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

[DLo]

Just got back tonight. Looked for Livs4Disney but didn't see her. We were in Sago Cay. I will post a more detailed report tomorrow morning. Have to unpack and it's my DH's b'day. Took some pictures of the room and view. Booked GV but I think we got Lagoon view as we had a view of the monorail and the lagoon. They room was on the back side, MK end of the bldg. One room down and we would have had MK view but I was happy with the view we had.

Had a great trip and enjoyed the GF!!

 

[shefellnl0v3]

Thank you so much for you're quick response! It's much appreciated. I'll be sure and call asap

 

[grannyminnie]

Wonderful to hear you're HOME, triplefigs!!!! Yay!
Is he feeling much better?

 

[Alicnwondrln]

We're HOME~!!!
​

thats great news!!

 

[Alicnwondrln]

I have to say if you arent happy when at disney you have to speak up. If i was Cmbar and they switched my room to what they gave her I would have been back at that desk so fast. I am not saying they didnt speak up I am just saying what I would have done. I also have cant shut up symdrome, Im from BOSTON. I am loud and obnoxious get over it!

 

[lisa221]

Denise glad to hear Rees got to go home for Thanksgiving and he's doing better. I've been following on the other thread. Continuing with prayers for Rees and your family.

 

[Dis Ohana]

We're HOME~!!!
​

WELCOME HOME, REES!

 

[NeverSayNever]

HI Everyone...

CMBAR... So sorry that the GF was a let-down for you... I understand after the planning and reading about the Magic that occassionally happens how sad it can be. I am glad to hear though that you had other magical moments and that you children had a great time. Maybe somewhere in the future GF will be worth a try again.

Channing... Thanks for posting... Speaking for myself, and maybe others, I so enjoy the "live" reports. Sounds liike DLo will be giving us one soon too! Have been trying to decide about going to the Xmas Party.. msut say your review is swaying me. Can't what to hear about the next night you go. By the way, the castle lightling with the icles... is that only at the party and at what time about does that happen? (DS & DD are only 4 and usually they have a very early bedtime 7:30... so that is where a lot of my concern is well and the crowds)


Triplefigs.. SO Happy to hear that you are all home! Keeping Rees in my thoughts that he continues to make progress and the swelling subsides.


To OP that asked about medical help onsite... I can tell you that when we were there in Sept. that we needed to take DS to a DR. and I called the front desk and there is a DR that can come to the room depending on the medical need and in leui of that there is a Care Center not too far from Disny Prop.. the thing with the care center is that you can arrange for transportation to and from for no charge. It was a great service, no problem and I was pleased with the care center. Hopefully you won't need it this trip, but I certainly understand being prepared jsut in case.

Ok... need to finish up some chores...

Best,

 

[krbq]

Cmbar: I understand how you feel about your GF stay. We went in late Oct. and had similar disappointment which started right at the check-in desk (I posted about it on the old GF thread). Each time we've stayed at the GF we've been put in Sago and it's probably why we don't go back very often. On 2 trips we were able to switch to Boca Chica, which we liked better, but this trip we couldn't change rooms. Once your vacation starts on a bad note, it takes a while to recover. Did they at least acknowledge your anniversary in some way?

BTW, it's not that Sago's all that bad, but to me it's too far from the beautiful lobby, restaurants, and pools. Also, the cart traffic is highest around Sago because of the access between Sago and Gaspy's. But that's just me -- other people probably don't mind at all.

To the person inquiring about the refurb on Sago (sorry, I can't find your post!): In late October I was told by a CM that the entire building was going to be closed for 6 weeks starting the weekend after Thanksgiving and would re-open after the refurb was completed.

 

[tete01830]

So I gave up my computer for a day to have it "cleaned out" and look what happens!

Cmbar- I am sorry that things didnt go like you had them psyched up in your mind! I know what you are going through. Last year at BWI I booked a GV room because I thought for sure that I would get upgraded! I mean I was 100% sure that I COULD get us an upgrade-WRONG! I had what I paid for-a GV room! I have posted before about my dissapointment about not receiveing anything for our anniversary. That's where the forums get you! All these people get upgrades and champagne and chocolates and we got nothing! It is very dissapointing when you know it was a splurge and most likely wont stay again! Also, I know what you mean about the whole golf cart thing! I think I was so mad because I never got a ride! I walked to my room! Look forward to your next trip-I felt better after being home a few days!!!

ChanningCouldnt have happened to a better repeat GFer!!! I hope the kids are enjoying themselves! Did I say I am jealous? Oh yeah, I am soooo jealous! Not of that weather though but it beats home! Is it snowing in IL??? Anyways, thanks for my mix! Look forward to your thoughts on Narcoossee! It is my favorite!

Siobhan

 

[Cmbar]

So I gave up my computer for a day to have it "cleaned out" and look what happens!

Cmbar- I am sorry that things didnt go like you had them psyched up in your mind! I know what you are going through. Last year at BWI I booked a GV room because I thought for sure that I would get upgraded! I mean I was 100% sure that I COULD get us an upgrade-WRONG! I had what I paid for-a GV room! I have posted before about my dissapointment about not receiveing anything for our anniversary. That's where the forums get you! All these people get upgrades and champagne and chocolates and we got nothing! It is very dissapointing when you know it was a splurge and most likely wont stay again! Also, I know what you mean about the whole golf cart thing! I think I was so mad because I never got a ride! I walked to my room! Look forward to your next trip-I felt better after being home a few days!!!


