Grand Gathering Let-down

[lilrddancer]

Is anyone else out there dissappointed with the 'Grand Gathering' services? Disney started this new campaign, and we decided to go this year as a Grand gathering, but all it has been is MORE complicated. For instance, the 'special events' available to only Grand Gatherings Groups are all booked!

What really iritates me though, is that since we're part of a package, we can't upgrade and add options (WWof Sports and PIsland) for JUST the adults, we have to upgrade all our tickets as a package- including 4 kids who DON'T need to go anywhere else.....especially PI! If we HAVE to upgrade as a package, we'd have to upgrade to what we could do with kids.

I'm really upset about this. They are promoting a program that ultimately has made our trip/tickets LESS pleasurable, not more!

 

[KIRSTIN'S MOMMY]

We did a Magical Gathering in August and had a great time! We did the fireworks voyage, and it was the only Grand Gathering event that we planned. Other than that, we just booked our own ps's at the places we wanted to eat, and split up the rest of the time. It's just too hard to keep a large group together at WDW. I would keep calling about the events, or you could book your own, you just have to go through group services if you have more than 10 people.
As far as the tickets, what kind of tickets are you getting with your package? If they have "options" on them, you can use your options for anything you want (ie: water parks, PI, WWos). IMO, WWoS is a waste of time unless you have someone in a competition there or something. There really isn't much to do otherwise.

 

[lilrddancer]

We just wanted to get PI for the adults, but they are telling me that everyone in my party has to upgrade....that means the kids have to select something. But if it's not what we want to do, the adults have to upgrde to PI AND whatever the kids want to do...with the number we have, that's an extra couple of hundred dollars.

On PS, we got the runaround for three days on making the arrangements. One CM told me I had to talk to Groups, Groups said not if I was only booking for a portion of the party. It's just been ridiculous. I deal with customer service, public relations and marketing a lot, and this is not what I expect from Disney.

 

[KIRSTIN'S MOMMY]

Maybe you could just buy the PI tickets separately? I don't think they're that much, and you can get a small discount on them if you order them from www.ticketmania.com I know what you mean about it being a hassle. I booked for 16 people in August. Some of them wanted to do certain ps's but not others, things like that. As long as you have less than 10 people you can just book through the regular dining number. Also, you don't have to use the long distance number, you can call 1-800-828-3228 and they have the dining option on there as well. Hope things get better!