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

[allisonswonderland]

Ok so how long it the bus ride....you guys are making me a bit nervous. I am staying at the GF for the first time sine 1996 and we ususally stay at the BC for the great location to everything.

We love AK, so is it a terribly long ride, we don't have kids, but I am trying to think about how long we will need to figure if I want to get there for an early morning!

 

[goofygal531]

Is the hotel close enough to walk to from the park?

I once heard a man say that AK was located in Georgia it's so far away! That is the best way to describe it!!

It's no where near the AKL.

Here's what we did and I thought it worked out pretty well. We took the bus to AK early in the morning. Spent a few hours, we last there about 3 -4 hours tops. Then we took the SSR bus from AK to DTD. If you get off the SSR bus at the LAST STOP it's practically in the Marketplace's bus stop. You just walk around the hedges. I was shocked how close, it's not even a walk - you're IN the Marketplace bus area!

It's a pretty short bus ride from AK to SSR.

It's just an idea and it's easier than taking a cab.

Oh, and we found the SSR bus empty during Thanksgiving week!!

Mare

 

[goofygal531]

Ok so how long it the bus ride....you guys are making me a bit nervous. I am staying at the GF for the first time sine 1996 and we ususally stay at the BC for the great location to everything.

We love AK, so is it a terribly long ride, we don't have kids, but I am trying to think about how long we will need to figure if I want to get there for an early morning!

I'd say it's a NICE ride, oh maybe 15 - 20 minutes?

It's just a smelly ride on the way back with the stop at the water park! When 30 people board the bus stinking of chlorine it's gross!

Mare

 

[arbonnette]

I would recommend taking a cab from the GF to DTD. We took the bus and it is a long ride, plus you do stop at the waterpark. Cab would be much quicker if time is a priority. It didn't help that we had a driver with a REALLY heavy foot that rode the gas and the brake the whole way back to the GF from DTD last time we were there and I was so nauseated. Next time I would definitely cab it to DTD.
JMHO!

- Andrea

 

[Lives4Disney]

I'd say it's a NICE ride, oh maybe 15 - 20 minutes?

It's just a smelly ride on the way back with the stop at the water park! When 30 people board the bus stinking of chlorine it's gross!

Mare

Totally agree!!

We always just bus it though.....I don't really like the cab idea....not sure about those cab drivers. I think they'd scare me more than a bus full of wet smelly people.

I like the AK to SSR to DTD idea. We don't usually do AK all day if we even go. We love the Nemo show and the safari and sometimes the Kali water ride, but that's pretty close to it. .....so heading to DTD from there sounds good.

I booked the Donald brunch there this time, though, so we will def be going to AK.

The WORST bus ride we ever had was from the Swan to AK....it took - I SWEAR - 1 hr and 45 minutes. We had to wait sooo long for the bus to leave the Swan....then we went to YC and BC and I think Dolphin & BWI, too....it was hideously crowded....the bus was full when we pulled away from Swan, each time we went to another resort I thought that was IT and we'd go to AK, but we kept stopping at more resorts!!!....and then to stop at the water park!!!! OMG> It was absolute torture. The bus was JAM packed. And then the next time we rented a car and found out that AK is about a 5 minute drive from the Swan. How ridiculous.

Happy planning,

Lives4Disney

 

[shoppgirl]

The cab ride idea is sounding pretty good right now to DTD!! Are there usually cabs waiting at the resort/DTD? Do you have to call ahead for one? How much would the ave. fare be one way? Do young children who would normally be in a booster seat need one when riding a cab? We have never travelled in a cab before with children, so I don't know what the protocals are regarding child safety. TIA again!

 

[Cinderumbrella]

Don't be afreaid of the buses- they are no worse than any of the other hotels. I think the YC/BC/BW area gets the short end of the stick since so many of them share with each otehr PLUS the Swan and Dolphin (It took us close to an hour to get from the BW to MK one evening a couple years ago.)

GF shares with WL, but picks up at WL first so you head straight to the parks (the only difference is the AK bus goes to a waterpark first and the DTD goes to a water park first also) The worst part is the return trip from AK since it goes to the water park (AGAIN), then WL, then the GF.

I can truly say I am thrilled that going this December one of the water parks should be closed for seasonal refurbishment, so only 1 bus trip will be crazy!!

We have never considered a cab since we still have a car seat aged child...

 

[samples78]

What is the best way to get to AKL and to the boardwalk from the GF using Disney transportation. We are not too worried about how long it will take, I just want to make sure we can get to dinner at each location and then get back to the hotel afterward.

