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

[triplefigs]

TRIPLEFIGS - I bet RPC will open up. I booked our Thanksgiving stay in the middle of October! I kept watching it and all of a sudden it showed availability. Keep checking online. I know you used the AAA discount, so I am not so sure about that still being a possiblity if something appears, but RPC is just so lovely at Christmas time with those fabulous decorations.

Don't give up hope yet. Keep checking.

Oh, I am still torn myself. My youngest says she thought we were staying where they have the volcano slide (Poly). My son says CR is his favorite - he doesn't care for the GF. My older daughter wanted SL as it was smaller and easier to navigate!!! I WANT RPC!!! I think I will call right now and see if I can get it!! I am nuts.....

Lives4Disney

Isn't your oldest the one with eye sight issues? I'd stay where she wants, as these are the memories that she'll visualize in her mind for a lifetime! Maybe she'd go for RPC too?

And I'll keep checking it. It is available for the 1st 2 days and the last 3. Just not Dec 1-4 (weekend). Is it horrible to stay SL for 5 days and then move to RPC for the last 3? Wouldn't that be a ton of work?

 

[Lives4Disney]

Triplefigs - I am moving resorts this trip. We are staying at the Dolphin for the first 3 nights as my son loves Epcot and the boardwalk area. We have never been at the Dolphin before & figured we would give it a try. We have stayed at the YC/BC and like it, but not too much.

I don't have any problems with moving between resorts, so if you really wanted to do RPC, I would go for it. Book those last nights and you could move or just keep your eyes open for cancellations on those first 5 nights. Bell services will store & transfer your luggage for you. Of course the repacking can be a bear, but we usually pack a suitcase for everyone and live out of them. We pack an extra one for laundry. I have switched between resorts many times.

I just phoned CRO for my RPC and IT ISN"T AVAILABLE!!! I am kicking myself for waiting. I just checked online and it isn't there either. EVERY OTHER room is showing up, just not RPC. Oh well......I had myself talked into it. It is fate. Not this trip. Although maybe I will call again!!

I am hoping for a tower room in SL, anyway. We had that room last time and it was very nice. Just hoping for a balcony this time.

Yes, my older daughter has the vision issues and I think she does feel more comfortable in a smaller area. The tower rooms are just a few steps from the elevators that take you right down to the lounge area.

Good luck on getting your RPC. I don't know if the $$$ is worth it between the SL & RPC now that they have upped the offerings, but the surroundings are so pretty in RPC. SL is great too!!

Lives4Disney

 

[Lives4Disney]

Oh! and I kind of got "chewed out" for having too many PSs booked. I did the faux pas of double booking as I didn't know yet which park we would be spending certain days in. I just made the pss a few nights ago for pete's sake!! I had NO trouble getting them. I planned to do my final schedule and cancel asap what I didn't want!! Just like I did! If they didn't make it so darn painful to cancel them I would have done it sooner - just didn't have the phone time!

Disney needs to stop MESSING with their park schedules and that would also help keep me from messing with my PS arrangements!!

Maybe the CM just didn't want to give me the room I wanted as she was huffy with me over these PSs that I had! (Gosh!)

Lives4Disney

 

[princessesrule4]

Lives4Disney-
We are staying RPC for the first time in December and went through the big decision of whether to stay SL or RPC. When it came down to it what we really wanted was the ambience and "magic" of staying in the Main Building. Also. we are going in December and knew it would be even more special at Christmas time! Since we probably won't be doing the pool we figured we would be hanging out at the resort in the afternoon/early evening and we could spend time in the lounge listening to the piano player and the band. ( Tammi posted about sitting in the lounge listening to the music with a glass of wine and that sounded wonderful!!) The other factor was that it was Value season and the rates were so much lower than when we go at Spring Break or June! Unfortunately there were no AP rates due to Best Rate but we're still hoping!
Good luck - I know it's a hard decision!

Janet2k- Thanks for the great pictures! The food looks yummy!

 

[cinderkay]

Hello all! I am just joining this thread and was wondering if you guys could help me out. I have a reservation for the poly at the end of sept. My father in law has offered to upgrade us to the GF. We have not stayed in either since the early 90's!!!

We have three children between 2 and 4, including twin boys. We originally picked the poly because we thought the pool would be more fun for the kids. If we go to the GF do you have any suggestions on which building to stay in? Is there a toddler pool there? It seems everyone falls for the poly when they stay there and I was wondering what you guys feel about the GF that you enjoy most? Where are Tower rooms located? ON the internet I found some pricing and these are not too much more than poly rooms and it sounds as if they have a sitting area. Is this correct. I would love to have a place to sit when the kids are napping etc. Can you request a ground floor room with a patio like area? Do they have these?

