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

[Jungle Cruiser]

K&a&c'smom, when we were at the GF last Christmas we heard the handbells also. We just stumbled across them, I believe we had just come off the monorail and heard the bells. It was magical!

Okay, I am trying to keep up with the changing plans of pas130 and WDWKOOK. Am I correct you are both doing split stays this spring but both of your vacations will include partial stays at the GF?!

Looking down on the chimney of the Gingerbread House!

 

[KCmike]

Catching up on the past few days of this thread. Ohhh KCMike, how I would love to be walking that path and ending up with my feet in the white, warm sand! Your pictures are wonderful, they make me feel like I am there.

I like the path that leads to this...

 

[Lulu'sMom]

I like the path that leads to this...

Oh....I do, too!!!!!

Loooooove all the pictures here!
Really needed to see these!

Looks like we're splitting our stay between GF RPC and the BC CL due to the 20% discount on the GF room. Hopefully that will change when the AP rates come out. Oh please! I hate moving! Especially after looking at the pool pics!

 

[Jungle Cruiser]

It's going to be in the upper 20's here tonight. How I would love to be going into that pool tomorrow! Thank you KCMike!

Lulu'sMomhave been missed the past few days. Hope you are taking it easy and taking care of yourself. I too am waiting and hoping for a good spring AP rate. That is one of the reasons we are staying BC CL the first week in January, we got a great rate.

 

[phyllis1966]

Please make me look as if I am a person who can fit in at the concierge lounge andtTell me how the lounge works in terms of where to put used plates. I assume, as in any other buffet type setting, you use a plate for a trip, eat, and then get a new plate. Is there a little drop off place or do you leave things on your table until you are ready to leave? I don't want to look like a Mayberry-ite going to the big city!

Also, does the RPC lounge have a view like the Polnesian Hawaii building?

Thanks. Getting so excited for my stay on saturday!

This trip was our first time in the concierge lounge, too (unexpected upgrade)! I was confused about where to leave plates because I thought I had read in the past that there was a table for used plates. I finally asked a lovely server who said that the table is gone, so you just leave the plates wherever you want (her words!)...I hated to do it, but usually there was someone to take your plate before you had a chance to even think about what to do with it - the CM's were all so helpful and pleasant - we're spoiled for life!

Also, we ate too much...almost every time we left or returned there was food out - DD especially couldn't bear to walk by all that yummy food without trying something (or a few somethings)...I'm still missing that lounge...

 

[k&a&c'smom]

Disney Shamrock - Me, too!

mariamouse - you're welcome! You'll be there before you know it.

Jungle Cruiser - love the gingerbread house photos you've been posting, it gets me in the Christmas mood. I've never noticed the smoke before.

KCmike - One of our favorite paths, too.

Ali - Don't worry, you won't look like a rube in the lounge! There are many people who need a hint from the cast members, don't hesitate to ask them if you are unsure what to do. They are all very sweet and eager to assist.

As phyllis1966 posted, there used to be a cloth covered table near the food service area for used plates, glasses and silverware. They have removed it, for whatever reason, and now take your plates from the table. We hate leaving our things, so we usually take them up to the cast members, but it doesn't seem to matter - they have to go over and wipe the table, anyway. There was a similar system at AKL CL, and we were forced to leave our dishes on the table, so we tried to neaten things up before we left.

As for the view, there is a nice view of the courtyard area, and you can see the top of the castle from the seating near the windows.
Seating over the atrium:

From the window tables, over the atrium:

Sorry for the reflection!

View of the castle is similar to this, but I think we took this on the 5th floor:

Children's seating area:

 

[DisneyChristmas]

We were there just three weeks ago - and they did pick up dishes from the tables very quickly.

We attempted to clear our own table the first day there and discovered that there was nowhere to place dirty dishes. So just leave everything on the table when you're finished.

As for not knowing what to do: Everybody is so excited to see the food choices that no one really notices what anyone else does.

Enjoy!

 

[TonyTigger]

Are there any runners out there? We are staying at GF for the first time Dec. 19 -23 and I am also in training for the 5K at EPCOT on Jan 6. I will probably eat my weight at Boma so I know I will need to run. Is there any paths that you see people running? Thanks for any help you can give.

 

[WDWKOOK]

K&a&c'smom, when we were at the GF last Christmas we heard the handbells also. We just stumbled across them, I believe we had just come off the monorail and heard the bells. It was magical!

Okay, I am trying to keep up with the changing plans of pas130 and WDWKOOK. Am I correct you are both doing split stays this spring but both of your vacations will include partial stays at the GF?!

Yes, those bell ringers are magical! They were at WL last Christmas and I so enjoyed looking down from the lounge and listening to them. It really gets you in the spirit.

