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

[tidblgrrer]

If we have more stuff than we get stuff in the suitcases we always just use a box -- but instead of shipping we take it as part of our luggage. We never have 2 checked pieces per person -- so that box just becomes part of the checked luggage. It works great for us --- and it's free!

Have a great trip!

 

[WishesQueen]

praline3001 - Have a great trip!!! I am so jealous, I wish I was leaving!!! Can't wait to hear about your trip when you get back!!! You definitely have me interested in trying BM. Have fun SHOPPING!!!!

AuroraBeauty - Welcome to the GF thread. I am no expert, I've only stayed at the GF once in my 15 or so trips and will never stay anywhere else again. My DH loves the monorail and my DS and DD love the pool. I just love everything!!!

We stayed in the Big Pine Key last time. Location was great, but I would stay RPC this time, especially if construction is complete.

 

[CoachBagFanatic]

Good Morning everyone. We have stayed at the RPC many times but this will be our first staying at the SLC (couldn't get the RPC) Are there any differences between the the concierge services?

 

[Lives4Disney]

Good Morning everyone. We have stayed at the RPC many times but this will be our first staying at the SLC (couldn't get the RPC) Are there any differences between the the concierge services?

We usually stay RPC but I did SL once when rpc wasn't avail. It is supposed to be exactly the same service/food/beverages/etc. betwn the two. The only difference is the lounge and room locations. If you really want rpc maybe keep checking the website or call here and there. Things pop up open all the time. We made a last minute trip Pres. week so SL was it for us, but it was still nice. We requested and got a tower room and I enjoyed the extra space and I liked the sloped ceiling. Enjoy!!

Michelle, I have no idea about the tile/where/when etc. I picture it just in the now tiled areas, but who knows. YOu'd think if it were all tile, the lobby noise would be horrendous. The carpet dampens that a bit - and with the seating arrangements the carpet is pretty - PLUS, isn't that kind of new carpet anyway??? I thought it was different. Who knows......


AuroraBeauty, I hope you found the map & pool pics. The pool pics are probably scattered throughout the first few pages but I think the map is right there on the front. From the map you can tell more about where you'd like to be. The whole resort is very well laid out and it isn't as large as it looks. The walking distances aren't more than a few minutes here and there. Happy planning!! PS...thanks for the Bare Minerals info! All these fans can't be wrong. I am going to have to hightail it to Ulta. It's just so darn cold here I don't want to go anywhere.

Lives4Disney

 

[praline3001]

I just took my puppies to the vet so they could be on their vacation
I have a few more things to pack and I am ready to go!

The kids were WILD this morning! I couldn't get them to focus long enough to get ready for school!!!! If I didn't have so much stuff to do I would have let them play hooky but HECK I will be with them all week... let the teachers deal with their hyperness and excitedness today

 

[CoachBagFanatic]

We usually stay RPC but I did SL once when rpc wasn't avail. It is supposed to be exactly the same service/food/beverages/etc. betwn the two. The only difference is the lounge and room locations. If you really want rpc maybe keep checking the website or call here and there. Things pop up open all the time. We made a last minute trip Pres. week so SL was it for us, but it was still nice. We requested and got a tower room and I enjoyed the extra space and I liked the sloped ceiling. Enjoy!! Lives4Disney

Thanks very much for the info. I do keep checking the website as well as calling and nothing yet. Hey we are still at the GF so we can't complain.

 

[CoachBagFanatic]

I just took my puppies to the vet so they could be on their vacation
I have a few more things to pack and I am ready to go!

The kids were WILD this morning! I couldn't get them to focus long enough to get ready for school!!!! If I didn't have so much stuff to do I would have let them play hooky but HECK I will be with them all week... let the teachers deal with their hyperness and excitedness today

Praline have a wonderful trip.

 

[praline3001]

Denise -- we love the cafe for lunch, and my boys love Narcoossees. It's fun to eat and look out at the castle, boats, water parade, fireworks -- whatever is going on. I'm so sorry you are all sick and hope you feel better soon!



Are you staying RPC or SL (sorry, I'm terrible at details)? If so, you take them to the CMs on the third floor/first floor and they give you a form to fill out, then box it and ship it for you. If you're not CL, take them to the concierge desk at the front and they'll also box and ship them for you. Of course, we just usually end up buying another piece of luggage to take them back, especially if we have to ship a lot.

