The *NEW* Grand Floridian Resort and Spa FAQ thread (Nov 2007)

[arbonnette]

I am so happy to hear from you!!!:

But you are omitting the best information!!!!
How did you tell your daughter and what was her reaction????

I can't believe I forgot about that.
In the morning, on the way to the airport, she thought we were driving 3 hours to the beach. Her PawPaw (my dad) asked her why she was dressed like Minnie. She said for Mardi Gras. He said, "Well, Hannah since you are dressed like Minnie today, why don't we skip the beach, take an airplane, and go see Minnie and Cinderella at Disney World?!?! She laughed at first and told my dad that we didn't have plane tickets. (Such a practical 5 year-old!) He told her we did have plane tickets and her eyes got super wide and she said "OK!" She was so excited. I got teary-eyed!

Glad you love the GF!! How is the lobby? Is it in disaray with construction or neat and in order?

The lobby looks great. The carpet is great for all the little princesses who are enjoying dancing to the orchestra (cushions the falls!). In fact, if someone didn't know that there was tile, you really wouldn't think anything was different. The carpet is very pretty, IMO.

First that 50lb limit and now charging for a second bag!!?!?!? Geeze. I am really pretty bummed. What's next?

Southwest let mine go without an overcharge ... It was 54 lbs! And it wasn't even full! One checked bag is pretty harsh, I think.

Arbonnette, when you come back to us I hope to hear how your daughter reacted when you sprung this trip on her!!! What fun! You deserve an award for keeping it secret for so long! Keep having a great time!

Thanks, we are having a blast. Crowds are pretty good and it is sooo sunny and warm! We are resting this afternoon and goign to the P&PP tonight. I am not a huge fan of the parties, so we will see how it goes ... hopefully, not too crowded.
I completely understand why you cannot stay away from the GF. I am so in love; I am trying to convince my parents to book again for the Bounceback they are offering ...

In regards to the "chat" on here, isn't it better to have a thriving (occasionally "chatty") board than boards where no one ever answers anything and the thread gets lost completely! IMO, Kelly, you do an awesome job keeping up this thread, and everyone who can answer ? tries to ... And that is the point, right? Wanted to put my two cents in.

Have a great day, everybody.
- Andrea

 

[Tink rules]

I got an email about the united thing this morning. I dont fly them that much but I was like wow that stinks!

I'm waiting to see if they either recind it due to people's reactions or the other airlines take it on...

Just like the fare increases years ago...lots of them backfired and it changed pretty fast...

I hear this is instead of a fuel surcharge... also they fly alot of cargo... I guess if we don't pack as much they can charge for more cargo...

 

[BamaTigger]

um....still waiting on an answer about how the lobby looks!

anyone know????

 

[TammiMcMan]

I don't get the issue anybody could have with this thread I honestly don't .....the FaQs are all easy to find at the very front. They poster that raised the chitchat "problem" hasn't posted in months - it would be great if she were here more to join in the chit chat , lol....it's us chit chatters that keep this thing alive.

First of all Channing, I wish that I could be around more, but my life has become super busy with the kids. I thought it would be easier as they got older, but they're involved with more and more things every year. I do check in quite frequently, I just don't have the time to participate in a lot of the conversations. I do miss everyone . Secondly, my post didn't say that chit chat was a "problem". I didn't even use that word in my post. I was only trying to point out that with this new policy, a strong thread like this one, can reach 250 pages quickly. Once it gets closed down, we can read it, but with FAQ threads, people only look at the most current. It's a lot of work to re-create the first few pages, with all the links to info and pics. I just thought if I kindly pointed that out, we could maybe consolidate a bit more and save Kelly or someone else, from having to do just that every 4 or 5 months. I know people are concerned with the thread somehow getting lost or bumped down, but it is a sticky right at the top of the 1st page. I automatically click there instead of trying to find what page it's currently on.

I don't have an issue with the thread, I actually love it and want to be sure that it continues to offer GF fans the information that they need. When CaliD started the first FAQ for the GF, I was able to contribute some of that original information. I didn't mean to come off critical or snobby to anyone here. A few years ago a great group, very similar to this one, bascially self-destructed because the mods deemed their resort board thread as too chatty and not "on topic" enough. I guess I may be overly sensitive to that happening again and would hate to lose anymore of my DIS friendships.

I'm sorry to have taken up a valuable post count with this, but I did want to respond. I guess I'll be rolling along now .

 

[Cinderumbrella]

um....still waiting on an answer about how the lobby looks!

anyone know????

