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

[Alicnwondrln]

Hi everyone I just wanted to remind everyone that menus for eateries plus room service and pics of the the suites, rooms, activites, cabanas, pools and alot of other stuff its all the first few pages with links to everything you need.

We are approaching the 250 page limit and when it hits around 230 I will start making a new thread and transfer the first couple of pages over.

Thanks

Kelly

 

[Lives4Disney]

Thank you. Id seems we made a good choice than.

Is there also a wifi connection in the Sugar Loaf?

I only stayed SL once several years ago but I don't think there is wifi at all. In RPC DH brings his own stuff to make wireless for himself. I am totally computer clueless & rely on DH for everything in that area but what I do know is that he brings his own wireless router and plugs that in in the hotel room.

THANKS FOR THE REMINDER KELLY!! There is lots of great info at the beginning of this thread that will help everybody plan.

Lives4Disney

 

[vbarry]

I read the entire thread last night! Thanks a lot to everyone for all of their photos and advice!

Well...we are sticking with the SL for our Christmas reservation but a few of you made me think long and hard (getting up all last night) about RPC.

I am requesting a Lodge room with a balcony. My question is if I would be lucky enough to get one of these rooms....is the balcony a private balcony or one that you can sit on and see through the slats? (if that makes sense!!!)

My dd7 told me last night that she would not ask for Santa to bring her anything for Christmas if he would just let her stay at Disney for 18 days! I thought that was sooo cute.

I think we are going to do a lot of the activities at the resort for the kids instead of fighting the crowds at the parks. (cooking class, tea party etc)

Any ideas on how to make a Christmas trip including Christmas Eve and Christmas Day magical would be greatly appreciated.

I plan to get the tree etc to decorate the room and tell Santa the girls will be at the GF on Xmas morning!!

I also plan to have gifts sent to the resort so I hope this goes smoothly!

Now that wait begins!

 

[goofygal531]

I'm planning on renting a cabana on Father's Day with the kids while my husband goes to the Richard Petty's Nascar speedway thing.

Can I made a cabana reservation in advance and how much are they? Do they offer them full and half days or by the hour?

Is the kid's sprinkler/play area anywhere near the cabanas?

Thanks!
Mare

 

[Alicnwondrln]

the cabanas can be done for a full day or half a day
info to call is on page 3 by lives4disney
Call 407 WDW -PLAY to reserve.

 

[DREAMS161]

Hi all. This is a little off topic but hopefully will be helpful...I was at Target today doing Easter shopping. I happened to think of those who are going to the GF for Easter. A couple of you had mentioned about making it special for the kids. Well I just wanted to mention I found very adorable Easter Disney little stuffed beanies. At one store they were sold as a set of four for $14.99- Mickey with an Easter egg, Minnie, Pooh Bear, and Eeyore. At another store they were sold separately and they also had a Tigger with Bunny ears. I just thought they would be a cute Easter surprise ..especially if the Easter Bunny delivers it to the GF
...I also picked up the Disney fruit snacks (Nemo, Pirates, they have Princesses too) instead of candy they are on sale 4/7.00....just a thought!

 

[dingoballs]

Thank you. Id seems we made a good choice than.

Is there also a wifi connection in the Sugar Loaf?

I believe the only areas with WiFi connection are the lobbies of the main building and the Convention Center.

 

[sjaakie]

I believe the only areas with WiFi connection are the lobbies of the main building and the Convention Center.

Thans. I will give them a call to day and ask.
I think its strange that in Riverside all the rooms do have wifi and the GF not.
Keeping mij fingers crossed.

 

[clownfish1452]

Thank you for posting this!!

It was making me hungry already!

We were hoping to be able to have hubby's breakfast delivered early (before golf) and then have mine delivered a little later after hitting the gym (i am a gym junkie!) We are on the premium plan, which included room service so i am hoping this can be done.

I know that they are great everywhere w/accomodating food allergies but I can honestly say that in all our disney visits we have never done room service, so i am hoping getting Gluten free pancakes through them won't be an issue.

Thanks again for posting that!!

MGG

Yes, it is included on the premium plan that is the main reason I always do the premium plan. I dont know about the pancakes, but if you call ahead im sure they will help you out.

Sarah

 

[WishesQueen]

I'm planning on renting a cabana on Father's Day with the kids while my husband goes to the Richard Petty's Nascar speedway thing.

Can I made a cabana reservation in advance and how much are they? Do they offer them full and half days or by the hour?

Is the kid's sprinkler/play area anywhere near the cabanas?

Thanks!
Mare

The cabanas are $60 a half day 10 to 2 or 3 to 7. $110 the whole day 10 to 7. You can call 90 days out for reservations. 407-939-play. They include alot of drinks & a basket of fruit. Enjoy!!!

They are close by not right by the sprinkler area. They are on the other side of the restroom that includes a little magazine store.

 

[Tinker*Shell*Bell]

Ok, I read through this whole thing and now I am having second thoughts about not booking at least SL concierge. SL was FULL and RPC is just over priced higher than I want to pay. Will I be happy in a GV room? I like to feel like someone is attentive to my needs and wishes. I don't care about view so I didn't book any view...we are hoping to be near the pools and the main building...Sugar Loaf and Big Pine look the best for central locations...geez I hope i don't regret not having SL when we arrive....

Do people request Big Pine much? Or is it one of the easier buildings to get into? I havn't added the request yet, but I am thinking of it...

