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

[TammiMcMan]

Could someone please tell me what bldg and view I should request? Is there a possibility that a Concierge room could still open between now and when we go?

There is always a chance that a concierge room will open. I'd suggest you keep checking the dates and possibly consider splitting your stay (part concierge/part standard room). I just checked the WDW site and they are showing the main building being available from 12/17-12/21 and then again 12/26-12/27. The lodge concierge is open from 12/17-12/23 and then again 12/26-12/27. Room availability seems to fluctuate alot during this time of the year and I think your best bet is to pick up the nights that are available and just keep checking back. As for a building request, if you are booking lagoon, then I'd suggest either Sago Cay or Conch Key. They both offer the best chance of an unobstructed castle view.

Also, I know there is the Character meal at the 1900, but are any other the characters or Santa in the lobby during this time. 3 years ago we were at POR for Christmas and on Christmas Eve Santa was there with Mickey, Minnie and Pluto for a couple of hours. Okay, just one more thing.....Does GF have any special kids crafts or special extras going on for Xmas.

I know that they do have carolers during the holidays and they have crafts and story time on certain nights for younger kids. Not sure specifically what they do on Christmas eve and day though. Hopefully someone else can help you out with those questions.

 

[lynr]

I am going to hopefully add another person to our reservation tomorrow. My son's new girlfriend will be joining us. We are on the original free dining so I am praying my AAA agent can add her.

UPDATE: Thank goodness I was able to add Jenn to our reservation for a total of $68.25 the base rate of a ticket. I wish I was able to add her to the cruise portion of our trip for that price.

Someone on the resort board had suggested that they wouldn't let me add her because the GF doesn't hold 5 per room. My AAA agent said the rooms are large and we would be fine. Does anyone think I should have gotten two rooms?

Lyn

 

[TammiMcMan]

Someone on the resort board had suggested that they wouldn't let me add her because the GF doesn't hold 5 per room. My AAA agent said the rooms are large and we would be fine. Does anyone think I should have gotten two rooms?

The only problem is that you mentioned trying to upgrade to a deluxe. These rooms are bigger, but only accomodate 4 guests. It would be up to the staff if they'd allow a rollaway in the room for one night. The standard concierge rooms will sleep 5 guests, as they come with 2 queens and a daybed. Our family of 5 has no problem in the standard room size. It's pretty spacious and we really only use it to sleep.

 

[lynr]

The only problem is that you mentioned trying to upgrade to a deluxe. These rooms are bigger, but only accomodate 4 guests. It would be up to the staff if they'd allow a rollaway in the room for one night. The standard concierge rooms will sleep 5 guests, as they come with 2 queens and a daybed. Our family of 5 has no problem in the standard room size. It's pretty spacious and we really only use it to sleep.

Tammi: Thanks for the information. I wasn't aware that the Deluxe rooms didn't hold 5. I am going to take that request off my reservation. Even if they would put a rollaway in the room I don't think that would be comfortable.

This is why I come to these boards for the great information.

Lyn

 

[stayingATthe GF]

I will be staying at the Grand Floridian the 23rd through the 28th of this month. I have a few specific questions that I’m hoping a few people have the answers to:

1) Currently we have a Lagoon View reservation the 23rd through the 28th of this month. We would like to have a Concierge Deluxe room the entire time but that is only available the 25th through the 28th currently and I have been checking every day online and on the phone for the past two weeks for those first two days. I am currently holding the 25th through the 28th for the Concierge Deluxe room. What are my chances of those first two days becoming available? If it does not become available am I better off to switch rooms halfway through the stay or just stay with the Lagoon View room all the way through?

2) What time does the resort monorail loop open on a non-EMH day for the MK? Will it be open to have breakfast at the CR at 7:30 one morning?

3) We will be arriving at the airport just around 10:30 AM on our first day. Will we need to make PS reservations for lunch at the GF and if so what time would be good given that flight arrival time? What would be the best place to eat just after arriving?

