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

[KCmike]

Thanks for the nice comments. I think I've got some interesting shots coming your way in the future. Here's today's entry.

 

[KCmike]

Summer Lace Shop with reflections of GF Lobby

 

[pas130]

KCMike Your pictures are great. Is it a hobby? Awe inspiring

 

[contemporarymom]

Hi All! Hope you'll indulge a GF newbie. Due to some construction at the Tower Club we changed our reservation to RPC TPV. I was wondering if anyone could help out with room numbers, floors, views etc. We've always stayed at the CR CL so this is a whole new experience for us. Thanks in advance for any and all help!

 

[k&a&c'smom]

KC Mike - Love the photos, very interesting and beautiful!

luvmarypoppins - I know various DISers have posted the dates that the gingerbread house has historically been started. It varies, but last year, it began around November 7 or so, and we had a report that it was open by November 16. I think they try to have it completed each year by Thanksgiving, the traditional start to the Christmas season.

contemporarymom - Welcome! Ask anything you like, that's why we are here! Many knowledgeable posters here to help.

If you take a look at the map on page 1, it will help you get an idea of the layout of the resort and the orientation of the main bldg. The RPC TPV rooms are all on the third and fourth floors of the main building, above Gasparilla's Grill. Your view will be over the marina, looking at the castle. I have a photo, taken from Conch Key, looking at the area of the main bldg. where these rooms are located (first floor, Gasparilla's; second floor, honeymoon king rooms; third and fourth floors RPC TPV). The main building section is in the center of the photo:

And here is a link to page 5, post #71 from the previous FAQ, where minniesota has posted a nice photo of the view from one of these rooms: http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2427062&highlight=gingerbread+house&page=5

 

[contemporarymom]

Thank you so much k&a&c'smom! I truly appreciate your help. We've been staying at the CR for so many years this vacation will be a completely new experience for us. I've been trying to read through the GF threads to familiarize myself with the resort and I'm getting a general idea. I may have some more questions so I'll just say thanks in advance!

Who knows? We may fall in love with RPC and wind up alternating our stays.

 

[followthatmouse]

We were devoted CR guests for many years, contemporarymom. We decided to try the GF following a nasty incident at the Contemporary. We had a quiet room in Boca Chica, thought it pleasant and went straight back to the CR. Going back was a mistake. We missed the ambiance and service of the GF and decided to try RPC. Well, we won't stay elsewhere, now. The room (4422) was large, filled with light and convenient as it was on the lounge level. The food was good, the service excellent. It is a particular joy to come home to the Main Building with its particular aroma and the music from either piano or band. There are many knowledgable people on the thread. So, ask away.

KC Mike, I am enjoying your lovely photographs. Well done. As an enthusiastic amateur, I appreciate your talents and I love your choice of views.

 

[KCmike]

We were devoted CR guests for many years, contemporarymom. We decided to try the GF following a nasty incident at the Contemporary. We had a quiet room in Boca Chica, thought it pleasant and went straight back to the CR. Going back was a mistake. We missed the ambiance and service of the GF and decided to try RPC. Well, we won't stay elsewhere, now. The room (4422) was large, filled with light and convenient as it was on the lounge level. The food was good, the service excellent. It is a particular joy to come home to the Main Building with its particular aroma and the music from either piano or band. There are many knowledgable people on the thread. So, ask away.

KC Mike, I am enjoying your lovely photographs. Well done. As an enthusiastic amateur, I appreciate your talents and I love your choice of views.

Thanks. I feel like an amateur myself. There are so many greats on these boards. I am starting to get my feet wet. The key is to take a lot of shots and practice practice practice. Framing, composition, and lighting all part of the process too.

 

[KCmike]

KCMike Your pictures are great. Is it a hobby? Awe inspiring

Thanks. Amateur status. Trying to get better with each passing day. Hobby would be the right word for me now.

 

[followthatmouse]

Thanks. I feel like an amateur myself. There are so many greats on these boards. I am starting to get my feet wet. The key is to take a lot of shots and practice practice practice. Framing, composition, and lighting all part of the process too.

Oh, that's a beautiful photo. Yep, I take hundreds of shots in order to get six 'keepers'.

 

[k&a&c'smom]

contemporarymom - I think you should prepare yourself for alternating stays, as it is difficult not to fall in love with the GF, and especially, RPC!

followthatmouse - isn't it wonderful to come back "home" to that smell, and hear the band or piano while grabbing a snack or drink, or simply walking to and from the room?~sigh~

KCMike - your photos are excellent, can't wait for more!

