Disney's Grand Floridian Resort & Spa

Disney's Grand Floridian Resort & Spa is situated in the Magic Kingdom Resort area on the edge of the Seven Seas Lagoon just a short monorail ride from Disney's Magic Kingdom. You can also reach the Magic Kingdom by boat or take the monorail to Epcot.

Rating: 5 stars
Rooms: 900 rooms & suites
Rates: from $399 to $1,040 Check rates

Address: 4401 Grand Floridian Way, Lake Buena Vista, FL 32830
Area: Magic Kingdom Resort
Nearest airport: Orlando International (MCO)
Map: Click to view

Themed on a turn of the century Victorian style luxury hotel, the flagship Grand Floridian has a lot to offer.

Take in the Grand Floridian's elegant Victorian decorated guestrooms, afternoon teas, fine restaurants and beautiful white sandy beach complete with cabanas as well as a number of swimming pools, spa (Jacuzzi/hot tub) and a health spa.

As soon as you step into the five storey high lobby with its beautiful stained glass domes, ornate chandeliers, potted palms and live music at a grand piano, you are whisked back in time to the opulence and splendor of a bygone era.

Rooms/Suites

Standard rooms are around 440 square feet and will sleep 5 (plus a baby in a crib) on two double beds and a day bed (some rooms are available with a king sized bed instead).

There are three types of standard room; Garden View overlooking the resort grounds including the marina, the pools or the gardens, Lagoon View overlooking the Seven Seas Lagoon and the wedding pavilion and Magic Kingdom View with views of the Magic Kingdom. There are also Lodge Tower rooms which are on the corners of the hotel and feature more windows (and hence views).

For an additional fee you can have a Club Concierge room, again for 5 guests or you can have a one bedroom or two bedroom suite.

The one bedroom suites have either 1 1/2 or 2 baths and a separate sitting area (sleeps 2 to 4) and the two bedroom suites have 2 1/2 baths and a separate sitting area (sleeps 4 to 8).

Dining

The Grand Floridian has a number of good restaurants including formal dinner at the award-winning Victoria and Albert's (dress code applies), high teas in the Garden View Lounge, Mediterranean style dining at Citricos and fresh seafood at Narcoossee's overlooking the Seven Seas Lagoon.

There is also a character buffet at 1900 Park Fare where you may get to meet a host of Disney characters including Cinderella, the Fairy Godmother, Prince Charming, Winnie the Pooh and Eeyore.

For casual dining, there is the Grand Floridian Cafe where you can enjoy lunch or dinner with salads, soups, steak and fresh seafood or if you just need a quick snack, there is the Gasparilla Grill & Games quick service restaurant for food and video games including pastries, salads, grilled chicken sandwiches, pizza and hamburgers.

Not unsurprisingly, prices are high at all the restaurants.

Recreation

The Grand Floridian has a zero-depth entry Beach Pool with waterfalls as well as a quiet pool in the courtyard and a kiddie pool or you can just relax on the white-sand beach.

Like the other deluxe resorts, there is a Grand Floridian Spa & Health Club.

If you are feeling energetic, then you can go for a jog on the scenic one-mile jogging trail to Disney's Polynesian Resort or play tennis on the clay courts (you need to bring your own equipment). You can also get tennis lessions at the Grand Floridian Tennis Center.

Watercraft rental including pontoon boats, cannopy boats or Sea Raycers by Sea Ray® or you can even charter the Grand 1, the Grand Floridian's Sea Ray Yacht.

Children are well catered for (literally) with Grand Adventures in Cooking where they get to decorate their very own chef's hat and make tasty treats (4 to 10 year olds), the Wonderland Tea Party where you can join Alice and her friends for lunch (3 to 10 year olds) or Disney's Pirate Adventure where you set sail in search of buried treasure (4 to 10 year olds).

Parents can also have a night out and leave the children at the Mouseketeer Club where the kids are entertained all evening including supervised activities, computer games, Disney movies, dinner and snacks (4 to 12 year olds).

Arcade games are available at Gasparilla's Grill & Games.

One of the attractions of the Grand Floridian is that you can see the fireworks at Magic Kingdom from some of the balconies or restaurants. Failing that you can also watch them from the beach or the boat dock and see the nightly Electrical Water Pageant on the Seven Seas Lagoon.

Amenities

The Grand Floridian Resort & Spa offers a host of amenities including:

• room service
• concierge service
• rooms and facilities for guests with disabilities
• free parking, valet parking (charge applicable)
• minibar, iron and ironing board, wall safe
• coffee maker and microwave (available on request)
• refrigerator (available on request, charge applicable)
• babysitting and childcare services, Pak-n-Play Crib available
• laundry facilities/services (coin operated)
• bath robes and hair dryer
• voice mail, wireless internet access (surcharge for high-speed access)
• health club/spa
• barber and beauty shop
• plus a number of shops for both mens wear, ladies wear, sundry items and Mickey Mouse merchandise

Meeting Facilities

The Grand Floridian Resort also has a 40,000 square foot Convention Center with two ballrooms, 16 total breakout rooms and a Business Center.