4) Does anyone have pictures of both of the Concierge Deluxe room types? I have seen the pictures of the square room, but would like to see pictures of the triangular rooms. Do any of the triangular shaped rooms have the large tubs? Does anyone have any other comments about the two room types? (I did see the ones at the very beginning of the thread)

Hopefully a few of you will be able to answer a few of these questions. I tried to be specific but let me know if you need to know anything else.

 

[TammiMcMan]

1)What are my chances of those first two days becoming available? If it does not become available am I better off to switch rooms halfway through the stay or just stay with the Lagoon View room all the way through?

Don't only rely on looking online. I know it's quick, but it's not always accurate. For the next few days, I'd take the time to call CRO and see if anything becomes available. Honestly, I wouldn't mind changing resort rooms after the 2nd night. Plus, if you used the concierge pre-planning staff to make any of your ADR's, I'm not sure what happens to them if you do cancel the concierge room. You may want to ask them that question before you make your final decision.

2)What time does the resort monorail loop open on a non-EMH day for the MK? Will it be open to have breakfast at the CR at 7:30 one morning?

Transportation for the character breakfasts begins 30 minutes prior to the earliest ADR. You'll have no trouble getting to the MK.

3)We will be arriving at the airport just around 10:30 AM on our first day. Will we need to make PS reservations for lunch at the GF and if so what time would be good given that flight arrival time? What would be the best place to eat just after arriving?

I love the GF Cafe. It's so relaxing and just a wonderful way to recoup from the plane and get into vacation mode. You can also have room service deliver something poolside, or stop into Gasparilla's for quick counter service. I guess it depends on how excited everyone is and how quickly you all want the vacation to begin.

4)Does anyone have pictures of both of the Concierge Deluxe room types? I have seen the pictures of the square room, but would like to see pictures of the triangular rooms. Do any of the triangular shaped rooms have the large tubs?

I have not seen any pictures of the triangular shaped deluxe rooms, but I do have the room layouts. I noticed that the bathroom in the triangular room shows a standard tub and not the larger one as shown in the square room. Hopefully someone can confirm or offer you more details.

 

[soxnation]

Cabana's can be reserved 90 days in advance. I just reserved a cabana for August and it was $60 for 4 hours. They did require a credit card number.

Lyn

? contact number for reserving a cabana think it will be a nice surprise for mom and sis during our august trip
any more info on what is involved w/ the cabana's i am quite interested!

 

[scanne]

I think you call 1 407 - WDW - PLAY to reserve the cabanas. I'm hopefully getting one for our October trip.

 

[3for Me]

Also, I know there is the Character meal at the 1900, but are any other the characters or Santa in the lobby during this time. 3 years ago we were at POR for Christmas and on Christmas Eve Santa was there with Mickey, Minnie and Pluto for a couple of hours. Okay, just one more thing.....Does GF have any special kids crafts or special extras going on for Xmas.Julie

Julie,

This past Christmas, Mickey and Minne were at the GF on Christmas Eve night in their Christmas attire. They were in the lobby taking pictures with guests on one side of the room and Santa was there set up for pictures on the other side. There was no "formal" photographer there to take pictures, as I recall...I just took my own with Santa.

There was a Photopass photographer available in the lobby to take pictures in front of the GF tree. He told me the GF was (at that time) the only resort they went to photograph "lobby pictures". The ones they took of my kids were not that good as someone was always blinking or something, but I thought it was nice that the service was available.

I do not recall there being any "crafts", but I could have just missed them. They do have the Gingerbread House open to purchase yummy things, though, and they were roasting the chestnuts outside.

Hope this helps!

 

[BCV23]

stayingATthe GF, the resort monorail begins running at 7:00 each morning.

Like Tammi, we are fans of the GF Cafe. Lunch there is pretty much a mustdo for us each trip. I would make a reservation as sometimes it gets very busy....I think when there is a convention in particular. I would probably make one for 12:30 or 1:00. Hopefully you'll arrive before that but with flight delays, etc... You can always go early and if there is room, they'll seat you.

