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

[Tink rules]

I think I'm going to have a cake done for my mom's bday because we will be there for 4 days before our cruise and then we can pack up the rest of the candy and take it with us!!!!

BTW... I heard somewhere that if you do get flowers that sometimes there is a crystal hidden mickey somewhere in the arangement... not sure if that is always true...but I bet it's fun!!!

 

[Tink rules]

Here's the link to the cake... Considdering what others are saying they paid for cakes from Private Dining... I think this is a pretty good alternative I also saw one made with Oreos too... It's called Just add milk...

http://www.disneyflorist.com/product/waltdisneyworldflorist-mickeys-happy-surprise-cake/display

 

[Alicnwondrln]

Hey all my GF friends!!

Heres my 2 cents on some recent postings.
I like Peggy for the gift baskets and would use her before the others. I like disney florist but they are very pricey.
Also with private dining FOLLOW UP is the key. The woman who handles the special cakes can be tough to get a hold of and isnt very timely. I order stuff from private dining all the time. Lately they have been very shady. Things not getting delivered, over charging me and other annoyances.
If you order something follow up a few days later and make sure everythings in the system right.

 

[Alicnwondrln]

Also if you order something from the cakehotline
I also would follow up

 

[Alicnwondrln]

Lives4Disney, or any other GF regulars....
How about Garden views? What are your favorites? We too just booked with the 40% code and would love a pretty, peaceful view/location (oh! haven't I read somewhere that there are a couple of GV rooms with views of the fireworks? That might be fun!) What are your favorite garden view locations??

THANKS!

LUCK DOG!! Good for you. I would also go with Sago. Congrats

 

[arbonnette]

All the talk about balloons and cakes has made me rethink what we are going to do to celebrate DD's 5th birthday. We are eating at 1900 PF our first night there, and I thought I would tell the hostess it is her birthday there. I decided a while back NOT to order a cake (even though I really wanted to) because I know it would be too much food and I wanted custard and strawberry filling which DD does not even like and I thought, "Who am I really ordering this cake for? DD or myself??"

I would like to do something special for her though, and my question is, since we are staying in RPC, can I ask IPO for something specific? I would like one of those huge princess balloons sold on Main Street at MK, an autograph book, and a card signed from Cinderella? Has anyone asked for something like this before? I am assuming I would have to give them a CC# ...
Also, I have been collecting small inexpensive items for DD (tattoos, glow wands, princess hair access.) and I would like to make my own surprise basket but I am not sure I can travel with it without her seeing it. (We are flying.) What are some opinions about me shipping it to the GF ahead of time (with delivery confirmation!) and asking for it to be placed in the room with the balloon and card?

TIA!
- Andrea

 

[Tink rules]

If you go Sago... Request Marina view - or else you might not like being too close to the monorails... JMO

 

[angelkk]

If you go Sago... Request Marina view - or else you might not like being too close to the monorails... JMO

Do you mean some GV rooms in Sago are noisy, and the noise are caused by monorail?

I wanted a quiet GV room (has a "sensitive" baby that need peaceful nap), any suggestions?

 

[Tink rules]

No...it's just that one side is closest to the monorail like. The monorail isn't noisy... not at all... It's not like a train...it runs on rubber wheels... it's just that one side faces the marina and the other the monorail...

here's a picture...

Front of Sago...

Shot of monorail line with Sago in the picture... (We stayed in Conch Key)

 

[praline3001]

All the talk about balloons and cakes has made me rethink what we are going to do to celebrate DD's 5th birthday. We are eating at 1900 PF our first night there, and I thought I would tell the hostess it is her birthday there. I decided a while back NOT to order a cake (even though I really wanted to) because I know it would be too much food and I wanted custard and strawberry filling which DD does not even like and I thought, "Who am I really ordering this cake for? DD or myself??"

I would like to do something special for her though, and my question is, since we are staying in RPC, can I ask IPO for something specific? I would like one of those huge princess balloons sold on Main Street at MK, an autograph book, and a card signed from Cinderella? Has anyone asked for something like this before? I am assuming I would have to give them a CC# ...
Also, I have been collecting small inexpensive items for DD (tattoos, glow wands, princess hair access.) and I would like to make my own surprise basket but I am not sure I can travel with it without her seeing it. (We are flying.) What are some opinions about me shipping it to the GF ahead of time (with delivery confirmation!) and asking for it to be placed in the room with the balloon and card?

