Showing posts with label pool. Show all posts
Showing posts with label pool. Show all posts

Tuesday, October 14, 2014

A look inside Disney Resorts Disney Grand Floridian Resort & Spa

A look inside Disney Resorts
Deluxe Resort

Disney Grand Floridian Resort
& Spa

Disney’s Grand Floridian Spa & Resort, a AAA Four Diamond Hotel,  was opened on June 28, 1988 as the former Grand Floridian Beach Resort. Keeping the true 19th and 20th century Victorian era alive the Disney’s Grand Floridian replicates the eras’ white walls and red gabled roofs. The Grand Floridian boasts 25 Suites amongst 6 buildings across 40 acres just southwest of the Magic Kingdom. The Grand Floridian’s five-story lobby mesmerizes you with its luxurious chandeliers, marble floors, and a marvelous stained glass ceilings.
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With a high ratio of staff to guests, service is outstanding. The resort has several full-service restaurants, and others are a short monorail ride away. The hotel is connected directly to the Magic Kingdom by monorail and to other Disney World destinations by bus. Walking time to the monorail and bus- loading areas from the most remote guest rooms is about 7–10 minutes.

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What are rooms like at the Grand Floridian?

The Grand Floridian consists of 867 guest rooms and average around 448 sq feet making them some of the largest standard guest rooms at Walt Disney World. The standard, but spacious, guest rooms consist of either 2 Queen Size beds or 1 King bed. Most rooms offer a day bed.  All rooms come equipped with an iron, ironing board, small refrigerator, Disney sundries (soap, shampoo), coffee maker, safe, iPod dock and a hair dryer, and of course free WiFi.  The 31 handicap-accessible rooms offered at the Grand Floridian feature the same setup of the standard Grand Floridian rooms but conform to Florida’s Accessibility Code.

The rooms are set up to accommodate 5 or 6 guest counting 1 child under the age of 3 with the use of a crib. You may request a crib when checking in or touch the Housekeeping button on your room phone.  Housekeeping can also provide you with a high chair, a playpen, bed rails, and other things you might need for little ones. 

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 Each Disney's Grand Floridian Resort room is furnished with the following:

  • Two queen beds
  • Dresser with 4 small drawers
  • Table with 2 chairs
  • Nightstand digital alarm clock
  • Full-length mirror (on bath door)
  • WiFi wireless Internet access
  • Flat-panel TV
  • Mini fridge
  • Coffee Maker
  • Ironing board and iron
  • Hair dryer
  • Digital thermostat
  • In-room safe
  • Tiny bottle of H2O-brand shampoo, and bar soap
Restaurant's and Dining Options

 Victoria & Albert's - With only 18 tables in the main dining room and Queen Victoria's Room, a new private space with seating for eight, this is the top dining experience at Disney World. A winner of AAA's Five-Diamond Award (the only restaurant in central Florida so honored), Victoria & Albert's is civilized, lavish, and expensive. Waitstaff in the Queen Victoria Room expertly revive the European art of tableside finishes for each dish.

The menu changes daily, but chef Scott Hunnel's favorites include Jamison Farm lamb, Florida seafood, and Japanese Kobe beef. Any of master pastry chef Erich Herbitschek's desserts are divine. Hunnel and his team prepare modern American cuisine with the best of the best from around the world. While the main dining room and Queen Victoria's Room are whisper-quiet, the convivial Chef's Table is a whole other experience. For foodies, it's a bargain.

CĂ­tricos-This is one of the best-kept dining secrets at Disney World - it's generally easy to get Advance Reservations here. For an extra-special night, reserve the Chef's Domain, a private room for up to 12 guests where the chef creates a special menu.

The golds and yellows of the Mediterranean color this stylish dining room on the second floor of the Grand Floridian. Diners often find chef Phillip Ponticelli working his culinary magic in the full-view show kitchen. Selections include sauteed shrimp with lemon, feta cheese, tomatoes, and white wine; oak-grilled filet of beef; braised veal shank.

Grand Floridian Cafe-Grand Floridian Cafe is basically an upscale coffee shop, the large dining room - with high ceilings and decorative windows - looks out on the Grand Floridian's pool and center courtyard.

Breakfast includes eggs prepared virtually every way known to mankind; waffles; French toast. For lunch, there's Cobb salad and the Grand sandwich with ham, turkey, and Boursin-cheese sauce. For dinner, choose from salmon, shrimp pasta, or grilled pork chop.

