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

[minniesota]

As for turndown, I will definitely call mousekeeping the first afternoon and make sure it's on their schedule...I will be very disappointed if we don't get turndown!

BTW, I'm doing the 30-day dance!! Whoop de do!!

That's just what I did on the first day. I called and asked if our turndown could be scheduled every night after 7 since we'd still be in the room until then on several nights. It worked like a charm! I would be disappointed to so I just confirm my expectations with housekeeping.

30-day dance!

 

[MickeyMaz]

Can anyone give me the general idea of how big the firdge is in the Garden View rooms. Can I fit a half gallon of milk in it? The other thought is the size of the room safe. At the Polynesian, my laptop fit perfectly in the safe. What do you think about the GF safe?

Thanks all,

Maz

 

[minniesota]

Can anyone give me the general idea of how big the firdge is in the Garden View rooms. Can I fit a half gallon of milk in it? The other thought is the size of the room safe. At the Polynesian, my laptop fit perfectly in the safe. What do you think about the GF safe?

Thanks all,

Maz

Here is a pic of the fridge. Yes, a half-gallon will fit just fine. As far as the safe goes, we never put our laptop in it and I don't think my DH's would fit. I think my DD's would have - hers measure 9x11.

 

[mjac]

Hi everyone,

I have been lurking here for sometime and have enjoyed everyones comments on the GF. I have just booked my trip for March 2008 and I am so excited. I have not been to Disney since 1990 when I was on my honeymoon. Well I am now returning and taking my three year old son for his first visit. I have stuggled with where to stay and have finally decided on the GF. I have booked a Mk view but I am not sure this is the best option, I get confused from reading so many posts. Will I bee guarenteed a MK view? And is it worth the extra $$? Would I be better off requesting a different room type? Please help - Thanks!

 

[tenbelow]

We ate in Citricos 2 weeks ago and the food was excellent, talked to a chef the restaurant manager and the bar man and all were very friendly. Our server was pleasant, just didn't have much of a personallity.

We also had tried to get a reservation at Narcoosees before we arrived at the GF but with no luck (unless we wanted 5.15 or after 9pm) We stayed at the GF for 14 nights and had no luck securing a reservation while we were there, so we'll just have to go back for another stay.

We had turndown service every night of our stay in all 3 rooms our family had and never had to ask.
(and towel animals)

K&C Thanks for the Citricos feedback - we will likely keep our that ADR as we have never dined there before. Also, definitely try to get a Narcoossees ADR on your next trip as it seems to be a favorite of many regulars following this thread.

Glad to hear you had turn down service as well - we look forward to the fresh towels, chocolates on our pillows and occasional surprise towel animal.

 

[krbq]

We're at the GF now (5th night). Haven't had time to post anything.

Had a disappointing check-in (requested Conch Key, NOT Sago Key, and NOT dormer room --

 

[BCV23]

I don't worry about dirty glasses, etc. at the GF or any WDW resort at which I've stayed. You can see the carts with trays of fresh glasses. In addition I use the coffee pot to make tea and only once in all of our stays has there been the slightest hint of coffee odor in the carafe. To me that means clean and I do appreciate it!

 

[krbq]

We're at the GF now (5th night). Sorry I haven't had time to post anything.

Had a disappointing check-in. We had reserved 2 MK view rooms and requested Conch Key, NOT Sago Key, and NOT dormer rooms -- we got dormer rooms in Sago Key and a caustic remark from the check-in clerk before she caught herself. (She tried to be extra sweet when she realized she had slipped but . . . too late.) Then she tried to smooth things over by saying she was giving us adjoining rooms (which we hadn't requested and which wasn't important). As it happens, there's another room between our rooms so . . . oh, never mind. That's was the only problem we had with a CM. All of the other CM's have been really great.

Sago has definitely not been done and has not been started. Having stayed at the CR and Poly since their refurbs, I feel like Sago looks a little worn and the beds aren't as comfy as the other monorail resorts. I think the other GF rooms are getting new mattresses to bring them up to the same standard -- I hope so. It's nice to have the mini-bar and the table and chairs. Would have liked to have had the daybed/sofa, too, but there's no room for it in a dormer. We tend to make a lot of purchases so the room is getting pretty crowded. Housekeeping has been excellent. The room is immaculate, there are no traces of mold (my allergies would let me know if there were), and no insects. Housekeeping has been timely and unobtrusive. We've received turn-down service every night. No towel animals, but that isn't important to us.

