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

[Lives4Disney]

I thought the cabana fans already were AC units? I know when I had mine in August (pre refurb) that was some mighty cold air blowing out of there... it was heavenly in that heat!!

Hmmm...no clue..... I thought Mare was being silly. ..*sorry, Mare!* OH yeah..if the weather cooperates and we get to spend some time at the pool in our cabana....we will be pros at the fluffy drink ordering situation. I'll let ya know how it goes.

You guys are getting me so excited to try the cabanas. Someone mentioned a cabana attendant. Do you tip the attendant? If you do than how much do you normally tip? We were thinking of renting the cabana for 1/2 a day.

TIA,

Loralie

Yes they are fun...especially if you have one of the really good attendants. YES I tipped. How much depends on their service and you. We received really great service. I was impressed.

Happy planning!!!

 

[MelissaFromRI]

Hmmm...no clue..... I thought Mare was being silly. ..*sorry, Mare!* OH yeah..if the weather cooperates and we get to spend some time at the pool in our cabana....we will be pros at the fluffy drink ordering situation. I'll let ya know how it goes.



Yes they are fun...especially if you have one of the really good attendants. YES I tipped. How much depends on their service and you. We received really great service. I was impressed.

Happy planning!!!

OK , all this talk of cabanas has me wanting to try one out.
I've seen the pics and they look nice , but what do you do in them and what is included with them?

 

[princessesrule4]

OK , all this talk of cabanas has me wanting to try one out.
I've seen the pics and they look nice , but what do you do in them and what is included with them?

Kelly has all the cabana info on the first page of this thread. Scroll to the bottom of post #3!

 

[MelissaFromRI]

The cabanas look heavenly !!!!
It seems to me you sit down , relax and drink...yayyyy

 

[goofygal531]

I thought the cabana fans already were AC units? I know when I had mine in August (pre refurb) that was some mighty cold air blowing out of there... it was heavenly in that heat!!

We had a standing fan. No portable a/c unit.

Chan: Sorry, I was being serious about the a/c unit. I've seen them in other resort (non-WDW) hotels. They just produce a stronger breeze than a typical fan.

You guys are getting me so excited to try the cabanas. Someone mentioned a cabana attendant. Do you tip the attendant? If you do than how much do you normally tip? We were thinking of renting the cabana for 1/2 a day.

I stayed in the cabana all day with my two little ones while my DH went off to do the Richard Petty Driving thingy, so my DH tipped her very well. When we arrived and when we left. He just wanted to make sure should I need an extra hand, that she'd be there. (He was concerned with potty breaks and things like that). We were fine and she was absolutely wonderful!

OK , all this talk of cabanas has me wanting to try one out.
I've seen the pics and they look nice , but what do you do in them and what is included with them?

We relax in them I love them for the kids because they can nap in the shade. My DS4 watched a DVD while my little one napped. We walked to Gaspies to get lunch and ate in the cabana. They also have sirrus sat. radio, but the pool plays music so we didn't need it. The boys also loved watching the Disney Channel outside

They really make a pool day extra special

 

[loralie]

Do they still have the fruit basket and soda and water in the fridge by the cabana? That sounds really nice and relaxing.

Loralie

 

[Alicnwondrln]

Do they still have the fruit basket and soda and water in the fridge by the cabana? That sounds really nice and relaxing.

Loralie

yes

 

[steffali]

I booked a cabana for my trip.... Now for some more questions about them.....Can you get a pool side massage in them? If so are there privacy curtains????? Will someone bring us drinks and food right to the cabana?? I just want to relax and be lazy all day long in there

 

[lovemy2boys]

I booked a cabana for my trip.... Now for some more questions about them.....Can you get a pool side massage in them? If so are there privacy curtains????? Will someone bring us drinks and food right to the cabana?? I just want to relax and be lazy all day long in there

We ordered room service and they brought it right to our cabana. With drinks, the attendant should be able to bring you drinks but if not the pool bar is literally 30 feet away. If you get Chris as your attendant, he is FABULOUS!

 

[goofygal531]

I booked a cabana for my trip.... Now for some more questions about them.....Can you get a pool side massage in them? If so are there privacy curtains????? Will someone bring us drinks and food right to the cabana?? I just want to relax and be lazy all day long in there

Yes, you can get a poolside massage. www.relaxedyet.com
There are curtains to close the cabana fully.

