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

[ClareH37]

Lives4Disney: Glad to hear you're having a good time! We're doing the YC after our RPC visit too, I was hoping it wouldn't be a let down. I asked IPO a couple of weeks ago about the construction while we are there in Dec - he wrote back to assure me that the main building would be done by August. Who knows?
Have a wonderful stay and don't forget to tell all when you get home!

I was told this also - they want to get all the work in the main building completed before the Christmas decorations are put up.

 

[BCV23]

Hi Channing. Glad that you're having a fun trip. How fun to meet Kelly.

Sounds like your checkin was similar to ours in May. I really liked the new chocolates. It's a return to the good old days before the mint chocolates kicked in. I didn't realize they were Belgium though.

I think the GF is the only resort that has that particular line of H20 products. They also have the GF logo on them and the other resorts do not. My favorite was the mint foot rub. It really feels refreshing.

Glad you got the view you like at the GF.

Have fun and stay cool. It's hot and humid back here in Illinois too.

 

[marcij]

Channing -- I'm so glad you are having a good time! Vonnie couldn't say enough nice things about you when we were there last week. We were in 4403, and I could see posts sticking up from the front of Sago by the service entrance. Quite curious!

Pretty cool to see Joan!

I hope the rest of your vacation is magical!

Marci

 

[Lives4Disney]

Thanks, guys!

BCV....its funny but it's not even awful hot here. Unfortunately or fortunately it's been kind of overcast and rainy every day, but it seems to be keeping the temp down a bit. It is very bearable. When we left IL, it was 65 degrees! When the sun is out here, it is HOT, but we've been kind of lucky. LOL, I read the GF chocolates before I ate it because I wanted to know if it would be mint or not - that's why I knew "Belgian". I also LOVE that mint foot rub. All the GF toiletries are so refreshing. The YC ones are very nice, too,, but GF (as always) is my favorite. I wonder if all resorts have different colors/scents?

The YC is very nice - esp for the awesome AP rate I got. ALSO, this was the first time I have ever in years been asked to show my AP at check in. Maybe they are finally cracking down. I thought we'd be let down after staying RPC but the room is really nice and I think due to having a daybed w/my son this time it's larger than the room we were given last summer. It seems as large or even a bit larger/roomier than our GF room. Maybe just the light color or the layout, but we are very comfy here.

Marci, Vonnie is just sooo wonderful. I can't say enough good about her, either. She is so DISNEY! That GF needs to know what a great CM they have in her. Mejay and Joe are really nice, also. So, all you RPC guests know who to help you if you need it!! They are wonderful & make the stay welcoming and special. The day we checked in was DH and DD11's bday.....Vonnie asked the band to play Happy Bday for htem.....the gentleman got on the mike and told everybdoy in the lobby that we have a special father/daughter bday and more and it was sooooo neat. They played and everybody sang. I LOVE THAT PLACE.....so special.

We are kind of "Parked out"....probably swim and DTD day. We'll see.

Take care &happy planning everybody. Maybe Kelly will get nervy and/or lucky and get to snap some pics. (It was so cool to meet and talk to her!) Honestly, I have no clue WHY the GF would want to be working on the mian building at the holiday time but that's what I was told. The CM said that the first bit of info did say main would be the first to be completed but that had changed at this point. Obviously it could change again. The rooms are pretty now,though. I don't mind them at all except the teeny tiny TVs!!

Happy travels,
Channing

 

[magical4us4]

Hi Lives4Disney!!!!

So excited to hear your stay was wonderful at the GF!!! It is one of the best places in the world....we love it there too.

It's amazing how the CM's always find a way to make everyone seem special...love how the band played "Happy Birthday" for your husband and daughter.

Now for Joan Rivers.....that is too funny. Even the stars know where to go!

Take care.

Magical

 

[Jen66]

Channing,
I am so glad you are having a magical trip!!! It is great that you got to meet and chat with Kelly! I cannot wait to hear all about your trip!

 

[princessesrule4]

So much conflicting info on the rehab! Well, the rehab timeline will probably change again!

Glad you are having a great time! We have yet to meet Vonnie- she sounds wonderful- Joe and Dan are fabulous and very helpful! We've never met Mejay either and she sounds wonderful,too! Glad the concierge CM's helped make your trip so memorable - Sounds like your DH and DD had a great birthday! Glad to hear that you are enjoying YC,too! Enjoy the rest of your trip!

