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

[poohgirl6]

Hello everyone! Well, I have finally read thru all these posts! You girls (and guys) certainly are full of information. This thread has been great reading and very valuable. We have been to WDW 9 times and always stay onsite but never at GF. However, after reading this thread over the past few days I am convinced! Got a 40% off email code so I made ressies for my DH and I to celebrate our 25th anniversary at GF in Sept. This will be the first time for us to go to WDW without our 4 kids in tow! Can't wait to take it slow and eat real grown up food! I am wondering about bumping up to concierge and if it's worth the extra $$??? I am talking lodge concierge (which I guess means Sugar Loaf?) because I can't afford main bldg concierge (even with the discount ) I got a great rate and the difference between garden view and lodge concierge is approx $80 per night. Would like to hear from some of you with your views on this.

Again thank you so much for this great thread. I am really excited about our trip thanks to all your info

 

[irisbud]

Hello everyone! Well, I have finally read thru all these posts! You girls (and guys) certainly are full of information. This thread has been great reading and very valuable. We have been to WDW 9 times and always stay onsite but never at GF. However, after reading this thread over the past few days I am convinced! Got a 40% off email code so I made ressies for my DH and I to celebrate our 25th anniversary at GF in Sept. This will be the first time for us to go to WDW without our 4 kids in tow! Can't wait to take it slow and eat real grown up food! I am wondering about bumping up to concierge and if it's worth the extra $$??? I am talking lodge concierge (which I guess means Sugar Loaf?) because I can't afford main bldg concierge (even with the discount ) I got a great rate and the difference between garden view and lodge concierge is approx $80 per night. Would like to hear from some of you with your views on this.

Again thank you so much for this great thread. I am really excited about our trip thanks to all your info

I would definitely bump up to CL for $80 per night, no question. I feel the service on the CL is slightly better, you will get preplanning help if you so desire, and there is an element of "value" to it as well. Though CL is by no means a meal plan, and BF and I do not use it as such, it does save you some money on food and drinks if you choose to take part in the offerings when you happen to be around the hotel.

On our trip last week, BF and I did a split stay, 1/2 BWI CL and 1/2 Poly GV. During the 1st 1/2 of our trip, we spent about $175 on food. During the last 1/2, we spent about $350, just from not having the breakfast, the drinks avalibible and the appitizers for a snack when we were slightly hungry but not hungry enough for dinner.

You won't get your money back on it, or course, and you aren't meant to, but the service is great and the convenience is wondeful so I would definitely go for it!

 

[Cinderumbrella]

I will be interested to see what happens here...

I think we can all understand, though. As you know, I'm struggling with even going in May, and if we do go, do we stay at the Poly (my DH's resort choice when it's warm outside), or spend almost half the room rate and stay at the Swan? I'm all over the place on it! Something about the Swan doesn't excite me - I guess because it's technically not a Disney resort! I find that pathetic - hello, Disney has me right where they want me! I remember we were thrilled to stay there for the first time in '01, moving up from a moderate, but once we started to stay Disney deluxe or DVC, we've never looked back.

And now DH tells me that when we do go for our long trip in December, he wants to stay RPC again. Never in a million years would I have thought he'd say that, as I thought he was going to have a heart attack over the $$ when I booked us there for last December. Now, I've created a monster!

That is hilarious!!! We always stayed deluxe, then took 5 years off from WDW eek: ) and stayed moderate. It didn't seem so bad at the time but after our stay at the GF last year we both giggle about how we did it. DH is now hooked on the monorail, and the GF in particular. I volunteered to downgrade to the CR to save some money and he looked at me like I was crazy. If we ever stayed RPC I can only imagine what THAT would do to him!!

Keep up all the good work here ladies!!

 

[werfamily]

Hi, Dingo...OMG I sure feel like a crazy addict. I am pathetic. I am definitely doing the Swan and have been holding that room since August actually. I was set to stay there teh whole duration of our stay but then I was thinking we'd really enjoy a MK stay for a few nts., too. We have not ever spent a whole trip on the Epcot side before and MK is our favorite. So I also have an RPC room on hold now - thinking about checking in Easter afternoon for a few nts and then home. Sometimes I feel like when it comes up available during these crazy busy times kind of last minute for me, it was meant to be, haha. That's how I talk myself into it. This thread is like crack and it's KILLING me. I need to stay off the Dis for a while and detox.

