k&a&c'smom
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- May 29, 2002
Welcome to the 2012 GF FAQ thread!
Please read the first page of the thread for details and tips for the resort, gathered by DIS posters over the years. As times, schedules, and activities change, we will try to update as quickly as possible so that you have accurate information.
**Beach Pool currently closed for refurb, May 30 through June 1, 2013. The slide will be closed May 27 through June 1. Pool and slide to be reopened on June 2, 2013.**
The Courtyard pool has been recently re-opened after an extensive renovation, including adding zero entry. Link to new photos.
**Mouseketeer Club has been renovated as the new arcade room in Gasparilla's.
The following list of GF locations have been recently closed for refurbishments:
These locations are being refreshed for your future enjoyment. In the meantime, you will have access to alternate options during your stay, so you can anticipate a truly grand vacation experience.
* Please note, refurbishment dates are subject to change.
thanks, johnsonet!
Disneys Grand Floridian Resort & Spa was opened in the summer of 1988 as the Grand Floridian Beach Resort; the name was changed in fall 1997 after the spa and health club were added. Walt Disney World's fifth resort hotel and considered their flagship resort for its opulent public spaces and outstanding service, the Grand Floridian is a AAA Four Diamond hotel. With six full service restaurants (including award-winning Victoria & Albert's) and one quick service location, it has the most dining options of any WDW resort, and standard rooms are among the largest on property.
Inspiration for the resort came from the grand old hotels built along the Florida coast during the early 20th century by railroad magnates Henry Flagler & Henry Plant. The outer buildings are named for islands in the Florida Keys, and the quick service restaurant and arcade is whimsically called Gasparilla's, a nod to the famed Florida buccaneer, Jose Gaspar, in whose honor the city of Tampa holds an annual festival.
The Grand is a deluxe resort with 867 rooms, and is situated on 40 acres along the white sand beaches of Seven Seas Lagoon, southwest of the MK. The beautiful white buildings feature red gabled roofs, wide verandas, intricate gingerbread trim and a five-story Grand Lobby, with an Art Nouveau stained glass ceiling, Italian marble floors and enormous white chandeliers.
Themed as turn-of-the-century Victorian Florida, the Grand was reportedly designed using influences from the Mount Washington Resort in Bretton Woods, NH; Hotel del Coronado in San Diego, CA; and the Belleview-Biltmore Hotel in Belleair, FL. The atmosphere is elegant and refined, but not overbearing - it's Disney, after all! Children are welcome here, and there are plenty of activities for all ages.
Disney's Grand Floridian Resort & Spa has been designated by the Florida Green Lodging Program, recognizing the Resort's environmentally responsible practices.
The Grand Floridian Resort & Spa is a smoke-free resort; smoking is permitted only in designated outdoor locations.
Copyright Disney
Grand Floridian Resort & Spa
4401 Floridian Way
Lake Buena Vista, Florida 32830
(407)824-3000
Check in/Check Out
3:00 PM (ET)/11 AM (ET)
Payment Methods
Cash, Check, Debit card, Disney gift card, Visa, MasterCard, Discover, American Express, JCB
AMENITIES & SERVICES
Room Service
Disneys GF Spa & Health Club
thanks, johnsonet!
Babysitting & Childcare Services
IVY TRELLIS SALON
Lobby Concierge Assistance
Parking
Laundry
Internet Access
Business Center
Services for Guests with Disabilities
Room Amenities
Important Numbers:
407-824-3000 - GF
407-939-7727 - GF Spa
407-939-3862 - Victoria and Albert's Reservations
407-824-2474 - GF Private Dining
407-934-4004 - Disney's PhotoPass
407-824-1775 - GF Itinerary Planning Office (Club Level Guests ONLY)
BUILDINGS
Sago Cay
Garden/Monorail/Marina View, Lagoon, Theme Park View
Sugar Loaf
Club Level Rooms & suites
Conch Key
Pool/Garden/Marina View, Lagoon, Theme Park Views
Boca Chica
Pool/Garden View, Lagoon, Theme Park Views
Big Pine Key
Pool/Garden, Lagoon, Theme Park Views
Main Building
Club Level rooms & suites
Transportation
Informational Links
For a look back at the 2011 FAQ, click here.
The 2010 FAQ and the 2009 FAQ
Here is a link to an aerial map of the GF.
Great tool for determining travel times and directions from any point in WDW to another.
