Disney's Grand Floridian Resort & Spa
The Grand Floridian is a fine display of the splendor of the old grand Victorian hotels. From its spacious verandas, wicker rockers and ceiling fans, to the red shingled, gabled roofs and intricate latticework, this stately resort offers elegance and charm to all who come here.
Victorian architecture is in abundance with the towers, dormers, cupolas, exposed gable trusses and band-sawed gingerbread. This impressive style extends to the monorail stop, which is designed to resemble a Victorian train station. The breathtaking lobby ascends 5 stories in height and is capped with lavish stained glass domes. Glistening chandeliers, an aviary, potted palm trees and a grand piano providing live music, add to the lavish ambiance here. An open-cage elevator operates to transport guests to the second floor shops and restaurants. Romance abounds at the Grand Floridian and on a private island off the resort, you?ll find the Fairy Tale Wedding Pavilion. With a picturesque view of the Cinderella Castle, what more charming location could a couple want to exchange marital vows.
The Grand Floridian Convention Center features 40,000 square feet of flexible function space with a state-of-the-art sound and lighting system. With 16 breakout rooms, a business center, satellite up/down link capabilities, vast exhibit capabilities and comprehensive meeting support, the Grand Floridian Convention Center is a very attractive location for business conferences or meetings. Custom-made merchandise can be ordered for conferences or meetings held in WDW resorts.
Also, nightly, weather permitting, the Seven Seas Lagoon is the backdrop for the Electrical Water Pageant. Dancing lights on a 1000-foot string of floating barges shimmer over the lagoon and Bay Lake. This 7-minute show can be viewed from Narcoossee's or the boat dock of the Grand Floridian between 9:00 and 9:20 p.m.
Accommodation
Standard and Deluxe Rooms
Standard Room - sleeps up to 5. It has 2 queen beds or 2 queen beds and 1 day bed or 1 king bed and 1 day bed or 1 king bed and 1 double-size sleeper sofa. They are available with either a Garden View, Lagoon View or Theme Park View.
Deluxe Room - sleeps up to 4. It has 2 queen beds. Garden view only.
Facilities include :- Free Wi-Fi, Air-conditioning, Hairdryer, Iron & Board, Radio Clock Alarm, Telephone, In-room Safe, Coffee Maker and Crib Pack'n Play.
Rooms and Suites with Club-Level Service
Outer Building Standard Room - sleeps up to 5. It has 2 queen beds or 2 queen beds and 1 day bed or 1 king bed and 1 day bed or 1 king bed and 1 double-size sleeper sofa.
Main Building Standard Room - sleeps up to 5. It has 2 queen beds of 2 queen beds and 1 day bed or 1 king bed.
Main Building Deluxe King Room - sleeps up to 3. It has 1 king bed or 1 king bed and 1 day bed.
Main Building - Theme Park View - sleeps up to 5. It has 2 queen beds and 1 day bed.
Outer Building - 1 Bedroom Suite - sleeps up to 6. It has 2 queen beds and 1 double-size sleeper sofa.
Outer Building - 2 Bedroom Suite - sleeps up to 8. It has 2 queen beds, 1 king bed and 1 double-size sleeper sofa.
Club Level Facilities include :- Free Wi-Fi, DVD Player, Hairdryer, Iron & Board, Radio Clock Alarm, Telephone, In-room Safe, Coffee maker and Crib'n Play Pack. Evening Turndown Service, Secured Key Access to club-level lounge serving refreshments from 7am to 10pm daily. Complimentary Health Club Access, Newspapers, Fax Assistance and Pre-Arrival WDW Resort Itinerary Planning.
Dining
Guests will be spoilt for choice with the Dining options that are available here. For those who like Fine Dining there are 3 fabulous Restaurants there's Victoria & Albert's, Narcoossee's and Citricos to choose from. Casual Dining takes place at the Grand Floridian Cafe and Character Dining at 1900 Park Fare. The Courtyard Pool Bar, Beach Pool Bar and Gasparilla Island Grill provide Quick Service options.
Recreation
With two pools to choose from you can relax in total serenity or have a blast whilst taking on the 181ft long waterside! At the Beach Pool you can hire a Cabana for half a day, full day or evening, they allow you privacy and everything you could want whilst basking in the sun. They are equipped with padded lounge chairs, TV, telephone, DVD/CD player, stocked mini fridge, ceiling fan, plush towels and a fruit basket.
