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

[k&a&c'smom]

stitchlet - thanks. I obviously agree about the photos. lol

DisneyMomx7 - Welcome!

We've stayed in SL several times, and enjoy it very much. Both views are very pretty, in my opinion. We've always requested pool view, but last summer we had to choose between having a pool view and avoiding the dormer balcony. We chose to have a second floor room on the marina side, and loved the quiet, shaded balcony.

Food offerings at the GF are extensive! The general listing of lounge offerings on the first page has the times:

Coffee:
6:30am - 9:30pm

Grand Beginnings:
7:00am - 10:30am

Refreshments:
11:30am - 2:00pm

Afternoon Tea:
2:30pm - 4:00pm

Twilight Refreshers:
5:00pm - 7:00pm

Cordials & Desserts:
8:00pm - 10:00pm

All Day:
7:00am - 10:00pm
whole fresh fruit & beverages

The breakfast offerings are pretty ample, they do have turkey, ham and cheeses provided, along with the fruit, yogurt, bagels, croissants, pastries and cream cheese/peanut butter/butter/jellies. We usually make a ham and cheese croissant! (cold, of course, but still good)

At noon, they have some very nice crudites - squash, tomatoes, celery, carrots, broccoli, asparagus - along with dips like goat cheese, spinach dip and red pepper hummus. Chips, pretzels, cookies (sugar, oatmeal, chocolate chip), tea, lemonade, pink lemonade and water (still & sparkling).

Afternoon tea includes scones with Devonshire cream, marmalade and jelly; tea cookies; quick bread loaves and sometimes trifle.

Evening offerings include 3 gourmet cheeses (brie, Manchego, blue, smoked Gouda, mozzarella & tomato) with crackers & bread sticks. Cheddar and Swiss squares, crudites and dip. Hors d'oeuvres include 2 hot appetizers such as chicken in sesame sauce, raspberry brie en croute, spinach turnovers, quesadillas, chorizo & cheese puff pastry wheels. Two cold offerings, like salmon & cream cheese on chips; hummus on toast; citrus shrimp; duck on toast; beef bruschetta; shrimp on cucumber; California rolls. Kids choices may include ham & cheese pinwheels, chicken nuggets, peanut butter & jelly. Wine, beer, champagne, tea, lemonade, water, etc.

Night time desserts are mini pastries, and usually chocolate covered strawberries, along with cordials.

HTH! If you have any more questions, don't hesitate to ask.

 

[DisneyMomx7]

Thank you so much!

I think my only request will be a non-enclosed balcony and a nice view!
I'll leave it up to chance pool or marina.

We actually used to really like the gv from Sago Cay, right across from SugarLoaf. We had a nice gv from Conch Key too. Our favorite tpv room was in Sago Cay.

Sounds like SL has really nice afternoon offerings!

 

[k&a&c'smom]

DisneyMomx7 - It's hard to get a bad view, so I think your requests are safe. We've had one room over the staging area for the mousekeepers, but other than that, everything has been pretty. We even liked the room with a tree - we were initially disappointed, but as it was a pool view, it was kind of nice to be screened from guests walking on the paths.

The food offerings at the GF are great, we sometimes have trouble making our dining reservations, lol. The items I've posted are only a sampling - I jotted down notes on 3 days of our stay last year! The breakfast, noon and afternoon tea items are much the same every day, but the evening offerings rotate. Here are some photos of afternoon tea - these are from RPC, but the foods are the same in SL.
Sorry this is blurry, but you can see the scones:

There are some photos in the previous FAQ (posted by minniesota on page 10, post #142) that show the SL building and its lounge: http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2427062&page=10

 

[kaffinito]

I'm glad you asked about rooms to avoid, DisneyMomx7, and thanks for the reply k&a&c'smom.

We've stayed in SL several times, and enjoy it very much. Both views are very pretty, in my opinion. We've always requested pool view, but last summer we had to choose between having a pool view and avoiding the dormer balcony. We chose to have a second floor room on the marina side, and loved the quiet, shaded balcony.

I have another room question though please.

Are there rooms on the first floor of SL? And do the queen bed rooms have a daybed?

Thanks!

 

[k&a&c'smom]

kaffinito - Yes and yes! The only standard queen rooms that did not have a daybed in the past were the dormer rooms, but even many of those have them after the 2007 renovations. I have not been able to determine how many dormer rooms are still without a daybed, if any.

This does not include the deluxe rooms, both garden view, SL and main bldg., or any of the specialty rooms (suites, turrets, etc.). I hope I haven't made that clear as mud.

 

[followthatmouse]

k&a&c'smom, we will spend a couple of nights in LA to ward off any jet-lag and it's on to NYC for a week. Then, that most exciting of flights to MCO and Mickey's Place.

 

[KCmike]

 

[k&a&c'smom]

k&a&c'smom, we will spend a couple of nights in LA to ward off any jet-lag and it's on to NYC for a week. Then, that most exciting of flights to MCO and Mickey's Place.

