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

[spreadingpixiedust]

Have any of you done both the DxDP AND CL? Would love to read about your experience!

I have not done both but I can not imagine trying to eat that much food!! We stay CL mainly for the breakfast and nightcaps. We take water and snacks from the lounge into the parks cutting way back on buying food.

We have used the dining plan without CL and loved it but still it was more food than we would normally order.

I recently stayed CL at the Grand Californian at Disneyland and used the lounge almost exclusively for all my food. (it was only a short walk from the parks to the lounge)

Sorry I don't have better info. Maybe others can advise better?

 

[k&a&c'smom]

MommyGina, what encouraging news about your DH's dad! I hope he continues to improve, and is much, much better soon. Good luck on your trip, I hope you make it and are able to have a good time, without worry. Won't be long now!

WDWKOOK - I have not used any dining plan ever - so I'm no help! I will say, I can't imagine having the DxDP with so much food available in the lounge. On the other hand, if you plan on doing Signature restaurants every night, and one or more TS on most of your trip, it might be worth it. But we are always stuffed when we stay CL, I can't imagine trying to work TS credits into the mix.

BCV23 - Thanks for the link. It sounds like it's permanent, huh?! I was so hoping I'd read the news, and have some hope it is a maintenance shut down. Phooey.

 

[disneydreamin247]

k&a&c'smom Thank you. That is a fantastic idea. My parents have started talking about not going (completely unrelated to the monorail debacle) so it may just end up being myself solo with the 2 kids. I think DD will be spending less time playing on the floor so I can delay learning to crawl.

 

[MommyGina]

Thanks everyone for the well wishes for my FIL (don't know why I called him FIN). That's the way my mind has been this past week!

 

[nrpofp]

Have any of you done both the DxDP AND CL? Would love to read about your experience!

I haven't done it, but I would love too. It would take a 40% discount for me to justify the cost. I would not stay cl for the food. Cl for me would be about room location, convenient breakfast, and the happy hour beer and wine. I love eating at the signature restaurants and I don't think I would be able to give that up. If you can afford it, and really want the all inclusive vacation, and a little extra pampering I would do it. If you feel like you have to eat all that food to justify the cost then its probably not a good idea.

 

[Lisa S.]

My mom and I are doing the DxDP and staying CL in August - I'll let you all know how it goes!

 

[KCmike]

Hope this isn't a previous post. I had several similar to this.

 

[johnsonet]

Hope this isn't a previous post. I had several similar to this.

That just transported me to the GF lobby

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

CRFan, the ability to use the resort monorail to dine at the other resorts is exactly what I meant. That's what we will miss. Our family doesn't use EMH with very rare exceptions but always dines at California Grill when we stay at the GF or Polynesian. It's fun to go there via monorail but I would hate to worry if we'll be finished with dinner in time to catch the monorail. If the reported change includes the resort monorail, I suppose we'll always drive. I agree that the change in the Epcot monorail will be a pain for monorail resort guests.

Well I guess driving is the next best option if you have a car. Now during my previous stays at the Contemporary we always happened to have a car because we either drove down from Toronto or flew down and rented a car. However not once when going from the Contemporary to the Polynesian or Grand Floridian did we use our car because we always had the Resort Monorail and taking our car never came to our minds, unless we needed to go somewhere offsite or in WDW where the Resort Monorail doesn't go to.

 

[WDWKOOK]

I wonder what bean counter thought that this was a great idea.

I guess the one with the Quarterly Earnings Estimate in front of them

I have not done both but I can not imagine trying to eat that much food!! We stay CL mainly for the breakfast and nightcaps. We take water and snacks from the lounge into the parks cutting way back on buying food.

We have used the dining plan without CL and loved it but still it was more food than we would normally order.

I recently stayed CL at the Grand Californian at Disneyland and used the lounge almost exclusively for all my food. (it was only a short walk from the parks to the lounge)

Sorry I don't have better info. Maybe others can advise better?

Thanks for your input

WDWKOOK - I have not used any dining plan ever - so I'm no help! I will say, I can't imagine having the DxDP with so much food available in the lounge. On the other hand, if you plan on doing Signature restaurants every night, and one or more TS on most of your trip, it might be worth it. But we are always stuffed when we stay CL, I can't imagine trying to work TS credits into the mix.

Well, we always have at least one ADR, sometimes two, per day without the DDP. We don't really do CL for the food alone. Although breakfast is convenient, DH and DD love a nice, hot breakfast with some eggs, etc... so I usually book one breakfast every other day. And we always have one TS late lunch or dinner everyday. We don't ever try to make a meal out of the 5-8 offerings. So that's why I was asking the question since we have those ADRs anyway.

I think we've decided to do what we usually do and forgo the DDP. The only times we ever had the DDP was back when the appetizer and tip were included. Since they removed those features, we've never done it again. And since we get 20% off TS food and drinks with the TIW card, it's hard to beat that by buying a plan that has components we don't need when staying CL, like snacks and mugs. But after August 4th our APs expire so we may re-consider the DxDP for a future trip if we don't have TIW.

My mom and I are doing the DxDP and staying CL in August - I'll let you all know how it goes!

Are you booking signature dining for dinner or three one TSs per day? I'll be on the lookout for your CL/DxDP-TR!

 

[k&a&c'smom]

disneydreamin247 - I hope your parents decide to go with you! LOL about the baby crawling.

KC Mike - I don't recall seeing that photo, with the flower arrangement in the foreground. Nice!

