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

[Janet2k]

...got that small chocolate box ordered!

Meezers, it’s wonderful that you’ve placed your order for the chocolate box. I think you’ll really enjoy it. Whoever designed the chocolate box did a lovely job with it. Did you arrange for it to be waiting in your room upon check-in? Or will it arrive on another day of your stay?

By the way, every guest gets a gorgeous room at the Grand Floridian, both concierge and non-concierge, have no fear. But please have your tissues handy because the rooms are lovelier in person than they appear in the photographs. I’m no girly-girl and not into anything frilly, however, I find the rooms at the Grand to be an eclectic mix of patterns and colors that work together beautifully.

 

[Janet2k]

I tried to book a suite in SL today for 12/06/06 - 12/10/06... could not get any access to the suites in SL but was able to book the outer lodges and the main building... Any suggestions?

Tonyspad, as usual, TammiMcMan gave excellent advice. I only want to add that I’ve stayed in two different two-bedroom suites in Conch Key (one on the 2nd floor and one on the 3rd floor). Conch Key is my favorite building because its view of the Magic Kingdom just can’t be beat. There is nothing like falling asleep to the changing colors of Cinderella Castle: click here. What a lovely view, ~sigh.~

I have photos posted of Conch Key’s Cypress Suite. I’ll post links to those albums here:
Cypress Suite’s Parlor Room
Cypress Suite’s Master Bedroom
Cypress Suite’s Second Bedroom

Being in a suite allowed me access to both the concierge lounge in the Sugar Loaf building and in the Main Building. I didn’t mind the walk because the Grand Floridian’s grounds are beautifully landscaped.

One thing I should note about staying in a suite in Conch Key was that we were able to watch both the Magic Kingdom Theme Park’s fireworks show and also Seven Seas Lagoon’s Electrical Water Pageant. Both shows were the highlight of our evenings.

I hope that helped.

 

[Meezers]

Janet2K....Mom and Brother's stuff will be waiting in their rooms...I am having mine delivered on Monday....the anniversary of my divorce from the marriage from Hades!

The lady who took my order is also very happily divorced and is going to write out the card for me...I told her just to put whatever she wants!

 

[KrisTX]

OK-I have read that we can request a beer or wine at SLC in the evenings and that we can bring any of the offerings back to our room.

Here are a few more...Can we actually take those large water bottles? My family drinks a crazy amount of water at night. Do they care if we bring them out as long as we bring back the empties? Plus it would be a great way to refill our bottles for the day.

If the minibar is emptied out, will it work to store extra things we take from the SLC? Like if I have a leftover soda and want to keep it cold. Are they pretty good about emptying it out or is this an annoying request?

Any one know for certain if there is a King/Queen Sleeper combo in the SLC? I asked reservations and they were not 100% sure, but made a notation that we wanted it if there was such a configuration.

Do they really have child size robes I read about somewhere?

What is the best tower room in SLC?

What is the most quiet room in SLC?

What is your favorite room in SLC?

See a trend here?

Thank you all and I am going to bed. I only have to keep this secret from my children for 41 more days when we surprise them for their birthdays And only 9 weeks until the trip

 

[TammiMcMan]

KrisTX,

I'm not sure about the big glass bottles. I imagine if you ask, they will send one to your room. The only thing is, that I don't believe it will fit in your refrigerator. Janet2K might just have a picture of the inside of a refrigerator though somewhere .

In the past, we've simply asked for an empty refrigerator from housekeeping and they've delivered it to our room. They're small, but will hold the individual bottles of soda, water and snacks.

I think housekeeping is the only department that knows the exact bed situation. It's been reported from previous DIS'ers that their tower rooms have had sleeper sofas (plus 2 queen beds) and the king queen/sleeper is listed as an option under the room layouts. Perhaps you can call the resort directly and ask to speak with the housekeeping manager.

They do not have child sized robes any longer.

I haven't stayed in a lodge tower room, but I'd prefer that it has a balcony.

Favorite room was 6315, marina view. Not much foot traffic on that side of the building.

 

[KrisTX]

Tammi-You are so wonderful I always appreciate your help. I believe you and a few others have given me more info or sources of info than anyone else on the GF. Much more than any CM. Even a little more than the SLC CMs. I try not to ask them silly questions that really don't matter. I am so glad that kind people like you can help with my OCD planning.

That is too bad about the little robes. I know my 6 year old would have loved it! But there will be so much more going on that she wont even notice.

 

[threeboysmom]

WOW!! I just read through all 72 pages of this thread! LOL! Now my question...

I am thinking of booking the Grand Floridian for our trip beginning Friday, 11/26 (day after Thanksgiving!!) It has been my dream to stay at the GF for a long time, but I'm nervous about room availability since I'm not checking in on a very good day (most people will already be checked in over T'giving and not checking out until Saturday). I can book an AAA rate for a deluxe lodge tower room (only thing available), but a balcony is VERY important to me (it'll just be DH and I). Am I going to end up with a tower room that nobody else wanted (who had checked in earlier that week) ??? I definitely don't want to spend the money on GF if I can't have a balcony, so do you think I should risk it? Or should I book at a different hotel and save the GF for a future trip (again) when the timing is better?

I could get the Poly Lagoon view for the same price, but it just doesn't seem right paying the same price for the Poly as it does for the Grand....

