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

[micksnewfriend]

Need the help of the GF experts....We will be taking our first trip to WDW Dec.22-28 and staying at the GF...While we will be able to pack almost all food and snacks, we still will need to pick up whole milk for DS23mos...Will I be able to pick up a 1/2 gallon at one of the shops (Sandy Cove)? While we are on the topic, how are the other stores at the GF? Thanks!

 

[Alicnwondrln]

Need the help of the GF experts....We will be taking our first trip to WDW Dec.22-28 and staying at the GF...While we will be able to pack almost all food and snacks, we still will need to pick up whole milk for DS23mos...Will I be able to pick up a 1/2 gallon at one of the shops (Sandy Cove)? While we are on the topic, how are the other stores at the GF? Thanks!

I love Basin it sells soaps and sstuff like that
they stuff is so cute and fun
there are also several other shops hihg ending clothing and GF themed merchandise some of it is very nice but very $$

I would think you could get the milk there but I am not sure as dont buy much there. I am sure someone else will chime in on that.

Summer Lace - Open 9 am - 10 p.m. daily

Commander Porter's - Open 9 am - 10 p.m. daily

Sandy Cove - Open 8 am - 10 p.m. daily. Resort Package Pickup is located here. You can also purchase stamps here, and have items gift-wrapped.

M. Mouse Mercantile - Open 8 am - 10 p.m.

Basin - Open 10 am - 10 p.m.

The Portrait Artist is located near Sandy Cove, and is there daily from 5 - 10 p.m. No appointment necessary. The prices range from $45-up.

Ivy Trellis (beauty salon) is open from 9 am - 6 p.m.

 

[praline3001]

Need the help of the GF experts....We will be taking our first trip to WDW Dec.22-28 and staying at the GF...While we will be able to pack almost all food and snacks, we still will need to pick up whole milk for DS23mos...Will I be able to pick up a 1/2 gallon at one of the shops (Sandy Cove)? While we are on the topic, how are the other stores at the GF? Thanks!

I have never stayed at the GF (Feb will be my first trip there) but the other deluxe resorts I have stayed at have had the milk at their counter services in large sizes. If you can't find it at the shops I would try Gasperilla's. Another great part about doing it this way (if your on the DDP) is you can use 1 of your snack points to buy the milk.

 

[NeverSayNever]

Hi Everyone!

Micksnewfriend: I don't recall seeing milk at Sandy Cove, but then again Iwas not looking for it. You can however, get some at Gasparilla's although I am not sure if it will be half gallon container.

Another thought, which may or not work for you, is to do a grocery order and have it sent to GF on day of arrival. I did this for our first trip in September and it was great! Even though we are only doinga short stay in Dec. I plan on doing this again. We got some breakfeast foods, snacks, juice/water/gatorade. I used Garden Grocer and was pleased.

Channing... thanks for the info on the GingerBread house... Hmmm I hope they have boxes and I guess I will try and bring some bubble wrap, can't hurt. When are your travel dates... I lost track somewhere, but just read you are in single digits.. How cool! Don't fret GV is really nice too!

Yes, I hated the white, no wallpaper walls... especially since right before I saw a room in Sago.. I really liked the decor better but traded it for the view at Conch and so glad I did!

WOw.. that cake is really nice.

I have a couple of questions for the experts today, one is related to the holiday decorations and colors. We are planning/hoping to do another photo shoot and I was thinking of DS & DD would wear red pants/skirt respectively, but no I wonder are the holiday decorations mainly victorian and hence burgandy gold and would Red clash? Would Black/white be a better choice? Thoughts? (bTW, Channing I love the picture of your DD's in red.. was this at the Holidays?)

Second question, re IVY Trellis, does anyone know if they do little girl manicures? I thought it would be nice to take DD as a little treat since no time for BBB. Does anyone have a service listing from there?

So is anyone going to be at GF mid December?

Ok.. I best get back to work.

Thanks everyone and ENjoy!

 

[praline3001]

I have a few laundry questions.
We are a family of 5 and I am trying to pack light. Instead of bringing 35 shirts (5x7 days)
1. Does each building have its own laundrymat?
2. Can you buy soap there or do I need to bring my own? Does the machines and the soap vending machine (if there is one) take dollars or do I need to bring/get a roll of quarters?
3. How much do they charge for the valet laundry service? Is it worth it to use their service vs an hour of my time and the cost to run the machines and all?

 

[3for Me]

Second question, re IVY Trellis, does anyone know if they do little girl manicures? I thought it would be nice to take DD as a little treat since no time for BBB. Does anyone have a service listing from there?

