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

[Lives4Disney]

Werfamily, I think it's very difficult writing a comparison article between the GF and non-Disney luxury resorts. No pun intended, but it is a completely different world. By comparison to the other Disney resorts, the GF is advertised as their flagship resort and does offer a few extra amenities to keep it's head above the others. For the industry standards though, luxury resorts like the Ritz would get a 5 star rating. The GF may rate a 4, but just barely. It depends on what your readers are looking for. If your readers normally frequent luxury resorts, you may want to point out what the GF lacks when compared. As a reader, that can be taken into account and the decision is then made, as to whether the lack of a certain amenity weighs more than it's location to the Magic Kingdom.

Personally, I know that when I'm at the GF, I won't be receiving the same level of service that I do at the Ritz. On the flip side though, when I'm at the Ritz, I don't get the magic of being immersed in the middle of Disney World.

I like the GF better than most any other deluxe resorts anywhere else we've been because I like where it's located better than anywhere else. That has a lot to do with guest satisfaction IMO. If you love WDW, the GF is the place to be....NO WAY would I stay off site. NEVER have and NEVER will. Don't care if it's a Ritz. No interest in anything off Disney property during a WDW trip. If you aren't into Disney as much, of course you'll miss the higher end services & amenities offered by a Ritz etc. We've stayed at many top notch resorts and I still think the CMs at the GF are great and we've always had fabulous service there. Maybe because we're repeaters, and not so much at other resorts, but we've had the best times at the GF. It's comfortable and casually elegant and Disney.

I definitely think a review of two places done by the same person holds more value than two individuals reviewing two diff places simultaneously. It is all in the eye of the beholder, though. We all come into anything with our own past experiences and expectations. I have been sorely disappointed by planning trips based on guide book info & pics. I also prefer what REAL people have to say.

Lives4Disney

 

[Alicnwondrln]

I agree a review by the same person. I love the GF its a stunning resort. I CMs are great for the most part and now that they have remodeled it should help.

 

[minniesota]

Since there has been a lot of talk about concierge offerings, I thought I'd repost this info from the old thread. We stayed at RPC in October of this year. Here's what I made note of:

Breakfast offerings:

Assorted cereals, instant oatmeal
Fruit and yogurt
Plain and sesame bagels with cream cheese
Cinnamon raisin toast
Whole wheat and white toast
Assorted sweet rolls and croissants
Sticky buns (2 out of 6 mornings)
Cold cuts and cheese
Juices, teas, coffee and the Nescafe machine

Lunch offerings:

Veggies and dips
Cheese and crackers
Spreads (hummus) with bagel chips
Turkey and cheese sandwiches
Potato chips
Cookies
Lemonade, ice tea, Perrier, Evian and Coke products (plus Ginger Ale)

Afternoon tea time:

Cookies (sugar, oatmeal raisin, chocolate chip)
Scones and devonshire cream/jams
Banana bread
Small tea cookies
Same beverages

Evening: (5-7 PM - Food changed each night)

Grilled Chicken Ceasar Salad With Croutons
Crabcakes
Mushroom Phyllo Pouches
Brie With Lingonberries
Salmon with Potato Salad
Virginia Ham Biscuits
Assorted Veggies
Assorted cheeses and crackers

Southwest Chicken Salad
Scallops in Ancho Chili Bacon
Watermelon and Pineapple Salsa
Herb Goat Cheese Crostini
Chicken Wellington
Gazpacho Shrimp Shooters
Assorted Veggies, Cheeses, Crackers

Chicken Satay
Beef Skewer with Thai Chili Sauce
Carrot and grape salad
Coconut mango salad
Flatbread
Assorted veggies, cheeses, crackers

Hot and Sour Cucumber Salad
Asian Chicken Salad
Broccoli Cashew Salad
Thai Spring Rolls
Duck Potstickers
Vegetable Sushi with Wasabi
Assorted veggies, cheeses, crackers
Wonton Skins with Cinnamon

