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

[SeaSpray]

I finally finished reading this thread and I have a question regarding concierge: Is the clotted cream for the scones back yet?? It's not a deal breaker obviously, but we LOVE scones with clotted (Devonshire if they have it) cream and jam, and it would be wonderful to have it available in the lounge every day

 

[GFFAN]

I was looking through our pictures tonight and I got so sad. I miss Disney World and the GF! For any of you having doubts about this hotel, let me tell you that it was the highlight of our trip.
We're talking about another trip when DS is in his senior year -- that would be 3 years from now, I don't know if I can wait that long!





Good luck in your bowl game ! Our team just took a beating at the Sugar Bowl and we might be losing our head coach. Not a great time for Hawaii!

New Orleans LOVED having all of the wonderful people visit from Hawaii! Thanks for visiting our great city. GEAUX TIGERS!!!!

 

[Dis Ohana]

GFFAN The people of Hawaii loved New Orleans! The residents there made us feel so welcome, there was reports of so much aloha from everyone. It really made our team and supporters feel welcome and a little easier to take that loss.

Seaspray: The whole time were were there (last month) I didn't see cream until the last day, and it was just at the bottom of a bowl . I asked for more but the lady said they were clearing tea already. Maybe you have to request it .

 

[DisneyMomx7]

We leave in just 3 days! I was wondering if anyone had any recommendations as to where to get something quick for breakfast before we head out into the parks? Is there a cafe or anything to get coffee? or Pastries?

Last year we stayed at the Dolphin and they had a nice little place to get something on the go.

Thanks so much!

We'll be there too - January 10-15 for DH to run the marathon!

Gasparilla's has quick breakfasts/lunches snacks. Don't forget to get a refillable mug for your coffee.

 

[SeaSpray]

GFFAN

Seaspray: The whole time were were there (last month) I didn't see cream until the last day, and it was just at the bottom of a bowl . I asked for more but the lady said they were clearing tea already. Maybe you have to request it .

Thank you!

 

[praline3001]

Another limo convert for Channing hahah

I did reserve a limo service other than SE but then started doing some serious research on them and well.... not to name names but I didn't like what I read.

I called SE tonight and they were great over the phone.

FYI for those who are thinking of using a limo service...
Make sure they do meet and greet at baggage claim and you do not have to call once you have your luggage and then find the limo guy.
MANY MANY limo companies do this as it saves them the parking fee (MCO charges limos $1 a minute) SE charges a little more but it is so they can park right there and you don't have to drag your luggage everywhere. If the turnstile luggage thingie takes longer than 10 minutes than SE takes the hit on the extra minutes. Of course "other limo companies" are not upfront about telling you of this little set back. When reserving a limo be specific if its important for your family to have that limo THERE rather than having to call and find the limo after you have gotten your luggage.

 

[dingoballs]

Another limo convert for Channing hahah

I did reserve a limo service other than SE but then started doing some serious research on them and well.... not to name names but I didn't like what I read.

I called SE tonight and they were great over the phone.

FYI for those who are thinking of using a limo service...
Make sure they do meet and greet at baggage claim and you do not have to call once you have your luggage and then find the limo guy.
MANY MANY limo companies do this as it saves them the parking fee (MCO charges limos $1 a minute) SE charges a little more but it is so they can park right there and you don't have to drag your luggage everywhere. If the turnstile luggage thingie takes longer than 10 minutes than SE takes the hit on the extra minutes. Of course "other limo companies" are not upfront about telling you of this little set back. When reserving a limo be specific if its important for your family to have that limo THERE rather than having to call and find the limo after you have gotten your luggage.

Does SE use stretch limos or Lincoln towncars?

 

[praline3001]

Does SE use stretch limos or Lincoln towncars?

Here is a link to their website
http://www.selimo.net/index.html

 

[Dis Ohana]

We had a beautiful stretch limo. I'm not sure what year, but it seemed very new. I loved the meet and greet. Our driver found someone to help gather and load the luggage into his car. It was so nice not to have to worry about anything after such a long flight.

 

[Lives4Disney]

That is a good point, Praline. We have NEVER had to wait on SE. They have always been waiting for us at the bottom of the escalators holding a sign w/our name. THey always get a cart and help us load our luggage and bring it out to the car which is parked right there. No hassles at all - I like hasslefree esp on vacation.