Sounds like an exciting vacation. I'll keep my fingers crossed that everything goes as planned, and you take off without a hitch.

 

[kaffinito]

kaffinito - Yes and yes! The only standard queen rooms that did not have a daybed in the past were the dormer rooms, but even many of those have them after the 2007 renovations. I have not been able to determine how many dormer rooms are still without a daybed, if any.

This does not include the deluxe rooms, both garden view, SL and main bldg., or any of the specialty rooms (suites, turrets, etc.). I hope I haven't made that clear as mud.

It so clear I have NO idea what you're talking about!

But that's ok. Just so long as I can request first floor two queens and a daybed, I'll be good.

Hey! Can I request one of the fancy rooms? Do they have deluxe rooms or turret rooms there?

I did change my ressie, as you can see by my ticker, and am excited about going back to GF.

Now I just have to decide if I want to do a cabana or not....

 

[k&a&c'smom]

kaffinito - Sorry, I sometimes try to cover all bases, and end up making it difficult to follow. Essentially, nearly all the queen rooms have a daybed.

There are turret (or tower) rooms in SL, they are request only. They do NOT have a daybed! There are some photos on page 2 of the previous FAQ, taken before the renovations, so the decor is different - and they used to have a pull out sofa. These were replaced with non-convertible sofas, but SL cast members have stated you can request a rollaway, if you are given a tower room and need an extra bed. Keep in mind, there are only 3 of these rooms, so the likelihood of getting one is pretty small. Still, if you are interested, can't hurt to ask! ETA: oops! I see that you want a first floor room; I'm pretty sure there are no tower rooms on the first floor of SL, that area is used for the lounge.

Here is the link to page 2 of the previous thread, scroll down to post #25: http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2427062&page=2

 

[Jungle Cruiser]

I'm glad you asked about rooms to avoid, DisneyMomx7, and thanks for the reply k&a&c'smom.



I have another room question though please.

Are there rooms on the first floor of SL? And do the queen bed rooms have a daybed?

Thanks!

We are currently staying in a first floor room in Sugar Loaf facing the pool. Last March we were also on the first floor of Sugar Loaf, a different room. The rooms have 2 queen beds, a daybed and a chair with a ottoman. There are 8 rooms on one side and 10 on the other. There are a few more in the middle around the concierge desks and food offering. I also know that the first floor is where handicapped accessable rooms are. The first floor is great for the food offerings, so close and no elevator! Also the entrance to the two wings have swinging doors they close at night which blocks out the noise of the concierge/food room.

Well, it's tea time and they have trifle today!

 

[k&a&c'smom]

Thanks for that great SL info, Jungle Cruiser! Enjoy your trifle - yum!

 

[BCV23]

Loving all the great photos, KC Mike.

Robyn, we love Sugar Loaf. Hope you do, too!

k&a&c'smom, thanks for the photo of the scones. Oh, yum. Am I the only one who wished for GF scones while watching the Royal Wedding a few weeks back?

followthatmouse, safe travels and have a Grand vacation.

There is an accessible room on the third floor with roll in shower. Two queens and a love seat but no daybed. It sleeps only four (plus a child under three, of course). It faces the marina.

 

[KCmike]

Thanks BCV23!

 

[followthatmouse]

Thank you very much for the good wishes,k&a&c'smom and BCV23. So far, so good. Tomorrow is packing day!

 

[Adlergray]

The stolport is used as a staging area for construction now.
from the article-
"For well over a decade now, the airstrip has been used for a variety of purposes from providing a staging area for construction equipment or shipping containers to a parking lot for buses. It’s been paved over with concrete, but it’s still there – most guests probably don’t even notice it as they’re headed to the Magic Kingdom."

Has anyone seen mockups of the GF Villas? they might get me to buy into that one

 

[k&a&c'smom]

BCV23 - Good to see you! Thanks for the info on the SL accessible room without a daybed.

I'm curious how many of the dormers were renovated with a daybed, it seems most of the photos I've seen have them now.

followthatmouse - So close!

Adlergray - I haven't seen any room mock ups, but there are site drawings on this thread over on the DVC boards: http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2680692

There are a couple more GF Villas discussions over there, some of them may have more drawings.

 

[DisneyMomx7]

BCV23 - Thanks! It seems you and I have similar taste so now I'm really looking forward to try Sugarloaf!

 

[happymamma]

Hi all, I wondered if any of the GF experts might know (or know how to find out) what day the GF plans to have its Christmas decor up? We are thinking of staying there in mid-November like the 13-18th and when I called Disney they said they don't have dates for the resorts, just that everything is always done by a certain date (after Thanksgiving or something?). Anyway thanks for any info!

 

[k&a&c'smom]

happymamma - Welcome! As the CM mentioned, there is no set date; each year, it is slightly different. Probably depends on the type of decorations and how many CMs they have available to work on them.

Last year, it seemed they started the gingerbread house around the 9th-10th of November, it was open by the 16th, and the tree and decorations started going up that same day. Everything was finished by the 17th, according to our posters there at the time.