 

[BCV23]

Channing, how was your drive down? Let me live vicariously. Did you take 65 or 57? I'm glad your weather has been good. Our eldest and his wife live down there and he told me the same thing last we talked about weather...don't do that too often. When I walked the dogs around 6:30 am, the humidity was 87%. But now I've heard it's not supposed to be so bad today. We'll see.

I think only the GF has their own line of H20 products. There were a couple of threads around the new year when the new products started to appear. All the reports I read indicated the other deluxe and moderates had those white and blue products. I think they just say WDW or something. Does yours say YC?

I never did read if the value resorts have the H20 products now or not.

I met Mejay. And how about Denny? He checked us into RPC last Fall....he's the one I got mixed up with Calvin. Anyway, Denny was in SL one day this May although I didn't get to speak to him. Both were so pleasant and professional.

Have fun at SAB!

 

[heatherlynn444]

Hi, guys!

OK....Sago is open but they are definitely working on it. I could see construction even from the outside from my beautfiul 4405 balcony.

Conch is having furniture removed daily.

Contrary to previous postss RPC has not been worked on at all. They told me that the main building would be last and that they are now predicting Nov/Dec - which seems odd, but that's what the latest news seems to be. Of course the CMs are as much in the dark as we are, I think.

Kelly is having lots of fun. We met a couple days ago and sat and chatted for hours in the RPC lounge. It was great. We both saw Joan Rivers in the lounge in RPC. She was staying in the Walt suite while we were there. Kelly and I were talking and Joan came strolling down the hallway to get coffee.

We are now at the YC. We have a great room with a pretty view. It is a GV but looks toward the pier & lighthouse and the lake and SAB. It wasn't what the front desk wanted to give me, but it's what I wound up with haha.

No rehab pics. I didn't have time to really scout it out. Sorry. I think I'd really have to be a pushy snoop to get some! Maybe Kelly will come thru, but I don't know........

I did get those things sent out yesterday, IMGONNABE40.

Well, the GF is beautiful as ever. I had FABULOUS service from concierge and housekeeping all around. GREAT GREAT GREAT time. I LOVE that place - we all do in my family. We had a bubbly girl meet us at the curb. She took us up to the desks to check us in as our room wasn't ready. For some reason, another new curbsider did the check in.....Mejay and Dan were off and Vonnie and Joe hadn't started their shifts yet. Anyway.....I could tell she was inexperienced. It just wasn't the same professional check in. No itinerary printed and no info given - not that we needed it, lol, but it was a bit lacking. Then, I go down to buy some $9.99 item from M. Mercantile a couple hrs later and my room charge card was denied. (Loser) By this time the great concierge CMs were on duty so I felt confident it would be fixed....she found that the lady that checked us in used my room charge to pay for the room, haha....well, there went that bit of fun money on my card. It was fixed quickly and then the concierge CM walked us down to the store to make sure the charge went thru. We had turndown every night w/out any calls and they did have the larger, Belgian chocolates wrapped in the pretty GF pic paper. I have always had turndown every night there - no problems except a couple Tgiving stays ago no chocolates, which was strange. YC....I requested turndown til we check out. Had it last nt,(surprised me that it even did happen) but we just got back tonight it wasn't done. Unfortunately, when I originally called, the housekeeper did not even seem to speak English. She had no idea what turndown was, either. I have always had the best housekeeping at GF. To those of you going soon - you will LOVE it.

They have the H2O products here at YC, but they are different color and scent. Very nice, though! I tipped the housekeeper today and she left us lots!

Happy planning! Having a blast here.

Lives4Disney

channing-thanks for the update! glad you are hvaing a good time! wave to the GF for me!

 

[johnsonet]

Lives4Disney Thank you so much for taking the time to update us during your vacation! The GF news sounds good, although still pretty confusing Anyway, have a great time

 

[SLDL]

Channing, So glad you are having a great time!!

Am I reading it correctly that all the rooms will be remodeled by Dec. - as far as the current info goes? Even GV rooms? I have no concept of Sago, or any of the other names as I have only visited the main building at this point! That will change in December, though! I sure would hope the construction wouldn't interfere w/ Christmas decorations, but I can't imagine that they would.

