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

[garada3]

Check in for RPC is on the 3rd floor and the lounge is on the 4th? What floor(s) are standard concierge rooms on?

How many rooms are on each floor? Are the views better as you go up? As far as convenience to the lounge, are some rooms better located than others? When we stayed in the Hawaii building at the Polynesian, we were very near the lounge and just loved the convenience.

Thanks!

 

[TammiMcMan]

Garada, you are correct. The Concierge on-site staff are located right near the elevators on the 3rd floor and the lounge is on the 4th floor. Honeymoon rooms are all located in a private wing on the 2nd floor (I believe there are 10 or 11). Most standard rooms are located throughout the 3rd and 4th floor, with mainly suites up on the 5th floor. The 3rd and 4th floor have the most number of rooms. If I had to guess, I would say somewhere around 30-40 rooms on those floors.

I didn't notice a difference in views based on floor level. If you want something close to the lounge, then you'll end up with either a lagoon view of the beach and the Poly or a garden view overlooking the center courtyard area. Castle view rooms are located in the wing that's over Gasparilla's Grille. It probably adds 2-3 minutes onto your walk to the lounge, but I usually request a room here. The castle view is amazing. We've watched it change colors from our bed.

Tammi

 

[garada3]

Thanks Tammi for the information!

So my dilemma is, if I want very convenient access to the lounge (my view will not be castle - a MAJOR reason for RPC) is RPC worth the extra cost when I could get a nice GV from a room in Sugar Loaf (where caslte view isn't an option)?

SL lounge is described as being in the main lobby. Are their 'wings' to SL or are the rooms all off this central lobby?

Sorry for all these seemingly trivial questions, but DH said GF & wants concierge, and I just want to make sure that I make the right choices based upon the feedback he gave me during and after our last trip.

 

[TammiMcMan]

Garada, I tried my luck at a little freehand drawing of both setups. Click here to see the RPC layout and this one for Sugar Loaf .

I will have to say that the ambience between the two lounges is completely different. As you can hopefully tell from my drawing, that Sugar Loaf's is located right on the lower level of the building. As you walk into the front entranceway, you walk right into the lounge. There is some limited seating, mostly couches and chairs. The CM staff is also located right there. Hallways go off to the left and right which will gain you access to rooms and elevators. There are no tv's in the lounge, no view and to me it gives off the impression of a cozy bed & breakfast.

The main building is much more spread out. The lounge has a lot more seating and large windows overlooking the courtyard. The balcony opens up to the lobby below and in the evening, the GF Orchestra would be playing just below you. A little more open feel, some drama and romance.

My preference is the main building and I do enjoy the castle views. A nice benefit is that there is a service elevator located in that wing that brings you out right next door to Gasparilla's. It was really convenient for late night snacks and also nice when we didn't want to walk through the main lobby in bathing suits.

Sugar Loaf does also put you steps from the courtyard pool, which makes it very convenient for walking back for a cold drink or snack.

Tammi

 

[marcij]

Tammi- I've been keeping up with this thread for quite a while now, reading your advice to other posters, and I just wanted to say thank you. We've stayed GF once or twice a year for the last six years and love it. We've been in SL twice, both times before Disney Magic trips. We liked it, but had been spoiled by our Conch Key castle views on our previous trips. I'm now booking our first Disney December trip and was trying to decide if I wanted to do lagoon view or try out Royal Palms. Something finally clicked when I read your last few posts and helped me make my decision.

Thanks again!

Marci

 

[garada3]

Thanks Tammi for the diagrams. They are great! Any idea how many rooms are in area?

I am having the hardest time trying to decide between RPC or SL. Ugh! But what a wonderfully difficult decision to have to make.

 

[TammiMcMan]

Thanks Tammi for the diagrams. They are great! Any idea how many rooms are in area?

Based on the map that I have, there are 4 floors at Sugar Loaf and probably 96-100 rooms (average 24 per floor). I'm going to take a wild guess that the Main Building has about the same number (including the honeymoon wing). If Cali-D is still monitoring this thread, I think he has a pretty good idea of what those numbers truly are.

