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

[BlueSkies]

RoseGrows I agree with BCV garden view rooms at the GF are lovely...How nice that you are planning a family trip. I think those are the best If you would like to have all of your rooms close together or connecting I would be sure to request that in advance...My personal favorite GV is Boca Chica...it overlooks the court yard pool and has a view of the main building...very nice!
Enjoy your planning and have a great trip

BCV I didnt realize that there were GV rooms at the GF that view the parking lot...I guess we have just been lucky... Maybe for anyone interested in Sago it would be best to request marina view...

 

[irisbud]

More great pictures Channing! I love the GF best around Christmas time. I am hoping DF and I will go back there in Dec 09!

 

[k&a&c'smom]

Love all the photos, they make me want to be at the GF next month! DD's class schedule did not cooperate this year, phooey!

WED - 24 hours seems like such a long flight, do you make any stops along the way? When we flew home from Paris, we stopped and changed planes in London and Chicago before getting to Kansas City. That felt like such a long, exhausting day (not even 24 hours, about 15), and we got to get out and stretch our legs periodically! You have my sympathy, no wonder you want to stay for a while!

 

[Cinderumbrella]

Love the Gingerbread houses!!!!!! Hmmmm, maybe I should bring one home

10 DAYS ​

 

[Lives4Disney]

Love the Gingerbread houses!!!!!! Hmmmm, maybe I should bring one home

10 DAYS ​

Kristin, they are really cute. They all have different little animals and details around them. The inside is lined with chocolate. If you were really careful with it you could get it home on your flight. I say go for it.

It definitely would not make a shipping....but if you carried it on you could do it. I told Mare to buy her house a seat on the plane.

Channing

 

[GaspodeX]

Hey All ...

First off - this is one of the most informative and useful threads I've ever come accross...

Really wondering what the situation re: room upgrades is at GF (I don't mean free - i just mean if its possible to pay some kind of supplement?) ..

Situation is this is part of a (belated by six years)honeymoon for my wife and myself - we have booked via Virgin Holidays in the UK which basically didn't give us a choice of room - Garden View was the only option. I tried emailing WDW directly but they basically said it wasn't there problem take it up with the holiday operator and of course Virgin say ask disney (I expected as much to be honest)...

So the trip has been a little insane .. I'm British and my Wife is Indian so the Trip has been split between her first visit to India in 36 years (her family moved to England when she was 4) Which is where we are Untill Sunday afternoon, then we start the insane part of the journey. 8 hour car journey accross the Punjab to Dhelli Airport, 8 hour flight to Heathrow in London, mad dash from heathrow (due through customs around 7:30 (UK time) to get to gatwick for 10 am check in on flight to get us to Orlando at 11:30 florida time .. Now given that where we are is GMT + 5.5 hours and Florida is GMT - 5 it means Monday the 1st will be 34.5 hours long, We are leaving the house here at 16:00 (india time) on Sunday making actual journey time 42.5 hours ..

Oh my god !!! I've not done the math till now - hopefully a lot of that time will be spent sleeping in cars and planes ...

Sorry - went off topic there .. I guess I was just asking if anyone has anyidea how to organise an RPC room ??

Thanks All

Gas.

 

[WED]

Hello

The flight from Sydney to LAX is approx 15 hours, we stop over in LAX for approx 4 hours and then the flight from LAX to MCO is approx 5 hours.........

With the time change it can really throw your body out - a week before we leave we try and switch our body clock over to Florida time, so as soon as i arrive home from work i shower and head to bed, wake up at approx 2am in the morning and start my day! if we don't it can take a few days to get over the jetlag....and we don't like wasting time in Disney.

I can't wait until DVC Hawaii is completed, Hawaii is approx 8 hours away

Love all the photos, they make me want to be at the GF next month! DD's class schedule did not cooperate this year, phooey!

WED - 24 hours seems like such a long flight, do you make any stops along the way? When we flew home from Paris, we stopped and changed planes in London and Chicago before getting to Kansas City. That felt like such a long, exhausting day (not even 24 hours, about 15), and we got to get out and stretch our legs periodically! You have my sympathy, no wonder you want to stay for a while!

 

[marcij]

Chan -- you did a much better job with pictures -- I think I have some closer, but this is the only one in my photobucket account right now.

Kristin -- you definitely need to get one. If I can make it home twice without tragedy, I think you can too.

 

[k&a&c'smom]

GaspodeX - Whew - you are really making an effort! What a journey!

Your only option is to ask at check in if there are any RPC rooms available for your stay. I wouldn't hold out much hope, I went on the WDW website and played with some dates - I didn't know the length of your stay. Looks like there is some availability for Nov. 30-Dec. 4 in several categories, there was theme park view and several suites available. After that, things get dicey - on the 4th, only TPV available; 5th, nothing; 6th, suites; and 7th, back to TPV and suites. If you are willing to pay for a suite, there are several to choose from, with a couple days in the middle that you may have to switch out to a lesser room.

Good luck, I hope you are able to get the room of your dreams! And, if you end up in a garden view, don't despair - the GF is lovely, no matter what room category you are in.

WED - I'll bet you will be glad when the Hawaii DVC is open, much easier trip!

 

[BCV23]

Blue Skies, I agree that requesting marina view is the way to go if requesting Sago. I think that most of the rooms on the convention side of Sago don't see that parking lot from inside the rooms due to the balcony partitions. But standing at the balcony railing, I don't think one could miss it. And it's trucks, vans, etc as it's backstage.