 

[Twingle]

Hi everyone! GF Newbie here - my DH has surprised me with a weekend getaway celebrating our 10th Anniversary. Not sure if it's actually my DH or a pod person that looks like him, because it's VERY strange for DH to do something like this, but I'm not about to try to talk him out of the trip, LOL.

We will be there from August 17 - 19, and have requested a lagoon view. There are 364 pages to this amazing thread, so if anyone has a Cliff Notes version of what I really need to know (other than what is on the first page ), I would really appreciate it.

I've been waiting ten years to stay at GF, I'm really excited!

Thanks for reading -

 

[mirlow]

Twingle I'm sure you will have a great stay for your anniversary. We celebrated our 10 yr over at the Polynesian Are your kids coming along? Ours were with us, but we still had an awesome trip.

 

[mirlow]

I emailed concierge today to see if they could tell me anything about the rehab. This was the first time there has been any contact between us. They told me SL wasn't going to go down until 9/30 and I didn't have anything to worry about.
That was all they said. I thought it would have been nice if they would have asked to be of any further assistance. I have had great response from the Polynesian and Don is just fabulous over at the AKL.
I'm trying to get a little pumped up about staying over there. It's kinda funny because I was excited when I first made the SL reservation. Then when I thought there would be one last chance for our family to stay CL at the AKL and I switched resorts, I got so excited I forgot all about the GF. Now I'm back at the GF trying to plan our visit
It's good to hear positive feed back from Channing I think Kelly gets back from her trip after we leave for another vacation.

 

[Donald & Daisy Duck]

I am getting nervous now with all this talk about the renovations. We were originally booked 2 nights RPC and then changed our reservations to 4 nights MKView. Did I do the right thing? I will be at the GF starting 8/15...do you think I should request a specific building or just wing it. I really don't want to be in a building undergoing renovations, but would like a newly renovated room. What's your thoughts? Thanks.

 

[matsterrocks]

Any chance you guys can start this thread over again there is just too much info to read through and don't know whats up to date or not as the thread started 3 years ago???????

Maybe not

 

[Tinkaroo]

Maybe not

I have actually considered starting one (and getting other, much more knowledgeable GF'ers to assist and provide input/pictures), but it really doesn't make sense to do so until the current renovations and refurbishments are done.

I realize this thread can be a bit unwieldy, but you'll find that anyone who posts regularly here is more than happy to answer questions, or point you in the right direction. Just because a thread is long doesn't mean that it is necessarily outdated or unfriendly to newcomers. I've found this group (and the WL group, too) to be the most welcoming and helpful of any of the resort threads.

Please let us know what it is that you're searching for.

 

[Tinkaroo]

Hi everyone! GF Newbie here - my DH has surprised me with a weekend getaway celebrating our 10th Anniversary. Not sure if it's actually my DH or a pod person that looks like him, because it's VERY strange for DH to do something like this, but I'm not about to try to talk him out of the trip, LOL.

We will be there from August 17 - 19, and have requested a lagoon view. There are 364 pages to this amazing thread, so if anyone has a Cliff Notes version of what I really need to know (other than what is on the first page ), I would really appreciate it.

I've been waiting ten years to stay at GF, I'm really excited!

Thanks for reading -

How exciting, and what a wonderful surprise! I can't think of a better spot to be!

To make your anniversary extra special, I would suggest maybe arranging some sort of special meal through GF's Private Dining Dept. (there are several locations around property that they can set-up a romantic dinner), or at the very least, have some special desserts or treats delivered to your room. GF Private Dining could do this as well, or you could order a gift basket or other special gifts from services like the Disney Florist, Gifts of a Lifetime, or Memories by Betsy (formerly Memories by Sarah; Sarah is moving from the Orlando area, and has sold her business).

All of the restaurants at the GF are fabulous, and spots like Victoria & Albert's, Citrico's, and Narcoossee's would likely go above and beyond to do something special if you let them know in advance that it's your anniversary.

What time of year are you going? If it's during the warmer months, you could try to rent one of the GF pool cabanas for a few hours for some extra pampering and nice private space at the Beach Pool. The cabanas rent for $60 for 4 hours from 10-2 or 3-7.

And, of course, don't forget the GF Spa - maybe for some pampering just for you, or a couple's massage.

GF Private Dining: 407-824-2578
Disney Florist: www.disneyflorist.com
Gifts of a Lifetime: www.giftsofalifetime.com
Memories by Betsy: www.memoriesbybetsy.com

GF Pool Cabana Rental: 407-WDW-PLAY

GF Spa: http://www.relaxedyet.com/grand_floridian_spa.asp

Have fun, and ask away! Everyone is always happy to answer questions here!