Siobhan

Tete That is so funny that you agree about the carts. It must have been that way since we were at Sago. I have to say I wasn't dissappointed about not being upgraded to RPC or SL, it was that I had researched and asked questions and lots of people told me not to worry that GV was great ---except for a few views in Sago. Which I GOT! Plus the fact that 90% of the resort is refurbished and we asked twice and still got Sago was disappointing. I know of course that we would have been fine if I didn't know that all the other people out there were in refurbished rooms. I kinda felt jipped because Disney Management, heck they can afford to stay in RPC for goodness sake and can come to Disney whenever they want. Seem kinda silly to let the paying customers (some of us who were really stretching for that huge upgrade) to have the older building. I guess the real thing was that we asked nicely and it was noted on our reservation. It even says it everywhere on our paperwork that we were celebrating an anniversary. We went to Disney on our honeymoon and my husband mentioned to the Checkin lady, it took us 15 years to bump up to this resort. She was pleasant, but just didn't care to grant us that refurbish request. When DH went down the next morning, the only real reason they moved us was because of the smoke issue. So I guess I just felt the magic wasn't there for us. And plus not having the room ready by 4:30 was frustrating and having to be out of a room the next day too. It seems unimaginable that they didn't have a room available at 9am in any of the other three GV buildings!

They did give us annivesary buttons and there was a post card with all the characters saying "Happy Anniversary". Of course I watched a housekeeper lady walk in the building with balloons and thought "just maybe'! But alas it was not for us.

 

[Cmbar]

I just would like to send a short note to let them know my stay wasn't so magical, but I want to also comment on the great housekeeping and a really nice lady CM ANN at Gasspy's that went out of her way to help us use up our remaining credits on the DDP. Does anyone know what is the best way to send a note to the GF for compliments/complaints? Thanks!

 

[Cmbar]

I have to say if you arent happy when at disney you have to speak up. If i was Cmbar and they switched my room to what they gave her I would have been back at that desk so fast. I am not saying they didnt speak up I am just saying what I would have done. I also have cant shut up symdrome, Im from BOSTON. I am loud and obnoxious get over it!

Kelly I wish I had done exactly as you said. The more I think about it now, I realized I wasn't asking for an upgrade. I just wanted a GV in a refurbished building. Considering that three other buildings met that requirement it doesn't seem so unreasonable. I wasn't asking for RPC or SL so now I feel kinda stupid that we didn't go back, but by then we had been out of our room for both the first and second day. My DH just said "lets let it go and have a good rest of the trip". He had already done his best to ask nicely. He usually gets what he wants with a nice attitude and we are the kind that say "if you could help us out we would appreciate it". Kinda giving someone the opportunity to be a hero for a day, but obviously they needed more of a "hey, we want a better room NOW!''

 

[Alicnwondrln]

krbq I am glad to see you around ! I hope things are going well.

I do agree that the boards can also be hard taht you see people getting stuff and then posting about it and when it doesnt happen for your family your bummed. I have been to WDW 28 times and have never been upgraded at all. We have always paid for concierge. I will say we have gotten some amazing CMs and service and treats though.

I love the GF its my fav. I do need to see the new rooms in person I am not lovin the pics.

 

[SLDL]

Cmbar, Just wanted to thank you for your trip report. I never considered that we might get an upgrade in a couple weeks but I am REALLY building myself up for this vacation!! We are staying at the GF for the first time & b/c our company is paying for it, I doubt we will ever be able to afford to go back. I appreciate your realistic look at things & I don't think you should be too hard on yourself for not saying more about the rooms. While hindsight is 20/20, no one wants to spend their vacation trying to switch rooms, etc. We have scheduled something for every day & while we are flexible, I don't want to spend my first day or 2 moving from room to room. Not that I'm going to set myself up to be disappointed, I am just going to have a realistic attitude about GF.

 

[cinderlexa's mom]

We're driving from Singer Island to the GF on Sunday, 11/25. We could check in at anytime--but what is the best time to arrive if I'm trying to get the best room location for a GV room? Do a lot of guests check out on Sunday? Seems like there might be a lot of inventory?

I'd prefer not to arrive at 7am, if I'd have the same odds at 11am...

Any words of advice? TIA!

 

[Tink rules]

Ok... silly question time...

ARE ALL THE BUILDINGS (EXCEPT OF COURSE SAGO) REFURBISHED????

and I mean wallpaper!!!

If I had one with the white walls... I would have definately been a Jersey girl down at the front desk!!!!

I always stay in Conch Key - Marina Side - I like the top floor - and I LOVE the dormer rooms, but it's just usually me and mom...

 

[nicoleakr]

Thank you so much for updating this post!!!!!!!!!!

 

[grannyminnie]

Just thought to ask...has anyone who just returned seen anything in the room or on resort TV regarding the Bounceback program? I'm crossing my fingers it is still being offered when we get there Sunday!

 

[DLo]

Grannyminnie,

There was a flyer in our room about the Bounceback program. The dates didn't include this time of year. I don't remember the exact dates but I know they were earlier in the year because I thought - Oh well, I can't do that for my trip.

Hopefully, someone that is there now can look at the flyer for you and give you the dates.