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

[Lives4Disney]

Congratulations on your weight loss. I know how hard it is to get off some lbs. You are to be commended on your willpower!!

I just realized that we will be at the GF at the same time. I hope you have a great vacation!!

Here's to hoping you have a great time, too! It is an awesome hotel. I am very excited to get to go back so soon. Maybe you will recognize me roaming around (probably in the gift shops, LOL) with my daughters. I will probably have "Alice" with me again as that is a favorite costume. And, maybe princess Jasmine this time. Have to wait and see what my little bean picks out. Something short sleeved and comfortable. No Jasmine wig, though!!!!

Lives4Disney

 

[Janet2k]

I have pictures of the Grand One yacht: click here.

MickeyMac, you took those photos? I could have sworn they were taken by a professional photographer. My, what an eye you have. By the way, I’ve already heard back from two of my friends who reviewed your photos. They loved them (as if there was any doubt).

Thank you so much for adding a description of your cruise. That helps me tremendously. As to the front of the boat, that is the bow, while the back of the boat is the stern. But don’t worry about terminology as I knew exactly what you were talking about.

Your description of the jockeying for position during the fireworks was most interesting. I didn’t realize how involved it was for the Grand 1’s crew. I will pass that information along to my friends. I’m sure they’ll be interested in hearing it.

I already knew about the various steps that were involved with the booking of the cruise since I had gone through the process two years ago. Even though that cruise fell through due to a change in plans for my friends, I still remembered what was involved in getting everything set up properly (calling the official Grand 1 booking number, and once the cruise was booked, calling Private Dining in order to arrange for food & beverages). I agree that it would be much easier if it were one-stop shopping.

It’s looking like we will have the maximum number of passengers for our cruise. With that many people aboard, will it feel cramped or will it still feel a little roomy? I haven’t been on the boat yet so I can’t judge its size. Your thoughts on this would be much appreciated.

Again, thank you so much for your wonderful photos. If you find the time to add more to your album, please PM me so that I may review them. I would love to see anything that you feel like sharing. And please don’t worry about boring me with too many photos. I am an engineer by trade and thus crave information. I can never have enough information.

 

[scanne]

Hi! I love this thread and check it for updates every once in a while.

I have booked a lagoon view room for our Halloween Party weekend trip this Sept./Oct. The last time I had a LV it was in room 5441 - a king bed dormer in Sago Cay. I love the dormer rooms, but I need two queens since I now have kids. Does anyone know if room 5440 is a corner dormer with a LV (specifically MK view?) Does anyone have floor plans with room numbers for the specific lodge buildings? I'd really love a corner dormer - you know, the rooms with 2 balconies that seem a lot bigger....any advice on how to get one of these coveted rooms?

Thanks so much!

 

[Cinderella Fan]

Here's to hoping you have a great time, too! It is an awesome hotel. I am very excited to get to go back so soon. Maybe you will recognize me roaming around (probably in the gift shops, LOL) with my daughters. I will probably have "Alice" with me again as that is a favorite costume. And, maybe princess Jasmine this time. Have to wait and see what my little bean picks out. Something short sleeved and comfortable. No Jasmine wig, though!!!!

Lives4Disney

DF and I stayed RPC last Nov-Dec and we loved it. No better way to spend your first time at GF. We are doing Sugar Loaf this time, and can't wait!! It feels like it is still SOOOO far away, but my ticker says differently!!

I will make sure to look for you, your pics of your little ones are so cute. they truly look like they are having the absolute time of their lives!! You will probably recognize DF and I too - he will be the one walking to the Monorail "Commando-style" and dragging me along... But I always grin and bear it!! We are in Disney!!

Usually he is the OCD over-planner. This trip, I will be the one with the color-coded itinerary. I have so many surprises for him planned, I don't want to forget any of them!!

See you soon!!

 

[litlpixie]

Hi Everyone!
I am so excited about my upcoming, not soon enough, GF stay at the main house! My question is this..., what is the difference between Lodge Concierge and Main house Concierge?? IS it the same?

thanks.

