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

[SLDL]

I like hearing about all the celebs you have seen...Was Aretha just visiting or singing someone? I think it would be hiliarious to see her on Test Track or eating at Coral Reef. And as for Joan Rivers, I'd be scared to speak to her, as she would want to tell me how ugly my outfit was!

 

[Tinkaroo]

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.

Glad you guys are still having fun! I'm thinking of changing my ressie in Sept. to YC - it's just a quick weekend trip, and YC and CR are the only deluxes we haven't stayed yet. Your posts have me thinking - would love to have access to SAB since it will still be pretty toasty then. Of course, I'd love to do the GF, but DH isn't biting. But he jumped at the thought of changing to YC, so I may have to play with that idea some more...

Happy Birthday! (isn't it tomorrow?)

 

[arbonnette]

Could someone please direct me to some pictures of the interior of a lodge tower room and/or a deluxe RPC room with the two queen beds?

I have been diligently searching for pictures of the interiors of these rooms for days now, and I cannot find any! I have seen the layouts which helped a lot, but I would love to see some good photos. Someone must have some ...

Thanks in advance and best wishes to eveyrone!

 

[Tinkaroo]

Could someone please direct me to some pictures of the interior of a lodge tower room and/or a deluxe RPC room with the two queen beds?

I have been diligently searching for pictures of the interiors of these rooms for days now, and I cannot find any! I have seen the layouts which helped a lot, but I would love to see some good photos. Someone must have some ...

Thanks in advance and best wishes to eveyrone!

Triplefigs posted some pics a good ways back here: http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=18235673&postcount=4158

Her pics were of a tower room in Sugar Loaf (which is concierge), but I would doubt there's any difference in those rooms vs. the other lodges (minus the concierge services, of course). When staying Sugar Loaf, the lodge tower rooms are by request only - you can't book them in advance.

I don't believe I've ever seen pics of the deluxe RPC rooms. It would be great if someone could come along and point you in the right direction!

 

[BCV23]

I think Janet posted pictures of a deluxe room.

Channing, glad you're still having fun. Sorry to hear about your trip down. We drove 65 once and sat in traffic in Indy. Of course any ady you can sit in traffic around the 294/80 area into Gary. That's why I took 57 when I drove it myself. But of course, there could be construction that way too this summer. At any rate, I hope the drive home is fast and smooth.

Too bad about the bus at YC...was that to the AK? When we took the bus to the MK from BCV, we have shared only with YC. But perhaps it depends on day or time as well.

Have fun and safe travels!

 

[IMGONNABE40!]

Hi, guys!


I did get those things sent out yesterday, IMGONNABE40.

Thanks, Channing! I just saw this post.

Glad to hear you are having a great trip.

The excitement is really building here...we leave in 13 days!

 

[Twingle]

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!

Thank you so much for this wonderful information! It will just be my DH and I, this will be our first time to Disney without the kids, and also our first time leaving the state for a weekend getaway, so we're pretty excited.

I was planning on having chocolate covered strawberries delivered to the room, and I'm going to have a look at the menus for the GF resturants.

We'll be there August 17 - 19, so thanks for the info on the cabana.

 

[Jen66]

Channing~ Glad you are having a great time! Sorry about the Nemo show-that really stinks. None of us have seen it and look forward to it next week!
Can't wait to hear all about your trip!

 

[arbonnette]

Channing - Your trip sounds great! That happened to us as well at the Nemo show last December. We got 3/4 through, and the sound went out, lights came up, and an announcement was made that due to technical difficulties, the show would not continue. I would have hoped that almost 8 months later, the same problem would not still be happening.

 

[Cinderumbrella]

Channing, glad you are having fun! Sorry about the Chicago traffic. DH is one of the Project Managers on the Dan Ryan reconstruction..........

Question for everyone else.... now that Memories by Sarah is now Memories by Betsy and they are no longer able to deliver food in the baskets, I am rethinking the anniversary basket for DH. Is there a gift shop in the GF that sells the Mickey champagne flutes (or wine glasses)? I may just buy a pair of those and pick up a bottle of champagne at the hotel and do that instead....(BTW, who sells champagne?? Gaspy's??)

Thanks! Kristin

 

[lynr]

Could someone please direct me to some pictures of the interior of a lodge tower room and/or a deluxe RPC room with the two queen beds?

I have been diligently searching for pictures of the interiors of these rooms for days now, and I cannot find any! I have seen the layouts which helped a lot, but I would love to see some good photos. Someone must have some ...

Thanks in advance and best wishes to eveyrone!

I posted pictures of the RPC Deluxe room on pages 335 and 336 on this thread. Correct me if I am wrong but I don't think and of the Deluxe RPC rooms have two queen beds just Kings.

Lyn

 

[lynr]

Channing, glad you are having fun! Sorry about the Chicago traffic. DH is one of the Project Managers on the Dan Ryan reconstruction..........