Tammi

 

[karensi]

HI, just booked a GV room for a quick Labor Day weekend trip. Im trying to read all the posts on this thread but am alittle more than half way through and my head is spinning. So sorry if these question have been asked and answered before, but here goes; we (adult DD and 1 1/2 yo grandson and myself), will be arriving late, about 10 -10:30 PM, on Friday, Sept 2nd. Because we are arriving so late will we get whatever room is left over, ie; maybe assigned to another family but rejected by that family? Im just afraid of getting a room that no one else wanted .Also, I think I don't want a dormer room, as I've read thay are smaller with a smaller balcony, am I right? Do I not want a dormer . Also, since we will be arriving late,will there be a place/store at the GF that is open,maybe a 24 hr type place, that I can get milk, juice,diet coke, etc, just to hold us over till the morning? Also, one last (maybe )question, when we check in (again, read "late") will there be a trolly to take us to our room, as we will have baby, stroller, car seat,and carry on luggage (using DME for larger luggage). Thanks so much to everyone on this thread, you are all soooo helpful ,as you can tell this is my first GF trip., Karen

 

[TammiMcMan]

Karensi, just to try and put your mind at ease a little bit, there are not really that many dormer rooms in relation to standard rooms. And yes, they do have the smaller, more private balconies. I'm not sure how many folks consider Labor Day weekend a big end of summer, family vacation time. I know for us, the kids go back to school the Tuesday afterwards, so we're pretty much done with any travelling. My feeling is that the parks might be a little bit busier with locals, but I don't imagine that the resort is going to be as busy as say Memorial Day weekend. Other than not wanting a dormer room, all the other rooms and views at the GF are very nice. You're not going to get stuck with something that overlooks a parking lot or anything. What view did you book?

A plus about coming in later, is that the registration area will be very quiet. Bell services should also be readily available to assist you with all your carry on luggage and supplies.

Gasparilla's Grill is open, so you can grab something to eat/drink there. It's located on the back side of the main building, overlooking the marina. Private dining is also available at all hours, so you do have some options.

Tammi

 

[karensi]

Hi Tami, thanks so much for your help/info. I have read alot of your posts and you have been such a great help, not only to me, but to sooo many of us out there who need questions answered about the GF. Re: what view did I request? The answer is "none" , I don't /didn't know enough about the views available, and when we decided to go I called immediately as it was so last minute I was afraid I wouldn't get anything, I was just so happy that I could get a room at the GF. I did request "close to the main building" as we will have the baby and ,of course, a stroller,etc. I have since learned, from this board, that none of the buildings are that far away from the main building.Do you suggest a certain view that we should request? Possably by requesting a certain view it may cancel out the chance that we would be assigned a dormer room. Should I call CRO and make sure they know we will be arriving late? They should know from DME, however, I don't know how well coordinated they (DME) are with the resorts in letting them (the resorts) know who will be checking in late. Re: Gasparilla"s Grill, is it open 24/7? . So many questions, so little time . Thanks again, Karen

 

[Timon71]

Good Evening everyone,
Have a reservation through GF executive reservations, due to mistakes made during wedding & honeymoon. No, they weren't that major, just mistakes with concierge staff. Anyway, Brice informed me that magical express from MCO to GF is taking 2 hours. We have a 18 month old DD that will have just sat in an airplane for 2 hours and I doubt she will be up for 2 more hours in a bus. Can anyone Please help with the time? Is this the true time?
I appreciate everyone's assistance.

Have a Disney day,
Jay, Monica,& Alexis Angoff
Sunset Pointe Wedding
10-29-02

Alexis's 1st trip this December2-11.... GF con. main building

 

[JennyMominRI]

Hi everyone.. I guess I may be hanging out here for a while. I just got back Sat from 4 days at the the Poly and 4 days BC..I was also at POR in April. During this trip I took the boat over to the GF and fell in love.. I'm hopjng to book the GF Concierge level for April 23rd-28th. I've never stayed concierge before..Wait ,I take that back. I stay concierge at the Hyatt regency in Chicago once when there was another women with my name booked for concierge and I got her room..
I'm an AP holder so I'm hoping for some sort of discount

 

[TammiMcMan]

Karensi, actually, when you booked your room, it will have been either lagoon or garden. Lagoon is the more expensive, but the garden rooms are also very nice. All the buildings are fairly close to the main building. Conch Key is probably the furthest away, but we're talking a 3 minute walk. If you have garden view booked, I would suggest asking for Sago Cay, marina view. Typically, when we are arriving early or late to any hotel, we have it noted on our reservation, so I think that's a good idea. In the past Gasparilla's has been open 24/7. I don't know if they currently have those hours in place.

Tammi

 

[DisneyMomx7]

Gasparillas was open 24 hours a day when we were there in July. HTH.

 

[Janet2k]

Brice informed me that magical express from MCO to GF is taking 2 hours. We have a 18 month old DD that will have just sat in an airplane for 2 hours and I doubt she will be up for 2 more hours in a bus. Can anyone Please help with the time? Is this the true time?

