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

[Lives4Disney]

WOW a price increase of $135 per night next year. I am paying $620 plus tax this year value season and I thought that was bad. AAA rate was around $575 but I couldn't get that and the free dining.

I guess this will be my last stay in RPC for awhile.

Lyn

Lyn, that price was with tax during peak season....but still it's closing in on 1K/nt!! Ugh. As much as I love RPC and the GF I am having second thoughts about paying that. Although, I have second thoughts about every trip and it always beats my expectations and I walk away with no regrets.

Tinks - We have been to the GF for the past two Augusts during that time frame and it hasn't been busy at all so I wouldn't worry too much about not getting a great view or room. Although I don't know if the deals WDW is offering this year will change that.....

Anyway to answer your question, the concierge staff does have room assigning duty. Send IPO an email and let them know you will be arriving late, maybe give the approx time and any specific requests you have for your room location or view. They will do their best by you, I am sure. The concierge staff is awesome. You are so lucky!!! Have a great time. I just love that place.

Lives4Disney

 

[zipDdoodah]

Thanks, Tammi, for the info on the corner rooms. I wish we could all fit in a deluxe room, but my youngest is 4, so we are 1 too many. Oh well, guess we will get a standard room! Hopefully we will get a castle view. My DD4 would LOVE to be able to see the castle from the room. Thanks for all of your great info on this thread. I've gotten lots of great stuff to work with!~

 

[lvloopingbag]

Hi!
Does anyone know the room numbers for the 3 ( I think that is how many there are) lodge tower rooms out in the Sugar Loaf concierge building? And is it true just the 2nd and 3rd floor lodge tower rooms have balconies but not the 4th floor? Thanks!

 

[Lives4Disney]

Hi!
Does anyone know the room numbers for the 3 ( I think that is how many there are) lodge tower rooms out in the Sugar Loaf concierge building? And is it true just the 2nd and 3rd floor lodge tower rooms have balconies but not the 4th floor? Thanks!

Hi, it's been about 1 1/2 yrs since I stayed in Sugar Loaf, but we did stay in the tower room on the 4th floor. It does not have a balcony. I believe the 2nd and 3rd floor tower rooms do. I am kind of guessing it was room 1620?? Maybe?? It was a lovely room overlooking the lobby lounge area & near the elevators, too.

Happy planning,

Lives4Disney

 

[triplefigs]

Ooohooh!! You're such a tease!!! I am having major withdrawals and you are teasing me!!! I cannot even believe the cost of a STANDARD RPC room during March - $925/nt. That makes me cough. I couldn't tell my DH the price without wheezing a bit. I am thinking of skipping spring break trip and just going in value season again. We shall see. Maybe do a S/D/GF 50/50 split to balance the price. I would LOVE LOVE LOVE that suite again don't you know it but I don't think it's going to happen.

Denise - when are you going again??? Did you decide on Sept or Dec?

Channing

Yes, I do love teasing you, but I'm so jealous of your trips! We are going Sept 23-30 at the CR. We have a Tower MK view room. I'm also going Jan 25-28 with a girlfriend for a Girl's Only Weekend. We're staying at the Beach Club Villas and going to the Pirate/Princess Party. I'm very excited!

 

[triplefigs]

Hi!
Does anyone know the room numbers for the 3 ( I think that is how many there are) lodge tower rooms out in the Sugar Loaf concierge building? And is it true just the 2nd and 3rd floor lodge tower rooms have balconies but not the 4th floor? Thanks!

You are right. The room numbers are 6220, 6320, and 6420. The 2nd and 3rd floor have balconies and also the couch folds out into a double bed. The 4th floor couch doesn't and it has no balcony. Here are our pics from December of room 6220.

Click the thumbnail for the full-size version.

 

[lvloopingbag]

Thank you so much for the wonderful pictures! Now I know which rooms to request. Your triplets are precious! A friend of mine from college has a girl and two boys also. Her triplets are 5 and they live in Hong Kong, right across the bay from DL Hong Kong......

 

[welovedis]

I realize that many here are talking about concierge rooms, but our family is taking just a quick 2 night trip in Sept. I've booked us in a standard garden view room and got the AP rate (with tax for 2 nights $633.00). Do you think I should have went ahead & went with a concierge room as well?

DH thinks we are staying at POP so I think he'll be pretty surprised (shocked) when we pull up to the GF. For this trip we pretty much coming in to do MNSSHP and then Epcot on Sat afternoon, MGM @ night. I didn't think I'd utilize the concierge services and with my food allergies I wasn't really thinking I'd be enjoying the offerings much either.

Tell me I did the right thing! LOL

Also, does anyone have any suggestions about a quiet room location? DS has a form of autism and does better in a quieter location, we typically ask for top floor, away from elevators (since most people want to be closer) and that way we avoid room noise around us and as much hallway noise as possible. However, when I made my reservation, the CM mentioned that if I wanted a particular building to call back. If anyone can suggest one I'd appreciate it!

