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

[spacec47]

I just called about the Visa Card discount, but it doesn't apply to the GF. But I just got my Pirate and Princess Tickets for April 4th!!!

I have a random question for the experts...... Our final night of our 8 night trip is RPC (1st 7 will be GV). What is the process for switching rooms within the same resort? Will we be able to use the RPC lounge even if the room isn't ready? What do you do with luggage?

Thanks!!

 

[Lives4Disney]

I just called about the Visa Card discount, but it doesn't apply to the GF. But I just got my Pirate and Princess Tickets for April 4th!!!

I have a random question for the experts...... Our final night of our 8 night trip is RPC (1st 7 will be GV). What is the process for switching rooms within the same resort? Will we be able to use the RPC lounge even if the room isn't ready? What do you do with luggage?

Thanks!!

You can check in any time with the RPC CMs. From then on you will have lounge access on your key until I believe midnight the day you leave. It's super easy...you can call before you leave your previous room and ask if your concierge room is ready and then have the luggage tferred directly to it, otherwise you'll have to have bell services come and take it and store it until your rpc room is ready for you.

Question about that visa code not being for GF....was it that GF just wasn't available for your requested dates or no GF at all on that visa deal??? They seem to be getting REALLY stingy on the GF discounts. I remember a couple years ago they couldn't get people into it at all.

Enjoy,

Lives4Disney

 

[cp_princess]

Thanks Lives4 - yeah I do hope, if not for room numbers to request, to at least find some pictures of those types of room layouts. I actually went with the Theme park view because I'm really doubting we'll get an upgrade. I know DFTW tries to do that sometimes if they can. However because I don't want to get my hopes up, plus I know the parade is being filmed that week, and I know that currently they don't have any suites available to book at GF for those dates I'm not thinking is in our future room-wise anyway. They seem to have booked up some time ago on the suites. I'm thinking we'll have a full house at the resort since we're coming in the Monday after Thanksgiving plus because of the parade. But I definitely appreciate the input. I so far have only asked for the Castle view if possible - because that is the most important part of it for me. However a king bed would be nice too. I don't want to make too many requests though because I've read/heard of them fulfilling maybe your second request over your first and I really don't want to accidentally request something that while easy to fulfill would take us out of the running for a castle view. So at this point I'm trying to be patient and leave it up to some Disney magic but the waiting and not knowing is really rough because I'm so excited by the whole thing.

Thanks again,
Christine

 

[Lives4Disney]

Thanks Lives4 - yeah I do hope, if not for room numbers to request, to at least find some pictures of those types of room layouts. I actually went with the Theme park view because I'm really doubting we'll get an upgrade. I know DFTW tries to do that sometimes if they can. However because I don't want to get my hopes up, plus I know the parade is being filmed that week, and I know that currently they don't have any suites available to book at GF for those dates I'm not thinking is in our future room-wise anyway. They seem to have booked up some time ago on the suites. I'm thinking we'll have a full house at the resort since we're coming in the Monday after Thanksgiving plus because of the parade. But I definitely appreciate the input. I so far have only asked for the Castle view if possible - because that is the most important part of it for me. However a king bed would be nice too. I don't want to make too many requests though because I've read/heard of them fulfilling maybe your second request over your first and I really don't want to accidentally request something that while easy to fulfill would take us out of the running for a castle view. So at this point I'm trying to be patient and leave it up to some Disney magic but the waiting and not knowing is really rough because I'm so excited by the whole thing.

Thanks again,
Christine

Christine all the rooms look the same now so you can look at the pics at the start of this thread & see the new decor. Ya, if castle view is super important just request that.

FWIW, we were there last Thanksgiving and flew home the Monday after and in talking to many GF CMs heard that THEY take their vacations that week right after Tgiving. They told me everything dies down after the Thanksgiving rush and crowd leaves. THey can enjoy the parks with their kids/grandkids without the hideous crowds. It's probably a really nice time for you to be there.

Happy planning,

Lives4Disney

 

[Tinkaroo]

OK so I've been lurking since about November. Trying to keep up with the thread before I posted but that never seems to happen .

I had a question about rooms, and I'm sorry if it's been covered before. My DF and I are spending the days leading up to our DFTW and part of our Honeymoon at GF. I'm so excited because it's always been my dream to be there for my wedding night ! Anyway what I was wondering is does anyone have or know of where I could get some good room numbers to request for our Theme Park View (BU category) room? My first priority would be a castle view (which I know can't be guaranteed) second priority would probably be king bed. Also if anyone knows of where I could see a room layout for this category and possibly pictures I'd be so excited and grateful. I've found some other layouts but not specifically for a BU room. I know I should probably just wait till I get there but I'm such a planner and would love more specifics and ideas on what to request to try to make another part of this dream come true!

