(2014-2020) Disney's GRAND FLORIDIAN RESORT & SPA + VILLAS Information & Questions

[Lisann]

The youngest of our crew discovered that at a young age -- I think she was 11 when she made herself a cup of tea, put on GF robe and went out onto the balcony and curled up on a chair. When we asked her what she was doing, she said "soaking up all the early magic." She'll be doing it shortly -- but now at 18, it won't be at 6am!

Tom

Oh I love that story!

 

[Spridell]

I have quick questions about the Villas....

Staying at the villas for the first time in November, do we check-in there or in the main lobby of the GF?

stayed many times at the GF this will be first stay at the Villas.

 

[MommyGina]

Page 4 rescue!

Does anyone know if CMs are meeting you at the ME if you are staying in concierge anymore? I thought I read that was discontinued and you had to go to regular check in at the front desk. Just wondering!

 

[jlnten17]

I have found the January activities schedule but is there anywhere that shows the schedule for the band, pianist, etc? Thank you!

 

[CRSNDSNY]

Page 4 rescue!

Does anyone know if CMs are meeting you at the ME if you are staying in concierge anymore? I thought I read that was discontinued and you had to go to regular check in at the front desk. Just wondering!

That is one thing I expected when we pulled up last month but we just got the regular greeting, not a concierge staff member (we were booked CL). We didn't arrive via ME, though, we had a limo.

 

[miTnosnhoJ]

I have quick questions about the Villas....

Staying at the villas for the first time in November, do we check-in there or in the main lobby of the GF?

stayed many times at the GF this will be first stay at the Villas.

You will check in at the villas. The only exception is if you arrive after 10PM. In that case you can check in at the main lobby.

If you do on-line checkin, you will get a text when your room is ready along with your room number. In that case, you can go straight to your room and enter with your Magic Band. But I usually stop by the cast members in the lobby and check in, because I usually have a couple of questions and we usually get there before the room is ready.

There will be a greeter curbside at the villas. He can call Bell Services if you need help with bags or if you need to store your bags until your room is ready.
If you arrive on Disney Magic Express, the bus will drop you off outside the main lobby, but your bags will be delivered to your room.

 

[marlaine8]

Page 4 rescue!

Does anyone know if CMs are meeting you at the ME if you are staying in concierge anymore? I thought I read that was discontinued and you had to go to regular check in at the front desk. Just wondering!

Jeez, they've cut that now too? I was pretty upset when IPO wouldn't make our ADRs anymore-now no one to meet you? With the exception of the lounge and location, it seems the value of RPC is dwindling!

 

[tartemis]

Jeez, they've cut that now too? I was pretty upset when IPO wouldn't make our ADRs anymore-now no one to meet you? With the exception of the lounge and location, it seems the value of RPC is dwindling!

I hear you -- Hopefully this was an isolated incident. With increase in prices and fewer discounts, it is getting harder to justify staying RPC.

 

[Lovinallthingsdisney]

Page 4 rescue!

Does anyone know if CMs are meeting you at the ME if you are staying in concierge anymore? I thought I read that was discontinued and you had to go to regular check in at the front desk. Just wondering!

We were booked at SL in November and were not greeted when we got off the bus. We passed a CM with a tablet when we walked in and she just smiled and said "hi". When we checked in we were upgraded to RPC and the CM had to call someone to take us upstairs. The person who came was the same CM we passed on our way in. I had wondered if we weren't stopped at the door because of the upgrade.

 

[Sue M]

You are all so welcome! I took so many photos during this trip - it was so magical! We just love Christmas in Disney and the GF was a spectacular resort to celebrate at. We were in Sugar Loaf, standard CL room with a view of the pool and courtyard. Our room was on the 3rd floor.

We had the dining plan, but with concierge level, I'm not sure I would double up like that again. Either one of the other would be sufficient. the CL access provided a lot of great snacky foods, plus beverages throughout the day. We like to eat, so we always wanted to try some of the foods, therefore, found ourselves with about 11 quick serve credits left by the end of the trip. Our touring style is to hit the parks at rope drop - and at Christmas, rope drop at MK is 7am. We stay in the parks until about 1 and then go back to the resort. The convenience was worth the price alone! We like to spend time at the resort so we would then do this for several hours, heading back out for dinner and some more rides in the evening. We tried to do a lot at the GF and really feel like it is a resort we can stay at for many days and never even step foot in a park.

Some of my favorite moments were:
Sitting and enjoying coffee on our balcony while the sun was coming up, wrapped in those lovely robes. You can hear the faint sound of Christmas music playing. It was pure heaven! I loved it so much.
The smell of lemongrass everywhere at that resort. Plus, the smell of gingerbread in the lobby.
The lovely cast members we met in every nook and cranny of the GF. Everyone was so kind to my children. They had so much fun interacting with everyone and over the days they remembered them and the many details my kids would blab about with them!
The pools are wonderful. There is absolutely nothing in the world like sitting in a pool with Bay Lake to your left and the sound of the boats/ferrys and the monorail zooming overhead on your right.
Gasparilla Grill was a great food option once it actually opened! Some resorts have grab and go only, with no place to sit. Or some resorts are so overcrowded with loud people (mainly children, cheerleaders, etc.) that it makes it less relaxing. I felt good sitting at GG and enjoying a quick meal. It was spacious and the seats were comfortable.

