The Grand Floridian Resort & Spa

Some resorts are nice. Some resorts are memorable. And then there is the Grand Floridian Resort and Spa. Victorian architecture, a five story lobby that makes you stop and look up every single time, live music drifting through the atrium, and a view of Magic Kingdom fireworks from the beach every single night. This is Disney's premier luxury resort and it has earned every bit of that title. Today we are going all the way in. The history, the rooms, the spa, Victoria and Alberts, the Enchanted Rose, and the big question everyone asks before they book it. Is it actually worth it? The chandeliers are lit. The lobby is calling. Welcome to the Grand Floridian.

Transcript

SPEAKER_00 0:03

Oh, Imagine Meets, the perfect plan. It's Mouse Management and More. The happiest travel podcast. There's magic in store.

SPEAKER_01 0:21

Welcome back to Mouse Management and More. I'm Megan Howard, and we are continuing our resort-by-resort journey through every Walt Disney World property. In order, by category, all in one place. If you have been following along, you've already heard us spend time at the Contemporary Resort and the Polynesian Village, two of the originals, both open since day one in 1971. Today we move forward to 1988. And today we arrive at the top, Disney's Grand Floridian Resort and Spa. If you listened to episode one, and thank you, truly, if you did, you already know that the Grand Floridian and I go way back. When Ron and I planned our first real Disney trip together, not a quick visit, a full trip. We looked at each other and said, if we're going to do this, we're going to do it right. And we booked the Grand Floridian eight nights, the fanciest address on Disney property. We went all in and we still talk about that trip. I've been asked more times than I can count whether the Grand Floridian is actually worth it, whether the price tag is justified, whether it lives up to his reputation. And my answer is yes, but with a huge asterisk. Because the Grand Floridian is not for everyone. And I say that as someone who loves it deeply. Today I'm going to tell you exactly what you're getting, exactly what you're paying for, and exactly who this resort is right for. So that if you book it, you book knowing all the great stuff it has to offer. And if you decide it's not your match, you'll know that too. Let's talk about the Grand Floridian. Disney's Grand Floridian Resort and Spa is Disney World's premier luxury resort. It sits right on the shores of Seven Seas Lagoon with a direct view of the Magic Kingdom fireworks every single night from the beach. It is Disney's grandest resort and it knows it. The theming is Victorian. Think white clapboard, red rooftops, broad verandas, lush tropical gardens. It's designed to feel like one of those grand old Florida beach resorts from the turn of the century. The kind where people arrived by rail in their finest clothes and stayed the whole summer. And the lobby, oh, the lobby. The first time you walk in, you stop. You just stop and look up. Soaring ceilings, a stained glass dome, two enormous Victorian chandeliers, marble floors, a birdcage-style elevator that looks like it belongs in a period film. And most evenings, live music filling the whole lobby, a grand piano, sometimes a full band, drifting up through all five stories of that atrium while guests sip cocktails and the whole place hums with the kind of energy that makes you slow down without even realizing it. It is grand in the best possible way. The Grand Floridian opened on June 28th, 1988, originally called the Grand Floridian Beach Resort. And it was designed from the beginning to be Disney's answer to a question nobody else was asking quite right. What if your hotel was as magical as the park? Let's get into a little bit of the history. When the Disney designers were building this place, they looked to some of the grandest hotels in American history for inspiration. The Hotel Del Coronado in California, the Grand Hotel on Mackinac Island, the Mount Washington Resort in New Hampshire, the Bellevue Biltmore, right in Florida. These were the places where arriving felt like an event, where a lobby made you stand a little straighter, where vacation felt just for a few days like your absolute best life. That is what architect Peter Dominic and Disney's design team were going for. And here's the thing they got it. 40 years later, the Grand Floridian is still the crown jewel of Walt Disney World's resort lineup. In a place that is constantly changing and evolving, that kind of staying power means something. Six years later, after the resort opened, Disney added one more piece that would become inseparable from Grand Floridian's identity. The wedding pavilion. It opened in 1995, a small, white Victorian chapel on its own private island just steps from the main building, with Cinderella's