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

[litlpixie]

You guys are getting me so hyped up about my trip next week to the RPC!! I just heard back from IPO and they have taken care of a couple of changes to my ADR's that I requested. I also am planning on having something ordered for the room for our arrival and they are being so helpful to me I love it there already!!!

Lives4Disney, Where will I find your YC review, as I stayed there in April, and everything that could have gone wrong, DID,lolol.......Hope your having a great time and HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!!!

 

[CastleLight]

Hi, TammiMcMan. Sadly, the second floor balcony is not available for private dining (I know this for a fact since I asked about it recently). It is used, however, by the Fairy Tale Weddings "imtimate" brides & grooms for their cake cutting ceremonies.

Mirlow, if you are a concierge guest of the resort, there is a third floor balcony that is available for private dining. However, you must be a concierge guest (I know this for a fact since I asked about it recently). The third through fifth floors of the main building are off-limits to anyone but concierge guests (you can only reach these floors via cardkey access).

I hope this helps. Read my next post for the rest of the answers to your questions.

I'm trying to make my way through this thread and I have another question. Can anyone walk by the honeymoon rooms on the 2nd floor? I've stayed at the GF many times, but never noticed these rooms when walking around the public areas of the 2nd floor (Citricos, Bally's, etc.) I know the 2nd floor honeymoon rooms are part of the RPC, but I am really looking for some privacy - and quiet. Maybe I'd be better off booking a room on the 3rd or 4th floor, since they are accessible only by the RPC card key. What are your thoughts??

 

[magical4us4]

CastleLight, we stayed in a honeymoon room on the second floor. It is nowhere near the public areas. You have to go to the 3rd or 4th floor in the RPC and then go down a long hall and take another elevator to the second floor. Very discreet. This is where a few of the famous people stay so that they have piece and quiet and privacy. Hope this helps!

 

[TammiMcMan]

Maybe I'd be better off booking a room on the 3rd or 4th floor, since they are accessible only by the RPC card key. What are your thoughts??

We had a 5th floor honeymoon turret suite that I thought was pretty quiet and very convenient to the lounge and staff. The 2nd floor honeymoon rooms are well hidden as Magical4us mentioned. You'd still need a key card for the elevator to the 3rd or 4th floor, then it's a few minutes walk down the hallway and down to the 2nd level.

 

[BCV23]

The second floor rooms sound delightfully remote.

 

[Cinderella Fan]

Well, we are back. We started our stay in SL, but it wasn't at all what we were expecting. So, we moved Friday to the RPC, which was amazing, as usual!


What was the problem? We have stayed in both and other than the location and live band did not notice any difference

We just didn't like the location of the room, or the feel of the lounge. It was SSSSOOOO crowded in SL, we just felt more comfortable in RPC.

I am not saying that SL is not nice, we just prefer RPC for us....

 

[PammyPoppins]

I just read the first page facts and what I can't seem to find is, what time is check-out at the Grand Floridian?
PammyPoppins

 

[BrianD]

I just read the first page facts and what I can't seem to find is, what time is check-out at the Grand Floridian?
PammyPoppins

11:00 AM

 

[TammiMcMan]

PammyPoppins, you can request late check-out the night before. If they say yes, you'll have until 1pm at no additional cost. Beyond that, bell services will hold your luggage until you're ready to leave.

 

[CastleLight]

CastleLight, we stayed in a honeymoon room on the second floor. It is nowhere near the public areas. You have to go to the 3rd or 4th floor in the RPC and then go down a long hall and take another elevator to the second floor. Very discreet. This is where a few of the famous people stay so that they have piece and quiet and privacy. Hope this helps!

Thanks so much. That is exactly what I needed to hear.

 

[hmp2z]

I know the 2nd floor honeymoon rooms are part of the RPC, but I am really looking for some privacy - and quiet. Maybe I'd be better off booking a room on the 3rd or 4th floor, since they are accessible only by the RPC card key. What are your thoughts??

If you want a honeymoon room on the private 2nd floor, make sure you request this, since, as someone else mentioned, they do have honeymoon rooms on the 3rd, 4th, and 5th floors.
Cheers!
Heather W

 

[Lives4Disney]

Cinderella Fan - We checked in on Friday to RPC, too!! I LOVE it there. I am so sad this morning to be home and facing all the laundry and unpacking. I completely understand about SL. I have only stayed once, but I really felt something was lacking. An intangable thing, but just something. Sorry you were disappointed. I am glad there was availablity in RPC. Believe me - I know about disappointment (that YC!!!). I am glad I tried it again after 7 yrs, (well not really, LOL) - I am mostly glad I had a deal of a room rate on it. I found out a couple days ago my friend ordered me a cute thing from Disney Florist to be delivered at YC and they dropped the ball and didn't deliver it!! YC couldn't find me. Odd since the whole reservation was in MY name. It finally arrived several days later to the GF only after she called to double check it's delivery. Good thing she checked or it would have been sitting in some closet at YC. At least now I know if I want an Epcot resort I will not rule out S/D. I just think that the MK is our area. We enjoy MGM and EPCOT, but MK holds the magic.