Thanks so much for all the photos! I agree, DDP & CL too much! Our first CL stay we got both, and learned! One of our fav things is floating in the courtyard pool while watching Wishes!

 

[Sue M]

Actually, my daughter is 11 and enjoyed the sofa bed. It was kept like that and mousekeeping made it each day. They even did turndown service on that bed, as well. She was delighted - I told her with the way she had her stuffed animals around it, it was like a college dorm. That made her happy so she loved the little space to call her own.

And just as an aside, I am typically not thrilled with hotel beds, but the GF beds were nice and soft - perfect for me! I slept like a baby each night. I cannot say that about all of the Disney resorts I've stayed at.

I love the GF beds, so comfy. My 26 yr old daughter was quite comfy on the day bed too. It's nice she also got turn down and choc!!

 

[Sue M]

We were booked at SL in November and were not greeted when we got off the bus. We passed a CM with a tablet when we walked in and she just smiled and said "hi". When we checked in we were upgraded to RPC and the CM had to call someone to take us upstairs. The person who came was the same CM we passed on our way in. I had wondered if we weren't stopped at the door because of the upgrade.

I don't think so. We were upgraded from SL to RPC and they greeted us at the door and took us to RPC. But that was before the sad cutbacks.

 

[westie55]

Does anyone know if you can request bed rails that will fit the Murphy beds in the villas?

 

[Spridell]

You will check in at the villas. The only exception is if you arrive after 10PM. In that case you can check in at the main lobby.

If you do on-line checkin, you will get a text when your room is ready along with your room number. In that case, you can go straight to your room and enter with your Magic Band. But I usually stop by the cast members in the lobby and check in, because I usually have a couple of questions and we usually get there before the room is ready.

There will be a greeter curbside at the villas. He can call Bell Services if you need help with bags or if you need to store your bags until your room is ready.
If you arrive on Disney Magic Express, the bus will drop you off outside the main lobby, but your bags will be delivered to your room.

Thank you

 

[KonaKaiTom]

So the ADRS we have so far are, well the ones the family knows about anyhow -- Friday - Tutto Italia for lunch and Shula's for dinner, Saturday lunch Tokyo Dining and Narcossees for dinner, Sunday The Jungle Navigation Company for lunch and California Grill for dinner. Can you tell it is all about the food?

Of course we will be have breakfast at Kona's Café and the Grand Floridian Café and will probably be grabbing dinner or lunch in Mexico as well as the opposite at either the Brown Derby or Coral Seas. Any other suggestions?

@BlueSkies - I can't pack - the suitcase exploded and I need a new one!

Tom

 

[followthatmouse]

Page 4 rescue!

Does anyone know if CMs are meeting you at the ME if you are staying in concierge anymore? I thought I read that was discontinued and you had to go to regular check in at the front desk. Just wondering!

While there was no greeter for our December stay, once we arrived at the front desk and gave our name a CM escorted us upstairs to our room and check in was completed. We arrived at a relatively quiet time of the evening, so I don't know if each RPC arrival occurs in the same manner now.

 

[bumbershoot]

Speaking of coffee on the balcony.....




OK that's an awful picture, but it was a lovely morning. While hubby and son snoozed away.

If you do on-line checkin, you will get a text when your room is ready along with your room number.

That isn't a given for online checkin. We didn't get a room ready text at all. Had to go to the desks at the villa to check in and get our room.


We were there 12/24-26 and they had cookies out in the villa lobby on the 24th and 25th. Was quite nice.

 

[DeniseJH]

Hi everyone!

My husband and I are going to WDW at the end of the month - not staying at the beautiful GF- but were wondering if Mizner's is back to operating as a lounge. Such a nice place for a cocktail before a series of buses whisks us back to our resort!

Thanks,
Denise

 

[CRSNDSNY]

The youngest of our crew discovered that at a young age -- I think she was 11 when she made herself a cup of tea, put on GF robe and went out onto the balcony and curled up on a chair. When we asked her what she was doing, she said "soaking up all the early magic." She'll be doing it shortly -- but now at 18, it won't be at 6am!

Tom

That sounds lovely! My daughter really enjoyed making herself a cup of (decaf) coffee in the SL lounge. She made friends with so many of the concierge castmembers - they were always so good to her and my son. I think Amelia (my daughter, 11yo going on 20 ) felt like a "big deal" because she had this freedom and the staff made her feel so welcome. She often relaxed after a shower in her cozy robe, too. Both of the kids enjoyed that luxury to the fullest extent.

 

[CRSNDSNY]

Speaking of coffee on the balcony.....
View attachment 214222
OK that's an awful picture, but it was a lovely morning. While hubby and son snoozed away.

That looks absolutely wonderful! What building are you in? I'm still new to GF so I'm trying to learn the lay of the land.
If I close my eyes I can imagine the sounds on that balcony!