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

[JediGFRMickey]

Hi I am new to this thread and I wanted to thank you all for all the wonderful advise I have been reading here. My sister is at the Grand this week and told me there is a sign at the Front Desk For Online Check in .She did not use it yet but it looks like it would be fun.

 

[MrsNesbitt]

Hi I am new to this thread and I wanted to thank you all for all the wonderful advise I have been reading here. My sister is at the Grand this week and told me there is a sign at the Front Desk For Online Check in .She did not use it yet but it looks like it would be fun.

Hi there, I thought I was the only lonely soul up this late. I am new to this thread also. I am thinking about a trip to the GF in July; all the information that has been posted here is so helpful. Thank you everyone! My only reservation is that it might be too hot and rainy to enjoy the Parks in mid summer.

 

[Alicnwondrln]

You do have to be staying at the GF to rent a cabana.

 

[grannyminnie]

Hopefully, the prices of the cabanas will stay the same after the upgrade.
Has anybody come back and said they were done working on them yet?
I am not near my 90 day mark for booking and am crossing my fingers that the $60 stays the price!!!

 

[BlueSkies]

HI Jedi and MrsNesbitt WELCOME!! This is a great place for all types of GF info...

Jedi Hope that your sister is enjoying her trip..thanks for the info about the online check in...

MrsNesbitt The summer is HOT...no doubt about it...and usually rains about once per day...usually...I was there last year during a hurricane week.. and its wasnt pretty... My kids wouldnt wear the rain ponchos...they werent cool ...but DH and I did and they worked out just fine...plus when it gets real rainy people tend to leave the parks...makes it easier for those troopers who stay...My park advice would be plan on either early morning with a mid afternoon break...or later in the day after a morining at the pool...If you are a fan of the pool though this is a great time to be able to relax and enjoy the GFs 2 beautiful pools and a cabana day is an extra nice way to relax and get a little pampering...

Hi Grannieminnie I just checked on this again and so far the cabana prices have remained the same...I think the pics that Lives4Disney posted recently did show the new and improved cabanas...and Kelly did post that they just needed to add a thing or two (cant remember what... )to complete them...We are waiting on our 90 day window too...we truly loved the cabana time!!

 

[JPN4265]

You do have to be staying at the GF to rent a cabana.

Its my understanding that you have to be a guest of the GF to use the facilities.

 

[k&a&c'smom]

Congratulations to all those who have recently booked a trip to the GF!

PolynesianAlex - I'm not sure what the odds are, but if you book a std. RPC room, you can request a MK view room. The likelihood of that request being met is a question I can't answer, we did stay in a std. room once and did not get a castle view, we were in a room that overlooked the lobby. The other views are very pretty too, though, I really love the view of the themed pool.

MrsNesbitt & JediGFRMickey!!

MrsNesbitt - We have made many trips in July and early August, and we really enjoy the summer at WDW, there is an electricity in the air that you just don't get in the off-months. Yes, it is hot and steamy, and there is rain, but the rain is usually a quick, 10-15-minute storm, then on with the day. Not like here in my state, where the rain sets in for days at a time!

BlueSkies gives very good advice for surviving a Florida summer; go early, take long mid-day breaks for a nap and/or swim, and head back to the parks after sundown. That is the great thing about the summer, the park hours are so much longer!

 

[Alicnwondrln]

Its my understanding that you have to be a guest of the GF to use the facilities.

yes that is what I said you do have to be a guest to rent them.

 

[DisneyMomx7]

Just to let you who followed our less than stellar stay at the GF in February, that I just received a phone call from wdw guest services.

Really not much to say - she apologized for our inconvenience and agreed that we never should have been given rooms with wet carpet and that was it.

 

[k&a&c'smom]

Just to let you who followed our less than stellar stay at the GF in February, that I just received a phone call from wdw guest services.

Really not much to say - she apologized for our inconvenience and agreed that we never should have been given rooms with wet carpet and that was it.

Wow. I am really surprised that they didn't make more of an effort to make things right with you. In this economy, especially, you'd think they'd want to erase a bad memory like that.

Sorry to hear that, DisneyMomx7.

