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

[Cinderella Fan]

Hi Denise! We have a "honeymoon" room in RPC for Dec. 16-23 with a AAA rate of $596 incl. tax. We have AP's as well, but we saved much more with our AP because we made the reservation so far in advance. You may want to check into that....

Good luck!!

Can anyone tell me what the AP rate is for December at RPC? I'm buying an AP for next year, and we're contemplating RPC for our Christmas Dec 12-19 2007 trip. I know it won't be exactly the same, but it would give me a good estimate. Thanks!

 

[Lives4Disney]

Thanks for looking. What about a standard room? We are a family of 5 and have to have a regular room. Appreciate your checking.

Denise, the standard rooms are usually about $15 less than the deluxe. I am not having any luck getting the AP rate for RPC to show up, but that is what the story is. So probably about $600/nt.

I am checking in on Dec. 19 (last day of value season) and paying $691/nt including tax. I have TRIED and TRIED to get the ap rate or AAA and I think I should have booked MONTHS ago for that discount. No luck at all. Also, in March when we returned from our fabulous RPC stay, I tried to book a one bdrm suite at the GF for Xmas and ALL suites were sold out at that point!!! I cannot believe how early people book their trips. I used to do it 2 months in advance and always got what I wanted.

When you are sure of your dates, book it. AAA is usually very close to the AP rate. I think you can book AAA rates for Dec 07 thru CRO at this time. Maybe look into that.

Channing

 

[Lives4Disney]

ok i have tried both of the following emails
wdw.gfplanning@disney.com
wdw.gf.planning@disney.com
they both come back as undeliverable

WDWGFPlanning@disney.com Is the address I have. Maybe don't . between WDW and GF???

Try again!!!

Channing

 

[Alicnwondrln]

thanks channing so far that one hasnt come back to me
i appreciate your help

 

[Lives4Disney]

thanks channing so far that one hasnt come back to me
i appreciate your help

Ya, and now you just have to wait and see if they answer it, lol. I know people are not having a whole lotta luck. Keeping my fingers crossed for you.

Channing

 

[minniesota]

I'm in the process of planning a Dec. stay at RPC and am finding IPO to answer emails in 2 days, slower than previous years. But they are answering all of my questions very thoroughly and have been helpful in securing a couple of ADRs I have requested. I guess patience is the name of the game!

 

[Alicnwondrln]

i know
i feel spolied in august when we stayed WL cl
i heard back from them within like 3 hours
they were amazing
i have already left messages on the voicemail so we will see if this works

 

[Alicnwondrln]

Well i heard back from the GF by email. I am wondering if staying there is a mistake. The email was very cold. Didnt greet me by name and was signed by no one. It was nothing at all like the emails I get when I stay at the Poly or WL concierge. Not what I expected at all.

 

[TammiMcMan]

Unfortunately Kelly, that's pretty typical. They are not known for being warm and fuzzy. We've had nothing but great CM's once we arrive though. Did they say what the deal was with no one returning phone calls and which e-mail address finally worked?

 

[scanne]

Well i heard back from the GF by email. I am wondering if staying there is a mistake. The email was very cold. Didnt greet me by name and was signed by no one. It was nothing at all like the emails I get when I stay at the Poly or WL concierge. Not what I expected at all.

I am so sorry to hear that your interaction has not been magical!

We were just in WDW and stayed at the GF (not RPC or SL). The CM's DH encountered, with the exception of one, were all "mild." No smiles, just very blah and too laid back. Don't get me wrong - no one was snooty or condescending, but none of that "Disney Magic" that we've gotten from other CM's at the WL and Polynesian.

I was saying to my DH that I would absolutely LOVE to be a concierge CM at any of the deluxe resorts. I would thoroughly enjoy "making the magic happen" for guests. I hope that someday we do move to Orlando and I can get a job working at Disney doing SOMETHING that involves guest interaction.

I hope that your contact with IPO gets better and that your trip is truly magical!!!