Well, I was so overwhelmed at our GF check in reception on Friday. The most wonderful concierge CMs were waiting for us on the 3rd floor with the outrageous surprise that we would be spending our time at the GF in the Walt Disney Suite. We took TONS of pics and film, but I will need DH's assistance in getting that up. (technically challenged here, LOL) The suite is filled with original concept art and photos from the Disney archives. It was decorated so beautifully and homey - not like a hotel room. Very mixy, matchy prints and chintz fabrics, carved wool carpet, lovely wood furniture (my girls had twin sleigh beds), the bathroom was huge - I mean HUGE, there was a wonderful walk in closet, flat screen TV (in the master bath also), Bose audio system with speakers throughout the whole suite.... I was over the moon. While we were settling in, the treats and surprises kept coming. There were balloons and cards in the room, white chocolate Happy Bday Mickeys all around on plates with cookies, truffles, and strawberry tuxes.

We had a LOVELY evening for our G 1 cruise. I don't think I outdid MickeyMac on the pics, though. (sorry Janet2K ) I was too busy enjoying the cruise and the company! I took several pics, but nothing as spectacular and thorough as MM's I am sure. My Cinderella cake was beautiful. I do have pics of that, also. We ordered champagne and lemonade to have with it. Everything was coordinated perfectly. We had 5 on the cruise, and though the yacht is good sized I can't imagine many more than that on board. We 5 sat on the front of the boat to watch the Wishes, then climbed back into the galley for our cake. The bench in the back is only comfortable for 4. I suppose with more people on board you would just spread out all over. The more the merrier, I guess. We were informed that in the very near future they will be returning this boat in exchange for a larger one. G1 was a very fun way to cap off the evening after a delicious dinner at Citricos. It was our first time dining there and we will return. The meal (DH & I both ordered filet, Lu ordered the kids beef tips, and Jo Mickey mac of course) was enjoyed by all of us. Service was great, too. We were asked about dessert and we couldn't eat another bite, but they brought out a beautiful platter that said "Happy 40th Birthday, Channing" in chocolate on the rim and held a delicious (see, we did eat it!) mango creme broule. The whole trip was full of special surprises.

I just cannot tell you how special the concierge staff ( a couple in particular) made this bday for my family and myself. The magic lives at the GF. Our stay was just over the top. I want to sell my house and cars and move into the Grand Floridian!!! I am sad because it will probably be at least 6 months if not more until our next stay and I don't know if I can manage without that magic for so long, LOL.

As expected the CMs were all the BEST at the GF - everybody. The concierge staff is awesome, the lounge ladies are super sweet and friendly, the housekeepers are great. No problems at the GF, plenty of happiness. It was a world away from the YC. I felt kind of pathetic going back to WDW so soon (I love it there, though) instead of choosing a more exciting or exotic destination for my bday trip (people said "You're going AGAIN??", but I have no regrets at all. I knew I would be treated so wonderfully and we already just love the GF and I made the right choice.

As far as the weather and crowds - because those were my only concerns - the weather was much better and bearable then the past two Augusts that we have been. It rained a LOT, and not just for 1/2 hour, but it did actually cool the day down, VS in August, the rain just made the air feel thicker. The evenings were perfect. The crowds are another story. I did TGM (as I have several times in the past) and followed his advice, but summer crowds are unavoidable. Surprisingly on July 4 at MGM things were walkons. Totally shocked by that, but everybody must have been at MK or Epcot. Epcot on July 5 was a good day, too. After that it was down hill. Mega crowds. We were happy to spend a lot of GF time.

Oh - Don't know if I mentioned this, but Peggy's basket that I ordered from her was so beautiful. I would order again - just not to accept delivery at the YC.

If you have questions, I will try and answer. I will post pics when DH gets a chance to help me. I am so sad it's over.

Happy planning!!!

Lives4Disney

 

[lynr]

Channing:

I am so glad to hear you received all those surprises at the RPC.

