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

[johnsonet]

IT'S on page 374 of this thread - scroll down about halfway. It's awesome!!

 

[LoveThatDarnMouse]

I can't seem to get a straight answer from the CM tonight regarding the renovated rooms~she tells me they are all redone in the past two years. Is Big Pine Key one of the buildings that had the recent rehab? She told me that there is nothing intrusive going on at the resort right now. I think she was suspecting I might be upset but I really just wanted to know so I could make my room request. I looked back on this thread but couldn't find what building were recently rehabbed.

 

[triplefigs]

I can't seem to get a straight answer from the CM tonight regarding the renovated rooms~she tells me they are all redone in the past two years. Is Big Pine Key one of the buildings that had the recent rehab? She told me that there is nothing intrusive going on at the resort right now. I think she was suspecting I might be upset but I really just wanted to know so I could make my room request. I looked back on this thread but couldn't find what building were recently rehabbed.

clueless CM! The entire GF is undergoing a rehab right now. The only building with completed rooms is Conch Key. HockeyMomR just returned and posted her pictures of their room. http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=19768697&postcount=5708

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?p=19691250#post19691250

RPC (main bldg concierge) just started this week with the 5th floor. All rooms and lobbies are being rehabbed, but nobody knows the exact schedule.

 

[LoveThatDarnMouse]

She wanted to know where I was getting my information and when i told her I read about it on this website she said "well anything that is not an official Disney site is just that, unofficial" Whatever!

 

[johnsonet]

G-d, that's pathetic! She was so clueless, we all know for a fact that the rooms haven't been re-done in the past 2 years but she doesn't? What is she, thinking of the Poly? Geez! I can understand that they don't want false info out there to potentially scare off guests but it's THEY who are giving the inconsistent/incorrect info

 

[arbonnette]

Hmmm ... I guess the pictures of rehabbed rooms are "unofficial" too. Lol. I think it is so sad that those of us who do our thorough research sometimes know more than the CMs when calling CRO ...

Also, can anyone tell me the approximate square footage of an RPC deluxe room ... I am really trying to sell my parents on going ahead and booking, and I am trying to get all my comparison information together for them to see!

Thanks in advance to everyone ...

 

[LoveThatDarnMouse]

She told me they they must be thinking of the AKL which is currently being rehabbed and that I must be confused. I finally just gave up.

 

[peter1706]

IPO will have you order thru the GF bakery they don't really know too much about the bakery issues so they suggest you make that call yourself. The bakery CMs don't really offer too much help on the phone in the way of suggestions or receiving my own ideas for that matter.
Lives4Disney

This sounds strange to me. Why don't they find out more about it then?
You obviously had a hard time getting the process going. They should have been helping you. I ordered a cake while staying at the Poly and the cm asked what i was looking for, called the bakery and gave me some options.

And by strange i don't mean i don't believe you because i do. I also got a response that said "here is the phone number, check with them" about a request i made.

I would think there might be more than one area that maybe they don't know everything about. Shouldn't they find out?

 

[krbq]

She told me they they must be thinking of the AKL which is currently being rehabbed and that I must be confused. I finally just gave up.

DH had this same conversation yesterday. I was concerned about the rehab affecting our trip in October so he called the GF and talked to five different CM's before he finally got one who could give him any info at all (and that wasn't much). One CM insisted that the only construction was at AKL and he told her that Conch Key had already been done, go check, so she did and sure enough, she came back on the line and said "You're right!"

 

[*WDW*Groupie*]

Those are Annual Passholder rates for value season. The number in parantheses is the discounted room rate per night, and the leading number is the total discounted cost of the reservation, with hotel taxes included.

Thank you so much Tinkaroo!

I called CRO today and was told that all the GV rooms are sold out for August 31st - even at full price .

Anyone know if they will make me vacate our GV room on our last night (2 separate reservations - the first with free dining) to head to our LV room? I would much rather just stay put .

It's just me with ds and dd so I would rather not deal with the hassle of changing rooms.

 

[Lives4Disney]

arbonnette - I got a peek in a deluxe RPC room and it was wonderfully large and spacious. It was one right near the lounge on the 4th floor, can't remember the number. I would love to stay in that room some time. I thought I read or was told by CRO they are approx 650 sq ft, but this room looked larger the way it was layed out. It also had an extra long balcony and two queen beds and a sofa sitting area with a TV and a little wet bar area, too, and a larger oval soaking tub in the bathroom. PS...Hope you found the cake pics. I think Johnsonet directed you to them. It was sweet and kind of elegant. The cake itself was huge and despite cutting off big chunks for the RPC CMs, we actually wound up leaving 1/2 in the fridge, but it was good cake this time. I should have photoed the inside, too. (I always forget to take the pics) It was triple layer chocolate with custard and fresh strawberry filling. Not exactly the decoration I wanted or pictured, but it was very pretty.



