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

Status
Not open for further replies.
Just back - I hate to report anything negative on the GF but we definitely had room issues.

First room we were given in Sago Cay (dreaded convention center dumpster view) had soaking wet carpeting and a big fan blowing trying to dry it. My dd has asthma and the smell would have been too much for her, plus the carpet wasn't damp it was soaking!!!!! So we call down to the front desk and they transfer us to another room down the hall (same dreary view) and guess what - that carpet is wet too! Not as soaking, but definitely not damp, it was wet. DH called down to the front desk and was really agitated. Now we have had everything move to a 2nd room that we can't use either. Plus when bell services left the luggage in the first room, (even though we asked them to put it in the hall while we got the room situation straightened out) one of the pieces of luggage got all wet. That is how wet the carpet was!

They finally transfer us to yet another room. This time in Big Pine Key, room 9124. The best thing I can say about that room, which we kept, was that the carpet was dry. It was first floor room with a view of not only the pool building, but a big pipe sticking out of the ground (I'm guessing gas or water pipe) dead center in front of the patio! After all the years I've told everyone that there wasn't a bad view at the GF I had to eat my words.

The bathroom too had mold/dirty grout issues but we sucked it up.

The thing that bothered me the most was that when DH called about the second room not being acceptable (I actually was feeling nauseous and getting a headache just smelling the carpet cleaning smell) the front desk manager said "Well, I see you are on the 7/4 special", as if that made it okay to give us a room that wasn't ready for guest.

The funny thing is that this was our 7th visit to the GF in 5 1/2 years so we have stayed many times without any specials or great incentives.

I still love the GF grounds, and the kids had a ball in the pool. We had breakfast at 1900 Park Fare, dinner at GF Cafe (surprisingly good) and the girls, my mil and myself had afternoon tea at the GF tearoom.

I felt bad because we had really been talking up the GF to my in-laws. They've stayed with us at YC twice before and really liked it much better. I think the room situation really put a sour taste in everyone's mouth this time.

We still had a great vacation, but I really sat out on the patio (which I love to do). We have a reservation for this summer at GF SL but I am seriously considering switching to Poly LVC instead.

We didn't ask for any compensation , just wanted a nice room. The manager did take $150 off our bill for inconvenience and dry cleaning for the clothes that got damp when the luggage was wet.

How I missed my Sago Cay and Conch Key marina views. The cm checking us in told us we DID have the marina side of Sago Cay when we checked in. That just made us doubly disappointed when we saw the room.

On the good side most cms were very friendly, mousekeeping was good, and Gasparilla's is still one of our favorite cs restaurants!


Robyn, that is horrible!! And I can't believe the nerve of him to bring up the 7/4 deal. I would have flung back with a "Well I can't believe the flagship resort is putting people in rooms with soaking wet carpet!" ;)
 
Channing, you did all THAT?! Holy cow...how do you have time to "mother", ferry kids around, cook, etc?? When I saw you mention earlier that it was "your" site, I just thought you were claiming it as your favorite! I have it bookmarked, BTW...

Awww...thanks! :goodvibes Well..my kids have kind of gotten the shaft for the past few months:rolleyes: ....but they are older and I have been doing this mom thing for 18.5 yrs...I do spend most of my life driving them from activity to activity..and picking them up here and there.....and I do cook - we have dinner as a family every night.....but I needed something of MY OWN. :) So this is it for me for now....something fun and creative FOR ME.:thumbsup2 I am sure you will recognize some of the pics......

Thanks so much,

Channing
GF lovin' Gal:)
 
DisneyMomx7 - that is horrible! There is no excuse for the way you were treated, and for that manager to insinuate that it was due to the discount you received was the absolute worst! I would definitely write to Disney.

We've received many discounts over the years, especially in the years right after 9/11. I was never made to feel that I was second-class for getting a good deal! Disney has made this 4/3 deal because of the recession and lower bookings, and they want people to take them up on it. Why would they then treat you as if you had done something shameful?

I hope your vacation was good overall, even with this poor treatment. I know how something like that can color your trip, though, and understand your desire to move your reservation to another resort. :hug:
 
Thank you all - I knew my DIS friends would understand.

The manager made the 7/4 remark to DH and he didn't think as quickly as I did. I wanted to say "well we started coming here in 2003 with the 7/4 offer - fell in love with Disney and the GF, and this is our 11th trip is 5 1/2 years!" The joke is we do like to spend money when we're at Disney. We had the dining plan and still had a $1200 bill on our account on the last day!