Please read the first page of the thread for details and tips for the resort, gathered by DIS posters over the years. As times, schedules, and activities change, we will try to update as quickly as possible so that you have accurate information.
**Beach Pool currently closed for refurb, May 30 through June 1, 2013. The slide will be closed May 27 through June 1. Pool and slide to be reopened on June 2, 2013.**
The Courtyard pool has been recently re-opened after an extensive renovation, including adding zero entry. Link to new photos.
**Mouseketeer Club has been renovated as the new arcade room in Gasparilla's.
The following list of GF locations have been recently closed for refurbishments:
- Mizner's Lounge, used as a quick service option during the Gasparillas refurb, has resumed operations as a lounge as of December 21st
- Sandy Cove Merchandise: Closed through November 17, 2012**NOW Open!!
- Ivy Trellis Salon: October 20 to December 3, 2012**NOW Open!!
- Gasparilla Grill & Games: Closed through mid December, 2012**Now Open!!
- Courtyard Pool: Closed through late December 2012NOW OPEN as of March 30, 2013!!
- Grand Floridian Spa and Health Club: NOW Open!! All WDW spas will be under Disney management starting January 16, 2013 as "Senses - A Disney Spa".
- Alice in Wonderland Splash Zone **OPENED as of Sept. 19, 2012**
- Beach Pool Bar & Grill: **RE-OPENED as of Sept. 17, closed again May 30, 2013 for renovation. Scheduled to reopen June 2, 2013.**
These locations are being refreshed for your future enjoyment. In the meantime, you will have access to alternate options during your stay, so you can anticipate a truly grand vacation experience.
* Please note, refurbishment dates are subject to change.
Disneys Grand Floridian Resort & Spa was opened in the summer of 1988 as the Grand Floridian Beach Resort; the name was changed in fall 1997 after the spa and health club were added. Walt Disney World's fifth resort hotel and considered their flagship resort for its opulent public spaces and outstanding service, the Grand Floridian is a AAA Four Diamond hotel. With six full service restaurants (including award-winning Victoria & Albert's) and one quick service location, it has the most dining options of any WDW resort, and standard rooms are among the largest on property.
Inspiration for the resort came from the grand old hotels built along the Florida coast during the early 20th century by railroad magnates Henry Flagler & Henry Plant. The outer buildings are named for islands in the Florida Keys, and the quick service restaurant and arcade is whimsically called Gasparilla's, a nod to the famed Florida buccaneer, Jose Gaspar, in whose honor the city of Tampa holds an annual festival.
The Grand is a deluxe resort with 867 rooms, and is situated on 40 acres along the white sand beaches of Seven Seas Lagoon, southwest of the MK. The beautiful white buildings feature red gabled roofs, wide verandas, intricate gingerbread trim and a five-story Grand Lobby, with an Art Nouveau stained glass ceiling, Italian marble floors and enormous white chandeliers.
Themed as turn-of-the-century Victorian Florida, the Grand was reportedly designed using influences from the Mount Washington Resort in Bretton Woods, NH; Hotel del Coronado in San Diego, CA; and the Belleview-Biltmore Hotel in Belleair, FL. The atmosphere is elegant and refined, but not overbearing - it's Disney, after all! Children are welcome here, and there are plenty of activities for all ages.
Disney's Grand Floridian Resort & Spa has been designated by the Florida Green Lodging Program, recognizing the Resort's environmentally responsible practices.
The Grand Floridian Resort & Spa is a smoke-free resort; smoking is permitted only in designated outdoor locations.
Grand Floridian Resort & Spa
4401 Floridian Way
Lake Buena Vista, Florida 32830
(407)824-3000
Check in/Check Out
3:00 PM (ET)/11 AM (ET)
Payment Methods
Cash, Check, Debit card, Disney gift card, Visa, MasterCard, Discover, American Express, JCB
AMENITIES & SERVICES
Room Service
- 24-hour room service
- To order, touch Dining Options on your guest room phone.
Disneys GF Spa & Health Club
- **Starting January 16, 2013, all WDW spas will be operated by Disney as Senses - A Disney Spa; more info here.
- Disney's Grand Floridian Spa is staffed by trained professionals offering body treatments, therapies and massages developed to rejuvenate, invigorate and nourish.
- Reservation and treatment hours are 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Please call (407) WDW-SPAS or (407) 939=7727 to learn more and make an appointment.
