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

[KCmike]

Thanks pas130.

 

[Jungle Cruiser]

A quick post and picture. I am here, sitting in the CL at the Polynesian looking at the castle waiting for the fireworks. Went over to the GF briefly this afternoon and we took the picture below. It's the ceiling of the lobby...we think the balloons are in place to be released NYE! I will keep you posted.

 

[WDWKOOK]

A quick post and picture. I am here, sitting in the CL at the Polynesian looking at the castle waiting for the fireworks. Went over to the GF briefly this afternoon and we took the picture below. It's the ceiling of the lobby...we think the balloons are in place to be released NYE! I will keep you posted.

So nice to hear from you! I hope you are having a great time at the KK Club. Will you be posting an "after" photo of those balloons? Have you had your dessert in the lounge yet?

Enjoy Wishes and have a fantastic vacation

 

[Figment1990]

KC Mike - Love that pic! Love standing at the MK and knowing we're headed "home" to the GF...

Speaking of heading to the GF, we finally booked our spring trip! YAY! We're staying at GF in march, and I have booked almost all of our meals. I am hoping we get our requested room location/view, but if not, I'm hoping for some pixie dust when I ask to change (offering to pay the difference, of course). We really want to stay in Conch, facing Boca Chica and dont' really care about the room type, just want the view! Forget dreaming of a white christmas... I'm dreaming of that sunrise view over Narcoosee's!

We have dinner booked at Narcoosee's and I have tea set for one afternoon as well.... can't wait!

 

[TigrLvsPooh]

A quick post and picture. I am here, sitting in the CL at the Polynesian looking at the castle waiting for the fireworks. Went over to the GF briefly this afternoon and we took the picture below. It's the ceiling of the lobby...we think the balloons are in place to be released NYE! I will keep you posted.

Awesome!!! Is the gingerbread house still up?

 

[Alli76]

Hi!!! I am new to this thread... and it is time to start thinking about my next Disney trip!!! YIPPIE!!!

I haven't stayed at the Grand Floridian since I was a teenager... yikes! I have a couple of questions about the club rooms. We stayed at the Poly club last trip and loved it. We have not decided whether to return there or move over to the Grand Floridian.

I would be looking at the Sugarloaf club standard rooms. Does anyone know what floor these are on? And how many there are? Do they have patios/balconies?

Thanks for the help!

 

[KCmike]

Thanks you all.
Here's a another just a few steps away.

 

[pas130]

Hi!!! I am new to this thread... and it is time to start thinking about my next Disney trip!!! YIPPIE!!!

I haven't stayed at the Grand Floridian since I was a teenager... yikes! I have a couple of questions about the club rooms. We stayed at the Poly club last trip and loved it. We have not decided whether to return there or move over to the Grand Floridian.

I would be looking at the Sugarloaf club standard rooms. Does anyone know what floor these are on? And how many there are? Do they have patios/balconies?

Thanks for the help!

Sugarloaf is its own Key card accessed building like Hawaii, and you'll have a balcony I think the 1st floors have balconies too/ but the GF experts can help you...

 

[pas130]

Thanks pas130.

I love your pics...ALWAYS!!!

A quick post and picture. I am here, sitting in the CL at the Polynesian looking at the castle waiting for the fireworks. Went over to the GF briefly this afternoon and we took the picture below. It's the ceiling of the lobby...we think the balloons are in place to be released NYE! I will keep you posted.

OOOOOOHHHHHHHH!!!!! How exciting!!! How's the Poly????

KC Mike - Love that pic! Love standing at the MK and knowing we're headed "home" to the GF...

Speaking of heading to the GF, we finally booked our spring trip! YAY! We're staying at GF in march, and I have booked almost all of our meals. I am hoping we get our requested room location/view, but if not, I'm hoping for some pixie dust when I ask to change (offering to pay the difference, of course). We really want to stay in Conch, facing Boca Chica and dont' really care about the room type, just want the view! Forget dreaming of a white christmas... I'm dreaming of that sunrise view over Narcoosee's!

We have dinner booked at Narcoosee's and I have tea set for one afternoon as well.... can't wait!

Congrats!!! We are doing Poly in April, but in my true Resort changing nature.....the GRAND calls.....

 

[pas130]

I just can't get over the fact that I wouldn't want to be running through the main lobby in a swimsuit I have 5 little ones, and I don't want to make a scene getting back to our room, is there a back way to get into the main building to the gold elevator. TIA.

I haven't changed from Poly CL...thinking RPC today....just a few concerns...

 

[focusondisney]

I just can't get over the fact that I wouldn't want to be running through the main lobby in a swimsuit I have 5 little ones, and I don't want to make a scene getting back to our room, is there a back way to get into the main building to the gold elevator. TIA.

I haven't changed from Poly CL...thinking RPC today....just a few concerns...

Hi! I had the same concern for our stay in Sept. Except I am 54 & I knew noone would want to see me & DH walking thrun the lobby in our swim wear, even if I was in my cover up.

There is a "back door" & elevator. You actually get off the elevator into a small hallway that also has a cast member enterance/ exit. The door exits next to the quick service place-- Gaspirilla's. And the walkway to the pool is right there. Much more comfortable & closer than going thru the lobby!

 

[pas130]

Hi! I had the same concern for our stay in Sept. Except I am 54 & I knew noone would want to see me & DH walking thrun the lobby in our swim wear, even if I was in my cover up.

