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

[CoachBagFanatic]

Lisa S. ~ thanks for the ideas. Where do I get the buttons?

Sweetly, last year we took our son and his BF to WDW for their 8th grade graduation. At that time I called up and spoke to the CM and she added it for me. When we arrived at BLT, they congratulated Michael and John for graduating 8th grade and hand them buttons. It was also John's first time so they handed him a first visit button as well.

For my current reservation, I was able to add it via the computer. Next year we will be celebrating our 25th wedding anniversary.


k&a&c'smom ~ thanks!

Has anyone had any experience with the online check in?

I LOVE this thread. Getting so excited that soon it will be our turn at Grand & the World.

We have rented the cabanas but never specified which we wanted. None of the others have ever been occupied when we were there and we typically just waited until we saw the position of the sun and requested based on that. We have found we prefer the one on the end closest to the bar, not sure of the corresponding number. I am sure you could request the one you prefer through IPO, I believe 90 days is as far out as you can book but I am not sure. I have never had any trouble booking and as I mentioned none of the others were occupied during our visits.

Thanks so much about the info on the cabanas. We like the position of #3 and the one that you are referring to is #4. I will definitely make the request with IPO.

CoachBagFanatic - thanks for giving us the scoop! I'm sure you can put your request in with IPO and they will take care of it for you. Sounds like you shouldn't have any trouble getting the cabana you prefer.

My Pleasure.

 

[catyanna]

10 more days till my magical stay!!!! I just did on-line check-in. These will be the LOOOOOONGEST 10 days of my life.


Does anyone know if there is an espresso machine in Sugarloaf? If so I will be in heaven!

 

[k&a&c'smom]

catyanna - Yes, there is an espresso/cappucino machine in SL. Ten days to go, woohoo!

CoachBagFanatic - that has been our experience as well; if we have the celebration info on the reservation, they nearly always hand us the buttons without prompting.

 

[janeapplemeadow]

10 more days till my magical stay!!!! I just did on-line check-in. These will be the LOOOOOONGEST 10 days of my life.


Does anyone know if there is an espresso machine in Sugarloaf? If so I will be in heaven!

Yes, there is a wonderful coffee machine in SL. I enjoyed it so much on my last trip, that my friend joked that I should have slept in the lobby. Have fun at the GF, I wish I were going again this summer, but work gets in the way.

 

[KCmike]

 

[smithgrandchild]

Yes, there is a wonderful coffee machine in SL. I enjoyed it so much on my last trip, that my friend joked that I should have slept in the lobby. Have fun at the GF, I wish I were going again this summer, but work gets in the way.

I believe the AKL CL has the same machine. I just loved that machine! We were there during January so I was craving coffee more than I would during the summer months.

 

[Mouseturtle]

So the past 3 years DS14 and I have come in May - this year is our 1st Christmas trip! Yay!

We booked the bounce back offer at 40% off. They are saying club level is not available so we briefly considered going to Beach Club which had CL but we decided to stay "home" at the GF


When I go to book online the Sugar Loaf is available...do they only have a certain number allotted for the bounce back offers? Will something possibly open up? It's the week after Thanksgiving which I heard wasn't busy. Just curious. We are "used" to SL and really want to stay there. If not I'm not sure where to request to stay... we LOVE a pool view

 

[Jungle Cruiser]

So the past 3 years DS14 and I have come in May - this year is our 1st Christmas trip! Yay!

We booked the bounce back offer at 40% off. They are saying club level is not available so we briefly considered going to Beach Club which had CL but we decided to stay "home" at the GF


When I go to book online the Sugar Loaf is available...do they only have a certain number allotted for the bounce back offers? Will something possibly open up? It's the week after Thanksgiving which I heard wasn't busy. Just curious. We are "used" to SL and really want to stay there. If not I'm not sure where to request to stay... we LOVE a pool view

When we were staying at Sugar Loaf in June I called about the bounceback offer for the beginning of Oct., hoping to book Sugar Loaf again. They told me that none of the concierge level rooms were available, at any deluxe hotel using the bounceback offer. The people working the concierge desk confirmed this. So, that's the problem, concierge level rooms were not allocated with that offer.

However, we were able to book Sugar Loaf once the AP discounts came out. I booked that right away, suspecting that there were not a lot of rooms at that discount. That being said the AP discount was less than the bounceback discount.

 

[Lulu'sMom]

When we were staying at Sugar Loaf in June I called about the bounceback offer for the beginning of Oct., hoping to book Sugar Loaf again. They told me that none of the concierge level rooms were available, at any deluxe hotel using the bounceback offer. The people working the concierge desk confirmed this. So, that's the problem, concierge level rooms were not allocated with that offer.

