Check in Club Level: We arrived at the Grand Floridian and were greeted immediately at the car. Since my mom and daughter needed to use the restroom, I sent them inside, while my husband and I unloaded the car. We were asked if we wanted to valet park or self-park and we chose self-park. $20.00 a day for valet was not an expense that we wanted.
It was amazing as soon as I started to walk toward the main building entrance I was greeted by name. Charlie, took us inside and he walked us to Sugarloaf Club Level area. I had done on-line check in and all of my requests (high floor and balcony) were granted. We sat in the lounge and Charlie explained all of the amenities and addressed all of my question. Our room was not ready, so Charlie took my cell phone number, so I could be messaged when it became ready. While we waited we ate some “crudités” and enjoyed the surroundings. Our room was ready within 20 minutes.
Room 3611 is a handicapped accessible room with a roll in shower. As you can see by the pictures, my mom is very short and had some difficulties navigating the room in her wheel chair and the bathroom. Luckily, my mom is able to walk, so this was not an issue.
Lounge offerings: We are not big eaters, so the amount of food and beverages available was plenty. We ate breakfast there every day and I want an Espresso machine! Unfortunately, that machine cost $3000.00, so I will need to research which model we can afford. I recommend allowing the “vultures” to eat first. It was hectic and a mad house as soon as the food was put out. I am a strong believer in being courteous, but people would reach within 2 inches of my head to get a cup. C’mon I would be on my way in 3 seconds, but I would get boxed in and not able to move because I would have a people on either side of me and not behind me. Also, some children made my stomach turn by touching food that they were not going to take. I am a bit of a germaphobe.
Seating was never an issue. We would sit by the doors that lead to the marina, to avoid the melee and mayhem on people who appeared to have not eaten in months.
The staff is very prompt in replenishing food and clearing the tables. Yes, you leave your dishes and cups on the table and they clear it for you. The staff was also very prompting in clearing the food and beverage area when feeding time ended.
My mom cannot eat soy, so Chef Russell, prepared breakfast for her every day. Unfortunately, it was a bagel and chocolate muffin. My mom has not teeth due to her radiation therapy for salivary cancer and she hates chocolate. My daughter ate my mom’s prepared mea. I did not want to bother him and the food was not going to waste. In order to receive the allergy free meal, I needed to speak with the concierge, so the first day’s meals were not allergy free. I wish that this could have been handled ahead of time, so that my mom could eat the first day.
On a side note, I have always been very happy with how Disney handles food allergies. But, on 2 occasions we had problems. My mom cannot eat soy because of her blood thinner medication. She will not die if she eats soy, but her medication would be more potent, so she just avoids it. I am allergic to shellfish products. I do not know first had if I have an anaphylactic reaction, but breathing is high on my list, so I avoid shellfish, and carry Benadryl with me. At Tokyo Dinning it was very ridiculous. It seems as though the manager never relayed the allergies to the chef and that the waitress did not notice. A second manager came over to ensure that everything was satisfactory. I was already freaked out about having shellfish on my plate and I did not want it just removed, I wanted a new entrée made for me, and it was, but in the chaos they accidentally gave us an extra white rice and then charged us for it. My mom was supposed to have white rice, instead of the rice offered with her meal. When they remade her meal they brought another rice. It was not our fault, and I would have said something, but I honestly just wanted to get out of there. My husband and daughter were just about done eating, but the time I got my food.
I am going to e-mail guest services and make a recommendation that they offer pamphlets or something, so that people can make food selections ahead of time without so much hoopla. I know to stay away from shellfish, but for my mom with her soy issue, it is difficult to decide what to eat when you don’t know what you can have. Managers do have a binder with food allergy options but I felt like twice I needed to fight for a safe meal. At Cosmic Rays our order was completely messed up and the food server behind the counter argued with me. If someone says that “no, she cannot have fries because of the soy. It is not appropriate to say “yes, they no soy.” He was corrected by the manager, but that could have been potentially fatal if she had that type of allergy.
The concierge staff was amazing and very helpful. I do believe that they have pixie dust abilities. I wanted to change an ADR, but the time I wanted was not available. I asked Linda, Concierge, if the time I wanted was available and magically it was available.
That’s all for now. Thanks!
Here are some pictures:
