Disney's Grand Floridian Resort & Spa is a Victorian-style Disney Deluxe Resort distinguished as the flagship hotel of Walt Disney World Resort and offering world-class dining, entertainment and luxurious accommodations in its 6 striking red-gabled buildings. This magnificent hotel sits along the white-sand shores of Seven Seas Lagoon. Enjoy an opulent experience that begins inside the Grand Lobby, which stands over 5 stories high, sparkling with the light from 2 brilliant chandeliers. With its gleaming white exterior, intricate gingerbread trim and gorgeous stained-glass domes, the Resort is an architectural marvel.
Retreat to a stately Guest room that marries Victorian sophistication with modern comforts. Luxuriate in style as you take in superb views of the Seven Seas Lagoon, wedding pavilion, pools, marina, Cinderella Castle or nightly fireworks at Disney's Magic Kingdom theme park, or the Resort grounds dotted with gardens and swaying palm trees. Lounge by the hotel's 2 beautiful pools. Take advantage of state-of-the-art exercise equipment at the Health Club. When you're ready to dine, explore the Resort's 6 restaurants, including the elegant Victoria & Albert's—renowned for its award-winning American cuisine—and Narcoossee's, situated on the shores of the Seven Seas Lagoon and offering excellent views of Magic Kingdom theme park.
The resort offers two pools, a jacuzzi, and a white sand beach. The marina contains various watercraft rentals, including fishing excursions and a yacht. Other recreational activities include tennis programs, a mile-long jogging trail, health club, and preferred access to the Walt Disney World golf courses. The full service spa offers massages, therapies, and other treatments. The Walt Disney World Monorail System, water taxis, and buses provide access to other Walt Disney World areas and attractions.
Dining
- Cítricos - Citricos restaurant brings the cuisine of southern Europe to Disney's Grand Floridian Resort & Spa. Citricos chefs rotate dinner selections frequently for a focused menu of American dishes inspired by the cuisine of Provençe, Tuscany and the Spanish Riviera—such as steaks seared on an oak-filled grill, creative risotto, pastas, and seafood depending on the season. Sommeliers at Citricos restaurant assist in selecting wines from their award-winning international wine list. Wines are available by the glass or bottle for Guests 21 years of age or older. The main dining room is airy and decorated with hues of yellow and orange. Old-world furnishings, wrought-iron railings and mosaic-tile floors contribute to the warm Mediterranean décor.
- Narcoossee's - Narcoossee's serves a spectacular selection of fresh seafood at Disney's Grand Floridian Resort & Spa. A Signature Dining restaurant, Narcoossee's offers dinners with a coastal theme—seared grilled scallops, crab-crusted halibut, grilled wild king salmon and steamed whole Maine lobster from North American waters. The menu at Narcoossee's appeals to a range of tastes. In addition to seafood specialties, it also includes filet mignon, chicken breast and vegetable dishes. Be sure to save room for the mouthwatering desserts, such as the key lime crème brûlée and the almond-crusted cheesecake with Lambert cherry sauce.
- Victoria & Albert's - A critically acclaimed restaurant at the hotel, with a menu created nightly and an award-winning wine cellar. Victoria & Albert's restaurant in Disney's Grand Floridian Resort & Spa offers a unique dinner menu each night of exceptional, contemporary American cuisine served with unparalleled charm and elegance. Victoria & Albert's restaurant offers an intimate 2-hour to 2.5-hour dining experience amongst gentle harp strains and the sparkle of imported crystal in a Victorian dining room. Sit in the midst of romantic splendor in this establishment celebrated the world over for its exquisite culinary creations and transcendent atmosphere. Butler service, personalized menus and a long-stem rose for each lady are just a few of the touches that create an opulent, palate-pampering experience.
- 1900 Park Fare - 1900 Park Fare restaurant in Disney's Grand Floridian Resort & Spa offers breakfast and dinner buffets with American-style cuisine and menu selections that change frequently. Both buffets are hosted by popular Disney Characters who are delighted to pose for photos or sign an autograph. Buffet dining with Disney characters including Mary Poppins and Cinderella. Inside this restaurant is "Big Bertha", an organ built in Paris and used from 1909 to 1955 in a Grand Rapids, Michigan amusement park. The organ's instruments include pipes, drums, bells, cymbals, castanets and a xylophone, and are played by a piano-roll score. It plays short concerts periodically during mealtimes. Serves breakfast and dinner daily.
- Grand Floridian Café - The Grand Floridian Cafe offers a moderately priced breakfast, lunch and dinner of American favorites. This casual, light-filled restaurant has a charming Victorian setting and overlooks the lovely gardens and pool at Disney's Grand Floridian Resort & Spa. Start your day with a plate of Mickey Waffles or a hearty Three-Egg Omelet. For lunch, choose from an assortment of salads, soups, sandwiches and daily specials. Dinner selections include fresh seafood, chicken and delectable steaks.
- Gasparilla Grill and Games - At this 24-hour arcade and restaurant, food meets fun. Put your gaming skills to the test and fuel yourself with sandwiches, salads, pizza and burgers.
