The **NEW** Grand Floridian FAQ!(MAY 2011)

[Lcaemom]

Have you been listening to our conversations?! I said something very similar to my DM yesterday.

GREAT MINDS! But, seriously?!? Wouldn't that just be heaven???

 

[KCmike]

Thanks, KC Mike!!! I have to credit WDW with the best dining, too!

As for February, we currently live in a climate that's too cold for me and winters are too long. (I was originally a California girl, and then lived on the east coast in a moderate climate.) I use all of this weather stuff to justify my "travel bug" and in January/February, we must escape. The value season prices are always amazing and the crowds are super low. WDW is a good destination for us then because unpredictable February weather doesn't interfere with WDW as much as it does with beach or city/sightseeing trips. (We usually save those for the March - October "travel bugs.") The boys are ages 4, 11 and 12, but we can usually find a day or two that they are off from school and then they miss another day or two. If you are ready for unpredictable weather, I highly recommend February!

Good info! At DL I would be afraid about refurbishments but at WDW I don't think I would care. Hotels and food outweigh park rides. Man I'm getting old.

I know all about the "travel bug". Once you have this darn disease there is no getting rid of it. I wish I was rich enough to travel more often. Oh well. Life goes on. Thankfully.

 

[rcraw45425]

This time tomorrow we should be driving up, spending tonight at CSR, hope it's a good choice! So much to do still!

 

[k&a&c'smom]

JoBird - It's cold here, too, I'm loving the photos this week.

pas130 -

This time tomorrow we should be driving up, spending tonight at CSR, hope it's a good choice! So much to do still!

Woohoo!! Safe travels, and have a Grand vacation! You sound like me, I'm always busy right up until we walk out the door.

GREAT MINDS! But, seriously?!? Wouldn't that just be heaven???

 

[Tdubswife]

I arranged for a call from Mickey through Disney Enchanted Call. We are also hoping the flight attendants will help with our surprise. Our kiddos are little- 4 years and 16 months. We are packing a goody bag for the plane ride and we are planning on asking the flight attendant to give the bag to our kids midway through the plane ride saying it was from Mickey and Santa and that they are going to Disney!!! They think we are going to New Orleans to see my sister!!!! I hope it works and I hope to capture a magical moment on video we can send to Disney .

 

[JoBird]

Now BC-GF


2 changes today. Changed CR to Poly....then.............GF Time to change the ticker...AGAIN


Happy holidays friend, nice to see you. I can't believe the drop in the temps here!!!

Hi Pas!!! Happy Holidays to you! I can't believe all the changes you are doing. But it just wouldn't be the same if you didn't keep changing the resort. I somehow think I might always go into the planning phase with good intentions of trying another resort, but after staying at the GF everything else will pale in comparison, I'm afraid. That's so not right.

I said to my DD this AM...wouldn't it be nice to sit at the marina and have breakfast while listening to the boat and train whistles...

I'm pretty sure that sounds like a piece of Heaven right about now!

JoBird - It's cold here, too, I'm loving the photos this week.

There's something about being cold that makes you really long for the GF! What the heck is up with that??

I agree-- the pictures are wonderful this week!!



Safe travels to everyone headed down soon!!

 

[pas130]

pas130, I love it! I'm like that with ADRs. Our solution to resort uncertainty is a crazy ridiculous split stay - but I'm sure I'll rethink that until the 5-day mark!

Let's say I was VERY happy to see the discount come out yesterday, AND the $$ I saved stitching from CR to BC put a nice dent in the GF price too

GREAT MINDS! But, seriously?!? Wouldn't that just be heaven???

Yes, yes it would

This time tomorrow we should be driving up, spending tonight at CSR, hope it's a good choice! So much to do still!

Safe travels, enjoy!!!

I arranged for a call from Mickey through Disney Enchanted Call. We are also hoping the flight attendants will help with our surprise. Our kiddos are little- 4 years and 16 months. We are packing a goody bag for the plane ride and we are planning on asking the flight attendant to give the bag to our kids midway through the plane ride saying it was from Mickey and Santa and that they are going to Disney!!! They think we are going to New Orleans to see my sister!!!! I hope it works and I hope to capture a magical moment on video we can send to Disney .

I love that

pas130 -

I was SO excited at work last night, one of my co-workers (a fellow WDW lover) was like "How did you get DH to agree to that?"

Firstly....he doesn't know YET
Secondly....I have my ways....I think between BC and GF we have the best of both...

I will say though, I will sneak over to the Grand to check in without the kiddos to make sure I am not walked AGAIN

JoBird I am SO super excited I told my DD7 before her group last night...now she was super excited about the Chef Mickey hotel....but she is more than happy with BC, and tears came to her eyes and I got a HUGE hug when I told her about GF

 

[rcraw45425]

It was 26 degrees on our deck this morning, so looking forward to warmer weather!!!

 

[mariamouse]

Two questions:

1. Has anyone seen/read any recent reports about how the DVC construction is impacting guests at the GF? I have not heard much about it since the reports first began, so I assume that construction is still not that visible/audible? The walkway between the Poly and GF is still open, yes?

