Grand 1, 90 day mark booking??

[polynesianbride]

It might be difficult to book. I think it really depends on the day and time of year. I would definitely come up with a back up plan and do a lot of researching on how to book it etc. Try practising and calling the day before just so you know the prompts and call first thing in the morning.

Do you have 18 in your party? Are there children? I think it would be slightly crowded but it would work. I have only ever had two people on the Grand One.

Our party is currently at 16 people. We are having a ceremony at Sunset Pointe (which will only be 10) but we have some others that will celebrating with us at Disney and joining us for dinner on our wedding night at OHana's. We have some other family that is really wanting to join us for dinner even though they won't be at the ceremony- which would put our party up to 25 or so. I am not opposed to this but had been planning on the Grand 1, which would for sure make it so the whole party couldn't go. I am concerned that even 16 (2 are kids but older kids) may be too crowded though and I had been thinking about only treating us, our parents, and our brothers and their dates to the Grand 1 which would make 10 of us. In which case I could allow more guests to come to dinner and then just have the 10 of us on the boat and let the others watch from the beach... is this rude ? I'm not even sure if that made sense Basically if 16 isn't too crowded I may just have everyone on the Grand 1 and not invite anyone else to dinner. If 16 would be too crowded anyways then the whole party would not being going on the Grand 1 anyways... I might as well let others join us for dinner and then the rest of the party can watch Wishes from the beach.

Great idea about trying the call ahead of time to make sure I get through all the prompts ok! I will definately do this Great advice- thanks!

 

[feline figaro]

Does anyone know how much it costs to have Tuxedo Strawberries on board the Yacht?
We re gonna hopefully be going on our cruise after dinner so wont really require food but i ve always wanted to try the Tuxedo Strawberries so figured this would be my best opportunity

 

[Skylarr29]

Our party is currently at 16 people. We are having a ceremony at Sunset Pointe (which will only be 10) but we have some others that will celebrating with us at Disney and joining us for dinner on our wedding night at OHana's. We have some other family that is really wanting to join us for dinner even though they won't be at the ceremony- which would put our party up to 25 or so. I am not opposed to this but had been planning on the Grand 1, which would for sure make it so the whole party couldn't go. I am concerned that even 16 (2 are kids but older kids) may be too crowded though and I had been thinking about only treating us, our parents, and our brothers and their dates to the Grand 1 which would make 10 of us. In which case I could allow more guests to come to dinner and then just have the 10 of us on the boat and let the others watch from the beach... is this rude ? I'm not even sure if that made sense Basically if 16 isn't too crowded I may just have everyone on the Grand 1 and not invite anyone else to dinner. If 16 would be too crowded anyways then the whole party would not being going on the Grand 1 anyways... I might as well let others join us for dinner and then the rest of the party can watch Wishes from the beach.

Great idea about trying the call ahead of time to make sure I get through all the prompts ok! I will definately do this Great advice- thanks!

Ok, so I have to say that I think it would be a little rude to exclude people and have them watch from the beach. If they didn't know that you were going to go out on the boat that would be one thing, but how do you tell some people they are staying? Not worth it to me. I would try to figure out a way to do something that incorporates everyone. Why not have an Illuminations dessert party? Then everyone can enjoy fireworks and by the time you spend $500 or more bucks on the yacht I think you would be close in price. Or take the Grand One out for your rehearsal dinner or do it on your honeymoon for just you and your hubby.

 

[Skylarr29]

Does anyone know how much it costs to have Tuxedo Strawberries on board the Yacht?
We re gonna hopefully be going on our cruise after dinner so wont really require food but i ve always wanted to try the Tuxedo Strawberries so figured this would be my best opportunity

I think they are like $3 or $4 each strawberry.

