Benefit of Grand Gathering?

[WisconsinDisneyGirl]

What are the benefits of booking through Grand Gathering? We will have a group of 9 for next Dec. Would it be better to book through DIsney or another travel company??

 

[Janet2k]

What are the benefits of booking through Grand Gathering?

WisconsinDisneyGirl, I have done a Grand Gathering twice. The benefits were basically that I was able to book group meals so that my party was pretty much seated together at all times. For example, if a particular restaurant didn't have a table that was large enough to accommodate all of us, every attempt was made so that we were seated at tables that were located next to each other. I thought that was more than fair.

I think the biggest benefit of being in a Grand Gathering was the simple fact that we had access to some special things that weren't available to other resort guests. For example, we attended the Safari Celebration Dinner:

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Safari Celebration Dinner

Make dinnertime an adventure with an amazing experience. Meet your tour guide in Asia at the "Flights of Wonder" theater for an exciting tour on Kilimanjaro Safaris.

After you've returned from your Safari, continue the Disney's Animal Kingdom fun in the Tusker House Restaurant with a delicious all-you-can-eat African-inspired dinner menu served family style. Dine on a full range of delectable foods that will please even the youngest members of your family. Then, have an "up-close" experience with exotic wildlife brought to the restaurant courtyard just to meet you — even get an autograph from one of the special Disney Characters who stop by the restaurant to say hello! And if you're celebrating a birthday, anniversary, family reunion or other special occasion, your Disney friends will surely add their recognition to the festivities. Theme park admission is required.

Price:
Adults and Juniors - $59.99, Children (ages 3-9) - $29.99 (available 180 days prior)

Schedule:
Please call (407) WDW-MAGIC† for dates and times.
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Our Grand Gathering group had a wonderful time at that dinner. It really was one of the highlights of our vacation.

I have read good things about the "International Dinner and IllumiNations Dessert Reception," "the "Good Morning Character Breakfast," and the "Magical Fireworks Voyage" too. If I have another Grand Gatherings in the future, I plan on trying to fit at least one (or more) of those events into our schedule. I'm sure we'll have a wonderful time.

Have fun planning. I know that group vacations are a pain in the you-know-what to plan (boy, do I ever know that!), but they honestly have been some of my family's most precious vacations. I hope your group vacation turns out to be a wonderful vacation, too.

 

[Janet2k]

Would it be better to book through DIsney or another travel company??

That's a personal decision. I have used Dreams Unlimited Travel for many of my vacations. I have also used the Walt Disney Travel Company for others. I think for my Grand Gathering vacations, I wound up doing them either with Disney alone or in conjunction with Dreams. It's really hard for me to say right now because I am a rather complicated traveler. That is, I am also a Disney Vacation Club member and that means that I have a third set of travel plans to worry about since my family likes to sleep around (a.k.a., resort-hop on cash & DVC points).

 

[SnackyStacky]

If you want rooms that are close together, you will need to register as a Grand Gathering. It's really not a big deal to do.

 

[J. Galt]

Greetings from WI! We just came back from an 11 person Grand Gathering and found some pros and cons to the whole Grand Gathering experience. One of the pros was definitely the special events you can take part in. We did the Magical Fireworks Cruise and it was awesome!!!!! Well worth the money... everyone had a fabulous time. In addition, I would agree with the other poster that our group was always seated together at restaurants, which was nice.

Some of the troubles we had were that even though we were under the impression that our rooms would be near each other, they were not (different floors even!). I guess that is not a "for sure" with the Grand Gatherings. We complained heartily and were moved around a little bit (but still not really near one another... just same floor). That was a bummer. The other thing I will say is that while Disney touts these Grand Gatherings and the ease their planners will provide for your large group, their computer system really stinks and has trouble dealing with complicated travel plans. In our case, we had two families sharing a two bedroom villa, both families arrived on the same day, but departure dates were different and one of the families was splitting their stay between a two bedroom villa and a studio. This was more that the Disney computer system could handle and the one family (mine unfortunately!) had a HORRIBLE time trying to get set up for Magical Express and ressie for room got all screwed up several times (with people being left off, etc...). I'm talking hours on the phone with Disney dealing with managers/Guest Relations/anyone that would listen. It all worked out in the end, but was a real headache to set up. In my opinion, if Disney is going to market these Grand Gatherings, then they need to be prepared to handle complicated travel plans.

Despite this, I will set up a Grand Gathering in the future... really just to have access to the cool events they offer and for the dining part. I might make my travel plans a little more simplistic though, just to save myself the headache!

 

[guelde96]

I have done a grand gathering twice. Never had a problem. They will give you different contact numbers for ressie's and dining. Our largest grand gathering was 17 people with 4 rooms. We had no problems getting rooms together same floor 4 rooms in a row. I would defintly do grand gathering if you have the right number of people. They are good at helping with your dining ressie's. Well worth it.

 

[angiepangie8]

we have 8 for sure and maybe a few more. I had made a reservation at Cinderella's Castle but am thinking of canceling that and replacing it with the Grand Gathering Safari with Dinner that is offered instead (not sure if DD6 will like this change.) But to make it up I might take her to the other Princess meal in Epcot ~ i forget the name offhand.

Anybody recommend I make this change from castle to Safari meal?

 

[llmurphy17]

subscribing

 

[SnackyStacky]

I should have said in order to make sure you request rooms close together, you have to be registered as a Grand Gathering. Disney still won't guarantee anything about room locations. (Unless you have 2 adults and more kids than will fit into 1 room)

Angiepangie - make sure you call Grand Gatherings, create your Grand Gathering, and have your rooms tied to the Gathering. Then try for the Safari Gathering experience.

Whether or not you should is entirely up to. It's a matter of what you and your family would prefer.

And also just a reminder that kids that are 2 years old and younger do NOT count towards your 8 people for a Grand Gathering.

 

[guelde96]

we have 8 for sure and maybe a few more. I had made a reservation at Cinderella's Castle but am thinking of canceling that and replacing it with the Grand Gathering Safari with Dinner that is offered instead (not sure if DD6 will like this change.) But to make it up I might take her to the other Princess meal in Epcot ~ i forget the name offhand.

Anybody recommend I make this change from castle to Safari meal?

I have never done CRT. Basically because I have always heard the other princess meals are better. We have done Akershus in Norway. Excellent Princess interaction. Different food, not bad just different. I would try the Safari meal and switch.

 

[angiepangie8]

I have never done CRT. Basically because I have always heard the other princess meals are better. We have done Akershus in Norway. Excellent Princess interaction. Different food, not bad just different. I would try the Safari meal and switch.

Thanks

Disney Decisions Decisions Decisions

Does anyone know how diffent the Safari Celebration Dinner from just going on the tour durning the day and then making a ressie at the Tusker?

Is Tusker's normally worth 1TS?