Narcoossee's-Stroll through the grounds of the Grand Floridian and toward the waterfront to this freestanding octagonal building at the edge of Seven Seas Lagoon. The atmosphere is upscale casual, though hardwood floors make it noisy. Diners have great views of the Magic Kingdom and the boats that dock nearby to pick up and drop off guests after a day at the park.

Narcoossee's offers excellent service, a very good wine list-and steep prices. But it is one of the few places at Disney with a seafood-centric menu, and one of the few places where you can get fresh steamed lobster.
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1900 Park Fare- offers two character meals. Choose to dine with Mary Poppins, Alice and Wonderland, and friends, or Cinderella, Prince Charming, Lady Tremaine, Anastasia, and Drusilla.  The prime rib is 1900 Park Fare's major draw at dinner, but go someplace else if you prefer your beef on the rare side of medium.
Garden View Tea Room- is home to traditional afternoon tea, served in grand British style. The menu includes a selection of international teas and an assortment of sandwiches and pastries.

Gasparilla Island Grill- is the resort's counter service restaurant. It has a decent selection of burgers, sandwiches, and pizzas. There's also kid friendly items like chicken nuggets and hot dogs. Gasparilla is unique in that it is open 24 hours a day. But past 11:00 PM the menu is very limited.
Shops:

The Grand Floridian offers several different options to its guests such as the Sandy Cove. The Sandy Cove carries everything from baby items such as baby diapers to formula to pharmacy items to souvenirs. Step over to the M. Mouse Mercantile to shop all things Disney while the Commander’s Porters sells men’s apparel and some Grand Floridian related items.

Pools:

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 Enjoy down time at one of the 2 Grand Floridian’s 2 pools, hot tub, ping pong table, and a pool bar. The Courtyard pool, the larger of the two, offers zero-entry access and is located in the center of the Grand Floridian grounds. The themed pool is located on the beach and also offers zero-entry, rock waterfall, and waterslide. Guest are provided with complimentary towels and life vests at each both pools.


Commuting Times to the Parks
Park Commuting Times

Resort Transportation
Magic Kingdom 7 min
Epcot 33 min
Hollywood Studios 23 min
Animal Kingdom 23 min
 

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Monday, July 29, 2013

Polynesian Resort-A look inside



Polynesian Resort-A look inside


Copyright:Disney

   
Polynesian Resort Motto: Aiita Peatea (which means “There will be another day tomorrow, just like today.”)

Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort was one of the original Walt Disney World resorts, opening on October 1, 1971. The Grand opening ceremony was on the beach on October 24, 1971. Earlier that day, the Contemporary had its dedication speech by Bob Hope. During the grand opening, the Polynesian put on a stage show featuring hula dancers, fire eaters, and Hawaiian music. Down to this day you can still see a Polynesian show, thought during the years the presentation has seen a number of revisions and name changes.  In the 1980s the “Village” portion of the name was dropped, leaving the resort as Disney’s Polynesian Resort.

Disney’s Polynesian Resort is an 847-room resort located on the shores of Seven Seas Lagoon. It is situated directly south, and two monorail stops, from the Magic Kingdom. The Polynesian occupies 39 acres and is styled as a South Pacific paradise, complete with beaches, tropical landscaping, waterfalls, and bamboo tiki torches. The Great Ceremonial House is the center of the resort, serving as both lobby and focal point of the area. The Polynesian is a Disney Deluxe Resort, but the atmosphere is very casual and family-oriented.

There is a short program to welcome the night at the Polynesian, call the torch lighting ceremony. It features an authentic Polynesian dancer who does a traditional fire-knife dance, and lights the torches leading into the Great Ceremonial House. A Polynesian entertainer is also on hand to perform chants and authentic drumming. It is present each evening, Tuesday through Saturday, at 6 p.m.
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What are rooms like at the Polynesian?

Polynesian rooms are located in one of 11 different buildings called longhouses. Each one is either 2- or 3-stories high. All rooms are accessed through interior hallways.
A standard room at the Polynesian includes two queen-size beds, a day bed, an armoire, a very small table, and two chairs. Typical rooms are 415-476 square feet and have a maximum occupancy of 5 persons, plus one child under the age of 3. All rooms come equipped with an iron, ironing board, small refrigerator, Disney sundries (soap, shampoo), coffee maker, safe, Ipod dock and a hair dryer. Free WiFi.   You may request a crib when checking in, or touch the Housekeeping button on your room phone. Housekeeping can also provide you with a high chair, a playpen, bed rails, and other things you might need for little ones.