Wines included Penfold Cabernet, Coppola Merlot, Mumm Cuvee, a chardonnay and pinot grigio
Beers included Bud, Miller Lite, Heineken, Corona

Cordials and desserts (8-10 PM):

Chocolate covered strawberries
Swirled cheesecakes
Fruit tarts
Chocolate covered Ladyfingers
Carrot cakes
Big cookies
Tea cookies

Adult beverages included Bailey's, Kahluha, Drambouie, Brandy and 2 others (I'm a Bailey's girl!)

My kids are older so I didn't pay as much attention but what I remember is:

Turkey cheese roll-ups
Fish Nuggets
Chicken nuggets
PBJ Crustables
Cupcakes
Brownies

Hope this helps! Our favorite evening offerings were on Tuesday (Potstickers, Thai Spring Rolls, etc,) I know people say you can't make a meal out of concierge offerings but there were at least two nights that I really did not need anything else. We ate all of our breakfasts in the lounge with the exception of our last morning when we ate at the GF Cafe.
Rarely had midday offerings but often had scones! I think we had desserts and cordials 2 or 3 nights.

 

[Alicnwondrln]

Thanks for posting that Min I will add it to the beginning.

ETA its been added

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

minniesota,
Thank you for posting the menu and after reading it everything looks so good.

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

Whenever my family and I visit the Grand Floridian if we go to the check-in desk in the lobby during the afternoon or sometime after 7:00 PM, what are the chances they could call Sugar Loaf and have a Cast Member from there show us around? Assuming they are not busy which is why I said during the afternoon or after 7:00 PM which when they have taken all the Hors D'Ouvres away. We plan to be very nice when asking, so we won't demand that they do us this favour because I realize they could say no. Plus we would also tell them we have a reservation for there next August, which would not be a lie. The one thing we won't ask to see are the new rooms, because I know during the time we are they will be sold out. If for whatever reason they can not show us around, is it still possible to request the menu of the foods they offer and etc?

 

[TammiMcMan]

I like the GF better than most any other deluxe resorts anywhere else we've been because I like where it's located better than anywhere else.

For its location, I agree that it is one of the best. What will be interesting is when the Ritz does come to Disney property.

Goofygal, I know that AAA rates them as 4 diamonds and Travelocity rates them a 4.5. I imagine that the luxury guide has it's own criteria as well. One of the examples I can point to though, is that if you're staying at Gaylord, their concierge will call and book dining reservations at Disney or any other place in Orlando. If you approached the concierge at GF and asked for the same thing, they wouldn't book outside the WDW. I understand that they want people to remain on site, but to me, that brings their service level down.

 

[Alicnwondrln]

CR fan I would email the IPO office and ask for the menus

 

[werfamily]

Wow, thanks for all of the responses. I totally agree that the two resorts are different experiences, but most people (who don’t frequent Disboards!) don’t know this. I think it actually takes a trip to WDW to realize the advantages of staying on-site, and not just from a convenience standpoint. My aim will be to try and convey the “magic” feeling of a Disney resort. As TammiMcMan said, it is almost impossible to compare such intrinsically different hotels, so instead I will try and help people choose a resort based on their own vacation expectations. Frankly, before I started reading these boards, I thought that the only real advantage of staying on-site was the Disney bedspreads and soap! From what we’ve heard from various friends, the transportation service was thorough but not necessarily speedy, and other friends who stayed off-site had no trouble driving into the parks each day. I’m anxious to check this out for myself. After spending a couple of months reading these boards, however, I’ve come to see that it is the thousands of “little things” that makes you all so fond of staying at a Disney resort, and keeps you coming back again and again.

I’ll keep you posted as we get closer to our trip…and of course ask some of the many questions I have!

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

CR fan I would email the IPO office and ask for the menus

I never thought of doing that, so thanks for the suggestion.