castle perfectly framed in the window behind the altar. It was not part of the original design, but it fits so naturally that most guests assume it had always been there. Thousands of couples have gotten married in this chapel. It has become one of the most iconic wedding venues in the world. The Disney Vacation Club arrived at the Grand Floridian in 2013, with the villas opening in phases through 2014. For DVC members, having a home resort at the Grand Floridian means access to the most prestigious address on Disney property. And for the resort itself, the expansion brought a new generation of guests who come back year after year. And then there's Victorian Alberts. We will talk about this later, but it opened alongside the resort in 1988 and has held a Triple Five Diamond Award for decades. It is one of the most decorated restaurants in all of Florida, and it has called the Grand Floridian home since day one. That was not an accident. From the beginning, Disney wanted this resort to be the kind of place that could support a restaurant like that. And it has delivered every single year since. So let's talk for a minute about the location. Because here is where the Grand Floridian genuinely earns its premium price in ways that have nothing to do with the lobby chandelier. The resort sits on the Magic Kingdom monorail loop. And here is the part worth knowing the Grand Floridian is the last stop before Magic Kingdom. Which means that to get to the park, you walk up to the second floor of the main building, step onto the monorail, and one stop later, you are at the entrance of Magic Kingdom. It is as fast as it sounds. No bus, no waiting, no loading the stroller, finding a seat, watching the stops go by. You are just there. Now coming home, the monorail loops the long way around through the transportation and ticket center and the Polynesian before it reaches you. So on the way back, the walk wins. And honestly, it is a beautiful walk along the water. Quiet, unhurried, a perfect way to let the day wind down. After a long park day, walking home in the dark with the fireworks still fading behind you is one of my favorite ways to end a Disney night. And that is not a small thing. If you have ever spent 20 minutes on a Disney bus at the end of a long park day with tired kids and aching feet and everyone slightly done with each other, the monorail feels like a gift from above. And there's even one more option worth knowing about the boat. You can take a water taxi directly from the Grand Floridian Dock across Seven Seas Lagoon to the Magic Kingdom. It's a short ride, and there's something about watching the castle grow in front of you from the water that never gets old. If the monorail is the efficient choice and the walk is the scenic one, the boat ride is the experience. And on the right morning, it's the perfect way to start a park day. It'll also get you back when the monorail is so crowded. For Epcot, you transfer monorails at the transportation and ticket center. It adds a step, but it's still a monorail. And there's something about gliding over the water in that sleek silver train that never gets old, no matter how many times you ride it. Everything else, Hollywood Studios, Animal Kingdom, Disney Springs is served by bus from the resort. The buses are reliable and run frequently. But the real story at the Grand Floridian is the Magic Kingdom access. And it is genuinely one of the best in all of Disney World. Okay, let's talk about the rooms. The Grand Floridian has 867 rooms spread across the main building and several outer lodge buildings. Each building has its own personality, and knowing the difference matters more here than almost any other Disney resort. The standard rooms sleep up to five guests, two queens with a day bed, a king, or a king with a sleeper sofa. They're spacious by Disney standards, and the Victorian theming carries all the way into the room details. Cream tones, floral touches, comfortable furnishings, nothing generic about them. You know where you are. Club level is where things get really interesting. The Royal Palm Club Lounge sits on the fifth floor of the main building. And I want you to picture this. There are outdoor patios off the lounge where you can sit with your morning coffee or your evening cocktail and watch the monorail glide silently by. You are at the Grand Floridian on a balcony watching the monorail. That is a specific kind of magic. The lounge gives you five food and beverage offerings throughout the day, continental breakfast in the morning, snacks through the afternoon, full appetizers and drinks in the evening, then desserts and cordials after dinner. A dedicated concierge available by phone or text for your entire stay. It is a genuinely elevated experience. And here's something most people don't know. There are actually two club level options at the Grand Floridian. The