*The Official VILLAS AT DISNEY'S GRAND FLORIDIAN RESORT & SPA Owners & Lovers Group* - LOBBY REFURB BEGAN 4/14!

[DizneyLizzy]

Is the entire building of Big Pine Key being converted into DVC resort studios? We have a resort studio booked and will be traveling with extended family (non-DVC) who will be in a garden view outer building rooms on the regular resort side. I'm trying to figure out what building they should request to be closest to us. I'm thinking Boca Chica, but if some rooms in Big Pine will still be part of the GF proper, then I'll just tell them to request to be in there. Thanks!

 

[Sandisw]

Is the entire building of Big Pine Key being converted into DVC resort studios? We have a resort studio booked and will be traveling with extended family (non-DVC) who will be in a garden view outer building rooms on the regular resort side. I'm trying to figure out what building they should request to be closest to us. I'm thinking Boca Chica, but if some rooms in Big Pine will still be part of the GF proper, then I'll just tell them to request to be in there. Thanks!

BPK is all DVC now.

 

[CarolynFH]

Is the entire building of Big Pine Key being converted into DVC resort studios? We have a resort studio booked and will be traveling with extended family (non-DVC) who will be in a garden view outer building rooms on the regular resort side. I'm trying to figure out what building they should request to be closest to us. I'm thinking Boca Chica, but if some rooms in Big Pine will still be part of the GF proper, then I'll just tell them to request to be in there. Thanks!

As Sandi says, BPK will be all DVC. And I think I read that Boca Chica will be the first regular GF hotel building to be refurbed. So maybe your family could request “close to BPK”?

If both reservations were DVC or both hotel side, I’d also suggest having a “traveling with” notation put on both reservations along with the confirmation number of the other reservation, so that the room assigners know to put the rooms as close together as possible. I don’t know whether that would work in this case, but it’s worth a try - you’d have to chat/email/call MS and your family would have to contact the resort reservation folks.

 

[DizneyLizzy]

As Sandi says, BPK will be all DVC. And I think I read that Boca Chica will be the first regular GF hotel building to be refurbed. So maybe your family could request “close to BPK”?

If both reservations were DVC or both hotel side, I’d also suggest having a “traveling with” notation put on both reservations along with the confirmation number of the other reservation, so that the room assigners know to put the rooms as close together as possible. I don’t know whether that would work in this case, but it’s worth a try - you’d have to chat/email/call MS and your family would have to contact the resort reservation folks.

Thank you It certainly won’t make or break the trip, but it would be convenient to be close together. I haven’t stayed at the Grand since 1998, so I don’t have a good handle on how big and spread out the buildings are. I think I’ll do a TP fax request for the non-DVC family and just put “close to BPK” in the text entry portion.

 

[kurts mom]

We are excited to be staying 3 nights this summer in a resort studio standard villa. We’ve never stayed here before and wondering if there are any room requests I can make for best view. Just me and DH. Thanks

 

[nuhusky123]

how do the dormer rooms compare to regular rooms? I know balcony is smaller but what about rest of room? Bigger/smaller?

 

[PolyRob]

Thank you It certainly won’t make or break the trip, but it would be convenient to be close together. I haven’t stayed at the Grand since 1998, so I don’t have a good handle on how big and spread out the buildings are. I think I’ll do a TP fax request for the non-DVC family and just put “close to BPK” in the text entry portion.

If Boca Chica closes for refurbishment, the only other outer building near the pool and BPK is really Sugarloaf (all club level). Conch Key would be slightly closer to BPK than Sago Cay, but even Sago Cay isn't that far of a walk. The original VGF building would be the furthest point from Sago Cay and that should only be about a 5 minute walk at a normal pace. GF isn't really spread out.

Resort studios are bookable under cash now. Can your extended family check availability and switch to the VGF resort studio? They would be getting brand new GF rooms and still have the normal housekeeping cycle.

 

[gregskellington]

Well, I did it. Moved into the new resort studios for my July trip. The availability was too tempting!!

 

[kboo]

how do the dormer rooms compare to regular rooms? I know balcony is smaller but what about rest of room? Bigger/smaller?

We stayed in a dormer room in Boca Chica back in the day ... floor space is same but the room will feel different. It has higher ceilings, iirc but may still feel smaller because of the dormer aspect.

 

[lexybear]

I was thinking about booking the theme park view room studio but I'm hesitant. I just don't know how clear that view would be with being that far away. Would they be the end cap rooms and you'd have to look left? Or just the highest floor of the building?

