grand gathering question

[bcsmom]

My entire family are all planning Jan trips, does anyone know if there is a benefit to booking it as a grand gathering?

 

[20yrs&counting]

We are doing a Grand Gathering in December. There will be 17 of us and the major benefit is that we can choose from four "special events" only available to GG groups. These events cost extra per person and consist of a Fireworks Cruise, which we are doing; a Safari Dinner in AK, an Epcot International Dinner Buffet and Illuminations viewing, which we are doing; and a Good Morning Character Breakfast. Your can also do a download of software so that everyone in your group can comunicate about things to do. I have had a terrible time dealing with the GG CM's. They can't tell me when the Cruise leaves because they don't have the MK Fireworks schedule yet. I know that the fireworks begin at 9:15 because it is a MVMCP night but they will not commit to a time that the boat leaves so I am not able to make an ADR for dinner that evening. They will just tell me "sometime between 5:45 and 8:45". Also when I've called to confirm receipt of payment or check on event info they can't find the Conf#'s and have me on hold for over an hour, each time I call. All ADR'S have to go through group dining and any questions/payments about the room ressie also has to go through GG. So far I can see no benefit other than the access to the events and I can't judge them because we haven't experienced them yet although they sound good. Once we are there it will all seem unimportant but right now in the planning stages they are not making it easy to be excited.

 

[bcsmom]

Thanks for the info, I think we will all just keep our own ressies. Sounds like a lot of trouble dealing with GG CM.

 

[DCrockett]

I don't think you have a choice if it's for 8 or more people, unless you all book separately like you don't know each other. If you book as a grand gathering they do keep your hotel rooms together. You also have the option of booking special dinners or a fireworks voyage but it costs extra for these.
Although they may say otherwise I think it's sometimes difficult to get a reservation for 8 or more and keep all the tables together.

http://disneyworld.disney.go.com/wd...erings/landing?id=MagicalGatheringLandingPage

 

[srfrgrl07]

FYI- they usually do a Wishes Fireworks show specifically for the GG experience in addition to the special fireworks for the party. Usually a dinner reservation around 5 or 5:30 is perfect.

 

[bcsmom]

Thanks everyone. We will have 8 people, but I do not think we will always eat together anyway. You know different preferences and all. I will have to put some thought into this.

 

[20yrs&counting]

FYI- they usually do a Wishes Fireworks show specifically for the GG experience in addition to the special fireworks for the party. Usually a dinner reservation around 5 or 5:30 is perfect.

Thank you so much for the info. I should have asked the people who know. That's what the DIS is for.

 

[dudedisney]

There were things we could do that were special but they kept getting canceled so I wouldn't know about that. I do know that if you all have the same shirts on, you get more respect and everyone watches you and wonders. It's pretty cool!

 

[Jacksmom99]

I will say that dealing with GG was a pain in the .....neck! I thought it was only because we were DVC and the two systems don't communicate with each other. The only benefits I found was the special events and room location. We only did the Fireworks Pirate cruise, but it was fabulous!!!! The other benefit, room location. We were able to be right across the hall from my MIL and SIL. And, since the rooms were blocked together, and SIL checked in a few days before us, our room was empty for 2 days and ready when we checked in at 9am on a Sunday! As far as ADR's, I/we made some together and some separate, but never through GG.

 

[TheresaNY]

We did a GG this July (10 of us). The best part of it was the ability to have one person handle the reservations for everyone in the group. As the "planner" for our GG group, I could call and change everyone's dates and resort locations as well as book the fireworks cruise at one time for all ten of us and they billed the individuals accounts. It made the planning part on the phone A LOT easier for us....especially since everyone else in the group did not want to call and had never been there before. This worked for the dining too. We did not all stay in the same resorts but those of us that did were right next to each other. I suggest the Good Morning Breakfast at Tony's. Food, service and characters were fabulous. Would suggest saving your money on the fireworks cruise though. Nothing terribly spectacular or worth the price !