaxing (but not stuffy, as some interpret it). Maybe if you had a room right off the pool you'd hear the occasinal noise, but nothing I'm sure that just closing your balcony door wouldn't cure.

Hope this helps some, and ask away! There are lots of helpful folks here. I just fell in love with the GF on our first stay, and am headed back there this December!