Some other people have mentioned like Boca Chica best for gardenview too. Why do you like it. For our stay last month, my only request was marina view. When I checked in, it was going to be Boca Chica. I asked the nice CM if he could check for a marina view and we were lucky enough to get one. I usually just go with whatever we're given figuring there's advantages to every room...well, most every. Maybe I should have given Boca a try.

GaspodeX, welcome to the DIS!



Just reading about your journey exhausts me. I hope your travels are as easy as possible with no delays. As for RPC, I would just explain at the front desk about your difficulties trying to secure a RPC reservation and ask if they have availability. Good luck...I hope you are successful!

WED, you must have excellent self-discipline to manage jet lag in that manner. Hope some of the Christmas folk are along to welcome you to our friendly thread.

 

[princessesrule4]

Okay , DD saw the gingerbread house pics and really wants one! And so do I! Mabye since I KNOW that I want one , I can properly, plan and take it as a carry on. Last year I had too many carry ons and couldn't condense them and just knew the house would come home in pieces! We shall see in 6 days!!

 

[Lives4Disney]

Okay , DD saw the gingerbread house pics and really wants one! And so do I! Mabye since I KNOW that I want one , I can properly, plan and take it as a carry on. Last year I had too many carry ons and couldn't condense them and just knew the house would come home in pieces! We shall see in 6 days!!

Princesses....ship other stuff home and then take the house as your carry on.

Advice from an overpacker,

Channing

 

[k&a&c'smom]

GaspodeX, welcome to the DIS!

Awww, I'm such a slug! I missed that this was GaspodeX's first post. Ditto to what BCV23 said, welcome to the DIS and the GF FAQ thread.

 

[m&pForever]

GaspodeX
When i went this summer and friends tagged along at the last moment we could only get them a garden view room. When we checked into RPC and mentioned our friends were in a garden view they told they could get them a room in Sugarloaf. I don't know if something just opened up but you should at least ask when you get there.

 

[Glorydaz]

Channing, love the pictures!! and the new cabana's look awesome but boy am I bummed - I called at 30 days out to reserve one on the day of our arrival and by 12pm they were gone I couldn't call earlier due to work - oh well! and do my eyes deceive me or is that Vonnie in front of the gingerbread house???!! and Joe with Minnie??! too cute!!!

11 more days until we leave - we have a Magic Kingdom view but I am still trying daily for RPC - no luck yet!

Michelle

 

[Lives4Disney]

Channing, love the pictures!! and the new cabana's look awesome but boy am I bummed - I called at 30 days out to reserve one on the day of our arrival and by 12pm they were gone I couldn't call earlier due to work - oh well! and do my eyes deceive me or is that Vonnie in front of the gingerbread house???!! and Joe with Minnie??! too cute!!!

11 more days until we leave - we have a Magic Kingdom view but I am still trying daily for RPC - no luck yet!

Michelle

Michelle!! Yay! Your trip is coming up soon. And no.... You have GOOD eyes!! Vonnie worked one day in the gingerbread house last Thanksgiving and we were there so we took pics with her. She had a lot of fun doing that.

Yes, that's Joe dancing with Minnie. That one is from Christmas Eve 2006. I have a much "Nicer" pic of JOe posing with Minnie but I thought this one was "Joe"....

I hope you wind up up there. They are such fun, aren't they? And awesome CMs. If you don't get it booked before your check in...ASK at check in. Good luck!!!

About the cabanas.....try for a walk up ressie. Just head out there EARLY if you want a pool morning. There are 2 that work that way. THey also rent from 10 - 2 or from 3 - 7 ...or all day. Same price...$60 for the 1/2 days and $110 for the full.

Happy Thanksgiving and happy packing!!!! Have a fabulous trip!

Channing

 

[Lives4Disney]

Oopsies...total double post....

Any whoooo........



Channing

 

[Glorydaz]

aaww Channing, you are such an absolute sweetheart!! RPC would be fantastic but I'm just happy we're at the Grand again! I will try to connect with Joe and Vonnie because it would be perfect to see them again - as for the cabana's, thanks for the tip - we'll be there early in the am waiting for our room to be ready anyway so I'll try the walk-up..

here's wishing you and your beautiful family a fabulous Thanksgiving!!

Michelle

 

[Lives4Disney]

aaww Channing, you are such an absolute sweetheart!! RPC would be fantastic but I'm just happy we're at the Grand again! I will try to connect with Joe and Vonnie because it would be perfect to see them again - as for the cabana's, thanks for the tip - we'll be there early in the am waiting for our room to be ready anyway so I'll try the walk-up..

here's wishing you and your beautiful family a fabulous Thanksgiving!!

Michelle

Michelle....I know they'd love to see you and visit with you again!! Call up there when you're at the Grand. (if you don't end up up there )...I will PM you their number - if you need it let me know. That would probably make their day having you take the time to chat and laugh with them.

Safe travels & have a fabulous time. I know you will.

Channing

 

[BlueSkies]

Channing Just reading about the cabanas...glad to hear that even though they are newly refurbished and lovely they have not gone up in price...almost a Disney bargain... Cant believe thay are hard to book even in December...

Glorydaz Good luck hope are able to book one...I think they are such a nice way to spend a day at the pool also...