We have always had the stretch limo but I know they have towncars....once they upgraded us to a huge stretch Lincoln Navigator that fit 16 people!!!! It was extra fun.

I am glad you guys are having good SE experiences, too. I was SO HAPPY to have found them after years of so-so limo companies. I always feel really comfortable and confident in SE.

Lives4Disney

 

[Tinkaroo]

Hi again all! We just returned from our little jaunt to NYC, and now I can turn all of my attention to our upcoming WDW trip (2/16-23). Here is my first question of what will undoubtedly be many...

You may recall that I will be writing a review of the GF following our trip. I wasn't planning on making any special requests, because I thought it would be interesting to see what happens to just "regular" folk. However, the editorial assistant I’m working with would like me to make a special room request, in order to see how it is handled.

So, for all you GF experts, what one room request would you make? (BTW, We have a generic ROH room reserved.)

I'm assuming a run of the house room would be a garden view room at the GF? If so, I'd probably request one of the marina garden view rooms since those seem to be more popular (likely Sago Cay), and maybe even a dormer room to put another layer on there if you're wanting to see how they handle requests. (Dormer rooms are a teeny bit smaller in square footage though and have the solid balconies, though, so that would be something to consider...)

I'll be interested to hear about your trip and read your article!

ugh I tried to call and order several things and they wouldnt do anything
it was a real pain and this linda lady who is sup to call you back doesnt that much
I wasnt impressed

Yes, to say that she is hard to get ahold of is an understatement! I arranged an intimate dinner for DH and I on the RPC 3rd floor balcony, and I did not get her to finalize everything until the day before we left for our trip! I began contacting her almost 2 months out. I even had IPO trying to help, but their hands were somewhat tied - although after receiving a message from them that she NEEDED to call me back, she did finally. That was the only underwhelming part of my experience at the GF.

Although the dinner did come off beautifully, the food was great, and our butler was terrific!

 

[praline3001]

We had a beautiful stretch limo. I'm not sure what year, but it seemed very new. I loved the meet and greet. Our driver found someone to help gather and load the luggage into his car. It was so nice not to have to worry about anything after such a long flight.

See this is where the "tricky part" is. Most, if not all, companies SAY they do a meet and greet. they catch you with the technicalities ... at least that is what I have read and what I got from the phone calls I made today.
If you take the "meet and greet" at face value without getting VERY EXACT details to what the company "means by meet and greet" that you might get the raw end of the deal. Also, some companies have been known to call the day before and explain there "had been a change" and that the client would have to call them when they land. As its too late to make ressies with another limo company at that point they can do this and still keep the business. All of this is so you can pay $300 for a roundtrip ride to the hotel and they don't want to shell out the $10 to park at baggage claim

This may not seem like a big deal in the Big picture of your trip ... but it was for me. I want out of MCO ASAP and I don't want any mix ups or delays. I have 3 kids who are going to be going NUTSO wanting to get to Disney after a flight and lay over. I don't want to be stranded (I have read on the DIS board that this has happened SEVERAL times) or the limo be an hour late so we are stuck at MCO. I am not particular in the year or model of the limo, I am not particular in if they offer free drinks or movies or what not (which SE does by the way...) the most important thing for me was them being there for sure at baggage claim when we land. From what I researched the company I had picked out was not reliable and there were many bad reviews about it along with the fact they have the customer call the driver after they have gotten their luggage and drug it around looking for said driver ... the fact that this was not on the confirmation information I got made me leary of this company.... okay its late and I am watching the LSU game so I am rambling hahaha night ya'll!

 

[vtwep]

OK...back to castle view rooms. I read in another thread that a recent guest had a perfect view from Conch Key. Are the castle views in Sago Cay as good as Conch Key? Currently, I have requested upper floor with castle view in either Conch or Sago. Also, is one of the building better located on the property (better for pool, etc?)? Do you recommend changing the request to Conch only? Or leaving both? (and I do know these are just requests...but I did book a theme park view room to help!)

 

[dingoballs]

Here is a link to their website
http://www.selimo.net/index.html

Thanks! I'll check that out.

We had a beautiful stretch limo. I'm not sure what year, but it seemed very new. I loved the meet and greet. Our driver found someone to help gather and load the luggage into his car. It was so nice not to have to worry about anything after such a long flight.

That's great!

