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

[Livin4WDW]

Janet2k,
I saw the Inside Orlando show last night, altho I did miss some of the feature on the GF due to dozin off, but I saw most of it and can't wait to get my girlfriend to watch it!

You just posted that you got to stay at a dormer room at the GF, due you have to request that upon booking or ask a CM when checking it. I understand that when booking nothing is promise in the way of type or location of the room (except for GV vs LV). I like the private balconies and I want to make this trip for my girlfriend extra special, due to me wanting to bring her home my DF !!

I was at first reluctant to book the GF last year due to it being presented as upscale and the $$ wasn't exactly what I was looking for, but now that I have been there, I have the GF bug! I can't wait to get back there this year!!

 

[Janet2k]

...You just posted that you got to stay at a dormer room at the GF, did you have to request that upon booking or ask a CM when checking it. I understand that when booking nothing is promised in the way of type or location of the room (except for GV vs LV)...

Livin4WDW, I did not request anything for my vacation except for a non-smoking room. The dormer room was an unexpected surprise for us upon check-in (that was our Summerhouse dinner party vacation). It was a very lovely room, as I'm sure you saw in my photos.

Since it sounds like you really want to experience a dormer room, then by all means do make sure that it is noted on your reservation. If you made that reservation with Disney, give them a call and ask them to note it (if you made that reservation with Dreams Unlimited Travel or another agency, please do the same thing).

I hope you have a wonderful vacation. My family really loves the Grand Floridian. It's such a gorgeous, gorgeous resort.

 

[Steph H]

I'm popping into this thread as a newbie who is staying at GF for my first ever WDW trip this fall. (I figured hey, if I'm going to do it, why not go big?)

I really debated between concierge at SL or Main Building (not sure what RPC is, perhaps the same as Main Building and I just don't know the right acronyms), but went with SL because it was more affordable. My DH might miss the alcohol, and I will probably miss the evening desserts, but I figured we could live without. Other than that, I'm hoping to enjoy the breakfasts and the planning assistance. There's so much to do, I figure I can use all the help I can get. I like the idea of a "bed and breakfast" feel--I love B&Bs. Hopefully the staff will be friendly. . .I'm sure there's a bad apple at every resort, but hopefully plenty of good ones, too.

I'm eagerly reading everything in this thread! Thanks for all the info, everyone!

 

[TammiMcMan]

Steph, many people have reported feeling much more comfortable in the lodge. Really, the only thing it's missing is a nice fireplace in the corner to give it that super cozy feel. The CM's are a bit more friendly here mainly because they see you everyday. In the main building, you would only walk by the concierge staff if your room was on the 3rd floor. Otherwise, you might never see them except when you check in. You're right by the way, RPC stands for Royal Palm Club, which is the main buildings conciergre. You would be considered Lodge concierge.

The food is going to be the same, but as you mentioned, you won't have the wine/beer or late night dessert offering. You are within steps of Gasparillas Grill though and they have small bottles of wine available so you could BYOB. You can also make your own sundaes if you have a craving for something sweet.

Lots of good advice and great help on this thread, so ask away whenever you want.

Tammi

 

[Janet2k]

I'm popping into this thread as a newbie who is staying at GF for my first ever WDW trip this fall.

Oh, no! Please, please do not stay at the Grand Floridian for your first ever Walt Disney World vacation. If you do, you will become a Walt Disney World addict just like my family. You have been WARNED!

Seriously, I hope you have a ~magical~ stay at the Grand. That is the first Walt Disney World resort that my family ever stayed in. We instantly fell in love with it and with vacationing in Walt Disney World. We've been back many, many times since. And when we celebrated our 20th wedding anniversary in October, we had to incorporate a few nights at our favorite resort (even though the bulk of our guests were staying at the BoardWalk). It wouldn't have been a fairy tale anything without a stay at the Grand, ~sigh.~

Have fun planning your vacation. By the way, welcome to the Dis!

