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First things first, I must say that Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa is just that … GRAND! As the flagship resort of Walt Disney World, this victorian-style retreat is pristine and luxurious in every possible way.
The stunning five story lobby is both sumptuous and inviting. Like some of my other favorite Disney resorts, this one is a treat for the senses.
In the early afternoon you will find the grand pianist playing classic Disney tunes and friends and families relaxing in the many sitting areas.
You might even get to have a little waltz with Cindy and Charming!
The evenings are splendid with the orchestra playing ragtime, jazz and Disney classics. I might have had to wipe away a tear as we watched couples take the floor in the lobby below.
There are a wide variety of room types at Grand Floridian. You will find everything from standard rooms with two queen beds to studios to 1-, 2-, and 3- bedroom grand villas. The resort also has two club level sections – one in the Main Building with the orchestra and pianist and the second in an outer building. All of the rooms are generous in size compared to any other resort on property, feature high end bathrooms and elegant linens and furnishings.
The standard room has two queen beds, a lovely bathroom, a small desk area and a balcony or patio.
In a separate building you will find the studios and 1-, 2- and 3- bedroom villas.
My family loves staying in a studio, no matter the resort. They kids are fine sleeping on pull-outs and then during the day it gives so much more space to move around without having a second queen bed in the room. The studio at Grand Floridian has a queen bed, sleeper sofa and a pull down bed. The other thing we love about this set up is that the boys each get their own bed. Makes going to sleep at night so much easier! These are the kind of things I help my clients with day in and day out!
Here you can see where the pull down stores when not in use…
… I adore the Dumbo sweet dreams when pulled down.
Studio accommodations also come with a kitchenette, including a microwave, toaster, coffee maker and mini fridge.
The kids are always wowed by the bathroom mirror tvs at Grand Floridian. Who am I kidding… I love it as well :-) The studio bathroom is a split style, which I also love. You have a toilet and tub/shower combo on one side and a very nice shower and sink on the other side with a pocket door between.
There is really no bad view category at Grand Floridian. You can get everything from garden to theme park! We love having something nice to look out on from our room – even if just to have a quick breakfast out here or glass of wine before dinner while getting ready.
We most recently stayed in a 1 bedroom villa and it was my favorite place I’ve ever stayed at Disney. It is HUGE!!! There is a very generously sized living room and kitchen space. It is so open, light and bright. And, we loved having a stunning view of the Seven Seas Lagoon and Tomorrowland side of Magic Kingdom.
Like in the studio, the living room has a sleeper sofa and pull down bed under the TV.
The banquette dining space was large and we were all able to spread out. One thing I loved about the villa was the attention to detail in all of the wall hangings.
The 1-, 2- and 3- bedroom villas all have a full kitchen, as well as washer and dryer.
The master bedroom was also extremely spacious, with a king bed, chair, workspace, walk in closet and TV.
Like the studio, the 1-bedroom also has a split style bathroom – but it is about three times the size! One section has a free standing tub and sink, while the other has a shower, toilet and sink.
We really enjoyed our view in this villa – watching the boats and monorails by day and fireworks by night.
The 2-bedroom villa would have the same set up as the 1-bedroom, but the second bedroom would open off of the den area and have room to sleep 4 more plus another bathroom. I have not been in the 3-bedroom grand villa… but a girl can dream :-)
One of the wonderful benefits of staying at a deluxe resort is the fantastic array of dining choices. Grand Floridian has it ALL. From pool side to quick service facing the castle to character dining to the five diamond Victoria and Albert’s, no other resort can rival Grand Floridian.
Gasparilla Island Grill
The quick serve restaurant is one of my favorites because after you order they bring your food to your table. They also have a Coke Freestyle machine, which I love. There is ample dining inside, but we almost always take our food out to the patio overlooking the marina and Cinderella Castle.
Mizners Lounge
This is one of our favorite lounges on property. It is located on an upper level of the lobby right behind the Grand Orchestra. The windows overlook the beautiful winding walkways of the resort. It’s “grand” in every way. Oh, and the name always makes me think of Lilly… anyone else?
Grand Floridian Cafe
Grand Floridian Cafe is a table service restaurant and, in my opinion, one of the most under-rated on property. I just don’t think people think to eat here. I fell in love with the salad on our last trip and we ended up coming back the next day to have it all again. On previous trips I had the pasta and steak and both were very good. They also have a wonderful breakfast in the morning.