Why not rent a Sailboat or Motorised Boat and sail across the Seven Seas Lagoon, there's also the option to go Fishing as well. A Games Arcade will be sure to keep the kids entertained, or as a family you could enjoy watching a complimentary movie under the stars near the Beach Pool. For those who like jogging, then you can enjoy taking in the views of the Magic Kingdom and the Disney Wedding Pavilion as you jog around the lagoon.
Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique
Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique is now open at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa.
The location offers guests age 3-12 magical transformations from their own Fairy Godmothers-in-Training at Walt Disney World Resort.
Joining the existing Biddidi Bobbidi Boutique locations at Magic Kingdom Park and Disney Springs, the latest enchanted boutique at Disney's Grand Floridian Resort & Spa is a great option for guests looking to dress up before visiting Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween Party or enjoying a delightful buffet at 1900 Park Fare. Plus, a Disney PhotoPass Studio has also recently opened at the resort, providing guests the opportunity to capture picture-perfect royal portraits in front of a traditional backdrop.
In addition to the recently-opened boutique, all Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique locations have introduced special new merchandise including a spirit jersey, Minnie Mouse Ear headband, MagicBand and accessories, available to add to any transformation package.
Young princesses can also choose from four new hairstyles inspired by modern royalty with customizable options including braids, bows and flower halos. Take a look at the video below for examples of the new styles:
- Enchanted – Hair is styled in a bun or messy bun hairpiece and includes choice of princess bow or shining tiara.
- Fantasy – Hair is swept back into a bun, covered with a curly hairpiece and topped with a coordinating flower halo.
- Royal Braid – Hair is styled in a bun and accessorized with an attached Royal Braid. A princess bow completes this look fit for royalty!
- Pixie Magic – Add a colorful touch to this hairstyle with an elegant ponytail and matching flower halo.
Pirate Cruise
Any child who has ever dreamed of being part of a pirate adventure will enjoy this recent venture by the Grand Floridian Recreation team. Children ages 4-12 will be outfitted with a pirate bandana and board their pirate ship (pontoon boat) at the Grand Floridian that is equipped with telescopes and a map to aid them in their quest to find the hidden treasure.
They will sail to exotic ports-of-call masquerading as other resort marinas, and find and follow clues that take them throughout the Seven Seas Lagoon. Lunch is served to give these little adventurers the sustenance they need to complete their mission. At the last port-of-call, the adventurers split up to hunt for the treasure. When the children return to the boat, they discover that the treasure has been found! A treasure chest full of goodies like jeweled rings, pirate "gold", Mardi Gras beads, noisemakers and rubber snakes awaits them.
There are 4 Swashbuckling Adventures to choose from. There's the Disney's Pirate Adventure, Islands of the Caribbean Pirate Cruise, Albatross Treasure Cruise and the Bayou Pirate Adventure.
The adventures operate every day from 9:30 to 11.30 weather permitting. Young pirates must show up at the marina by 9:15 a.m!
Transportation
A new private water taxi service has been introduced from the recreation marina costing $20 each way per boat which can carry up to 10 guests at a time. The service is available from 8am until 6pm, enabling a more direct route to destinations around the Seven Seas Lagoon. Complimentary monorail, watercraft and bus transportation is still available to guests.
SERVICES/AMENITIES:
Concierge
Complimentary Parking
Valet Parking
Bus Transportation
Free Wi-fi
Babysitting/Childcare Services
Laundry and Dry Cleaning Service
24hr Self-Service Laundry Rooms
Online Check-in
Daily Maid Service
Complimentary Local Newspaper
ATM machine near the Front Desk
Banking
Locker Rentals
Mail Service
Spa & Fitness Suite
Shops
Beauty/Barber Shop
Shoeshine Facilities (available from Housekeeping)
Merchandise Delivery and Pickup
Take a Virtual Tour of Disney's Grand Floridian Resort & Spa
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A huge swave of guests look but don?t really stop when it comes to this elegant symbol of Disney marvel. Maybe it is the unspoken whispers of $950 a night rooms or the mighty magnitude of delight and mystery that surrounds it. Whatever your misgiving, The Grand Flo is a marvellous place to visit at least once and I can assure you the cast-members do not bite (except maybe Gus the Greater). So I hear what you are saying: So the average guest would look over this gem? The place must be empty at them prices in a global recession? Well no actually. The exclusive suites on their luxury members? only floor, high above the comings and goings of the lobby, are actually almost solidly booked every year. Surely not I hear you grumble. Well the truth is the Grand Flo is a living contradiction in terms. It has 5 star service without the pomposity and that is the secret to this hotel?s successful and subsequent bookings list. It might be out of reach but with a bit of fairy dust it isn?t that far out of reach.