See Andrea's post above...

 

[Lives4Disney]

Andrea! What a cute story. I am glad you are loving your trip! Enjoy the party tonight.

Tammi, it's all good. I know Kelly keeps in touch w/the mods a bit & so far it's all ok. We were just going along and enjoying ourselves and your post kind of brought up that maybe what we were doing here is not OK. I'm sorry if I offended you by using the word "problem" regarding the chattiness, but that's what I understood from your post that you were alluding to it being. If this sounds nasty, I don't mean it to be. I was just very surprised to read your particular post out of the blue . You haven't been around lately - and I am sorry about that -and all of a sudden you seem to be policing the thread. I am sure Kelly will check it out with the moderators.

Happy day,

Channing

 

[princessesrule4]

Hi everyone! Wow, you were all busy on here...my computer was down and boy did I miss a lot!

Well...I did it again. I booked my reservations for the GF and I can't wait to return!! But what is all this talk about the marble in the main lobby? We are going in June and I hope we are not in the middle of all the racket. Can anyone verify what I am in for?

Hi Lives4disney, I see you couldn't stay away from the Grand on your next trip! Why doesn't that surprise me?

Hey Magical,

We are going in June too! Lives4Disney heard that the marble is supposed to be delivered and installed this summer. I was hoping mabye Arbonette might hear something but I guess she didn't see my post!

Hopefully someone else might hear something about it from a CM and post here!

 

[BamaTigger]

See Andrea's post above...

aaahhh!! I see said the blind man!! DUH...must of been all the *ahem* chit chat going on!!! (kidding) frankly, I like the chit chat.... example--I know not to fly with bunch of luggage...i aint paying extra ....the cabanas arent worth renting ...and LIVES4DISNEY got her plaque off ebay!!! Very cool!!! I learn alot!!

Im glad there wont be any DISNEY-struction going on in a few days!!!

 

[Cinderumbrella]

aaahhh!! I see said the blind man!! DUH...must of been all the *ahem* chit chat going on!!! (kidding) frankly, I like the chit chat.... example--I know not to fly with bunch of luggage...i aint paying extra ....the cabanas arent worth renting ...and LIVES4DISNEY got her plaque off ebay!!! Very cool!!! I learn alot!!

Im glad there wont be any DISNEY-struction going on in a few days!!!

See, all of that in 5 pages or less!! Have a terrific trip and remember to report back what YOU think of the lobby!

 

[BamaTigger]

See, all of that in 5 pages or less!! Have a terrific trip and remember to report back what YOU think of the lobby!

 

[Alicnwondrln]

Hey everyone
I think things are fine here and lets try to keep it that way. When I re did the thread in Nov someone had complained that the thread was to long and chatty. I have not heard from the Mods about this thread being an issue. I think people chatting about it being an issue draws attention to us that we dont need. Lets just keep rolling the way we are and then we hit 250 we will start again.

Thanks everyone

 

[hobbester]

I'm here now. First time at the Grand Floridian and I love it. We are in the Boca building facing the lake with Space Mountain and a little of the castle in site (there is a tree in our way for the castle). They opened the main pool this morning and it is beautiful. Just wanted to say that I've been reading this thread for a while and thanks for all the planning tips (example: I asked if an upgrade was available and they gave me the lake view). Well I've got to go and get ready for the Pirates party, I'll post some pictures in a couple of days.

 

[tinklvr64]

Hi all--just putting in my 2 cents...I like this thread...I am a GF lover!!...If I dont want to read about chit-chat from other posters, I keep on going...I dont post all that often but read all the time...

Hi Illini friends, I see we are in for another round! I think you guys up north are going to get hit harder than us! Snow Day? Sick of winter, YES!

Tammi, just a quick tidbit you may be interested in...Evan Lysacek is from my city and he and my daughter went to the same HS...Dont know him, but his Mom sub taught in our bldg a few time, havent seen her around lately though.

Thanks to all that keep this thread up to date....You all do a great job!

 

[NJPluto]

Hi all!

I started a thread on the resort board but didn't get a response sooo...I decided to come to the experts on all things GF!


December will be our first stay at the GF. Needless to say, we are super excited!!!! I'm SO excited that I started reading this thread from beginning to end (I'm about half way done!). So many of my questions were answered but I did get to thinking about the size of the room. My twins will be 18 months so we need 2 cribs. Is it going to be a tight fit? I'd really appreciate any input you experts have!

Thanks!!

