WildernessMickey
Mouseketeer
- Joined
- May 2, 2003
I just returned from staying in a one bedroom villa at the new DVC Grand Floridian Villas. We arrived at 9:00 am and were greeted at the parking lot by an attendant. The Port Cochere was closed in preparation for the opening ceremonies that started at 10:00 am, so the attendant brought a luggage cart out to our car and walked us in to check in. You can check in at the main hotel or at the villas. At the villas they have three desks and you can sit in comfy chairs while they prepare your magic bands and go over the details. Lots of top brass folks were there greeting everyone and seemed thrilled to be open. It was a great check in experience.
The rooms were ready so we went straight up to ours on the 5th floor, room 1508 Lake View. The lobby is small but beautiful, and there are three elevators to take you upstairs. There is a separate service elevator so you never have to compete with the bell hop taking luggage racks up and down. The theme is Mary Poppins, and we loved the penguin fountain in the center of the lobby. I loved all the decor and colors so whoever designed it gets a big two thumbs up from me. Even the hallways were gorgeous with blue carpet with colorful medallions scattered around, and striped wall paper with sections painted a silvery blue. Very soothing. The chandeliers in the atrium were beautiful.
Our room was SPECTACULAR! We were really wowed over and over. You've seen the pictures everyone else has posted by now, and the villa looks even better than the pictures. We were very impressed. The shower is huge, and the bath tub with bubbles was relaxing. We didn't cook but the kitchen seems bigger and more usable than the others. The banquette seating area is large since it curves around so you can fit more people around the table.
We had a great view of the lake, the Poly, the Contemporary, and the ferries going back and forth to the MK. In the morning you can see the sunrise. The balcony is long but only has two chairs and one small table. We used the laundry machine and it worked fine. The tub has small holes in the base that the air runs through to create bubbles. The tub even runs a cycle after you use it to clear out the water from the small holes, so I don't think it will be a problem with any gunk building up. Smart feature. The bed has a blanket between sheets and a bed scarf at the foot, and I liked this better than a comforter. I find the comforters get too hot, so this was perfect.
You can walk to the main building via a covered walkway (just a bit longer than the one at the Wilderness Lodge Villas) or around the back past the pool. We loved the pool and the slide. We also ate lunch there and really liked the food (citrus chicken salad sandwich and water cress tomato salad). The kids water play area was awesome with the Alice in Wonderland theme.
The only strange thing is we did hear a noise that was like whistling wind. It sounded like a ghost, and we think it was coming from the bathroom vent. It didn't make the noise all the time, and it didn't cause us any problems, but it did sound like a ghost once in a while, so when we heard it we would joke about our DVC ghost being at it again.
We ate at Gasparilla Grill (try the Gatsby burger) and the Cafe (yummy Vanilla Laced French Toast) and both were excellent. Everything at the villas and at the main hotel was spotless. The cast members were wonderful. I am so impressed. I wish this was my home resort now. The point values are higher at this resort, but we will return.
The rooms were ready so we went straight up to ours on the 5th floor, room 1508 Lake View. The lobby is small but beautiful, and there are three elevators to take you upstairs. There is a separate service elevator so you never have to compete with the bell hop taking luggage racks up and down. The theme is Mary Poppins, and we loved the penguin fountain in the center of the lobby. I loved all the decor and colors so whoever designed it gets a big two thumbs up from me. Even the hallways were gorgeous with blue carpet with colorful medallions scattered around, and striped wall paper with sections painted a silvery blue. Very soothing. The chandeliers in the atrium were beautiful.
Our room was SPECTACULAR! We were really wowed over and over. You've seen the pictures everyone else has posted by now, and the villa looks even better than the pictures. We were very impressed. The shower is huge, and the bath tub with bubbles was relaxing. We didn't cook but the kitchen seems bigger and more usable than the others. The banquette seating area is large since it curves around so you can fit more people around the table.
We had a great view of the lake, the Poly, the Contemporary, and the ferries going back and forth to the MK. In the morning you can see the sunrise. The balcony is long but only has two chairs and one small table. We used the laundry machine and it worked fine. The tub has small holes in the base that the air runs through to create bubbles. The tub even runs a cycle after you use it to clear out the water from the small holes, so I don't think it will be a problem with any gunk building up. Smart feature. The bed has a blanket between sheets and a bed scarf at the foot, and I liked this better than a comforter. I find the comforters get too hot, so this was perfect.
You can walk to the main building via a covered walkway (just a bit longer than the one at the Wilderness Lodge Villas) or around the back past the pool. We loved the pool and the slide. We also ate lunch there and really liked the food (citrus chicken salad sandwich and water cress tomato salad). The kids water play area was awesome with the Alice in Wonderland theme.
The only strange thing is we did hear a noise that was like whistling wind. It sounded like a ghost, and we think it was coming from the bathroom vent. It didn't make the noise all the time, and it didn't cause us any problems, but it did sound like a ghost once in a while, so when we heard it we would joke about our DVC ghost being at it again.
We ate at Gasparilla Grill (try the Gatsby burger) and the Cafe (yummy Vanilla Laced French Toast) and both were excellent. Everything at the villas and at the main hotel was spotless. The cast members were wonderful. I am so impressed. I wish this was my home resort now. The point values are higher at this resort, but we will return.
Personally I don't think it's too much of a concern.