 

[pas130]

Thanks. Amateur status. Trying to get better with each passing day. Hobby would be the right word for me now.

They are beautiful My daily inspiration to get me to November...my first GF visit

 

[jdd]

New to this thread - made a ressie yesterday for the GF at the end of September (with the new room discount). It will be just myself and DS10 along with my sister and her DD12. We've never stayed at the Grand, and are looking forward to it!

Since this is DS10's birthday trip, I'd like to get a less "feminine" room if possible - is there a better building to request for this? Most of the pictures I see of the rooms are very flowery

 

[kha100399]

does anybody have a floor plan layout with the rooms labeled with their room numbers? I have seen this for other WDW resorts but have not seen one for GF. I am thinking about changing part of our December stay, and would like to see especially the main building layout.

thank you for any help!

 

[k&a&c'smom]

pas130 - November will be here before you know it! Not too quickly, though, as summer is my favorite season.

New to this thread - made a ressie yesterday for the GF at the end of September (with the new room discount). It will be just myself and DS10 along with my sister and her DD12. We've never stayed at the Grand, and are looking forward to it!

Since this is DS10's birthday trip, I'd like to get a less "feminine" room if possible - is there a better building to request for this? Most of the pictures I see of the rooms are very flowery

Congrats on booking your first GF stay - the first of many, I hope.

All the rooms at the GF are now decorated in the same way. Are you looking at recent photos, or those from prior to the 2007 renovations? There are photos on page 1 of this thread, post #6, with the current room decor. They are still somewhat floral, as is much of the resort, but we've traveled with guys of all ages who have loved the GF!

does anybody have a floor plan layout with the rooms labeled with their room numbers? I have seen this for other WDW resorts but have not seen one for GF. I am thinking about changing part of our December stay, and would like to see especially the main building layout.

thank you for any help!

Welcome!

I do not know of any sites with floor plans, including room numbers. DisneyZone has some maps, but the one for the GF is the same as on the first page in this FAQ. Too bad, as it is nice to have that info, even if some of it is outdated.

 

[pas130]

pas130 - November will be here before you know it! Not too quickly, though, as summer is my favorite season.

I know it! Tomorrow is my 180 day mark And I left it up to the IPO to make our ADRs. They gave me some great ideas for my friend's birthday dinner, we'll see which one we get.

 

[jdd]

pas130 Congrats on booking your first GF stay - the first of many, I hope.

All the rooms at the GF are now decorated in the same way. Are you looking at recent photos, or those from prior to the 2007 renovations? There are photos on page 1 of this thread, post #6, with the current room decor. They are still somewhat floral, as is much of the resort, but we've traveled with guys of all ages who have loved the GF!

Thank you - very excited for our first stay! I was looking at the photos from the first page of this thread (maybe we'll just take the comforters off the beds ) I actually booked a deluxe room, because that was what was available with the disount (outer bldg), so I'd love to see some pictures of those rooms if anyone out there has them.

 

[Lulu'sMom]

Thank you - very excited for our first stay! I was looking at the photos from the first page of this thread (maybe we'll just take the comforters off the beds ) I actually booked a deluxe room, because that was what was available with the disount (outer bldg), so I'd love to see some pictures of those rooms if anyone out there has them.

I've got some older pics of a deluxe room in the Sugar Loaf, but none since the rehab, sorry.

My DS has always loved the GF, and he is a BOY-BOY. LOL
It's on the monorail, it has speedboats, on a beach, has a pool, an arcade, room service,
a place to get pizza, etc! DS has stayed there since he was little and he still thought it was "cool" in his teens!

Now he's in college and wanting to transfer to another school this fall,$$$$, so we had to downgrade from RPC to SL,(wah!) but I'm still thrilled to be at the GF!
He smiled and hugged me today and told me, "Have a Grand time at the Grand, mom!"

 

[stitchlet]

. . . He smiled and hugged me today and told me, "Have a Grand time at the Grand, mom!"

That is so sweet!

 

[jdd]

My DS has always loved the GF, and he is a BOY-BOY. LOL

Yes, that's how I'd describe all of mine - BOY-BOYS . I'm sure we'll love the GF - I just feel a bit badly because he requested to go back to the Poly, but there isn't any availability (with the discount) for the weekend we're going. Maybe we'll have a new favorite