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

[Alicnwondrln]

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

I believe the store on the 2nd floor is the one that sells the pal mickey

ETA that sandy cove store should have him

 

[Lives4Disney]

Good morning, GF fans.

Praline....You get off the plane, follow the crowd and you take a monorail to the terminal...whatever it is I don't pay attention just walk, haha.....I think MCO is the EASIEST airport I have ever been in. Easy and nice, too. Although our home airport is Ohare. Anyway....you get off the monorails and follow the crowd again - toward the right and you will see escalators or a bit farther on the wall elevators.....go down and the limo drivers are all there at the bottom facing the escalators holding signs. THEN you will walk over and get your luggage. The SE car is parked in a lot right across from the exit. The driver will assist you w/luggage and walk you out and then you will wait at the curb - he crosses the street and brings the car to you. Just a minute wait. You won't be able to sit in the car w/out your family or the driver but usually it only takes minutes for the luggage (for us anyway ) and you will be off!!!!

Whenever we've been there they've had Pal Mickey at the downstairs store and upstairs....send your DH up while you check in. Marcy has been most recently, so she'd know.

Dingoballs, no I didn't! I would have though! They've been awesome for us. I have used them for a few years now - all our trips unless we've had a rental car, which isn't often.....anyway I had a few doubts about them last time as things seemed a little different and then I found out the previous owner sold and moved on. I think he's the one that gave SE it's great name and reputation and hopefully the new owner will keep up the level of service. Just a very few tiny things that clued me in....the old SE used to call 48 hrs before service both ways to confirm. They also had my CC on file and this time it wasn't.

PS...haha I bought our air - ONE WAY to MCO for March 19. I am waiting to decide when to return home.

Happy planning,

Lives4Disney

 

[Alicnwondrln]

woo hoo
I hope you guys have a great time Channing !!

 

[praline3001]

Good morning, GF fans.

Praline....You get off the plane, follow the crowd and you take a monorail to the terminal...whatever it is I don't pay attention just walk, haha.....I think MCO is the EASIEST airport I have ever been in. Easy and nice, too. Although our home airport is Ohare. Anyway....you get off the monorails and follow the crowd again - toward the right and you will see escalators or a bit farther on the wall elevators.....go down and the limo drivers are all there at the bottom facing the escalators holding signs. THEN you will walk over and get your luggage. The SE car is parked in a lot right across from the exit. The driver will assist you w/luggage and walk you out and then you will wait at the curb - he crosses the street and brings the car to you. Just a minute wait. You won't be able to sit in the car w/out your family or the driver but usually it only takes minutes for the luggage (for us anyway ) and you will be off!!!!

Whenever we've been there they've had Pal Mickey at the downstairs store and upstairs....send your DH up while you check in. Marcy has been most recently, so she'd know.


PS...haha I bought our air - ONE WAY to MCO for March 19. I am waiting to decide when to return home.

Happy planning,

Lives4Disney

Thanks Channing, sounds easy enough. Ouch Ohare ... that is
That and LAX are my two most hated airports
i most likely will be the one to check in if there are problems but I don't like dealing with the technical stuff while on vacation I let DH handle that junk. I guess it depends if there is a line or not as to whether or not I leave him.

 

[kblandino]

We have booked 3 rooms with Magic Kingdom view. How do I request a castle view and how soon in advance should I call?

What are some suggestions for the best building with a Castle View that would accomodate a child in a wheelchair?

Thank you for your help.

 

[Tinkaroo]

PS...haha I bought our air - ONE WAY to MCO for March 19. I am waiting to decide when to return home.

Happy planning,

Lives4Disney

So I guess JoJo caved?

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

We have booked 3 rooms with Magic Kingdom view. How do I request a castle view and how soon in advance should I call?

What are some suggestions for the best building with a Castle View that would accomodate a child in a wheelchair?

Thank you for your help.

Unless I am wrong about this I don't think all the Magic Kingdom view rooms at the Grand Floridian come with a direct view of thr castle. Now I am no expert on the Grand Floridian so I might be wrong about that.

The one thing I can not answer is about the best view for a child in a wheelchair, so hopefully someone else can.

 

[Lives4Disney]

So I guess JoJo caved?

Yep! A really nice Disser sent me a bunch of pics of her dd having a ball at Epcot and she pmed me some great info. I told Jojo and showed her the pics and that was it...although she said if she tries it and doesn't like it she doesn't want to do it again. Fair enough.

We are a go.

 

[Lives4Disney]

sorry double.....why is the Dis doing this and it is running SO S LL OOOoooo WWwwwwwwwwwwww

 

[Babyboo]

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

We were in SL from 17/12 - 27/12 and they had clotted cream every day with scones

 

[Babyboo]

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

Pal Mickeys were available at Sandy Cove the whole time we were there (12/17 - 12/27).

 

[SeaSpray]

We were in SL from 17/12 - 27/12 and they had clotted cream every day with scones

Thanks for this info!

 

[Alicnwondrln]

Hey everyone I just wanted to let everyone know that Sago is indeed done and complete. Also the Main Building is CLOSED and no one is staying in it as they are re-tiling the foors. I spoke with a CM this evening and she will let me know when they are almost done.

 

[praline3001]

Hey everyone I just wanted to let everyone know that Sago is indeed done and complete. Also the Main Building is CLOSED and no one is staying in it as they are re-tiling the foors. I spoke with a CM this evening and she will let me know when they are almost done.

lets hope they are done before I get there

 

[praline3001]

Kelly, is the entire building closed or just the upstairs part?
The lobby or just the rooms?

 

[Alicnwondrln]

the CM I know works in at RPC and they are closed she is working in sugar loaf because of it. SHe said the main building was closed and since the main building is only concierge it seems like the whole building is closed.

 

[praline3001]

but what about 1900 and the shops and stuff? All closed? All of the dining is in the main building so I wonder how they are going to do that with ADRS and all?

I hope this is done before I get there

 

[GFFAN]

but what about 1900 and the shops and stuff? All closed? All of the dining is in the main building so I wonder how they are going to do that with ADRS and all?

I hope this is done before I get there

Praline, the work is being done at night (starting at 10 pm) and all restaurants are open. Our reservations for Citrico's were changed to an earlier time in the evening so that we could be out for 10 pm. We were told that we would be moved back into the main building early on the morning of January 15th. Three nights of our stay will be in Sugar Loaf before moving to the RPC.

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

Praline, the work is being done at night (starting at 10 pm) and all restaurants are open. Our reservations for Citrico's were changed to an earlier time in the evening so that we could be out for 10 pm. We were told that we would be moved back into the main building early on the morning of January 15th. Three nights of our stay will be in Sugar Loaf before moving to the RPC.

Are you getting some discount for having to stay in Sugar Loaf or are you just paying the Sugar Loaf rate and then the Royal Palm rate once you go stay there?

 

[minniesota]

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!)

I see this got lost in the shuffle - I'll try to answer your question. I've only had a castle view in Sago (never stayed in Conch) and it was a fantastic view. Some people think Conch is more dead-center but there are also some pretty good-sized palm tress in front of Conch that you may be looking around. I think Sago is slightly closer to the main building and pools but Conch is closest to the boat dock. My impression is that Sago's theme park view rooms would all be castle view (someone correct me if I'm wrong) and they would offer a quieter location than Conch. All that being said, I personally would vote for Sago but that's my experience talking! Good luck!