Anyone done a GRAND Gathering? Tell me about them and the "perks". Worth it?

[cheerbop]

We are considering having a grand gathering with some of our family sometime between next Sept and the following February.

Anyone done this? What exactly makes it special and different?

Are the extra activities worth the cost? Fill me in please!!!!!!!!

Thanks

 

[Alicnwondrln]

theres a whole page about this on wdw sites. I will send you the link

 

[kaw1218]

We are considering having a grand gathering with some of our family sometime between next Sept and the following February.

Anyone done this? What exactly makes it special and different?

Are the extra activities worth the cost? Fill me in please!!!!!!!!

Thanks

There are only 4 activities that cost extra.... a dinner in epcot.... breakfast in MK.. a safari dinner....and a fireworks cruise....
we are having a grand gathering this september...and one of the perks is they link everything by the gathering number(rooms, meals, activities).... we will get an itenerary will all our ADRs listed...plus we got a number to call our grand gathering specialist... they helped with making the various reservations.

 

[kaw1218]

Oh I forgot to mention...you don't have to have any of the 4 activities to have a grand gathering... it doesn't actually cost anything more to make it a grand gathering.
We are trying the epcot dinner. but since we don't go until september I can't really say much about it except its an international buffet and then there is a special area where we have dessert and watch illuminations.

 

[cheerbop]

Has it been worth it to have someone else help you (disney) plan this?

Could I book large parties for reservations without being a Grand Gathering?

Do those that have used this planning feel it has been worth it, or do you think you could have booked yourself?

Thanks

 

[Alicnwondrln]

you can book this yourself
disney guides you along the way to make sure things you request are done and it also depends on how many poeple go
it is nice to have their help and it doesnt cost you anything
but if you want to do some of the special extras its nice to have the help
the illuminations dessert party is great and I like the tees they do but as of right now they only come in royal blue which stinks

 

[Grandmouse]

Our Grand Gathering is later this month and there will be about 50 attending. We are on our third or fourth "specialist" and the current one never seems to know what the previous one has done. One in particular has been very rude when we questioned something that had been told to us before. He actually said he didn't care what someone else had told us. They have given us little or no help. Yes, we did get our resort rooms at a reduced price (there needs to be 10 or more rooms booked to get a reduction), but other than that, their claim to assist you in the planning has been a joke. I have found that the Convention Services Department is very poorly run. They do not return phone calls, e-mails, or fax. Once you make your resort ressies and they find out you are not interested in an Illuminations Dessert Party (they would make a lot of $$ on this), they aren't interested in helping you plan anything else. We are having a group breakfast and two group dinners, one at Hoop-dee-Doo and the other at Epcot, and we've planned them ourselves.

I am planning to visit the All-Stars Catering & Convention Services when I am there -- if I can find it. (No, we aren't staying at the All-Stars, I'm assuming this is where they are located.

I know, if it isn't our 50 people it would just be another 50, so who really cares.

 

[cheerbop]

Thanks for the info. that is what I want to know from all of you...if it is WORTH it to do it through Disney's planners or do this myself?

thanks!

 

[Alicnwondrln]

i would go thru a ta who would deal with them for you
takw away lots of headaches for you