Okay, help me here...as a newbie I'm looking forward to discovering this for myself, but left to my own devices, I’m afraid I won’t know where to look!

What is it about WDW? Is it the theme parks, or is it the GF? Since reading these boards I've been mentioning things I read here to my partner, and I will admit that we just don't get it. My kids are looking forward to the trip next month, but they are also looking beyond it to our summer vacation to France. The thought is not even in their heads (or ours for that matter) that we need to go to WDW again anytime soon.

So, again, what is it about WDW that keeps everyone so enamored? What keeps people coming back multiple times a year? If we just go as the generic tourists who spend a week doing the usual things, are we going to miss something? We do enjoy visiting Disneyland every 2 years or so, as we live in California and it makes a good weekend getaway. While we appreciate the Disney “magic”, I would think it might get old if experienced too frequently. How do you keep it fresh and new…or is it the familiarity that is comforting?

I’m also wondering if it is a regional thing. Most of the families around here do plan one WDW vacation during their kids’ childhood, but I don’t know a single family who has been more than once (and with three kids and all their schoolmates, sports mates and other acquaintances, we talk to lots of families!). Hawaii, Alaska, and Europe seem to be the favored vacations destinations for non-weekend trips.

I’d love to hear any thoughts on this!

 

[Lives4Disney]

Hi...OK I will try and help but honestly sometimes I don't even understand it myself.

Here goes....Confessions of a WDW addict....

First I guess I will start with....We have been MANY other places in the world and sometimes we've enjoyed it, sometimes not. When NOT, boy do I have regrets about vacation time wasted and lots of money spent. Sometimes just being in an unfamiliar place is a load of stress & more hassle than it's worth and it doesn't feel like a VACATION. OFTEN I feel like I have been misled by travel guide books and even forums (Frommers etc) and my expectations are SO different than the reality. So, I guess due to these reasons I appreciate WDW for the familiarity and it is a comfort to me & I can go with my kids w/out DH and feel confident and secure.

I can get really down in the dumps if I wind up staying somewhere that is unexpectedly NOT like what was pictured in online or book photos. Happened OFTEN. As much as I think I have researched and chosen the best for us I have wound up so disappointed. Time and money down the drain. I know what to expect at WDW.

We have been to WDW enough times over the years (we used to go once a year for 2 to 3 weeks when my kids were little and go over slow season) and then it crept up to twice/yr for a week to 10 days.....then I bought that "magic" Annual Pass and it was all down hill!!!! Oh, and discovered SWA.....great air deals.....PLUS WDW is a fairly short flt for us - 2 to 2 1/2 hrs. Short and easy. As I started to say, we've gone so much that we know CMs and they make our stays just out of this world wonderful and we feel so at home and comfortable there...(again that familiarity and comfort quotient )

Sometimes I jsut hear Disney or WDW music and it takes me back to all my wonderful memories of past family trips. WDW is where we've had the BEST family trips. Something for everyone and all that jazz. We have laughed our butts off time and again. Even when we were in HI on our dream trip, things reminded me of the Poly (as commonly known this is NOT my favorite WDW hotel ) and DH and I BOTH wished we were at teh Poly vs. HI!!!!! The kids, too!!!! Maybe we are boring, and sometimes I think people think HOW ODD that we just LOVE WDW and keep going back, but it is our happy place. Kind of an escape from real world garbage...although our last trip was full of real world crap. I think their clientele has definitely gone thru a change (downhill) over the past 5 years and it isn't as magical as it used to be.

I could go on and on and on because I just really love WDW. A lot has to do with how I love the nostalgia and the reason behind it's creation. I love retro and old Disney classic movies and DL stuff. I have so much baggage.