 

[Alicnwondrln]

Holiday Information

Gingerbread House: Located in the lobby November 12 - December 31, 2007 from 10am - 10pm
Magic Music Days Performances in the lobby:
November 29 - December 2
December 6 - 9
December 13 - 16
December 20 - 24
Performances at 7:00pm and 8:00pm

 

[princessesrule4]

I think people who hoard the items ruin it for everyone else. Those are the ones who get the most stares.

I'm not looking to stuff my face in the midnight hours I'm just a mom who needs some milk and some snacks for her kids and always snacking DH!

One last food related question then I'll drop this - promise!

What brand of water do they provide you with in those large glass bottles?

(I HATE that Florida brand "Zpharellis" sp?!)

The other brand of bottled water is Evian. Glad Lives4disney knew the other brand was Perrier because I couldn't remember!

 

[goofygal531]

Goofygal, I know that AAA rates them as 4 diamonds and Travelocity rates them a 4.5. I imagine that the luxury guide has it's own criteria as well. One of the examples I can point to though, is that if you're staying at Gaylord, their concierge will call and book dining reservations at Disney or any other place in Orlando. If you approached the concierge at GF and asked for the same thing, they wouldn't book outside the WDW. I understand that they want people to remain on site, but to me, that brings their service level down.

Many travel guides look at restaurants and spa services in grading a resort. Due to Victoria & Albert's, the GF get's very high ratings.

 

[goofygal531]

What are the chances we can see the Sugar Loaf Lounge?

While staying at the Poly, I actually got lost and couldn't find my building. They all looked the same to me! Somehow, I stumbled upon the concierge building by accident. The door was locked. Immediately the CM let me in and I explained I was lost and she gave me directions. But before I left I asked if I could just check out the place. She was wonderful! Gave me a quick little tour. I was laughing, making jokes how I got lost we actually had a nice little chat. It was fun. It was also late morning, the place was empty.

I would just walk by Sugar Loaf and knock on the door and ask the CM if you can look around the place I'm staying here on our next visit. But that's just me.

 

[dingoballs]

Wow, thanks for all of the responses. I totally agree that the two resorts are different experiences, but most people (who don’t frequent Disboards!) don’t know this. I think it actually takes a trip to WDW to realize the advantages of staying on-site, and not just from a convenience standpoint. My aim will be to try and convey the “magic” feeling of a Disney resort. As TammiMcMan said, it is almost impossible to compare such intrinsically different hotels, so instead I will try and help people choose a resort based on their own vacation expectations. Frankly, before I started reading these boards, I thought that the only real advantage of staying on-site was the Disney bedspreads and soap! From what we’ve heard from various friends, the transportation service was thorough but not necessarily speedy, and other friends who stayed off-site had no trouble driving into the parks each day. I’m anxious to check this out for myself. After spending a couple of months reading these boards, however, I’ve come to see that it is the thousands of “little things” that makes you all so fond of staying at a Disney resort, and keeps you coming back again and again.

I’ll keep you posted as we get closer to our trip…and of course ask some of the many questions I have!

For the past few years, the GF has ranked within the Top 50 Best Resorts in the country by Conde Nast magazine, so I think frequent travelers who know deluxe resorts know that the GF is one of the best...

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

While staying at the Poly, I actually got lost and couldn't find my building. They all looked the same to me! Somehow, I stumbled upon the concierge building by accident. The door was locked. Immediately the CM let me in and I explained I was lost and she gave me directions. But before I left I asked if I could just check out the place. She was wonderful! Gave me a quick little tour. I was laughing, making jokes how I got lost we actually had a nice little chat. It was fun. It was also late morning, the place was empty.

I would just walk by Sugar Loaf and knock on the door and ask the CM if you can look around the place I'm staying here on our next visit. But that's just me.

