All you need to know about the Grand Floridian:

Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa is a AAA Four Diamond Award–winning, Victorian themed luxury hotel and spa located at the Walt Disney World Resort in Florida. The property opened on June 28, 1988 as the Grand Floridian Beach Resort. The name changed to Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa during the fall of 1997. The resort contains 867 rooms among six buildings at an average of 400 square feet (37 m²) per room. A standard room can sleep up to five people. The resort is owned and operated by Walt Disney Parks and Resorts.

The Grand Floridian is categorized as a deluxe resort, one of four types of accommodations at the Florida site. The resort is distinguished Disney’s flagship and most luxurious resort. The resort has received designation in the Florida Green Lodging Program.

The hotel was inspired by the Victorian era beach resorts built along Florida’s east coast during the late 19th century and early 20th century; its exterior is modeled after the Mount Washington Resort in Bretton Woods, New Hampshire and Hotel del Coronado in Coronado, California, with red gabled roofs and white walls. Additional design inspiration was taken from the Belleview-Biltmore Hotel in Belleair, Florida. The resort’s outer lodge buildings — Sago Cay, Sugarloaf Key, Conch Key, Boca Chica and Big Pine Key—are named for islands in the Florida Keys. The hotel’s main building features a five story lobby, a cage elevator, stained glass domes, and Italian marble floors.

Initially, Walt Disney wanted a Polynesian resort (reflecting Adventureland), the Contemporary Resort to echo Tomorrowland, and other resorts that mirrored the ‘lands’ of the Magic Kingdom. Main Street and The Grand Floridian act as analogous reflections. The resort was designed by the Disney company and executed by the architectural firm Wimberly, Allison, Tong & Goo.

Along with Disney’s Polynesian Resort, the Grand Floridian sits on the shores of the man-made Seven Seas Lagoon near the Magic Kingdom. The hotel occupies land that had been earmarked for an Asian themed resort during the initial development of Walt Disney World Resort in the late 1960s. As of June 2007, smoking is permitted only in designated outdoor smoking locations. In 1992, a 40,000-square-foot (3,700 m2) convention center opened adjacent to the hotel, which contains a business center.

The hotel has completed some major renovations over the last couple years. In 2007, all the guestrooms were redecorated and flat panel televisions were added. The lobby has gone under a major transformation since its beginning. Italian marble was put in to replace dated tiles. There are even some mosaics of Disney characters near common places such as the main entrance, monorail station, and elevators with new carpet installed in May 2010. During evening hours, a band plays on the second floor balcony for about 3 hours alternating with a piano.

Dining

Victoria & Albert’s – A critically acclaimed restaurant at the hotel, with a menu created nightly and an award-winning wine cellar. The restaurant has received AAA’s Five Diamond Award each year since 2000 and currently is the one of three Floridian restaurants to receive the award (the others restaurants are at The Breakers Hotel and Four Seasons, both of which are in Palm Beach.) As of January 2008, children under 10 are no longer permitted.

Cítricos – American food with a Mediterranean inflection. Serves dinner five to seven nights a week, depending on season. It operates in a location that was formerly an Italian restaurant called Flagler’s that operated until 1997.

Narcoossee’s – A seafood restaurant with an open kitchen and views of Seven Seas Lagoon and the Magic Kingdom fireworks show, Wishes. Serves dinner nightly.

1900 Park Fare – Buffet dining with Disney characters including Mary Poppins and Cinderella. Inside this restaurant is “Big Bertha”, an organ built in Paris and used from 1909 to 1955 in a Grand Rapids, Michigan amusement park. The organ’s instruments include pipes, drums, bells, cymbals, castanets and a xylophone, and are played by a piano-roll score. It plays short concerts periodically during mealtimes. Serves breakfast and dinner daily.

Grand Floridian Café – Traditional American fare, with fresh fruit, seafood, and burgers. Serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner daily.

Gasparilla Grill and Games – A 24-hour snack bar with an adjacent arcade.

