GRAND GATHERING experience for ADR's?? Please HELP!

[a1tinkfans]

Hello
Is there anyone that can pass along some info for a Grand Gathering and getting some ADR's?

Specifically, should I try and book them separately (we have a family of 3, a family of 5, a family of 2 a family of 2 and a family of 2) or is it even POSSIBLE to get a reservation for ALL of us??
Any places that we're likely to be able to get as a group??

Should I group some families?

Should I just have all the families try for their own???

The only one we'd ALL like together is Hoop, maybe I should call now and ask about it????
ANy guidance from anyone that has done a GG would be VERY appreciated!!

THANKS SO MUCH, I am feeling a bit overwhelmed with this Gathering!

 

[luckytobeme88]

If HDDR is the only dinner where the group will be eating together, then anyone of you in this group can call to get ADR for a table of 12. If there's a designated planner in the group, s/he can call request ADR for each individual family regardless. Just make sure you have their name and confirmation # or home number. There's a few Grand Gathering Dining Experience that you might also want to consider too. Page 4
http://adisneyworld.disney.go.com/m...especific/eng/nontheme/tickets/2009Dining.pdf

 

[msce2]

We had to use Grand Gatherings for 1 of our ADR's because we had 14 people. The Grand Gathering's CM said we weren't able to get a table together. It was at 1900 PF. Most of our ADR's were for 9-12 people, and I was able to make those all through a regular CM on the Dining phone line. However at only 1 of our ressie's are we actually sitting together ('Ohana's had a table of 9). Everything else is split between 2-3 tables. When you call the dining line the Cm should tell you if you have to go to Grand Gatherings to make the ressie's. But I didn't find them to be any more helpful in getting us a table together. But maybe others had a different experience.

 

[msmayor]

To clarify, you do NOT need to be an official "Grand Gathering" to get ADR's for a large group.

We were a group of 15 last August and not eligible for Grand Gathering status since we were staying at Shades of Green, but I had no problems at all getting the ADR's we wanted for our group meals.

The issue becomes which restaurants can seat you all at one table, or must attempt to 'group' you at separate tables. I had a wonderful CM who was able to give me guidance when planning our special dinner for our parents' anniversary...we wanted to all be at the same table for that one so we chose from the restaurants able to accommodate us.

Also, when booking for such a large group you often will be restricted to either very early or very late. This is the easiest time the restaurant is able to attempt to group you together. Don't expect to get an ADR at prime-time 6pm for that large a group.

What we ended up doing was scheduling three "complete" group meals during the week: a "Welcome to WDW" dinner at Whispering Canyon, the anniversary dinner at Portabello Yacht Club, and a character breakfast at Crystal Palace. I asked each family (four all together) if they had special meals they wanted me to make ADR's for, and I handled that. I also booked some ADR's for 'groups' not knowing if we would end up using them (example: I booked one for 9 at the San Angel Inn, and offered it up to whoever wanted to join us. I booked two separate Le Cellier ADR's, one for my family to use with a few others, and a second one for later in the week for another family to use)

It worked out very well.

 

[a1tinkfans]

Thanks everyone! I appreciate your comments, really

I think I will touch base with dining to see which restaurants we MAY be able to sit together at, if at all possible. I also think I will enlist the help of one of the other families to also be on the phone getting reservations for our group (we'll obviously go after different locations).

thanks again!

ANY other suggestions or comments are certainly appreciated, so keep'sm coming.
Did anyone do the "special" items for GG's? What was your experience??

 

[LPNmom]

Had a grandgathering group on last trip, we were all able to sit together at our T/S meals, here are the resturants we went to:
Ohana
Boma
Boatwrights at POR
Sci-Fi we were in seperate cars that were right next to each other
Brown Derby
Princess Storybook at Restaurant Akershus
Liberty Tree Tavern
Wolfgang Pucks Cafe
Good Luck Planning!!