Lives4Disney

 

[Tinkaroo]

Hello everyone! Well, I have finally read thru all these posts! You girls (and guys) certainly are full of information. This thread has been great reading and very valuable. We have been to WDW 9 times and always stay onsite but never at GF. However, after reading this thread over the past few days I am convinced! Got a 40% off email code so I made ressies for my DH and I to celebrate our 25th anniversary at GF in Sept. This will be the first time for us to go to WDW without our 4 kids in tow! Can't wait to take it slow and eat real grown up food! I am wondering about bumping up to concierge and if it's worth the extra $$??? I am talking lodge concierge (which I guess means Sugar Loaf?) because I can't afford main bldg concierge (even with the discount ) I got a great rate and the difference between garden view and lodge concierge is approx $80 per night. Would like to hear from some of you with your views on this.

Again thank you so much for this great thread. I am really excited about our trip thanks to all your info

I would upgrade for that small difference in price - particularly for the time of year you're going. DH and I both made the comment when we stayed concierge at the GF in December that if it had been during the warmer months (when the heat just zaps your appetite), we could have likely eaten the good majority of our meals in the lounge! So, that would be further $$ saved, and unless you're eating very little, and all counter service, there's no way you could spend less than $80/day on food at WDW. You might find that the lounge food will be good to sustain you for breakfast and snacks throughout the day, and then you'd need to only eat dinner somewhere (although the appetizer and dessert buffet they put out at night is yummy, too!).

 

[Tinkaroo]

I hear ya.


Thanks for understanding. I feel like a loser.

About the Swan.....DH and I went ONCE to WDW by ourselves and we stayed there. OMG it was a BLAST. I enjoy the walk b/f between the parks. The lack of little Disney touches does not bug me at all - but I know it does others and I understand...we all have our quirks. I feel like you look outside and all you see is Disney, so it just oozes into the room. I guess what does bug me is how they skimp on towels and toiletries and sometimes turndown, other times not, sometimes robes sometimes not....I am bringing some GF toiletries just to have extra and I will just have to bother myself to call daily for turndown and extra towels. Just little things but I love not having to deal w/that stuff at all at the GF. I will let you know how the new rooms are. Dingoballs is going the week before me & hopefully his stay will be great & we can both feel like we got a great deal and enjoyed our time at the Swan.

That is hilarious!!! We always stayed deluxe, then took 5 years off from WDW eek: ) and stayed moderate. It didn't seem so bad at the time but after our stay at the GF last year we both giggle about how we did it. DH is now hooked on the monorail, and the GF in particular. I volunteered to downgrade to the CR to save some money and he looked at me like I was crazy. If we ever stayed RPC I can only imagine what THAT would do to him!!

Keep up all the good work here ladies!!

Thanks for commiserating, Channing and Kristin. I'm sure if any Disney execs are reading this thread, they'd be cackling with glee!

Yes - watch out for that RPC! It is fab. Honestly, though, I thought I'd be the one pining away for it, but DH I think misses it more! And he wasn't the one running to the lounge every few minutes for oatmeal/raisin cookies!

 

[WishesQueen]

Your not alone, so many family and friends ask us that quesion all the time. After they travel with us to WDW they completely understand.

First let me say I am 42 my DH 40, DS13 and DD11. I don't know if that has anything to do with it, but what the heck.

I can only speak for my family, and the conclusion that we have come up with is. After many vacations including European, US, Islands and even cruises, we have decided that Disney has it all. Besides it only takes 2 1/2 to get there from NY. We enjoy our morning in an awesome pool with a Cabana. When we get bord we choose one of 4 parkes with tons of things to do. When we're hungry there are more choices then we have time for. When that gets old, we start our day in a park end at the pool. You can take a day off go downtown Disney eat, shop, play. etc. etc.

The islands get boring, the cruise could turn bad, European trips are exguisting and Trips in the US are Ok but its a mix of touring and boring. Besides the weather is a huge part of all them. In Disney if it rains you can get a poncho and continue or do what my family does. Ride the monorail to each hotel. Check out the bar, game rool, restaurants. pin trade and shop.

I know my family will want to see other places in the world, but for now this is the place that fits everyones idea of Vacation. I think that even later in their life, we'll always pop over to WDW for a couple of days during the year. At least I hope so!!!

