Grand Gathering Dilemma

[SC Mouse Fan]

I have 5 days until I can make ADR's and I just found out that I will have to rework our plans. We were planning to do the Safari Celebration on Thanksgiving Day Nov 22. Now I see that Tuskers House will not have a Safari Celebration until Nov 25 which is the day we leave. I would like some advice about what to do in its place. Should I find somewhere else to eat on Thanksgiving day and plan another Grand Gathering on another day? I had everything all set and now . Here is a list of my original plans.

Date Resaurant Choice
Friday, Nov 16 Biergarten
Saturday, Nov 17 Liberty Tree Tavern
Sunday, Nov 18 SCI FI Dine in
Monday, Nov 19 Marrakesh
Tuesday, Nov 20 Crystal Palace (Breakfast)
Wednesday, Nov 21 Le Cellier Steakhouse
Thursday, Nov 22 Safari Celebration
Friday, Nov 23 Nine Dragons/Candle light

Any advice?

 

[robinb]

Our Grand Gathering really enjoyed the IllumiNations International Dinner. Are yo on the Disney Dining Plan?

 

[SC Mouse Fan]

Yes we are on the DDP. There will be 10 of us. We will have on child (7 years old) who's diet consists of chicken fingers, peanut butter sandwiches, pizza and fruit. Will there be something there that he would eat?

 

[robinb]

Yes we are on the DDP. There will be 10 of us. We will have on child (7 years old) who's diet consists of chicken fingers, peanut butter sandwiches, pizza and fruit. Will there be something there that he would eat?

Yes, I believe so. My 7-year old has the same meal requirements but she doesn't eat the chicken! She found plenty of things to eat .

 

[pirateofthecarolinas]

Robin, did you have any problems finding up front seating at Illuminations? Does a CM escort the group or do you make your way over?

Thanks,

Lori

 

[robinb]

A CM escorts you to a roped-off spot where dessert and beverages are served. However, you may still not have a front row seat as others in the Grand Gathering may get there first. We got to the viewing are later because we waited for the lines to go down a bit for the characters (Minnie and Goofy, I think) who visisted the dinner for a bit of dancing. My nephew is autistic and he couldn't wait in long lines. So ... we were behind other people by the time IllumiNations started.

 

[pirateofthecarolinas]

Thanks Robinb,

Could everyone in your party still see? I've been to Illuminations serveral times but I've never been able to see anything on the lake!

Where is the Odessey Restaurant?

Lori

 

[kaw1218]

Thanks Robinb,

Could everyone in your party still see? I've been to Illuminations serveral times but I've never been able to see anything on the lake!

Where is the Odessey Restaurant?

Lori

Please be advised that the Grand Gathering event International Dinner and IllumiNations Dessert Reception will be unavailable for booking from Sep 11, 07 until Nov 22, 07.

Also, the Safari Celebration Dinner at Animal Kingdom will be unavailable from Sep 1, 07 until Nov 4, 07.



I don't know when your trip is...but I thought this might be helpful!

 

[SC Mouse Fan]

I knew about the Safari Celebration but not about the Illunations Dinner no being available. So when I made our ADR's this Sunday, I changed to the Good morning gathering. Since this is only one table credit on the DDP we added another Epcot restaurant. I guess it will all work out but I really wanted to do the Safari Celebration.

 

[PottersMom]

I was dissapointed with this too- I finally got my parents to agree to come down with us (DH and I) and my sister and her family of 6- and the only grand gathering experience we wanted to do was the Safari Celebration Dinner. You would think they would just reschedule those to another restaurant.
Anyway- the CM I spoke with said the Illuminations dinner was available for 9/12-9/18 (although he didn't really seem to know what he was talking about because he asked me which restaurant we wanted for the SC dinner. I said I didn't think there was a choice - it had to be at Tusker house- to which he replied, "I dunno- do you??" Then he checked and realize that, yes, it must be at Tusker house, and no- it would be closed during out visit)
I wanted to do the Illuminations dinner-but my sister vetoed me. She didn't want to go to a "crappy buffet" and she never liked illuminations anyway.
(this is going to be a fun trip)
So instead we are going to go to the Spirit of Aloha dinner show. I hope it's good. Good luck planning!