Maybe I'll just order room service for breakfast and book a Cabana one day to make myself feel better about SL not being available.

OF, well...It IS DISNEY...right?

Sheli

 

[Cinderumbrella]

Sheli, conceirge is not our list of priorities so I am always more than happy in a GV room. Mousekeeping has always been great (as is the front desk if I need anything), turndown service always done etc. The cabana is fun for a little bit of pampering (and don't forget the spa!!)

Conch Key and Sago Key are near the main building as well (they also have the fabulous marina views as part of the GV category!)

Good luck!
Kristin

 

[vbarry]

I know what you mean. I went back and forth between GV and SL and chose SL just because we are going over Christmas and I am going to need all the help I can get pulling off Santa gifts etc!

I do not know if I would do it any other time. A lot of people on here say RPC or GV but I just could not pull the trigger on RPC (yet). I have a lot of months ahead of me and I am sure I will change my mind a million times. I just hope RPC is booked when I do and then I will not have to worry about it!

Have a nice trip!

 

[Lives4Disney]

We have only done concierge at the GF....stayed both SL and RPC. So I can't give a great GV answer......Just avoid the back of Sago! That's my advice...and when you check in and find out where you are don't accept something you're not happy with. Hopefully they will be able to offer you other options.

SL was nice for us although RPC is super. If all that was available was SL over Xmas I'd take it. You will probably be spending more time at the resort and it's nice to have that lounge and the snacks and the special help from the concierge CMs.

When we stay YC I just usually book a GV room and we're fine with that. I do the Swan in a standard room,too. With GF I think it has a lot to do with us being repeat RPC guests and knowing the concierge CMs that really make the GF concierge special for us. If these certain CMs didn't work in RPC, I would book GV honestly. The CMs in RPC are the magic for us.

Most GVs have a nice view. I wouldn't pay extra for the Theme Park or Lagoon view rooms. It would be GV or concierge for us.

Anytime we come across CMs around the resort, they are always friendly and welcoming. The GF is wonderful.

I am less than 2 weeks away!!! Packing this weekend....although I just ordered myself more clothes haha....I am always the last one packed.

Happy day,

Lives4Disney

 

[princessesrule4]

Ok, I read through this whole thing and now I am having second thoughts about not booking at least SL concierge. SL was FULL and RPC is just over priced higher than I want to pay. Will I be happy in a GV room? I like to feel like someone is attentive to my needs and wishes. I don't care about view so I didn't book any view...we are hoping to be near the pools and the main building...Sugar Loaf and Big Pine look the best for central locations...geez I hope i don't regret not having SL when we arrive....

Do people request Big Pine much? Or is it one of the easier buildings to get into? I havn't added the request yet, but I am thinking of it...

Maybe I'll just order room service for breakfast and book a Cabana one day to make myself feel better about SL not being available.

OF, well...It IS DISNEY...right?

Sheli

Big Pine used to be a smoking building so a lot of people didn't request it. We got a great castle view in BP when it was a lagoon view category. I'm not sure what kind of GV views BP has. Sorry I can't be of more help!

 

[Aliceacc]

I just read somewhere (here possibly) that it's possible to rent a cabana at the GF. I saw the pictures people have posted. My sister is staying there in July, and that would be right up her ally.

Sorry....just found it about 4 posts up!

 

[vbarry]

LIVES4DISNEY:

I saw a post in the old thread that stated you went over Christmas. Will they store presents for you until the big day if you ship them down and will they pack stuff up and mail them back to our home if needed??

 

[Tinker*Shell*Bell]

I am less than 2 weeks away!!! Packing this weekend....although I just ordered myself more clothes haha....I am always the last one packed.

Happy day,

Lives4Disney

Can I ask an "if you have time favor" ??
If you think of it will you take pictures of the boat options and any price chart at the marina. I know there are some marina pictures (from you) in the thread but I wonder if there is a something a tiny bit bigger and faster than the mouse boats, but not a million dollars an hour...just something to keep the hubby and boys busy for an hour or two. (Spa time for me!)
If you forget don't worry...enjoy your trip!
Sheli

 

[BurleyGirl]

Lives4Disney, you mentioned (and I don't know how to do the quote thing--sorry) about if you're not happy with a room assignment, to ask for another. I would be prone to do this, and am wondering if you've done it, and how you went about it. Did you walk to your room and see it and then go back down and ask, or were you educated prior to check-in to be able to look at a map and know you would like to move? I'd probably want to walk to the room and check it out, but then that means DH has to lug all the luggage up and then he would not be too happy with me for making him move, even though we'd not unpacked. Do you know what I mean? Just wondering the best way to handle the situation. We've booked GV for our first-time GF October stay.

 

[vbarry]

I have asked to be moved several times. I just call the front desk and tell them that I am not happy with the location and they send bell services to move you.

I did this at WL twice. They put me on the ground floor facing the villa pool when I paid for courtyard then moved us to ground floor courtyard but you could not see a thing and since I paid for the view...I wanted the view. It is a big joke between my husband and I every time before we arrive. He says....so how many times are we going to move this time!!

I would try to educate yourself before you go and then make a request with your TA or CRO. When you get to check-in and they give you a room just make sure it is where you want to be. If not-I am sure they will try and help.
The CM's have always been very helpful and I am sure they are used to dealing with us picky people all the time!

Have fun!