 

[mrsap]

Stairwell Reconstruction Underway For The Villas at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa​

As sections of Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa are currently undergoing reconstruction and renovation for the upcoming Disney Vacation Club Resort Studios at the resort, we spotted a set of stairs undergoing full reconstruction at The Villas at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa.

This staircase is being reconstructed after being dismantled.

The actual stairs are back, but new paneling has yet to be installed around the staircase.

 

[daisylovesdisney]

We're tentatively scheduled to stay in the new resort studios in late August. I didn't realize there would be other construction going on, I'm thinking about moving somewhere else. Do you think it will be disruptive by the pool/wake us up in the morning? I'm not interested in listening to loud construction noise all day long.

 

[CarolynFH]

We're tentatively scheduled to stay in the new resort studios in late August. I didn't realize there would be other construction going on, I'm thinking about moving somewhere else. Do you think it will be disruptive by the pool/wake us up in the morning? I'm not interested in listening to loud construction noise all day long.

Disney has been pretty consistent in sending out notices of construction and stating that it would occur only between 9 AM (maybe 8 AM, no earlier) and 5 PM specifically to limit disruption to guests. But unfortunately there has to be construction noise at some time.

I haven't seen any reports of construction noise at BPK, but I don't follow GF closely - @mrsap , has the construction at BPK resulted in noise complaints at GF, so far as you're aware?

 

[Srinova]

Hello! VGF hopeful owner here, staying in the new resort studios in July! I have a couple of questions, if anyone can answer!

I wondered whether guests in Big Pine Key would be expected to use check in at the Villas or the Main Building, and similar with parking? Also, will there be specific amenities in BPK, such as laundry?

Thanks for helping

 

[Matty B13]

Hello! VGF hopeful owner here, staying in the new resort studios in July! I have a couple of questions, if anyone can answer!

I wondered whether guests in Big Pine Key would be expected to use check in at the Villas or the Main Building, and similar with parking? Also, will there be specific amenities in BPK, such as laundry?

Thanks for helping

Parking at the VGF 1.0 Villas would be much farther than the main lot for guests at BPK, I think all VGF owners have access to both lots.

 

[OnThisMagicNight]

Disney has been pretty consistent in sending out notices of construction and stating that it would occur only between 9 AM (maybe 8 AM, no earlier) and 5 PM specifically to limit disruption to guests. But unfortunately there has to be construction noise at some time.

I haven't seen any reports of construction noise at BPK, but I don't follow GF closely - @mrsap , has the construction at BPK resulted in noise complaints at GF, so far as you're aware?

According to Tim Tracker, there is definitely some noise...the segment on the construction starts about 22 mins in and I believe you can hear a jackhammer at one point.

But do we know whether or not the construction for the other outer buildings will be as extensive as what's happening in Big Pine Key? (roofs and stairs being redone?) If it's just the rooms getting refurbished I wouldn't think it would be that bad...

 

[mrsap]

Disney has been pretty consistent in sending out notices of construction and stating that it would occur only between 9 AM (maybe 8 AM, no earlier) and 5 PM specifically to limit disruption to guests. But unfortunately there has to be construction noise at some time.

I haven't seen any reports of construction noise at BPK, but I don't follow GF closely - @mrsap , has the construction at BPK resulted in noise complaints at GF, so far as you're aware?

Hey girl! So I do not have Facebook, however I saved a couple of public groups I found (to look for recreation calendars), and one of the Grand Floridian groups had THIS POST complaining about the noise… other than that, I have not seen any other complaints. I guess it depends on your tolerance of the noise/construction.

 

[CarolynFH]

Hey girl! So I do not have Facebook, however I saved a couple of public groups I found (to look for recreation calendars), and one of the Grand Floridian groups had THIS POST complaining about the noise… other than that, I have not seen any other complaints. I guess it depends on your tolerance of the noise/construction.

Thanks!

 

[keirabella2012]

Yesterday I was told that not all the resort studios have balconies? Can anyone confirm this? I realize that first floor would have a patio, but other than that, would the standard view not have a balcony?

 

[gregskellington]

Yesterday I was told that not all the resort studios have balconies? Can anyone confirm this? I realize that first floor would have a patio, but other than that, would the standard view not have a balcony?

Yeah, some rooms in the building didn't have balconies. Not sure what the plan is for those after this opens but I imagine they will all still be rooms and still not have balconies. I don't believe it's relegated to a view, it's just some of the rooms.