We had reservations for June 20-27 at GF SL and June 27-July 5 at BC. I'm going to make a new reservation for Poly LVC July 5-12 and give myself ( and DH) time to cool down, write to WDW guest communications, and talk it over with the kids to decide which reservations (6/20-27 or 7/5-12) we want to keep. I don't want to do anything hot headed.

We did have a WONDERFUL "Grand" time. We had great weather, did the parks leisurely, and enjoyed the rest of the resort. I really liked the afternoon tea and the kids still liked the Wonderland Tea Party! We had lots of good meals and came back feeling refreshed. The two days the girls were in the parades (of course I cried watching them march down Main St.) were hectic, and they didn't win, but they had a blast competing. Otherwise we took it slowly and didn't rush around.

BTW a bartender at Mizner's told DH that all the American Idol judges were staying GF RPC. I don't watch American Idol but my mil was crazy looking out for them!

Thanks for letting me vent and making me feel better!
 

Awww...thanks! :goodvibes Well..my kids have kind of gotten the shaft for the past few months:rolleyes: ....but they are older and I have been doing this mom thing for 18.5 yrs...I do spend most of my life driving them from activity to activity..and picking them up here and there.....and I do cook - we have dinner as a family every night.....but I needed something of MY OWN. :) So this is it for me for now....something fun and creative FOR ME.:thumbsup2 I am sure you will recognize some of the pics......

Thanks so much,

Channing
GF lovin' Gal:)

Fun and creative is an understatement!! It's very enjoyable to read and view, especially for those of us who are GF-crazy! Only negative is being reminded exactly how much it would cost to stay in the Walt Disney suite (a long time dream of mine)....
 
Robyn,

So sorry about all that! Cant believe they would put you in a room with wet carpets!?! And can't believe a manager would make a comment about how you were on the 4/3 deal! Thats just rude!
I hope you get a good outcome from your letter you're going to write. Keep us posted! :)
 
I am hoping he was just commenting on the rate because he was considering giving you a discount on the room for the inconvenience (but there's that eternal optimist in me :goodvibes ) Irregardless, it was tacky of him to say it.
 
DisneyMomx7, sorry you had room troubles. I can't believe they did that to you twice. Glad it didn't ruin the rest of your trip. What the manager said was very rude, not something you would expect from the GF.:sad2:
 
Just back - I hate to report anything negative on the GF but we definitely had room issues.

First room we were given in Sago Cay (dreaded convention center dumpster view) had soaking wet carpeting and a big fan blowing trying to dry it. My dd has asthma and the smell would have been too much for her, plus the carpet wasn't damp it was soaking!!!!! So we call down to the front desk and they transfer us to another room down the hall (same dreary view) and guess what - that carpet is wet too! Not as soaking, but definitely not damp, it was wet. DH called down to the front desk and was really agitated. Now we have had everything move to a 2nd room that we can't use either. Plus when bell services left the luggage in the first room, (even though we asked them to put it in the hall while we got the room situation straightened out) one of the pieces of luggage got all wet. That is how wet the carpet was!

They finally transfer us to yet another room. This time in Big Pine Key, room 9124. The best thing I can say about that room, which we kept, was that the carpet was dry. It was first floor room with a view of not only the pool building, but a big pipe sticking out of the ground (I'm guessing gas or water pipe) dead center in front of the patio! After all the years I've told everyone that there wasn't a bad view at the GF I had to eat my words.

The bathroom too had mold/dirty grout issues but we sucked it up.

The thing that bothered me the most was that when DH called about the second room not being acceptable (I actually was feeling nauseous and getting a headache just smelling the carpet cleaning smell) the front desk manager said "Well, I see you are on the 7/4 special", as if that made it okay to give us a room that wasn't ready for guest.

The funny thing is that this was our 7th visit to the GF in 5 1/2 years so we have stayed many times without any specials or great incentives.

I still love the GF grounds, and the kids had a ball in the pool. We had breakfast at 1900 Park Fare, dinner at GF Cafe (surprisingly good) and the girls, my mil and myself had afternoon tea at the GF tearoom.

I felt bad because we had really been talking up the GF to my in-laws. They've stayed with us at YC twice before and really liked it much better. I think the room situation really put a sour taste in everyone's mouth this time.

We still had a great vacation, but I really sat out on the patio (which I love to do). We have a reservation for this summer at GF SL but I am seriously considering switching to Poly LVC instead.

We didn't ask for any compensation , just wanted a nice room. The manager did take $150 off our bill for inconvenience and dry cleaning for the clothes that got damp when the luggage was wet.

