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Tag Archives: Grand Floridian Resort
WDW Resorts – Which Deluxe Resort Is Right For Me?
Over the last two weeks I have discussed the benefits of staying at the Walt Disney World Value and Moderate Resorts. If you still aren’t sure where to stay, then read on for some information about WDW’s top of the line Deluxe Resorts!
Price: These are Disney’s top of the line Resorts, which means the price is (quite a bit) higher per room than at either the Value or Moderate Resorts. The room rates at these Resorts starts at around $260 per night, and going up to $800 or more per night (depending on the type of view and time of year), and then there are suites/villas of all sizes and types, in the $1000-$2000 plus per night range. NOTE: The pricing in this category is very subjective – each Resort’s priced a little bit differently, so you might want to check out WDW’s Official Resorts Website for more information on specific pricing for each type of room.
Top Five WDW Non Theme Park Activites For Adults
Anyone who has ever been to Walt Disney World can tell you that there is a whole world beyond the 4 theme parks, with so many things to do that you could spend a whole week doing them and not even set foot in the Parks! Of course, I wouldn’t recommend that, as the Theme Parks are amazing too, but what I would recommend is that you try some of these awesome non theme park activities for when you need a little break from all the Park action:
Supercalifragilistic Breakfast at 1900 Park Fare
If you’re looking for a character meal with maximum food and fun for minimum price let me suggest the Supercalifragilistic Breakfast at 1900 Park Fare in the Grand Floridian.
My daughter and I ate there in February 2012 for the first time and really enjoyed the food as well as the opportunity to meet Mary Poppins, Pooh, Tigger, Alice & the Mad Hatter. Yep, that’s FIVE characters!
Once you check in on the bottom floor of the Grand Floridian Resort at 1900 Park Fare and they take you to a backdrop where you can get your family 
photograph made while you wait.
The photo is not included in the price of your meal. They bring it around while you’re eating to buy if you want.
Your host then calls your name and takes you into the dining room to be seated. The wait-staff then come and take your drink order and you’re dismissed to the buffet which is AWESOME!
It’s honestly one of my favorite breakfast buffets at Walt Disney World.
And the stars of this delightful treat for the senses?
STRAWBERRY SOUP!! 
LOBSTER BENEDICT
and CINNAMON ROLLS 
This breakfast was not as crowded as many of the other character breakfasts I’ve been to, so we saw all of the characters twice AND they didn’t rush to get on to the next table. And it was so fun meeting the characters. Especially the Mad Hatter who you RARELY see in the parks.
We really had a great time and would recommend it to anybody wanting maximum time with characters and one really delicious breakfast!
Oh, one last weird thing. If you bring a stroller they take it when you go inside and put it on the OUTSIDE deck behind the Grand Floridian. So don’t be shocked when your stroller is gone. Just ask the person at the front desk to point you in the right direction or look for the signs.
Related articles
- Table Service in the Parks vs the Resorts – Which is Better? Part 1 (chipandco.com)
- Is Disney World Character Dining Worth it or is it Overpriced? (chipandco.com)
Show Your Romantic Side – With a Disney Flair!
Valentine’s Day is upon us – and it’s one of those holidays you either love or hate. But no matter how you may feel about V-Day, showing you love someone and being romantic is a great thing to do not just on February 14th, but on any and every day of the year! When you’re taking a Walt Disney World vacation, romance might not be the first thing on your itenerary – but it should be! Here are some ways you can incorporate romance into your WDW getaway and show your someone special just how special they are to you:
Wine and Dine Them: Thanks to the Advanced Dining Reservation, or ADR system that Disney has put into place, you can plan a surprise for your loved one by booking a romantic meal for 2. And the great thing about dining at Disney World is there are so many choices, so no matter what kind of cuisine they are into, you can make sure you pick the perfect place for your meal. Some top favorites for romantic dinners include: California Grill (which can also be a great place to view the nightly fireworks from the Magic Kingdom!), Victoria and Albert’s (an upscale, intimate dining experience), or Cinderella’s Royal Table (a character dining experience like none other that takes place in the perfect setting – Cinderella’s Castle)
Plan A Special Delivery: “If you can dream it, you can do it” – Walt himself said this, and the Walt Disney World Experience strives to embody this quote every day, and special occasions are no exception! The Disney Dream Makers can help you express your love with all kinds of gifts – from flower arrangements, to custom cake deliveries, to room decor, to gift baskets of all shapes an sizes – they do it all and more (check out this romantic “A Wish Come True” gift experience, which is just one of the many examples of gifting options)! If you know you want to celebrate but aren’t sure how to make it happen, check out the Dream Makers link or call them at 407-WDW-GIFT
Share your Love: Are you celebrating your engagement/wedding/honeymoon/anniversary, or even just your love for each other on your vacation? Show it with a pin – these are available at the guest services areas of each Park or at your Disney Resort – pins that announce you’re “Just Married” or “I’m Celebrating!” or “It’s My Birthday!”, and you can wear them while at the Parks. They definitely add to the magic, as Cast Members make a fuss over them, as do other guests – its a cute way that you can remind yourselves and the world about the love you share with each other!