Royal Palm in the main building is the one people dream about. The views, the atrium access, the atmosphere. But there is also the club level in the sugarloaf building with the exact same food and beverage perks for roughly $100 less per night. Same service, different setting. So that's definitely worth knowing if budget is a real factor, but you still want the club level experience. There are also suites, including a two-bedroom grand suite that is genuinely extraordinary. I'm not pretending that most of us are booking that regularly, but it does exist and it is spectacular. And sometimes life calls for it. And then there are the villas at Grand Floridian, the Disney Vacation Club side of the resort. Villas are spread across two areas of the property, offering Deluxe Studios full one, two, and three-bedroom villas with complete kitchens. The whole DVC experience wrapped in the Grand Floridian theming. There are also resort studios, which are a bit smaller, but come with something that earns its keep fast. A microwave and a toaster. That sounds like a small detail until you are on day five of a Disney trip and someone needs breakfast before seven in the morning. All villa guests have full access to the main resort's pools, dining, and amenities. You are not on a separate property. You are woven right into the Grand Floridian experience. Okay, so now a few room tips worth knowing. If you want to be in the main building close to dining, the monorail shopping, and that glorious lobby, request a lagoon view room on one of the upper floors. These look out over the water towards the beach and the Polynesian. On a clear evening with the lights of the Magic Kingdom in the distance and the electrical water pageant drifting past, it's one of the finest views at Disney World. If you're traveling with young children and the pool access matters, the outer buildings closest to the courtyard pool and kitty pool are your best bet. Convenient for the constant we want to swim negotiation that happens every afternoon on a Disney vacation. My personal favorite of the outer buildings is the one situated right next to the main building, close to the marina. A little quieter than the main building, but still in the middle of everything. You get the best of both worlds. Okay, so let's talk a little bit about the amenities. The Grand Floridian sits on 40 acres along Seven Seas Lagoon, and it uses every inch of them. There are two pools. The courtyard pool is the quieter of the two, a peaceful, zero-entry heated pool tucked behind the main building, surrounded by palm trees and the Victorian architecture. Good for small children, good for adults who actually want to sit in the sun and read a book without some cannonballing next to them. The beach pool is where the action is. It overlooks Seven Seas Lagoon. It has a 181-foot water slide that wraps around a waterfall feature, a swim up bar, and a zero-depth beach entry that feels like you're wading straight into the water. On a hot Florida afternoon, and most Florida afternoons are hot, that pool is a genuine destination. And right next to it is its splash pad, themed after Alice in Wonderland. The mad hatter's hat slowly fills up with water and then dumps it on everyone underneath. The teacups are also water features. Kids completely lose their minds. Fair warning, you will get wet too, and you will not mind at all. There is a white sand beach along the lagoon, hammocks, chairs, the kind of view that makes you put your phone down and just sit for a minute, which is frankly a miracle on a Disney vacation. And if you happen to be on the beach in the evening, keep an eye out for the electrical water pageant. I know I've mentioned it before. It's a barge parade that has floated across Seven Seas Lagoon every single night since 1971, lit up with glowing sea creatures and patriotic displays. I've covered this in depth in the contemporary episode, but I have to mention it here because the Grand Floridian Beach is one of the best spots on the property to watch it. No ticket, no reservation, just be on the beach at the right time. Check the schedule at the front desk. The marina rents boats, motorized and non-motorized, and you can fish right off the property. There are bike rentals and a fitness center. And then there is census spa. It has 15 treatment rooms offering everything from massages and facials to aromatherapy, body wraps, and nail services. If you want to build a morning around something other than rope drop, this is where you do it. It is a full spa experience that rivals anything you would do at a luxury property outside of Disney. One detail I want to make sure you know the Grand Floridian is the only Disney resort that offers turndown service. Meaning while you're out at dinner, someone comes into your room, folds down the bed, and leaves a wrapped chocolate on your pillow. No