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

[BlueSkies]

Melissa I have seen people of all shapes and sizes enjoying the pool and spa...I wouldnt be self conscious at all...

Congrats on the weight loss! and sticking with it for over a year WOW....

BTW if you are staying CL you dont have to wait for them to contact you you can contact them about making your ADRs etc....Kelly has all of the numbers listed at the front of this thread...

Happy Valentines Day to you too

 

[k&a&c'smom]

MelissaFromRI - I hope that you will not feel self-conscious at the spa, I know what you mean! I am Pooh-sized, too, and I do worry a bit, but everyone has always been very nice and they do not give me a second glance whenever I have a massage. I even ask for a larger robe now, because they have them available if you ask - that makes me feel better, the regular ones are a bit hard to close, and I worry I'll be giving someone a show they'd rather not have, lol.

Good luck, I think you will love your spa treatment!

 

[MelissaFromRI]

MelissaFromRI - I hope that you will not feel self-conscious at the spa, I know what you mean! I am Pooh-sized, too, and I do worry a bit, but everyone has always been very nice and they do not give me a second glance whenever I have a massage. I even ask for a larger robe now, because they have them available if you ask - that makes me feel better, the regular ones are a bit hard to close, and I worry I'll be giving someone a show they'd rather not have, lol.

Good luck, I think you will love your spa treatment!

Thanks so much for making me feel better
I never would have thought to ask for a larger robe , thanks for the tip. I don't want to be revealing any of the family jewels...lol

 

[MelissaFromRI]

Melissa I have seen people of all shapes and sizes enjoying the pool and spa...I wouldnt be self conscious at all...

Congrats on the weight loss! and sticking with it for over a year WOW....

BTW if you are staying CL you dont have to wait for them to contact you you can contact them about making your ADRs etc....Kelly has all of the numbers listed at the front of this thread...

Happy Valentines Day to you too

The GF IPO contacted me a few days after I made my reservation I e-mailed them back about a week ago with the ressies that I wanted. Being the impatient gal that I am I will e-mail them again if I don't hear back from them.

 

[Seabean]

Just got back a few days ago from the GF. We were at Boca Chica with a Lagoon view for the 2nd year in a row.. very nice!

I'll NEVER get tired of hanging out in the main GF lobby in the evenings, especially when the band or piano player is there.

As before, at least one night, our daughters get dressed up and go to Bibbidi-bopiddi before the Cindy dinner at Park Faire.. and then like to dance in the lobby by the piano player with the other little princesses there!


One unusual thing though... we sometimes like a Pina Colada or Daquiri late after the kids are asleep. I'll go to Mizner's and bring them back to the room - however the Pina/Daquiri machine at Mizner's was BROKEN the whole time during our stay.. that's weird for a 5-star hotel. (Citricos and the pool bar are closed that late)

 

[loralie]

Loralie Congrats on booking your cabana for 2 days!! You will love them... What a nice relaxing way to spend a day especially if you plan on doing this inbetween park days....

We plan on doing the first cabana day smack dab in the middle of the vacation. We planned a resort day and we are only leaving the resort to go over to the CR so I can try Parasailing and my boys can try waterskiing. Other than that we will be relaxing at the GF all day.

The second cabana day will be our last day. We have a late flight so we figured we would do a character breakfast on our last day then hang out in the cabana by the pool until ME picks us up to take us to the airport. I don't want to think about going home. :-(

Loralie

 

[BCV23]

We plan on doing the first cabana day smack dab in the middle of the vacation. We planned a resort day and we are only leaving the resort to go over to the CR so I can try Parasailing and my boys can try waterskiing. Other than that we will be relaxing at the GF all day.

The second cabana day will be our last day. We have a late flight so we figured we would do a character breakfast on our last day then hang out in the cabana by the pool until ME picks us up to take us to the airport. I don't want to think about going home. :-(

Loralie

I love the idea of the cabana on checkout day. Have fun!

 

[TravelinGal]

ARRGGH! Less than 2 weeks and I haven't started packing yet! What's wrong with me?

I'm SO excited to be staying at the GF, but I just can't wrap my mind around packing for the huge variable in weather this time of year. LOL

 

[BlueSkies]

Seabean Glad that you had a nice stay at the GF... I really like Boca Chica too...like the location and the views....

I'm with you about sitting in the lobby in the evenings...any time really...its got such ambiance...

Travelin Gal...I think if you pack layers you'll be just fine...have a great trip

Loralie A cabana on the last day...I like that idea too...thanks...

 

[BCV23]

Just got back a few days ago from the GF. We were at Boca Chica with a Lagoon view for the 2nd year in a row.. very nice!

I'll NEVER get tired of hanging out in the main GF lobby in the evenings, especially when the band or piano player is there.

As before, at least one night, our daughters get dressed up and go to Bibbidi-bopiddi before the Cindy dinner at Park Faire.. and then like to dance in the lobby by the piano player with the other little princesses there!


One unusual thing though... we sometimes like a Pina Colada or Daquiri late after the kids are asleep. I'll go to Mizner's and bring them back to the room - however the Pina/Daquiri machine at Mizner's was BROKEN the whole time during our stay.. that's weird for a 5-star hotel. (Citricos and the pool bar are closed that late)

What a sweet tradition for your daughters. Memories!

 

[TravelinGal]

oh oh oh... for Valentine's Day DH said my gift was to book a ressie for Victoria & Albert's!!!! (plus he gave me roses...) So, March 1st we'll be celebrating Valentine's Day a little late.

 

[MelissaFromRI]

oh oh oh... for Valentine's Day DH said my gift was to book a ressie for Victoria & Albert's!!!! (plus he gave me roses...) So, March 1st we'll be celebrating Valentine's Day a little late.

