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

[Millermom0606]

Hello all!!! We were staying at the CR but moved to GF. SO I'm wondering what to make sure to see/do and if there is anything that I should know about the resort as far as rooms go...... I'v read most of the thread but I'm sorry if this is a duplicate
Thank You!!

 

[k&a&c'smom]

Loving the new photos

I'd love to know if when I arrive on the 14th November the Christmas decorations will be up?

I'm trying to decide whether to eat at Citricos this trip, I've always liked the look of it but never quite made it, the only thing is I'm 'solo' on this trip and usually prefer a bar area so not sure if the ambiance lends itself to solo dining?

Regarding the Christmas decorations, the dates are not exactly the same each year - here is what I posted to another DISer a few pages back:

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.

Citricos is a wonderful restaurant, I highly recommend it. If you look at post #11 on the first page, there are a number of Citricos photos. Towards the end of the post, you can see the bar - there are a few seats there, but not sure how it works if you'd like to eat there. As you can see, the set up is different than, say, Jiko or Flying Fish. There are some smaller tables nearer the entrance that look over the courtyard, would you be comfortable eating there? The service is excellent, I think they would try to make you as comfortable as possible.

Hello all!!! We were staying at the CR but moved to GF. SO I'm wondering what to make sure to see/do and if there is anything that I should know about the resort as far as rooms go...... I'v read most of the thread but I'm sorry if this is a duplicate
Thank You!!

Welcome! There are a number of guests being moved over from the CR this year!

If you give us a little more info regarding the room type you have booked, we can respond more clearly regarding room locations, etc.

As far as what to see and do, you are in luck! The resort is great for down time. We love renting the Sea Raycers and heading out for some fun on the water; spending time at one of the two pools, drink in hand; sitting in the lobby in the afternoon/evening listening to the pianist and orchestra - wonderful way to relax; having a drink at Mizner's on a rainy evening; shopping at the numerous stores; hopping the boat to the Poly for shopping/dining; having afternoon tea at the Garden View Lounge; getting a massage at the Spa; sitting at Gasparilla's with a dessert, watching Wishes.

This is just a partial list, if I think of anything else, I'll pop back on later.

ETA: Oh, I just remembered the camp fire and movies on the beach! We haven't made it there yet, but everyone seems to enjoy it.

 

[KCmike]

Taken from the Monorail heading to the Magic Kingdom

 

[Millermom0606]

Thank you K&A&Cs mom, we are staying in a Lagoon view room in November, I'm hoping to get to see at least the start of the Gingerbread house.....

Anything else to see during that time at the resort??

we have four small kiddos, so some of the finer dining things and more subdued things are out, mostly b/c although they could handle it normally, I think at WDW it may be asking a bit much LOL

I can't wait to stay here, it seems much more 'homie' than others does that make sense??

 

[k&a&c'smom]

Millermom0606 - Yes, it makes perfect sense. The GF feels like home to DD and I. In fact, I have a trip to the BC planned for later this summer, and I'm having a hard time talking myself out of switching to the GF - even though all our plans are for the Epcot area!

There are lagoon view rooms in Big Pine Key, which is close to the main building and both pools. You can see photos of these room views on page 18 of this thread. KC Mike posted photos of his lagoon view in Boca Chica on page 14; this building is close to the boat dock and quiet pool, which has the kiddie pool and ping pong table. I think there are still some lagoon view rooms in Sago Cay, which is close to the marina, Gasparilla's and the bus stop.

November is one of the few months we have not been to the GF - so it's tough for me to describe specific events. Maybe other posters can give their experiences.

 

[DisneyShamrock]

I am loving all the photos and room reports. This is by far my favorite resort to wander around in for hours.

My fiance and I are considering going to V&A's for a special dinner next time we go to Disney World. Does anyone have any experiences to share? Food recommendations? Tips?

Thank you!

 

[k&a&c'smom]

DisneyShamrock - I'm glad you've joined us and are enjoying the photos.