The food menu in the cabana is pretty limited. I guess you could pretty much order whatever's on the regular PD menu - why the regular menu is not there I don't know??? Chan do you know??

My boys wanted pizza from gaspies and we actually wanted to take the walk over since I'd been sitting most of the morning relaxing We brought our food back to the cabana and ate there. They called it a pool picnic. They loved eating outside while watching tv

Don't know anything about the drinks. The pool bar is very close. I haven't had cocktails on vacation in years, always nursing a baby. So this vacation I'm finally going to sample WDW cocktails

 

[Lives4Disney]

We ordered room service and they brought it right to our cabana. With drinks, the attendant should be able to bring you drinks but if not the pool bar is literally 30 feet away. If you get Chris as your attendant, he is FABULOUS!

Hey Lesley...we had Chris too! We also had him for a Wishes cruise!! He was like...YOU GUYS AGAIN!?!?!? He is awesome.

Mare...I am a total newb...I don't have any clue on anything techno....it could have been AC for all I know.

Stefali...I know about the drinks...LOL...YES..you have a cabana attendant that brings you whatever you need...including drinks. It's nice.

Chan
GF GAL Numero Uno!

 

[Cinderumbrella]

We had a standing fan. No portable a/c unit.

Chan: Sorry, I was being serious about the a/c unit. I've seen them in other resort (non-WDW) hotels. They just produce a stronger breeze than a typical fan.

I am looking at my pics from August 2007 but I don't have one of the fan. Ours was tall, grey and looked like it could have come from Sharper Image. It was awesome!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[goofygal531]

I am looking at my pics from August 2007 but I don't have one of the fan. Ours was tall, grey and looked like it could have come from Sharper Image. It was awesome!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Yep! That's a portable a/c unit! We had a standing fan that was cr@py ! I was also expecting a ceiling fan, that would have been more helpful than the standing fan.

I believe they were adding those a/c units to all the cabanas during the rehab

I'm just saying it would make is more luxurious, it's not cheap to rent one of those for a day!

 

[Lives4Disney]

There's a pic of the fan in one of these.....

Chan
GF Cabana Gal!

 

[Cinderumbrella]

Chan, are these the newly redone cabanas??? I went before the refurb (tan cushions). What on earth did they do with the A/C units?????????? That is HORRIBLE that they replaced them with those stupid fans!!

 

[Lives4Disney]

Chan, are these the newly redone cabanas??? I went before the refurb (tan cushions). What on earth did they do with the A/C units?????????? That is HORRIBLE that they replaced them with those stupid fans!!

Those were taking in mid to end of October.....did you rent a cabana in December?!?!?

I seriously don't remember any cooloh fan in our cabana....but I am so not into that stuff I am clueless....

Chan
GF retro Gal

 

[Alicnwondrln]

we had a fan in ours in 2006 not an ac unit

 

[Shell54]

Does Gasperillas (spelling??)have the same type of touch screen ordering as Capt Cook at the Poly? Is that where you get your refillable mug?

 

[BCV23]

Chan, are these the newly redone cabanas??? I went before the refurb (tan cushions). What on earth did they do with the A/C units?????????? That is HORRIBLE that they replaced them with those stupid fans!!

Maybe the AC units are only used in the heat and humidity of the summer.

Does Gasperillas (spelling??)have the same type of touch screen ordering as Capt Cook at the Poly? Is that where you get your refillable mug?

That is where you purchase the mugs. We last stayed at the GF in October and I don't remember touch screens when we bought breakfast for our son at Gasparilla's....almost positive about that.

 

[goofygal531]

Thanks for the pics Chan. I just can't believe they had the units then got rid of them for the fans. Strange? Oh well, we'll live with the fan.

Shell54: Yes, that's where you refill your mug. You can also refill them at the two pool bars.

Last June they did not have the touch screen ordering. I'm not sure if this is something Disney is adding to all their CS locations? Maybe in the near future.

For now, you walk up to either counter (hot food or deli) and place your order. They write it down, give you a copy and a buzzer. They buzz you when your food is ready.

Oh, if anyone eats grilled cheese (my kids can live on it) it's not on the big menu on the wall, but it's on the paper menu they fill out and hand you. So you can order it. It's on sourdough bread and very large. My kids split one sandwich.