DVC Resort Tips and Tricks: Grand Floridian
A monorail ride away from the Magic Kingdom is the Victorian-themed Grand Floridian, Disney World’s flagship resort. Whether you are a repeat guest at the Grand Floridian or you’re thinking of renting a stay at the Grand Floridian for the first time, here are some tips and tricks for booking and enjoying a great stay.
Booking and Availability
At the Grand Floridian, there are two different buildings with DVC accommodations. There’s the original DVC building that is near the Grand Floridian Spa, and then there is the recently converted Big Pine Key building.
Original DVC Building
The original DVC building has the widest range of room types, including Deluxe Studios, One Bedroom Villas, Two Bedroom Villas, and Three Bedroom Grand Villas. There are two view types: Resort View (resort grounds and often the front of the resort) and Preferred View (views of the Seven Seas Lagoon). Since there are fewer Resort View rooms available and they cost fewer points than Preferred View rooms, they tend to book up more quickly. Preferred View rooms tend to be easier to book.
Big Pine Key
Slightly closer to the main building is Big Pine Key, which consists entirely of Resort Studios. These rooms fit up to 5 guests like the Deluxe Studios in the original DVC building, but the amenities differ slightly. In place of the kitchenette is a beverage center. There are also two queen size beds and a sofa bed unlike the queen size bed, Murphy bed, and pull-down bed in the Deluxe Studios. (More details on the differences between the two types of studios are here.) With there being about 200 Resort Studios, they are easier to book than the Deluxe Studios. In addition to Resort View and Preferred View, there are Theme Park View rooms in Big Pine Key, so you can see Happily Ever After from your balcony!
Getting Around
Monorail
While you’ll need to take a bus to Hollywood Studios or Animal Kingdom, the monorail is the main mode of transportation to Magic Kingdom and EPCOT. They’re great when you’re traveling with a stroller or ECV. If you travel with young children, you’ll appreciate that you don’t need to collapse your stroller, not even if it’s a double stroller.
Walking
The Grand Floridian also has a walking path to the Magic Kingdom. It’s about a 15-minute walk from the start of the path by Gasparilla Island Grill at the Grand Floridian to the entrance of the Magic Kingdom. It’s such a convenient alternative when you want to avoid lines for transportation at peak times like rope drop or the end of the day.
Just note that if you are traveling the path at night, the bridge along the walking path goes up to allow the Electrical Water Pageant floats to travel between backstage and the Seven Seas Lagoon. You’ll have to wait for the floats to pass before being able to cross the bridge.
Boats
Another way to get to the Magic Kingdom from the Grand Floridian is by boat. This shared boat stops at the Polynesian before heading to the Magic Kingdom. When returning from the Magic Kingdom, the Grand Floridian is the first stop. There are two different types of boats that travel this route; the larger one can accommodate ECVs and unfolded strollers while the smaller kind cannot.
Dining
Signature Dining
For elevated dining, the Grand Floridian is the best place to stay with the most signature dining options of any Disney World resort:
- Citricos – Enjoy Florida cuisine in an elegant setting inspired by Mary Poppins Returns.
- Narcoosee’s – This restaurant is a must if you love seafood. In addition to the delicious seafood and steak, the restaurant has wonderful fireworks views of Happily Ever After and the Electrical Water Pageant.
- Victoria and Albert’s – This luxurious and award-winning culinary experience offers modern American tasting menus served in an intimate setting.
Character Dining
Visit 1900 Park Fare where you can meet characters such as Cinderella, Snow White, Aladdin, Tiana, and Mirabel. The buffet is open for breakfast and dinner, and it can be a great option for dining with picky eaters since there is truly something for everyone.
Casual Table Service Dining
The Grand Floridian Cafe serves specialities like buttermilk-fried chicken and waffles, miso-glazed salmon, and the Grand Floridian signature burger. If you don’t feel like dining at the restaurant, you may want to consider in-room dining. Many of the menu items are directly from the Grand Floridian Cafe menu.
Quick Service Dining
Gasparilla Island Grill serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner. This is where you’ll find favorites like Mickey waffles, chicken strips, flatbreads, and burgers. If you’re looking for healthier options, you can also create your own salad by selecting your salad blend and choice of toppings and dressing. Gasparilla Island Grill is also where you can fill up any resort refillable mugs here. From the outdoor tables, you can even catch a good view of Happily Ever After.
Bars and Lounges
The Grand Floridian is home to the Beauty-and-the-Beast-themed Enchanted Rose, which has some light bites in addition to wine, beer, and cocktails. There is also the new lobby bar called The Perch, which serves a limited menu of wine, beer, and cocktails. In early 2026, the Garden View Tea Room will reopen as the Garden View Lounge, offering a new tea experience with a Disney twist.
Recreation and Entertainment
Pools
The Grand Floridian has two pools: the Beach Pool and the Courtyard Pool. The Beach Pool is the 111,261-gallon feature pool with a 181-foot waterslide. This is where you’ll find poolside activities, such as games and trivia, and cabanas available for rent. If you prefer a quieter pool, the Courtyard Pool is the resort’s leisure pool, which has an adjacent whirlpool spa. If you like to go for an evening swim, the Courtyard Pool offers partial fireworks views of Happily Ever After.
For little ones, there’s the Alice-in-Wonderland-themed splash pad–just watch out when the Mad Hatter’s hat is ready to tip over!
The Grand Floridian Spa
The Grand Floridian is currently the only Disney-owned-and-operated resort at Disney World that has a full-service spa. Here, you can enjoy massages, body treatments, hair services, manicures, and pedicures. You can make appointments for treatments and services online. The health club that is located in the same building as the spa is open 24/7.
Boat Rentals and More
From the marina just outside of Gasparilla Island Grill, you can rent a motorized boat to cruise the Seven Seas Lagoon, go on a guided bass fishing excursion, or even charter a private watercraft for a fireworks cruise.
Basketball Court
You’ll find a basketball half-court near the health club where you can check out complimentary basketballs.
PhotoPass Photos
On the second floor of the main building (near the grand staircase) is a PhotoPass location. There is rarely a line for photos, and the best part is the variety of props you can pose with. Besides oversized birthday or anniversary buttons, you can pose with Cinderella’s glass slipper.
Enjoy the elegant Grand Floridian for your next Disney World trip! Browse the confirmed reservations, or request a free quote to rent DVC points and save up to 65% compared to booking directly through Disney.