In 2013 some room in the longhouse will have King size beds.
Suites are located exclusively in the Tonga longhouse. They can accommodate between four and nine people.

Room Views options

 

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Lagoon views offer a view of Seven Sea Lagoon.
 Theme park view offers an unobstructed view of the Magic Kingdom

Standard View rooms feature views of the Polynesian’s tropical landscaping and walkways. Views of the marina or of the pool are included in the standard category. Standard view rooms may also face the parking lot.  Request can be made when reservations are made, but they cannot be guaranteed.

For a complete breakdown of all the longhouses, information about their concierge service and suite, and child care center please check out our blog Inside look into Poly part 2

Polynesian Pools


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 Polynesian has two pools and no Jacuzzi. The Nanea Volcano Pool, featuring a volcano with waterfall and waterslide opened in March 2001. A stream begins outside of the Great Ceremonial House and continues down to the Volcano pool. A 40-foot high Volcano house the pool bar and a tubular slide. Underwater jets, warmer water area, and in-pool seating are also a part of the Volcano pool. On the beach end of the pool, guest will find a zero entryway, no steps required to enter or exit. A specialized water wheelchair is available here, allowing access directly into the swimming pool.


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The second pool is often referred to as the quieter pool, is larger. It is freeform swimming pool is centrally located to all the longhouses. Both pools are heated. The Polynesian pools feature music that is piped into the pool itself, perfect for underwater listening!
Plans are to install a Jacuzzi in 2013. 

 

Restaurants and Shows

‘Ohana – This is a popular family restaurant at the Polynesian. It features all-you-can-eat Polynesian feast overlooking Seven Seas Lagoon. “ohana is not a buffet. It is served family-styple at your table. Food is prepared on a open fire pit. ‘Ohana is located on the second floor of the Great Ceremonial House. 
‘Ohana has a Character Breakfast where you can meet Lilo and Stitch. Also, stopping by is Mickey, Pluto, and Goofy. 

Kona CafĂ© – This restaurant serves creative fresh dishes for breakfast, lunch and dinner, and features special Kona Coffee! Unique desserts are a specialty of the house. Kona CafĂ© can accommodate special dietary requirements including vegan diets. There is a coffee bar just outside the restaurant, near the entrance to the monorail. Kona CafĂ© is located on the second floor of the Great Ceremonial House.
Captain Cook’s Snack Company – This recently renovated and expanded 24-hour snack bar features fast food, snacks, and desserts. There are some additional outdoor tables available. Refillable Mugs are available here! Note the grill does close at 11 p.m. Captain Cook’s is located on the first floor of the Great Ceremonial House.

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Spirit of Aloha Dinner Show is presented every Tuesday through Saturday at Luau Cove, weather permitting. There are shows at 5:15 and 8 pm. The show features authentic Polynesian dancing and the food includes a full Polynesian-style meal, including drinks (nonalcoholic and some alcoholic) and dessert. Note the luaus are sometimes cancled if the temperature falls below 55 degrees. 

 

 

Transportation

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Monorail- Inside the Great Ceremonial House, this resort monorail, and it will take you to the Magic Kingdom, the Monorail Resorts, and the Transportation & Ticket Center (TTC). In order, the monorail stops at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa, the Magic Kingdom, Disney’s Contemporary Resort, the TTC, and then back to Disney’s Polynesian Resort. 

Transportation & Ticket Center is a short walk from the Polynesian (signs point the way). There are three monorail lines here. The resort monorail and will take you to Magic Kingdom by way of the Monorail resorts. The express monorail will take you directly to the Magic Kingdom, The Epcot monorail will take you directly to Epcot. 

Boat Launch- The boats at the dock behind Nanea Volcano Pool take you to the Gran Floridian and the Magic Kingdom. The boats run from 30  minutes before the Magic Kingdom opens until closing.
Ferry at the Transportation & Ticket Center takes you directly to the Magic Kingdom. 

Bus Stop near the Great Ceremonial House- The bus stop is located between Rarotonga and the Tangaroa Terrace. Here you will find Disney’s Hollywood Studios bus, the Disney’s Animal kingdom/Blizzard Beach bus and the Downtown Disney/Typhoon Lagoon bus.  Buses may also pick up guest at the Grand Floridian and Wilderness Lodge. 

