Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort Officially Reopens (Photos) Plus Fall Flavors Cupcake

Hi everyone!

Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort officially reopened yesterday (September 21st, 2020) after being part of the NBA bubble. The Villas at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort has been open since June 22nd as have other DVC properties, along with some restaurants. We had also stopped by here on Sunday and I have some photos from two days, including the new autumn cupcake. I already posted photos of the soon-to-open walkway to the Magic Kingdom from yesterday.

It is nice having scanners at the monorail resorts now to enter the monorail instead of a hand bag check, just like entering the parks.

 

M. Mouse Mercantile was open and the Mickey and Minnie figures are dressed in their Halloween costumes.

Minnie is a witch.

Here is Mickey in his Halloween costume. With so many changes right now, something I take for granted normally like Halloween window decorations is a welcome surprise.

There is Halloween merchandise inside as well.

The resort was not busy yesterday as I walked around and picked up something at Gasparilla Island. The day prior, there was a lot of rain so the lobby was a bit more active.

Here is a look down at the lobby yesterday afternoon.

The familiar flower pots are still in the lobby but flowers were not yet.

 

I still remember when these floors were added, including the characters. That was about 10 years ago and I had taken photos for the site back then.

Looking up.

The Grand Floridian Cafe has been open since June 22nd, I took this photo of the foyer outside of it on Sunday. Narcoossee’s just reopened as well. Many restaurants around the resorts and some in the parks are not yet reopened, just as many resorts have not yet opened back up.

   

The landscaping and flowers really look nice.

Flowers surround the topiary swans and fountain.

The blue flowers evoke water beneath them.

 

It is nice to see the beautiful topiaries.

We haven’t seen a lot of blue sky in the past week, it was a perfect day (breezy with 80 degree temperatures) for a walk.

We have been using mobile order around the parks and resorts quite a bit. Gasparilla Island Grill has been open since June 22nd but it was my first time inside since reopening.

I put in my mobile order and picked up the cupcake inside.

The dining area is open with a minimum amount of seating for social distance. We aren’t eating inside yet and there are quite a few tables outside as well.

The Fall Flavors Cupcake is now one of my favorite Disney cupcakes ever.

The buttercream on top is delicious and beautiful, and opening the cupcake is like opening a Tonga Toast with a wonderful surprise inside. Although in this case, it isn’t filled with bananas but apple like having apple pie. Buttercream and apples together sounded intriguing to me but I wasn’t expecting to really just be wowed by a cupcake. I picked up another one yesterday to split at home after running around the Magic Kingdom and resorts. The cake itself is cinnamon spice. It was not in the foodie guide to the resorts and Disney Springs that Disney put out, but definitely check this out if you can.

I also picked up some house made chips for a snack yesterday and sat with a nice view.

I walked to Disney’s Polynesian Resort and then back to the parking lot at the TTC. I look forward to being able to walk from the TTC all the way to the Magic Kingdom soon.

There were plenty of chairs out for guests looking for some sun.

I have been posting Halloween articles over the past week and I will have much more to post this week. And when the Grand Floridian path opens, I will head over there for pictures and a photo walk.