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

[BamaTigger]

Hello all! Havent been here in a while, so thought I would drop in and say hello!
Some of you may remember, my Christmas trip was good even though there were some things I vented about.... .sooooooo....you know how it is...but um, I will be making a super quick weekend trip Feb 8th and 9th for my bday, and well...had booked the BW cause nothing else was available. BUT...I called this morning and since I have become a GF spoiled snob, I GOT A ROOM THERE AND SWITCHED!!! I didnt even care about the view , which is a GV room..I know, I know its not my beloved MK view ....but I guess I will live, just for 2 nights. Hope I can manage!!! SO I just wanted to check in and let ya'll know I have lost my mind and am going back. LOL

Hey LIVES....I see you are going back too!! We are terrible!!!

 

[werfamily]

I've been reading through this thread today (it's GREAT, btw!), and I'm excited because I think I totally know who werfamily is! I don't want to give you away, but for those of us who are travel magazine junkies, the description of your family is pretty unique. Anyway, I'm very excited to read your GF article. I know you will love the GF as much as our family does!

Stagemomto3 – Hi there! Several people have PM’d me asking the same thing. Who would have thought that an all-girl family was so unique?! I do tend to talk about my family a lot in my articles because I am often hired to give the perspective travel with children.

I’m really not trying to be elusive, but as a Disney World novice, I wanted some questions answered about the whole premise of the article. It was hard to ask the question without giving at least a little background. But, as I said, I think the reviews are much more valuable to the readers if the hotels don’t go out of their way to give any special treatment.

Again, I will be sure to let you all know about the article when it is published. It will likely not be until early summer.

 

[praline3001]

Hello all! Havent been here in a while, so thought I would drop in and say hello!
Some of you may remember, my Christmas trip was good even though there were some things I vented about.... .sooooooo....you know how it is...but um, I will be making a super quick weekend trip Feb 8th and 9th for my bday, and well...had booked the BW cause nothing else was available. BUT...I called this morning and since I have become a GF spoiled snob, I GOT A ROOM THERE AND SWITCHED!!! I didnt even care about the view , which is a GV room..I know, I know its not my beloved MK view ....but I guess I will live, just for 2 nights. Hope I can manage!!! SO I just wanted to check in and let ya'll know I have lost my mind and am going back. LOL

Hey LIVES....I see you are going back too!! We are terrible!!!

You are lucky you were able to get in! they must have had some last minute openings. It took me 3 months to add an extra day that week at the GF.
Glad to hear they aren't going to be as booked as I had thought

 

[Fairy_Tale_Bride]

Hi Everyone! My DH & I will be staying at GF for the first time for a romantic Valentine's Weekend. I'm very interested in ordering some chocolate covered strawberries or other sweet romantic treats. Does anyone know what room service offers like this? I know I've seen pictures of the tuxedo strawberries and the Mickey chocoalte statue before. Can this be ordered through room service? Anyone have any ideas? Thank you!

 

[BamaTigger]

Hi Everyone! My DH & I will be staying at GF for the first time for a romantic Valentine's Weekend. I'm very interested in ordering some chocolate covered strawberries or other sweet romantic treats. Does anyone know what room service offers like this? I know I've seen pictures of the tuxedo strawberries and the Mickey chocoalte statue before. Can this be ordered through room service? Anyone have any ideas? Thank you!

Call the GF bakery...they will make you something GREAT! I ordered my DH a pretty chocolate mouse cake for XMas and it was like 24 dollars...it was so pretty and TASTED GREAT! I ate more than he did!@

At check in you can tell them it is a very romantic wkend and they just might surprise you, but DONT ALWAYS COUNT ON THAT ....you can call ahead and tell the bakery what you want. It is worth it! Enjoy!

 

[Fairy_Tale_Bride]

Call the GF bakery...they will make you something GREAT! I ordered my DH a pretty chocolate mouse cake for XMas and it was like 24 dollars...it was so pretty and TASTED GREAT! I ate more than he did!@

At check in you can tell them it is a very romantic wkend and they just might surprise you, but DONT ALWAYS COUNT ON THAT ....you can call ahead and tell the bakery what you want. It is worth it! Enjoy!

Can the GF bakery deliver to your resort room?

 

[Tink rules]

Hey Lindsey...

THE GF????

Cool!!! You'll love it!!! I know you will!!!

I think if you call Private Dining they can arrange all that for you.

(you're doing another TR right??? )

I'll see if I can dig up the posts with the info for you...

 

[Fairy_Tale_Bride]

Hey Lindsey...

THE GF????

Cool!!! You'll love it!!! I know you will!!!

I think if you call Private Dining they can arrange all that for you.