However, we were able to book Sugar Loaf once the AP discounts came out. I booked that right away, suspecting that there were not a lot of rooms at that discount. That being said the AP discount was less than the bounceback discount.

I beg to differ, GF RPC and SL rooms are allocated on the bounceback offer.
We originally had booked the GF RPC deluxe queen for this Sept. and they also had the SL available. Plus I had inquired about November and was given the SL as an option. The room availability is limited and go quickly, just like the APs.

HTH.

RE read your post: There are probaby none left this time of the year, as we booked ours in May.
Keep calling, as someone scored and got our RPC deluxe queen room when we cancelled, right?

 

[Lulu'sMom]

Also, just a thought, the CR CL is being refurbed, so all of their guests for Sept thru Nov have been relocated to the GF's RPC. May be a reason why there is lack of availablity too.

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

Also, just a thought, the CR CL is being refurbed, so all of their guests for Sept thru Nov have been relocated to the GF's RPC. May be a reason why there is lack of availablity too.

I just wanted to mention only the Tower Club 14th floor at the Contemporary is being renovated. The Atrium Club 12th floor is not being renovated, however I guess because of noise from the 14th floor is why those guests are also being moved to the Polynesian and Grand Floridian.

 

[Mouseturtle]

I guess I'll keep trying then -maybe I'll get lucky at the 45-day mark when people cancel. It would make sense that CL is an option since I've spoken with 4 different CM and all of them told me to keep trying.

 

[Lulu'sMom]

I just wanted to mention only the Tower Club 14th floor at the Contemporary is being renovated. The Atrium Club 12th floor is not being renovated, however I guess because of noise from the 14th floor is why those guests are also being moved to the Polynesian and Grand Floridian.

Thanks for clarifying that, CR fan!

Mouseturtle, just keep calling!
Sending postive pixie dust your way!

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

Thanks for clarifying that, CR fan!

No problem.

 

[Wendy5055]

Only TWO more days until we are back home at the Grand!!!!

We cannot wait...magic always happens at the Grand Floridian.

 

[Jungle Cruiser]

I beg to differ, GF RPC and SL rooms are allocated on the bounceback offer.
We originally had booked the GF RPC deluxe queen for this Sept. and they also had the SL available. Plus I had inquired about November and was given the SL as an option. The room availability is limited and go quickly, just like the APs.

HTH.

RE read your post: There are probaby none left this time of the year, as we booked ours in May.
Keep calling, as someone scored and got our RPC deluxe queen room when we cancelled, right?

Sorry for the misinformation, however I was only repeating what I was told by two different cast members. I think the lesson learned is just keep trying for the various discounts, no matter what you are told. And, as you said, if you changed rooms, your original room was available again.

 

[catyanna]

k&a&c'smom, janeapplemeadow, smithgrandchild Thanks for the espresso info. My Father & I will both be very happy! We are Cuban so espresso is as close as we are gonna get to our Cuban coffee which we LOVE but can only get at Bongo's in DTD.
Is this espresso machine available all day? Or is it just for morning offerings?

 

[k&a&c'smom]

catyanna - I have heard Cuban coffee is very addictive, and hard to find outside Miami (or maybe Ybor City in Tampa?)! Any decent coffee can be tough to find on WDW property, although DD mentioned the regular coffee at GF Cafe was much better this past March - the CM said they had recently changed brands.

The CL cappuccino machine is available all day, starting at 6:30 a.m. and running until 10:00 p.m. I'm not a coffee drinker, so others might be able to say whether they've been able to get espresso during late night or even earlier hours? The machine is there, so I'm not sure how that works - whether they turn it off.

 

[BamaTigger]

Hello ALL!

Just thought I would drop in and give you a nice review of our July 4th stay in RPC! Pics are here!

http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.1856401896488.2094391.1434077539&l=9c8b8a875a

Stayed in room 4403, MK view and it was fabulous! The room was great, the view was PRICELESS and the Concierge lounge was GREAT! Not a single problem with the stay and we would do it again! My DH got TWO spa treatments, we did the pool thing, the fireworks at Narcoossee's thing, and lounged in the lobby a bit!

Ready to go back in November! (this time Beach Club again. )

If you cant view my pics, just let me know!

 

[BamaTigger]

OH yea, here are some pics from our January trip that I forgot to post here.


http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.1556457638069.2074714.1434077539&l=984119fbab