That is kind of how we found the Hawaii Longhouse this past August while we were at WDW. We had planned just to see where it was since we will be staying there later this month and at 1st we could not find it. Instead we went the wrong way. Anyway when we finally found it we were surprised that the door was open so we walked in, told the Cast Member working there that we were staying there on our next trip. He was very nice by showing us pictures of the rooms, getting us the menu for the foods they serve in the lounge and a map of the Poly so we could find our way around the grounds. Then just like you when we asked if we could see the lounge he said go right ahead. Since I think it was a total fluke that the door was open, I am not sure the same thing would happen when trying to see the Sugar Loaf lounge, so we think it's best to ask ahead.

 

[NeverSayNever]

Hey Everyone!!

Channing thanks for all the info about the stores... definately going to check them out since $35 ornament in Sandy Cove is not gonna work especially with twin 4yr olds who will probalby try to play cath with it!! Sorry to hear about your sweater though...

Forget who asked... but we did have a microwave in our GV room in Sept. We found it really handy, we had orderd some groceries and did use it for a quick breakfest and stuff with the kids. For us it came in handy and we will do it again.

Not a sushi eater (sorry like my food cooked), but I do know that they had it in Sept when we were there too, but DP said it looked really good!

Oh... can someone explain to me what the Magin Music hours at GF our in Dec. Is there a schedule of what/who is playing?

Loved the picture of Mickey at the piano... ohh my kids would be so excited if they saw him at the GF. Is he there often now for the Holidays or was that just a once off thing?

Best,

 

[cinderlexa's mom]

We stayed LV 11/25-12/2. First stay. Love Poly. Would only stay GF for Christmas--but wouldn't stay anywhere else for Christmas. DD's new favorite.

Loved:
front desk CM's who truly handle "everything", no pass-offs
decor
True resort feel
towel hamper
ipod docking station
Awsome pool, fun slide, padded chairs
yummy pool bar drinks
kiddie water feature at slide pool--both age groups were happy
METAL CRIB--actually able to clean properly
Grounds (poinsettias, Christmas decorations, etc.)
location convenience
upscale but cozy
upkeep on exterior of buildings/grounds
upkeep on interior of main lobby/building
most CM's--especially the one who got us last minute ressies to Kona when full and the other one who upgraded us from GV to LV
drapes
clean carpet--still replacing in Big Pine Key while there
large window/slider
peaceful
lovely new wallpaper in bathroom

Not so much:
bedspreads hard as rock, stuffed em in the closet
bathroom needs gutted
NO DVD PLAYER in standard room
fridge freezes items SOLID
evil TV remote
stained/dirty white trim throughout rooms (viewed one first/accepted next one)
excessive amount of mildew growing on shower tiles--SO YUCK!!
hit and miss mousekeeping, including not "restocking basics" shampoo, towels
new room decor already stained badly (solid color sofa and chair no-no's for hotel)
Gaspies--hot breakfast disgusting! bakery items okay, needs renovated! We took boat to Poly, Captain Cook's quality of food and atmosphere was 10x's better!
Horrible fumes from wallpaper glue--they JUST put up new bathroom wallpaper the day we checked in...
CM who tried to tell me I couldn't pay cash when checking out because I left a CC at check in...
1900 Park Fare--characters were off compared to when we saw them "in-character at MK" Food was barely just "okay" Choices were good, though
No good food options for casual dining. We love Kona, Ohana-pretty good, Captain Cooks, but Gaspies, GFC and 1900 Park Fare--EWWWW

I took a ton of pictures. If I ever get around to learining how to post them, I will...

 

[Lives4Disney]

We stayed LV 11/25-12/2. First stay. Love Poly. Would only stay GF for Christmas--but wouldn't stay anywhere else for Christmas. DD's new favorite.