Sugar Loaf was still being worked on when we arrived. The TV's were on and turned to the same channel in all the rooms for the first 2 nights -- it looked spooky and one of the young members of our party called it the "haunted hotel". (DH said they have to run the new TV's for a period of time after installation.) Wednesday I saw what looked like lobby furniture (oversized sofas and arm chairs) being taken into the building. Thursday the exterior was being power washed. Thursday and Friday night rooms appeared to be occupied. I think it might be open now.

Will report more as time allows. Sorry for the typos -- Disney vacation fatigue setting in, must soak feet and go to bed.

 

[JeanfromBNA]

I don't worry about dirty glasses, etc. at the GF or any WDW resort at which I've stayed. You can see the carts with trays of fresh glasses. In addition I use the coffee pot to make tea and only once in all of our stays has there been the slightest hint of coffee odor in the carafe. To me that means clean and I do appreciate it!

Besides the carts with fresh glasses, I know that I could tell the difference between a used glass that was just rinsed out and a clean glass.

I never make hot water for tea in a coffee pot, however; the coffee taste just stays, no matter how well it's washed.

 

[Dis Ohana]

I am looking for a limo company called Southern Elegant (not sure if this is the correct name), I know I read it on this thread, but now I can't find it!

I have a bunch of notes scribbled on a pad of really great tips I collect on the DIS boards, most of my GF notes are from this thread. I know that I got this limo referral here, but I must have taken it down wrong (or I just can't read my own handwriting). Can anyone refer a really dependable limo company with newer cars? Thanks!

 

[Brier Rose]

I am looking for a limo company called Southern Elegant (not sure if this is the correct name), I know I read it on this thread, but now I can't find it!

I have a bunch of notes scribbled on a pad of really great tips I collect on the DIS boards, most of my GF notes are from this thread. I know that I got this limo referral here, but I must have taken it down wrong (or I just can't read my own handwriting). Can anyone refer a really dependable limo company with newer cars? Thanks!

We just got back from our trip a few days ago, and we used Happy Limo twice and were very pleased!

The first time, I had booked a Lincoln Stretch to pick up our party guests at other resorts and bring them to GF. They ungraded us, and picked them up in the "Hummerzine" at no extra charge.

They were there on time, and followed my instructions exactly.

The second time I had arranged for a 5 hour charter with their Hummerzine.
Again..the limo was there and waiting for us right on time.

I had requested that when he dropped us off, he return to GF so that my DH and DS could use the limo also, and again..no problem.

He went straight back there, and then called my DH on his cell to let him know he was ready and waiting.

He returned to pick us back up at exactly the time I told him to.

We wanted to drop our packages off at GF before having him drop us off at Epcot, and wound up being about 10 minutes over our time, and he never said a word.

 

[BCV23]

Besides the carts with fresh glasses, I know that I could tell the difference between a used glass that was just rinsed out and a clean glass.

I never make hot water for tea in a coffee pot, however; the coffee taste just stays, no matter how well it's washed.

Jean, I suspect it is the filter basket leaving a taste. If the glass carafe is washed properly, there is no residual coffee taste just as there wouldn't be in a mug, glass or tea cup. But the plastic of the filter baskets do retain that coffee taste and odor. So I always remove the filter basket before heating the water. Try it...it really works. Oh, and remove the plastic lid too during heating as it retains the taste of coffee as well. I stick it on once the water is hot though to retain the heat.

I agree that I could tell a fresh glass too.

 

[BCV23]

krbq, I read once that it works better to eliminate the word "not" from requests. The assignors have so many requests to look through, they probably scan for key words like Sago Cay and dormer and miss that it is what you don't want. I know the one and only time I used the word "not" in a request, I did get exactly the view I didn't want.

But have a great vacation anyway.

 

[tenbelow]

krbq, I read once that it works better to eliminate the word "not" from requests. The assignors have so many requests to look through, they probably scan for key words like Sago Cay and dormer and miss that it is what you don't want. I know the one and only time I used the word "not" in a request, I did get exactly the view I didn't want.

But have a great vacation anyway.

That actually makes perfect sense, I'll have to use that logic for our upcoming trip.

I'll ask CRO to add the following to our reservation: Guest absolutely does not want to be upgraded to the Roy Disney Suite.

 

[BCV23]

That actually makes perfect sense, I'll have to use that logic for our upcoming trip.

I'll ask CRO to add the following to our reservation: Guest absolutely does not want to be upgraded to the Roy Disney Suite.