Ack, edited again to add, here are the addt'l charges if we change our room type from Garden View:
Lagoon View add $136.04
Lodge Tower add $180.64
Lodge Concierge Room add $258.68
Main Building Concierge Room add $582.04 (wow!)

Since we won't be back to the GF (DH loves the DVC resorts so much!) and won't be back to WDW for at least 2 years, I want to make it something we won't forget. At the same time, I think I'd have a problem justifying over $600 a night on a main building concierge room when we won't really be using their services. C'mon you guys gotta help me here!

 

[3for Me]

I can't help you with the main building...but for your particular situation, I think you did the right thing and I would NOT upgrade to concierge.

We stayed in Sugar Loaf once, and although it was nice, our experience was that the rooms were not totally "soundproof".

Let me clarifiy by saying that our room faced the marina to the outside and to the inner lounge on the "inside". In other words, you could see our front door if you looked up from the concierge lounge. Our room was on the third floor.

During times when there were food offerings, you could hear plates clanging and just general "shuffling" around. Nothing terrible, but if noise is an issue to you, I'd save my money and stay with the garden view.

Others may have different experiences, but this was ours - hope this helps!

Have a great trip!

 

[Lives4Disney]

I realize that many here are talking about concierge rooms, but our family is taking just a quick 2 night trip in Sept. I've booked us in a standard garden view room and got the AP rate (with tax for 2 nights $633.00). Do you think I should have went ahead & went with a concierge room as well?

DH thinks we are staying at POP so I think he'll be pretty surprised (shocked) when we pull up to the GF. For this trip we pretty much coming in to do MNSSHP and then Epcot on Sat afternoon, MGM @ night. I didn't think I'd utilize the concierge services and with my food allergies I wasn't really thinking I'd be enjoying the offerings much either.

Tell me I did the right thing! LOL

Also, does anyone have any suggestions about a quiet room location? DS has a form of autism and does better in a quieter location, we typically ask for top floor, away from elevators (since most people want to be closer) and that way we avoid room noise around us and as much hallway noise as possible. However, when I made my reservation, the CM mentioned that if I wanted a particular building to call back. If anyone can suggest one I'd appreciate it!

Ack, edited again to add, here are the addt'l charges if we change our room type from Garden View:
Lagoon View add $136.04
Lodge Tower add $180.64
Lodge Concierge Room add $258.68
Main Building Concierge Room add $582.04 (wow!)

Since we won't be back to the GF (DH loves the DVC resorts so much!) and won't be back to WDW for at least 2 years, I want to make it something we won't forget. At the same time, I think I'd have a problem justifying over $600 a night on a main building concierge room when we won't really be using their services. C'mon you guys gotta help me here!

You will love the GF!! Good choice!!

I agree with the PPoster that said you probably made the right choice. You are only staying two nights and have lots of plans that will keep you out of the resort so why pay the extra for things you won't be around to enjoy? I would have done the same - even as much as I love the main building. Why waste the money, save it for your next GF stay, LOL.

I was just thinking today how our WDW trips have changed now that we have discovered the wonderful GF from marathon park days/nights and now have become true vacations where we relax, hang out in the lounge & enjoy the band or pianist, and we now swim (hadn't done that in all our previous 15 years of trips!) and just really ENJOY the Grand Floridian. The Grand Floridian has become an important part of our WDW vacations. For a quickie two night stay, I would either live it up at the GF or as you are doing, live it up at the parks!

Have a great time,

Lives4Disney

 

[Lives4Disney]

Yes, I do love teasing you, but I'm so jealous of your trips! We are going Sept 23-30 at the CR. We have a Tower MK view room. I'm also going Jan 25-28 with a girlfriend for a Girl's Only Weekend. We're staying at the Beach Club Villas and going to the Pirate/Princess Party. I'm very excited!

I am still so depressed that my trip is over. I don't know why....probably because it was just out of this world. I can't shake the bummed feeling this time - I am DREAMING Disney World and Grand Floridian!!! (I need a life, LOL )

I think you will love the CR! It is still my kids favorite (well, second fave ) I am jealous that you get to go during such a nice slow period. I miss those days. Wow! And a girls only weekend- gosh, nobody I know even LIKES WDW!! I am glad you can get away like that with a friend. Sounds like lots of fun.

Lives4Disney

 

[welovedis]

You will love the GF!! Good choice!!

I agree with the PPoster that said you probably made the right choice. You are only staying two nights and have lots of plans that will keep you out of the resort so why pay the extra for things you won't be around to enjoy? I would have done the same - even as much as I love the main building. Why waste the money, save it for your next GF stay, LOL.

I was just thinking today how our WDW trips have changed now that we have discovered the wonderful GF from marathon park days/nights and now have become true vacations where we relax, hang out in the lounge & enjoy the band or pianist, and we now swim (hadn't done that in all our previous 15 years of trips!) and just really ENJOY the Grand Floridian. The Grand Floridian has become an important part of our WDW vacations. For a quickie two night stay, I would either live it up at the GF or as you are doing, live it up at the parks!

Have a great time,

Lives4Disney

Ok, thanks for letting me know I wasn't crazy to consider upgrading further, even for just a bit!