(you're doing another TR right??? )

I'll see if I can dig up the posts with the info for you...

Hi Michelle!

Awwww...thanks so much!

Yea, I am so excited to finally be staying at the GF! We thought it would be the perfect way to celebrate Valentine's Day and it would be a nice gift for eachother too.

Should I call Private Dining before we arrive or should I wait and call once we've checked-in?

 

[Tink rules]

Here's the info on private dining... (thanks Channing...)

http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=21631590&postcount=16

 

[Tink rules]

Hi Michelle!

Awwww...thanks so much!

Yea, I am so excited to finally be staying at the GF! We thought it would be the perfect way to celebrate Valentine's Day and it would be a nice gift for eachother too.

Should I call Private Dining before we arrive or should I wait and call once we've checked-in?

Call before - I think they need several days for the chocolate figures and Ditto on the cakes. Kelly is the one with the cake hotline at the GF... She's busy alot they say but I don't think you can order before 2 weeks out. I'd give her a call and see what she says...

Good luck! Let me know how the strawberries are - I want to order them in March!!!

 

[Tink rules]

I am unfortunately packing a little of everything. We are going on the Wonder for four nights, which really complicates things with bathing suits/coverups, cute cruise clothes, pirate night stuff, etc...

This is why we decided to drive. If I made my DH go through an airport with all this junk he would flip. He's used to going by himself with one carry on!

weather.com has been pretty reliable for me in years past, so I guess I'll check right before I leave, but I'll probably still bring a little of everything.

Packing light????

I have to do 24 days of packing into 2...yes 2 bags... We are doing 4 nights at the GF, followed by the 15 night Panama Canal Repositioning Cruise and then 5 nights @ Disneyland.... Can you say LAUNDRY????

Throw in outfits for tropical, mexican and pirate night... no wonder I need drugs for migraines!!!

Hi, Michelle. I really REALLY want to thank all you guys that sent pins & I hope I did get a PM out to each of you to tell you how cool it was that you did that. It was sweet that you all sent the pins and it also lifted their spirits that there are some NICE people out there.

Vonnie had printed out a mega list of all the pin sets etc and the girls had combined their pins into the sets and that is what got lifted...it was tons and tons of pins in Jojo's case. Lucy had the case with the newer ones they were starting to gather and get set up. ANyway, we have some to replace that we bought on mousepinsonline and then have some neato ones you all sent and some to trade to try and get back some that were lost. I still had hopes that we'd receive a surprise package from the Disney lost and found & that somebody would have turned in the case. I guess I can let that go at this point. It's not gonna happen.

You know...I have been toying with GV this time around. It's available. I just honestly don't know if the move/split stay would be worth it no matter what hotel or room we'd move to...sometimes it's just nice to stay put. I HATE packing up and it would be kind of nice to just be able to plant ourselves and make ourselves at home. Still have some time to decide. Thanks for the suggestion.

Happy packing all!! Praline sounds like you've got it covered good. We always do one suitcase/person. We still look like the dorks in the airport schlepping the most crap of anybody else. I see these people with their little compact bags and wonder HOW DO THEY DO THAT?? Maybe just an overnighter???!?!?!

Enjoy!

Lives4Disney

So glad we could all spread some pixie dust your way!!! I'm sure it must have been fun for them to get some good mail!!!

Oh I know! Do you know there are websites dedicated to how to pack light?
DH always looks at those sites with great longing
when we went on our cruise this past spring, I had 3 suitcases just for me of course you need nice cruise clothes, 5 pairs of shoes ... you get the idea

DH is happy with 1 pair of undies, 1 pair of jeans and 2 shirts for the entire week and would pack like that if I would let him

Men... they don't carry pocketbooks because WE do!!!

 

[Lives4Disney]

Wow!! I had to actually catch up here!

Bama!!! I read that you were looking to book something for your bday and there was nothing much to choose from. I am glad you got into the GF. Have a great time.

Fairy Tale Bride....the room service at the GF is called "private dining". They can fix you up something really nice. I usually call a week or so out from when I want the item delivered. When you place your order you can specify a date and hour that you'd like it delivered to your room. YOu don't even have to be there. I love coming back from the parks to a sweet surprise. Kinda fun. Have a great time.

Werfamily - have a great time. I can't wait to hear about your trip when you get back. I hope you wind up LOVING WDW and the GF or you'll think we're all off our rockers. ....well maybe we are.

Michelle - OMG!! What a fabulous trip you're taking!!! As far as packing...I'd be so up the creek....I can't imagine the load you'll be hauling. I just have a tough time leaving anything behind for fear I will get the urge to wear it and won't have it. Duh. What fun though!! I hope you post about it and a link to the cruise and Disneyland trip. I LOVED Disneyland. Last March was our first time but we fell in love with it & want to go back.