Peter, I agree IPO should be more helpful. We have all had our issues with them in the past. Since Calvin has taken over GF IPO seems to have improved, but from past experiences with IPOs at various Disney resorts and being told to call the bakery many times previously....I called the bakery myself. Hey, at least the bakery CM spoke English.....when I had to call YC housekeeping the CM that answered the phone barely did. I find I only use IPO in a very limited way. I think they are understaffed and overworked and things get overlooked and mistakes happen. I have stayed at all the deluxes (I care to - no WL or AKL) and done concierge, but no IPO has impressed me at all. Poly's actually dropped the ball and totally let me down....they LOST my CC number and didn't let me know that despite the fact that I spent a LONG time on a LONG distance call with them giving them my CC number and talking & planning with them about some things to order, they just didn't come thru with anything and their reason was they lost my CC number. Nice. Very disappointing. They are not reliable anywhere. I've done BWI concierge and while the IPO was fine considering the other resort's IPOs, the onsite staff was a bummer during our stay. CR's for some reason (haha they are the same as GF's) didn't deliver on the white chocolate monorail we ordered. Then we did an impromptu strawberry tuxedo order and had to call on it THREE TIMES before is finally showed up. We were begging for our dumb $5/each strawberries.... Unfortunately this bad IPO service gives a crummy first impression of a wonderful resort.

Happy planning,

Lives4Disney

 

[Alicnwondrln]

I have to agree with channing

Also I was told my a CM yesterday that sugar loaf is going down at the send of sept as of now

 

[MA pigletfan]

You"ll know my DH right away as he has a Mickey Firefighter tatoo on his leg.


Lyn

THAT is fantastic!

 

[Cinderumbrella]

Well, you have all been busy reporting while I was gone!! (DH and I had food poisoning )

Am I the only one bummed about Sago not being done?? My request for August was a dormer room in Sago. (picked Sago for the access to Gaspy's) Should I change that to Conch so I can see one of these new rooms for myself??

Kristin

 

[HockeyMomR]

The pictures I posted were from that exact room type.....Conch Key Dormer Room Theme Park View. So, maybe your chances would be better, if you are interested in a renovated room, if you request Conch Key instead. Although, after spending a couple of days at GF, Sago would be closer to amenities and Main Building, however, our view from Conch Key was wonderful!

 

[Tinkaroo]

Well, you have all been busy reporting while I was gone!! (DH and I had food poisoning )

Am I the only one bummed about Sago not being done?? My request for August was a dormer room in Sago. (picked Sago for the access to Gaspy's) Should I change that to Conch so I can see one of these new rooms for myself??

Kristin

Kristin, you're really not that far from Gasparilla's if you request Conch Key. I went several times a day to fill up my mug when we were staying in Conch, and I would just go out the back door of Conch Key, along the marina side of Sugar Loaf, and straight in the main door of Gasparilla's. I've had much further walks (even in such "self-contained resorts" like the WL or AKL) to get my mug filled!

 

[johnsonet]

Well, you have all been busy reporting while I was gone!! (DH and I had food poisoning )


Kristin

So sorry to hear you were ill. That is the pits

I would keep your request as is. I'm not thrilled with the look of the new rooms, so I would stick with the location you want

 

[Cinderumbrella]

So sorry to hear you were ill. That is the pits

I would keep your request as is. I'm not thrilled with the look of the new rooms, so I would stick with the location you want

And that is the $64,000 question.... which location do I like?? Does someone have a link to the Sago room pics? Maybe that will help me
Let's face it, I guess I don't care, I just REALLY want a dormer room- I love those ceilings!! And that was what we had in Sugar Loaf back on our honeymoon

ETA: Thanks for your concern about the illness... what a difference a day makes! Can't even believe I can be at the computer today after what I went through Monday and Tuesday

 

[Lives4Disney]

And that is the $64,000 question.... which location do I like?? Does someone have a link to the Sago room pics? Maybe that will help me
Let's face it, I guess I don't care, I just REALLY want a dormer room- I love those ceilings!! And that was what we had in Sugar Loaf back on our honeymoon

ETA: Thanks for your concern about the illness... what a difference a day makes! Can't even believe I can be at the computer today after what I went through Monday and Tuesday

Hi, I am so sorry you were sick. Stomach flu/food poisoning is the WORST.

I don't have any info for you, just wanted to check in. I like the dormer rooms, too. They feel very cosy and less hotelly. I would stick with Sago - I don't care too much for the new Conch rooms, either. I also requested Sago for our trip due to the location.

Take care & keep feeling better.

Lives4Disney

 

[Sammie]

If you are calling the number listed for the Grand Floridian, you are not getting the actual resort you are getting the Disney Call Center and they know what is listed in their computers and nothing more. Some are not even located on property.

Also if you are asking about construction at the GF, there is none, they are doing room rehabs, not construction.

And actually they do have a tentative schedule but there truly is no reason to share it with the world. If you want a rehabbed room simply put that on your request. If you don't want a room in a building that is being rehabbed,then add that too.

As of right now Sugar Loaf is scheduled to be closed in Oct but that could change, which is the main reason for not making their schedule public.