We are staying GV as that was the only thing left when we booked....
I am sure as long as they have boxes, if I ask I can find someone to give me one.

 

[Lives4Disney]

Praline!!! HAVE A GREAT TIME!!!!!

coachbagfanatic - you motivated me to try something new, haha!!! The font size and color!! I always wondered how do they do that?!? I learned a new thing. Yeah, you'lll have fun just being at the GF.

Lives4Disney

 

[typhoonlagooner]

Coachbagfanatic... Are those Shiba's in that avatar?! We've got 1 ourselves (black and tan)... such a great breed!

GL with your trip!

 

[Tinkaroo]

we're looking at April 26- May 3. This is the 2nd reschedule of this trip. First was when Rees was in the hospital and now the flu. hopefully, 3rd time will be the charm!

I'm so sorry, Denise! I hope you all get to feeling better very soon, and I hope that April is finally the trick for you guys!

You'll have to keep me posted as to your plans. My mom and I arrive late the night of 4/30, and are there through 5/5. We're currently booked at the Swan, but really hoping that a good AP discount comes out, so we can switch to our beloved GF! There's certainly no better spot for a girl's trip! I'd love to meet you guys if the opportunity presents itself!

Lives4Disney, thank you for the lovely welcome.

I greatly appreciate the info about the pools. I will definitely check out the pictures -- I need to scroll down more slowly b/c I didn't catch them the first time.

We're still waiting for our final confirmation on where we will end up. It will probably be a standard Garden View room. Should I put in a request for a specific area? I'm sure it will be lovely regardless.

As for the Bare Minerals, I am so in love with the product. I was a die hard Clinique user (and I even worked for them for quite some time) then I turned 30 and I started having sensitivity. On a whim I saw a Bare Minerals infomercial and called in and ordered. I'm on the light side so I actually mix the two lightest ones in the summer and use the lightest one only in the winter. The best part -- I get so many compliments about how wonderful my 'natural' skin is. Definitely give a try! If you order on the website you get a 30-day guarantee. I had some problems the first time and they really stood by their product.

Welcome to the thread - you will love the GF!

There are a lot of different opinions on what location is best for garden view, but you'll generally be viewing the courtyards/gardens, pools, etc. There are some garden views that do have a bit of water in them - marina-view rooms in Sago Cay and Conch Key. I think most of the GV room views are great - much better than some of the other resorts' view options when you book "standard"!

Thanks Michelle!
I am not planning on needing them but better to be safe than sorry!

Praline - I shipped a box from the GF once when we were staying GV. Just took my items to the lobby concierge, and they did all the work. It was a gift for someone, and they even went so far as to commiting to get a card signed by Mickey to include in there. Gotta love that GF service!
Have a fantastic time!!!!

And all this talk of Bare Minerals has me interested....

 

[triplefigs]

Lindsay, I would love to meet you. Marci just goes on and on about how wonderful you are!

What building is best for TPV? Can I request a Hammerhead room with this category? Wouldn't that give us extra room if we were lucky enough to get one? Maybe the PD fairies will bestow some luck on us. We sure could use it!

 

[marcij]

We are staying GV as that was the only thing left when we booked....
I am sure as long as they have boxes, if I ask I can find someone to give me one.

You'll be fine. I've carried two huge bags to the front desk (before they had the concierge over on the other side) to ship and they didn't even blink an eye. I love it that they'll pack it for me, so that if anything is broken they'll replace it. I've even shipped back a small Christmas tree... of course, that box arrived looking like it went through a war zone...a complete other story!

HAVE A MAGICAL TRIP!

 

[CoachBagFanatic]

Coachbagfanatic... Are those Shiba's in that avatar?! We've got 1 ourselves (black and tan)... such a great breed!

GL with your trip!

Hi Typhoonlagooner. Yes, they are. Not too many people around here know what type of breed they are. Cody (to the right) is a red sesame and he is 7mths old and Temari (to the left) is a red and she is just a little over a year old. They are such a great breed. Would not trade them for the world. How is your dog walking on a leash? Temari is horrible but Cody is the best walker. Tried everything with Temari but she insists on pulling like she is sledding.

 

[marcij]

Lindsay, I would love to meet you. Marci just goes on and on about how wonderful you are!