It does close at 2 sharp. After one flight my DH and kids walked up within a minute or two past 2 while I checked in. No go for lunch for us. We settled for a noisy meal in Gasparilla's.

 

[lynr]

? contact number for reserving a cabana think it will be a nice surprise for mom and sis during our august trip
any more info on what is involved w/ the cabana's i am quite interested!

I emailed the IPO office at wdwgfplanning@disney.com and they reserved it for me.

Lyn

 

[TammiMcMan]

It does close at 2 sharp. After one flight my DH and kids walked up within a minute or two past 2 while I checked in. No go for lunch for us. We settled for a noisy meal in Gasparilla's.

Oh my gosh, the same thing happened to us, but that was when they closed-closed after lunch. I can't remember, now that they serve dinner, do they still close for a while in between?

 

[BCV23]

Yes, it does still close last I knew. Our experience was after dinner service had resumed. In fact it was two summers ago. I often wonder if we had made a reservation if it would have been honored. I didn't make one as we were landing around 11:30 and didn't want to guess on a reservation time. It never occurred to me that we would miss it altogether.

 

[Chip 'n Dale Express]

Oh my gosh, the same thing happened to us, but that was when they closed-closed after lunch. I can't remember, now that they serve dinner, do they still close for a while in between?

Lunch now goes until 3pm.

 

[BCV23]

Lunch now goes until 3pm.

Thanks, Tyler. Good to know.

What time does the GF CAfe open for dinner these days and does it vary by season? TIA.

 

[MickeyMac]

Sorry guys, it's been busy at work recently. The phone number to book the cabana is the 407.WDW.PLAY (939-7529) and follow the prompts. You'll want the prompts that take you to the 'other recreation.' You will need a credit card to guarantee the reservation, and you must be staying at the Grand Floridian on the day of use. If you are staying concierge, your IPO team can book it for you.

We very much enjoyed the experience. It was very relaxing. My husband found it a bit much for him, but I was so relaxed I fell asleep. The only thing I will note is that it didn't feel very private to me. Guests would come over and inspect them, the monorail zooms right overhead, and the cabana steward was asking if we needed anything every few minutes. LOL! How I managed to fall asleep, I just don't know.

The family who rented the one next to us was very nice and had a couple of toddlers and a baby, as well as grandfather there (they maxed out the limit of 6) The mom said she really liked having a place for the kids to sleep out of the sun, while she was able to stay in the pool close by.

 

[BibbidyBobbidyBoo]

Just a quick question- tried to find it and search for it and couldn't find it.

When you're staying in the main building- royal palm club (concierge) are the things in the wet bar FREE or would you be charged for anything you take out of there?

Just curious.
We stayed there and didn't take a thing out of there because we thought we'd be charged extra for everything we took- and we could just get drinks and snacks at concierge instead... were we being silly and it was really free?

 

[TammiMcMan]

When you're staying in the main building- royal palm club (concierge) are the things in the wet bar FREE or would you be charged for anything you take out of there?

Even in concierge, there is a charge for all mini-bar items.

 

[litlpixie]

Janet2k,

Thanks for answering my question. We have a Main Building concierge room booked for my birthday trip, and I'm sure we're going to love our stay there. Have you eaten at V&A's? I have an ADR there and I glanced at a sample menu. I am a little concerned that I may not like thier choices for main courses, duck, rabbit, wild boar...... I dont know if I'm that adventurous, so I may change those ressies to Narcoosee's. I was also thinking maybe emailing the IPO staff and asking them if they could suggest something special to be awaiting us when we arrive, as a nice "Thank you" to my Prince Charming. Ever done anything like that?

 

[BCV23]

Every time we've dined at V&A there has been at least one meat that would seem less adventurous to you I think. There is often a filet for instance. I would heartily recommend V&A. It is a great dining experience.