Happy planning!!!

 

[Alicnwondrln]

the email said nothing about the calls
the addy that worked was the
WDWGFplanning@disney.com
the one channing gave me

its sad if thats how it is
I dont expect warm fuzzies but I do expect help to be offered
i hope the staff there is better than whats at the IPO
ETA if they make mistakes how do they track that since no one signs anything and how are good CMs known if they dont take the time to get personal and sign the email

 

[welovedis]

Thanks for looking. What about a standard room? We are a family of 5 and have to have a regular room. Appreciate your checking.

A standard RPC room for Dec 2006 is coming up as $617.63, a king room is $628.88. A standard SLC room is coming up as $454.50. All prices are with tax. HTH!

 

[Alicnwondrln]

I am so sorry to hear that your interaction has not been magical!

We were just in WDW and stayed at the GF (not RPC or SL). The CM's DH encountered, with the exception of one, were all "mild." No smiles, just very blah and too laid back. Don't get me wrong - no one was snooty or condescending, but none of that "Disney Magic" that we've gotten from other CM's at the WL and Polynesian.

I was saying to my DH that I would absolutely LOVE to be a concierge CM at any of the deluxe resorts. I would thoroughly enjoy "making the magic happen" for guests. I hope that someday we do move to Orlando and I can get a job working at Disney doing SOMETHING that involves guest interaction.

I hope that your contact with IPO gets better and that your trip is truly magical!!!

Happy planning!!!

thats i want it to be great
I hear good things about the staff but after spending 10 nights wl cl this august i will be comparing them
wl was amazing the ipo brandon trish lynne
and the reosrt staff
lisa gerianne daisy were all great
they went above and beyond
also my best friend is coming with me as DH didnt wanna and she has NEVER been to WDW EVER
I want it to be awesome

 

[welovedis]

I am so sorry to hear that your interaction has not been magical!

We were just in WDW and stayed at the GF (not RPC or SL). The CM's DH encountered, with the exception of one, were all "mild." No smiles, just very blah and too laid back. Don't get me wrong - no one was snooty or condescending, but none of that "Disney Magic" that we've gotten from other CM's at the WL and Polynesian.

Thanks for putting into words what I've been thinking for the past couple of weeks. We went there wanting to just love the GF and we came away with a cold sort of feeling. No one was outwardly mean or looked down on us, but even when speaking with a CM about the room condition it just wasn't handled the way that I felt was "nice" for lack of a better word. We've always had such great CMs at the Poly & BWV and just felt it was lacking in the warmth of those working at the GF.

Also, if someone here is interested in the pics of the Alice room, including close-ups of the bedspread and the pics on the wall with the theming, just post here or PM me. I promise not to include the bad ones, lol!

 

[Alicnwondrln]

karen i sent you a PM

I am hoping the IPO interaction wont be as cold from hear on out

 

[Lives4Disney]

Kelly, I am glad you got a return email at least!! I have had luck addressing them to certain people. If you want their names PM me. At least that way I know who I am contacting and if there are any issues, I can go directly to them. You are right, though - no warm fuzzies from IPO unless you know who you are writing to. The bland email responses always kind of turned me off, too.

I understand the blah CM thing a bit. We had one incident where both our room phones died. Didn't know it until after 10 pm when I tried to set up a Mickey wake up call. I used my cell to phone front desk (concierge was gone) and they were curt & told me they'd take care of it by sending somebody up. Well, I stayed up til midnight then called down again, and found out maintenance had already left for the day. OK, they just kept me up late and blew me off. The next day, we mentioned the dead phones to concierge CM and they were fixed by the time we returned to our room in afternoon and also they left a "sorry" note and a plate of strawberries and choc dipping sauce. We were very impressed with the concierge service. The onsite concierge staff is great and gets things done.