Moonlit Stroll: There is nothing quite like a romantic walk after a delicious dinner in a setting as beautiful as Walt Disney World. I think every place is a great place for a romantic stroll in WDW, but some of the more beautiful ones include: The Polynesian Resort (the tiki torches light the pathways and make for a beautiful setting), The Boardwalk Resort (at night it comes to life and lights up in magical ways), and The Grand Floridian Resort (there is a reason this is the most popular place to have a wedding at WDW, its Victorian theming is charming and truly a sight to see!). In the evenings, people tend to flock to the parks to get a good spot for parades/fireworks viewings, so the Resorts are a great place for some quiet time to catch up and reconnect with your loved one
Carriage ride: There are few things more romantic than a horse drawn carriage ride, and Walt Disney World gives you two places where you can have this experience: ride through nature trails at Disney’s Fort Wilderness, or take a ride through old New Orleans at Disney’s Port Orleans Riverside Resort. Check out more info on the carriage rides here
Ultimate Relaxation: Surprise your honey with a couples massage or other spa treatments at one of Disney’s top rated Spas. This is vacationing at it’s finest – getting pampered, getting massaged and relaxing, all with your favorite person in the Happiest Place on Earth – Disney World!
Can’t afford a WDW getaway? Then get them the next best thing, something from the Disney Store that shows how much you love them – check out My Blog post for more info
Use these tips to make your magical Walt Disney World vacation even more special, and remember that while its definitely important to show your loved ones how much you care while you’re on vacation or on Valentine’s Day, its even more important to show them your love every day (so they don’t forget ha!)
Related articles
- What should I do? More Rides or More Relaxing at Walt Disney World (chipandco.com)
- Visiting Disneyland – What to expect from a Disney World point of view (chipandco.com)
Capturing Disney in Pictures: 8th Day of Christmas Riding the WDW Monorail
Hop a WDW monorail for magical transportation.
Every photo has a story.
“Por favor mantenganse alejado de las puertas. Ladies and Gentlemen, please collect your belongings and watch your head and step. Please assist small children by the hand.” If you’ve ever ridden on a Disney monorail, this simple exit speech is etched into your Disney memory forever.
Picture this…since the 1971 opening of Walt Disney World, the monorail system has carried more than one billion passengers. The WDW Resort Monorail System, the most heavily traveled passenger monorail system in the world, carries nearly 150,000 passengers every week day. Each year, the monorails transports more than 50 million people. If you are looking for a break from the theme park crowds this holiday season, hop a monorail and tour some of the breathtaking resorts along the monorail route.
Your first stop…the Contemporary Resort offers some shopping and a quick lunch at the Contempo Cafe. As you watch other monorails zip through the building, you’ll definitely want a Black Forrest Cupcake for dessert. A traditional Contemporary must-see is the floor-to-ceiling ceramic mural, created by artist and Disney legend Mary Blair, whimisically celebrating the beauty of the Grand Canyon and the southwest region. Need some quiet time to rest your achy feet? Take an escalator down one floor to the Convention Center area, where there are usually some fluffy couches available, and the bathrooms here are super clean, quiet, and roomy.
Next stop…the Polynesian Resort, where you’ll enter a South Pacific themed tropical paradise. Walk down to the lower level and gaze at the 70 species of plants found around the waterfall. Take a seat, so close you are within reaching distance of the flora, and feel your vacation tensions melt away to the sound of the peaceful falling waters. If you need a quick bite to eat, try Captain Cook’s or the Tambo Lounge. If you are here near nightfall, ask about the Polynesian Resort‘s torch-lighting ceremony, which includes a traditional fire-knife dance together with authentic drumming and chants.
Last stop… is the magnificent Grand Floridian Resort and Spa. Labeled as the flagship hotel of the Walt Disney World Resorts, just standing in the five-story lobby is a journey into opulence and splendor. There are six restaurants to choose from and shopping at Basin White or M. Mouse Mercantile. Pull up a chair and listen to the frequent musical entertainment, which ranges from a pianist seated at a grand piano to a Disney big band. Because this holiday decoration will be gone after New Years, make a trip over to the Victorian era-style Grand Floridian gingerbread house before you make your way back upstairs for the monorail ride to the Magic Kingdom.
A modernistic transportation system to journey you to the Future, the South Seas, and the Victorian Era…all in a Disney holiday’s time.
Thanks for stopping by for a photographical Disney ride!
Do you have any fabulous Disney vacation pictures you’d like to share? Drop by and share your photos on facebook at Mouze Kateerz. Take a virtual Disney vacation twice a day in photographs. Visit my blog at mouzekateerz.com, or shoot me an email of your favorite Disney location at mouzekateerz@chipandco.com.
