Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort and Spa is the flagship resort of Disney Resort. It exudes elegance and sophistication in a way that other resorts do not. The spa and salon is a great way to experience the luxury of the resort, with or without a hotel reservation for the Grand Floridian!
Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort and Spa
Although the Grand Floridian is not the first Disney Resort, it is one of the most well-known. Themed after the Victorian elegance of turn-of-the-century Florida beach towns, the white buildings and red gabled roofs are unmistakable as you enter the Magic Kingdom area.
Did you know the resorts in the Magic Kingdom area reflect the various lands of the park? The Grand Floridian represents Main Street, U.S.A. with its elegant old-time feel.
The resort opened in the summer of 1988 and is home to many restaurants, the Disney Wedding Pavilion, and almost 1,000 rooms. It has become known as Disney’s flagship resort, and it is on the bucket list for many Disney fans despite the high price tag.
The Spa and Salon
The Grand Floridian also has a full-service spa, salon and health club reminiscent of a serene Florida garden. You will find it tucked away near the Villas, which can make it a little tricky to get to if you are not familiar with the resort.
From the Main Building, follow the covered walking path to the Villas. Once you reach the fountain, take a right at the open air walking path. Continue on that walkway, and you will pass under the Monorail tracks and across the street.
Once there, it is hard to mistake the red roof building! You’ll notice the tennis court and grilling station as well.
Services Offered
Because this is a full-service spa and salon, you can expect many of the same offerings you would have at home. Choose from a variety of body massages and treatments, facials, and manicures and pedicures.
In addition, there is a full-service salon where you can receive full hair and makeup services. The Magical Makeover and Magical Makeup services are perfect for adults that want the Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique experience!
For children and teens, they also have the chance to experience the spa and salon with a variety of services tailored just for them. The Grand Floridian will provide a more sophisticated experience for older children who may be too old for the Boutique or who have outgrown it but still want the pampering and magic.
In order to book your service(s), you’ll be directed to a third-party website from the Disney World website. Keep in mind that pricing is subject to change and they book out 60 days in advance like other Disney reservations.
I recommend booking early so you can get the time/service you want. If you have a tightly-packed day, this is especially important. Stopping at the Grand Floridian before a day at the Magic Kingdom sure sounds magical, but you’ll need to book early to ensure you don’t take too much time away from the parks!
You will receive a phone call a day before confirming your appointment(s). If you need to cancel, it’s best to do so at least 24 hours in advance so you are not charged. For what it’s worth, I did not have to give my credit card number when booking so I am unsure how exactly they charge you for a no-show. However, it’s always nice to be courteous and open up an appointment for others!
Before Your Appointment
I recommend arriving about 20-30 minutes before your appointment depending on the services you will receive. Upon arrival, you will be greeted by Cast Members confirming your appointment. You will be led back to the waiting area, which has a snack and drink bar, lockers to change and store belongings, and several chairs to relax in before your appointment.
Feel free to change into a robe and slippers if you have a spa appointment. You may want to arrive even earlier than the suggested 20-30 minutes to take your time and enjoy the experience.
There is also a steam room and spa pool for you to use as well. This area is pretty small along with the waiting room. I would say there are about 8-10 reclining chairs, and they were all full while I was visiting.
They do ask that cell phones be turned off and put away to maintain the serenity of the area and privacy of the Guests. So, that is why you will not see a lot of photos of this area (and also why the images are poor quality; they are screenshots from quick videos I took. I hope you understand!).
During Your Appointment
You will then be led back to receive your services. I had a salon appointment (Bounding Braids), so I did not see the rooms for the body treatments. The hair salon and manicure/pedicure services are all together in one area, so this is convenient for a group of people getting various salon services.
The salon had about 5 chairs set up, and I was the only person in for my hair appointment. There was only a mother/daughter duo in the mani/pedi area, so it appears that most of the people in the waiting room were there for spa appointments.
As mentioned above, I booked the Bounding Braids service. This just recently returned with a price increase ($20 to $45). I was very excited to do this as I have very thick and long hair, and the thought of the Florida humidity on my neck was enough for me to try this out.
The stylist did a fantastic job on my hair, and she was very friendly. In total, the braiding only took about 15 minutes from start to finish, and we chatted the whole time like old friends. She was able to honor my request of not too tight so it hurts my head but not too loose that it will fall out.
My braids lasted a full two days before stray hairs started coming out of the braids. I took them out and enjoyed some nice waves for another day!
After Your Appointment
You are free to use the spa services for the rest of the day. You may want to bring a swimsuit if you plan to enjoy the steam room and spa pool. Booking a smaller service is a great way to enjoy the full services of a Spa and Salon, and that is why I think Disney increased the price of Bounding Braids.
I highly recommend making a half day out of this. While that would be expensive, you could easily spend a few hours lounging between appointments. Perhaps get a massage, enjoy the steam room and spa pool, and then get a manicure.
Another thing to keep in mind is that Disney automatically adds a 20% service charge in place of a gratuity. Of course, feel free to add to that if you wish, but just know that you are already tipping 20% when you pay your bill.
Finally, I compiled all of the quick videos I was able to grab, so you can see for yourself. I hope you understand why I was unable to get full videos and photos!
What questions do you have about the Spa and Salon? Ask them below, and I will be sure to answer them! Also, feel free to share this post with a friend who may be interested.
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