What would YOU do?

 

[KrisTX]

How many days are you going to be there? Could you possibly switch to a different room the next night? If your heart is set on this resort, I would book what you can get and switch if you have to. Maybe book the first night at rack rate and see if the other nights are available at AAA rate. There are rooms available for that Friday. AAA rate is just so few rooms that they sell out. So there might be a chance you could always switch your room at check in.

 

[poohangel]

What would YOU do?

I would do the GF. In fact we are. Dec. 3-8, I have wanted to stay here for a while and we are finally going.

 

[Meezers]

Since I have been wanting to stay at GF since it was built...I say stay at the GF.

From what I understand...there really isn't a bad room in the whole resort!

 

[pirateofthecarolinas]

I would stay at the GF. Our package pay off is Oct. 21 for our Dec. 5 trip. So the people staying during Thanksgiving should have to pay it off in the next 2-3 weeks. Go a head and book AAA and then see if anyone cancels their package with the room type that you want.

poohangel, I hope to see you at the Grand. We will be there Dec.5-9. I'll have a lime green ribbon on my 3 yr. olds red stroller.

Lori

 

[triplefigs]

I would do the GF. In fact we are. Dec. 3-8, I have wanted to stay here for a while and we are finally going.

Poohangel, I'll be there until the 7th! See you there!

 

[Chicago526]

Is Sugar Loaf totally smoke-free, or do they have smoking rooms (I would guess the would have at least a few)? And if they do, what is the ratio? I requested non-smoking when I made my ressy last January, but after making serval changes, I'm affraid it might have gotten deleted, and of course I can't lay my hands on my most recent fax. I've e-mailed IPO to find out, but wanted to find out what my odds are in getting a non-smoking room. And yes, I know requests are not guaranteed! Thanks a bunch!

 

[poohangel]

I would stay at the GF. Our package pay off is Oct. 21 for our Dec. 5 trip. So the people staying during Thanksgiving should have to pay it off in the next 2-3 weeks. Go a head and book AAA and then see if anyone cancels their package with the room type that you want.

poohangel, I hope to see you at the Grand. We will be there Dec.5-9. I'll have a lime green ribbon on my 3 yr. olds red stroller.

Lori

I will look for you, I will be wearing some of the shirts designed on the t-shirt thread.

 

[poohangel]

Poohangel, I'll be there until the 7th! See you there!

The 7th is our rest day before we have to come home , I will look for you and your 3 beautiful children.

 

[triplefigs]

The 7th is our rest day before we have to come home , I will look for you and your 3 beautiful children.

Can't wait to meet you!!!!

 

[poohangel]

Can't wait to meet you!!!!

Same here, but please dont 'show me the penny', when i was writing that it made me think of the movie Jerry Miguire when he had to yell "SHOW ME THE MONEY"

 

[Steph H]

Hello from the Sugar Loaf, everyone!

First let me say I'm totally and completely in love with this place. I haven't found a single thing to dislike about it. Really! The room is superb, the food offerings delicious, and the staff has been fantastic. The staff here even helped my DH (who, like me, has never stayed at a Disney resort before) arrange some INCREDIBLE surprises for my birthday. Oh, the things I have to tell (and show!) you!

I'm here until Saturday, and will be spending all day Friday here at the resort so DS3 can enjoy the pool to his heart's content (all the work in planning our trips to the park, and he can't stop talking about the pool ). I've taken about 400 pictures so far (seriously), many of them of the room, the building, and the food offerings. I promise to post them when I return, but in the meantime, are there any special requests? I'd be happy to take pictures of whatever I can for those who are interested.

This place is more perfect and wonderful than I could have imagined...I have a feeling DH will have to drag me out of here kicking and screaming on Saturday morning.

And oh, look--there's actually a question I can answer!!

Is Sugar Loaf totally smoke-free, or do they have smoking rooms (I would guess the would have at least a few)?

They definitely have smoking rooms. I can't tell you the ratio, but I do know they have them, and as you say, a request is just a request. But let me tell you this--I requested a non-smoking room due to my pregnancy, and when we arrived at our room, I was so in awe and overwhelmed by the beauty and spaciousness of the room, I didn't even think about checking to see if it was smoking or not. It wasn't until TWO DAYS after we arrived that I realized my room door did not have a no-smoking sign on it. And I have NEVER noticed a smoky smell of any kind--and believe me, I'm a person who notices it! I think that they must have some seriously industrial-strength Febreeze here, because I have had NO problems.

Hope everyone is well! I'll check in again on Friday. {hugs} to all! And thank you again to all our GF experts who helped me make this trip perfectly magical!

 

[TammiMcMan]

Steph, thanks for checking in. Sounds like you are having a great time. We've also had a few trips when the kids were more interested in the pool than the parks. It's good to stop and smell the roses though. How are you feeling? I can't wait to hear about everything DH did for you.

Since you aske, one thing there isn't a lot of pictures of, is the concierge lounge itself. Can you make sure to take some of the seating and different areas?

Enjoy the rest of your week.

Tammi

 

[triplefigs]

Steph,

Have a great trip! I'd love to see photos of all the different food offerings, the beverages, etc. Also, some of the views from your balcony and of the room itself.

Thanks!