2. Does anyone know where I can find a schedule of all the holiday activities taking place at the GF this month? Does this even exist? We would love to work our itinerary around seeing everything the GF has to offer during the holidays.

8 days!!!!!

 

[phyllis1966]

Has anyone seen/read any recent reports about how the DVC construction is impacting guests at the GF?

I have not heard much about it since it first started, so I assume that construction is still not that visible/audible yet? The walkway between the Poly and GF is still open, right?

8 days!!!!!

We just got back from the GF on 11/19. There was no noise and it didn't seem as if there were any ongoing construction, either...

The path is still open - we walked it to and from the Poly on 1 day for a Kona breakfast and on another for a Kona dinner. Close to the GF, the walls are up, but nicely themed as you may have seen in photos. When you get to the wedding chapel, it opens up again, as it's always been. I just love that walk at night, although it's not quite as scenic with those walls...

 

[rcraw45425]

saw on a thread about the Christmas Parade this weekend that Justin Bieber, the Donny Osmond of this generation tweeted that he's on his way to WDW for the Christmas Parade. There will be no stopping my two teenaged girls, 14 & 16 if this is true!

 

[mariamouse]

We just got back from the GF on 11/19. There was no noise and it didn't seem as if there were any ongoing construction, either...

The path is still open - we walked it to and from the Poly on 1 day for a Kona breakfast and on another for a Kona dinner. Close to the GF, the walls are up, but nicely themed as you may have seen in photos. When you get to the wedding chapel, it opens up again, as it's always been. I just love that walk at night, although it's not quite as scenic with those walls...

Thanks so much for the report! I am so happy to hear this.

saw on a thread about the Christmas Parade this weekend that Justin Bieber, the Donny Osmond of this generation tweeted that he's on his way to WDW for the Christmas Parade. There will be no stopping my two teenaged girls, 14 & 16 if this is true!

Yep, it's true! There will be a LOT of screaming girls in the Magic Kingdom on parade filming day...

 

[30ishmom]

We just booked a one week stay for April at the Grand Floridian!!! We have always wanted to stay at the GF and we are so excited!!

Any tips for fun things to do at GF with our DD8 and DS4? I know I'll end up doing lots of research but for now I'm just on !

 

[k&a&c'smom]

Tdubswife - Good luck with all your plans, I hope everything works out perfectly.

pas130 - I always get excited when I snag a good deal, too.

phyllis1966 - Thanks for the update on the construction, good to know the path is open.

mariamouse - I haven't heard of a schedule of events at the GF for the Christmas festivities. Most long-time DISers have posted the happenings on holidays (Christmas, NYE, Easter, etc.) are a surprise. Not sure if the little extras leading up to the big day have a schedule, but if so, I'm guessing it is given at check in or during your stay. (put in room by mousekeeping, slipped under door, message left on phone)

When we were there the week prior to Christmas in 2006, there were bell ringers and/or singers in the evening, but it just happened. We didn't have any advance knowledge.

If anyone who has been recently has more info on this, we'd all love to know!

Bell ringers in lobby:

 

[DisneyShamrock]

Yep, it's true! There will be a LOT of screaming girls in the Magic Kingdom on parade filming day...

I am now kind of glad I won't be there. I like my hearing.

 

[k&a&c'smom]

We just booked a one week stay for April at the Grand Floridian!!! We have always wanted to stay at the GF and we are so excited!!

Any tips for fun things to do at GF with our DD8 and DS4? I know I'll end up doing lots of research but for now I'm just on !

Congrats on booking your first stay at the GF, how exciting!

I'm not the best at coming up with tips for young children, mine haven't been little in many years! If you are up for boating, the Sea Raycers are a lot of fun; you and your DH will each have to drive with one of the kids as passengers (2-person boats), but our children loved this activity.

Your DD might enjoy the tea party, or the two of you could do afternoon tea. In fact, all four of you might like tea at the Garden View Lounge, we've taken many young men along who have enjoyed it.

Have fun planning, and ask anything you like!

 

[WDWKOOK]

Two questions:

1. Has anyone seen/read any recent reports about how the DVC construction is impacting guests at the GF? I have not heard much about it since the reports first began, so I assume that construction is still not that visible/audible? The walkway between the Poly and GF is still open, yes?

Here is a link to a construction update and some photos:

http://www.wdwmagic.com/Resorts/Dis...uction-at-Disney's-Grand-Floridian-Resort.htm

 

[mariamouse]

k&a&c'smom and WDWKOOK- Thank you so much for the helpful information/pictures! I really appreciate the lovely posters on this thread.

 

[WDWKOOK]

k&a&c'smom and WDWKOOK- Thank you so much for the helpful information/pictures! I really appreciate the lovely posters on this thread.

You're welcome and I hope you have a wonderful vacation - you'll be there so soon!!

 

[Ali]

Please make me look as if I am a person who can fit in at the concierge lounge andtTell me how the lounge works in terms of where to put used plates. I assume, as in any other buffet type setting, you use a plate for a trip, eat, and then get a new plate. Is there a little drop off place or do you leave things on your table until you are ready to leave? I don't want to look like a Mayberry-ite going to the big city!

Also, does the RPC lounge have a view like the Polnesian Hawaii building?

Thanks. Getting so excited for my stay on saturday!