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

[Jen66]

loveThatDarnMouse~ I don't know enough yet to request a certain building either! YET! About your Magic Kingdom view room it is $465 per night during value season and a garden View room is $375. I am sure it will be worth it to be able to see the castle and Wishes from our room!
I certainly hope so anyway!!

 

[marcij]

Channing --

I just took a quick business trip to Orlando, but couldn't resist and stayed at RPC while there (it was only three nights). It was only my second stay in the main building, the first being before Christmas right after my Mom passed away, so I was still in major shock during that trip and didn't really get to take it all in during that trip.

Anyway, I was at the Concierge desk my first afternoon asking for help, and hadn't paid attention to who I was talking to. The phone rang, and she asked if it was okay to take it -- I said no problem, and she said "good afternoon, this is VONNIE, how can I help you?"

I got the biggest grin on my face, as I realized who it was. She was only on the phone for a second before she put them on hold to transfer them, and I proceeded to tell her how you've told us how wonderful she is. She said she can't wait to see you! I got the pleasure of seeing her a couple of more times, and she was always so nice and gracious. Just wanted to let you know I agree with your assessment!

Have a great trip!

 

[Lives4Disney]

Channing --

I just took a quick business trip to Orlando, but couldn't resist and stayed at RPC while there (it was only three nights). It was only my second stay in the main building, the first being before Christmas right after my Mom passed away, so I was still in major shock during that trip and didn't really get to take it all in during that trip.

Anyway, I was at the Concierge desk my first afternoon asking for help, and hadn't paid attention to who I was talking to. The phone rang, and she asked if it was okay to take it -- I said no problem, and she said "good afternoon, this is VONNIE, how can I help you?"

I got the biggest grin on my face, as I realized who it was. She was only on the phone for a second before she put them on hold to transfer them, and I proceeded to tell her how you've told us how wonderful she is. She said she can't wait to see you! I got the pleasure of seeing her a couple of more times, and she was always so nice and gracious. Just wanted to let you know I agree with your assessment!

Have a great trip!

Marci, I was just checking in here....had to, lol, should be packing ....and saw your post! OMG!! I LOVE Vonnie. Isn't she just the most sweet, GRACIOUS (is the right word alright) CM? She is ALL Disney. I mean she just has the Disney spirit thru and thru. We are so excited to be going tomorrow and we will get together with her a couple times we hope. My girls both made her something, too, because she is sooooo wonderful to them - all of us, actually . I love that we've become friends with her. I am so glad you met her!!!! I talk about her all the time on this thread and nobody has met the mysterious Vonnie!!!! We met her last March 2006 and what really sticks in my mind is how absolutely customer oriented & helpful she is on her job - that's how we met her back then. Somebody dropped off a Braille note for DD10 and she had trouble reading the signature of all things, lol. Vonnie just went so out of her way to hunt down who possibly could have left the note. After that, we would see her daily and talk to her and just became friends over several visits and we keep in touch. Gracious is the word for Vonnie.

YOU are so lucky, Marci, to get to stay RPC on a business trip - I remember that Xmas stay.... Hopefully time is easing your pain of your loss a little. I know it will always be there. Glad you treated yourself right and went RPC. We will be at the Swan tomorrow for a week for a conference DH is going to. I am nervous about the Swan.....last time we stayed there checking in was weird. They argued that we were checking in a day late and that our ressie ended a day earlier....good thing I had my print out. It was a twilight zone moment in the Swan lobby. Just unsure of that place. I have been so spoiled by Vonnie and the nice RPC team and confident of great treatment there.

Glad you're back on the GF thread & so nice to hear about a Vonnie sighting!

Channing

 

[honeypot36]

Hi, we are going to be at GF 7/31-8/6. Our first time and my DD who is two will be with us. We have booked a lagoon view. That was our only choice other than MK view. Does anyone know what lodge that puts us in? Also, can you request a floor you want to be on b4 you go?

TIA.

 

[Tinkaroo]

Channing --

I just took a quick business trip to Orlando, but couldn't resist and stayed at RPC while there (it was only three nights). It was only my second stay in the main building, the first being before Christmas right after my Mom passed away, so I was still in major shock during that trip and didn't really get to take it all in during that trip.

Anyway, I was at the Concierge desk my first afternoon asking for help, and hadn't paid attention to who I was talking to. The phone rang, and she asked if it was okay to take it -- I said no problem, and she said "good afternoon, this is VONNIE, how can I help you?"

I got the biggest grin on my face, as I realized who it was. She was only on the phone for a second before she put them on hold to transfer them, and I proceeded to tell her how you've told us how wonderful she is. She said she can't wait to see you! I got the pleasure of seeing her a couple of more times, and she was always so nice and gracious. Just wanted to let you know I agree with your assessment!