I worked really hard making the decision for the poly and now I have been thrown for a loop withthis offer to upgrade. So much to think about! I have to make a decision for all involved soon!! Thanks for the help!!!

 

[TammiMcMan]

Cinderkay, you'll find plenty of love for the GF on this thread. Personally, I like the theme of the resort better than the Poly, but then again, I'm a sucker for anything Victorian inspired.

The GF has 2 pools. The theme pool is open during select hours and has zero entry from the beach. There is a pretty good slide (at least thats what my kids tell me), jumping water spouts and 3 cabanas. The cabanas are very nice if you are planning on spending a few hours at the pool. They're available on a first come, first served basis. The larger, courtyard pool is open 24 hours. There is a small toddler pool there which is separate from the big pool. There's also a hot tub in this general area.

Lodge tower rooms are located in all the buildings. Top floor tower rooms do not have a balcony, due to the slope of the roof. All tower rooms have a garden view and sleep 4 (over the age of 3). There is indeed a small seating area with a 2nd tv. You can request a ground floor room.

My families ages are older than yours, so we really appreciate having the split bathroom. It saves a lot of time when getting ready in the morning.

Good luck with your decision.

Tammi

 

[triplefigs]

Oh! and I kind of got "chewed out" for having too many PSs booked. I did the faux pas of double booking as I didn't know yet which park we would be spending certain days in. I just made the pss a few nights ago for pete's sake!! I had NO trouble getting them. I planned to do my final schedule and cancel asap what I didn't want!! Just like I did! If they didn't make it so darn painful to cancel them I would have done it sooner - just didn't have the phone time!

Disney needs to stop MESSING with their park schedules and that would also help keep me from messing with my PS arrangements!!

Maybe the CM just didn't want to give me the room I wanted as she was huffy with me over these PSs that I had! (Gosh!)

Lives4Disney

Yikes! CM with attitude alert! I can't believe that RPC isn't available now. Maybe it will still open up? Don't you go in a few days? But you're doing the GF at the end, right?

Hugs and PD. Hope you got all the ADR's you want! I'm having IPO make them. I think they're probably tired of me changing my mind...

 

[Lives4Disney]

Woo Hoo!!! I made the change to RPC!! It wasn't available for my dates with an AP rate yesterday afternoon, but it was this morning!! I am so excited!

TripleFigs - If RPC is what you want, keep trying & I bet you'll get it!

Lives4Disney

 

[triplefigs]

Woo Hoo!!! I made the change to RPC!! It wasn't available for my dates with an AP rate yesterday afternoon, but it was this morning!! I am so excited!

TripleFigs - If RPC is what you want, keep trying & I bet you'll get it!

Lives4Disney

Congrats! I'll keep checking! I've still got a while (boo hoo!)

 

[GF Girl]

Does any one know if you can buy the music that the GF plays in the hotel and outside Gasparilla's?
I love that music and I would do anything to have a CD with all of those tracks.
We already own the piano music and the band's cd.

 

[CaliforniaDreaming]

All tower rooms have a garden view and sleep 4 (over the age of 3). There is indeed a small seating area with a 2nd tv. You can request a ground floor room.

Actually, there are no tower rooms on the first floor. Only the second-fifth (second-fourth in Sugar Loaf).

 

[Meezers]

Woo Hoo!!! I made the change to RPC!! It wasn't available for my dates with an AP rate yesterday afternoon, but it was this morning!! I am so excited!

TripleFigs - If RPC is what you want, keep trying & I bet you'll get it!

Lives4Disney

Oh I am so happy for you! I bet you won't have your feet on the ground for....until you get there! I know I won't!

TripleFigs...love the shirts you had made! I have a feeling I am really going to like reading your trip report!

 

[Lives4Disney]

Meezers & Triplefigs - Thanks for the sweet words! I am very excited. Packing and cleaning now!! (well when I am not on the DIS).... I wish my feet weren't on the ground! I am going to scream if I have to run to Target one more time!! Today I went 2 times - the last just for wrinkle releaser. These last minute errands are getting out of control! And now I learned that my MIL is coming tomorrow morning from Clearwater to stay for 2 weeks at my house! Not much notice!!


GFGirl - If I hear that music when I am there next week & remember (that's the tricky part - my mind kind of goes **** when I am on vacation) I will ask at the gift shop or ask a concierge CM where it can be purchased.

Thanks for the good wishes!!