 

[johnsonet]

Just to let you who followed our less than stellar stay at the GF in February, that I just received a phone call from wdw guest services.

Really not much to say - she apologized for our inconvenience and agreed that we never should have been given rooms with wet carpet and that was it.

Hopefully you'll have much better luck ~ and service ~ in the future.

 

[Cinderumbrella]

Just to let you who followed our less than stellar stay at the GF in February, that I just received a phone call from wdw guest services.

Really not much to say - she apologized for our inconvenience and agreed that we never should have been given rooms with wet carpet and that was it.

Robyn, that really stinks!! At least she aplogized (which is always nice to here) but I am stunned they didn't offer anything else!

 

[Happy Camper 222]

Hi, How do you rent a cabana?

Thank you.

Happy

 

[Alicnwondrln]

Hi, How do you rent a cabana?

Thank you.

Happy

welcome to the gf faq thread! There is info about this back opn page one.
Here is it though:

Info about the cabanas:

Here's some info directly from the GF concierge......... this is update as of 3/4/09 as far as pricing. The set up of the cabanas has changed with the TV how hanging in the corner a ceiling fan. There is also nice plush seating in the cabana as well.

Rental Cabana amenities include:
. Two padded chaise lounge chairs
. Two padded straight-backed chairs
. Plush towels
. 22 inch LCD television with cable access and optional earphones
. Sirius Satellite Radio
. DVD/CD/MP3 player
. Phone for internal resorts calls
. Oscillating Fan
. Mini refrigerator stocked with complementary sodas and water
. Complementary fruit basket
. Private dining and poolside massages are available at an
additional cost.

A half day is $60.00 and is from 10am - 2pm OR 3pm - 7pm
A full day is $110 for 10am - 7pm


Here are some theme pool pictures including the cabanas you can rent. Call 407 WDW -PLAY to reserve.

There are some great pics in the thread as well.

 

[Tinker*Shell*Bell]

Welcome to the Dis Jedi Mickey- That is so cool your sister is there- I hope she has a great trip!!!-- And thanks for the info on the online checkin- I am not sure I would use it- I LOVE the interaction with the CM's at check in. They are so great at the Grand!!!

MrsNesbitt- July and August are about as hot as the surface of the sun! But I love it!!! Plan to go to the parks early, ride the rides before the sleepyheads get out of bed. Then leave by 1ish and hit the pool before the afternoon rain. The evenings are usually clear again, and the rain has chased the crowds away a little.

Happy- Welcome to the Dis too! The one thing Alicnwondrln forgot about the cabanas: They are great! ENJOY! Oh and if you have kids the cabana staff plays games with the kids and even brings out pool toys for them. Very nice way to spend a day (or even part of one.)

 

[Belinderella]

Are there DVD's to rent or do you have to bring your own?

 

[johnsonet]

Are there DVD's to rent or do you have to bring your own?

Your attendant will give you a list. You can pick the DVD(s) you want and he/she will bring them to you. If you had something in particular that you wanted to bring - no problem

 

[Belinderella]

Your attendant will give you a list. You can pick the DVD(s) you want and he/she will bring them to you. If you had something in particular that you wanted to bring - no problem

Great! I dont want to pack anything I dont have to! Not sure what the little ones will want to do while me & DD20 relax.

15 days to our 1st GF trip...and my DH has finally accepted and gotten excited about, thanks to this thread!!!!!! (he wanted to stay at CR)

 

[johnsonet]

Great! I dont want to pack anything I dont have to! Not sure what the little ones will want to do while me & DD20 relax.

15 days to our 1st GF trip...and my DH has finally accepted and gotten excited about, thanks to this thread!!!!!! (he wanted to stay at CR)

That's cute (about your husband). I loved CR the few times I stayed there ~ but I think you'll LOVE the GF Have a wonderful time

 

[Starstuff7]

We're staying for the first time at GF in Sugar Loaf the 1st week of August. (previously years at the Poly and WL Deluxe CL) Any suggestions for a view for those of you in the know? Is it only pool vs. marina, and is the pool view too noisy?

Thanks!