I am getting nervous now with all this talk about the renovations. We were originally booked 2 nights RPC and then changed our reservations to 4 nights MKView. Did I do the right thing? I will be at the GF starting 8/15...do you think I should request a specific building or just wing it. I really don't want to be in a building undergoing renovations, but would like a newly renovated room. What's your thoughts? Thanks.

I think you might have a greater chance of getting a renovated room and/or being in a building without construction if you keep your MK view reservation. If you were to change to RPC, you know exactly where you'll be, and if they should start refurbs in RPC before you get there, then you'll know there's the likelihood of hearing/seeing construction. A more flexible room view will allow room assigners and the front desk staff to move you around to accomodate your requests as best as possible (whether that's having a renovated room, or being in a building that is not currently undergoing refurbishment). Good luck!

 

[Lives4Disney]

Hi, guys.....well no rain today YAY!!! Lots of fun at Epcot even though TGM said MK is the place to be.....Epcot was deserted. Maybe too many people have TGM....Yesterday at AK was a bust due to crowds and rain and it was a TGM green park.... I insisted DH see the Nemo show & DD7 hasn't seen it yet either- it is so cool.... The YC bus service is BAD. It shares with BWI, S/D and BC. Waited 1/2 hr + for pick up and then took as long to get there. We waited in line for an hr for Nemo, got perfect - the best -seats and then the show started and 1/2 way thru just died. Literally the sound stopped, the performers cleared the stage and an announcement that the show is cancelled. Huh?? Then it poured and stormed and nothing was running. We had fastpasses for safari, so we did that and left. For people asking about GF bus service....it's a JOY and a breeze compared to YCs.

BCV, as for the trip....it was funny because when we pulled into Sheraton Safari about 10 pm Sat night, DH said, "That wasn't so bad." and we all laughed. It was kind of torture, haha. I remember the drive being fun & kind of a prelude to the vacation, but it wasn't this time. Everybody was in their own little techno world. DS w/ his Ipod and Pstation he brought in the car.....the girls with their DVDs and mix maxes w/headsets.....DH listening to his audio book while he drove and me hanging around handing back treats and snacks....if I or the kids talked he had to rewind his book . Not the trip and family time I remember it being. We were stuck in Chicago traffic & contruction for over 3 hrs and fell way behind in our timing. Didn't reach the first nt's hotel til 3:30 am. The kids just slept in their clothes. My contacts were stuck to my eyeballs, haha. We stayed in a Marriot Fairfield Suite and the beds are awesome - like Starwood beds. At least we got a great night sleep. We overslept the comp bfast. It was a bit rough - I enjoy the drive, but just felt so in a rush due to losing that time with the traffic and there was lots of construction thru the states. We took the Indiana route .....65 down. Maybe we'll change it up on the way home.

We met Denny at GF once when my girls were pin trading and he had his lanyard on. He is really a nice, upbeat CM - I remember him being really sweet to my girls and so cheerful. I haven't seen him at the GF since that one time quite a while ago.

YC products say H2O Aquatics and have a little Mickey ear type logo w/bubbles. They don't have the great foot rub here...just lotion. Good thing I took my extra GF stuff.

Well, loving this place, but we are so tired. having fun is starting to be hard work, lol. We have been back in our hotel room before 10 pm for the past two nights. Hope Kelly is having a wonderful time. She said she wouldn't be posting til she got home. I know she has that GF cabana tomorrow!! Hope she got some scoop on the rehabs but it seems to just be all confused info.

Hey, as far as the cabanas....there are two now that are decked out with all the goodies to rent. There was a third that had the "If you want to rent this cabana call....." sign in front of it - it was all closed up with the sign in front so nobody could just walk up and use it, but we took the 4th freebie cabana and could see into it and it was nothing special & no different than the 4th,so not sure what the rental sign was about. Who would rent it when it was just like the freebie 4th?? Not sure what gives about that deal - I'd want to make sure you are getting the nice ones and not the other crummy 3rd.

Aretha Franklin was at Epcot tonight. Wonder if she was staying at the GF, too??!!

Happy planning & travels,
Channing

 

[triplefigs]

Channing, glad you're having fun! Can't wait to see your pictures.