Gasparilla Island Grill Bathroom: Palm Trees at the Grand Floridian: Bathroom #79

The Story

Gasparilla Island Grill is the quick-service restaurant at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort.

And for the longest time...

I had absolutely no idea where it was.

Dave and I stayed at the Grand Floridian for our honeymoon back in 1999.

Yes.

1999.

I am that old.

Anyway...

Every day we tried to find this restaurant.

Every. Single. Day.

We wandered around the Grand Floridian like two confused newlyweds searching for a restaurant that apparently existed in another dimension.

We never found it.

It took us YEARS to realize one very important fact:

Gasparilla Island Grill is by the marina.

So please.

Learn from young Dave and Maggie.

When you exit the main building with the main pool in front of you, walk a little bit and turn left.

Yes.

Toward the marina.

Keep going and Gasparilla Island Grill will be on your left, right where all the outdoor tables are.

Dave and I were so young.

So naïve.

So apparently unwilling to investigate a pathway.

Bless our little 1999 hearts.

But we are not here to discuss my questionable honeymoon navigation skills.

We are here for the bathroom.

And this bathroom surprised me.

The entrance to Gasparilla fits the Grand Floridian perfectly.

White.

Pretty.

Elegant.

Very Grand Floridian.

So naturally, I assumed the bathroom would look similar to the other Grand Floridian bathrooms.

Nope.

The Imagineers apparently looked at the word Island in Gasparilla Island Grill and said:

Palm Trees.

There is a palm tree border.

At the Grand Floridian.

I laugh every single time I see it.

Of all the things I expected to find decorating a Grand Floridian bathroom, palm tress were nowhere on the list.

But you know what?

I kind of love them.

The bathroom itself is slightly hidden.

It isn't in the back of the restaurant.

Instead, it is tucked into a little corner on the right side, near the middle of the restaurant.

And unfortunately...

It is right by the area where everyone returns their trays and throws away their trash.

This creates a tiny intersection of chaos.

People carrying trays.

People throwing away food.

People looking for the bathroom.

People leaving the bathroom.

People trying to figure out why I am standing there taking pictures of restroom signs.

Everyone is going every which way.

There is almost no room to maneuver.

Which is why my pictures of these restroom signs are a little awkward.

I did my best.

The bathroom itself is very small.

And this is where my palm tree happiness ends.

There are only a couple of stalls and two sinks.

For the main quick-service restaurant at the Grand Floridian.

That is not enough.

This bathroom gets busy.

Really busy.

And it does not handle those crowds particularly well.

We've had more than a few urgent bathroom situations here over the years, and when you desperately need a restroom, the cramped layout and limited number of stalls can make this one especially stressful.

In the past, I also remember this bathroom being pretty dirty.

But I have to give credit where credit is due.

On my recent visits?

It has been very clean.

Especially considering how many people use it.

The air conditioning worked just fine.

The toilets are manual.

And those palm trees?

Still the star of the show.

The palm tree border travels around the bathroom, giving this tiny Grand Floridian restroom far more personality than I ever expected.

Is it elegant?

No.

Is it fancy?

No.

Does it scream Grand Floridian?

Absolutely not.

But does it have palm trees?

Yes.

And apparently that is enough to make me happy.

A Tiny Aside

Gasparilla Island Grill is now serving make-your-own parfaits.

And the toppings looked GOOD.

The Details

Location: Inside Gasparilla Island Grill at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa

Nearest Landmark: The marina

Best Time to Visit: Between meal rushes

Crowd Level: Busy, especially around breakfast, lunch, and dinner

Anything Special: Palm trees. So many unexpected Grand Floridian palm trees.

The Official Ruling

Situation: Convenient if you are eating at Gasparilla, but the bathroom is tucked into an awkward corner beside the tray and trash return area.

Cold Air: Yes. The air conditioning worked just fine.

Stall Situation: Not good. There are only a couple of stalls, and this bathroom is too small for the number of people using the restaurant.

Paper Situation: Nothing unusual to report.

Flush Situation: Manual toilets. My favorite.

Noise Level: Moderate to loud. Gasparilla can get busy, and the bathroom is surrounded by restaurant traffic.

Smell: Fine on my recent visits.

Handwashing Area: Two sinks.

Decor: Palm trees!

The palm tree border is easily my favorite part of this bathroom.

It is unexpected.

It is cheerful.

It is slightly ridiculous at the Grand Floridian.

Therefore, I approve.

Companion Restroom: None inside this restroom area that I observed.

Overall Comfort: Okay when the restaurant is quiet.

Much less comfortable when Gasparilla is busy because there simply isn't enough room.

Final Verdict

This bathroom is a strange little palm tree hiding inside the Grand Floridian.

It doesn't have the elegance of the resort's other bathrooms.

It is too small.

The location beside the tray return creates unnecessary chaos.

And it definitely needs more stalls.

But...

It has improved.

It was clean.

The air conditioning worked.

The toilets are manual.

And somehow those ridiculous little palm trees have won me over.

Would I race across the Grand Floridian specifically to use this bathroom?

Absolutely not.

Would I smile at the palm tree border every single time I use it?

Absolutely.

The Bathroom Adventure Continues! 🚽

One bathroom down. Approximately a million more to go. Okay, slight exaggeration. But I'm working my way through Walt Disney World, one restroom at a time. From beautiful bathrooms to questionable toilet paper, I'm inspecting it all.

Follow along with The Great Disney Bathroom Quest to discover more bathrooms, hidden details, and places you might want to know about before you really have to go.

Why Do I Care So Much About Bathrooms?

Because bathrooms matter. Not just the pretty ones or the ones with interesting wallpaper. The practical ones. The quiet ones. The accessible ones. The ones that can turn a stressful day into a manageable one.

If you're wondering why I've devoted so much time to reviewing restrooms, read Why Bathrooms Matter.