 

[Cinderumbrella]

I have never stayed at the GF with a crib but I would think you would be fine. GF rooms are pretty big. I'm not sure how many king bed rooms there are but I would probably have CRO mark on the ressie a request for a king bed with the 2 cribs to help out.
Have fun!!

 

[magical4us4]

Hey Magical,

We are going in June too! Lives4Disney heard that the marble is supposed to be delivered and installed this summer. I was hoping mabye Arbonette might hear something but I guess she didn't see my post!

Hopefully someone else might hear something about it from a CM and post here!

Thanks princess! We will be arriving the second week of June, I can't wait!

 

[NeverSayNever]

WE HAD A GREAT TIME!!!

Just got back home a couple of hours ago... had to do a quick Hey... and well we had a fantastic time!!

(Sorry no time to catch up on all the pages I missed... so I hope I am not being redundant)

The quick tidbits...

Magical express was really good for us again, arrived at GF to a crowded lobby and line for checkin (the lobby is not under construction by the way.. .looks great... even if it is all carpet). I was a little concerned thinking with all these people not gonna have much room/building choice... OH, did we get surprised... when our CM said... someone will be down in a minute to take you to your room... My eyes got big like a little puppy dog and I asked are we in "THIS" building... have we been upgraded... YES YES YES!!!

What an incredible room 3rd floor direct view of the castle (pictures to come...) WOW... was all we could keep saying ... what a view!!

Everything else was great... details to come... Anyone have questions...?

Weather was exceptionally warm... even got to have a pool day... MK seemed very crowded (long long wait times... Winnie the Pooh 1hr? Pirates.. more then 1hr??) to me but what do I know, only one other trip to compare too... and then it seemed very quiet...

Re the quiet pool (is that the right term?) they were starting to take down the construction barricades this morning before we left so looks like it will be in use very soon.

Resort seemed quiet and wonderful to us as it did before, although I think it was a full house. Dinner time did make the lobby busy but not out of control... it was fun.

1900 Park Fare dinner.. all though I did not go, DS and DP did... heard the stepsisters were outrageously funny... and it all flowed very naturally.. was told the food was good too, by DP.


Ok.. I gotta unpack but just wanted to stop in and say HI!

Best,

 

[Lives4Disney]

Hi all!

I started a thread on the resort board but didn't get a response sooo...I decided to come to the experts on all things GF!


December will be our first stay at the GF. Needless to say, we are super excited!!!! I'm SO excited that I started reading this thread from beginning to end (I'm about half way done!). So many of my questions were answered but I did get to thinking about the size of the room. My twins will be 18 months so we need 2 cribs. Is it going to be a tight fit? I'd really appreciate any input you experts have!

Thanks!!

I agree with CinderUmbrella... I would request a king room. There would be more floor space...otherwise you will be able to squeeze them in, but it might be a tight, inconvenient fit. Maybe one by the sliders and one near the desk area....you'll probably have to rearrange some furniture in a queen/queen room. OR, maybe they would take the daybed out for you???

Magical - That is great news you have a trip planned!!! Ya, the last I heard about the tile, it was being imported from Italy and supposedly it will arrive in summer....maybe they will wait a bit until it's not a busy season to put it in. I can't imagine they'd do it right in the middle of crowded, full capacity summer.

Never!! We must have posted at about the same time!!! OK, somebody took you to your room??? Direct castle view!?!?!?!?! Did you get upgraded to RPC??!?!??! How wonderful - I can't wait to hear more.....come back!!!!!!!!!!

Happy planning,

Lives4Disney

 

[DVC Mary]

Illinois people understand this.

Please send some pixie dust that my flight doesn't get cancelled. I'm so that I can't sleep--migraine coming on. I only have 2 nights at the GF then we transfer to the BWV for 2 nights. I hate to be down to only one.

There's a huge snowstorm warning until 6 pm tomorrow evening. We're flying out of Midway. I'm thinking of taking the kids out of school early, taking the CTA through downtown Chicago, in order to prevent driving on the roads.

I have a room booked near Midway that I can cancel by 6pm if it looks like we can't get out.

If I get to the airport early, I'm hoping to get on an earlier flight.

Our flight is the last one of the night to Orlando, so I'm afraid they'll cancel it b/c they'll be backed up w/ the 4 flights before us between noon & 5pm.


I just want to escape all this snow & get to my magical place!

Thanks again for all the great advice on this thread.

 

[HockeyMomR]

DVC Mary -Marylander here, but I wanted to send some pixie dust your way, I know how you have been planning to make this a special Disney trip. Best Wishes with the weather