Grand Gathering Benefits?

[Supermom3]

Are there any benefits to booking a reservation as a grand gathering? Are there any special discounts offered or things available for a GG that aren't available to the general public? We are planning a trip with my extended family in March 2011. It will be 17 total (8 adults, 2 juniors, 4 kids and 3 under 3). We are leaning toward 4 rooms at POR, but might look into renting DVC points or staying off site in a house. I know we are a while away, but we are trying to get an idea of the details before we'd have to book.

Thanks!

 

[DomFromPhilly]

We were a GG last year, and will be again this year. Basically, there are 3 benefits:

1. Calling the GG phone number to make reservations, Dining, etc. is sometimes a little easier and quicker than the regular #'s.

2. They try to put all of your rooms as close to each other as possible (all three of our rooms were on the same floor at CSR last year).

3. You can participate in several GG only events. We were a small group (9), so we were able to do all of our meals together, but if you are too big to do that, these events will give you opportunities to all eat together. We did two of them: the Epcot IllumiNations Dinner (buffet: 6/10, entertainment: 7/10, IllumiNations VIP area: 8/10) and the Animal Kingdom Safari dinner (buffet: 6/10, entertainment 7/10, VIP Safari ride: 8/10). Both of those were about $60 a head or 2 DDP credits. This year we are trying a third GG option: Tony's Breakfast in MK.

 

[Supermom3]

We were a GG last year, and will be again this year. Basically, there are 3 benefits:

1. Calling the GG phone number to make reservations, Dining, etc. is sometimes a little easier and quicker than the regular #'s.

2. They try to put all of your rooms as close to each other as possible (all three of our rooms were on the same floor at CSR last year).

3. You can participate in several GG only events. We were a small group (9), so we were able to do all of our meals together, but if you are too big to do that, these events will give you opportunities to all eat together. We did two of them: the Epcot IllumiNations Dinner (buffet: 6/10, entertainment: 7/10, IllumiNations VIP area: 8/10) and the Animal Kingdom Safari dinner (buffet: 6/10, entertainment 7/10, VIP Safari ride: 8/10). Both of those were about $60 a head or 2 DDP credits. This year we are trying a third GG option: Tony's Breakfast in MK.

Thanks for the info!