TIA!
- Andrea

Have you looked at disneyflorist.com? You can order her a gift basket and they deliver it to the hotel... they have tons of cute kid baskets. Maybe you could order it and let the staff know its coming and ask them to put it in your room to surprise her? Just a thought...

 

[praline3001]

AACKK I I clicked send too fast and the board is slow and acting up on me

Anyway, if you want her room decorated or another place to get a basket try this person, I have heard really good things about her though I have never used her:
http://www.peggyssweetsandmore.com/decorateresortroom.htm

I have one of those chocolate slippers coming for Savannah. Its not a huge cake so it won't stuff her but something cute and special and girlie for her...
I don't have the number to call for that but I know if you ask Kelly nicely I am sure she can get you that number
You can have the slipper delivered to her at dinner or to the room...

 

[ekball]

Hi, Ekball!!! OMG - you guys with that 40% off have me envious!!! That's great.

Well for garden view I would choose Sago with a MARINA view. That is considered Garden....same with Conch. I honestly don't know which GV rooms would have a fireworks view. Anybody know?? I would choose Sago for the convenience factor - close to Gaspies and also that is is close to the marina for that Wishes viewing and near the path to the bus stop and the main building...there is a map at the front of this thread & you can see the locations of the buildings. Boca Chica has pretty courtyard pool garden views - same with Big Pine. I think most GV at the GF are nice - there are always a handful of icky ones, though here and there. Enjoy!

LUCK DOG!! Good for you. I would also go with Sago. Congrats

Thanks for the help guys. I have LOTS of reading to do!!

 

[arbonnette]

AACKK I I clicked send too fast and the board is slow and acting up on me

Anyway, if you want her room decorated or another place to get a basket try this person, I have heard really good things about her though I have never used her:
http://www.peggyssweetsandmore.com/decorateresortroom.htm

I have one of those chocolate slippers coming for Savannah. Its not a huge cake so it won't stuff her but something cute and special and girlie for her...
I don't have the number to call for that but I know if you ask Kelly nicely I am sure she can get you that number
You can have the slipper delivered to her at dinner or to the room...

Ooo, the slipper is a great idea! I saw some pictures of those over on the cakes thread. If I remember correctly, only the GF bakery makes them, but they will deliver them elsewhere. And I love your DD's name. It rhymes with my DD's name, Hannah!

I saw the Peggy's Sweets site AFTER I spent months collecting little things for DD from a variety of places. I really have quite a great collection of Princess and Minnie items. We will only have one carry-on, so I am thinking I could make the basket, put it in a large gift box to "hide" it, and then put the box in a shopping bag and carry it on the plane. The things we do for our children!

Btw, PRALINE, are you doing the P&PP? We are still trying to decide because we got rained on last year for MVMCP and that left a damper on Disney our party enthusiasm!

 

[Alicnwondrln]

you have to call Private dining to get the slipper and they are picky about it
that number is 407-824-2474

if you want balloons and an autograph book you can tell the IPO and they will buy the stuff and set it up in the room
it will just as nice as the florist and save you money
I have the IPO shop for me all the time

 

[praline3001]

Ooo, the slipper is a great idea! I saw some pictures of those over on the cakes thread. If I remember correctly, only the GF bakery makes them, but they will deliver them elsewhere. And I love your DD's name. It rhymes with my DD's name, Hannah!

I saw the Peggy's Sweets site AFTER I spent months collecting little things for DD from a variety of places. I really have quite a great collection of Princess and Minnie items. We will only have one carry-on, so I am thinking I could make the basket, put it in a large gift box to "hide" it, and then put the box in a shopping bag and carry it on the plane. The things we do for our children!

Btw, PRALINE, are you doing the P&PP? We are still trying to decide because we got rained on last year for MVMCP and that left a damper on Disney our party enthusiasm!

We have our tickets for PPP on Feb 2. We have ADRS for LLT at 4:10. I figured that would give us plenty of time to eat and prepare ourselves for the fun! My DH keeps teasing me about Capt. Jack .... he says if I embarrass him, he is hiding my plane ticket to get home
We can deal with rain, but not this freezing cold rain that we have been having lately. Have you been outside tonight?!? My hibiscuses are all going belly up!

I have seen some adorable slippers pics on the boards. I am excited to see hers!!!
That's cute about thier names! I named Savannah after that movie "Savannah smiles"

 

[arbonnette]

you have to call Private dining to get the slipper and they are picky about it
that number is 407-824-2474

if you want balloons and an autograph book you can tell the IPO and they will buy the stuff and set it up in the room
it will just as nice as the florist and save you money
I have the IPO shop for me all the time

Thanks, Kelly. I am going to call today. I would just want the slipper delivered to the room to make things as simple as possible.