How I missed my Sago Cay and Conch Key marina views. The cm checking us in told us we DID have the marina side of Sago Cay when we checked in. That just made us doubly disappointed when we saw the room.

On the good side most cms were very friendly, mousekeeping was good, and Gasparilla's is still one of our favorite cs restaurants!

So sorry for your bad expierience. I'm going to the GF in May on the 4/3 deal and let me tell you if anyone uses that as an excuse to treat me badly or put me in a crummy room HEADS WILL ROLL :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl:
Disney is offering the deal to us so they shouldn't throw it in our faces and use it as an excuse for bad service :mad:
 
So sorry for your bad expierience. I'm going to the GF in May on the 4/3 deal and let me tell you if anyone uses that as an excuse to treat me badly or put me in a crummy room HEADS WILL ROLL :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl:
Disney is offering the deal to us so they shouldn't throw it in our faces and use it as an excuse for bad service :mad:

Yeah! :rotfl: :goodvibes
 
Fed announced that we're going to be in the crapper until at least 2011. So my feeling is that the management over at the GF should be happy that they (1) have jobs, and (2) have people filling their rooms. Regardless of what it looks like on here, we ARE in a depression, forget recession.
 
Fed announced that we're going to be in the crapper until at least 2011. So my feeling is that the poeple over at the GF should be happy to (1) have jobs, and (2) have people filling the rooms. Regardless of what it looks like on here, we ARE in a depression, forget recession.

I couldn't agree more :thumbsup2
 
DisneyMonx7 I am so sorry that you had room troubles...:sad2: Good for you though for not letting it set the tone for your trip....and having a good time anyway...:goodvibes

I'm sure that your next trip will be an even better one...:flower3:
 
We had reservations for June 20-27 at GF SL and June 27-July 5 at BC. I'm going to make a new reservation for Poly LVC July 5-12 and give myself ( and DH) time to cool down, write to WDW guest communications, and talk it over with the kids to decide which reservations (6/20-27 or 7/5-12) we want to keep. I don't want to do anything hot headed.

I think that's a great idea -- keep your options open in case you change your mind later. I do think that writing a letter is a great idea. A bad view is one thing, but sending you to a soggy room (twice) when they knew it was in that condition (they must have since they put a fan in there) is no way to treat a guest. Who knows? They may apologize and convince you to return... I'd keep both reservations until some time has passed and you have time to consider your options.
 
You made that website Channing ??? :worship:
That's so awesome!!! I wish I was that creative :wizard:

AW...thank you. It has been fun but a lot of work too....but work I enjoy.:goodvibes I am glad you like it...I am adding more in the next couple days....it's a continuous thing.


Fun and creative is an understatement!! It's very enjoyable to read and view, especially for those of us who are GF-crazy! Only negative is being reminded exactly how much it would cost to stay in the Walt Disney suite (a long time dream of mine)....

Thanks, GrannieMinnie.....oh...well...I REALLY HOPE YOU GET TO STAY THERE ONE DAY....or more!!!:goodvibes It is beautiful.

Fed announced that we're going to be in the crapper until at least 2011. So my feeling is that the management over at the GF should be happy that they (1) have jobs, and (2) have people filling their rooms. Regardless of what it looks like on here, we ARE in a depression, forget recession.

Oh yeah.......pretty sad. :guilty: My ticker says so....:sad2:

Could it be a memo??????? ;)

OMG....:rotfl: OH YESSSS..... SEND A MEMO!!!! :thumbsup2

That's what they need!!!!

Channing
GF Gal
:goodvibes
 
Channing,

Thanks so much for posting your amazing website! I've been pouring over it today and it's just fabulous! I loved the photos of Summer Lace and Basin White, plus you made Citricos look so beautiful!

I have a question about the health club -- do they have elliptical machines in there? I was told that if we are at the Poly we can still use the health club at the GF (please correct me if this is wrong). In all the times that we've been to the GF, I've never wandered in there. (Now we're trying to be healthier, so I may have to supplement all the walking with a workout. ) And do you know if the jacuzzi there is nice?

Thanks in advance!:)
 
mmmears - they do have a handful of ellipticals.

DSC03928.jpg


The whirlpool is nice. I don't have a pic of it. You'll like the health club and yes, Poly guests have access to it :)
 
Status
Not open for further replies.













Receive up to $1,000 in Onboard Credit and a Gift Basket!
That’s right — when you book your Disney Cruise with Dreams Unlimited Travel, you’ll receive incredible shipboard credits to spend during your vacation!
CLICK HERE














DIS Facebook DIS youtube DIS Instagram DIS Pinterest DIS Tiktok DIS Twitter

Back
Top