I returned from my WDW vacation last night. I used Disney's Magical Express for my arrival at the Pop Century and my departure from the Animal Kingdom Lodge (my Grand Floridian stay fell somewhere in between).

For my arrival, my family boarded the bus immediately. It left the airport within 15 minutes. Our resort was the first stop out of three in Walt Disney World.

For my departure, my family boarded the bus at the time we were told to. The bus left within 5 minutes. Our resort was the first stop out of three.

I was pleased with Disney's Magical Express. I will definitely use it again. My two children traveled with me (grade school & college). Since we live on the West Coast, traveling to WDW always means a very (very) long day for us. Our Magical Express ride was a fun way to both begin and end our journey.

As for your situation, if you think your child will not tolerate a potentially long bus ride then definitely book a town car, limo, or taxi cab for your ground transportation. It is always better to be safe than sorry and only you know your family's needs.

I hope you have a lovely stay at the Grand Floridian. It is truly my favorite resort.

 

[triplefigs]

I returned from my WDW vacation last night. I used Disney's Magical Express for my arrival at the Pop Century and my departure from the Animal Kingdom Lodge (my Grand Floridian stay fell somewhere in between).

For my arrival, my family boarded the bus immediately. It left the airport within 15 minutes. Our resort was the first stop out of three in Walt Disney World.

For my departure, my family boarded the bus at the time we were told to. The bus left within 5 minutes. Our resort was the first stop out of three.

I was pleased with Disney's Magical Express. I will definitely use it again. My two children traveled with me (grade school & college). Since we live on the West Coast, traveling to WDW always means a very (very) long day for us. Our Magical Express ride was a fun way to both begin and end our journey.

As for your situation, if you think your child will not tolerate a potentially long bus ride then definitely book a town car, limo, or taxi cab for your ground transportation. It is always better to be safe than sorry and only you know your family's needs.

I hope you have a lovely stay at the Grand Floridian. It is truly my favorite resort.

Welcome Home! Glad you had such a nice trip.

 

[Janet2k]

Triplefigs, thanks. We got to experience two new resorts during this vacation -- the All-Stars Music and the Fort Wilderness Cabins. We also got to experience our other favorite resort, the Animal Kingdom Lodge. All in all, my family had a wonderful stay in Walt Disney World. Neither of my children wanted to come home (one sure way of knowing just how much fun they had in the most magical place on earth ).

I hope to share more photos of our Grand Floridian stay soon. It was heavenly. I just adore that resort.

 

[Janet2k]

Over the years, my family has experienced some wonderful things while staying at the Grand Floridian Resort. Our Fairy Tale Weddings vow renewal vacation last October allowed us to experience a few of the more unique items. I finally placed some photos of those items into an on-line photo album (click here):

Fruit Bowl & Spring Water
Chocolate Grand Floridian Picture
Cookies, Milk, & Chocolates
Grand Floridian Chocolate Box
Grand Floridian Chocolates
Grand Floridian Chocolate Champagne Bottle & Flutes
Chocolate Tuxedo Strawberries
WDW Florist Floral Arrangement
WDW Florist Rose Arrangement

I need to note that I don’t know if all of those items can be ordered by a guest, but it certainly never hurts to ask either the Grand Floridian’s Private Dining or Concierge staff. They will let you know what is possible to order and how to go about doing so.

 

[karensi]

originally posted by Timon71---Brice informed me that magical express from MCO to GF is taking 2 hours. We have a 18 month old DD that will have just sat in an airplane for 2 hours and I doubt she will be up for 2 more hours in a bus. Can anyone Please help with the time? Is this the true time?
I appreciate everyone's assistance.
I too am curios if it takes 2 hours for DME to go from MCO to GF. Wondering if GF is last on the drop of list? If so, I may consider a different way to get to GF (towncar,etc) TIA, Karen

 

[JennyMominRI]

originally posted by Timon71---Brice informed me that magical express from MCO to GF is taking 2 hours. We have a 18 month old DD that will have just sat in an airplane for 2 hours and I doubt she will be up for 2 more hours in a bus. Can anyone Please help with the time? Is this the true time?
I appreciate everyone's assistance.
I too am curios if it takes 2 hours for DME to go from MCO to GF. Wondering if GF is last on the drop of list? If so, I may consider a different way to get to GF (towncar,etc) TIA, Karen

I took the ME from MCO to the Poly on August 12th...The bus was a Poly/GF only bus.. It was about 45 minutes to the poly. We were the very first ones on that bus and waited maybe 10 minutes while it loaded..
I don't see how it could have taken much more than an hour to an hour and 15 minutes to get to the GF