other Disney resort does this. Just this one. It's a small thing that feels like a very big thing at the end of a long day. And now I have to talk about the wedding pavilion, even for those of you who are absolutely not planning a wedding, because it tells you something important about this resort. Disney's Wedding Pavilion sits on its own private island just steps from the Grand Floridian, reached by Footbridge. It is a non-denominational chapel that seats up to 300 guests, with soaring Victorian spires, vaulted ceilings, and a wall of arched windows behind the altar that perfectly frames Cinderella's castle in the distance. Perfectly. Like it was designed specifically for that view, because it was. If you find yourself at the Grand Floridian with a few minutes, walk over to the pavilion. Even if a wedding is the furthest thing from your mind, just stand there and look at that window. It is one of those dizzy moments that doesn't need a ride or a lightning lane or a plan. It's just there. Breathtaking, quiet, every single day. And here's one more thing: a tip I have to pass along because it's too good not to share. If you want to watch the Magic Kingdom fireworks without fighting a crowd, walk over to the porch of Gasparilla Island Grill in the evening. Grab a coffee or a snack, pull up a chair, and watch the show, the entire show from right there. No park ticket, no reservation, no crowds, just fireworks over the trees while you sit at one of the most beautiful resorts in all the world. I personally have watched from a room balcony here, and it's something I will never forget. But if you do not have a lagoon view room, the Gasparilla porch is the move. And then there's the lobby music. This is the thing that nobody warns you about and everybody remembers. Most evenings, there is live entertainment in the grand lobby. A pianist, sometimes a small ensemble, and the acoustics in that five-story atrium are remarkable. The music just floats up through all five stories while you sit on the mezzanine with a cocktail from the Enchanted Rose. Now, I do want to be honest here because the podcast is about knowing what you're walking into. The Grand Floridian Society Orchestra, a full six-piece ensemble that performed in this lobby every single day from the resort's opening in 1988, was permanently disbanded in October 2020. A casualty of the pandemic closures. 32 years of nightly performances gone. What you will find today is live piano or smaller musical acts, which are still genuinely lovely and still create that same sense of arriving somewhere special. But if you have heard people rave about the orchestra and are expecting that, now you know. The music of the lobby is still very much alive. It just sounds a little different than it used to. A note on where the Grand Floridian is right now, because if you're planning a trip in the next year or two, this may matter. The resort is in the middle of the most significant transformation in its nearly 40-year history. And Disney has confirmed the work will continue through 2027. Here is what already has been done and is worth knowing about The Perch, a gorgeous new lobby bar inspired by the resort's iconic original birdcage, now reimagined as a birdcage-shaped bar with bird-inspired stained glass and brass detailing. It opened in November 2025 and is already a guest favorite. The Garden View Lounge, closed for years, reopened in early 2026 with a beautiful new Alice in Wonderland inspired afternoon tea experience. Over 200 individual blossoms, including Florida State Flower, with hidden Mickeys woven throughout. You may see some construction during your visit, but what is already open is extraordinary. And when it's all finished, it's going to be something completely special. Okay, let's talk about the dining because the Grand Floridian has some of the best tables on Walt Disney World property, and a few that have developed a real following of their own. Let's start at the top, Victoria and Albert's. This is the Crown Jewel, one of the only triple A five diamond restaurants in all of Florida. Jackets required for gentlemen, cocktail attire for the ladies, and children under 10 are not permitted. You are walking into one of the most intimate formal dining rooms in the country. About 60 seats, hushed, the live harp music, and two. Servers assigned to your table all evening. Their names are Victoria and Albert. That is not a coincidence. It is a nod to the resort's Victorian themed, carried all the way through to its staff. Prefix pricing runs around $295 per person. Is it for everyone? No. Is it worth it for the right person on the right night? Without question. And for you seafood lovers, Narcousi sits right on the shores of Seven Seas Lagoon with a direct view of the Magic Kingdom and the Nightly Fireworks. And that setting alone puts it on the list. The food is seafood