Jungle Cruiser, you are so brave to even attempt to ask about pas' plans (yes, she is doing a GF split in April). I'm a little easier to keep up with

~Spring Break is only WL/CL. (Unless, of course my scheme to drive straight down 14-hours and stay that first night in WDW comes to fruition).

~July/August is our tri-rific split of AKL/CL (it replaced WL/CL when I booked our SB trip) then BWI/CL, followed by RPC/Deluxe Room.







Here is a vintage Christmas tree photo from today's Disney Parks Blog:

 

[WDWKOOK]

Are there any runners out there? We are staying at GF for the first time Dec. 19 -23 and I am also in training for the 5K at EPCOT on Jan 6. I will probably eat my weight at Boma so I know I will need to run. Is there any paths that you see people running? Thanks for any help you can give.

You have a few choices at the GF/Poly. You can use the treadmill at the health club or you can run down the path past the Poly (or around the Poly) and/or to the TTC. DH used to run through the TTC parking lot in the morning before it's even open. It's huge and no one is there early.

BTW, the DIS' post sequencing is all messed up again. Maybe the new servers will fix the problem.

 

[TonyTigger]

Thanks for the running info. I am always up early and after a handful of advil the path our past Poly and back sounds great.

 

[pixarmom]

KC Mike, what a beautiful pool photo!

k&a&c's mom, those views from the RPC lounge seating area are truly incredible! I thought SL was a clear choice for us, but I'll need to give it some more thought after seeing those views from the main building. Thanks for sharing - really helps those of us who have not stayed there yet get a better sense of the options at GF!

30ishmom, we haven't stayed at GF yet, but our friends recently booked the pirate cruise for their children and said it was a huge success!

 

[WDWKOOK]

Thanks for the running info. I am always up early and after a handful of advil the path our past Poly and back sounds great.

You're welcome. I guess it depends on how far you run which path works best for you. We run 5-6 miles on vacation so going back and forth repeatedly isn't ideal so the parking lot (or the treadmill) works out better for us since you can run around the perimeter.

You may have already seen this, but if not...

http://disneyrunning.com/

It has all the maps/trails.

 

[bowbat]

Here is a vintage Christmas tree photo from today's Disney Parks Blog:

WOWZERS! That is AMAZING.

 

[bowbat]

Quick question -- has anyone here used the Mouseketeer Club at GF? Did you like it? Did your kids like it? We'll be at GF in February sort of celebrating our anniversary (our anniversary is technically a week later, but I wanted to avoid the President's Day crowds), and would love a kid-free dinner out. Thanks!

 

[k&a&c'smom]

TonyTigger - Congrats on your first stay at the GF, and at Christmas to boot!

bowbat - I have never used the Mouseketeer Club, but other DISers have posted their children loved it! I hope someone is able to give a first hand account.

WDW KOOK - thanks for the photo, that tree was gorgeous!

pixarmom - We love sitting at those tables overlooking the courtyard. Oddly, we've rarely done it during Wishes - mostly in the early a.m. or afternoon, so peaceful.

Good luck with your choice! It is a difficult one, I agree, both options are good. Here is another photo of the RPC seating, the area near the TV, very comfy (food service area is on the other side of the TV wall):

 

[Jungle Cruiser]

KCMike, I think there are very few paths at the GF that don't lead to somewhere wonderful!

WDWKOOK, these vintage pictures you are posting of scenes from the GF are great. The tree is amazing, but I have to say I think I like the current decorations better. However, any tree that size is gorgeous! I am excited for you the trips you have planned. You will hit 4 CL's...looking forward to your thoughts and comparisons...dare I ask, are your plans fixed in stone?

I think I have found the cure for "pre trip excitement"...Christmas ! My count for our trip is now at 26 days, but Christmas (which I love) comes first! I usually am sad when the holidays are over, but this year 4 days later I will be at WDW! Good thing I am going...I need some new GF pictures to post!

k&a&c'smom, if I don't say it enough, thank you so much for all you do on this thread. You are a wealth of information and so good about posting. You have so many great pictures, of just about everything at the GF!!!

 

[KCmike]

Thanks for all the comments everyone. Great shots by everybody as well. That pink/victorian Christmas tree would be a sight to see. I would love to see those bell ringers in the lobby as well.

I usually don't like to show photos on my family (they don't like it ) but I have one of my silly youngest daughter going down the slide for you today...

 

[mariamouse]

k&a&c'smom, if I don't say it enough, thank you so much for all you do on this thread. You are a wealth of information and so good about posting. You have so many great pictures, of just about everything at the GF!!!

 

[TIME2DISNEY]

Hello fellow GF Lovers! I will be there for the first time in 2 weeks!
I'm sorry if this has been asked a thousand times but after seeing mariamouse's bad view, I need some help in requesting a GV room.
How does this sound, upper floor,pool view room request?
Any GV room info would be greatly appreciated!