Tag Archives: Grand Floridian

Disney’s Grand Floridian – 5 Great Things

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Disney's Grand FloridianOne of the best things about vacationing at Walt Disney World is the unbelievable selection of accommodations!  Where else on Earth can you visit Saratoga, Key West, Polynesia, New Orleans, the Caribbean, a National Park or an African savannah – all in a single location!  There is literally a place for every person’s taste and style from campsites to ultra-modern luxury.  How great is that?!?

If early 20th Century Victorian is your thing, you’ve got to love the Grand Floridian!  Romantic, charming, and brimming with delightful Disney details and whimsical touches, the Grand Floridian offers guests the perfect retreat from the busy and crowded parks – a place to relax in undeniably elegant style.Lobby of the Grand Floridian

The Lobby – One of the most stunning to be found!  Soaring ceilings, intricate details, ornate birdcages, spectacular floral arrangements…and music!  The Grand Floridian Lobby Society Orchestra – Yes!  I said Orchestra!!!  The tunes they play are anything but ordinary – you’ll hear ragtime, jazz, Dixie melodies, and familiar Disney tunes.  This special detail is one of the very best reasons to visit the Grand Floridian.

Shops in Disney's Grand FloridianThe Shops – Stroll among the Grand Floridian’s shops and find both the familiar and unique.  The usual sundries and souvenirs are available (Sandy Cove Gift and Sundry Shop) and so much more!  There’s a Basin White store for bath and beauty, the Summer Lace shop for women’s apparel, Commander Porter’s for menswear, and M. Mouse Mercantile for children’s clothing, toys, and more.  Browsing or buying – I always enjoy the Grand Floridian’s shops!

The Restaurants – For a variety of dining experiences and flavors, the Grand Floridian cannot be beat!  Casual quick service, character meal, signature restaurants, and the very best in gourmet dining experiences can all be found at the Grand Flo!  Find the complete list here.  Most recently, our family enjoyed an evening with Cinderella, the Prince, Lady Tremaine, Anastasia, and Drizella at 1900 Park Fare.  Those details are here.1900 Park Fare Restaurant

The Pools – I like space and the pool areas at the Grand Floridian feel extra-spacious to me.  The main pool (Beach Pool) boasts a 181-foot long water slide and adjacent children’s play area and lounge for beverages and snacks.  The Courtyard Pool offers a quiet, serene swimming area with a nearby whirlpool spa.

The Location – Yes, I love that it’s on the monorail loop!  Easy access to the Magic Kingdom and the other monorail resorts for shopping, dining, and FUN!  One new, very cool additional perk of staying at the Grand Floridian is the walking path between this resort and the Polynesian!  How fun would it be to take a leisurely stroll over to the Poly for some Tonga Toast?!?  Or a Dole Whip (if you like those).

Floral Arrangement in the Grand FloridianSome people think the Grand Floridian is too formal or fancy or pink – I think it’s just right.  The perfect blend of relaxation (hello Senses Spa!), luxury, and amazing amenities – it’s also an absolute must-see during the holiday season!  The decorations will leave you speechless.

Have you visited the Grand Floridian?  What did you enjoy there? 

A Coach in the carpet at Disney's Grand Floridian Beautiful Carpet Details in the Grand Floridian

 

Magical Memory Monday – Disney’s Grand Floridian

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Ceiling of The Grand Floridian

Way back in December, 2007, we were booked on the Disney Cruise Line’s Western Caribbean itinerary to celebrate both the New Year and Megan’s upcoming high school graduation.  If you are cruising out of Port Canaveral, it’s pretty hard to be that close to The Happiest Place on Earth without sparing at least a couple of days for a visit.  So, we’d planned a short post-cruise jump to Disney World – very short, like two nights’ stay short.  In light of that, I thought it would be nice to stay at the Grand Floridian.  We do like the monorail hotels best of all – location, location, location!  And the Grand Floridian is so, well, grand, we thought it would make a nice finale to our vacation.

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The Orchestra at The Grand Floridian

The cruise was fantastic (especially Key West and Grand Cayman) but our sailing had experienced especially rough seas.  With seriously BIG waves.  Good thing none of us are prone to seasickness (or sympathetic vomiting ’cause that had been going on all over the place).  It’s true:  Disney goes all out when weather conditions are adverse; planning extra on-board activities and events, but they can’t do anything about the loss of sleep that’s inevitable when closet doors are crashing open with every giant sway of the ship.  Lots of noise.  All. Night. Long.

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What is the View from our Room Like?

Needless to say, when the cruise was over and we reached the Grand Floridian, we were all very tired and cranky (to put it mildly).  I let The Fam wrangle the suitcases while I made my way to the front desk.  I know I was standing there in an exhausted daze waiting for the man to bring up our reservation, but I was suddenly snapped out of my stupor the second I heard him say, “Oh!  You’ve been upgraded!  Let me call someone from concierge to take care of you.”  WHAT?  A little sprinkle of pixie dust later and a nice concierge lady whisked us away to the concierge lounge where we sat in comfy seating while she explained details about our room and the amenities we would be enjoying.  She said that our early arrival meant our room was not quite ready but…”You’ll love it because…..well, I’ll just let you be surprised”.  So she made a note of Raymond’s cell phone number, sent our luggage away to be stored, and encouraged us to go enjoy the parks as she’d be certain to give us a call when our room was all set.

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The View from our Room

Sure enough, when we got back to The Grand Floridian after a fun, full day of park-hopping, our room was perfect.  The food in the concierge lounge?  Perfect.  The service?  Perfect.  The Disney-Pixie-Dust-Sprinklers couldn’t have possibly known what it would mean to us to receive this most pleasant surprise after our high seas adventure, but we will never forget what a special, magical experience it was.  And the view from our room?  Just GRAND!