The *New* Grand Floridian Resort and Spa FAQ thread (NOV 2008)

[Maxie86]

Which buildings at the GF are concierge/suites only?

The main building and Sugarloaf are all concierge. I believe all the buildings have some suites.

 

[jgdebelak]

Kind of off topic.....we were at the WDW last year staying at Saratoga Springs, and we went to the Grand Floridian. We were there at Christmas time, and they had this HUGE gingerbread house....and would take pictures in front of the most beautiful and HUGE tree in the lobby. We will definitely be staying there in the future....

Jen

 

[jenscottvert]

I'm completely obsessed with planning our Disney trip that's still over a year away and awesome threads like this don't help!!!!!! (I mean that in the best possible way). I'm already having 3 custom Disney outfits made for my daughter (she'll be 5+ then)...I'm just so darned excited! I can't to stay in GF (have done AKL before) and see it all decorated and festive for the holidays.

It's not like this is our first Disney trip and I pretty much know all the places we want to eat, things we want to do, etc by heart but I'm. Obsessed. With. Planning!!!!!

Thanks for sharing all the wonderful pictures and information!

 

[steffali]

Those picts ook great!! I really like the new cabanas

 

[mom2princessj]

Wooohoooo!!! We paid for our trip today. We are about 45 days out now
One thing my AAA TA told me was I wasn't able to order my white chocolate mickey and strawberries until I got there??? I'm not sure if she talked with private dining or not but was told I needed to see the concierge when i got there to order it. I just told her ok because I know she was working hard to order it for me and I already knew from here (thanks guys ) I could call private dining to order it. I don't think they would have changed that where I have to be onsite to order it right???

 

[Lives4Disney]

Wooohoooo!!! We paid for our trip today. We are about 45 days out now
One thing my AAA TA told me was I wasn't able to order my white chocolate mickey and strawberries until I got there??? I'm not sure if she talked with private dining or not but was told I needed to see the concierge when i got there to order it. I just told her ok because I know she was working hard to order it for me and I already knew from here (thanks guys ) I could call private dining to order it. I don't think they would have changed that where I have to be onsite to order it right???

Hi....no you can order them by phoning private dining. You don't need to order this far in advance though. I wouldn't bother. They'd lose the order. Just call a week or less before & place your order.

407-824-2474

Unless something has changed & there is a new rule about being there onsite to place the order ....they really only need 48 hours notice.


Channing

 

[triplefigs]

Is the Gingerbread House worth the $65? Can I take it on the plane or will IPO ship it home for me? Or should I order a plate of special treats instead? Any suggestions (strawberries, choc box, etc)?

 

[Bigkid4disney]

My trip is finally coming around the corner!! We leave in 24 days i've been planing this trip for a year now and its finally arriving! Grand floridian here I come

 

[princessesrule4]

Is the Gingerbread House worth the $65? Can I take it on the plane or will IPO ship it home for me? Or should I order a plate of special treats instead? Any suggestions (strawberries, choc box, etc)?

Denise - The gingerbread houses are so adorable and I had planned on carrying one home on the plane with me last year, but I chickened out at the last minute. I just knew I would break it on the plane ride home! I ended up buying shingles and some other goodies. I'll be there next week but I'm not sure what I'm going to buy yet! I can let you know if there is anything new!
The GF Truffle box is cute. I wonder if they do a Christmas themed one?!

Also, Chan probably knows if IPO can ship a gingerbread house.

Are you all getting excited - it won't be long now!

I finally started packing so I won't be going crazy trying to get everything together on Sunday!

 

[mom2princessj]

Hi....no you can order them by phoning private dining. You don't need to order this far in advance though. I wouldn't bother. They'd lose the order. Just call a week or less before & place your order.

407-824-2474

Unless something has changed & there is a new rule about being there onsite to place the order ....they really only need 48 hours notice.


Channing

Thanks Channing!

 

[Lives4Disney]

Is the Gingerbread House worth the $65? Can I take it on the plane or will IPO ship it home for me? Or should I order a plate of special treats instead? Any suggestions (strawberries, choc box, etc)?

Denise, it really is cute. There are a lot of sweet details. I know they will not ship it. We shipped ours in one of our boxes we shipped down..lol...we KNEW it wouldn't make the trip in good form. It was a wreck when it got home....but so what....we had it for our stay at the GF to enjoy and the kids ate it at home. The gingerbread is soft so it's pretty delicate. If you want an alternative.....they made gorgeous platters of Xmas goodies and gave them out on Christmas Eve....they had Xmas cookies...truffles, white chocolate Xmas trees painted green, sugar animals....i bet they could do something like that for you. I will post a few pics I have in my photobucket.....

My trip is finally coming around the corner!! We leave in 24 days i've been planing this trip for a year now and its finally arriving! Grand floridian here I come

Happy packing!

CHanning

 

[Lives4Disney]

GF Gingerbread House Pics.....

 

[Lives4Disney]

OK..last batch for a while.....I am sitting on the sofa with Jojo - she doesn't feel so good - and looking at these with her & going down memory lane.....and I said..."OH, I want to go back there for Christmas again." and she said "NO." I loved it.....no hassles for me. It was done and good and nice. I guess in a couple more years.......*sigh*

 

[triplefigs]

Love all the pictures, Channing. I am going to get the Gingerbread House and try to carry it home on the plane. Maybe it'll make it!