Rooms
- Garden View Rooms offer views of the Courtyard, Marina, or Pool areas. 2 queen-size beds or one king-size bed.
- Lagoon View Rooms offer views of the Seven Seas Lagoon. 2 queen-size beds or one king-size bed.
- Standard Room with Theme Park View offers views of the Magic Kingdom theme park. 2 queen-size beds or one king-size bed.
- Outer Lodge One Bedroom Suite offers views of the Courtyard Pool and is located in the Outer Buildings. Includes a bedroom with 2 queen-size beds, parlor area with queen-size sleeper sofa and two baths. 2 private balconies. Access to Concierge service at the exclusive Royal Palm Club or Sugarloaf Club.
- SugarLoaf Outer Building One Bedroom Suite offers views of the Courtyard Pool and is located in the SugarLoaf Concierge Building. Includes a bedroom with 2 queen-size beds and full bath, a parlor area with queen-size sleeper sofa and full bath, two baths
- Main Building 2 Bedroom Disney Suite offers views of the Courtyard Pool and is located in the Main Building Royal Palm Club. Includes a master bedroom with a king-size bed and full bath, a second bedroom with 2 twin-size beds and full bath, parlor area with half bath and wet bar
- Main Building 2 Bedroom Grand Suite is located in the Main Building Royal Palm Club, and offers views of Disney's Magic Kingdom theme park and a panoramic view of the Resort hotel property. Includes a master bedroom with a king-size bed and full bath, a second bedroom with 2 twin-size beds and full bath, parlor area with half bath and wet bar.
Touring Tips
- Disney' Grand Floridian Health Club is a full-service gym available at no additional charge to Guests of Disney's Grand Floridian Resort&Spa. A wide range of equipment is available, including treadmills, stair steppers, upright and recumbent cycles, elliptical cross trainers, Smith machine, cable crossover and free weights. The Health Club also features a full circuit of Life Fitness and Precor strength equipment.
- In addition to watercraft rentals, sports and a 24-hour game room, there is a white-sand beach, a kiddie pool and the Beach Pool, which offers cascading waterfalls and a waterslide. Children ages 4-12 can take part in the Wonderland Tea Party and ages 3-12 can enjoy the Mouseketeer Club, a supervised activity center that affords parents a carefree night on the town. For those who dream of being a princess, Garden View Tea Lounge hosts My Disney Girl's Perfectly Princess Tea Party. (Additional fee required)
- Disney's Grand Floridian Resort & Spa makes a parent's night out possible with the Mouseketeer Club, a supervised activity center that accommodates children ages 3 to 12. While you enjoy your evening, your kids are treated to arts and crafts, computer games, Disney movies and dinner and snacks in an environment created just for them. Children must be independent in their toileting needs.
- Together with independent childcare provider Kids Nite Out, Disney's Grand Floridian Resort&Spa also offers you the convenience of one-to-one in-room babysitting, allowing you the flexibility to enjoy your vacation your way. You can even reserve a childcare specialist to accompany you and your family during your visit to the Parks, providing a helping hand where needed. Please note that in-room childcare is available for children ages 6 months to 12 years.
History
The hotel was inspired by the Victorian era beach resorts built along Florida's east coast during the late 19th century and early 20th century; its exterior is modeled after the Mount Washington Resort in Bretton Woods, New Hampshire and Hotel del Coronado in Coronado, California, with red gabled roofs and white walls. Additional design inspiration was taken from the Belleview-Biltmore Hotel in Belleair, Florida. The resort's outer lodge buildings — Sago Cay, Sugarloaf Key, Conch Key, Boca Chica and Big Pine Key—are named for islands in the Florida Keys. The hotel's main building features a five story lobby, a cage elevator, stained glass domes, and Italian marble floors.
Initially, Walt Disney wanted a Polynesian resort (reflecting Adventureland), the Contemporary Resort to echo Tomorrowland, and other resorts that mirrored the 'lands' of the Magic Kingdom. Main Street and The Grand Floridian act as analogous reflections. The resort was designed by the Disney company and executed by the architectural firm Wimberly, Allison, Tong & Goo.
Along with Disney's Polynesian Resort, the Grand Floridian sits on the shores of the man-made Seven Seas Lagoon near the Magic Kingdom. The hotel occupies land that had been earmarked for an Asian themed resort during the initial development of Walt Disney World Resort in the late 1960s. As of June 2007, smoking is permitted only in designated outdoor smoking locations. In 1992, a 40,000-square-foot (3,700 m2) convention center opened adjacent to the hotel, which contains a business center.
The hotel has completed some major renovations over the last couple years. In 2007, all the guestrooms were redecorated and flat panel televisions were added. The lobby has gone under a major transformation since its beginning. Italian marble was put in to replace dated tiles. There are even some mosaics of Disney characters near common places such as the main entrance, monorail station, and elevators with new carpet installed in May 2010. During evening hours, a band plays on the second floor balcony for about 3 hours alternating with a pianist.