I agree about the marathon trips, we used to do that when we first started visiting WDW, now we are old pros, lol and this year we've enjoyed many lazy days at BWV and SSR already. This will be our 3rd trip in 2006 and we have another slated for early December at BCV for our son's 10th birthday. With the APs it makes for a more relaxing trip, plus we know that if we don't get to something this time, there's always next time.

When I mentioned Epcot and MGM, we'll probably just head over to Innoventions for a couple of hours, then maybe to MGM to have dinner at Mama Melrose or Brown Derby & watch our fave-Fantasmic. We try not to cram much into days like that, esp since we'll be out late at our first-ever MNSSHP the night before!

Any suggestions on a particular building to ask for, or avoid? I was wondering if it would be louder near the marina area because of the boat noise?

 

[sharlon]

BrianD, I have room layouts on my website if that helps. The deluxe rooms that I've seen are closer to the lounge.

zipDdoodah, the rooms located on the corners are deluxe. Unfortunately, even though they have much more space, they have an occupancy limit of 4 (unless one is under the age of 3). We've had Cameo and Floral bedding in the Main Building.

Tammi,
Thanks for putting the link to your site. The floorplans were great. My question is regarding the standard rooms. This is our first GF stay (yippee!) after years of dreaming as we passed by on the monorail. We have myself, DH, DD9, DD7, and DS1. DD9 kicks horribly, so noone wants to sleep with her. DS will be in a crib. I noticed on your site that there are 3 layouts, one with King and Queen sleeper, one with 2 queens and a daybed, and one with 2 queens and no daybed. Any idea how these are assigned? The thought of anyone having to sleep with DD9 makes me cringe. Our only request is non-smoking, and we leave Friday for a Sunday checkin.

 

[TammiMcMan]

Any suggestions on a particular building to ask for, or avoid? I was wondering if it would be louder near the marina area because of the boat noise?

Personally, I think that Sago Cay and Conch Key garden view are pretty quiet. They're more off the beaten path so to spreak. Do you think that your son would enjoy looking out the window and watching the monorail go by? If so, definitely go with Sago Cay and request that view. Even if you are on the marina side, I don't think it's overly noisy. The boats do pull in there, but at a very low speed. I noticed that you usually request a high floor. You may have seen it mentioned that the top floors at the GF have dormer rooms. They're a little bit smaller, but have a cathederal ceiling. Also, the balconies are smaller and have a solid railing.

Sharlon, those reservations that have 5 guests, would get priority on the 2 queens/daybed room option. If you'd like that bedding, I would fax the request into the GF room assignor at 407-824-3186 . Chances are, that they will receive your reservation into the resorts computer system on Tuesday, so don't bother calling CRO. Ask again at check in, just in case your room is not pre-assigned. Worst case scenario, if you do get a room without the daybed, you can request a rollaway. They are not advertised, but the resorts do have a small supply. I have a DD that no one in my family likes to sleep with either.

 

[RBennett]

For 2007, you can actually book a MK view, but I've heard there's only about 30 +/- so you might want to book as soon as it's available. I've heard you can book rooms at 499 days out from the date you want. Hope this helps!

 

[RBennett]

So my DW and I are staying at the GF for the first time in Dec. of '07 and I am CLUELESS. She wanted to stay in a lagoon view, and I was wondering, can we request buildings, etc when we book? And if we can, what do you reccommend? It's for two nights after we get back from the DCL. THANKS!!!!!!!! We're SO excited!!

 

[Tonyspad]

Tammi,
Am I glad you posted the link with the GF room layouts. I have a B4 suite in SL reserved and it appears to be nothing more than two connecting rooms. Can someone give me an idea if there is anything I am missing.

 

[Tspad]

Tammi,
I am sorry to bother you but I also noticed a suite with the code BO. Can you give me any info on this type of room? It seems perfect.
Thanks, Tony

 

[Michelle2]

I am so excited! We just upgraded to the Grand Floridian for our upcoming trip in September!!

I have a question about the beds....last time I stayed at the GF was in 2003 in Sugar Loaf concierge. I have heard that the matresses have been updated since then? I have heard that all of the monorail resorts ---Contemporary, Poly, and the Grand Floridian have received new comfy beds....I know that the Contemporary and Poly have undergone massive room rehabs, but the GF has not....did they still get the comfy beds too???
TIA

 

[triplefigs]

I am so excited! We just upgraded to the Grand Floridian for our upcoming trip in September!!

I have a question about the beds....last time I stayed at the GF was in 2003 in Sugar Loaf concierge. I have heard that the matresses have been updated since then? I have heard that all of the monorail resorts ---Contemporary, Poly, and the Grand Floridian have received new comfy beds....I know that the Contemporary and Poly have undergone massive room rehabs, but the GF has not....did they still get the comfy beds too???
TIA

I'm not sure if it's the "comfy" beds, but in December at SL the beds were WONDERFUL!!!!! Or that could have been just shear exhaustion from chasing triplets around the parks all day...