forward, but they do accommodate everyone and is genuinely excellent. The Plancha Seared Scallops are one of the most talked-about dishes on property. And the lobster bisque arrives tableside in a way that makes the whole table stop and look. If you can, time your reservation around the fireworks. Do it. Citricose is the restaurant that insiders book. And it does not always get the credit it deserves. Mediterranean and Florida influenced cuisine in a stunning Mary Poppins Returns themed dining room with flowers and butterflies and soft colors, unlike anywhere else on property. The kitchen has Michelin recognition Wednesday through Sunday evenings only, so plan ahead. And if you can get in, get in. 1900 Park Fair is the character dining experience. A warm, fun meal with a rotating cast of Disney characters. Always check Disney dining for the current lineup before you book. But here's the thing you need to know: the Floridian strawberry soup. It is a cold, creamy, chilled soup that is a signature of this restaurant. And people are obsessed with it. Even if it sounds like it might not be for you, just try it. It has a following. And then let's talk spirits for a second. There's the enchanted rose. This bar has taken on a life of its own, and you've probably seen it on social media. And the reason is obvious the moment you walk in. The glowing golden chandelier shaped like Belle's ball gown, beauty and the beast theming that is elegant, not cartoonish, three distinct areas, all of them gorgeous, on the second floor just off the lobby. One drink, the lavender frog. It's Nolit Silver Gin, Creme de Violet, English breakfast tea, vanilla, and cream, topped with a cloud-like foam and a dusting of lavender. It is just stunning before you taste it, and then it delivers. That's a great drink. Don't leave without it. And for a quick service option, there's Gasparilla Island Grill. It's open early and late, and it's better than you would expect for a quick service. The bread comes from the Grand Floridian Bakery, and the Mickey waffles at breakfast are non-negotiable. Grab something and find a seat outside overlooking the marina. Not a bad view for a quick service lunch. Something worth noting: the Grand Floridian Cafe is closed for refurbishment through late 2026 as part of the resort's broader renovation project. But the rest of the dining lineup is very much intact. Okay, let's talk about fit. And yes, we're going to talk about price too. This is the question, isn't it? So let me be honest with you. First, let's talk about money because we have to. The Grand Floridian sits at the top of Disney's deluxe tier. Standard rooms typically start somewhere in the range of four to six hundred dollars per night. And that number can climb significantly depending on the season, your view category, and how far out you're booking. Club level and suites go well beyond that. I always recommend checking current rates directly with Disney or through your travel agent because the numbers move. And I don't want you to hold me to a figure from the day this episode dropped. But I want you to have a ballpark so you're not surprised when you start looking. Now the real question, is it worth it? The Grand Floridian is worth every penny for the right traveler. If you are celebrating something, an anniversary, a honeymoon, a milestone birthday, a trip that you've been putting off for years, this is the place. If you want to walk through a set of doors and feel the weight of regular life just lift, this is the place. The Grand Floridian delivers on the promise completely. It knows exactly what it's supposed to be, and it is that thing every single day. If Magic Kingdom is your primary park, and for many families, especially those with young children, it is. The monorail access alone changes your entire trip. The ability to be at Rope Drop without a bus, to pop back to the resort during the afternoon heat, and then return for the evening without any transportation stress is worth more than people realize until they experience it. If you're a couple, a honeymooner, or an adult traveler without children, the Grand Floridian offers a level of ambiance, dining, and sophistication that no other Disney resort quite matches. Victorian Alberts, Narcusi, The Enchanted Rose, The Lobby Music, it is a genuinely romantic place in a way that makes you forget you're also staying at a theme park hotel. Now, who should probably look elsewhere? If you are a family whose Disney trip is primarily about being in the parks from open to close and your resort is mainly a place to sleep, the Grand Floridians premium is hard to justify. You won't be there enough to absorb the ambiance. A well-located moderate resort or a value resort with a park hopper will get you just as many memories for considerably less money. If Epcot or Hollywood Studios are your primary parks, the monorail