 

[Dis Ohana]

Thanks, Brier Rose! I went to the Happy Limo website to see exactly what a "Hummerzine" is, that's a huge car! I bet the boys would love it, but it's way out of our budget. I don't see it happening for us unless we get an awesome upgrade like you did. Thanks again!

krbq: Hope you're having a wonderful time. Thanks for taking time from your vacation to post here.

I was watching a video someone posted on tripadvisor of the GF of the hotel grounds and of what appeared to be the RPC lounge; I can't wait!!! The one thing I am certain about now though, is I should have ended our trip at the GF instead of started there. I know I'll be so sad when we pack up to leave for the AKL .

 

[Lives4Disney]

Dis Ohana....it's Southern Elegance Limousines and they are the best.

Just our experience, but we have tried MANY other companies over 16 yrs of lots of trips and SE is awesome....we've used them for the past 2 or 3 yrs and about a dozen times...always wonderful service & beautiful cars w/Disney DVDs playing and showing on several flat screens in the cars, you can request a Mickey, Minnie, or Goofy ride along (huge stuffed), and once we were upgraded to a huge Navigator limo that sits 17!! THey are always on time and always waiting to help w/our luggage. SE starts our vacations off in a great way.

Glad you all have no trouble with the glasses or coffee pots, but after somebody almost always getting sick on ever trip we've been more cautious and knock on wood it's helped. AND about the glasses, I didn't make it up and I am not exaggerrating and I am not an idiot and would know the difference, too, betwn rinsed and clean, but this is what the Travel Guru said on TV is often the case. So take it or leave it.

Lives4Disney

 

[BCV23]

Channing, did you have a personal experience with a dirty glass? I don't read every page of this thread so missed it if you did.

But what the Travel Channel Guru reports might happen at some hotels doesn't necessarily translate to WDW IMO. My father once watched a housekeeper in a luxury resort in Mexico clean the toilet and then use the same cloth to wash the glasses. But I don't picture that happening at WDW.

We're very careful about washing our hands, rarely do buffets and also avoid QS meals unless taking them back to the room. I think those three precautions help us from getting sick at WDW. Not that it has never happened but it has been rare.

 

[Dis Ohana]

Lives4Disney: Southern Elegance, that's it! I knew I found that information on this thread, I should have just PM'd you directly . Thanks!

 

[Lives4Disney]

Channing, did you have a personal experience with a dirty glass? I don't read every page of this thread so missed it if you did.

But what the Travel Channel Guru reports might happen at some hotels doesn't necessarily translate to WDW IMO. My father once watched a housekeeper in a luxury resort in Mexico clean the toilet and then use the same cloth to wash the glasses. But I don't picture that happening at WDW.

We're very careful about washing our hands, rarely do buffets and also avoid QS meals unless taking them back to the room. I think those three precautions help us from getting sick at WDW. Not that it has never happened but it has been rare.

I don't know, haha...but I stay away now.... (hasn't anybody else besides me seen DIRTY, but "clean" dishes, glasses, silverware etc. at the buffets and restaurants??)....anyway I specifically wrote that he did NOT pick out any particular hotels and certainly didn't mention WDW hotels, but I've stayed in many hotels lots of places - all different levels of them - and since I heard his gross statement regarding the glasses I have been a skeptic regarding how clean they exactly are...Obviously I've seen teh carts w/the glasses in the hallways, but he did also mention them on the carts and the fact that often they are not washed, just rinsed. I am in NO way a germaphobe....we use the comforters haha, I don't even blink about it ( my mom did when we were kids, though! ) but when I heard the Travel Guru's comments regarding a few certain things (and it is only certain things that caught me - I could care less about most other things he mentioned) I was really grossed out. Probably had something to say about comforters, too - I am sure he did, but that doesn't bother me for some reason. We have always used the handiwipes and washed often & use common sense for the most part but until we started bringing Dixie Cups somebody would ALWAYS ALWAYS get sick.....it seems to be our charm so I am sticking to it!



Dis Ohana - You will love SE. It is one of my kids' favorite parts of vacation!!! Kind of pathetic, but true. They always ask if we are using their service.

KRBQ - Sorry you got off to a rough start.....Hope things have improved a lot. I know just recently the whole resort got new pillowtop mattresses so I don't know why the Sago beds would be less comfy than Poly and CR....I think they all got the newer ones right about the same time. I don't think new mattresses are part of the current rehab. Not sure, but I doubt it because of how recently they were replaced.