There is a "back door" & elevator. You actually get off the elevator into a small hallway that also has a cast member enterance/ exit. The door exits next to the quick service place-- Gaspirilla's. And the walkway to the pool is right there. Much more comfortable & closer than going thru the lobby!

WOW! Great to know! Thank you! I remember thinking after seeing someone walk through wrapped in a towel, that I didn't want to have to do that. When we stayed at SL, we used the stairs

afternoon update I changed us to RPC for April....BACK TO THE GRAND!!!!!!

 

[followthatmouse]

afternoon update I changed us to RPC for April....BACK TO THE GRAND!!!!!!

Wonderful news, pas130! Well done. Spring at the GF! *sigh*

 

[DrMomof3]

We are less than a week away from our 1st stay at the Grand and I am super excited!
My DH and I are staying in SL with our 3 kids. A few short weeks ago I convinced my parents to join us in Disney so they can watch me run my 1st marathon. I'm treating them to a stay at the Grand (sadly not CL as that wasn't in the budget). I paid both rooms in full (we had good room-only discounts). I even was able to get them park hopper tickets with a discount! (My family has APs.) Today I did online check-in for them so all incidentals will be on my credit card (I'm sneaky that way). I didn't do online check-in for my room because when we stayed CL at the Poly it actually slowed down the check-in process. Am I correct that doing online check-in when staying CL is a bad idea?
It looks like the weather should be nice for our trip. I'm a little worried about it being TOO warm for the race but it'll be nicer for everyone else so I suppose I'll just manage the best I can (like I have a choice!). This will be a laid-back trip since my DH is running his 1st race ever (the half marathon) and I'm doing my 1st full. Kids are doing the kid races so it should all be exciting. Hoping for some down-time at the pool (don't love swimming in anything less than 80 degrees but I'll be a good mom and deal with it).
Any other suggestions for resort activites that are appropriate for 3 young children (ages 7, 5, and 3) and a mildly disabled 73 year old woman?

Thanks you to everyone who generously shares their wonderful pictures and helps get me super excited for my trip!

Amanda

 

[sillyjodes]

We are seriously considering changing our reservation from contemporary resort to the Grand Floridian. However, I have a couple questions. First, my thread search "coffee" turned up nothing. I'm horror stricken! Please someone, give me the coffee specifics, especially in room availability. Secondly, if we book the garden view (ie cheapest) will we end up with a dumpster view? I hate paying this much to only stare at trash.
Thanks!
Jodie

 

[Tink rules]

There are no dumpster views at the Grand... you can request a room location.. it is not guaranteed, but they do try their best. You can always ask to be changed if you don't like the location.

The coffee.. I'm afraid is the same swill as the rest of WDW... if you want GOOD coffee... take the boat over to the Poly and hit the coffee bar in the lobby - 2nd floor... It's Kona coffee...

 

[pas130]

Wonderful news, pas130! Well done. Spring at the GF! *sigh*

It's funny because junglecruiser mentioned I would get my GRAND trip in 2012. I really am surprised my crew jumped on board. And super excited So tea at the GF in April I even have an extra daybed that's not spoken for (if you don't mind a bunch of crazy kiddos) Oh, and a grumpy man who keeps muttering "We should've stayed at the Poly" (AKA my DH)

 

[bowbat]

Hi!!! I am new to this thread... and it is time to start thinking about my next Disney trip!!! YIPPIE!!!

I haven't stayed at the Grand Floridian since I was a teenager... yikes! I have a couple of questions about the club rooms. We stayed at the Poly club last trip and loved it. We have not decided whether to return there or move over to the Grand Floridian.

I would be looking at the Sugarloaf club standard rooms. Does anyone know what floor these are on? And how many there are? Do they have patios/balconies?

Thanks for the help!

The entire Sugar Loaf building is CL. There are some suites there, but I believe other than that, all of the rooms are considered "standard." The rooms should all have balconies or patios, but there are rooms on the top floor called "dormer rooms" that have a balcony with a solid-wall. We'll be staying there in February, and our one request was no dormer room -- with the solid-wall balconies, you can't see anything if you're seated on the balcony. Some people prefer them because they offer more privacy (and some prefer them because they have small kids & regular balconies make them nervous).

I haven't stayed there yet myself, so my answers are just my understanding. Hopefully someone with first-hand experience can confirm/correct me if needed.

 

[psac]

. Hoping for some down-time at the pool (don't love swimming in anything less than 80 degrees but I'll be a good mom and deal with it).
Any other suggestions for resort activites that are appropriate for 3 young children (ages 7, 5, and 3) and a mildly disabled 73 year old woman?

Thanks you to everyone who generously shares their wonderful pictures and helps get me super excited for my trip!

Amanda

In the evenings they have movies by the pool, and during the day they have activities/games down by the pool as well. There's also the afternoon tea, buy a three year old might not find that fun...? No idea.

Enjoy!

 

[pixarmom]

Amanda, have a wonderful trip and good luck with the marathon! If I recall correctly, we were at Poly at the same time as your family last year (weekend of January 8.) I'll look forward to hearing your report when you return.

Pas, even if there are further changes ahead, I'm still betting you end up at a monorail resort! Your DH cannot complain - he has Vero! (And he can always trade in those Vero days for the Poly.)