Don't know about Ivy Trellis, but I have taken my girls to the GF Spa on two occasions for both manicures and pedicures. They turned out great and the girls loved it. You can also see about booking them together so mom can get one too!

Hope that helps.

 

[Lives4Disney]

I can't believe people actually pack snacks etc...I have barely enough room for all our clothes and Disney crap ....you know the pins, talking Mickeys, lanyards, ears, Disney misting fans, light up toys... OMG we have a stash of junk that goes every trip ..... Gasparillas is open 24 hours and they have lots of snacky things and drinks but I really haven't noticed anything like a 1/2 gallon milk. Mostly single serve items, but then again I wasn't really looking for grocery items, so sorry there. I haven't seen it in the Sandy Cove,either. SC sells meds and toiletrie items but I don't think they sell grocery items anywhere at GF if not Gaspies. I KNOW the CR and Poly do in their little lobby shops. I have heard good things about the Garden Grocer - that might be an idea vs. packing food. Have fun!!

Never....I love red and green at Xmas. I think it's all up to you - what you prefer. I don't think anything will clash. The gingerbread house is very red & green and there were red/pink/white poinsettias around the resort. Mickey and Minnie wore black and white for Xmas Eve if that helps with the dress code, haha. We all wore red except DS17 wore green.

Princesses, ya I am getting excited. It will come up quick! .....Nine days.

I heard they are building the gingerbread house now!

Lives4Disney

 

[Lives4Disney]

Don't know about Ivy Trellis, but I have taken my girls to the GF Spa on two occasions for both manicures and pedicures. They turned out great and the girls loved it. You can also see about booking them together so mom can get one too!

Hope that helps.

Yes, I heard fun things about that at the spa, too!!

My DD had her hair braided at Ivy Trellis in July and she just loved it. They are great CMs there. That was our first Ivy Trellis experience, but I'd definitely go back & have another something done. I know they will do things like princess updo hair dos, too, but I don't think they do manicures .....Need to check that out.

Lives4Disney

 

[DisneyMomx7]

I've taken my girls to the GF Spa for the "first manicure" "first pedicure" and "first facial" treatments. This summer they want to try the "first massage". I guess I've taught them too well!

 

[DLo]

A week from today I will be there!!! I can't believe our trip is finally here. My mom and I are getting pedicures on Sat. late afternoon at the spa. Glad to see others have enjoyed the spa. My little guy is going on the Pirate Adventure. He is soooo excited.

I just ordered gift baskets from Disney Florist to be delivered the day we check in. More than I wanted to spend but my husband b'day is the day we leave and I wanted to thank my dad for having a convention that got us a great room rate. (we were orginally staying at the Swan)

I am calling PD next weeks as everyone has suggested waiting closer so that the order doesn't get lost. I am ordering a plate of cookies instead of a cake. I figure that way we can take them as a snack to the parks or in the car on the way home. Does anyone know if PD would provide drinks also? I know I could go to Gaspys but it would be nice if it was all there together.

Staying GV without a request. Just hoping I don't get the convention center view. Which Bldg. is that in?

Thank you all for your tips!!

 

[Lives4Disney]

A week from today I will be there!!! I can't believe our trip is finally here. My mom and I are getting pedicures on Sat. late afternoon at the spa. Glad to see others have enjoyed the spa. My little guy is going on the Pirate Adventure. He is soooo excited.

I just ordered gift baskets from Disney Florist to be delivered the day we check in. More than I wanted to spend but my husband b'day is the day we leave and I wanted to thank my dad for having a convention that got us a great room rate. (we were orginally staying at the Swan)

I am calling PD next weeks as everyone has suggested waiting closer so that the order doesn't get lost. I am ordering a plate of cookies instead of a cake. I figure that way we can take them as a snack to the parks or in the car on the way home. Does anyone know if PD would provide drinks also? I know I could go to Gaspys but it would be nice if it was all there together.

Staying GV without a request. Just hoping I don't get the convention center view. Which Bldg. is that in?

Thank you all for your tips!!

Hi, Dlo!! We will be checking in in 9 days!

First, the convention center view would be from the back of Sago. I bet we'll get that as we check in about midnight on Friday nt.

Second....yes, PD will do drinks, too. They will be much more expensive than if you picked something up at Gaspies and most likely arrive in glasses with saran wrap covers. You'll have a fridge, so you could just pick drinks up at your convenience....that's what we will do I think. Just grab & go and stash.