 

[Tinkaroo]

Okay, help me here...as a newbie I'm looking forward to discovering this for myself, but left to my own devices, I’m afraid I won’t know where to look!

What is it about WDW? Is it the theme parks, or is it the GF? Since reading these boards I've been mentioning things I read here to my partner, and I will admit that we just don't get it. My kids are looking forward to the trip next month, but they are also looking beyond it to our summer vacation to France. The thought is not even in their heads (or ours for that matter) that we need to go to WDW again anytime soon.

So, again, what is it about WDW that keeps everyone so enamored? What keeps people coming back multiple times a year? If we just go as the generic tourists who spend a week doing the usual things, are we going to miss something? We do enjoy visiting Disneyland every 2 years or so, as we live in California and it makes a good weekend getaway. While we appreciate the Disney “magic”, I would think it might get old if experienced too frequently. How do you keep it fresh and new…or is it the familiarity that is comforting?

I’m also wondering if it is a regional thing. Most of the families around here do plan one WDW vacation during their kids’ childhood, but I don’t know a single family who has been more than once (and with three kids and all their schoolmates, sports mates and other acquaintances, we talk to lots of families!). Hawaii, Alaska, and Europe seem to be the favored vacations destinations for non-weekend trips.

I’d love to hear any thought on this!

It's an interesting question, and definitely one I could see anyone asking that isn't caught up in it!

I agree with a lot of what Channing said. I was fortunate to grow up in a family that did get to travel a lot (US and int'l.), but every summer we went to visit my grandparents in southeast Florida for 2 weeks. Their house was only about 2 hours from Orlando, and my parents began taking me (and then my brother, too) about every other year to WDW for a few days while we visited Florida.

Those are some of the best family memories I have - the anticipation, the excitement, all the experiences - and we used to stay off-site, as my dad had a lot of hotel rewards. (I didn't stay onsite until I was an adult and married! ) So, the magic can still be sustained off-site, too. WDW is just a place that we all agreed on and loved - everyone wanted to go, and had a great time doing so.

Now, I was a Disney nut in other ways (parents indoctrinated me early) - had all the books, movies, stuffed animals, etc., etc. It was Disney all the time, and I just ate it up. And it's just continued as an adult! Sure, there is a lot of nostalgia there for the "good old days", but I also think that the Disney mindset (of which you can get a good revitalizing shot of when you actually visit a Disney park) is a refreshing and wholesome way of viewing the world. You can typically believe the best in people, be a kid again, laugh and be silly with your family, etc. Disney magic is real, and it happens all around you - whether that you just get an attitude change while you're there, or whether you actually see something happen (a child meeting Mickey for the 1st time, a couple getting engaged, birthday celebrations, a child experiencing their first "big kid" ride, etc., etc.). I know it sounds sappy, but a lot of people just "get it."

For a peek behind the curtain, click on this link, and scroll down to the blog entry on 7/22/07: http://www.allearsnet.com/blogs/mikescopa/2007/07/

Hope this helps!

 

[poohgirl6]

Well, I know alot of people are puzzled by the fact that our family always seems to end up at WDW for vacations. We do travel other places and have enjoyed some good family times in all parts of the country but those have usually been associated with DH's work and we tagged along, making it into a mini-vacation. If it were left up to me, we'd always do WDW. Over the years we've had some truly magical trips and some solid "good trips" with some unmagical moments. But if we're heading to WDW, it's a guaranteed good time for every member of the family. As a mother of 4 children (now age 22, 18, 11 and 9) there's no other place I've found where everyone is entertained and happy the whole time. Also, with the difference in ages, we often split up and the older kids were able to safely use the Disney transportation system to pursue their own iteneraries while DH and I took the little boys to Fantasyland, etc. Then we could all easily meet up for a family dinner and pool time at the hotel. I don't know of another place on earth where I'd feel comfortable letting my young to mid-teens tour, shop, eat, etc on their own. The more you visit, the more you can pace yourself and truly enjoy the magic around you. If your family goes often then you don't have to get up at dawn and stay at the parks until midnight the whole time, thus returning from vacation feeling like you've been at boot camp

 

[magical4us4]

Hi...OK I will try and help but honestly sometimes I don't even understand it myself.