Have a great trip!

How cool! And yea for you getting some time away at RPC (even if you had to work)!

She sounds wonderful. I hope I will get to meet her come November!

Channing - have an awesome trip (even if it is at the Swan )! If it gets really bad, I'll gladly trade places with you!

 

[Lives4Disney]

How cool! And yea for you getting some time away at RPC (even if you had to work)!

She sounds wonderful. I hope I will get to meet her come November!

Channing - have an awesome trip (even if it is at the Swan )! If it gets really bad, I'll gladly trade places with you!

THANKS, Lindsay! We are up and almost ready for the limo.

Happy Dising, everybody! I will look for that large Mickey for Cinderumbrella and post either way.

Happy weekend,

Channing

 

[Cinderumbrella]

THANKS, Lindsay! We are up and almost ready for the limo.

Happy Dising, everybody! I will look for that large Mickey for Cinderumbrella and post either way.

Happy weekend,

Channing

Thanks Channing!! I hope you have a fantastic time!!!!!!!!!

 

[minniesota]

honeypot36-

How exciting to be going to the GF with your little princess! My DD was 4 the first time we stayed - she's almost 16 now and it is still her favorite. With a lagoon view, you could be placed in Big Pine, Boca Chica, Conch or Sago. My personal favorites for lagoon view are Sago and Conch (they provide more of a castle view) but with the new view category (theme park view), I'm not sure how they are allotting those rooms. If it were me, I would call CRO and ask to add a couple of requests to your reservation. My request would go like this: NS, Sago or Conch, upper floor. Then when you check in, you can politely ask if your requests have been met. Usually, the front desk CMs will do what they can to accommodate you! Good luck and have a grand stay!

 

[Alicnwondrln]

Have fun Channing! Cant wait to hear about your trip when you get back.

 

[WDW4Life!]

Hello!

I am subscribing to this thread because we will be staying at GF for our next trip!

 

[LoveThatDarnMouse]

What building should I request if we're looking to be closest to the kids pool? I requested 1st floor because I'm assuming we'll have a sliding door like at the Poly, is this the case? (also because I don't want to worry about the DS's hanging over the balcony.)

 

[heatherlynn444]

THANKS, Lindsay! We are up and almost ready for the limo.

Happy Dising, everybody! I will look for that large Mickey for Cinderumbrella and post either way.

Happy weekend,

Channing

channing- i know you wont see this till you get back but have GREAT time!

i saw on another post you mentiones no one has seen vonnie, well i SAW her when i cheked in in january. Joe checked us in but she was at the other desk btu i never got to talk to her!

 

[marcij]

Marci, I was just checking in here....had to, lol, should be packing ....and saw your post! OMG!! I LOVE Vonnie. Isn't she just the most sweet, GRACIOUS (is the right word alright) CM? She is ALL Disney. I mean she just has the Disney spirit thru and thru. We are so excited to be going tomorrow and we will get together with her a couple times we hope. My girls both made her something, too, because she is sooooo wonderful to them - all of us, actually . I love that we've become friends with her. I am so glad you met her!!!! I talk about her all the time on this thread and nobody has met the mysterious Vonnie!!!! We met her last March 2006 and what really sticks in my mind is how absolutely customer oriented & helpful she is on her job - that's how we met her back then. Somebody dropped off a Braille note for DD10 and she had trouble reading the signature of all things, lol. Vonnie just went so out of her way to hunt down who possibly could have left the note. After that, we would see her daily and talk to her and just became friends over several visits and we keep in touch. Gracious is the word for Vonnie.

YOU are so lucky, Marci, to get to stay RPC on a business trip - I remember that Xmas stay.... Hopefully time is easing your pain of your loss a little. I know it will always be there. Glad you treated yourself right and went RPC. We will be at the Swan tomorrow for a week for a conference DH is going to. I am nervous about the Swan.....last time we stayed there checking in was weird. They argued that we were checking in a day late and that our ressie ended a day earlier....good thing I had my print out. It was a twilight zone moment in the Swan lobby. Just unsure of that place. I have been so spoiled by Vonnie and the nice RPC team and confident of great treatment there.

Glad you're back on the GF thread & so nice to hear about a Vonnie sighting!

Channing

I hope you are having a fantastic trip and getting to visit with Vonnie.

Thanks for the kind words. The support I've received on the DIS board has really helped me. My motto is "one day at a time" and with time, my sorrow has been easing.

