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

[Jungle Cruiser]

bluejasmine, you will enjoy the GF! My husband is a WL kind of guy but loves the GF also. There are so many places to relax and the resort is beautiful.
We too will be CL at the BC in Sept. When are you going?

It's Monday morning and that's when we usually see the Parade of Maids...

 

[bluejasmine]

Sept 15th! Cannot wait.. Although that will mean we just got the Fantasy so our cruise will be over.. :0( But atleast we arent going home yet!!

 

[Jungle Cruiser]

We are under 30 days now, will be there 6/7-6/17. My family is still set on keeping the Deluxe Queen RPC room despite being virtually assured of a construction view.

Thanks for everyone reporting back with updates on the construction. With the spa currently closed does anyone have any experience with the other spas ? We are leaning toward the Swan/Dolphin Spa.

When my DD and I were there in April we decided to try facials at Saratoga Springs. The spa is run by the same company as the Spa at the GF. The facial was the same, which was wonderful. If you are staying at the GF, or the Poly there is free transportation to the Spa at Saratoga Springs. WDW has provided a car driven by a GF castmember(a real car, not a van or taxi) that will drive you to and pick you up for your spa treatments. You just have to tell the Concierge ahead of time and they arrange it. It was wonderful. When we came out of the spa the car was waiting for us.

 

[jenneth79]

We are under 30 days now, will be there 6/7-6/17. My family is still set on keeping the Deluxe Queen RPC room despite being virtually assured of a construction view.

Thanks for everyone reporting back with updates on the construction. With the spa currently closed does anyone have any experience with the other spas ? We are leaning toward the Swan/Dolphin Spa.

We were one of the first guests to be switched over to SS when GF closed last September. It was certainly a last minute kind of thing....even the employees at GF had only been told a week before....and things were a bit hectic.

That being said, the services (my husband and I both had wraps, massages, and mani/pedis) were excellent and a lot of the staff came over from GF as well, which was entertaining in part as they were lost but making the most of a crazy situation.

I will say the facilities left a lot to be desired, but I've heard that about GF as well in the past. No experience with Swan/Dolphin.

HTH

 

[BCV23]

Sorry to have been no help with this thread over the weekend. Our daughter graduated from college.

Jungle Cruiser, I'm so glad chemo was better than you hoped. Big hugs. Thank you for sharing your photos.

My dd and and I have been to the spa at SSR several times over the years. As others have said, the treatments and staff are the same. I actually prefer the facilities at SSR as it's more spacious.

k&a&c'smom, safe travels. The FAQ has missed you.

 

[Jungle Cruiser]

Sorry to have been no help with this thread over the weekend. Our daughter graduated from college.

BVC23, what a wonderful way to spend Mother's Day weekend Congratulations!

A rainy, miserable day in NJ. If it is going to rain, I would rather see this...

 

[pas130]

Sorry to have been no help with this thread over the weekend. Our daughter graduated from college.

k&a&c'smom, safe travels. The FAQ has missed you.

Congrats to your DD And yes I miss our hostess k&a&c'smomtoo and hope she is having a fantastic trip!!!

BVC23, what a wonderful way to spend Mother's Day weekend Congratulations!

A rainy, miserable day in NJ. If it is going to rain, I would rather see this...

I told DH I'll take a rainy Orlando day over NJ ANYTIME!!!

 

[MommyGina]

JungleCruiser - hugs and prayers to you. Have been thinking of you.

DH is off to AAA this week to pay the final amount for our trip to the GF in July. Only 63 more days away. DS and DD don't care if there is construction around them or not. All they know is that they have food in SL and they are not in school! They are on vaction at the GF and Disney.

 

[Grumpy Grandma]

JungleCruiser - hugs and prayers to you. Have been thinking of you.

DH is off to AAA this week to pay the final amount for our trip to the GF in July. Only 63 more days away. DS and DD don't care if there is construction around them or not. All they know is that they have food in SL and they are not in school! They are on vaction at the GF and Disney.

Kiddos really do have the right outlook on things!

 

[CoachBagFanatic]

A rainy, miserable day in NJ. If it is going to rain, I would rather see this...

Hope today finds you feeling well!! I hear ya on that one. It just started raining here about an hour ago in Ocean Cty NJ.

 

[Jungle Cruiser]

A view from the RPC as the day ends

 

[Parrotheadgoofy]

Please give me your expert opinions. Here are the facts. I just booked seven days at GF, garden view no special requests, online with park hoppers and DDP Aug 5-12 based on the previous guest discount I got in email. We've never stayed here, actually we've never stayed in any deluxe at all. We have stayed at ASMO, ASMU, POFQ, and POR. The travelers are me, DH49, DD22, and DD18. We have not been to WDW since 2007 but I try to be a good planner. DD18 has dreamed and drooled over this resort since she was 3 years old and she is now graduating #7 in her class of 350+. We are telling the girls we are staying at Caribbean Beach until we drive up the driveway. This is truly a once in a lifetime trip for us. DH said "If you dont go there now, what exactly are you waiting for?" So now, I am learning about construction, monorail issues, noise, etc... Should my stomach be turning in knots like it is at the moment? Do I need to request something about my room? We would very much like a balcony. Please reassure me! Thanks!