Recreation and spa

The resort offers two pools, a jacuzzi, and a white sand beach. The marina contains various watercraft rentals, including fishing excursions and a yacht. Other recreational activities include tennis programs, a mile-long jogging trail, health club, and preferred access to the Walt Disney World golf courses. The full service spa offers massages, therapies, and other treatments. The Walt Disney World Monorail System, water taxis, and buses provide access to other Walt Disney World areas and attractions.
The Grand floridian property as viewed from the Magic Kingdom.

DVC Addition

In March 2011, plans of a potential addition to the Grand Floridian Resort surfaced on the internet. Architectural renderings show a new wing on the southern tip of the property that may be used for Disney Vacation Club villas, as well as a new parking lot for Disney’s Wedding Pavilion and Grand Floridian Health Club. This addition was confirmed to DVC members through e-mail in December 2011, thus officially making The Grand Floridian Resort and Spa home to the second Vacation Club property on a monorail resort, following Bay Lake Tower at Disney’s Contemporary Resort which opened in 2009. The e-mail contained a link to a site on the DVC members only site that describes an addition with approximately 147 villas. Beginning on September 19th, the Grand Floridian’s Spa will be closed for 18 months due to this expansion. It is estimated to open in late 2013. You can see an update of the construction in this post.

Interesting photo tour and commentary of construction going on at WDW including the Grand Floridian Expansion (Disney Vacation Club) as well as shots of Big Thunder Mountain, Fantasyland, and some other going-ons around the Magic Kingdom.

I commented “Boo, bring back the skyway”. You see, I think this is an awful upgrade, to prepare for an interactive queue for Peter Pan!?! OK, I don’t mind interactive queues, the wait for Peter Pan can be quite extensive, but really, is this the best we can hope for? I would rather the skyway return! And how does this make way for an interactive queue for Peter Pan, its on the opposite side of the path!

Over 40 new pictures have been posted of the latest Fantasyland Construction! Click over to Da Mouse. These look to be very recent pictures and things are starting to take shape. More pictures than you need, but, well then again, maybe not!

Here you will see a video of a rendering of the new Seven Dwarfs Mine Train Coaster as part of the Disney World Fantasyland Expansion:

I added a new photos page, so if you register you can share photos now too. See all pictures here.

Random pictures (refresh the page to see new pictures or click the link above for all):

Or, click on these links to find related images:

Disney Music

I like to listen to music, when possible, at work.  I also like music when I’m paying bills, etc on the computer.  I also like Disney theme parks, and I think the music at the parks is a big part of the magic and reason why Disney is “special”.  When I came across a playlist on Youtube of all the music (including ride narratives!) at every park, I was hooked.  How cool to hear the Haunted Mansion ride – clear as a bell, or listen to Illuminations while typing away!  I got myself a cheap set of earplugs at the dollar store, and a little smile while at work listening to my favorite Disney theme park music.

Check it out at my CoolDisneyFan channel (subscribe to me while you are there).

Direct link to music playlists.

Free Dining is HERE!

Booking and Travel Window:

• Booking Window: May 3 – Aug. 14, 2010
• Travel Window: Valid for stays most nights Aug. 15 – Oct. 7, 2010, Oct. 22 – Oct. 28, 2010, Nov. 12 – Nov. 18, 2010, Nov. 27 – Dec. 2, 2010 and
  Dec. 10 – Dec. 21, 2010

Buy this Walt Disney World Resort vacation package with hotel and Theme Park tickets and get a Disney Dining Plan FREE!

Are you hungry for some fun? At this affordable price, you can enjoy meals included for every night of your visit! What a delicious way to enjoy their Walt Disney World® Resort vacation.

Offer Details:

When you purchase a 5-night, 6-day Walt Disney package that includes accommodations for five nights at a select Disney Moderate Resort and a 6-day Magic Your Way Base Ticket, they’ll get the Disney Dining Plan free**.

