Grand Floridian Resort & Spa
4401 Floridian Way
Lake Buena Vista, FL 32830
Location, Grounds and Lobby
One of the best things about going to a Walt Disney World Resort is you are not only transported to a different place, you are transported to a different time. There is no better example of this than the Grand Floridian Resort & Spa. From the moment you first see this beautiful white Victorian hotel, you will truly feel like you have stepped back in time. Welcome to the 1890's when life moved at a slower pace and the lucky few wintered in style at grand seaside resorts. If you click on the link above you will see the towering grand lobby that has warm white tones, soft pastels and stained glass skylights. It will draw you in as you look upward.
There is a grand lobby building and five other guestroom buildings that are spread out over beautiful meticulously tended grounds that contain a total of 900 guest rooms. The resort has 14 accessible rooms, all with roll-in showers. When I was reviewing this resort they were completely booked, so the only accessible room I was able to review was a suite. So I think we can all agree that a standard accessible room may not have everything in it in that is in the pictures gallery, but I am quite sure that all of the rooms are exceptional. Keep posted, because the next time I visit this resort, I will be reviewing a standard room and I will add that information to this page.
In the grand lobby area the check-in desk is very long and high, there is no accessible desk, so please be sure to let them know that you will need assistance at check-in when you make your reservations. Please click on the pictures below to check out the Gallery when finishing reading.
The Suite
The suite has a dresser with a built-in flat screen satellite TV, with a DVD player or DVD/VCR combo player and a refrigerator in the cabinet below (microwaves are available on request). To the right there is a desk with internet connection and a lamp. There is a small table under the desk that can be moved out into the room and will provides some nice additional storage space. The mirror on the wall is hung at a good height so you can actually see how you look before you start out on your adventures. The entrance door has a low peep hole. Two queen size beds with regular night stand with a phone and clock radio. The light switches on the wall above the phone and clock radio are difficult to reach so be sure to have a grabber or a reacher with you.There is an extra living room that is a feature exclusive to the suites, but oddly enough, there really isn't a lot of room to maneuver. However, if you reserve a suite you can request that they rearrange the furniture to provide better access to the balcony. The balcony is quite narrow and you won't be able to turn a round on it if you are in a wheelchair, but from the doorway you can still enjoy the beautiful view out toward the pool area and also toward the main lobby building. The extra living space also has a T.V. that is stored in the cabinet. There is a thermostat, light switches, and a button for operating the entrance door. The closet has a sliding mirror door and also contains a safe, but when you see the pictures gallery, the closet hang bar is not low enough to accommodate someone in a wheelchair.
The Bathroom
The sink area is a good height and the towels are accessible as placed. There is a toilet with a grab bar on one side and on the back wall. There is also the luxury of a phone on the side wall just in case you need assistance. The bathroom has a pocket door with a easy handle for you to close it. There are additional towels hanging on accessible racks to the left of the bathroom door and also next to the shower entrance. The roll-in shower has a fold-out bench, grab bars half way around, a low soap dish holder and an adjustable hand-held shower head (be sure to have someone lower it to an accessible height as you get in the room.) Personally, I think the bathroom would be a bit difficult to maneuver in if you use a scooter or a wide wheel wheelchair.
