Looking for a touch of Victorian luxury, while retaining the conveniences of modern living? Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa combines the two to offer guests a touch of elegant splendour. Come learn about the grandfather of all Walt Disney World resort hotels.

(A quick note in advance. At the time of this article’s publication, the resort is undergoing extensive renovations, which are expected to last through mid-2023. Some of the locations and experiences listed below may be temporarily unavailable. during renovations.)

The Grand Floridian is located directly on the Lagoon of the Seven Seas, very close to Magic Kingdom. You can get to the park by boat, monorail or a 10-minute walk. In fact, the proximity to Magic Kingdom makes this resort one of the few where I would consider a brief respite from an otherwise long day at a Disney park. Guests can travel to Epcot and Hollywood Studios via the Epcot Monorail bundle (with a brief change at the Transportation and Ticket Center). To access Animal Kingdom, it’s either by bus or by car (or by car) Minnie Van).

The “Grand Flo” offers many standard rooms that can accommodate three to five adults, as well as suites that can accommodate six to eight adults. The luxury villas vary in size, from studios that can accommodate up to five people, to large three-bedroom villas that can accommodate up to twelve people! If you want to class it even higher, Club Level rooms are available and can accommodate three to five people. As with most Disney resort hotels, Preferred Rooms and Deluxe Rooms offer guests better views and a more convenient location within the resort area. The PlanDisney PDF pocket guide offers more details on the different room types.

An appetite for fine dining will suit guests of this resort well. There is nothing better than the selection of cuisine offered at Victoria & Albert’s. American cuisine with Mediterranean accents is on the menu at the Citric’s. Customers with a penchant for seafood will find satisfaction at Narcoossee’s. In addition to full catering, the Grand Floridian offers several lounges, including enchanted rose – inspired by Beauty and the Beast. If high tea is more your pace, you’ll appreciate the Garden View Tea Room.

Soon the kids will be able to resume tea time with the Mad Hatter’s Un-Birthday Party at Price of the park 1900. This teatime event is temporarily unavailable, along with other character dining options Supercalifragilistic Breakfast and Cinderella’s Happily Ever After Dinner, but those options should come back online soon. The Grand Floridian also offers several quick-service and take-out options for families on the go.

Peek into the resort’s grand lobby to find several boutique-like shops that you might like, including Mr. Mouse Mercantile, Curiouser Clothiers, Basin White and Sandy Cove Gifts and Sundries.

The little princess in your family will love the glamor Shop Bibbidi Bobbidi. Besides Magic Kingdom and Disney Springs, the Grand Floridian is the only other location in Walt Disney World to get the full princess treatment. Unfortunately, this Bibbidi Bobbidi shop is temporarily unavailable. But like most character meals and other immersive guest experiences, this fan-favorite experience should be back before too long.

Wanna get wet? Grand Flo has two beautiful swimming pools. The 110,000+ gallon beach pool is where the action is. Slide down a 181 foot long waterslide or relax and admire the Seven Seas Lagoon. Beach Pool has a water play area for kids, and in keeping with the resort’s upscale style, poolside cabanas are available for rent. Guests looking for a quieter scene will prefer the Courtyard Pool, which is tucked away behind the main building and away from heavier traffic. Both pools have zero-entry areas, and both offer outdoor lounge areas with cocktails and lighter fare.

This resort offers nightly campfires and movies under the stars, as well as fishing, powerboat rentals, specialty cruises, and an evening preview of the electric water show on the lagoon. Adults can relax at Great Floridian spa, while kids will have fun spending their parents’ money at Arcadia Games. Runners and walkers will enjoy strolling through the Lagoon of the Seven Seas – just note that foot traffic cannot pass between the Contemporary complex and the Transportation and Ticketing Center. However, these views of the lagoon…

Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort and Spa offers guests the luxuries of yesteryear, with the conveniences of today. If you are looking to be pampered on your vacation, this is the place for you!

planDisney Pocket Guides are especially helpful for guests considering staying at a resort they’ve never experienced before. Pocket guides take the form of 5-14 page PDF slides, easily printable and saveable on smart devices. They offer effective snapshots of station basics, including:

• Transportation options
• Room sizes
• Food and drink options and locations
• Swimming pools and recreational activities
• Purchases
• tips from the planDisney panel

See the full list of planDisney Pocket Guide summaries here.

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