Grand Gathering Meals

[mmtska]

Ok I'm SO confused now. I just got off the phone with a GG CM. I just added an 8th person so now we 'qualify' I asked him about the meals associated with having a GG and surprise surprise, got conflicting info.

According to the DIS, the Illuminations and Safari Dinners are 2 DDP credits and the Tony's Breakfast is 1. According to the CM, the Illuminations Dinner is only 1 credit! It seems pretty expensive to be only 1 credit so he double checked all 3, and he confirmed it was only 1. I don't want to book something and then we use up all of our credits without knowing it!

AAAAAAAAND-has anyone been to any of these?? Good, bad, indifferent>

 

[mmtska]

Anyone??

 

[free2div]

That is a 2 credit meal. Just back from that last week. It is also a dessert party with VIP seating for Illuminations. We really enjyed it!!!

 

[MichiganMomto4]

Yep, 2 credits. Did it on 10/9/10.

Not that you asked, but the tony's breakfast is very good for 1 ts credit.

The Illuminations dinner was good; not fabulous, but good. The 'entertainment' is fun. The viewing area for Illuminations is nothing special at all; but you do get a neat pin! You also get a pin at Tony's.

 

[wdwmom0f3]

We are on the fence about doing the International dinner & Illuminations dinner. I am wondering if it is worth 2 credits? I can't find any information about it either, like a detailed review.

 

[MichiganMomto4]

I'm not all that great at details LOL I tend to live in the moment at Disney and then wish I had paid more attention and taken more pictures!

Anyway - The Illuminations International Buffet and Dessert was good. It's held in the Odyssey building (on your left as you're walking from FW into WS, Mexico side). It's hosted by Aunt Roz. Not sure exactly who she is or if she's a character from something but she's funny! She goes around to each table and finds out why you are there - if your celebrating something, family reunion, birthday, etc.... and then later she announces why each table is there. After dinner Goofy and Minnie joined us for dancing and pictures. As far as the food goes, I know I was full! There were several dishes to choose from and each had a sign that told you what country inspired it. I remember the beef burgundy inspired by France was very, very good. So was the pasta dish from Italy.

After you are done eating, dancing and getting your GG photo taken with the Characters, you leave the Odyssey building and follow the path of CMs with lights to the Illuminations viewing area (oops, forgot to say, at each table setting is a special pin that you need to show to get into the viewing area). The area is behind the store on the FW side of the water. I was not particularly excited about this spot. Some poles in the way and if you don't get a spot on the fence, away from a pole, you can't really see all that well. I've had much better viewing from WS on my own. But anyway, the best part of this is that they have a large table set up with desserts (the strawberry shortcake was AWESOME!!) and punch and water. It's serve yourself with lots of fancy cupcakes, brownies, cookies, etc.... too. There are no chairs though so you have to kind of balance to eat.
Was this worth 2 credits? In Disney terms - I'd say yes. Am I glad we did it? Absolutely! Would we do it again? Probably not, but mostly because we'd like to try some of the other GG offerings.

I'm much better at answering questions than I am with details so if you have any - ask away

 

[Goofy22]

The first 2 GGs are definitely 2TS Illuminations and Safari we did both didn't do the Tony's Breakfast but heard it was good for 1ts it's worth a shot! We really enjoyed both Illuminations and Safari they are great for kids! I do have pics if I can find them I will post my main desktop is broken at the moment so if I can find them on my Photo Bucket I'll post Illuminations I dont have any of the safri do to ny camera falling in the bat cage in the animal trail in AK!uggh! If you look up ONETREEHILL ADDICT check out her reports I know she has pics of both and she was suppose to put them up on I think her snack thread because so many ppl were asking . I'll look and post them if I find them ! Ps you also get a pin from all the GG's Illuminations Safari and Tony's!

 

[mmtska]

Thank you so much for all that info! I have to weigh options because of money of course, but I have a feeling doing at least one of these is definitely worth it! Thank you for the reviews too

 

[MichiganMomto4]

I wanted to add: The waitstaff's tip is included in your 2 TS for Illuminations (I'm assuming that would be consistent then with other GGs) so you do not have to leave an additional cash tip. We thought that was odd but welcomed!

 

[mmtska]

That's good to know too! Saves a little that way anyway heh.

 

[Goofy22]

Tips are included in the price of all the GG's which is great! Also if you have never done Hoop Dee Do Musical Review it is a great dinner show and tip is also included!

 

[MJMcBride]

I enjoyed the Tony's breakfast. they did a good job, Tony was great

 

[mmtska]

I enjoyed the Tony's breakfast. they did a good job, Tony was great

Can you tell me a little more about it? Like is it while the park is open? Or before?

 

[MJMcBride]

Can you tell me a little more about it? Like is it while the park is open? Or before?

we were late thanks to the dumb marathon, however, they brought you a plate of breakfast thou they kept bringing things like mickey waffles

Tony is the MC. singing songs and talking to families, donald and minnie and goofy came around to the tables and then each family had a photo op with Mickey

it was quite nice

 

[mmtska]

OOOOOH Mickey Waffles lol I've never had one.....sad Thank you! I'll definitely have to check it out