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

[tinklvr64]

Lives4Disney, Do you remember what the airfare was when you went over Thanksgiving last year?? Right now on United it is about $400 pp and there is 5 of us ....Southwest is always our first choice (their rates are not out) but we will also fly out of Ohare.
Anyone else in Chi area remember??? Trying to get a handle on all of the costs for over T'giving.

 

[Lives4Disney]

Lives4Disney, Do you remember what the airfare was when you went over Thanksgiving last year?? Right now on United it is about $400 pp and there is 5 of us ....Southwest is always our first choice (their rates are not out) but we will also fly out of Ohare.
Anyone else in Chi area remember??? Trying to get a handle on all of the costs for over T'giving.

SWA!! I think I bought it the end of August. We usually don't pay more than $800 - 1000 for the 5 of us rt and often less with Ding fares. I know a lot of people do not like going to MDW, but we haven't ever had a problem....we have both limoed there and if we drive/park we park inside the parking garage and it is so easy you just enter right into the SWA check in.

For spring break we are also flying SWa....we almost exclusively fly them these days for their great rates. I am still waiting for my DING for spring break! They just had MDW to MCO for $74 each way but only up til March 5.....fingers crossed!! PLUS, with SWA it is so easy to modify flights - dates and times. That way we can easily extend a Disney stay totally last minute if we choose.

Just remembered so had to throw this in.....we stayed until the Monday after Thanksgiving. I could not get any flight even SWA for a decent rate on returning to CHicago on Sunday or Saturday - didn't really try for Sat because who wants to cut that short! We flew in Nov 15 and left Nov 26.

Praline - your family sounds like a riot!

Happy planning!!

Lives4Disney

 

[tinklvr64]

SWA!! I think I bought it the end of August. We usually don't pay more than $800 - 1000 for the 5 of us rt and often less with Ding fares. I know a lot of people do not like going to MDW, but we haven't ever had a problem....we have both limoed there and if we drive/park we park inside the parking garage and it is so easy you just enter right into the SWA check in.

For spring break we are also flying SWa....we almost exclusively fly them these days for their great rates. I am still waiting for my DING for spring break! They just had MDW to MCO for $74 each way but only up til March 5.....fingers crossed!! PLUS, with SWA it is so easy to modify flights - dates and times. That way we can easily extend a Disney stay totally last minute if we choose.

Just remembered so had to throw this in.....we stayed until the Monday after Thanksgiving. I could not get any flight even SWA for a decent rate on returning to CHicago on Sunday or Saturday - didn't really try for Sat because who wants to cut that short! We flew in Nov 15 and left Nov 26.

Praline - your family sounds like a riot!

Happy planning!!

Lives4Disney

I agree about MDW over ORD, easier in and out. We are going Nov23-28 sun/fri so I hope we can get something decent. I also like the way SW has their new checkin..way easier Thanks for the info!!

 

[marcij]

NeverSayNever, the YC and BC are still nice and bright- don't worry!

As for AKL being dark, I guess we didn't notice it. It was Christmastime, so maybe that added to the mood We really liked it there. We booked a standard with a code and were upgraded to Savannah (That video camera thing is a little creepy though...) AKL's biggest plus is that they don't share a bus!!! Would I give up my monorail to stay there again- probably not- but if we were trying to save a little money and the monorail resorts were off limits all together then we would go back in a second!

Kristin

We did a split stay with AKL and GF three years ago, and my boys adored AKL! I liked it as well, but the GF is still my favorite. Since my boys love seeing the animals, they would stay out on the balcony forever being quiet and watching the animals -- even the rabbits excited them. We had heard it would be darker there, so we were pleasantly surprised that it wasn't as bad as feared. We had our own car there, so it didn't make everything seem so far off. The theme is amazing there, and we loved the pool. We also loved the sunrise safari. The staff were also wonderful, but there's nothing like staying on the monorail at our beloved GF. Maybe that's why we've only stayed GF and AKL -- I just can't tear myself away from my beloved GF... THOUGH I can't get one of the dates I want for our Dec/Jan trip, so we may have to do another split stay.

 

[triplefigs]

Just popping in to say hi to all my GF friends! We're down to 70 days on our "new" countdown. Hope y'all are all GRAND!

 

[distherapy]

Hey all! Just wanted to share my favorite housekeeping picture from our recent trip (who knew there was such a thing?!) - we came back to the room one afternoon and this is what we found -

I loved it.

I just posted it in my trip report - http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1712496

And I just wanted to share my sympathy with those closely affected by the NIU shooting. I'm just so sorry. It's such a scary world. Just this past week there were 2 (TWO!!!) shootings in high schools here. It was all my husband needed to really be convinced on private schools. We're both public school grads, but this is too much.

 

[Cinderumbrella]

Lives4Disney, Do you remember what the airfare was when you went over Thanksgiving last year?? Right now on United it is about $400 pp and there is 5 of us ....Southwest is always our first choice (their rates are not out) but we will also fly out of Ohare.
Anyone else in Chi area remember??? Trying to get a handle on all of the costs for over T'giving.

We flew out on the Sunday after Tgiving in 2006. We paid $263 pp on United/ OHare. I just kept doing an expedia search every day till we got to a fare we could agree on. I think we booked in mid March.

I am looking for Dec 6-14 right now (boycotting United over their stupid bag fee!!) and prices are still pretty high for that time of year (we can usually go for around $163 pp). I will just keep watching!

