Disney's Grand Floridian Resort and Spa

FIRST LOCATION

Disney's Grand Floridian Resort and Spa

What is this fancy place?

Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort and Spa: the flagship resort of Walt Disney World. It opened in 1988 as a Victorian style resort, echoing the feel and theme of Main Street USA in the Magic Kingdom. It sits right on the man-made Seven Seas Lagoon, and includes boat and monorail transportation to the Magic Kingdom.

First Impression of the Fanciness

I walk into the Grand Floridian and feel like I just walked into a movie...and that movie happens to be the first class deck on the Titanic. Live piano music and hot tunes from the early 1900s croon from the lobby. The ceilings are high, the chandeliers are huge, everything is pale cream, lush woods, and soft carpet. The air is scented with some gentle, light perfume. An old couple dances in the lobby to the music. Little girls dressed as princesses pass me. The entire place has an air of delicate, elegant charm. It’s like some kind of romance and fantasy from a place long ago. It recaptures the best of the times. Fancy!

The Lobby
Featuring a piano, birdcage, and also a glass-cage elevator (not pictured)

Fancy Writing Spaces?

So feeling very fancy, I check out what fancy nooks the Grand Floridian offers. Along the way, I also find the fanciest hamster (oh, sorry, squirrel) cage from 1890.

Apparently owning squirrels like they were hamsters was a thing?

I find a small little café on the second floor. Mizner’s Lounge. Looks adorable, right?

Mizner's Lounge

Properly fancy, with lamps and food and soft chairs. Win! Except…it’s really warm. And kind of dark. I continue to stroll along, and find several outdoor patios. I look odd constantly checking the walls, but at last I find a non-smoking patio, that’s empty, and has…POWER! So I go back to Mizner’s, order some food, and then come back out to type to my heart’s content.

My fancy set-up

Fancy Note: this patio overlooks the pool. Which has a loud bell kids can ring. So bring your noise-cancelling headphones and play some music. I sat there typing for hours  and found that the lanterns automatically turn on. Definitely helps the strain on my eyes, but with the light…comes the bugs!

Also, for the hours I sat there, only a handful of guests came out to take a look at the view. I was, for the most part, alone. 

Fancy view from my spot

View from the balcony. Only thing not fancy is the construction…but it will be a fancy new addition to the resort (for Disney Vacation Club members). So it is fancy-in-the-making J.

You can see the red-roofed Polynesian Resort across the way

Special Fancy Extras

The Beach Boys filmed a “Kokomo” music video at the Grand Floridian? Seriously Fancy Video!