Awesome !!!!
You have a great hubby

 

[k&a&c'smom]

Thanks so much for making me feel better
I never would have thought to ask for a larger robe , thanks for the tip. I don't want to be revealing any of the family jewels...lol

LOL! You may be fine with the regular robes, I carry most of my weight in my hips and um...backside, which makes closing the robe difficult - no a-line! I forgot to say congratulations on the weight loss, btw, good for you!

Seabean - you make me want to be at the GF right now! We love sitting in the lobby any time of day, leaning back and looking at the beautiful ceiling is one of our favorite ways to chill out!

TravelinGal - What a great Valentine's Day gift!

 

[disneyloveNY]

Question- is Sugar Loaf concierge worth the extra money? We stayed at RPC last visit to GF and loved it! but it is just way too much for us this time and I'm thinking of trying Sugar Loaf for our upcoming april trip. What are the differences?
Thanks

 

[mmmears]

Question- is Sugar Loaf concierge worth the extra money? We stayed at RPC last visit to GF and loved it! but it is just way too much for us this time and I'm thinking of trying Sugar Loaf for our upcoming april trip. What are the differences?
Thanks

We stayed in SL and really enjoyed ourselves. Having the food and snacks available all day was great, and the CMs at the concierge desk were super friendly and helpful with our planning. Also, you still get the IPO services, which are great.

We haven't stayed RPC unfortunately, so I cant compare. I know people will say it's better in RPC, but we really did like SL. You wont have the ambiance of overlooking the beautiful lobby of the main building when you're in SL. The SL building was conveniently located, and it was nice how the lounge was in the lobby of the building -- it was extra convenient to grab a bite or a drink on the way to & from our room.

The one thing we missed when we were in SL was the great views of the Poly, CR, Castle, fireworks and EWP that we've always had from our rooms in Boca Chica. We really did miss that when we were in SL.

Someone just stayed in SL and posted a great review of it here on the resorts board -- you might want to check that out. There are also photos of the lounge in SL posted on the Club Level lounge photo thread.

 

[praline3001]

Question- is Sugar Loaf concierge worth the extra money? We stayed at RPC last visit to GF and loved it! but it is just way too much for us this time and I'm thinking of trying Sugar Loaf for our upcoming april trip. What are the differences?
Thanks

My daughter and I stayed Sugar Loaf in june and really enjoyed it. The Cm's were super nice and the lounge fixings were good.
There is ONE positive thing I can think of that makes sugar Loaf better than RPC... the building is less hectic than the main building!
I have never stayed RPC (but we have it booked for this July) so I can't really give you the pros and cons of BOTH
From what I understand the only real difference between the 2 is location location location!

 

[mmmears]

My daughter and I stayed Sugar Loaf in june and really enjoyed it. The Cm's were super nice and the lounge fixings were good.
There is ONE positive thing I can think of that makes sugar Loaf better than RPC... the building is less hectic than the main building!
I have never stayed RPC (but we have it booked for this July) so I can't really give you the pros and cons of BOTH
From what I understand the only real difference between the 2 is location location location!

I agree about it being less hectic -- the lounge was very quiet and never filled with people when we were there. It was great, since we could easily get a place to sit overlooking the marina. And easy to get concierge help, since sometimes we were the only ones there!

 

[BlueSkies]

disneyloveny I have never stayed in RPC although I have toured it and the rooms and think that being in the main building overlooking the wonderful lobby and being able to hear the music is just incredible...

That being said we have stayed in SL many times...and love it! IF you like all of the ammenities of CL SL is also a great place to stay( and costs quite a bit less)....the building is very centrally located on the property...having the concierge lounge in the lobby is sooo convenient...and the marina or court yard views are very nice too...

We chose this building when our kids were younger because of the convience of its location...I mean the pool is right outside your door(the court yard one...)...it is so easy to go back and forth to your room...also if you'd like to have easy accesss to the lounge for snacks and drinks while at the pool or just relaxing at the resort...

But the lounge certainly does not have the ambiance of the one in the main building...

Enjoy your trip...if you stay in SL I dont think you'll be dissapointed...

 

[k&a&c'smom]

We've stayed in both SL and RPC, and really, the only difference is the location. The cast members are very nice and helpful in both, the food offerings are the same - you just don't get to look over the main lobby and hear the music while in SL, or look out at the castle or themed pool!

I agree with mmmears, though - you might miss those great views. I would have a tough time choosing between SL and a theme park view. I'd probably go for the TPV, and order a few things for the room, like chocolate covered strawberries and room service breakfast! But, I also like a view of the quiet pool or marina, we book garden view often; so if you want the club level access, then SL is a great choice.

 

[sixthscents]

Hi all,
Well I have spent the better part of two days reading this thread and loving every minute of it! You guys are great! I have learned so much about the Grand Floridian. With that said, I still have a couple of questions. My DH is in a wheelchair because of a back injury. He can't do the parks much, but loves to watch the fireworks. With the 4/3 deal we booked the Grand Floridian TPV for our trip in March. We have never stayed at the Grand before, but with the deal we could splurge. My question is: does anyone know where the accessible rooms are that have a TPV? We are hoping it will be a good view of the castle so DH can watch the fireworks. I have checked the disABILITIES thread, but alas, no pictures of the view from an accessible room at the Grand. Anyone have any pictures of the view? I have read that there are a limited number of rooms available that are wheelchair accessible, and a limited number of rooms with a TPV, so that should narrow it down, right? We have a booking code of RXA, if that helps. I don't know if RXA is a room location code or something else. Any ideas? Also, last question for now: is the boat from MK to GF accessible? I know some boats are and some are not. Anyone know about this one?
Thank you all so much for all the great information about the Grand!
Rama