Here goes....Confessions of a WDW addict....

First I guess I will start with....We have been MANY other places in the world and sometimes we've enjoyed it, sometimes not. When NOT, boy do I have regrets about vacation time wasted and lots of money spent. Sometimes just being in an unfamiliar place is a load of stress & more hassle than it's worth and it doesn't feel like a VACATION. OFTEN I feel like I have been misled by travel guide books and even forums (Frommers etc) and my expectations are SO different than the reality. So, I guess due to these reasons I appreciate WDW for the familiarity and it is a comfort to me & I can go with my kids w/out DH and feel confident and secure.

I can get really down in the dumps if I wind up staying somewhere that is unexpectedly NOT like what was pictured in online or book photos. Happened OFTEN. As much as I think I have researched and chosen the best for us I have wound up so disappointed. Time and money down the drain. I know what to expect at WDW.

We have been to WDW enough times over the years (we used to go once a year for 2 to 3 weeks when my kids were little and go over slow season) and then it crept up to twice/yr for a week to 10 days.....then I bought that "magic" Annual Pass and it was all down hill!!!! Oh, and discovered SWA.....great air deals.....PLUS WDW is a fairly short flt for us - 2 to 2 1/2 hrs. Short and easy. As I started to say, we've gone so much that we know CMs and they make our stays just out of this world wonderful and we feel so at home and comfortable there...(again that familiarity and comfort quotient )

Sometimes I jsut hear Disney or WDW music and it takes me back to all my wonderful memories of past family trips. WDW is where we've had the BEST family trips. Something for everyone and all that jazz. We have laughed our butts off time and again. Even when we were in HI on our dream trip, things reminded me of the Poly (as commonly known this is NOT my favorite WDW hotel ) and DH and I BOTH wished we were at teh Poly vs. HI!!!!! The kids, too!!!! Maybe we are boring, and sometimes I think people think HOW ODD that we just LOVE WDW and keep going back, but it is our happy place. Kind of an escape from real world garbage...although our last trip was full of real world crap. I think their clientele has definitely gone thru a change (downhill) over the past 5 years and it isn't as magical as it used to be.

I could go on and on and on because I just really love WDW. A lot has to do with how I love the nostalgia and the reason behind it's creation. I love retro and old Disney classic movies and DL stuff. I have so much baggage.


Lives4Disney

Okay, Channing, you hit it right on the nail for me too!!!

I couldn't have explained it any better!

Magical

 

[dingoballs]

I hear ya.


Dingoballs is going the week before me & hopefully his stay will be great & we can both feel like we got a great deal and enjoyed our time at the Swan.

*nodding in agreement*

This will be the first time at the Swan for us, but I've read mostly positive reviews about the resort, including the recent reburfishment. Plus, the Dolphin/Swan just won the World Travel Awards for North America's Leading Resort, so I think we'll enjoy our stay there. But it's still not the GF, right, Lives4Disney?

 

[praline3001]

Hey channing I found some info for your DD

Just for giggles I looked up how much a wedding is at GF ...
Well for the intimate weddings at the pavillion (18 guest or less...) the wedding package start at 5,000. It includes most things for a wedding but not reception. This does include photos and small flower arrangements...

The wishes wedding (for parties 18-300) to rent the pavillion it cost 10 grand that isn't the reception just the wedding....

to rent the cindy carriage for your wedding cost 2,700.00

BUT feel lucky with those prices and hide this post from her (as I am doing from my DD)
as now you can get married at a sunrise wedding in front of Cindy's castle for a measly 25,000 of course that doesn't include anything but the spot for 50 or less guest

I didn't spend too much time researching all of the packages or anything... just glanced at the site to get a ball park figure.

To rent the GF ballroom for a reception is 10 grand.... not sure what all it included though

So for 20 grand your DD can have her wedding at the pavillion and reception in the ballroom ... throw in flowers, food, cake, dresses, honeymoon suite... the make up artist that comes in to make her look good (yup saw they had one of those for GF weddings...) music and you got it made

 

[Cinderumbrella]

I guess I will take a crack at why we go back as my point of view is slightly different.

