Disney's Grand Floridian Resort is on the monorail route to Magic Kingdom.
The Grand Floridian Resort & Spa at the Walt Disney World Resort (disneyworld.com) is considered to be Disney's flagship resort. Located in the Orlando, Florida area, its elegant Victorian-style architecture was inspired by the Hotel Del Coronado in San Diego, California. Its beach on the Seven Seas Lagoon has a great view across the water of Cinderella's Castle in Magic Kingdom, the oldest theme park in Walt Disney World.
Tea Parties
Located on the second floor of the main building, the Garden View Lounge hosts formal tea parties for both adults and children. "Afternoon Tea" is served to adults in the British tradition, complete with scones and other tea fare. In the mornings, girls ages 3 to 11 may attend "My Disney Girl's Perfectly Princess Tea Party" with an adult. Each girl receives a doll and mementos with her tea that "magically tastes like juice," accompanied by fruit and tea sandwiches. The Wonderland Tea Party, held on the first floor of the main building at 1900 Park Fare, offers a "mad" time with Alice and her friends on weekday afternoons. Reservations are required for all tea parties.
Transportation
The Grand Floridian is a stop on the monorail route that services the Polynesian and Contemporary resorts, Magic Kingdom theme park and the Transportation and Ticket Center. You can travel to Magic Kingdom theme park from the Grand Floridian by monorail or by water taxi. When travelling to the Epcot theme park, take the monorail resort route to the Transportation and Ticket Center and transfer to the Epcot monorail route. All other theme parks and water parks are accessible by bus. Direct bus transportation between resorts is not possible -- you must take a bus to Downtown Disney and transfer to a resort hotel bus. You can, however, reach the Polynesian and Contemporary resorts by monorail, and a jogging trail connects the two properties. Transportation to and from the Orlando International Airport is complimentary for resort guests by reservation through Disney's Magical Express.
Fireworks and Live Music
The beach at the Grand Floridian and the boat dock by its signature restaurant, Narcoossee's, have unobstructed views of Magic Kingdom's fireworks show and the Electrical Water Pageant. Some "Lagoon View" rooms have a direct view of the castle so you can sit on your deck and watch the castle changing colors long after the fireworks show. Back in the five-story lobby, a pianist plays the grand piano, alternating sets with The Grand Floridian Society Orchestra performing big band music from the second floor, overlooking the lobby.
Hidden Mickeys
A Hidden Mickey is a subtle image made up of three circles -- one large circle for his head and two smaller circles for his ears. Disney Imagineers blend this logo into their designs and Disney fans enjoy hunting for them. Mickey is hidden in the fleur-de-lis pattern of tiles on the floor of the second level, the metal braces on the shelves at the check-out counter at Gasparilla Grill & Games, on the back of the grand piano, on the lute at Victoria & Albert's and outside on the weather vanes. Guests at the Wedding Pavilion can find Hidden Mickeys on the metal grates covering the air vents and on the rumps of horses that transport the bride and groom in the Cinderella Carriage horse train.
Tags: Grand Floridian, Magic Kingdom, theme park, monorail route, Contemporary resorts, Disney World