The Grand Floridian Resort & Spa has been enchanting visitors to Walt Disney World Resort since 1988. I vividly remember riding the monorail to Magic Kingdom from the Ticket and Transportation Center and being mesmerized by this beautiful hotel. It looked straight from a movie! One of the classic, romantic, happy ending kind. Even though it was new, it harkened back to an era long gone. It was the most beautiful thing I had ever seen! Charming and elegant and nostalgic and classic….My little heart wanted to stay there more than anything. Well, when you live 2 hours from Walt Disney World, your dad doesn’t see the value in staying onsite. So, I waited. And waited. And waited some more. Fast forward 30 years, and a move out of state, and my dreams finally came true! My husband found the perfect anniversary present! A week in a 2 bedroom villa at The Grand Floridian Villas!
As a large family, we have to look into non-standard resort options when the whole crew goes to WDW together. Was it worth waiting for? OH YES! Let me give you just a few reasons why I am now even more obsessed with this glorious resort than ever before!
CONVENIENCE
Forget everything else! The number one most magical thing about The Grand Floridian Resort is its prime location! Adjacent to Magic Kingdom, on the shores of Bay Lake, this resort offers direct monorail service to Magic Kingdom. You can also take advantage of monorail service to Epcot via transfer at the Ticket & Transportation Center. You will go through security prior to boarding the monorail so when you arrive at the Magic Kingdom you go straight to scan your Magic Band! Do you know how much time this saves? There is generally no line at the resort security check so you breeze right on through! Much nicer than the long security lines we are all used to. There is also the option of boat service if you prefer a more relaxing method of travel. There is one bus stop offering service to all the other parks and Disney Springs so no worries of long commutes or multiple stops. No matter which mode of transportation you use, you can sit back and relax while Disney whisks you to your destination in no time!
ACTIVITIES
Pools, movies, water sport rentals, lawn games, Senses Spa, gym, fireworks viewing, there is just so much to do here! During our week stay, we spent a few nights just hanging out and enjoying the resort. Mid-day breaks were delightful and filled with fun waterslides at the pool. Swimming and sunning not your thing? Rain rolling in? They’ve got a solution for that! Head on over to the main building and enjoy entertainment from the live piano player and the live band. If you time your visit just right you can even catch Cinderella & Prince Charming heading to dinner at 1900 Park Fare. They will stop and greet guests in the main atrium and dance a few waltzes before moving along. I may be 40-something years old but dancing with Cinderella and Prince Charming was absolutely magical. The only thing that was better was watching Magic Kingdom fireworks from our balcony. In our pajamas. With our snacks and some wine. And people say that a Disney vacation isn’t relaxing!
LAYOUT & AMENITIES
There are 4 types of villas at Grand Floridian: studio (sleeps 5), one bedroom (sleeps 5), two bedroom (sleeps 9), and grand villa (sleeps 12). We chose a two bedroom for our family of 7 and had plenty of room! The two bedroom villa comes with a full kitchen, 2 bathrooms, plenty of closet space, a washer/dryer, and a huge balcony. There is even a jetted tub in the master bathroom! The villas mean our large family can enjoy time together having dinner at the dining table, watching sports in the living room, or sitting on our balcony watching fireworks but also have our privacy and space. Our villa came with a balcony with a view, top of the line toiletries, and even robes in our closets! The kitchen comes stocked with all the necessities (except your groceries). There’s even a TV in the bathroom mirror! This means you won’t have to miss one moment of Stacy’s Must Do Disney show! Our building also had a wonderful view of the monorail, the pool, and the beach! That’s hard to beat!
SHOPS & DINING
The Grand Floridian Resort is packed with dining options from quick to casual to signature. Citricos, Narcoossee’s, 1900 Park Fare, Grand Floridian Café, Garden View Lounge, Mizner’s Lounge, Gasparilla Island Grill, Beaches Pool Bar and Grill and the Courtyard Pool Bar. If you are looking for something truly magical, The Grand Floridian Resort is the home of Victoria & Albert’s Restaurant, winner of many prestigious awards including the AAA Five Diamond Award.
THEMING
While some people worry that the Grand Floridian might feel stuffy and too proper, it isn’t that way at all! The theming of this deluxe resort is classic elegance from an era of Florida’s history when everything was booming and growing. This leads to it being a charming atmosphere full of laid back Floridian vibes mixed in with a little luxury. Keep your eye out for some hidden Disney touches too!
I’ve already put the hubby on notice—I will not be waiting another 30 years before I get to stay here again. If my darling husband doesn’t agree I think I’ll grab some friends and make an absolutely fabulous girls’ trip out of it! Who’s with me?
Are you ready to create magical memories of your own? Contact me via email or submit the form below for you free vacation quote! As a College of Disney Knowledge graduate and Senior Travel Planner with Key to the World Travel, the official travel partner of Disney Addicts and Chip & Co., I am your family’s best resource for a stress free, magical vacation! As a full-service agent, I am here to help you with all Disney destinations worldwide, Adventures by Disney, and Disney Cruise Line as well as all theme park vacations, all cruise lines, and more! Best of all, my concierge planning services are FREE to those who book their vacations through me! Contact me today and follow me on Facebook and Instagram for travel related news–Disney and beyond.
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