I never went to WDW as a child. I came from a middle class family, but both my working parents had family in other states so when vacation time came we went to see the family. My first time to WDW was my honeymoon. And I really protested going since I was under the impression that it was for children. But DH insisted (he went several times to WDW as a child) and booked us at the GF for 12 days. I did no research whatsoever before going. DH and MIL planned it all (our meals, parks etc.). When we arrived at the GF I was absolutely blown away by the sheer beauty of that hotel and how fabulous everyone was. EVERYONE congratulated us on our marriage. They left us special surprises in our room at night (flowers, champagne, cookies, bubble bath supplies etc.) It was unbelievable!! And when we hopped on the monorail for the first time and I walked into the Magic Kingdom (my choice for the first park since it was the closest) and made the turn on Main Street and saw the castle for the very first time I was awestruck. I turned into a 6 year old little girl for a moment and truly believed for one second that I was a princess and that was MY castle....

3 years later we decided to go back and we got a lot of heat for it since we were still childless. We booked at the BC thinking that all deluxe hotels were just like the GF. I was horribly disappointed. Where were the robes? Why did the buses take so long to get everywhere? Why isn't there a piano player in the lobby? I could go on, but I won't...

Then we took 5 years off and vacationed elsewhere (mostly the Carribbean) and had a child. When he was 2 we decided it was time to introduce him to the wonderful world of Disney. Remembering my disappointment with the BC we booked at POR. I figured why spend all that money on a deluxe if we weren't going to be happy? (Should have just booked the GF, but I digress...) I got a whole new appreciation for WDW going with DS for the first time. It was like I was living my childhood through him. The attractions had a whole new element to them when you see them through a child's eyes. And he remembered every detail of that trip and talked about it for months afterwards!

That trip hooked us and we have been back every year since. Last year thanks the wonderful 40% code we headed back to the GF for the first time in 10 years to celebrate our 10th Anniversary. It was everything I remembered and more. EVERYONE congratulated us on our anniversary, they left us champagne in the room, those robes were back....

I doubt we will ever go more than 1 time in a year since DH's vacation time is precious (and extremely limited to the time of year he can go), but we all agree never to make that BC mistake again and will continue on at the GF for years to come. WDW truly is our family's happy place and being at the GF makes it just a little bit more...

 

[poohgirl6]

Thanks for your input irisbud and Tinkaroo [/B I am seriously leaning towards bumping up to CL.

My question is this: So, if I book "Lodge Concierge" that means that we'll be in Sugar Loaf bldg?

What are the room/view options in that building? And since my trip is not till Sept when should I expect to hear from the IPO?

Thank you

 

[Alicnwondrln]

I always email the IPO and intro myself and then start chatting with them after I have made my ressie.

 

[praline3001]

it keeps getting better
my DD said she wanted to be married at Disney World ... thats why for giggles I was looking up the costs

Well I was wrong on the pavillion... its 2,500 to rent but your total wedding package must be over 10 grand to use it...

SO here is what I made for my DD fantasy wedding at the GF:

Ceremony at the pavillion (150 people)
fantasy floral bouquet
flowers for the ceremony .. isle, unity candles, alter etc...
harpist for the wedding
cindys coach
6 hour phot package
6 hour video package
reception following at the GF ballroom (15,000 it came up as)
floral arrangements for the reception
live band
total cost of this: $53,000
of course thats still not the honeymoon suite, the dress, invites..... and the rest of the stuff you need to buy.

 

[Alicnwondrln]

glad I dont have daughters! LOL

 

[praline3001]

glad I dont have daughters! LOL

I wonder if we can use a discount code for that

Poor Channing... after that wedding she will have to stay at the POP for the rest of her life

 

[poohgirl6]

Is that IPO address the GFplanning one that you have listed in post #5?

To Praline: As a mom whose only daughter got married last month, that is not really a bad price. Believe me, weddings are expensive Of course, the amount you quoted would be for now and sounds like your dd is not ready to get married quite yet, you'd better budget in the price increases sure to occur before she is ready