Hi everyone! Hope you all had a fantastic Thanksgiving & survived Black Friday!
Grand Gathering info:
I called Grand Gatherings a couple of times, but it took me some research to figure out what the heck they were talking about, but I think I got it pretty much figured out now?
If we want to link as a Grand Gathering, I would have to call & give my resort reservation number & then I would be given a Grand Gathering planner & number that you would all be given & then you would call & add your resort reservation number so we could be linked as a group & our planner would make all our group dining plans for us.
The problem is that some of us are not staying on-site so we will NOT all qualify for a Grand Gathering; however, I can could call & book a private party instead? I did call catering & asked about a private
dessert party & it is "doable" but they won't tell me nuttin' as far as prices until I actually book it.

Does this sound like something we might like to do instead? Would we want to include dinner? A cash bar? What date? Any feedback, ideas, comments???
We don't have to decide anything now & in fact I think we should wait till after the holidays since everyone is busy right now. Maybe in January we could get a roll call going with resort, dates, who's planning what, etc?
I did find a post in which someone booked a private dinner in Epcot, but it's from 2006 so I'm not sure how much has changed & how much the price has increased:
"As for private events in the parks, I went through Epcot catering and we are having a private IllumiNations party to celebrate my son's 3rd birthday on the lower terrace of the UK pavillion. Blair from Epcot catering has been an absolute doll! I got quite the bargain and a MUCH better deal then if I had gone through the Grand Gatherings people. To give you an idea, I think I am paying about $25 per person for the private party in the UK and that inludes 4 hot entrees and a few simple appetizers, all you can eat and all you can drink (soda and water only) for 2 hours + $250 for the site rental. I will also have to pay a $50 small party fee if I have less than 20 people show up but right now, I don't think that will be a problem either way.
You get a Disney security guard for your event in order to make sure that only people invited are allowed in, an event coordinator to assist with your event, and 1-2 people manning the food stations. There is even an option of allowing guests who don't have park tickets to attend your event. For $12.50 each, Disney security will escort your guests who don't have tickets to the party location starting at 1 hour prior to the party."