Best Place to see Fireworks and The Electrical Water Pageant

Most lagoon-view rooms features  great view of the Magic Kingdom fireworks. Otherwise, any place on the Polynesian beaches or boat dock offer good place to watch. 
The Pageant floats by the Polynesian each night at approximately 9:00. The Polynesian is actually its first stop, and if you position yourself at the boat dock a few minutes before 9:00, you can watch the floats being towed out to the Lagoon and prepared for the show. 


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Sunday, July 7, 2013

All Star Music Resort - A look inside

A Look Inside the Resorts at WDW
Value Resorts

All-Star Music RESORT

Copyright:Disney
 All-Star Music was the first resort I ever stayed at while visiting Walt Disney World. I was twenty-one and my cousin and I wanted to go. It was my first alone adult vacation (in 2003). I loved this resort, for many reasons. I didn't know half of what I know now, and still I long to return to this resort. As you read through the facts of this resort, you will notice extra little tidbits. Just know with little to no knowledge of Walt Disney World Theme Parks and Resorts, I choose All-Star Music because I was looking for value and I love music, I knew the All Stars were consider value and out of Sports, Movie and Music, I choose Music because I love music!

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What is the All Star Music Resort Like?The All Star Music Resort is a 1,920 room resort featuring the following musically themed buildings: Calypso, Jazz Inn, Rock INN, Country Fair, and the Broadway Hotel. The buildings have exterior and interior theming to match their names - such as three-story tall drum set at Jazz Inn,  and three-story tall cowboy boots at Country Fair.  The Rooms are 260 square feet in size.
 
The All-Star Music Resort was the first value resort to offer Family Suites, (the new value resort, built in 2012, Art of Animation was actually build with Family Suites in mind, and we will learn more about this resort later). The 520-square foot  Family Suites are located in the Jazz Inn and Calypso buildings at All Star Music.  









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What are the rooms like? Single-Family rooms with two double beds or one king size bed are available. Rooms with a king bed are designed for disable travelers and do not have a tub, only a wheelchair-accessible shower. Rooms are 260 square feet.
The bathroom features a single sink and mirror in a vanity area separate from the tub and toilet. The showers have liquid soap and shampoo dispensers.
 Rooms also feature a clock radio, small tabel with two chairs, a small safe, small refrigerator, a TV and a small dresser. The bathtub has a retractable cord that makes a handy clothes line. Hair dryers may be requested from housekeeping, they are not standard in each room. 
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Each Family Suite will sleep up to 6, plus one child in a Pak-n-Play crib. The master bedroom and family room have a 27" flat screen TV as well as high speed Internet access. There is a queen bed, full-size pullout sofa, convertible ottoman and chair sleeper. The kitchenette will have a microwave and small refrigerator plus a coffeemaker. There are two full bathrooms. 

Walt Disney World Resort made complimentary Wi-Fi service available in all of its hotels as of March 2012. 

 Room views either overlook a parking lot, the central courtyard of your building, or landscaped areas between the buildings. All are consider Standard Views. 
 
There are two elevators in each building, located next to each other in the center of the building. There is also a staircase next to the elevators, and a room with an ice machine just behind them. There are also outside staircases at each end of the buildings, so if you're far from the elevators, you can use those stairways.

What is the difference between the room views? "Preferred Location" at the All Star Resorts are rooms closest to Melody Hall, the Intermission Food Court, and the bus stops. Currently, only the two Calypso buildings are in the preferred category. All other rooms are the same no matter what view or location you have. Your room may overlook the parking lot, or the courtyard, or the Piano Pool area. All rooms open to the exterior allways, so basically, you look out on to the hallway and everything else in sight.

Copyright: Disney
 What food choices do I have at the All-Star Music? The All-Star Music Intermission Food Court has a variety of sections to choose from:
  • The Market-Selling grocery items 6 am to midnight
  • The Bakery - Selling baked goods and desserts
  • The Grill
  • The Specialty Shop
  • Pizza and Pasta
The Gift Shop-Maestro Mickey is open until 11:30 pm and offers a variety of Disney merchandise from character merchandise and souvenirs to All-Star Music sports wear. A small variety of grocery items are also available, such as snacks, liquor, sundries, and beverages. Some of the grocery items (such as juice and milk) are cheaper if purchased in the gift shop rather than the food court. This is also the location where your items will be delivered if you chose resort package delivery at any of the theme parks. 
How long are the bus rides to the major parks? All-Star Music shares its bus with the other All-Star Resorts, usually they don't share a bus for the Magic Kingdom, but they do for all other parks unless all three hotels are full. All-Star Music is the first pick up and drop off point when sharing a bus which in my opinion is a big plus!
 Approximate Bus riding time (not including wait times are) 
Downtown Disney-15 minutes
Disney's Hollywood Studios - 15 minutes
Epcot- 18 minutes
Magic Kingdom - 18 minutes
Animal Kingdom - 15 mintues
  