 

[Alicnwondrln]

distherapy thanks for the cute pic and the link to your TR
your kids are adorable!

 

[tinklvr64]

We flew out on the Sunday after Tgiving in 2006. We paid $263 pp on United/ OHare. I just kept doing an expedia search every day till we got to a fare we could agree on. I think we booked in mid March.

I am looking for Dec 6-14 right now (boycotting United over their stupid bag fee!!) and prices are still pretty high for that time of year (we can usually go for around $163 pp). I will just keep watching!

Thanks Cinderumbrella! We too are going to try to stay away from United for the $25 bag fee...this year we had decided to take an extra bag for souvies (I bought toooo much at Basin last year ) but now I am going to be charged? And my other complaint about United is since they put the buy more room seats upfront, those in the back have your legs into your chest and I am only 5'1'' ! Southwest it will probably be but I do like checking in my bags at the resort for the flight home. I am doing the same as you and checking Orbitz and Expedia everyday.

 

[Alicnwondrln]

To my Gf friends
Disney has released a DISNEY VISA CODE booking the end of March thru mid May. It is for FREE HOPPERS and FREE WATER PARKS.

If you have a package for the end of march thru mid may I would call.

Good Luck

 

[MomNeedsVacay]

To my Gf friends
Disney has released a DISNEY VISA CODE booking the end of March thru mid May. It is for FREE HOPPERS and FREE WATER PARKS.

If you have a package for the end of march thru mid may I would call.

Good Luck

Is this only for those staying at the GF?

 

[Alicnwondrln]

Is this only for those staying at the GF?

No you can call Disney and see whats available.

 

[epcotrulz]

We always stay at the Poly, but just booked a trip with friends in December. Garden View with a CM discount. Will all the refurbs be completed by then? I haven't seen anything anywhere recently about the rooms/lobby upgrades.

 

[klofan]

We always stay at the Poly, but just booked a trip with friends in December. Garden View with a CM discount. Will all the refurbs be completed by then? I haven't seen anything anywhere recently about the rooms/lobby upgrades.

I'm also curious about the upgrades. Are all the rooms done? How about the lobby?

 

[NeverSayNever]

Hi Everyone!

Oh, Praline... now I might just have to stalk you for posting that site with those adorable dresses.... I am going to get in so much trouble buying from there!!!

Distherapy that is so cute, thanks.

So who is next to go... who is there now?? I am need of a GF fix!!!

I could not get DP to commit to the YC resv I had booked so that got canx.... but he is pretty much agreed to the GF again in April. Ihave aresv for 3nights... Do you think that is enough time... is it worth it to go jsut for 3 nights?? OUr first afternoon we would spend at the hotel, 1st full day at a park, next day either park or pool.. and then we could catch a later flight home on the final day which would allow us to at least have a relaxed meal or something. Any thoughts?

I would like to add the 4th night but GF is booked up... Anyone had any luck with adding an extra night ? The problem with playing the waiting game though is I can't buy the flights and they are a good deal for us right now. URGHH.... decisions decisions...

Hoper everyone had a great weekend.

Best,

 

[minnie my my]

Never,

We have done three nights many times. We love those short trips. I think you will have time especially since you are not going to try and cram in a bunch of stuff. We really enjoy the hotel's amenities on shorter trips.

Myra

 

[triplefigs]

For our split stay, I am going to pack bags for the 1st 4 days, bags for the 2nd 4 days, and a general bag for both parts. Then at least I'll only be unpacking one set at a time! You could store the bags for the 2nd part of your trip with Bell Services if you don't have a car.

 

[Alicnwondrln]

I will be back at WDW in march from the 7-10th I am booked at the Poly but thinking of switching to the GF.

 

[cp_princess]

OK so I've been lurking since about November. Trying to keep up with the thread before I posted but that never seems to happen .

I had a question about rooms, and I'm sorry if it's been covered before. My DF and I are spending the days leading up to our DFTW and part of our Honeymoon at GF. I'm so excited because it's always been my dream to be there for my wedding night ! Anyway what I was wondering is does anyone have or know of where I could get some good room numbers to request for our Theme Park View (BU category) room? My first priority would be a castle view (which I know can't be guaranteed) second priority would probably be king bed. Also if anyone knows of where I could see a room layout for this category and possibly pictures I'd be so excited and grateful. I've found some other layouts but not specifically for a BU room. I know I should probably just wait till I get there but I'm such a planner and would love more specifics and ideas on what to request to try to make another part of this dream come true!

TIA,

Christine

 

[Lives4Disney]

GF REHABS....The rooms are all done. The lobby looks done but it will be having a marble floor put in sometime spring/summer sounds like.

Never, the shortest trips we've done were a couple 4 night stays. They were whirlwind fun trips, but since we have a 2.5 hr flight and live an hour from the airport I think 4 would be MY minimum nt stay. BUT then again... if it was the choice of going for 3 nts or not at all, I'd go! Sounds kind of wishy washy I know.

CP princess....Sago and Conch are known to have some great castle views, and people also say some Big Pine rooms, too. I don't know the specific numbers - anybody else?? I have also read that too many requests will limit your chance of an upgrade if that might be something you would enjoy on your honeymoon. If they know it's your wedding and honeymoon resort they MIGHT be able to work some magic.

Happy planning,

Lives4Disney