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

[Lives4Disney]

My little girl was born 6/28/05 - how cool!

This is our first stay at GF and we are super exited. We spend A LOT of time at the resort. I have rented a cabana for two afternoons and DH is psyched!

Sorry if this has been covered many times before, but...last year DS did Grand Adventures in Cooking and LOVED it. I know they don't have it anymore but is there something new that is similar to replace it?

Hi! Welcome to the GF FAq thread. You will LOVE the GF!! We've stayed at all the other WDW resorts and nothing compares to the GF.

The Adv in Cooking has been canceled as of last Sept. They don't have anything similar to replace it. My daughters always loved this one, too.....my younger dd (8) did the Pirate Adv last October...she had never had any interest in it before...BUT SHE LOVED IT!!! Most of the kids were about in the 7 to 9 year old range. She wants to do that one again. THE CMs that run that are the ones that used to do the Adv in Cooking....all the GF Rec CMs are wonderful. They remember Jojo and she enjoys that, too - makes her feel special!

You will really love the new cabanas, too. We have done those often in the past and just spent a great day a couple weeks ago with one. I also noticed they have a lot more kid activities (walk up) during the afternoons by the Beach Pool.

Happy planning!!! Enjoy!

Chan
GF Gal all the way!

 

[TinkTatoo]

...it was also Star Wars weekend....this was through OKW though!

That's a great cake - DS is into Starwars although if it's not a chocolate cake he's not interested

.....This is our first stay at GF and we are super exited. We spend A LOT of time at the resort. I have rented a cabana for two afternoons and DH is psyched!....

We've got our first trip to the GF this summer and we're really looking forward to it too. I'm planning to get a cabana as we really enjoyed the one we had at the Hard Rock Hotel. I'd be interested to hear how you get on.

..Sorry if this has been covered many times before, but...last year DS did Grand Adventures in Cooking and LOVED it. I know they don't have it anymore but is there something new that is similar to replace it?

They've cancelled the Adventures in Cooking which is a real shame. My two did the Pirate Adventure when they were 8 & 9 and they weren't that impressed. They felt it was aimed at younger kids so depending on your DS's age he might not enjoy it.

 

[magical4us4]

My little girl was born 6/28/05 - how cool!

This is our first stay at GF and we are super exited. We spend A LOT of time at the resort. I have rented a cabana for two afternoons and DH is psyched!

Sorry if this has been covered many times before, but...last year DS did Grand Adventures in Cooking and LOVED it. I know they don't have it anymore but is there something new that is similar to replace it?

My niece (8) and nephew (10) did the Pirate Adventure last year and loved it! They had a blast and loved the CM's...the other kids on the cruise were about the same age and my nephew even made a friend from it. They hung out all week together at the pool.

 

[simba51104]

Hi everyone! We are booked for our first GF trip in May and I was wondering if hairdryers are provided? In all the pictures of the bathrooms I've seen none of them show a hairdryer. If they are provided, are they the small wall mounted kind or the regular kind? Thanks for your help!

 

[Lives4Disney]

Here are some pirate pics.....my daughter was going to take a little camera with during the trip....but we had issues with cameras during that vacation.

Magical - I am glad your kids enjoyed it.....my DD thought it was GREAT FUN!!

I think they do a GREAT JOB with all the kids activites at the Grand.

Happy time!

Channing
GF Gal 2009 and next up 2010

 

[Lives4Disney]

Hi everyone! We are booked for our first GF trip in May and I was wondering if hairdryers are provided? In all the pictures of the bathrooms I've seen none of them show a hairdryer. If they are provided, are they the small wall mounted kind or the regular kind? Thanks for your help!

Hi...they are on the closet shelves..in a little bag. They are regular standard no bells and whistles....conair 1875 (I think lol)

Happy vacationing....

Channing
GF Gal

 

[simba51104]

Hi...they are on the closet shelves..in a little bag. They are regular standard no bells and whistles....conair 1875 (I think lol)

Happy vacationing....

Channing
GF Gal

Oh, great! I was worried I would have to pack a hairdryer. One less thing to figure out how to fit into my suitcase. Thanks!

 

[BlueSkies]

desperatelydisney Congratulations! on your first GF stay...I'm sure it wont be your last.... We tried the cabanas for the first time last year and really enjoyed ourselves...makes pool time that much more relaxing...

Simba Congrats on your first trip also... The GF has terrific toiletries to use also...H2O shampoo,condintioner and a great soap too...

Disney Bride I am also a Boca Chica fan for GV...the GV of the courtyard pool and main building is lovely...but really just about every GV is...its the GF after all...enjoy your DDs first trip there...

BCV I have looked at the cake thread but I never seem to get anywhere except hungry!!! I would think that the cake hotline would have the most info on whats available and where... I'd like to hear how you do...thinking of ordering a cake on our next trip too...but would rather not go thru Linda at the GF...

 

[desparatelydisney]

Thanks for the welcome and everyone's quick replies. I know about the Pirate Cruise but I have a budding Chef (when he was 5 his favorite shows were Crocodile Hunter & Emeril Live - what a combination) so I was hoping for something along that lines. Also, my youngest is three and a huge pirate fan so we would have complete meltdown if the other two went on the pirate cruise and he couldn't go.