 

[Steph H]

many people have reported feeling much more comfortable in the lodge.

That sounds like it's right up my alley. I considered moving to the Main building if the discount I'm getting opened up the week I wanted to go, but I think I will save the money and stay where I'm. More to spend on Princess breakfasts and souveniers for my son.

Oh, no! Please, please do not stay at the Grand Floridian for your first ever Walt Disney World vacation. If you do, you will become a Walt Disney World addict just like my family. You have been WARNED!

I want you to know that my sister-in-law (LadyTrampScamp&Angel), who is a long-time Disboards member, actually WARNED me about you! Ok, not really "warned", but she did tell me you are quite the GF expert. Thanks for the nice welcome! I'm looking forward to reading a lot more.

 

[micmacmissy]

We also stayed at the GF (in the Sugar Loaf building) for our first trip to Disney.

We loved the lodge building--it was so much quieter than the main building...and if you really miss the alcohol, you can take a 10-second walk to the main building and hang out there, that's what we did. We much preferred the privacy and silence of the lodge building to the main building.

We are also very spoiled--after the whole family was treated to concierge suites at the GF for our first trip....how do we go back and stay somewhere else now that we had a taste of that?!?!

Have a great time Steph, you'll love it!

 

[samnbilly]

Our first Disney trip we stayed at the GF-Janet2k was right to warn you-you can never look back after that! Oh and we had a recent stay at SL and had a wonderful time! Best of luck planning.

 

[JennaTX]

I have a couple of questions for all of you GF experts. We are going in June of this year and want to be on a monorail resort. The contemporary is booked solid, and I really like the GF over the Poly. So I wanted to know about the rooms, concierge is probably out of the question for us, so what are the main differences between the rooms? I understand the difference between garden/lagoon view, but what is the lodge tower room? And where would you want to request to have a view of MK?

Thanks in advance!

 

[TammiMcMan]

We loved the lodge building--it was so much quieter than the main building...and if you really miss the alcohol, you can take a 10-second walk to the main building and hang out there, that's what we did. We much preferred the privacy and silence of the lodge building to the main building.

Yes Mizners lounge is available in the main building, or you can buy the small bottles of wine from Gasparilla's and enjoy them in the lodge. Unless you're staying in a suite, you can only visit the concierge lounge of the building you're booked into.

I understand the difference between garden/lagoon view, but what is the lodge tower room? And where would you want to request to have a view of MK?

Hi Jenna and welcome. Here's a link to the different room layouts that the GF offers, GF rooms. The standard room holds up to 5, deluxe concierge holds 4, tower rooms hold 4 and dormer rooms hold 4. The dormer room isn't show on the layout, but it's basically the same as a standard. It's located on the top floor of the buildings though and have a cathederal ceiling with an A dormer balcony. The balcony is solid and smaller than in the standard rooms. Typically for an MK view, you do want to book lagoon. Not sure what others recommend, but I think Sago Cay and Conch Key buildings would give you the best chance of a castle view. A high floor in Boca Chica is nice too and you could have a great view of the nightly electric water parade that goes by on the lagoon. Here's another good site for great GF Pictures.

Tammi

 

[pirateofthecarolinas]

Steph H, yes you need to be warned of Janet, Tammi and many others on this GF thread. We enjoy all of the Disney resorts but after 2 stays at the GF, it is becoming our favorite.

I also have a question. If I were coming in the lobby of the GF from the front of the hotel, which side is the RPC lounge located? 4th floor left or right?

I had reserved a split stay with the AKL and recently was able to switch all 4 of our days to RPC. I am so excited. It took a lot of calls to get our last night and we're not going until Nov./Dec. It must fill up quickly during those holiday weekends.

Lori

 

[TammiMcMan]

Steph H, yes you need to be warned of Janet, Tammi and many others on this GF thread. We enjoy all of the Disney resorts but after 2 stays at the GF, it is becoming our favorite. Lori

Lori, I resemble that remark . I really tried to go someplace else and Janet has experienced many other resorts at WDW. There's just something special about the GF, it keeps calling us back.