 

[dragonfly57005]

Bluejasmine:September is a great time to be at GF! That's when we traditionally go.

 

[phyllis1966]

Please give me your expert opinions. Here are the facts. I just booked seven days at GF, garden view no special requests, online with park hoppers and DDP Aug 5-12 based on the previous guest discount I got in email. We've never stayed here, actually we've never stayed in any deluxe at all. We have stayed at ASMO, ASMU, POFQ, and POR. The travelers are me, DH49, DD22, and DD18. We have not been to WDW since 2007 but I try to be a good planner. DD18 has dreamed and drooled over this resort since she was 3 years old and she is now graduating #7 in her class of 350+. We are telling the girls we are staying at Caribbean Beach until we drive up the driveway. This is truly a once in a lifetime trip for us. DH said "If you dont go there now, what exactly are you waiting for?" So now, I am learning about construction, monorail issues, noise, etc... Should my stomach be turning in knots like it is at the moment? Do I need to request something about my room? We would very much like a balcony. Please reassure me! Thanks!

Don't stress! It's a lovely resort (our home away from home) and you will have a great time.

The construction is on one side of the resort, by the pool with the slide. If you request Sago Cay or Conch Key, you will not see the construction or hear the noise. All garden view rooms 2nd floor and higher have a balcony, I'm almost positive, but for a full balcony (as opposed to a standing-only balcony) you just need to request NOT to be put in a dormer room.

As far as monorail problems, they have been intermittent for a while, and we rarely experience any real issues (which I would categorize as any delay of more than 10 minutes or so).

Have a wonderful time!

 

[Jungle Cruiser]

Please give me your expert opinions. Here are the facts. I just booked seven days at GF, garden view no special requests, online with park hoppers and DDP Aug 5-12 based on the previous guest discount I got in email. We've never stayed here, actually we've never stayed in any deluxe at all. We have stayed at ASMO, ASMU, POFQ, and POR. The travelers are me, DH49, DD22, and DD18. We have not been to WDW since 2007 but I try to be a good planner. DD18 has dreamed and drooled over this resort since she was 3 years old and she is now graduating #7 in her class of 350+. We are telling the girls we are staying at Caribbean Beach until we drive up the driveway. This is truly a once in a lifetime trip for us. DH said "If you dont go there now, what exactly are you waiting for?" So now, I am learning about construction, monorail issues, noise, etc... Should my stomach be turning in knots like it is at the moment? Do I need to request something about my room? We would very much like a balcony. Please reassure me! Thanks!

I think you will love the resort. The construction, as the PP stated is contained to one side of the resort. We were in Sugar Loaf last month, with a courtyard pool view and couldn't see or hear the construction from our room. Walls are up hiding the construction on the Poly side of the resort, so you can't actually see much.

What makes the resort special is the same, the grounds, the rooms, the cast members, the general ambiance. Unless you are staying in the main building (some of the most expensive rooms on property ) you can really avoid the construction.

AND congratulations on your daughter, you must be proud.

 

[baler31]

Please give me your expert opinions. Here are the facts. I just booked seven days at GF, garden view no special requests, online with park hoppers and DDP Aug 5-12 based on the previous guest discount I got in email. We've never stayed here, actually we've never stayed in any deluxe at all. We have stayed at ASMO, ASMU, POFQ, and POR. The travelers are me, DH49, DD22, and DD18. We have not been to WDW since 2007 but I try to be a good planner. DD18 has dreamed and drooled over this resort since she was 3 years old and she is now graduating #7 in her class of 350+. We are telling the girls we are staying at Caribbean Beach until we drive up the driveway. This is truly a once in a lifetime trip for us. DH said "If you dont go there now, what exactly are you waiting for?" So now, I am learning about construction, monorail issues, noise, etc... Should my stomach be turning in knots like it is at the moment? Do I need to request something about my room? We would very much like a balcony. Please reassure me! Thanks!

I still believe you will enjoy the resort. My kids adore the resort as well as several CM's that have been there for quite awhile. We are returning next month and have booked a room that will basically guarantee us a view of the construction but my family wanted the larger space regardless of view and I am sure we will still have a wonderful visit.

If the monorail is down GF is still a great resort for MK using the boat launch. While we most often take the monorail to MK as it is the first stop, we usually take the boat back since on the monorail GF will be the last stop on the way back. As for Epcot, we always rent a car and drive rather than taking the monorail. We have found it much faster that way.

Also, if you arrive and find it to be too much, I am sure they will work with you to move you to another resort if you are really unhappy.

 

[baler31]

Thanks to everyone for the replies about the SSR spa. Anyone else with any experience there or at the Swan/Dolphin spa ? Thanks again.

 

[Jungle Cruiser]

 

[i_heart_the_mouse]

Thanks for another beautiful pic! I am getting beyond excited for my first stay at the Grand!

 

[browneyedgrl4282]

29 more days at we are at GF!! So excited!