Loved:
front desk CM's who truly handle "everything", no pass-offs
decor
True resort feel
towel hamper
ipod docking station
Awsome pool, fun slide, padded chairs
yummy pool bar drinks
kiddie water feature at slide pool--both age groups were happy
METAL CRIB--actually able to clean properly
Grounds (poinsettias, Christmas decorations, etc.)
location convenience
upscale but cozy
upkeep on exterior of buildings/grounds
upkeep on interior of main lobby/building
most CM's--especially the one who got us last minute ressies to Kona when full and the other one who upgraded us from GV to LV
drapes
clean carpet--still replacing in Big Pine Key while there
large window/slider
peaceful
lovely new wallpaper in bathroom

Not so much:
bedspreads hard as rock, stuffed em in the closet
bathroom needs gutted
NO DVD PLAYER in standard room
fridge freezes items SOLID
evil TV remote
stained/dirty white trim throughout rooms (viewed one first/accepted next one)
excessive amount of mildew growing on shower tiles--SO YUCK!!
hit and miss mousekeeping, including not "restocking basics" shampoo, towels
new room decor already stained badly (solid color sofa and chair no-no's for hotel)
Gaspies--hot breakfast disgusting! bakery items okay, needs renovated! We took boat to Poly, Captain Cook's quality of food and atmosphere was 10x's better!
Horrible fumes from wallpaper glue--they JUST put up new bathroom wallpaper the day we checked in...
CM who tried to tell me I couldn't pay cash when checking out because I left a CC at check in...
1900 Park Fare--characters were off compared to when we saw them "in-character at MK" Food was barely just "okay" Choices were good, though
No good food options for casual dining. We love Kona, Ohana-pretty good, Captain Cooks, but Gaspies, GFC and 1900 Park Fare--EWWWW

I took a ton of pictures. If I ever get around to learining how to post them, I will...

Great review....so I guess one question is answered. ONly DVD players in concierge. That's kind of lame since there is a space specifically in the furniture for a DVD player.

You like what I like at the GF. I also agree with a few on the "not so much" list....the fire retardent comforters, the freezy fridge, and tv remote. I also hate dirty walls and stained furniture....never had it at the GF yet. Had a big issue with this at the Swan last May.....that's how we wound up w/the Dolphin freebie.

Question about the "solid" sofa and chairs.....our sofa was a rose color w/gold print.....the arm chair was blue w/gold and the desk chair green w/rose print that matched the bench. Nothing we had in the room was solid. I would love to see room pics to compare. Just curious if there are varying decors.

Mildew - yuck. Had this issue in a mega expensive CR suite....it was awful and that and other maintenance issues ruined the CR for me. Just seemed dirty over all and dirty scuffed walls and trim and torn wallpaper add to that for sure.

What does the new wallpaper in the bathroom look like???

I thought Gaspies was fine, but I have heard mixed reviews on CCs, so I haven't been there since the update. Since staying at the Poly a couple times (kept trying it over and over to get it right but it didn't happen), I am not a Poly fan though.

Glad it was a nice stay over all. Nice upgrade. I hope you can post pics! I'd love to see the room and new bathroom wallpaper.

Never say Never - When we were there last Xmas, they had a music schedule - you may find it on the DIS home/info page on each resort regarding the Christmas happenings. They have these performances in the lobby nightly near the huge tree. It's great. They had choirs, bell choirs, Victorian singers, brass choirs, etc.

Lives4Disney

 

[Cinderella Fan]

Good morning - BG and I were examining our trip over the weekend and started to reassess how important this trip is for us.

Since we are trying again to get pregnant, I was starting to feel giuilty about spending so much on RPC this time, since we were just at the GF 2 months ago. So, I found the Poly at an AP rate for 3 of our nights (the nights we were at RPC ) and we have moved over there.

It has saved us over $1200, so I am happy about that. I have never stayed at the Poly before, but am looking forward to trying it. We may like it...

Now, we will be at the GF on Saturday night, then moving over to the Poly. Monday morning is our photo shoot, and that was the only thing that was REALLY important to me...