Lets lay some thoughts to bed, firstly the pools. It has never been said that the pools here are worth writing home about; which is not true. The little known ?second pool? is my favourite pool in the whole of Florida. It is a pool of two halves; one half is especially for families and younger kids whereby it is fairly shallow and stepped. The second half deeps down to over 6ft, which if like me you?re 6ft1 and like to do a few lengths, then this is the pool for you. The other reason why this is the best pool on site is the fact that is never closes. I have so many fond memories just chilaxing back floating to the top and watching the fireworks from Wishes dodging the bright, night stars. Another rare treat is as the sun sets to the west, just laying back on your lylo looking over at the smart dressed couples at Victoria and Albert?s and wonder what their stories are. Of course come 11pm the ladies with the roses in hand demonstrate to everyone where they had the pleasure of dinning that night.
The rooms are small or so they say, not practical for a family of four I have heard. Nonsense. The rooms are only snug on the higher floors as they have the slopping ceilings but this adds to the charm of the resort. The buildings are designed to emulate the turn of the last-last century opulent Victorian mansions hotels that sprung up at various seaside tourist areas. Those buildings back in the day were designed with comfortable and convenience as the top of the their agenda and the Grand Flo mirrors this. You won?t bang your head on those ceilings and the rooms are light and bright; if you have a balcony this achieves the effect of making the room very airy and cosy. In fact it does have some of the largest rooms on Disney property!
Even the layout of the buildings surrounding the pool gives a gathered and welcomed feel to the visitor. We feel protected by the Grand Flo, pampered, it feeds us well and put us to bed each night, although Mousekeeping will not read you a bedtime story! Don?t ask how I know!
The restaurants are too expensive? Expensive yes, ideal for special occasions or that final family dinner, but not ?too? expensive that they are rendered totally unaffordable. You do pay for quality and Disney does deliver on quality. Take the shrinking violet of their line-up of restaurants: the Grand Floridian Café. On ordering breakfast you will be asked whether you want your eggs cooked in a whole plethora of different styles, which albeit is the American way, it is also totally perplexing to be asked whether I want my eggs cooked in 12 different styles when I have just stumbled from my bed. At that early in the morning I can hardly remember my name, let alone remember what the difference between sunny side up or down or what over-easy even is! And it doesn?t stop there, tea is another important decision. Most Brits will wrongly assume that the only tea you can drink at breakfast is the boring yet reliable English Breakfast Tea or Black Tea but no, on asking for ?tea? your waiter will respond with a list and for those who have still got theme park withdrawal symptoms and are still a little ?tired? the waiter will produce a tea chest for you to pick which of the 32 types of tea on offer is your preferred choice. When I was asked at 7.35am I replied by asking whether it was possible to ?go 50/50 or phone a friend.? So even here at the Grand Flo?s not-so-expensive restaurant the quality radiates through with every single cent.
The final thought to put to ?bed? is hotel hopping (excuse the pun). What?s that I hear you say: hotel hopping? Basically in a nutshell it is when guests book more than one Disney Resort, i.e. 5 nights at the Poly and then a couple of days at the Contemporary. So common is this new phenomenon that Disney now hunk your luggage around from resort to resort free-of-charge. So maybe that week at Sarrantoga Springs could be made extra special with an extra night at the Grand Flo? Which makes the Grand Floridian just that bit more reachable and besides, imagine the trip report you could write!
So as you can see whether you want a nice relaxing spa treatment, want to surf the Internet or just have some fine dining (albeit there is nothing just about it!) or just a comfortable bed, then this is the place for you (funds permitting!).