What building is best for TPV? Can I request a Hammerhead room with this category? Wouldn't that give us extra room if we were lucky enough to get one? Maybe the PD fairies will bestow some luck on us. We sure could use it!

I'm so jealous!

Two of my favs get to meet and I won't be there. I can't wait to see pics!

 

[irisbud]

Lindsay, I would love to meet you. Marci just goes on and on about how wonderful you are!

What building is best for TPV? Can I request a Hammerhead room with this category? Wouldn't that give us extra room if we were lucky enough to get one? Maybe the PD fairies will bestow some luck on us. We sure could use it!

Triplefigs, my Dad and I stayed in a TPV during our October 2007 Trip. Our room was one of the hammerhead rooms and was in Big Pine Key. I thought we had a really great view. There was one low hanging branch that slightly obstructed the castle, but a slight duck made it a non issue, and for kids it would be no big deal. From the balcony we could also see the MK monorail station and the monoraial track over seven seas lagoon (for your son!), the castle, MK train station, astro orbiter and space mountain, and the contemporary, depending which way you looked. We had a GREAT view of EWP here too.

From the other balcony, you could see the Poly and the WP.

The room was nice, lots of room, the real table and chairs still in the room, quiet, and clean (no smoke residue AT ALL even though this used to be a smoking room. As I am very allergic, I would have noticed). It was a first floor room. Okay, I just looked it up on the old thread where I had posted about my stay, and it was room 9147.

I hope your trip works out for you this time

 

[CoachBagFanatic]

Praline!!! HAVE A GREAT TIME!!!!!

coachbagfanatic - you motivated me to try something new, haha!!! The font size and color!! I always wondered how do they do that?!? I learned a new thing. Yeah, you'lll have fun just being at the GF.

Lives4Disney

Actually, I can't take credit for that. It took my DS 12 to teach me how to do this.

We stayed at the YC in June and granted it was nice but it just wasn't the GF. Everytime we approach the GF I start to cry. My DH and DS say, here she goes again. I already started getting outfits together. I know, I have 76 days left but what the heck, we aren't wearing those clothes now anyway.

 

[Lives4Disney]

Actually, I can't take credit for that. It took my DS 12 to teach me how to do this.

We stayed at the YC in June and granted it was nice but it just wasn't the GF. Everytime we approach the GF I start to cry. My DH and DS say, here she goes again. I already started getting outfits together. I know, I have 76 days left but what the heck, we aren't wearing those clothes now anyway.

I love the YC. If I stay on the Epcot side I like the YC and after that the Swan. YC in summer is great. We did a YC/GF RPC split last July and maybe again this year, too. We'll see. For March we are doing a Swan/GF RPC split. I don't care about YC so much if it's not summer.

Oh ya, getting the oufits together is a big part of the fun!! My girls and I have already started for our March trip.

Well, you get the credit for motivating me to try. I saw your larger, colored font and thought I NEED TO FIGURE THAT OUT (and I am totally computer challened, haha) My DS17 shows me a lot of stuff, too.

Happy planning,

Lives4Disney

 

[triplefigs]

I'm so jealous!

Two of my favs get to meet and I won't be there. I can't wait to see pics!

You have all those miles to use...

 

[triplefigs]

Triplefigs, my Dad and I stayed in a TPV during our October 2007 Trip. Our room was one of the hammerhead rooms and was in Big Pine Key. I thought we had a really great view. There was one low hanging branch that slightly obstructed the castle, but a slight duck made it a non issue, and for kids it would be no big deal. From the balcony we could also see the MK monorail station and the monoraial track over seven seas lagoon (for your son!), the castle, MK train station, astro orbiter and space mountain, and the contemporary, depending which way you looked. We had a GREAT view of EWP here too.

From the other balcony, you could see the Poly and the WP.

The room was nice, lots of room, the real table and chairs still in the room, quiet, and clean (no smoke residue AT ALL even though this used to be a smoking room. As I am very allergic, I would have noticed). It was a first floor room. Okay, I just looked it up on the old thread where I had posted about my stay, and it was room 9147.

I hope your trip works out for you this time

Thanks for the info. Is Conch the only bldg with Hammerhead?

If I didn't request a hammerhead, which bldg is best for TPV overall?