TIA,

Christine

The layouts of the room (other than suites, lodge tower rooms, etc.) are going to be pretty standard across the board. As Lives4 pointed out, decor is now all the same, too, so there aren't even those differences any more.

Tammi McMan has posted on her website the layouts/booking codes of most of the GF rooms. The Theme Park View just came into being last year, so her website doesn't reflect the particular BU category. However, your layout will be similar to the GV or LV category. You can view her site here: https://home.comcast.net/~tammimcmanus/gf_rooms.htm

Hope this helps! We were there the week you're talking about last year, and didn't find the resort very crowded at all. We were in RPC, and I think that was somewhat full due to the parade celebs (we did see Kelly Ripa in the lounge), but other than that, I think that is one of the slower weeks.

Have fun planning!

 

[grannyminnie]

I'll second the fact that the park was not so crowded that week after this past Thanksgiving. We were also at the GF...Sugarloaf, and it was not bad at all in the lounge.
As Channing said, CMs have told me that it's a "down time", if there ever is one in WDW now...

 

[marcij]

For our split stay, I am going to pack bags for the 1st 4 days, bags for the 2nd 4 days, and a general bag for both parts. Then at least I'll only be unpacking one set at a time! You could store the bags for the 2nd part of your trip with Bell Services if you don't have a car.

While it's more work before the trip, it's way easier during the trip. I do this for our cruise/WDW days, and it works beautifully! Great minds think alike!

 

[praline3001]

I will be back at WDW in march from the 7-10th I am booked at the Poly but thinking of switching to the GF.

nooooo you have to stay at the poly

you were my lab rat

if you had a stinky time there I was going to upgrade

:::shaking my head:::: what am I going to do NOW?!

 

[Alicnwondrln]

i am staying at the Poly no worries
I will be the rat for ya
after all you sent me that king cake

 

[praline3001]

i am staying at the Poly no worries
I will be the rat for ya
after all you sent me that king cake

nothing like greasing the wheels with sticky king cake to get what you want

 

[Alicnwondrln]

Yeah I am gonna leave it there I have stayed at the GF ALOT more so and we are at the GF in July for 9 nights.

 

[praline3001]

Yeah I am gonna leave it there I have stayed at the GF ALOT more so and we are at the GF in July for 9 nights.

Well too bad you won't be going in June... you could leave DH with your boys and come have a girlie week with us

Princess week here we come

 

[Alicnwondrln]

I wish. I am looking forward to my July trip though.

 

[FeeFeeWhite]

Is there a list of rooms reviews for the GF anywhere on the Dis?

 

[Alicnwondrln]

i dont think so
I would check out
www.allearsnet.com and click rate and review
and then I would check out
www.tripadvisor.com

 

[FeeFeeWhite]

Great ideas. Thanks.

 

[Alicnwondrln]

yeah people usually come back and then tell us about the rooms
I have been making a chart and when we start the next thread I will list them and link in that.

 

[tholczer]

I finally figured out I should post my question over here. Just hoping someone could tell me the best building for garden view room views and quiet at the GF. It's our first trip. And although I would love to read all 165 pages to find the answer (honestly, I love reading this stuff) I don't think I will have the time!

Also - our week is sold out at the GF and I'm wondering if anyone knows if when the 45 day mark comes around, some rooms open up. We're hoping to upgrade.

Any info would be great!

 

[praline3001]

I finally figured out I should post my question over here. Just hoping someone could tell me the best building for garden view room views and quiet at the GF. It's our first trip. And although I would love to read all 165 pages to find the answer (honestly, I love reading this stuff) I don't think I will have the time!

Also - our week is sold out at the GF and I'm wondering if anyone knows if when the 45 day mark comes around, some roomes open up. We're hoping to upgrade.

Any info would be great!

We just got back and stayed at Conch Key and it was very quiet. It was a little walk from the main building but it was a very pretty walk and we enjoyed it very much.

 

[Lives4Disney]

hi guys.....so Kelly you are doing poly? Did you squeeze into concierge? They'll probably get you in somehow.

I got ANOTHER email from the GF IPO today. Same email as before, but just "since my check in is within 30 days" (yay) I should contact them etc. ASAP. I think they're worried about me showing up and demanding they make all my ADRs and get us into CRT etc. last minute & then throwing a huge fit when it doesn't happen . Maybe I should email them back just to put them at ease, haha, and let them know it's all under control.

Since we're doing a split stay, we will just be walk ups at check in. Always feel like a dork walking up without luggage or a car. Maybe I should at least tell them what time we plan on showing up.

I did A LOT of Ebay shopping for custom stuff. Praline you are SO BAD for me. I can't even keep track of what I ordered. I get emails from diff people asking me questions about how they should do this/that and I have to figure out what they're doing for me. It'll be fun when it all starts showing up - totally surprising.

Well talk to ya later -

Lives4Disney