And the next Disney "celebration" will be...........................

[DisneyKidds]

Magical Gatherings!

Here is info on this new celebration that Al Weiss apparently has officially announced to CM's.

August 4 - Announcing Magical Gatherings

I'm thrilled to tell you that soon we'll publicly announce a new way for guests to experience the Walt Disney World Resort, and it's called Magical Gatherings. I wanted to tell you about it first, because I'm very excited about its potential to enchant our guests and drive our business.

Magical Gatherings is the theme we'll celebrate property-wide starting in October and continuing for 15 months. It will focus on the magic of reconnecting with family and friends, and it will help us tap into the most dynamic trend in travel - extending the family vacation beyond the immediate family.

More than ever before, people are choosing vacations that let them spend quality time with those they love. What better place to do that than here at the Walt Disney World Resort? We've been bringing people together for more than three decades, because we know that more is always merrier. But no matter what size the party is, everyone visiting us will have a Magical Gathering during this time frame.

When our guests travel in parties of eight or more and stay in a Walt Disney World resort, we'll give them the designation of Grand Gathering. For them, we'll offer an array of new products and services such as itinerary planning, a vacation-planning kit for larger parties and custom-designed experiences just for these gatherings, to name a few.

In addition to all this, we'll roll out Mission: SPACE at Epcot and Mickey's PhilharMagic at the Magic Kingdom Park as part of Magical Gatherings, as well as Disney's Pop Century Resort and Disney's Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa. At the Magic Kingdom Park, we'll debut a fireworks show called "Wishes." There's much more to this event, and you'll learn all the details soon.

One element that sets Magical Gatherings apart is that, even at the end of the 15 months, the products and services we're developing for larger parties will live on as part of our everyday business. We'll make sure it's always fun and easy to vacation with loved ones at the Walt Disney World Resort.

I look forward to helping our guests celebrate the joy of families and friends coming together, and the power of their shared experiences. We know the Walt Disney World Resort is the most magical place on earth. Now with Magical Gatherings, it will be, quite simply, magic multiplied.

Al Weiss
President
Walt Disney World

Any excuse for a celebration I suppose. Not sure exactly how effective or what a big draw it would be, but at least they have soenthing to tout along with the new rides/shows opening this summer/fall.

I wonder what kind of things they will make available to parties of 8 or more.....................and how many DVC/AP/Less than 8 groups will cry that Disney is ignoring their loyal fan base?

Phew............good thing we are trying to plan a Nov/Dec 204 trip for my extended family so we won't be left out. Ain't gonna be my straw..............not gonna doit .

PS - Is it me, or does the language of this memo seem to say that SSR will open during this celebration, meaning it would open by Dec 2004? Had a projected opening date for SSR been established yet?

 

[raidermatt]

As ususal, we need the details first, but that said...

This sounds more like a sales/product promotion than what we usually term celebrations (like 100 years). Especially since they expect the features/offerings to remain.

There can't be much to it from a "celebration" point of view, since the next biggie is the "50 years" celebration, and the timeframe for Magical Beginnings would take it to the end of 2004.

I don't see a major problem with offering extra services to large groups, provided DVC/AP rates/etc are not excluded, AND the services do not work to the detriment of other guests.

 

[toefungus]

This is more of an advertising campaign than a celebration. But I am looking foward to Philharmagic, Mission:Space to open and Wishes to begin. Those three should be enough reason to go back for a visit.

 

[DisneyKidds]

I agree this seems like little more than a marketing ploy..................but isn't that what all the "celebrations" are?

That being said, it seems that Disney might view this as a true Disney "celebration" (however the heck they define that), as it is slated for the usual 15 months they usually hold "celebrations" for, and Al describes it as a "theme they will celebrate" property wide. For some reason Disney seems to feel they always have to have a "celebration" going on, but they are often a stretch - and this is one of the bigger stretches.

I really don't care what they call it, it will be interesting to see what they do/offer.

 

[RoutemanDan]

Originally posted by DisneyKidds
PS - Is it me, or does the language of this memo seem to say that SSR will open during this celebration, meaning it would open by Dec 2004? Had a projected opening date for SSR been established yet?

The first phase of Saratoga Springs is scheduled to open in April of 2004.

 

[DisneyKidds]

Originally posted by RoutemanDan
The first phase of Saratoga Springs is scheduled to open in April of 2004.

Thanks - I hadn't been following SSR all that closely. Wonder when they will start selling SSR (or have they)?

 

[Baileymouse]

I received an email from DVC asking me to buy into SSR, with a base price of 13,500 or so, which means they've probably started.

 

[d-r]

August 4

 

[mitros]

I forget, what is the time frame they use for being able to make reservations at a new DVC resort once they start selling there, which they have obviously started.

 

[grinningghost]

Definitely a marketing strategy - bigger groups mean bigger money.

Not a celebration unless everyone can partake in it. I know for us, there's never more than 4 in our party - there's no chance for a WDW family reunion, as the rest of our relatives already think we're insane for going there at all.

 

[RoutemanDan]

Originally posted by mitros
I forget, what is the time frame they use for being able to make reservations at a new DVC resort once they start selling there, which they have obviously started.

For SSR members they can begin making Reservations in Dec, for members with points elsewhere,February.
They have some great cgi stuff on the dvc site.

 

[mitros]

Thanks for the info! By the way... what is cgi?

 

[FriendsOfEeyore]

cgi = is computer graphics (animation kind of) like Nemo

 

[mitros]

Thanks!

 

[King Triton]

Will the parades remain the same after October?

Take care

 

[disrailfan]

Bummer, I guess I need to find one more person to go on our trip with us in December. But then again maybe they will make an exception since we are DVC members, we own DVC interest and we have a Disney Visa Card! lol

 

[Gette88]

Does anyone know if they will be offering room only discounts for people traveling with more then 8? We are going in April with 2 oyher families, a total of 12 people. I'd love to get a room only deal through the Magical Gatherings Celebration. We have 3 rooms booked now at ASMo. and I'd love to surprise everyone with an upgrade.

 

[DisneyKidds]

Details are sketchy/nonexistent at this point, as far as what I've seen. I'm not even sure this "celebration" has been officially announced to the public. My guess is it will still be a while before any of the discounts/programs/perks for large gatherings are known and available for reservation. At least you have time to make changes/rebook since the celebration will start in Oct.

 

[ohanafamily]

Gette88, there are several ways to get an additional discount; I'll send you a PM with more details.

Probably these packages are not going to be for "Room Only" reservations (especially since the CRO appears to be going away), but for packages booked through DTA.

Depending on where/how you booked your reservations this package may not be availabe to you.

Other comments:
ASMO is on-site, but I would also think that off-site guest will also be excluded.

DVC books through Member Services, and if they follow through the way they have in the past, you will have to use DTA to get the "Perks". Then again, most DVC members have guides that do a lot more than any planning kit

Looks to me like a way to get bigger groups into the parks for more $$$$$; pure marketting.

JMHO