So, what did you order from the florist???? I need to go take a look and see what's available. I was going to order from Peggy but I want some Disney treats and munchies and the home businesses cannot supply those anymore. I was also toying with a Cookies by Design basket for us. I love those cookies and hardly ever get them!!!!

Happy planning & packing!!

Robyn, too funny! I took my girls for a manicure yesterday. It was their first one. What have I started??

Lives4Disney

 

[princessesrule4]

I've taken my girls to the GF Spa for the "first manicure" "first pedicure" and "first facial" treatments. This summer they want to try the "first massage". I guess I've taught them too well!

DD loved the "my first manicure and pedicure"! She has had a facial done here but not at GF Spa. I am sooo not telling her about "my first massage" or there will be no turning back!

 

[DLo]

Lives4Disney - I ordered the Disney Fun Tub for my parents' room. It has drinks and chips, etc. and comes in a silver tub. For my DH, I ordered the Bravo Beer tub. It is basically the same thing but with beer instead of soda. I looked at Peggy's site and she had some cute things. Just not exactly what I was looking for on this trip. Thanks for the tips on the drinks. I will just buy them at Gaspies and store them in the fridge.

It looks like we will overlap a little. We leave on Sunday morning. Maybe I will see you next week!!!

 

[Alicnwondrln]

Just in case anyone is looking for it here is the link to the old thread.
I will also place this in the first page.
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=513609

 

[Lives4Disney]

Lives4Disney - I ordered the Disney Fun Tub for my parents' room. It has drinks and chips, etc. and comes in a silver tub. For my DH, I ordered the Bravo Beer tub. It is basically the same thing but with beer instead of soda. I looked at Peggy's site and she had some cute things. Just not exactly what I was looking for on this trip. Thanks for the tips on the drinks. I will just buy them at Gaspies and store them in the fridge.

It looks like we will overlap a little. We leave on Sunday morning. Maybe I will see you next week!!!

I was looking at that "tub" too. I also thought about that "Family Fiesta" basket thing.....not sure. I just thought I'd be able to squish and pack it easier than the tub which I also like. I have some time yet to decide. Thinking about the PD drinks....I think it depends on what you plan to order. Soda will come in a can. Milk has come in glasses for us - as has lemonade.

Happy planning,

Lives4Disney

 

[PolyAddict]

Just subscribing again. Great job on the new thread and all of the great pictures. We will make a trip back to GF one day, we honeymooned there in 1989. We loved the resort but must say did not have the greatest feelings about the CM's there. They were rather aloof!!! DId I spell that right? Oh well, maybe they thought we shouldn't have been married because we were so young (we were only 20 and 22). Maybe we will go back on our 20th anniversary.

 

[DLo]

Livs4Disney - we are driving so I wasn't worried about having to pack the tin in a suitcase. I just hope it will fit underneat the seats of the van we are renting. I thought about the Fiesta basket also but liked the look of the tin plus that way my mom and I will have the same item to bring home. Have fun deciding.

 

[Janet2k]

Everyone, to cut down on the bandwidth use and to help keep this thread nice & tidy, please trim what you're quoting in your replies (only quote the pertinent stuff). And try not to quote photos -- or if you feel that you must, please only quote one or two. Over on another board here on the Dis, a couple people in a row quoted one of my posts that included a series of photos. I felt badly about that because it meant that everyone who read that thread would see my photos multiple times. Yikes! Please try to think of others whenever you're posting. Thanks!

 

[Janet2k]

My daughter has been attending the children’s activities at the Grand Floridian Resort for quite a few years now. She’s had a lot of fun at them. I have photo albums of those activities (and the other resorts’ children's activities) in my Flickr account: click here.

A few weeks ago, I finally got around to uploading photos from the last Pirates Cruise that my daughter had attended. The bulk of those photos were taken by her, so if you view them, you’ll get a unique perspective on the cruise.

I don't want to completely ruin the surprise of the Pirates Cruise in my post, so if you want to see more photos of what goes on, you're going to have to walk the plank -- a.k.a., click here.

Note: I'll try to work on adding captions to those photos soon. I'll have my daughter dictate them to me so that you understand what was happening during each portion of the cruise.

 

[Janet2k]

A few weeks ago, I finally got around to uploading photos from the last Wonderland Tea Party that my daughter had attended. The bulk of those photos were taken by her, so if you view them, you’ll get a unique perspective on this children’s activity.

I don't want to completely ruin the surprise of the Wonderland Tea Party in my post, so if you want to see more photos of what goes on, you're going to have to click here.

Note: I'll try to work on adding captions to those photos soon. I'll have my daughter dictate them to me so that you understand what was happening during each portion of the tea party.