Garden View Tea Room
The high tea at Grand Floridian is absolute perfection. It is hard to get a reservation for and is pricey, but is a marvelous dining experience that I’d highly recommend!!
1900 Park Fare
The Supercalifragilistic Breakfast is delicious (try the strawberry soup!) and has Mary Poppins, Hatter, Alice in Wonderland, Tigger and Pooh in attendance.
In the evenings, Cinderella’s Happily Ever After dinner is a hidden gem. The food is good and you meet Cinderella and Prince Charming along with the Step Mother and Step Sisters!
Citricos
Citricos is what Disney calls fine or signature dining and is also very good! I’ve been with my bestie just for cocktails and back with Honey for dinner twice. We love the short ribs and scallops!
Victoria and Albert’s
I surprised Honey with dinner at Victoria and Albert’s for his 40th birthday. This is one of the premier restaurants in the Southeast and the recipient of many, many awards. It is terribly expensive, but is the nicest meal we’ve ever had and we STILL talk about it three years later! So much so that John as asked if we will take him for his high school graduation. We said college… maybe… :-) If you are looking for the highest level of quality in a dining experience for a special celebration, THIS is the place!
There is one more fine dining establishment at Grand Floridian that I have not yet experienced – Narcoosee’s.
As far as recreation, there are two pools – the Courtyard Pool is large, has a zero entry, hot tubs, food service and a bar. You will also find ping pong on the deck.
The Beach Pool overlooks the Seven Seas Lagoon and has a water slide, cabana rentals, dining and drinks.
The Alice in Wonderland kids splash area is located next to the Beach Pool and is fully gated.
Grand Floridian is home to one of Disney’s two full service Senses Spa locations! I’ve been for both a pedicure and a massage on separate occasions and had a wonderful experience both times. If you go, leave plenty of time to relax in the whirlpool, enjoy the eucalyptus steam room and lounge on the heated zero-gravity chairs.
Adjacent to the spa you will find outdoor grills (for the villas) as well as a basketball court.
The Arcadia Games arcade does a free arcade hour daily from 1-2PM. My boys LOVE this!
And, there are SO many more things to do here as well, including:
- Boat rentals
- Fishing excursions
- Pirate Adventure Cruises for the kids
- Private fireworks cruises
- Movies under the stars
- Campfires
I’ll leave you with two of my favorite things about Grand Floridian. One being the monorail AND boat service to the Magic Kingdom, walking path to Polynesian, and reliable bus service to the other parks.
The other is being able to enjoy fireworks and the Electrical Water Pageant either from our room or by just walking a few steps out of our room! The view over the Seven Seas Lagoon is lovely and you can’t beat stepping out in your jammies to end your night with what feels like a private viewing of Happily Ever After.
It was a grand stay at the Grand and I really cannot wait for the opportunity to go back!!
Oh, and here a little “did you know” about the Grand… Princess Diana rented the entire fifth floor for Prince William and Prince Harry on their 1993 visit! Prince Harry was spotted there again in 2016 as he traveled to Disney for the Invictus games!
As an independent consultant with Glass Slipper Concierge, an Authorized Disney Vacation Planner, I offer concierge travel planning for Walt Disney World® Resort, Disney Cruise Line, Disneyland® Resort, Adventures by Disney®, Aulani and other delightful destinations.
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DIXIE DELIGHTS DELIVERED
What an incredible review, Amanda. I want to go and live in a villa for a month! Even if one isn’t a Disney regular (say what?!), this is a perfect spot to get away and relax and I’m always on the lookout for fine dining and spas when I travel.
The photo of you with The Mad Hatter May be the cutest EVER! Thank you for zooming in on the silhouettes (as I was just about to do!) I’m curious if you know who the girl is that is riding the bike.
Last but not least…thank you so much for the Princess Diana trivia. As someone who prides herself in all things royal, I had never heard about their 1993 stay (although I knew about Prince Harry being there). Hmmm…maybe somebody cast a spell on him and he should return to have it broken! ;-)
GREAT, FABULOUS WRITE-UP!
Princess Diana stayed in the Walt Disney Suite on the 4th floor. the concierge staff in the Royal Palm Court lounge happily shared all the details with my family. It’s was very exciting for the staff.
Where did you get those fabulous ears from??? I am going for my birthday in February?
I got them on etsy but the seller took the shop down a year ago :-(