Okay, walking in the front entrance (by the port cochere) concierge lounge is on the 4th floor, left hand side. The 3rd floor is where the cm's have their desk and the 5th floor has a little seating area. The website ourlaughingplace.com has some great pictures of the RPC lounge by the way.

I don't know what the deal is on booking a room in the main building. We had so much trouble last January getting either our first or last night. Our DU's agent was finally able to get it for us, but it took her a while. Imagine our surprise when we arrived and found the concierge level to be nearly deserted. I don't think we bumped into more than a dozen people during our entire stay. I just wonder if they hold them for Disney execs or what.

Tammi

 

[pirateofthecarolinas]

Thanks Tammi (again),

I saw the pics on the website and I was trying to visualize it and I thought from Janet's photos that it had to be on the left side. Don't know why I wanted to know, just did!

I will have my mom, 11, 9, and 3 year old with me. I know the lounge will be convenient for the mornings and we will surely be there for desserts since the 3 year old will be ready for bed. I put in a request for a castle view. I would love to get it.

Now the hard part. Waiting.........until Nov.

Lori

 

[JennaTX]

Thanks Tammi for the links to the layout of the rooms. That showed me exactly what I needed, whether the sitting room was seperate from the bedroom in the tower rooms, and it looks like it is (although not sure if there is a door), but that would be nice for me and DH when our little ones are napping.

Does anyone know if the tower rooms are in all of the buildings or just a few?

 

[Steph H]

Oooh, I love the resort map on the ourlaughingplace link! I have been wishing I could get a mental "picture" in my head--and I love maps of any kind. This will help greatly.

I'm getting so excited thanks to all of you "experts" who just make me want to go RIGHT NOW! Thanks, everyone!!

 

[KerriL]

Does anyone know what the charge is for valet parking per day? Is is comp for concierge guests?
And also, is there a charge for self-parking at the resort if you are a guest?
I know that the Swan and Dolphin just started charging for regular self-parking.
Thanks,
Kerri

 

[TammiMcMan]

The daily valet charge is $6. Only DVC members get complimentary valet parking. It is a daily charge, so no matter how many times you drive your car in and out, you will only be charged once for that particular day. They'll hang a little card on your rearview mirror, so if you drive to another resort that has valet, they'll know not to charge you either.

There is no charge for self parking, but it is located across the street from the entrance to the GF. Depending on where you park in the lot, it's probably a 7-10 minute walk from the front entrance. I know it had a security gate, but I don't remember if we had to put our room key in for access.

Tammi

 

[Sammie]

The daily valet charge is $6. Only DVC members get complimentary valet parking. It is a daily charge, so no matter how many times you drive your car in and out, you will only be charged once for that particular day. They'll hang a little card on your rearview mirror, so if you drive to another resort that has valet, they'll know not to charge you either.

There is no charge for self parking, but it is located across the street from the entrance to the GF. Depending on where you park in the lot, it's probably a 7-10 minute walk from the front entrance. I know it had a security gate, but I don't remember if we had to put our room key in for access.

Tammi

Just for clarification and I sure Tammi did not mean it to sound like DVC gets comp valet parking at the Grand as they don't. Only at the DVC resorts do members get comp. valet parking.

 

[TammiMcMan]

Thanks for the clarification Sammie. Your right, I wasn't implying the GF, only that DVC members are the only ones who receive this benefit.

 

[Michelle2]

I love the GF and can't help but go back too! We are going to go in December, and got the RPC for 7 nights...it just took awhile to get the AAA discount, but I know they are there...lol
I love this thread!!
And that is the ONLY thing that my DH hates about the GF, the LONG walk from the self parking to the front...I think it will be worth it to do valet a few times here and there. I know it is $6 like you all said, but how much does it really cost with tips. Do you tip them every time the bring you your car AND every time you drop it off? How much does that tack on??