It's a shame service and CMs at the GF aren't all wonderful because even a GV GF room is a lot of $$$. I do have to say though that other than the front desk(had a couple other incidents with them over the years), EVERY CM we have ever passed at GF was super friendly. I love that - they have always made us feel very welcome. I am sorry you guys are having a different experience. We have always had lackluster, apathetic CMs at the Poly. Go figure. That is why we are underimpressed with that resort. Even IPO there acted like things were all handled and then they LOST my CC number and didn't bother to contact me and let me know nothing would be done. Strange - all the inconsistancies.

OK, sorry to ramble - I am a fast typer!!

Lives4Disney

 

[Alicnwondrln]

thanks channing
i sent you a PM

 

[minniesota]

I have stayed at the GF about 10 times, twice at the RPC level, and can understand how guests react to the IPO staff. My impression is that they are very professional, almost businesslike, when setting up your itinerary. There are not a lot of warm and fuzzies as Tammi said. That doesn't bother me as long as they get the job done. And they have never disappointed me in that area. They have been thorough and responsive.

The lounge CMs have been wonderful but again, they are not going to gush. If I made the first move and engaged them in conversation, they exuded warmth and were quick with a smile on my next trp to the lounge. But if I sat quietly with my coffee, chatting with DH, we were pretty much left alone.

My husband compares the experience with what he considers a really great restaurant/waiter. They are there to serve you when you need to be served, otherwise they stand off in the distance and let you enjoy the experience. He loves that about RPC. Since I enjoy a little more "Disney" interaction, I always "make friends" with the staff and they couldn't be more accommodating. I think maybe that is just the GF style. Be professional, be courteous but leave the guests to themselves unless they approach you.

I have never had a bad stay at GF. For me, the location, ambiance, service and overall resort "feel" are what keep luring me back. The level of "magic" the CMs project has never entered into the equation though I have had some very magical things happen to me while staying there!

If you find the email system too impersonal, I would recommend calling the IPO. Get the name of the person you are talking to and just let them know you're more comfortable dealing with one person. You can then call or email and ask specifically for him or her. I've done that in the past and it has worked out great.

 

[Alicnwondrln]

I have stayed at the GF about 10 times, twice at the RPC level, and can understand how guests react to the IPO staff. My impression is that they are very professional, almost businesslike, when setting up your itinerary. There are not a lot of warm and fuzzies as Tammi said. That doesn't bother me as long as they get the job done. And they have never disappointed me in that area. They have been thorough and responsive.

The lounge CMs have been wonderful but again, they are not going to gush. If I made the first move and engaged them in conversation, they exuded warmth and were quick with a smile on my next trp to the lounge. But if I sat quietly with my coffee, chatting with DH, we were pretty much left alone.

My husband compares the experience with what he considers a really great restaurant/waiter. They are there to serve you when you need to be served, otherwise they stand off in the distance and let you enjoy the experience. He loves that about RPC. Since I enjoy a little more "Disney" interaction, I always "make friends" with the staff and they couldn't be more accommodating. I think maybe that is just the GF style. Be professional, be courteous but leave the guests to themselves unless they approach you.

I have never had a bad stay at GF. For me, the location, ambiance, service and overall resort "feel" are what keep luring me back. The level of "magic" the CMs project has never entered into the equation though I have had some very magical things happen to me while staying there!

If you find the email system too impersonal, I would recommend calling the IPO. Get the name of the person you are talking to and just let them know you're more comfortable dealing with one person. You can then call or email and ask specifically for him or her. I've done that in the past and it has worked out great.

thanks for your post
i did call and leave a message but didnt hear from anyone
i am send an email to someone channing told me about
and then see how that goes

 

[BCV23]

minniesota, I agree with you. Professional and courteous describes the GF staff very well.

We've been very happy with the Polynesian and GF club level CMs both those we've met at the resorts and those we've dealt with in IPO. I think both do a great job.

Afterall when they reply, they have no reason to know if they are dealing with someone who just wants the job done and done well or someone who wants warm fuzzies.