WDWKOOK - We are like you, and always book dinner reservations when we stay CL, and sometimes lunch (and a few b'fasts, lol - love Kona and the GF Cafe).

When I said I wouldn't want to have to work in TS credits, it was more about the idea that we would feel we HAVE to use something for which we had already paid. There is so much food available at the GF, if we just have a snack a few times throughout the day, we get very full. Sometimes, we are so full we drop a TS here or there, or only get an appetizer or two at dinner. With the DDP (and especially the Deluxe!) you are paying up front for appetizer, entree, dessert and drink - even if you are only able to use part of those components.

We, too, usually have APs and a TiW card - but our APs ran out in May, and with my PIN code for our upcoming trip, it came out cheaper to get regular tickets this trip. We'll be without a TiW card for the first time in...forever!

 

[WDWKOOK]

WDWKOOK - We are like you, and always book dinner reservations when we stay CL, and sometimes lunch (and a few b'fasts, lol - love Kona and the GF Cafe).

When I said I wouldn't want to have to work in TS credits, it was more about the idea that we would feel we HAVE to use something for which we had already paid. There is so much food available at the GF, if we just have a snack a few times throughout the day, we get very full. Sometimes, we are so full we drop a TS here or there, or only get an appetizer or two at dinner. With the DDP (and especially the Deluxe!) you are paying up front for appetizer, entree, dessert and drink - even if you are only able to use part of those components.

We, too, usually have APs and a TiW card - but our APs ran out in May, and with my PIN code for our upcoming trip, it came out cheaper to get regular tickets this trip. We'll be without a TiW card for the first time in...forever!

I agree with your rationale and that makes perfect sense to me. I know what you mean about not having the APs/TIW, but we'll be just fine, won't we? I guess it will be one less thing to have to worry about. I tend to obsess over how many days of use I get out of the AP and where I can use the TIW. Maybe without them I'll live with abandon!

 

[Lisa S.]

WDWKOOK - I'm afraid between the lounge and the DxDP we're going to be eating all the time. . .but sacrifice we must! To answer your question, we're doing signature dining 2 nights, and regular TS most of the other meals (we don't arrive until late afternoon the first night and leave before breakfast the last day, so we have plenty of credits to play with). I'm looking forward to utilizing the lounge mostly for adult beverages in the evenings and maybe some desserts - but I'm sure that will change once I see the offerings! Can't wait!

 

[WDWKOOK]

WDWKOOK - I'm afraid between the lounge and the DxDP we're going to be eating all the time. . .but sacrifice we must! To answer your question, we're doing signature dining 2 nights, and regular TS most of the other meals (we don't arrive until late afternoon the first night and leave before breakfast the last day, so we have plenty of credits to play with). I'm looking forward to utilizing the lounge mostly for adult beverages in the evenings and maybe some desserts - but I'm sure that will change once I see the offerings! Can't wait!

You must do it for the DIS, Lisa S.! (I'm saluting you). Please report back your DxDP/CL findings; I will live vicariously through you. (Now, I'm tipping my hat to you).

 

[k&a&c'smom]

WDWKOOK - LOL - I know! I think we've avoided snacks and maybe even CS in the parks, due to feeling a need to get full use out of our TiW card.

Here's to living with abandon!

. . .but sacrifice we must!

 

[Lisa S.]

You must do it for the DIS, Lisa S.! (I'm saluting you). Please report back your DxDP/CL findings; I will live vicariously through you. (Now, I'm tipping my hat to you).

I definitely will report back. And I got an awesome new camera for Christmas that I've finally learned to use acceptably, so I'll post pics when I get back too. Only 45 days!

 

[k&a&c'smom]

Thanks everyone for the well wishes for my FIL (don't know why I called him FIN). That's the way my mind has been this past week!

Certainly understandable.

 

[micknme]

We always do Dlx DDP because we like going to the dinner shows as well as the signature restaurants. We always plan our ADR's so we will only have two meals a day. This way we don't come home 10 pounds heavier than when we left!!! Also, I find we eat healthier meals when we have TS over CS because I am really trying to stay away from fried foods (put me at a CS and I have to have chicken fingers, fries etc...no will power whatsoever!!!).

 

[Adlergray]

Micknme: I do the same thing, if we do counter service I eat junk and then more junk 2 hrs later when I'm hungry again If I sit down and eat I make much better choices and stay full much much longer. I'm still trying to lose the baby weight too so gaining weight at disney this trip will not make for a happy home coming

 

[Lulu'sMom]

We always do Dlx DDP because we like going to the dinner shows as well as the signature restaurants. We always plan our ADR's so we will only have two meals a day. This way we don't come home 10 pounds heavier than when we left!!! Also, I find we eat healthier meals when we have TS over CS because I am really trying to stay away from fried foods (put me at a CS and I have to have chicken fingers, fries etc...no will power whatsoever!!!).

ITA!!!!! we always do the signature meals and even the ROOM SERVICE! Remember, you never know when you'll want that breakfast delivered! And the GF has the best in-room dining service on property!
PLUS, dinner from Narcoosee's or Citrico's can be delivered to your room. yes!, for two credits per person, gratuity included, you can have lobster and filet, the almond-crusted cheesecake brought to your room.
Simply get the menu from the concierge desk or go to the restaurants and request a copy of their menus.
Easy peasy. Love it. You'll spend every meal credit, guaranteed, especially with the Grand's 24 hour dining service.