 

[MickeyMac]

Janet, you flatter me. It's easy to take great pictures when you've got a great subject. But thank you, I'm eating it up. I'm very glad they were helpful to your friends, and Lives, I hope it makes you more excited for your evening.

I do have a bazillion other photos further back at http://mickeymac.smugmug.com/Travel, including a bazillion and one photos at the Grand at http://mickeymac.smugmug.com/gallery/674421 I also have photos of the cabana tucked in there somewhere, too, but need to separate them out into its own folder. I have so many of the Grand it's overwhelming, I think.

Even though we had 12 onboard, it was intimate, not overwhelming. We laughed as we all tried to fit in the cabin, and joked about stretching out to one of the bedrooms, but it didn't negatively effect the night at all. There was plenty of space to sit on the stern (thank you Janet! ) for the fireworks. Several of us sat or stood, but I run around during the fireworks anyways, so it wasn't a problem for me at all. I loved the cozy, intimate feel, quiet unlike the stuffiness I thought we would experience.

One thing I did not expect, was the need for bug spray. When we go boating on the ocean, we really don't hit the little buggers until getting back along the coast, or inland a bit. I didn't think about it at all, but they were everywhere.

Lives, we didn't tell the bride or groom - we just told them that we had a surprise, and walked down to the marina. We were joking we wer going to rent mouseboats, and that was the surprise. Then we told them we were kidding, that we had a pontoon to watch Wishes. The bride's eyes lit up, and the Captain smiled and lead us onboard. It was fabulous to see them all surprised. The couple who planned it couldn't have done a better job. It was fabulous and we all had a tremendously wonderful time.

I do encourage you both to write to the Grand to tell them you would love a Grand One coordinator, and they can direct it on to the right department. Lives, I know the coordinator you are working with, and he is a gem of a guy, a true asset to his company. He was so helpful with trying to steer us in the right direction, but as he couldn't do much beyond that, it created a bit of confusion and phone tag with the other departments.

Janet, the jockeying was very interesting. I find the stuff CM's go through to make our trips seemless and effortless truly amazing.

 

[goofie4goofy]

Just booked our December trip Dec 9-15th. We have stayed at the GF many many times but always in the Main building. I was absolutely shocked to find the Main Building is completely booked for December - Already. The only thing available is lagoon view. Can anyone give me any info on that? Is lagoon view nice? We are taking my Mom as a surprise, so we really wanted it to be special and disappointed in not being able to get RPC or Lodge Conc. So we booked 2 rooms Lagoon View....maybe something will open up between now and then.

Any info on Lagoon view? Is Lagoon View a Castle view?

So sorry to ask such a stupid question, we are so used to getting the same 3 rooms that I have no idea what the rooms are like outside of the main building.

I don't know why the Main building is booked. All the other resorts show plenty of availibility in all categories. Last year we booked our Dec trip in November and had no problem getting RPC. Same week too.... The parks were empty and the hotel was not full. Maybe there is some type of Media event or convention going on.

 

[TammiMcMan]

Any info on Lagoon view? Is Lagoon View a Castle view?

Not always. To increase your chances of a good castle view, I'd recommend requesting Sago Cay or Conch Key building.

I don't know why the Main building is booked.

I've had some strange things happen when trying to book the main building. One time, we wanted the first week of January, after New Years and well before the marathon. For a while, it didn't look like we were going to get in. Finally, was able to book a room and when we arrived, the place was nearly deserted. Weird. I know that Triplefigs had some problems booking last year around the same time and rooms did eventually open up. Keep trying and good luck.

Just checked Disney website and at least one room is showing up in lodge concierge for 12/9-12/15. Main building is available from 12/10-12/15.

 

[goofie4goofy]

Thanks Tammi! The CM I spoke to said the computer system has not been right for 2 days. I do remember she said the rooms have been "blocked" not "booked". Yesterday there was only Garden view available...

The room availibility is very strange. It figures...when we book last minute we get exactly what we want....6 months out no such luck!