We have our tickets for PPP on Feb 2. We have ADRS for LLT at 4:10. I figured that would give us plenty of time to eat and prepare ourselves for the fun! My DH keeps teasing me about Capt. Jack .... he says if I embarrass him, he is hiding my plane ticket to get home
We can deal with rain, but not this freezing cold rain that we have been having lately. Have you been outside tonight?!? My hibiscuses are all going belly up!

I have seen some adorable slippers pics on the boards. I am excited to see hers!!!
That's cute about thier names! I named Savannah after that movie "Savannah smiles"

That sounds like a great plan for P&PP. We are going to have to play it by ear for the night of the 5th. My hibiscuses are looking terrible ... and I just heard on the weather it may freeze again?! Maybe all the cold the Gulf Coast is experiencing now will mean we will have great warm weather in Orlando in two weeks! I think it has been cold there lately too.

 

[tidblgrrer]

If you are going to ship your "gift items" ahead use UPS not the Postal Service. The Postal Service has issues with the Disney address system so your items do not always show up in a timely fashion. We shipped many things ahead of time via UPS and everything arrived promptly and was placed in our room. We even purchased a new stroller for the trip and had it shipped directly to the hotel instead of our home.

At 1900 Park Fair we did order the small cake at the hostess stand. You can't pre-order the small one, but they do personalize it with the name once you are there. The choices are very limited, but she loved it. They also gave her a birthday crown and placemat. I assume they do that for all birthdays not just those with cakes.


Have a great trip.

 

[3for Me]

Hey all my GF friends!!

Heres my 2 cents on some recent postings.
I like Peggy for the gift baskets and would use her before the others. I like disney florist but they are very pricey.
Also with private dining FOLLOW UP is the key. The woman who handles the special cakes can be tough to get a hold of and isnt very timely. I order stuff from private dining all the time. Lately they have been very shady. Things not getting delivered, over charging me and other annoyances.
If you order something follow up a few days later and make sure everythings in the system right.

Kelly,

With this in mind, how far in advance would you now recommend we call PD and the cake hotline. I was going to wait until next week (we arrive on 2/7) but I'm wondering if this is a good strategy now.

In the past I've waiting to order cakes until 2 weeks prior, but never ordered from private dining before.

Thoughts???

 

[arbonnette]

If you are going to ship your "gift items" ahead use UPS not the Postal Service. The Postal Service has issues with the Disney address system so your items do not always show up in a timely fashion. We shipped many things ahead of time via UPS and everything arrived promptly and was placed in our room. We even purchased a new stroller for the trip and had it shipped directly to the hotel instead of our home.

At 1900 Park Fair we did order the small cake at the hostess stand. You can't pre-order the small one, but they do personalize it with the name once you are there. The choices are very limited, but she loved it. They also gave her a birthday crown and placemat. I assume they do that for all birthdays not just those with cakes.


Have a great trip.

Thanks so much, tidblgrrer! I am going to decide this weekend exactly what I am going to do. I figure I will e-mail IPO on Monday, which is exactly two weeks before we arrive. I have also heard that 1900 PF does a birthday cupcake ... Is this accurate? And just to double check, does the birthday NEED to be noted on the ressie or is it sufficient to justtell the hostess when we arrive at the restaurant?

Enjoy your Friday, everyone!
- Andrea

 

[Lives4Disney]

Thanks so much, tidblgrrer! I am going to decide this weekend exactly what I am going to do. I figure I will e-mail IPO on Monday, which is exactly two weeks before we arrive. I have also heard that 1900 PF does a birthday cupcake ... Is this accurate? And just to double check, does the birthday NEED to be noted on the ressie or is it sufficient to justtell the hostess when we arrive at the restaurant?

Enjoy your Friday, everyone!
- Andrea

Andrea, for every time we've celebrated a bday at 1900 - and it's been quite a few - they have made a deal about it w/a cupcake and placemat and crown.

If you are going to email IPO about something....I would ask them to PLEASE note your DD's bday on your 1900 pf restaurant. It's THEIR restaurant and when they've done this for us we've had extra special treatment there. Just give them your ressie number and let them know how it's where you're going to be celebrating your DD's special day. If you don't do that, I think it's perfectly fine to let the hostess know when you are seated, but IPO could probably help you out.

Enjoy!

Lives4Disney