 

[WED]

HI there,

Thank you so much for your reply, you guys are wonderful that you take time to answer people's questions and share information.

I believe there are 32 DVC members in Australia, the flight to Florida for me from Sydney takes approx 24 hours, it is a long flight but well worth it!

I love the idea of the monorail and resort hopping for the day, what a great idea!

We are very excited about staying at the Grand for Christmas, we normally stay at our DVC resort and the BC or YC CL.

Will anyone else be at the Grand over the period of 23-26 December?

I would be excited too! What a wonderfully long holiday! Are there many DVC members in Australia? I bet you will love it when Ko 'Olina opens. And SSR is a lovely resort.

If you decide not to go to a park on Christmas Day, it would be fun to visit the resort monorails as well as WL which is awesome at Christmas in a different way than the GF. But consider the Candleight Processional at Epcot. It is so beautiful and if you do a dining package, you're guaranteed seating.

Have an absolutely Grand trip!



Eric, in addition to the great advice that minniesota gave you, I would add marina view in Conch Key as another good gardenview location.

With regard to the Electrical Water Pageant, we've had perfect views of it from Conch Key rooms (MK views, TPV or whatever term WDW uses next). Ditto from Narcoossee's and mmmears posted the same from Boca Chica. I noticed fairly recently that is seems to sort of curve around that area...I think I saw that from the monorail. From Conch Key or Narcoossee's I never would have guessed that. Anyway, the boat dock by Narcoosee's would be a fine spot to see it.

I would also guess that deluxe rooms that face the theme pool can probably see quite a bit of the EWP playing at the Polynesian. By tradition it starts at the Polynesian and ends at the CR as it did all those years ago. But to hear it well, you might want to go to the boat dock (not the marina).

 

[BlueSkies]

My trip is finally coming around the corner!! We leave in 24 days i've been planing this trip for a year now and its finally arriving! Grand floridian here I come

Bigkid Have a great time!!

 

[BlueSkies]

Channing More incredible pics...thank you That gingerbread house looks wonderful...and wonderfully Disney Love the girls matching holiday outfits...they look adorable!

Princesses 6 days to go!!!

 

[BCV23]

We have reserved 3 rooms at the GF for my sons, their wives and our grandchildren, and us of course. We can only afford garden view standard rooms. Any advice which building and/or rooms are best? I sure would like us to have balconies and a decent view.

Don't say "only" gardenview! A large majority of GF rooms are gardenview and almost all our lovely. My favorite gardenview is Conch Key or Sago Cay with a marina view.

There are rooms with a view of a parking lot. The back side of Sago Cay faces a backstage parking lot for the convention center. Only the Southern most rooms are directly across from it but there isn't landscaping blocking the view so I think all rooms on that side can easily see it.

You will have either a balcony or patio since you booked gardenview. If you prefer a balcony, just request that.

Have fun!

A chronic lurker myself...

Page 3 of this thread, post #45 by Minniesota has a pretty comprehensive review of GV buildings you may want to check out.

Happy planning!

Kind of off topic.....we were at the WDW last year staying at Saratoga Springs, and we went to the Grand Floridian. We were there at Christmas time, and they had this HUGE gingerbread house....and would take pictures in front of the most beautiful and HUGE tree in the lobby. We will definitely be staying there in the future....

Jen

Isn't the GF special at Christmas? Have fun planning your first GF stay!

I'm completely obsessed with planning our Disney trip that's still over a year away and awesome threads like this don't help!!!!!! (I mean that in the best possible way). I'm already having 3 custom Disney outfits made for my daughter (she'll be 5+ then)...I'm just so darned excited! I can't to stay in GF (have done AKL before) and see it all decorated and festive for the holidays.

It's not like this is our first Disney trip and I pretty much know all the places we want to eat, things we want to do, etc by heart but I'm. Obsessed. With. Planning!!!!!

Thanks for sharing all the wonderful pictures and information!

Happy planning and may that year pass quickly for you!

My trip is finally coming around the corner!! We leave in 24 days i've been planing this trip for a year now and its finally arriving! Grand floridian here I come

Have fun!!

HI there,

Thank you so much for your reply, you guys are wonderful that you take time to answer people's questions and share information.

I believe there are 32 DVC members in Australia, the flight to Florida for me from Sydney takes approx 24 hours, it is a long flight but well worth it!

I love the idea of the monorail and resort hopping for the day, what a great idea!

We are very excited about staying at the Grand for Christmas, we normally stay at our DVC resort and the BC or YC CL.

Will anyone else be at the Grand over the period of 23-26 December?

I know others have posted that they'll be there. Hopefully someone will be along.

That is one long journey. But it certainly sounds like it is worth it. Have a Grand vacation!

 

[marcij]

Love all the pictures, Channing. I am going to get the Gingerbread House and try to carry it home on the plane. Maybe it'll make it!

Denise -- I've brought one home the last two years on the plane with no problems, and we'll be bringing another one home this year. You should be fine. The box they've put it in, in the past has been just the right size, so it won't move around a lot. They can also give you tissue to pack around the top of the house on the inside to help cushion it. Good luck!

 

[mickeynut1]

Chan.....Great pics . I love the Gingerbread house......that is so cute . Thanks for posting them . And your girls are dolls .