Anyone from UK booked a Grand Gathering before?

[mrsminniemouse]

Hi everyone

A group of 23 of us are staying at SSR this August. We booked accomodation and passes and free dining through Complete Orlando, who up until now have been great.

I want to register my group as a Grand Gathering so we can participate in the group events. Disney wont register me as I have booked through a TA (even though I have the Disney confirmation numbers) Complete Orlando said they don't do this, have never done it before. ?!?!. I only need them to call the GG number and verify my ressies so they can get a GG number for me. Complete Orlando said GG is for US visitors only but I don't think this is likely.

Any advice or experience to share?
Thanks
Mandy

 

[2Tiggies]

I suspect this is yet another case of who you speak to.

Do you have your US reservation number from CO? There are two: the alpha numerical one and the 12 digit one. Both can be used for ADRs, but only the 12 digit one can access your booking on the Disney US system. If you don't already have this, I would try and get it as a starting point and then contact Disney CRO directly. There is an option for Grand Gatherings if I recall correctly (just don't do as I did and cough when they ask you to speak your option in - I did at an inopportune moment and the whole thing went into Spanish )

Sorry this isn't much help as I have never done one, but the above would be my first course of action

 

[mrsminniemouse]

Thanks for your reply. I do have the 12 digit reservation number. I have called 2 different WDW phone numbers with these numbers to hand but they say I cannot do it myself- they can only do it via the TA. Not sure why.......

 

[2Tiggies]

Thanks for your reply. I do have the 12 digit reservation number. I have called 2 different WDW phone numbers with these numbers to hand but they say I cannot do it myself- they can only do it via the TA. Not sure why.......

Oh they CAN do it through TA. Sorry I understood your first post to mean they can't. So did CO say they won't deal with it? I can't see that they would have to do much aside from confirm some details with Diseny re. your booking. It just doesn't add up does it?! Someone must know - we just need to get them to see this thread and post the answer

 

[2Tiggies]

It looks like you have to book directly with Disney to get this - which doesn't tally up with what you were told on the phone so I don't know if there is a loophole or if someone has wrong info here, but I found this on our very own wdwinfo (DIS) site:

If you're part of a group of 8 or more who are planning a visit to Walt Disney World that includes staying at Disney Resorts (including the Swan/Dolphin if you book these resorts directly with Disney), you qualify as a "Grand Gathering."

Here is the link to the page http://www.wdwinfo.com/Grandgathering.htm

Hope this helps you a little

 

[aaronandterri]

i think thats just saying also including swan dolphin if booked with disney, as its not actually owned by disney, not excluding disney hotels booked elsewhere IFYWIM.

 

[2Tiggies]

i think thats just saying also including swan dolphin if booked with disney, as its not actually owned by disney, not excluding disney hotels booked elsewhere IFYWIM.

So do you read that to mean that it is only the Swan and Dolphin (not being Disney owned) which have to be booked directly through Disney as a qualifying condition for booking a GG? It's a bit ambiguous then isn't it ..... Still don't know. As I said, I have never booked one but I am now so curious I want to know the answer. (Nosey Lee )

 

[oceanscape]

It looks like you have to book directly with Disney to get this - which doesn't tally up with what you were told on the phone so I don't know if there is a loophole or if someone has wrong info here, but I found this on our very own wdwinfo (DIS) site:



Here is the link to the page http://www.wdwinfo.com/Grandgathering.htm

Hope this helps you a little

No, this just means that any Swan/Dolphin reservations must be made via Disney (since they are not Disney-owned properties). So if, for example, you made a Swan/Dolphin reservation via Starwood or Expedia, this wouldn't count. Reservations for WDW resorts made through travel agents are eligible for Grand Gatherings.

OP, unfortunately it's down to CO. Disney are correct that they - as your TA - need to initiate the Grand Gathering process. If they're unwilling to help, there's not a lot you can do.