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

[lynr]

Lives4Disney:

I am taking my son who is 19 and his friend is 21. We are traveling with our friends and their son is 15 and their daughter is 2 years old. The reason I was renting the Cabana was for the 2 year so if she wanted to nap she could be out on the sun on a lounge chair.

My son is doing the Richard Petty Driving Experience that morning from 8 -11 AM and I thought this would be a good time to try the pool from 10AM - 2PM and then off to Epcot. I figure Epcot is open late and we would have some pool time this way.

Lyn

 

[Lives4Disney]

That sounds fun. My daughters brought their crayons and spent some pool break time coloring and they watched some TV and it was just fun for them to hang out "inside" at the pool. It will be a perfect nap spot for a 2 yr old.

Happy planning!! I still think it is just sooooo nice how you surprised your friends with the upgrade (and didn't let them pay for the difference) Wow!

That is cool about the Richard Petty DE. Let us know how that goes. My husband might want to give it a try. My son will only be 16 in Sept so NO WAY would he be allowed!!

Lives4Disney

 

[lynr]

I have a question for the RPC experts. Can you tell me if they serve beer at night in the lounge? I don't drink but my DH likes his beer.

Happy Memorial Day

 

[DisneyDoogie]

lynr,
Yes, they do serve beer at the RPC, from 5:00 to 7:00.

 

[traci]

i emailed ipo a couple of months ago and requested a castle view room. we are staying rpc in late october. i don't want to be a bug, but is one request enough, or do i send a reminder in the upcoming months? tyler if you see this what are your thoughts? just getting excited here!!! october is a million months away

 

[TammiMcMan]

i don't want to be a bug, but is one request enough, or do i send a reminder in the upcoming months?

Traci, your room probably won't be assigned until 3-4 days prior to your arrival. I'd wait until then and send a reminder of your room requests and anticipated arrival time.

 

[traci]

thank you miss tammi
looks like i will just have to bug you all instead (tee-hee!)

 

[Tonyspad]

I am looking for photos of the deluxe concierge rooms. I would also like to hear from anyone who has stayed in this type of room. I am considering this room for the simple reason of size. My wife needs a little space to herself, two young boys seems to be getting under her feet, and I hope this room fills the bill.

 

[Janet2k]

I am looking for photos of the deluxe concierge rooms.

Tonyspad, I stayed in a deluxe concierge room when my leg was broken, but my room was a handicap-accessible room (it had a roll-in shower, which was a godsend for someone like me who could not walk). I have photos of the room in my on-line albums and I’ll post the link to them here. Even though my room was a handicap-accessible room, it should give you an idea as to what a deluxe room will look like (the bathroom, obviously, will look different). I have seen a few photos of different deluxe rooms and they seem to come in various shapes and sizes.

Deluxe Room Photos (room)
Deluxe Room Photos (bathroom)

I hope this helped.

 

[Janet2k]

Well, I’ve done a bit of searching tonight regarding the Grand 1 and what people have done as far as food & beverages go. From what I have read, most people either order dessert or they order nothing at all (note: a small handful have enjoyed a full meal). Out of the folks who have eaten something during their cruise, some of them have regretted it. That surprised me until I read of their reasoning. They felt the boat was too nice to be stuck down below in the galley. They would rather have been up on deck in the fresh air and sunshine/moonlight. I knew exactly what they were talking about. Before I got married, I spent a lot of time on the water. I always found that it was way more fun up on deck.

I had a conversation this evening with one of the people who will be on the cruise with me. I shared with her my findings. She mentioned that we have a dinner reservation before the cruise so the cruise fare will probably only be munchies and/or dessert. We still need to get input from the rest of the group, but my guess is that they’ll only want munchies and/or dessert too.

 

[lynr]

Well I officially changed my Nov/Dec 10 day stay from the Polynesian to the Grand Floridian. Unfortunately right now 10 days in RPC in out of of budget but maybe things will change before we go. I am excited anyway because I really wanted to switch but my DH didn't. I usually get my way .

 

[Lives4Disney]

Janet - Wow! I am kind of glad (kind of.....) that you posted about the food ordered and eaten on the Grand 1. I was picturing us eating bday cake (the fabulous white choco one I am ordering ) while we sit on the deck and watch Wishes. I didnt realize you couldn't eat on the deck. Is that true for snacks & cake or just true for full meals???? My plans are dinner about 7:30 at Citricos and then the cruise at 9:30pm. What do you think?? Should I order the cake to be delivered to Citricos or maybe just to my room some time during the afternoon? It's funny, my girls are more excited over these special plans than I am, so I can't make too many changes. This news kind of throws a hammer into how I imagined my eve would be.

Lynn - What about a 5/5 split with an Epcot resort??? We usually do some kind of split stay. Over spring break we really moved around Nick Hotel, PBH, and then the finale of 9 nts at GF. It was fun. We are doing CR (1 nt) YC (3nts) and then GF (5nts) in July. I enjoy the split for the tportation convenience to the diff resorts/parks and the convenience of the diff restaurants in the different areas of the World.

Lives4Disney

 

[lynr]

- Lynn - What about a 5/5 split with an Epcot resort??? We usually do some kind of split stay. Over spring break we really moved around Nick Hotel, PBH, and then the finale of 9 nts at GF. It was fun. We are doing CR (1 nt) YC (3nts) and then GF (5nts) in July. I enjoy the split for the tportation convenience to the diff resorts/parks and the convenience of the diff restaurants in the different areas of the World.