That is a good point, Praline. We have NEVER had to wait on SE. They have always been waiting for us at the bottom of the escalators holding a sign w/our name. THey always get a cart and help us load our luggage and bring it out to the car which is parked right there. No hassles at all - I like hasslefree esp on vacation.

We have always had the stretch limo but I know they have towncars....once they upgraded us to a huge stretch Lincoln Navigator that fit 16 people!!!! It was extra fun.

I am glad you guys are having good SE experiences, too. I was SO HAPPY to have found them after years of so-so limo companies. I always feel really comfortable and confident in SE.

Lives4Disney

I just requested a quote from SE. We usually use Tiffany Towncars. Did you ever provide a client testimonial for SE?

 

[praline3001]

Thanks! I'll check that out.



That's great!



I just requested a quote from SE. We usually use Tiffany Towncars. Did you ever provide a client testimonial for SE?

You might want to call them as i got everything taken care of with 1 phone call. I was charged $120 one way plus the $10 baggage claim fee.
I had them include a 20% gratuity to the total and it came up to (round trip) $298 with tip/tax and whatever fees that might have added and didn't tell me
GO LSU!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Dis Ohana]

Praline, that's good advice you gave on checking out what to expect from a limo company. I think I'd be very upset if I expected them to meet and greet and they pulled that on me. As you said, after a long flight with little kids in tow, who needs the hassle? Especially if you're paying for it!

We've been misled by other limo companies before, but I was very confident about using SE because of the high recommendations from Channing. We were not disappointed.

 

[praline3001]

Praline, that's good advice you gave on checking out what to expect from a limo company. I think I'd be very upset if I expected them to meet and greet and they pulled that on me. As you said, after a long flight with little kids in tow, who needs the hassle? Especially if you're paying for it!

We've been misled by other limo companies before, but I was very confident about using SE because of the high recommendations from Channing. We were not disappointed.

I have never used a limo service in Orlando so this was all new to me. Other places we have gone to this has not ever been a problem before... I guess since Orlando is tourist place #1 its common for everyone to make an extra buck off the tourist
The "other company" sent me a REALLY creepy email a month ago about how people were stealing their customers and that I was responsible for reporting anyone who tried to do that. SORRY but I am on vacation and don't want to get involved into any local problems hahaha there was more to the email I got but that was the jist of it. Who knows, this company could be GREAT... I don't know as I have never tried it before ... I would hate to say anything at all bad about this particular company as I just don't know.... All I do know is that email creeped me out and today I did some research and didn't like what I read so to BE ON THE SAFE side I changed to SE. Now with all of this said... watch SE won't show up at the airport and we will be stranded like Gilligan's island hahahaha

 

[praline3001]

Channing~
I had one more quick question about SE and I will shut up
I got an email from them confirming the ressies and in it there is this:
Your chauffeur will be waiting for you in the baggage claim area, second level side B with a meet and greet sign.
I have never flown into MCO before (we usually drive to Disney) so I don't know the lay out very well. Do you meet up with the driver BEFORE you get your luggage or after? I know you mentioned meeting at the bottom of the escalator and in New Orleans that would be on the way to getting your luggage but I have been to other airports where the escalator was AFTER you got your luggage.
i do have a good reason for asking
If we meet the limo guy BEFORE we get our luggage, Savannah and I can go sit in the limo while the "men" retrieve our bags
There is NOTHING more fun than trying to retrieve bags from the turnstile with a 6 year old running to and from tripping over everyone's bags

 

[praline3001]

OKAY I have a quick GF question ... can you tell I am excited we leave in 23 days

My DD wants a pal mickey and has saved her money to buy one when she gets there. I would like to get one at the GF when we check in rather than the parks so we don't have to lug the box and try and get it to work while in the park.

Anyway, is there any store on the 1st floor that sells pal mickey at the GF?
I was thinking of keeping her busy while daddy was checking in by going in and picking one out. I would rather not hit the second floor as DH might need me for check in

 

[marcij]

When I was there last week, they didn't have any PMs in the store on the first floor. Of course, they still had a lot of Christmas out which was taking up room, so they might have some by the time you are there.

Have you thought about having one delivered to the resort so it is there and waiting on her? I know there are sometimes delivery issues, so that might not be the best option for you, but I wanted you to at least know that it's a possibility. Good luck with the planning!