If you don't know a lot about V&A's, they have a website to help you get acquainted: http://www.victoria-alberts.com/ It has received 5 Diamond recognition from AAA for many years running, and is one of the premier restaurants in Orlando, and Florida. Reservations are required (sometimes weeks or months in advance), there is a dress code, and children ages 10 and up may attend. Currently, the cost for the main dining room menu is $125/person, and you may add a $60/person wine pairing if you choose.

The main dining room has a 6-course prix fixe menu, and each course has 2-4 items from which to choose - one item per course. The menu changes seasonally, to incorporate the freshest produce. There are specialty items within each course that you may choose, subject to an upcharge - for instance, caviar or Kobe beef.

V&A's is a one of a kind experience, an elegant, adult dinner that takes upwards of 2-1/2 hours. If this sounds like what you are looking for, then you will be delighted, I'm sure.

 

[ClareH37]

Regarding the Christmas decorations, the dates are not exactly the same each year - here is what I posted to another DISer a few pages back:

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.

Citricos is a wonderful restaurant, I highly recommend it. If you look at post #11 on the first page, there are a number of Citricos photos. Towards the end of the post, you can see the bar - there are a few seats there, but not sure how it works if you'd like to eat there. As you can see, the set up is different than, say, Jiko or Flying Fish. There are some smaller tables nearer the entrance that look over the courtyard, would you be comfortable eating there? The service is excellent, I think they would try to make you as comfortable as possible.

Fantastic, thank you I think I will try Citricos this time, it would be silly not to as I'm staying at the resort.

 

[MickeyPower]

Do the rooms in surger loaf have frigeraters?

 

[janeapplemeadow]

The refrigerator is hidden underneath the T.V console. Plenty of room to store lots of water and quarts of milk.

 

[TinkerBelled]

If you had to choose between eating at Citricos or Narcoosee's, which would it be?

(It would just be me and DFi.)

 

[k&a&c'smom]

MickeyPower - Welcome! Here is a photo to illustrate janeapplemeadow's post.

Tinkerbelled - Welcome! Your question is a tough one, it's hard to choose.

Citricos is a wonderful restaurant, with excellent service, and is a little more refined in atmosphere. For a couple without children, it is probably the better choice.

On the other hand, Narcoossee's is our favorite. We love the look and feel of the restaurant, being on the water and able to see EWP or Wishes. The food is usually very good. There have been a few misses for me (notably the surf & turf - steak and lobster tail very tough and/or dry on more than one occasion). My DD's favorite dessert on property is here, the almond cheesecake with dark cherry sauce.

Both restaurants are very good, and we try to visit each of them when we are at the GF. If I can only choose one, though, I usually go with Narcoossee's. Others disagree.

 

[KCmike]

Sea Raycer Fun

 

[kaffinito]

If you had to choose between eating at Citricos or Narcoosee's, which would it be?

(It would just be me and DFi.)

Tinkerbelled - Welcome! Your question is a tough one, it's hard to choose.

Citricos is a wonderful restaurant, with excellent service, and is a little more refined in atmosphere. For a couple without children, it is probably the better choice.

Both restaurants are very good, and we try to visit each of them when we are at the GF. If I can only choose one, though, I usually go with Narcoossee's. Others disagree.

And here's a disagreement

I have to agree about Citricos being the better choice. I was not at all impressed with Narcooses, and was unhappy with the meal, the service, and the bathing suit wearing family seated near us.

Sea Raycer Fun

Great pic!

 

[DrMomof3]

Hi all!
We may be staying at the GF for the first time in January for Marathon Weekend. We've stay at other deluxe/villas in the past but never here. My DH is running his first 1/2 marathon (and I'm running my 1st marathon!) so I gave him the choice of where to stay. It has to be monorail so the kids and non-running parent can just walk out to the street at the appropriate time (we stayed at Poly for the 1/2 marathon this year). Tom picked CL at GF. I think we'll probably book Sugarloaf. I was shocked because I thought he'd try to save $$$.
Has anyone stayed Sugarloaf for Marathon weekend? In the CL at the Poly they had some fruit set out early for the runners. I'm guessing it'll be the same?
Thanks for an informative thread! (And I even noticed a few familiar faces from other resort threads....)