advantage largely disappears. You'd be better served by the Beach Club, which I cover in a future episode, with its walk to Epcot location and its extraordinary pool. And if the price point is genuinely a stretch, I will never tell you to overextend for a resort. The magic is in the parks. The resort matters. And we will spend a lot of time on this show talking about why it matters. But no resort is worth financial stress. There are wonderful options at every price point, and we're going to talk about all of them. So my verdict on the Grand Floridian, it is everything it promises to be. The lobby stops you in your tracks, the location is exceptional. The dining is the finest on Disney property. The service is warm and attentive and just right. And if you stay there for eight nights, like I did on my first big trip together as a family, you will leave knowing that you experienced Disney the way that Disney imagined it could be experienced. It was that trip that showed me what possible looked like. And I've been chasing that feeling for every client I've worked with ever since. Okay, before I let you go, here are some things about the Grand Floridian that most guests never find out. One, the Beach Boys filmed the music video for Kokomo on the Grand Floridian's beach in 1988, the same year the resort opened. Which means this resort has been iconic since day one. Number two, there are two suites named after the Disney brothers, the Walt Disney Suite and the Roy O. Disney Suite. Both are filled with family photos and personal mementos. Roy is the one who kept Walt's dream alive after Walt passed away and made sure Walt Disney World opened as planned. He deserves that suite too. 3. Every bed at the Grand Floridian is triple sheeted, meaning there's a third sheet on top of the blanket. It's a luxury hotel standard that makes the beds feel impossibly soft. You will notice it and you will think about it when you go home. Number four, the Grand Floridian's design inspired two other Disney hotels around the world: the Hong Kong Disneyland Hotel and the Disneyland Hotel in Paris. Disney liked what they built here so much that they basically said, let's do that again, but in a completely different country. Number five, hidden Mickeys are everywhere in the carpets, the wallpaper, the artwork in the guest rooms. Finding them is basically its own attraction. Number six, for over 25 years, the Grand Floridian lobby was home to one of the most extraordinary things Disney ever did at a resort hotel. A life-size gingerbread house that stood more than 16 feet tall and took over a thousand pounds of honey, flour, and chocolate to build. 500 hours just to bake it, nearly 500 more to decorate. 24 hidden Mickeys worked into the icing, and it was real gingerbread. It smelled like Christmas from the moment you walked through the door. And you could buy pieces of it from a little shop built right inside. It debuted in 1999 and became one of those things that guests planned entire holiday trips around. I have to be honest with you, it is gone. When the lobby renovation brought the perch bar in late 2025, the space was taken. And Disney has confirmed the gingerbread house will not return. They are replacing it with smaller gingerbread displays around the hotel, which I do assume will be lovely. But the original was in a category all its own. If you got to see it, you know. And if you never did, I'm sorry, it really was something. Number seven, the two chandeliers in the Grand Floridian lobby are 40 feet tall. 40 feet. They are so large that when they need to be cleaned, they have to be lowered by crane. Think about that the next time you walk under them. And number eight, look down when you walk through the lobby. The Italian marble floor has Disney characters hidden in the detailing. Mickey, Minnie, Donald, Goofy, Pluto, Tinkerbell, Cinderella, and Prince Charming are all worked into the floor. Most guests walk right over them without ever even knowing. Number nine, the Grand Floridian Society Orchestra performed live in that lobby from the day the resort opened in 1988 until October 2020. 32 years of live music. That is a remarkable run. Live music still fills the lobby today, but that orchestra specifically was a piece of Grand Floridian history. Number 10. To reach the monorail from the Grand Floridian, you walk through the main building to the second floor and out onto a covered elevated platform. So while you are not fully enclosed, you are sheltered from the rain and the worst of the sun. It is a quick, easy connection, and the platform itself has a beautiful view of the resort and the lagoon while you wait. Not quite the same as the contemporary where the monorail runs directly through the building, but still one of the most civilized ways to get to a theme park that exists anywhere in the world. Number 11. Every spring, the Grand Floridian lobby fills with an elaborate Easter egg display. Intricate, hand decorated eggs in cases throughout the main building. It is one of those seasonal touches Disney does quietly without fanfare, and it is genuinely beautiful. If you happen to visit around Easter, do not walk past it. And number 12. As part of the current lobby renovation, Imagineers installed a custom curio cabinet in the Hotel Common area. It's filled with small treasures and trinkets inspired by Disney properties and the Victorian era. It is the kind of detail you could walk past a hundred times and then suddenly notice on your fourth trip. That's the Grand Floridian in a nutshell. 