 

[feline figaro]

Thanks Skylarr

I ve just been posting on another part of the boards re the G.1 & they stated that you need to hire it out for 2 hours for a Wishes Cruise, is this true??
I figured we could hire it out just for an hour & still see Wishes

Heeeeeeeeeeeelp, im confused

 

[Skylarr29]

Thanks Skylarr

I ve just been posting on another part of the boards re the G.1 & they stated that you need to hire it out for 2 hours for a Wishes Cruise, is this true??
I figured we could hire it out just for an hour & still see Wishes

Heeeeeeeeeeeelp, im confused

We only had it for one hour. As far as I know the minimum is still one hour for Wishes. I know they could have changed it, but I didn't hear anything about it. We had it booked for the night before our wedding in October for Wishes but we cancelled because we had to get up super early and they never mentioned that we had to book for 2. 2 hours makes it really pricey.

 

[feline figaro]

Is it worth even attempting to book it a day or 2 before the 90 day mark??
Im just so panicky that we re not gonna be able to book it & was nt sure if it was worth trying??
I ve read a few people on another thread stating that its worth phoning a few times to at least practice which buttons you need to press for the prompts. Has anyone else done this?

They also stated to make NO small talk just state straight a way the date & type of cruise you want as soon as someone picks up. I just hope this will work

 

[polynesianbride]

Ok, so I have to say that I think it would be a little rude to exclude people and have them watch from the beach. If they didn't know that you were going to go out on the boat that would be one thing, but how do you tell some people they are staying? Not worth it to me. I would try to figure out a way to do something that incorporates everyone. Why not have an Illuminations dessert party? Then everyone can enjoy fireworks and by the time you spend $500 or more bucks on the yacht I think you would be close in price. Or take the Grand One out for your rehearsal dinner or do it on your honeymoon for just you and your hubby.

I kind of figured it was rude but DF thought it would be fine and people would understand... if you have to wonder if it's rude it probably is I would love to have a dessert party but I just can't seem to sell DF on the deal... he doesn't really like dessert or fireworks (Don't worry he does have some redeeming qualities). Plus this would be a lot of dessert (cake after ceremony, bread pudding at OHana, AND dessert party). I guess the best option would be keeping it to 16 and everyone on the boat... would love to hear if anyone has had this many as I don't want us to feel crowded

We only had it for one hour. As far as I know the minimum is still one hour for Wishes. I know they could have changed it, but I didn't hear anything about it. We had it booked for the night before our wedding in October for Wishes but we cancelled because we had to get up super early and they never mentioned that we had to book for 2. 2 hours makes it really pricey.

I agree this would be really pricey ... if this is the case maybe I'll rent 2 pontoon boats!

 

[Skylarr29]

Is it worth even attempting to book it a day or 2 before the 90 day mark??
Im just so panicky that we re not gonna be able to book it & was nt sure if it was worth trying??
I ve read a few people on another thread stating that its worth phoning a few times to at least practice which buttons you need to press for the prompts. Has anyone else done this?

They also stated to make NO small talk just state straight a way the date & type of cruise you want as soon as someone picks up. I just hope this will work

I would practise so you know the prompts and make sure you are actually at your 90 mark. I don't know if it has changed but I have always called the GF marina for the Grand One. The number is 14078242439. I would try that number and the wdw-play number to make sure which is correct. Possibly try a week before or so. Good Luck

 

[feline figaro]

Does anyone know whether they open to take bookings at 7 am (like they do for adrs) or is it 9 am?

 

[mcarthur205]

I have the Grand 1 booked for my VR on April 8. The booking window opened for me on January 8, but I was working that day and couldn't call so my DH had to do it. I had to leave detailed instructions for him lol!

This is the number he called - 407-824-2439. They open at 7am (12 noon here in the UK). I called the number a few days before just to learn the prompts and to check exactly what day we could book it. I noted the number and the prompts for my DH and instructed him to start calling at 11.58am. If he got a message that they weren't open, he was to hang up and immediately call back until he got an actual person on the line.

He followed my instructions and got through on his first attempt. However, they couldn't book it for him at that time as they were updating their computer system and didn't know how long this would take! They wouldn't take any information from him and said he had to keep calling back to check if the update was finished!

