Greetings Lauren!
I first want to wish you a
grand welcome on planDisney and thank you for this most distinguished question. As a big fan of Disney's Grand Floridian Resort and Spa myself, I am beyond excited for you to experience this beautiful Resort with a theme park view, no less! Besides, there is no better way to celebrate the Walt Disney World Resort's 50th anniversary than staying at one of its oldest Resorts.
One of Disney's
Grand Floridian Resort and Spa's incredible advantages is its proximity to the Magic Kingdom and its beautiful view of the Magic Kingdom fireworks. When it comes to the layout of the Grand Floridian, the buildings that are best oriented toward the fireworks include the Boca Chica building, the Conch Key building and the Sago Cay building. These buildings have a variety of rooms oriented in different ways, so some of the rooms listed as "theme-park view" may not be directly in front of the Magic Kingdom. If you can find a map of the Resort online, keep in mind that Magic Kingdom is directly across the Seven Seas Lagoon from the marina and
Gasparilla Island Grill. The buildings around this area are the ones you will be looking forward to! As for room requests, I would recommend
calling a Disney Cast Member and asking them if you can request a specific building or floor. As with any request, it is not a guarantee that it will be granted, but it is always worth a try! It is typically recommended to call in and make your room requests when booking your room, so I suggest calling in as soon as possible!
Now, Lauren, since Disney's Grand Floridian Resort and Spa is my favourite Resort, I believe that I must share some of my favourite offerings. An absolute must-do when staying at a Disney Resort, in my opinion, is to get Mickey Waffles for breakfast, and Gasparilla Island Grill has been known to have some of Mickey's friends as well! The quick-service restaurant also has excellent quality meals and a beautiful bakery window that usually includes special seasonal items. These delicious baked goods are prepared by the same Grand Floridian Bakery responsible for the famous easter eggs and gingerbread house, so you genuinely get some fantastic desserts! Another one of my favourite dining options is the
Grand Floridian Cafe, which is the perfect destination for a lovely brunch. Although the Traditional Eggs Benedict are my favourites, I have to say that their Brioche French Toast was scrumptious. For a more elevated meal, be sure to also stop by the newly renovated
Cítricos or the famous
Narcoosee's. Lastly, I would highly recommend stopping by the new
Enchanted Rose Lounge to relax after a long park day, and listening to the pianists play some of your favourite Disney songs in the lobby!
I hope this was helpful, Lauren, and that you and your family will have the grandest experience on your upcoming Disney vacation. If you have any other questions in the time leading up to your magical vacation, please don't hesitate to reach out. And after all, answering Grand Floridian questions also lets us dream a little with you!
Have a magical day,
Ariane