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 What are the pools like? There are two pools at All-Star Music. The main pool located between the Calypso buildings is the Guitar pool, so named for the shape it is in. The Kiddie Pool is also located here. The Guitar Pool has a maximum water depth is 5 feet and the minimum is 3 feet. There is a squirting fountain on the raised island in the middle of the pool that features the characters from Disney "The Three Caballeros". 
The quieter pool is the Grand Piano Pool located between Rock Inn, Country Fair and Broadway. The Grand Piano Pool is also only 5 feet deep maximum. 
Both pool list their hours as 8:00 am to 12:00 midnight, but this may change depending on season. Security personnel have been know to remove noisy guest from the pools after midnight. Lifeguards are on duty at both pools daily. 
Life vests for youngster may be check out of the Arcade for the length of your stay. Diapered children are required to wear swim diapers or rubber pants. 
All-Star Music Resorts do not provide towels at the pool. You must take the towel from your room. Housekeeping will bring additional towels, in you call and request. 
In closing remarks, this is still my favorite Value Resort. I will admit I haven't tried or toured the new Art Of Animation Resort yet. But if you are on a budget and a family of 4 with small children, I highly recommend the All-Star Music.

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Saturday, June 29, 2013

Coronado Springs Resort - A Look Inside

A Look Inside the Resorts at WDW
Moderate Resorts

CORONADO SPRINGS RESORT

Copyright: Disney

 Disney's Moderate Resorts offer uniquely themed environments inspired by places near and far. They're the perfect combination of value and amenities. These Resorts feature incredible pools with fun slides, sit-down restaurants as well as food court dining and on-site recreation.
Copyright: Disney
 Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort – This resort’s 1,917 moderate-price guestrooms are inspired by the American Southwest and regions of Mexico and encircle a 15-acre lagoon. Palm-shaded courtyards and Spanish-style haciendas create the perfect climate for relaxation. Soak up the sun or splash in the pool, designed as an archeological dig site with a five-story Mayan pyramid. The Resort features colorful plazas and picturesque vistas reflecting the beauty of Mexico and the American Southwest. 
convention center.
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There are three “quiet” pools, and a five-story Mayan pyramid serves as the splashy centerpiece for a family-fun pool with a water slide. Dining includes the Maya Grill full-service restaurant, Pepper Market dining court, Rix Lounge, Laguna Bar lounge, Siestas Cantina poolside bar and limited room service. Special services include in-room coffee makers and ironing equipment, La Vida Health Club, hair-styling salon, bike rentals, watercraft rentals, arcade, sand volleyball court, kiddie pool and playground. A 220,000-square-foot  


Recreation
  • 4 Pools       
  •  Feature Pool: 5 story Mayan pyramid, 123 ft water slide
  •  Child pool
  •  Whirlpool spa
  • Children's playground
  • Arcade
  • Jogging trail
  • Marina/boat rental
  • Volleyball
  • Beach area
  • Bike rentals
  • Health club
  • Massage services
Food
  • 1 Food Court
    • Pepper Market
  • 1 Full Service restuarant
    • Maya Grill
  • Pool Bar
  • In-Room Dining: 7am to 11pm and 4pm to 11pm
    (limited menu)
    Copyright: Disney
    Rooms
    • 1921 Guest Rooms
    • Disabled accessible rooms available
    • All rooms non-smoking
    • Buildings offer elevators and stairs
    Check In/Check Out
    3:00 PM / 11:00 AM
    Coronado Springs is Disney’s first moderate priced convention resort. There are many conventions scheduled every year which can cause congestion in public areas. But, often times, the Coronado will have rooms when other moderates are sold out. Also have your travel agent check to see if the price of a moderate is close to the price of a value resort. It doesn’t happen very often but you might find it within a couple hundred dollars and well worth the upgrade!
    Copyright: Disney

    Copyright: Disney

    Copyright: Disney

    Commuting Times to the Parks
    Park Commuting Times

    Resort Transportation
    Magic Kingdom 23 min
    Epcot 20 min
    Hollywood Studios 18 min
    Animal Kingdom 18 min

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