Amanda

 

[katieandrob]

Is this all their is for dresser space in the above picture?

 

[janeapplemeadow]

Yes, that picture is accurate. That is the only space for storage. You also have a shelf in the closet that you coud use in a pinch.

 

[DisneyMomx7]

Hi all!
We may be staying at the GF for the first time in January for Marathon Weekend. We've stay at other deluxe/villas in the past but never here. My DH is running his first 1/2 marathon (and I'm running my 1st marathon!) so I gave him the choice of where to stay. It has to be monorail so the kids and non-running parent can just walk out to the street at the appropriate time (we stayed at Poly for the 1/2 marathon this year). Tom picked CL at GF. I think we'll probably book Sugarloaf. I was shocked because I thought he'd try to save $$$.
Has anyone stayed Sugarloaf for Marathon weekend? In the CL at the Poly they had some fruit set out early for the runners. I'm guessing it'll be the same?
Thanks for an informative thread! (And I even noticed a few familiar faces from other resort threads....)

Amanda

Hi Amanda!

We'll be staying in Sugarloaf in a little over three weeks so I'll check this out. We have stayed at the GF in the past when DH ran the marathon. It was so convenient being on the monorail for the race. Here is what we did - DH took the monorail over to the race. The kids and I would get a "picnic breakfast" from Gasparilla's and take the monorail over to MK. We would get a spot on Main St. to have the picnic breakfast and wait for DH to run down Main St. After he ran down Main St. we would take the monorail over to EPCOT and wait for him at the finish. It is a lot of fun at the finish area - they have characters and dancing for the kids, just a real "party" atmosphere.

HTH!

 

[k&a&c'smom]

Is this all their is for dresser space in the above picture?

Yes, that picture is accurate. That is the only space for storage. You also have a shelf in the closet that you coud use in a pinch.

Ditto to what janeapplemeadow said! It is one of the things I really dislike about the most recent renovations, the lack of drawer space. If you'd like to see the closet, there are more room photos on the first page, post #6.

kaffinito - lol about the disagreement. Sorry your dinner there was not very good. I am surprised to hear about the family with bathing suits, as the dress code specifically mentions they are not allowed - someone didn't get the memo. We have never seen anyone in the restaurant dressed in bathing attire, for what it's worth.

DrMomof3 - Welcome! Everyone is welcome here, there are many posters whose heart belongs to another resort, but are trying out the GF for the first time. I hope you love your Grand vacation.

I have not stayed during marathon weekend, but as there is fruit out pretty much around the clock in SL, I'm sure there will be for the runners.

 

[BCV23]

If you had to choose between eating at Citricos or Narcoosee's, which would it be?

(It would just be me and DFi.)

Our family is split on this one. My DH and I prefer Citricos while DD and DDIL love Narcoossee's. A few years ago, we had several misses with service at Narcooossee's but in the last couple years, service has been great at both. If it works, I like to dine at both. In our family, it comes down to menu preference really. Kaffinito, that family in swimming suits....yuck. Shame on them.

Amanda, hi! We've been at the GF for Marathon weekend although I don't think we were in SL that trip. We watched our DS1 and his wife as they ran the half. The race goes right by the GF and it was very easy to just walk out to the road to cheer them on. Robyn's idea of Main Street sounds like fun, too. I hope Robyn can find out about fruit in the wee hours for the runners. It's not out until 7 am in our experience.

Forgot about the dormer rooms, k&a&c'smom. I wonder how many have added a daybed, too. However, the accessible room (non-dormer) we've had couldn't accomodat a normal daybed IMO. The bathroom is quite large hence the need for a love seat rather than a daybed. I have to check out the first page to see the additions.