Any ideas would be great. Thanks!

 

[padisneylover]

If I were going to the AKL from the GF I would go to the Magic Kingdom and take the AKL bus from there. The same with the boardwalk area I would take the resort bus from the MK and then the boradwalk bus or the Yacht/Beach Club bus. Maybe someone else would have a better idea but if the MK was open that is how I would go.

 

[WishesQueen]

I once heard a man say that AK was located in Georgia it's so far away! That is the best way to describe it!!

It's no where near the AKL.

Here's what we did and I thought it worked out pretty well. We took the bus to AK early in the morning. Spent a few hours, we last there about 3 -4 hours tops. Then we took the SSR bus from AK to DTD. If you get off the SSR bus at the LAST STOP it's practically in the Marketplace's bus stop. You just walk around the hedges. I was shocked how close, it's not even a walk - you're IN the Marketplace bus area!

It's a pretty short bus ride from AK to SSR.

It's just an idea and it's easier than taking a cab.

Oh, and we found the SSR bus empty during Thanksgiving week!!

Mare

VERY FUNNY AND CUTE!!! THANKS FOR THE HEADS UP!!!


Thats a great idea and if we do wind up at AK I'll let you know how it worked for us!!! We never really seem to get there!! But we just heard about the baby zebra and baby giraffe so maybe that will get us to stay with our plan.

 

[WishesQueen]

goofygal531 I loved your banner and checked out the website. Too bad they didn't have the GF.

 

[MsStinkerBelle]

I apologize if this has been asked before but have all (or any) of the rooms at the GF been refurbished? My DD8 wants to stay at the GF but one of my dealbreakers is that the rooms don't have the flat-screen LG tvs like the Polynesian. Any news as to when the refurb will be complete? We're not planning to stay there until December of '09 but just planning early.

TIA!

 

[WishesQueen]

I believe the refurb is complete!!

But the GF experts will definitely know for sure and have lots of details!!

 

[allisonswonderland]

Stinking of chlorine??? hahhaa you are talking to a swim coach here, so that is a welcome smell to me. Actually I would be happy to smell chlorine after smelling some of the people I have smelled at WDW....that is one reason we actually enjoy November, less BO.

Thanks for the bus tips to AK, now i know better what to expect. I wish they would drop off AK ppl before the water parks ppl

I think one thing that we will do is go back thru the BC and walk to Epcot....and eat afterwards...i will still miss staying at the BC

 

[mandymommy4]

I apologize if this has been asked before but have all (or any) of the rooms at the GF been refurbished? My DD8 wants to stay at the GF but one of my dealbreakers is that the rooms don't have the flat-screen LG tvs like the Polynesian. Any news as to when the refurb will be complete? We're not planning to stay there until December of '09 but just planning early.

TIA!

Yes, they have the flat panel Lg tv's! It was nice to have that but our kids wondered why the tv was so small (we have a 50 in flat panel) We just got home from a week at the GF and LOVED it! We stayed in Big Pine Key with a GV room. We had a great week except for the day that a water pipe broke and we were without water for 6 hours. We are now GF addicts!

 

[WishesQueen]

Yes, they have the flat panel Lg tv's! It was nice to have that but our kids wondered why the tv was so small (we have a 50 in flat panel) We just got home from a week at the GF and LOVED it! We stayed in Big Pine Key with a GV room. We had a great week except for the day that a water pipe broke and we were without water for 6 hours. We are now GF addicts!

Thats exactly were we stayed and we loved it too!! We were on the bottom floor, next time I hope were higher but no bigger it was great!!!

 

[MsStinkerBelle]

Thanks WishesQueen and Mandymommy4! And thanks for the heads up about Big Pine Key. Most likely we'll be staying garden view as it's during Christmastime.

 

[mandymommy4]

Thats exactly were we stayed and we loved it too!! We were on the bottom floor, next time I hope were higher but no bigger it was great!!!

We liked Big Pine Key because it is very close to the main building and the pool bar is right outside the building and you can refill your mugs without walking all the way to Gasparillas.

 

[allisonswonderland]

That is a great tip about Big Pine Key re filling your mugs!

 

[Cinderumbrella]

Thats exactly were we stayed and we loved it too!! We were on the bottom floor, next time I hope were higher but no bigger it was great!!!

I think you all know my feeling on wanting the higher floors and those beautiful dormer rooms!!

BUT having a ground floor room was the next best thing, IMO. Since DS is still stroller bound most of the time, that was just one less elevator to have to deal with!

Thanks to mandymommy for the tip about the mugs at the pool bar!

Kristin