 

[Lives4Disney]

Thanks for the welcome and everyone's quick replies. I know about the Pirate Cruise but I have a budding Chef (when he was 5 his favorite shows were Crocodile Hunter & Emeril Live - what a combination) so I was hoping for something along that lines. Also, my youngest is three and a huge pirate fan so we would have complete meltdown if the other two went on the pirate cruise and he couldn't go.

Oh..that's tough then....bummer. Yeah...can't leave the little one at the pier while the pirate boat sails away with the other kids.....

It's too bad they canceled that adv in cooking....my girls did always love it.

They have a lot more fun kid activities daily at the Beach Pool....it was really hopping a couple weeks ago when I was there. And they have the movie on the beach in the evening...and the campfire and smores....

Happy planning,

Lives4Disney
GF Gal 2009 & NOW 2010, too!!!

 

[desparatelydisney]

And they have the movie on the beach in the evening...and the campfire and smores....

Really??!!! Just like at BC/YC? My guys LOVED that! I thought BC/YC was the only place that had that.

 

[BlueSkies]

Channing So glad to hear about the moveis on the beach and the camp fire and smores too...I think this is a great addition to the kids activities available at the GF....

 

[Lives4Disney]

Really??!!! Just like at BC/YC? My guys LOVED that! I thought BC/YC was the only place that had that.

Yes...same thing....only better because it's at the GF.

Channing So glad to hear about the moveis on the beach and the camp fire and smores too...I think this is a great addition to the kids activities available at the GF....

It's relatively new. I posted a pic of the cute sign that shows what times and movies....it's probably around page 75? of this thread. It was so cold in the evenings when we were there, nobody walked over to check it out.

I think they are making the GF more "kid friendly"...not as if it weren't already ...but it just seemed that way to me from what I saw a couple weeks ago....now when you check in...you get a calender of afternoon poolside events for kids and family...and the movies and smores is also on it.

Channing
GF Gal

 

[allisonswonderland]

Hi I just read about someone wanting a cake - while not an expert I might be able to help a little. I tried several times calling Linda (and as a bride I have had 2 wonderful anniversary layers that she has gotten for me) but I was not able to get a hold of her. I just called the bakery directly at the GF and they got me what I wanted, it was a birthday cake serves 16, marble cake with milk choc mousse, white buttercream icing and I asked for some micket confetti. I did not want any screen printing or anything and it was 45- I was pleased!

 

[Mary T in PA]

FOrgive me if this has been asked - can you request RPC when making a reservation at GF?

Mary

 

[MelissaFromRI]

FOrgive me if this has been asked - can you request RPC when making a reservation at GF?

Mary

Hi Mary!
In order to stay RPC you have to book RPC specifically.

 

[Lives4Disney]

FOrgive me if this has been asked - can you request RPC when making a reservation at GF?

Mary

Mary....were you the one looking to book a one bedroom suite?? Suites in the main building and in outer lodges (with the exception of Sugar Loaf) will have RPC access. Sugar Loaf suites have SL lounge access.

If you are looking for a one bedroom main building suite (in RPC)...you have to call CRO...the code you want to make sure you book is B1. This suite has 2 queen beds...and the one we had also had last summer also had a sofa bed. These are located on the 5th floor of the main building. CRO should be able to see the code that coordinates with each suite available and that will tell you where it's located and the bed situation.

Channing
GF GAL for years to come.

 

[IWISHFORDISNEY]

Hey ladies, I just got my Basin White order today and pink sugar in amazing. I love it!!! The box said it was actually shipped from the GF store not from the mall of America store where the regular Basin ships from. So I got a little magic delivered to my door today!!!

I am so glad to read about the movies and campfire at GF too now. That is the only thing we liked about WL. Otherwise I hated the place. My DH loved the Christmas decorations but I am not a woodsy kind of gal. Lets just say that is the closest I will ever come to camping. What time does this ususally start? At dusk or a set time if anyone knows?

I was reading about the pirate adventure and the kids go alone without parents. My son just turned 4 and I have a feeling he might be to young despite his age. How well do they handle little ones. It scares me for him to be on a boat without me. He cant swim that well yet. Plus the whole seperation factor with strangers. However I know he would love it because he is so into pirates and just had a pirates birthday. Any thoughts.

Last but not least I think I am gonna request Big Pine Key uppper floor for my Gv room because it seems to be closer to the main building. Is this a pretty good request?

I can not wait to go!!!! Not much longer now.

 

[Lives4Disney]

Liz...LOL...I am not a WL gal either....I live in the woods in northern IL..and it feels like HOME...I love it HERE...but not in FL.

I posted a pic of the sign for the campfire and movie on page 76 of this thread....and the smore kits are available at 6 pm...and the movie starts at 7 pm.

Here's the page link - the sign is about 1/2 way down.

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2015783&page=76

Hmm...tough call on the little guy. It's been a while since mine were THAT young....All I can say is they do wear life vests....they are very well supervised...and the CMs are awesome. Jojo loves them. You would know his comfort level...nobody was scared or crying...all the kids were stoked to go....so it kind of gets everybody there in the mood.

Channing
GF Gal...NOT WL Gal or Poly Gal for that matter......

 

[IWISHFORDISNEY]

Channing thanks for the link. I am very excited about that. WL was not even close to AKL (which I love; we genrally stay CL Savannah view). We had a junior suite that was a crazy long walk to the lounge. The staff was rude. Room dirty. I could go on and on. Not to mention no palm trees. I can do that here and not travel 1100 miles. LOL.