need 14 rooms, and help

[boswellnakia]

We are needing 18 rooms for an youth trip to Disney. I thought I could book it this weekend through Grand Gatherings, but they tell me I have to call Groups on Monday when they open. I'm scared now that since I have to go through groups, that I might not be able to use the existing discounts. Some want Free dining. Some just want the room discount.

Has anyone ever booked group rooms and know if you can apply current discounts if there is availability? I would like to have our rooms fairly close together, but I may have to just book them as two smaller grand gatherings or as individual rooms. Waiting til Monday when Groups open is going to cause an ulcer.

 

[verticalchaos]

We are needing 18 rooms for an youth trip to Disney. I thought I could book it this weekend through Grand Gatherings, but they tell me I have to call Groups on Monday when they open. I'm scared now that since I have to go through groups, that I might not be able to use the existing discounts. Some want Free dining. Some just want the room discount.

Has anyone ever booked group rooms and know if you can apply current discounts if there is availability? I would like to have our rooms fairly close together, but I may have to just book them as two smaller grand gatherings or as individual rooms. Waiting til Monday when Groups open is going to cause an ulcer.

I don't know, but I would think a group rate would be different than the things available with discounts. At least that's how it was with a hotel where I used to work. If you were with a group and wanted the amenities of the group, you had to get your room with that group rate. If you wanted some other discount, you got nothing affiliated with that group.

IF it's even possible, you'll probably either have to do one that meets as much as possible of the requests or two - but that would be a nightmare to coordinate. Why were they even given the options to begin with?

 

[boswellnakia]

I'm not wanting a group rate. I would just like to have the opportunity to book the current discount offers if they are available at the resorts that we are interested. In the past, our room total was less than ten rooms. We would call, book a grand gathering and they would give us what ever discount was open to the general public. But since we need more than ten rooms this time, they won't even check for me. They say I have to talk to Groups and the Grand Gathering folks didn't know whether they would let me utilize the general discounts. I don't necessarily want group rates, I just want to be able to book atleast some of the rooms at the current general public discounts and have the rooms in the same general resort vicinity.

 

[TDC Nala]

I do not know if you will be able to book as a group and have only some of the rooms get free dining. You'd have to ask Group Reservations that.

 

[Upatnoon]

Are you paying for all of the rooms or is each family paying for their individual rooms?

When we went as part of a wedding party, guests were given a pin code to use for a discounted room. The guests controlled the reservation and could add whatever they wanted on it, such as dining and tickets.

We went, but I found a better deal than what was offered by the pin code, so I used a different discount.

 

[disfan07]

We went to Disney for a band trip in 2007. My mom planned the trip. There were more than 120 students on that trip. She got discounted rates thorugh Group reservations. None of the general public discounts can be applied. (Or at least that was the way it used to be).

If you want the discounts, I believe you will have to book the rooms separately adn not thourgh groups.

 

[spiceycat]

I'm not wanting a group rate. I would just like to have the opportunity to book the current discount offers if they are available at the resorts that we are interested. In the past, our room total was less than ten rooms. We would call, book a grand gathering and they would give us what ever discount was open to the general public. But since we need more than ten rooms this time, they won't even check for me. They say I have to talk to Groups and the Grand Gathering folks didn't know whether they would let me utilize the general discounts. I don't necessarily want group rates, I just want to be able to book atleast some of the rooms at the current general public discounts and have the rooms in the same general resort vicinity.

sounds like you need to do TWO grand gathering - just somelse in your group to help. One with room discount and one with free dinning - if allowed.

 

[megwilliams]

sounds like you need to do TWO grand gathering - just somelse in your group to help. One with room discount and one with free dinning - if allowed.

This is what I was thinking as well. I would group the families by who wanted FD and who wanted RO and go from there, possibly using another person/name as the go-to for the second group of ressies.

 

[Jareds_mommy]

we just booked a large number of rooms, I think we may be up to 15 now. I booked ours first with grand gatherings got our number and just passed it out to the rest of the parties going and they booked their own and attached to our grand gathering mostof us have feww dining but for some if a room discount comes along for that time frame it will work out better for them to change.

 

[Tyme4wdw]

Actually going through Group Sales will help you far more than Grand Gatherings!!! They have great discounts not only on rooms, but tickets as well! I worked with a Dennis Edmonds at Disney Group Sales at 407-566-4914. He was really nice to work with, answered all questions quickly and fully and made it very easy process. The room and tickets discounts were fantastic! Better than other discounts I have seen through the years!

 

[Tyme4wdw]

Also with group sales, the whole party does not have to stay in the same resort. Each family can stay at the resort of their choice. They also had deals on dining as well. Definitely look into Group Sales!

 

[Disneymama5816]

As a TA, I have worked with both Grand Gatherings and Disney Groups (Dennis Edmonds is FABULOUS!!!) As others have stated, if you work with Groups, you will probably not be able to have the free dining or other prevailing promos. That being said, Groups does have really good deals on tickets and rooms, so it may work out better for your group. Are you processing the payments yourself or is everyone paying their own way? If they are paying their own way, you might be able to set up a Grand Gathering with a number and pass that number along. Both scenarios have their positives and negatives. Not sure where you are located, but if you know a TA, this might be the time to work with one. A good TA, will not charge you anything for their expertise, but will be able to negotiate the rooms for you and figure out the best options for your large group. Good Luck!!!

 

[boswellnakia]

Thanks for everyone's thoughts. I'll be collecting the money and they'll all be paying in cash (yeah!). Since it's a youth group, we'll all be staying in the same resort. We are getting a great ticket rates because of the YES program; we just really need rooms with a few excpetion of two families willling to pay the extra for free dining. Part of the delimma is most of the families know about the room only discounts and if the group's rates aren't close, they will be complaining like crazy. Sounds like we can't add the free dining and room only discount to the groups' program.

 

[Tyme4wdw]

Sent you a pm

 

[gigi1313]

my recommendation would be to work with a disney specialist travel agent... he/she will be able to navigate Group Sales vs Grand Gathering and find what works best for your group, gives everybody what they want, etc...

also, when you say "youth group trip" will you want any of the amenities that go along w/group travel? group check in, group transportation, rooms blocked together, etc? will you need backstage transport for performing in an event at wdw?

 

[TDC Nala]

I am pretty sure that if you book any sort of discounted room you are not eligible for free dining. That is something you will definitely need to check. The families who want free dining may need to decide if they would rather have that or the group discount. If they want the free dining, they'd probably need to book the rooms on their own.

 

[gigi1313]

I am pretty sure that if you book any sort of discounted room you are not eligible for free dining. That is something you will definitely need to check. The families who want free dining may need to decide if they would rather have that or the group discount. If they want the free dining, they'd probably need to book the rooms on their own.

and run the risk of not having rooms blocked together with the group, among other downsides...