12 facts, one resort, and we're just getting started. And here is your Grand Floridian seekout list, the things worth knowing that don't always make the resort map. Base in white on the second floor. This little shop is easy to walk past and a crime to miss. They make bath products scented to smell like specific Disney places. And the one you want is called, isn't it grand? It smells like the lobby of the Grand Floridian. Not a candle, not a room spray, a soap, a bath bomb that smells exactly like that lobby. People buy multiples. You will understand why the moment you smell it. M. Mouse Mercantile, also on the second floor near the monorail entrance. This is where the resort exclusive merchandise lives. Spirit jerseys with the Grand Floridian name in ornate script, loungefly mini backpacks and teal with rows detailing the tiny Mickeys, Victorian-inspired jewelry, resort mugs. These items are not available anywhere else on property. And if you are a merchandise person, budget time here. The Floridian strawberry soup. I mentioned it in the 1900 Park Fair section, but I want to say it again here because it's genuinely one of those Grand Floridian things. Cold, creamy, a little sweet, a little unexpected. Get it at breakfast or dinner. You will either become completely obsessed with it or think it's very strange. Either way, you have to try it. The wedding pavilion walk. Even if you're not getting married, even if you have never thought about it for one second, walk over to the pavilion, cross the footbridge, go inside and look at the window behind the altar. Cinderella Castle perfectly framed through the glass. It was designed specifically for that view. It takes five minutes and costs nothing and is one of the most quietly breathtaking things at any Disney resort. The Gasparilla porch at fireworks time. We talked about this, but it's worth repeating as a seek out because most guests never discover it. Grab a coffee or a snack, find a chair on the porch, and watch the Magic Kingdom fireworks from the grounds of the Grand Floridian. No reservation, no ticket. Small crowd. Just you and the fireworks and one of the most beautiful resorts in the world. The lobby marble floor. Look down. Mickey, Minnie, Donald, Goofy, Pluto, Tinkell, Cinderella, and Prince Charming are all hidden in that Italian marble. Most guests walk over them every single day without ever noticing. Once you see them, you cannot unsee them. And pointing them out to your kids is one of those little free moments that they will actually remember. The electrical water pageant from the beach, we covered this too, but it belongs on a seek out list. It requires a little intention. Check the time it passes the Grand Floridian beach, be there 10 minutes early with a drink in your hand, and just sit. It's free, it's 50 years old, and it's one of those most unexpectedly moving things Disney still does. Well, that's it. That's the Grand Floridian, Disney's premier luxury resort, the Grand Dome of Walt Disney World, and a place that absolutely earns every bit of its reputation. The next episode, we are staying in the deluxe tier and heading to Disney's Wilderness Lodge, a resort with a completely different personality than anything we've covered so far. Think Pacific Northwest National Park Lodge, Towering Pines, A Geyser on Property, and one of the most dramatic lobbies at Disney World. It is a hidden gem that does not always get the attention it deserves, and we will dig into all of it. If today's episode was helpful, please subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotifies, and when wherever you listen, a review goes a long way. It helps other Disney fans find the show, and every single one of them is read and appreciated. And if you are ready to start planning your Grand Floridian trip or any Disney trip, Mouse Management and More Travel is here to help. Reach out, let's build you something extraordinary. I'm Megan Howard. This is Mouse Management and More of the podcast. Keep planning, keep dreaming, and remember, some lobbies are worth standing in for a very long time.

SPEAKER_00 39:36

Thanks for listening. So much left to explore. Till the next adventure from Mouse Management and More.