Oh, and a quick question - do RPC guests have access to the SL lounge?? It seemed that Janet 2K did, but I don't know the circumstances of that. TIA!

Lives4Disney

 

[TammiMcMan]

Actually, there are no tower rooms on the first floor. Only the second-fifth (second-fourth in Sugar Loaf).

I think that CinderKay was just asking about the standard lodge buildings and not SugarLoaf. I know that SL only has 6 in total, but I thought the other lodge buildings had them on the ground floor.

Thanks, Tammi

 

[triplefigs]

Oh I am so happy for you! I bet you won't have your feet on the ground for....until you get there! I know I won't!

TripleFigs...love the shirts you had made! I have a feeling I am really going to like reading your trip report!

Thanks! I plan on having an absolute FABULOUS time with my kids and DH! First trip since our Disneymoon at the Poly and the kids first trip. Can't wait to spend Christmas at the GF!

Oh, and here is the revised GF shirt for Christmas.

 

[TammiMcMan]

Oh, and a quick question - do RPC guests have access to the SL lounge?? It seemed that Janet 2K did, but I don't know the circumstances of that. TIA!

Suite guests have access to both lounges. Other than that, you use the lounge in whichever building you've reserved. My guess is that Janet was in SugarLoaf doing some investigative reporting for us. Many thanks to Janet and her private photographer, you did a great job capturing the quaintness of SL.

Tammi

 

[triplefigs]

Meezers & Triplefigs - Thanks for the sweet words! I am very excited. Packing and cleaning now!! (well when I am not on the DIS).... I wish my feet weren't on the ground! I am going to scream if I have to run to Target one more time!! Today I went 2 times - the last just for wrinkle releaser. These last minute errands are getting out of control! And now I learned that my MIL is coming tomorrow morning from Clearwater to stay for 2 weeks at my house! Not much notice!!


GFGirl - If I hear that music when I am there next week & remember (that's the tricky part - my mind kind of goes **** when I am on vacation) I will ask at the gift shop or ask a concierge CM where it can be purchased.

Thanks for the good wishes!!

Oh, and a quick question - do RPC guests have access to the SL lounge?? It seemed that Janet 2K did, but I don't know the circumstances of that. TIA!

Lives4Disney

When do you leave? And what days are you at RPC? PM me if you'd rather not post it. I just hope you have so much fun! Take tons of pictures for us.

 

[Lives4Disney]

Hey, TRIPLEFIGS - I leave on Saturday afternoon. We will be at GF from the 16th to the 20th. Then home.

I am trying to enjoy the anticipation as I know once we are at WDW time will go so quickly by.

Tammi - That is what I thought regarding the lounges. I just wasn't sure - and it would be easier from the pool to pop into sl for a soda! Thanks for the info!

Lives4Disney

 

[Angel16]

Janet2k - Thank you for all the wonderful pictures of RPC and SL. You and your daughter are gems to take the time to investigate and photograph the lounges for us all. Your pictures are wonderful!

DH and myself had been thinking of switching from RPC to SL. Yes... I have been reading how several of you are trying to switch from SL to RPC. You probably think we are crazy. I have to laugh, DH said to me last night. "if everyone is trying to switch to what we have booked, lets just stay where we are." Then he added, if those people you talk about Tammy McMann and Janet2k really like it there. LETS GO!" Here I have researched and talked for months about this trip and all I had to do was print up trip reports by you two, he sat and read them, and he was sold. Thank you, thank you.

In about 6 weeks we will be at the GF.

 

[triplefigs]

Ok, y'all... I really need some advice! I just checked on the AAA website and RPC is available for my dates through the AAA website, but not on Disney's website or through my AAA agent. It's at rack rate of $605, says Main Bldg Concierge, and the room code is S2Q (that's what I want, isn't it?) I got the AAA rate for SL at $391. That's a big difference in price! This is room only, and I'm thinking I could book it and always cancel later. Maybe even book in DH's name so that the other won't be noticed?

I *REALLY* want RPC, but the price is a little hard to justify. I've read everyone's great reviews of both RPC and SL. I don't know if we will ever get back to WDW at Christmas (you never know!). I just think for a Christmas trip, the kids first trip, closeness to the monorail, it really might be worth spending the money.

So, do I go for it or not? Please help me make up my mind before this goes away. I could always hope a AAA rate might open up later...

NEVER MIND IT'S NOT AVAILABLE for all 8 nights!!!!!!!! It is available for my last 3 nights at the AAA rate of $514 (better). So, is RPC worth doing for 3 nights? We'd be in SL for 5 and then move? Good idea or only if I can get RPC for all the nights?​