Question for everyone else.... now that Memories by Sarah is now Memories by Betsy and they are no longer able to deliver food in the baskets, I am rethinking the anniversary basket for DH. Is there a gift shop in the GF that sells the Mickey champagne flutes (or wine glasses)? I may just buy a pair of those and pick up a bottle of champagne at the hotel and do that instead....(BTW, who sells champagne?? Gaspy's??)

Thanks! Kristin

I got the Champagne flutes in June in my basket done by Disneyworld florist. Maybe they can add the champagne. I would call them they are very helpful and pleasant to deal with. Below is a link to their website.

http://www.disneyflorist.com/

Lyn

 

[TammiMcMan]

Kristin, you'll pay about $125 for the basket from the Disney Florist. It will come with champagne, the etched flutes and chocolates. If you wanted to do it on your own, you can get Champagne for $21 at Gaspy's and maybe call the Disney merchandising folks at 407-363-6200 for the champagne flutes. You can get them shipped home and transfer them down yourself or they can deliver them to the GF gift shop for you to pick up.

Lynr, it's confusing with the RPC deluxe rooms. The ones that are coded as honeymoon style have the king bed and accomodate 2, while the standard deluxe design comes with 2 queens and accomodate 4. I have the room layouts on my webpage if that's helpful. Just scroll down to the last 2 sets of pictures and you'll see that the standard deluxe comes with two options and the honeymoon rooms come with two options. The pictures you posted were of a honeymoon turret suite. We stayed in the same room. They're a very different layout than a standard deluxe room.

 

[k&a&c'smom]

lynr - they do have Deluxe RPC rooms that have two queens, we are booked in one for later this month. At least, I HOPE they have two queens, there are three of us on the reservation, lol.

ETA - I see Tammi beat me to this. Thanks for the link, Tammi, I've been wanting to see the deluxe room layout.

 

[Lewanc]

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

Hi Channing -- Lewan here, - didn't remember you would be here during this time, thought you were looking for August dates.

Apparently, you were on property during the 4th, so was I. Had family in town, who initially opted out of WDW for this trip, but after arriving as an after thought, suggested trying to get reservations while they were here. After calling numerous times, almost to the point of giving up, was able to get the Wilderness Lodge (3 nights), & Yacht Club (3 nights) 7/1-6, but of course no AP or Florida resident rate was available, as the only availability were suites. Even splitting the resorts wasn't bad, because when we checked out of the Wilderness Lodge, we just came back to my house to wait for Yacht Club check-in. You must have been here during this time. Even if not at the YC, we could have met for a chat. Heard some guests talking, who said Aretha was at the Yacht Club, and that Joan Rivers was there or had been there, I didn't see either.

Bus service from the YC and BC at certain times can be a little much, as on a couple of trips, we had the same experience. We didn't do parks this time, just relaxing, dining /shopping, and we drove to Downtown Disney to avoid the holiday bus service.

If your trip hasn't ended by now, hope the weather holds up so you can experience a happy ending. Have a safe trip home, looking forward to reading more about your adventures at our favorite vacation spot.

 

[triplefigs]

Kristin, I got Marci a basket from WDW florist that had tons of snacks, wine, 2wine glasses and some other stuff for around $85. She may have a picture of it she could post for you to see. She said it was really nice, and WDW florist was very easy to work with.

 

[BCV23]

Kristin, the shop on the first floor that sells sundries carries champagne flutes, wine glasses and champagne....having a senior moment and can't think of the name. The champagne flutes are usually bride and groom ones though.

 

[TammiMcMan]

Kristin, the shop on the first floor that sells sundries carries champagne flutes, wine glasses and champagne....having a senior moment and can't think of the name.

Sandy Cove is on the first floor and Mickey's Mercantile is on the 2nd floor .

 

[BCV23]

Sandy Cove is on the first floor and Mickey's Mercantile is on the 2nd floor .

Thanks, Tammi. Sandy Cove it is. One of the dogs is sleeping on my feet and I didn't want to disturb him to find an old newsletter. I knew you or another GF fan would help out!

 

[conandrob240]

Hello, I am a GF newbie. We always stay at AKL and love it there but have been buped and generously upgraded (free of charge) to GF. We are excited but I am a creature of habit and planning and now find myself a bit confused. I have a few questions:

1) is there a pool open late night (after 10pm ?) Does it have a pool bar that stays open late as well? One of our favorite things about AKL is the great pool and swimming late at night 10pm-midnigt or so and sippping a frozen cocktail under the stars.
2) Are there informal kid's activities during the day like at AKL? For example, a treasure hunt each day, story time around arushka rock, a daily scheduled craft?
3) What is the mouseketeer club like? Will our 8 yr old be too old (he thinks many things are "fr babies" now and will be upset if he is surrounded by kid's younger than him.
4) Dining options- which are the best?
5) what rooms/buildings are the best?

Thanks so much!
Connie