- Most Major credit cards accepted.
- The Health Club is a full service gym available at no extra charge to guests of the GF & Polynesian Resort. A wide range of equipment is available, including treadmills, stair steppers, upright and recumbent cycles, elliptical cross trainers, Smith machine, cable crossover and free weights. The Health Club also features a full circuit of Life Fitness and Precor strength equipment.
- Guests must be 14 years of age to use the gym, guests 14-17 must be accompanied by an adult.
- If you would like to use the Health Club during non-attended hours, you must use your room key.
- Personal training available by appt.
Babysitting & Childcare Services
- Mouseketeer Club is a supervised activity club that accommodates children ages 4-12.Closing August 1, 2012.
- In-room babysitting provided for a fee by Kids Nite Out, for children ages 6 mos. to 12 years.
- To make a reservation for Kids Nite Out, contact the Front Desk or concierge.
IVY TRELLIS SALON
- Located on the second floor of the main building.
- Open 9 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.
- Offering a full range of salon and barber services, including hair cut, color and styling.
- Call (407)824-3000 or the Front Desk from your in-room phone for an appt.
Lobby Concierge Assistance
- Available to GF Resort guests, located in the main lobby
- Open 7 a.m. - 10 p.m.
- Services include park tickets, dining reservations, show seats, etc.
Parking
- Self-parking is available in the self-park lot
- Valet parking available for a fee (currently $15/day)
Laundry
- 24-hour self-service laundry rooms are located in each building (except Sugar Loaf) with a couple washers/dryers each.
- Soap/softener/dryer sheet: $1; Washer: $2; Dryer: $2
- Dry cleaning & valet laundry service available for a fee, call Housekeeping from your in-room phone for details & pick-up.
Internet Access
- As of 2012, free wifi has been installed in all GF rooms and high speed wired has been discontinued.
Business Center
- Located within the Convention Center, open 7:00 a.m. 5:00 p.m. daily.
- Provides fax, photo copy, mail and computer services for Resort guests.
- Convention Center
- Offering 40,000 sq. feet of flexible meeting and function space.
- Planning a meeting? Please call Disney Meetings at (321)939-7129. For meetings of less than 100 attendees, you can also use the Meetings on Demand Planner.
Services for Guests with Disabilities
- Mobility and medical equipment use
- Accommodation of special requests, including allowances for service animals
- Telephones/TTY for the hearing impaired
- Wheelchair-accessible rooms and bathrooms
- Valet parking
Room Amenities
- Satellite TV (includes Disney programming)
- Free WiFi (and, possibly, High-speed Internet access for an additional fee; may have been discontinued)
- Coffeemaker
- Refrigerator
- Iron and ironing board
- Hair dryer
- In-room wall safe
- Newspaper delivery
- Voice mail
- Turn-down service
- Pack 'n Play Playard available (full crib available upon request)
- Laundry facilities/services
- Robes
- Make-up mirror
- Phone in bath area
- Microwave available upon request
- H2O toiletries
Important Numbers:
407-824-3000 - GF
407-939-7727 - GF Spa
407-939-3862 - Victoria and Albert's Reservations
407-824-2474 - GF Private Dining
407-934-4004 - Disney's PhotoPass
407-824-1775 - GF Itinerary Planning Office (Club Level Guests ONLY)
BUILDINGS
Sago Cay
Garden/Monorail/Marina View, Lagoon, Theme Park View
Sugar Loaf
Club Level Rooms & suites
Conch Key
Pool/Garden/Marina View, Lagoon, Theme Park Views
Boca Chica
Pool/Garden View, Lagoon, Theme Park Views
Big Pine Key
Pool/Garden, Lagoon, Theme Park Views
Main Building
Club Level rooms & suites
Transportation
- Resort monorail, located on the second floor of the main building, provides direct transportation to the Magic Kingdom, Contemporary, TTC & Polynesian.
- Monorail to Epcot: take the resort monorail to the TTC, transfer to Epcot monorail.
- Boat service to the MK & Poly, dock located on Seven Seas Lagoon.
- Bus service, located just outside the main building, to AK, DHS, DTD, Typhoon Lagoon & Blizzard Beach.
Informational Links
For a look back at the 2011 FAQ, click here.
The 2010 FAQ and the 2009 FAQ
Here is a link to an aerial map of the GF.
Great tool for determining travel times and directions from any point in WDW to another.