Wow! The Walt Disney Suite how special. I would have been over the moon too.

It sounds like the magic started when you checked into the GF. I hope you learned your lesson now and never stray from home again.

So when is the next trip?

Lyn

 

[marcij]

Channing -- so glad to hear you had another magical stay at the GF for your birthday! I had the exact opposite experience last year, but only half of my stay was at the GF. We did a split stay between AKL (my boys loved the animals!!) and the GF. The pre-planning at AKL was really pretty good. My husband called ahead of time to tell them he was shipping my birthday gift, and to please hold it until my b-day on Aug. 1. He also wrote that on the box. Well, when we checked in, we had this large box on a chair, and with the writing all over it so I knew what it was. (I did wait until my b-day to open it, though...) My birthday came around and nothing -- no card, no greeting nothing. I didn't expect anything, but my husband was upset. He had heard about all the really cool things they can do for birthday's.

This year is my 40th, and we will be vacationing during that time, but will be on the Disney Magic. We are going to fit in a few days at the GF before we cruise. Since we really aren't prone to any true pixie dust moments (but always have a great time!) while at WDW, my only wish is that we don't have a medical/weather emergency while out at sea!

Thanks so much for posting and giving us trip reports. I always enjoy hearing about your beautiful girls and seeing the pictures of them.

 

[litlpixie]

Welcome Home Channing!! You made my day with your mini-review. I am SO glad you had a wonderful birthday trip!! HOW ON EARTH DID YOU GET THAT ROOM!?!?!?!?! Can't wait to see your pix!! I hope my stay there is as fabulous as yours was, even w/out the suite, the service you received sounds incredible and YES< doesnt sound like MY stay at the YC either, lololol!!!! (that YC....that place needs to get a clue )

 

[triplefigs]

Channing -- so glad to hear you had another magical stay at the GF for your birthday! I had the exact opposite experience last year, but only half of my stay was at the GF. We did a split stay between AKL (my boys loved the animals!!) and the GF. The pre-planning at AKL was really pretty good. My husband called ahead of time to tell them he was shipping my birthday gift, and to please hold it until my b-day on Aug. 1. He also wrote that on the box. Well, when we checked in, we had this large box on a chair, and with the writing all over it so I knew what it was. (I did wait until my b-day to open it, though...) My birthday came around and nothing -- no card, no greeting nothing. I didn't expect anything, but my husband was upset. He had heard about all the really cool things they can do for birthday's.

This year is my 40th, and we will be vacationing during that time, but will be on the Disney Magic. We are going to fit in a few days at the GF before we cruise. Since we really aren't prone to any true pixie dust moments (but always have a great time!) while at WDW, my only wish is that we don't have a medical/weather emergency while out at sea!

Thanks so much for posting and giving us trip reports. I always enjoy hearing about your beautiful girls and seeing the pictures of them.

40, huh, Marci? Now the secret is out!

 

[triplefigs]

WOW!!!!!! Channing, the GF surely did outdo themselves this trip! Can't wait to see the picture (there had better be one of YOU finally.) Glad it was a smashing success, esp after the YC and R&C fiasco. Glad you're home safe and sound.

 

[Alicnwondrln]

channing that is soo great !! I cant wait to see your pics of everything.

 

[Cinderella Fan]

Cinderella Fan - We checked in on Friday to RPC, too!! I LOVE it there. I am so sad this morning to be home and facing all the laundry and unpacking. I completely understand about SL. I have only stayed once, but I really felt something was lacking. An intangable thing, but just something. Sorry you were disappointed. I am glad there was availablity in RPC. Believe me - I know about disappointment (that YC!!!).

Channing, I actually saw you in the lounge and at the pool a couple of times. I recognized you from your daughters. In fact, one night your oldest (Lucy?) bumped into me, she is so polite. You should be quite proud.

I was going to mention "Happy Birthday" to you the day you were wearing your Birthday shirt, but I didn't want you to think I was completely crazy!! I am glad to hear that you had such a great birthday vacation. The CMs there are just so amazing, it can't be compared to SL, IMHO. In fact, when we returned home Tuesday night, I called and booked us again for the last week of July (unfortunately, I wasn't able to get all of my wedding planning done... )

And since I didn't tell you there, , even though it is late. Oh, by the way, this is what DF and I looked like... next time, we will recognize eachother...

 

[soxnation]

42 more days till mom sis and i are at the GF to recelebrate Sis's 21st birthday we have had a rough year so far and we are trying to start over at disney world because it is hard to be unhappy in disney and at the grand floridian!! time to take care of ourselves!