Happy packing! I am looking forward to reading your live report posts and the reviews when you guys all return....not to rush ya or anything.

Lives4Disney

 

[BamaTigger]

Is the lobby being re-furbed??? read that on another thread and now my curiosity is spinning !

 

[Fairy_Tale_Bride]

Call before - I think they need several days for the chocolate figures and Ditto on the cakes. Kelly is the one with the cake hotline at the GF... She's busy alot they say but I don't think you can order before 2 weeks out. I'd give her a call and see what she says...

Good luck! Let me know how the strawberries are - I want to order them in March!!!

Thank you Michelle!
I'll give them a call in about a week, so I can decided what to do.
You know I will be taking plenty of pictures!

 

[praline3001]

i think I broke my toe... i think i broke my toe
I am crying and laughing at the same time. It figures... a week before our trip and I break my little toe .... I was moving suitcases and packing and one of the big ones (full) landed smack on my toe. its now swollen and black and blue
I am limping around the house feeling like a complete fool!!!!
The kids will be home in an hour and they are going to be at me!!!

Please send me some little toe pixie dust my way ... i so don't want to be walking around disney with a broken toe

 

[heatherlynn444]

oh no! I hope your toe gets better! no limping in Disney! to you

 

[Fairy_Tale_Bride]

Wow!! I had to actually catch up here!


Fairy Tale Bride....the room service at the GF is called "private dining". They can fix you up something really nice. I usually call a week or so out from when I want the item delivered. When you place your order you can specify a date and hour that you'd like it delivered to your room. YOu don't even have to be there. I love coming back from the parks to a sweet surprise. Kinda fun. Have a great time.

Lives4Disney

Thanks so much for the info!
I will be giving them a call!

 

[praline3001]

crazy question for those with little girls...

We have ADRS for the norway princess breakfast for 6:30 on the day we arrive. Our plane lands at 1:55. The plan is to take the limo to GF, check in and go strait to Epcot....
Well my daughter wants to wear her Jasmine costume to the dinner.....
I was planning on her wearing the little minnie mouse pants and shirt outfit on the plane and in the limo and all and then changing her before dinner. I don't want to carry around her costume though ....

Question: How much of a freak would a 6 year old girl look like if she just wore her jasmine costume on the plane? I do have leggings and l/s shirt to go under it but ... well... it would be easier if I just got her ready that morning before getting on the plane instead of trying to change her when we first get there.....

What do you moms think? She wants to wear it on the plane as she is a princess ... I just don't want people thinking we are complete disney freaks

 

[Lives4Disney]

Praline....OMG your toe. I actually did break mine (my little one, though) walking UP the TTC monorail ramp...I was wearing sandals and being the klutz that I am my DD stopped suddenly right in front of me and I kept going (well my toe did) and just smacked weirdly right into her heel. I thought I was going to vomit on the spot. I had to wear my UGLY blue Arizona Birkies the whole rest of the trip. They were the ONLY shoes that would fit comfortably after it swelled up so much - so go get yourself some quick. DH was giving me grief for packing a bajillion pairs of shoes but I NEED comfy feet at WDW. Take advil and try and stay off it as much as possible before you leave, but make sure you have some wide comfy shoes.

Now, about Jasmine. I have a Jasmine fan here, too. You can't count on the room being ready at all. Usually they aren't ready before 3 and most often not til later in the afternoon. There are decent bathrooms all around the GF that you could use to change your DD into Jasmine. We usually fly SWA to FL and most often 3/4 of the passengers are Disney bound so she won't look too freakish if she is Jasmine for the flight. She'd probably get special attention from the flt attendents if you're flying SWA. They like that kind of stuff. I say let her be a princess while she still wants to be. Go for it!!!

I feel bad for your foot situation!!! You poor thing. I have been there.

BamaTigger - They were tearing up the lobby floor but have replaced it with temporary carpet. They are waiting for some tile from Italy and that will be the final flooring. Not sure when that will take place though. I hope it's not in the summer or in Sept....

Lives4Disney

 

[werfamily]

What do you moms think? She wants to wear it on the plane as she is a princess ... I just don't want people thinking we are complete disney freaks

I would absolutely let her be Jasmine and not give it another thought. I know many little girls who go through their "princess stage" and will not wear anything but princess gowns (sometimes for months!). I don't think you have to worry at all that it is a reflection on you...all parents have been in the situation where they have no control over their kids' wardrobe! If anyone even notices, I’m sure you’ll get a ‘knowing’ smile!

I hope your toe gets better and you have a great trip!