 

[hedwig]

Is that the same week they are going to film the Christmas Parade? They might be blocked for talent and production. Don't Regis and Kelly usually stay at GF?

Just a thought, hope something opens up for you.

 

[Cinderella Fan]

Thanks Tammi! The CM I spoke to said the computer system has not been right for 2 days. I do remember she said the rooms have been "blocked" not "booked". Yesterday there was only Garden view available...

The room availibility is very strange. It figures...when we book last minute we get exactly what we want....6 months out no such luck!

We have 3 rooms RPC booked for December 16-28. DF and I are getting married at the Wedding Pavilion, so we wanted to be in the main building for us, my mother and youngest brother, and my FIL's.

When I first made our ressie for our room, there was only the one room available RPC. So, I kept calling back weekly to see if I could add 2 more rooms. Eventually, one more opened up, then a week later, another.

So, just keep trying. More than likely, something will open up inthe main building for your trip...

Good luck getting the room you want....

 

[triplefigs]

Not always. To increase your chances of a good castle view, I'd recommend requesting Sago Cay or Conch Key building.

I've had some strange things happen when trying to book the main building. One time, we wanted the first week of January, after New Years and well before the marathon. For a while, it didn't look like we were going to get in. Finally, was able to book a room and when we arrived, the place was nearly deserted. Weird. I know that Triplefigs had some problems booking last year around the same time and rooms did eventually open up. Keep trying and good luck.

Just checked Disney website and at least one room is showing up in lodge concierge for 12/9-12/15. Main building is available from 12/10-12/15.

You know, Tammi, two of those days (Dec 4 & 5) never did open up at all in RPC. I think it was because the Christmas parade was being filmed that weekend. We loved SugarLoaf and had a great time!

 

[triplefigs]

Is that the same week they are going to film the Christmas Parade? They might be blocked for talent and production. Don't Regis and Kelly usually stay at GF?

Just a thought, hope something opens up for you.

That was exactly the problem we ran into. It never did open up so we stayed in SugarLoaf Conciege instead.

 

[TammiMcMan]

You know, Tammi, two of those days (Dec 4 & 5) never did open up at all in RPC. I think it was because the Christmas parade was being filmed that weekend. We loved SugarLoaf and had a great time!

I'm not sure of the dates for the parade this year, but I'm guessing it's the first weekend of December. I knew that you had problems and dates seemed to be opening up one day at a time.

I'm excited that you'll be trying out the CR this time around. It will help me decide if it's a spot we'd like to visit.

 

[Rozzie]

I am sure this answer is in this thread in here somewhere, forgive me for not being able to find it!

Treating my mom to a weekend at GF, and some wording in the UG concerns me. It says most GV rooms have balcony's. Am I missing something? I was believing all rooms at GV have balcony's (or patio's).

TIA!

 

[DisneyDoogie]

As far as I know, every garden-view room at the GF has a patio or balcony.

 

[triplefigs]

I'm not sure of the dates for the parade this year, but I'm guessing it's the first weekend of December. I knew that you had problems and dates seemed to be opening up one day at a time.

I'm excited that you'll be trying out the CR this time around. It will help me decide if it's a spot we'd like to visit.

We're there Sept 23-30. I'll let you know. The IPO staff has been terrific (the GF and CR share the same IPO staff).

 

[lynr]

MickeyMac: I just sat and looked through all your GF pictures. They are fabulous. You have truly captured every nook and cranny of the resort. Thank you for sharing!!!

Lyn

 

[Tonyspad]

Well I bit the bullet and booked the one bedroom in sugar loaf for our Apirl trip. 5 nights and many dollars (ouch) for some extra space and privacy from the kids. Does any one have photos to share from this suite??

 

[triplefigs]

Well I bit the bullet and booked the one bedroom in sugar loaf for our Apirl trip. 5 nights and many dollars (ouch) for some extra space and privacy from the kids. Does any one have photos to share from this suite??

No, none of the suite. We stayed in SL in Dec in a Lodge Tower Room and had a terrific time. You'll love it! The staff was wonderful, it was so relaxing, and the food was yummy. Have fun!