 

[honeypot36]

thank-you so much for your suggestions. I will let you know how it goes. We are super-excited for this trip. I have not been since the late 80s so I am looking forward to seeing what is new and this time it will 10x better having a little one of my own.

honeypot

 

[Lives4Disney]

HI!!!!! I am here at WDW!!! At the Swan - which is OK, but just OK - a little better than OK now that I have settled in. The beds are nice, but the walls are grubby, lol.....OK, I confess...I have a thing for grubby walls.....They REALLY BUG ME. I notice stuff like that and can't help it...wasn't even looking, they just stand out to me. After a grubby walled suite at the CR, we haven't stayed there again, haha.


CINDERUBRELLA, I spent some time at the Grand today and checked out the shops....they do not have any large size characters anymore. The largest Mickey was about medium sized and I think $30. I was laughing and talking at the time I was scoping out, but I know nothing LARGE, and I think it was $30 for the largest. The coolest thing I saw, though, was a beautiful blue dress like Minnie wears for this YOAMD celebration with fiber optics in the skirt that lights up and glow and sparkle!! SO CUTE. DD is too old and over the costumes but little DD would love it. Too bad it's not pink, though!! DD and I visited Vonnie a bit today which was fun. Had a nice chat. The Grand is still Grand and I cannot wait to stay there again in Nov. The Swan is a good deal for free, but I was really miffed yesterday when we checked in because things were so nutty once again - deja vu of our last stay here. They gave me a notice that I had a UPS package, but couldn't find it. Took an hour to locate. They found it because I SAW it as we were leaving to go to EPCOT. The concierge had it, told me I could pick it up at the front desk when we got back after 10. OK, well they looked and looked and turns out it was delivered to our room! Also, nobody had any idea where my Memories by Sarah basket was. Took even LONGER to locate that one and many phone calls and a call to Sarah. Found it finally and the surprise was a bust, but it was beautiful and DD & I loved it and I would definitely order from Sarah again. The parks are crowded, but nowhere like Xmas. The Teddybear and Doll fest exhibit was super neat. DD got a really special doll & we have been having so much fun.

THANKS for all the nice messages!!!! Happy planning. The Swan is a good deal for free, haha, but the Grand is the better choice.

Channing

 

[minniesota]

Channing-
Sounds like you are having a good time with DD even if you aren't at "our" favorite resort! Did you happen to get around to talking about renovations with Vonnie? I'm still wondering if/how/when they are going to do the main building. With our RPC stay in October, I'm hoping we won't be affected. Did you see any signs of work going on or were you just enjoying being at GF? Hope you enjoy the rest of your stay and try to avoid those grubby walls!!!

 

[latinqt]

We're wondering this too. Please advise. We're going in Dec.

 

[BCV23]

Well, today we fly home. We've been in Sugar Loaf since Friday. We've had a great stay. Everything is beautiful as as always.

The lounge has been reconfigured with more tea tables and chairs. I also swear we have a different style of comforter although my daughter thinks it's the same. I'll have to check my picures from our other stays in SL. These are yellow but have blue fairies. No "A dream is a Wish" pillows in here either.

Channing, glad you're having fun. Sorry to hear about the grubby walls and the front desk problems.

Cinderumbrella, I actually did see a larger Mickey. I almost missed him. They aren't the huge ones that used to be around. More like 24-25 inches I would guess. But that is really a guess because they were on the very top shelf way out of my reach and I'm 5'7". I almost missed them because they were so high and also at first glance didn't seem much bigger. Anyway I don't know the price as I didn't want to bother anyone since I had zero intention of buying! There were also only 2 or 3 of them on Friday so perhaps they were gone when Channing shopped.

My family is sleeping in a bit before a swim. We'll meet our oldest for lunch and then it's off home. Can't wait to see our dogs.

I'm going down for more tea and if they're not busy at the desk, I'll ask about rehab news. I can report that there are guests on every floor of Sago Cay because I've seen people on their balconies. I just love this view across the marina. I did see a man take a couple of loads of benches out of Sago on Firday. So perhaps they are starting to prep some rooms?

 

[Gottalovedisney]

Hi everyone! We're currently booked for an 11 night stay at the Poly but my DD asked the other night about staying at the GF. It's her dream resort and since we've stayed at the Poly before it may be time to try something new. We've never stayed at the GF but her and her twin brother will be graduating next year and this will probably be the last big family trip for a while so I want it to be special plus we'll be celebrating mine and DH 21st anniversary as well! I've been doing my best to plow through the 300 pages of great information on this thread and I've noticed some talk of renovations. Any ideas of when it will start and what it will involve?

This is a great thread and I love all the photos and trip reports! You guys are making a solid case for switching resorts!!!!!

Thanks
Tracy

 

[Alicnwondrln]

channing i am glad you made it over to the GF
Im sorry about the swan
how is the iview over there?

I cant wait to see how they changed around the lounge at the SL, did you take nay pics BCV?