Those who purchase a 5-night, 6-day Magic Your Way Package with accommodations at a select Disney Value Resort get a free Disney Quick-Service Dining Plan.

Sample Pricing:

$1,843 for a family of four*, staying in a standard room at a select Disney Moderate Resort. That’s like paying $77 per person, per day!

$1,440 for a family of four*, staying in a standard room at a select Disney Value Resort. That’s like paying $60 per person, per day!

Ask about packages for other lengths of stay and accommodations at other select Walt Disney World Resort Hotels.

Booking Information:

When calling or email Pixie Vacations, please ask for package code WG7 for FREE Dine or NF3 for FREE Quick Dine.

* Price based on 2 Adults, 1 Junior and 1 Child. The number of packages available at these rates is limited. Savings based on the non-discounted price for the same package. Tickets are for 1 theme park per day and must be used within 14 days of first use. No group rates or other discounts apply. Offer is nontransferable. Advance reservations required.

** Excludes gratuities and alcoholic beverages. Children ages 3-9 must order from the children’s menu if available. Some table-service restaurants may have limited or no availability at time of package purchase.

Special Thanks To Pixie Vacations for this promotion update.
www.PixieVacations.com
email: Lisa@PixieVacations.com
phone: 678-815-1584

Expedition Everest – Legend of the Forbidden Mountain is an elaborately themed roller coaster at Disney’s Animal Kingdom theme park in the Walt Disney World Resort, Orlando, Florida.

I have a popular video of the ride at my web site http://cooldisneytrips.com and on Youtube, and have had numerous questions about the ride.  I thought I would write an article to answer all these questions and perhaps serve as a nice reference for interested parties.

Is the ride scary?

A difficult question to answer, as one’s level of scared is different from another’s.  That being said, I would say that anyone who has ridden on Space Mountain, Big Thunder Mountain, could handle Expedition Everest.  It is slightly scarier, and certainly faster, than either of those other roller coasters, due to the Yeti and significant theming of the ride.  But one must conquer their fears, and if you handled Space Mountain, for example, you can handle this.

Does it go upside down?

No, Expedition Everest does not go upside down.  It does go backwards at fast speeds and has a significant drop at one portion of the ride.

Where is the ride located?

It is in Orlando, Florida, at the Walt Disney World Resort, Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park, in the section or continent of “Asia”.

When was I there?

I visited in February 2007 and January 2010.  Both trips experienced some cool weather, actually January 2010 rarely reached above freezing!  It is true, look up the almanac if you must, pack a jacket or check the Weather Channel before visiting in January or February.

Do you get that feeling in your stomach?

Absolutely!

Does the ride go fast when going backwards?

The answer to this is pretty much yes.

Does the ride offer FastPass and did you use FastPass?

It does offer FastPass and we used it for both rides, which we waited approximately 90 seconds.  The wait line was often over 60 minutes, but I also understand the queue (waiting area) is quite nice.

How high does it go?

At the top of the ride you are 112 feet up.  This is roughly equivalent to an 11 story building, but I will say that it feels like you are even higher than that.

Does the ride smell?

I recall no strange or bad smells on this ride at all.

Do you head backwards the same way you went up?

No, if you check the video, at one point you can see the track switch using night vision on my camera. Very cool.

I hope these questions and answers will assist you in making plans to ride or not ride Expedition Everest on your next trip to Walt Disney World.

You may reproduce this article or portions of this article as long as the following reference is included in its entirety:

Submitted by Jim Ranieri, a Disney enthusiast, who manages http://cooldisneytrips.com which includes a video of the ride Expedition Everest.

EPCOT's spaceship earth

Hurray! As someone never able to get into Le Cellier (Canada’s restaurant at EPCOT), I am thrilled to hear that EPCOT is testing out an extra hour for dining March 28 to April 10. I hope it works out and they continue this for all visitors. Coral Reef and Garden Grill are the other two restaurants expanding their hour.