Lives4Disney

We are traveling with another couple and they wouldn't go for that. But they are only with us for 4 days, so maybe that is something I can think about.

 

[Janet2k]

I was picturing us eating bday cake while we sit on the deck and watch Wishes… My plans are dinner about 7:30 at Citricos and then the cruise at 9:30pm. What do you think?? Should I order the cake to be delivered to Citricos or maybe just to my room some time during the afternoon?

Lives4Disney, my guess is that you can eat on deck, it's just that the posts that I read were written by folks who all ate below deck. They were the ones who regretted not having more time to spend on deck during their cruises.

The person who is organizing the cruise that I'll be on stated today that she's got two desserts on order, one of which will be a surprise. Hhhhmmmm... I wonder what that dessert will be? She also mentioned that we'll have both non-alcoholic and alcoholic drinks while aboard. *Hiccup!* It sounds like she's heavily into planning mode now. I'm sure our cruise will be fun (and very filling for our tummies).

Definitely arrange to have your cake served aboard your cruise. Let Private Dining and the Marina Staff know so that they can coordinate delivery of the cake for your cruise. And when you check into Citrico’s for your meal, make sure you let them know that you have the cruise booked for such-and-such time and that you’ll need the dinner check 30-minutes prior so that you can pay your bill and get your family out to the marina in time to catch your cruise. If the wait staff knows that you’ve got somewhere to go, they should be able to move your meal along accordingly.

 

[Janet2k]

I thought I’d mention that our dinner plans prior to our cruise are in a state of flux right now. Quite a few of us will be staying at the Grand Floridian that evening, however, it looks like we’re going to be dining in another one of the Magic Kingdom area resorts. That shouldn’t be a problem, though. The Grand 1 will simply pick us up from the dock of the resort that we’ll be dining at. That should make our evening a little more fun. We’ll get picked up at one resort, but then we'll be returned to the Grand Floridian at the end of our night.

 

[Lives4Disney]

Lives4Disney, my guess is that you can eat on deck, it's just that the posts that I read were written by folks who all ate below deck. They were the ones who regretted not having more time to spend on deck during their cruises.

The person who is organizing the cruise that I'll be on stated today that she's got two desserts on order, one of which will be a surprise. Hhhhmmmm... I wonder what that dessert will be? She also mentioned that we'll have both non-alcoholic and alcoholic drinks while aboard. *Hiccup!* It sounds like she's heavily into planning mode now. I'm sure our cruise will be fun (and very filling for our tummies).

Definitely arrange to have your cake served aboard your cruise. Let Private Dining and the Marina Staff know so that they can coordinate delivery of the cake for your cruise. And when you check into Citrico’s for your meal, make sure you let them know that you have the cruise booked for such-and-such time and that you’ll need the dinner check 30-minutes prior so that you can pay your bill and get your family out to the marina in time to catch your cruise. If the wait staff knows that you’ve got somewhere to go, they should be able to move your meal along accordingly.

Janet - I think I know what post you are referring to.

I was told that the cakes couldn't be ordered until 30 days prior to the delivery date. That would be coming up this week. My IPO planner moved on.....(sniff) to another position. I need another wonderful planner.

I think I will just go ahead and do what I originally planned to do, as you said, have the cake delivered to the marina and we will serve it and eat it up on deck! I would definitely not like to be "stuck" in the galley below. It will work out, I'm sure.

Sounds like fun getting chauffered around between resorts by the Grand 1, Janet!

I am getting excited. We leave for our trip in less than a month now. And I am 48 lbs less than this time last year!! (Just had to throw that in there since I just stepped on the scale, LOL) Gotta shoot for more than 50 lbs for my 40th.

Happy planning, everyone!!

Lives4Disney

 

[terryfromhawaii]

Hi everyone,

I just got through reading a bunch of pages in this very looooonnnng thread, though I didn't make it through reading everything. I kind of got the beginning and the end and skipped the middle. Anyway, I feel like I got to know many of you regulars of the GF just through your posts.

We will be staying at the GF RPC this Thanksgiving and we stayed there last Thanksgiving with our whole family (Me, DH, DMIL, DSIS, DBIL, 4 DD's). We fell in love with the GF RPC and are returning again! Our first 2 nights will be spent at CR Atrium Club. I wanted to try out the CR at least once, especially since they have remodeled the rooms. We will then stay at the GF for 6 nights! (Can't wait!)

Just wanted to join the "group."

 

[Mousecrazy22]

I heard a rumor that there is a walking path from the GF to the MK. Does anyone know if this is true? I know they started something, but I don't know if they may have built a small bridge across the area where the water pageant floats are stored.

We will be there for our third time in as many years this July (19th-26th) and we can't wait!!! This will be our first time going on the Platinum Plan so we are very excited!!!

 

[BCV23]

I heard a rumor that there is a walking path from the GF to the MK. Does anyone know if this is true? I know they started something, but I don't know if they may have built a small bridge across the area where the water pageant floats are stored.

No, you can't walk from the GF to the MK.

Welcome to the GF FAQ,Terri and Crit!

 

[MissKris721]

I am staying at the Grand Floridian for the first time next June when I go on my disney honeymoon! Every time I tell people that I am staying at GF they just gush about how lucky we are and how great it will be. I am so excited!