Six (international) calls later, at 2.45pm (UK time) he was successful in booking the yacht. We have it booked for 90 minutes, 9.00-10.30pm (Wishes is at 10pm). There are 14 in our party plus Randy for pics, and I don't think we'll be squashed!

Hope that helps!

 

[feline figaro]

I have the Grand 1 booked for my VR on April 8. The booking window opened for me on January 8, but I was working that day and couldn't call so my DH had to do it. I had to leave detailed instructions for him lol!

This is the number he called - 407-824-2439. They open at 7am (12 noon here in the UK). I called the number a few days before just to learn the prompts and to check exactly what day we could book it. I noted the number and the prompts for my DH and instructed him to start calling at 11.58am. If he got a message that they weren't open, he was to hang up and immediately call back until he got an actual person on the line.

He followed my instructions and got through on his first attempt. However, they couldn't book it for him at that time as they were updating their computer system and didn't know how long this would take! They wouldn't take any information from him and said he had to keep calling back to check if the update was finished!

Six (international) calls later, at 2.45pm (UK time) he was successful in booking the yacht. We have it booked for 90 minutes, 9.00-10.30pm (Wishes is at 10pm). There are 14 in our party plus Randy for pics, and I don't think we'll be squashed!

Hope that helps!

I ve gotta do the exact same with my df as im working that day so am giving him my mobile too so at least he ll have 2 phones to call from at the same time. We called yesterday so we know the 2 promts, i ll be a bag of nerves on that day though as im so worried that we re not gonna get it . All we can do is try so fingers crossed My friend whos an absolute star has also offered to call for us to so hopefully 1 of them will get through.

I did nt realise you could book it for 1 hour & 30 mins i thought it was only 1 or 2 hours. Can i be cheeky & ask how much they ve said this will cost . I ve read on line the prices but also read that these are the old pricing so would really like to know how much we're looking at

Thanks

 

[disprincessatheart]

we had it for our wedding - there are pictures in my TR. We had no trouble booking at 90 days out. We had 17 on our cruise and were not crowded at all. We booked it for an hour but they kept us out on the water for 90 minutes or more. We got on at the GF, toured the 7 seas lagoon, bay lake, then parked in front of MK. After Wishes we stayed there for the electric water pagent - I guess that extra would depend mostly on timing. They had blankets on board for anyone that was cold and were happy to do whatever we asked. It was amazing and I would do it again in a heartbeat!

 

[Chilly]

I ve gotta do the exact same with my df as im working that day so am giving him my mobile too so at least he ll have 2 phones to call from at the same time. We called yesterday so we know the 2 promts, i ll be a bag of nerves on that day though as im so worried that we re not gonna get it . All we can do is try so fingers crossed My friend whos an absolute star has also offered to call for us to so hopefully 1 of them will get through.

I did nt realise you could book it for 1 hour & 30 mins i thought it was only 1 or 2 hours. Can i be cheeky & ask how much they ve said this will cost . I ve read on line the prices but also read that these are the old pricing so would really like to know how much we're looking at

Thanks

I've booked the day off specially to ring! I might book it for 1.5 hours if I can. Wishes is likely to be on at 8.30pm the day I want it.

 

[mcarthur205]

I did nt realise you could book it for 1 hour & 30 mins i thought it was only 1 or 2 hours. Can i be cheeky & ask how much they ve said this will cost . I ve read on line the prices but also read that these are the old pricing so would really like to know how much we're looking at

Thanks

My DH didn't ask the price lol! I called back to check and they said that 90mins would cost $720 plus tax. We pay it when we arrive for the cruise.

I hope you manage to book it!

 

[gradtchr]

We had the Grand 1 on our wedding night and it was the perfect end to a perfect day! Our travel agent actually booked it for us. I know the one they have now is different than ours.

I am totally going to do it again for our 5th anniversary as a celebration!