Grand Gathering Take THREE (pics included)

[dseth]

Yes!! It is finally time to take another Grand Gathering. This is our 3rd Grand Gathering. We went in 2006 and 2007. We took 2008 off due to crazy schedules so we are all itching to get back! We have had one "Disney meeting" so far and set the dates, booked the packages and purchased the airline tickets. We are heading out on September 19th and will return on September 28th (Bro and AC's birthday!!!) We were fortunate enough to grab Free Dining!
This year's group:
Me (36) planner for the whole group - LOVE planning for my family as well as for others
DH (38) the BEST!! overtime worker to make the trip more affordable

DS1 (18) coming down mid-way through (meeting us for the food!)

DS2 (11) counting the days
Pop (60) Loves taking his Grandsons to Disney

Mom (59 as I type) one of my closest friends and Girls Trip companion
Bro (33) Mr. Incredible
SIL (37) patience of Job!
KT (10) nephew #1 resembles Dash
KC (8) nephew #2 hates all things chocolate - what's wrong with that!

AC (50 ish ) my Aunt another Girls Trip companion

There it is....all 11 of us. But wait there's more! Our DS1 is leaving for college. He will be attening Liberty University in Lynchburg, VA. A mere 550 miles from home, one way! DH and I are trying not to think about dropping him off just yet, we both know it will be hard. However, we are flying him down from VA to Orlando to join us for a good portion of the trip. When we were out visiting the campus in April we stayed with some friends of ours that live in Lynchburg. One night our conversation steered towards Disney....imagine that me and Disney! Let's talk!! They said they weren't sure about going back they had been a few years back and not really had a good time. Planning is the key!! Apparently some planning was done but maybe not enough. By the time I was done with them they were thinking about going with us in Septemeber. I made sure to buy them a Passporter before we left, you know, to get the juices flowing! When I got back home I heard back from them - they booked a trip! We are sooo thrilled to have them join us! It's just the two of them, no babies yet! That brings our grand total to 13 They will arrive just a day earlier than us. That will give them time to get their feet wet! We tend to go full force, so they will need to rest up! Our next Disney meeting is fast approaching and we have to get a few things in place to make that happen. We are going to get a web cam for our computer and Skype in our Lynchburg friends so they can be part of our craziness! This meeting will be immediately following my Mom's 60th Birthday Surprise party! We figured a Disney meeting was the perfect ruse to get her there! Of course we do have to meet - it is time to work on the dining reservation plan!! I have a large dry erase board with magnets that have our restaurant names on them along with magnets indicating EMH days and times. This way we can move things around easily before we come up with a concrete plan. I will call on June 21st and make all of our Dining Reservations.
So far we have selected the following restaurants to choose from:
Whispering Canyon
Le’Cellier
Crystal Palace (Breakfast)
Kona
Flame Tree BBQ
Breakfast with Donald (AK)
Mama Melrose
50’s Prime Time
ESPN Zone
Planet Hollywood
O’Hana
Boma
We all have different date night selections too ...I'm thinking Artist Point for us!
Mom and Dad will go to Narcoossee's as they always do.
Feel free to leave any feedback on our tenative dining locations - I certainly welcome it!
Soooo there you have it my first installment! I will post our tenative schedule after our next meeting

 

[Raecheal]

That's def a GRAND gathering.. there' s a lot of people in your cast!!

 

[lovedonaldduck]

I so want to do a Grand Gathering some day. Just need to get that many other people excited about Disney too.

I am jealous of your dry erase board with restaurant magnets, it is right up my OCD overplanning alley. I'm sure it comes in handy planning for 13, might be overkill for my little group of 5.

Whispering Canyon - we went last trip and were not impressed, may have been the time (one of the first for lunch) or the fact that we had already been to 50's Prime Time Cafe and loved it and our waitress at WCC was not nearly as good. I was the only one who did not do the skillet but everyone said the food was just okay.
Le’Cellier - on my wish list for September, we've never been
Crystal Palace (Breakfast) - never been
Kona - we had dinner here last trip and loved it, it is a unanimous most do for next trip.
Flame Tree BBQ - we skipped this last trip but may try it this time.
Breakfast with Donald (AK) - on our list for September, never been.
Mama Melrose - never been.
50’s Prime Time - one of our favorites last trip. A definite must do in September.
ESPN Zone - never been.
Planet Hollywood - not one of our favorites last time, but we've been in Vegas so it was no big deal. The food was good as was the atmosphere (we were seated close to the door so it was not too loud) I just think there were others we enjoyed much more.
O’Hana - on our wish list for September, we've never been.
Boma - never been

You ADR date should be soon - mine is less than 2 weeks away. Good luck getting what you want.

 

[crocko]

Hey! Sounds like a great trip.

My group of 7 will be down there from Sep 17th to 26th.

Have you figured out what ADR's/parks you're planning on for each day?

(We've almost made it to 3 months!)

 

[dseth]

Figured it was time for an update!! We paid the trip off today! Such a great feeling! My poor DH is still working OT for spending money but he knows it will all be worth it
So given it is the free dining trip we will get to what is most important our dining reservations!
Saturday - arrival day Kona 5:40p for dinner!! We are cutting that a little close considering I want to make it to Spectomagic at 8pm but we will do our best!
Sunday - Mama Melrose - 3:05p yes, 3:05 for dinner...best I could get ...do you believe that?? and I called on the very first day that I could!!
Monday - Whispering Canyon for dinner
Tuesday - We are hitting the water parks today!! This will also be date night for Bro and SIL they are headed to the Yachtsman Steakhouse and our friends from VA are headed to France for dinner the is headed to Chef Mickey
Our DS1 comes in from college on this day!!! we will all be ready to see him!!
Wednesday - Breakfast with Donald at Tusker House - followed by a late lunch at Flame Tree BBQ (one of my favorites!)
Thursday - This is our Guys/Girls Day with a twist. Bro, Dad, DH and DS1 are going Bass Fishing right after breakfast at Trails End. DS2 and I are going to enjoy a late breakfast at Kona after we take in a few rides at MK during EMH! Eventually all of the guys will meet at T-Rex for a late lunch followed by an afternoon at Disneyquest. All of the girls will meet for lunch at Planet Hollywood (with our vouchers!!) followed by shopping at the Marketplace. Eventually we will all meet at Ghiradelli for ice cream!
Friday - Breakfast with Pooh Very excited about this. Not only is this a great breakfast but our reservation is before the park opens and it is so great to walk down Main Street prior to park opening and snap some photos with virtually no one around!!
Saturday - Bro, SIL and their boys are headed to Le'Cellier - could only get 4 in and they are the 4 that wanted to go the most VA friends are heading to Mexico and the is heading to Whispering Canyon!! Yes, Whispering Canyon again!! It is a favorite of DS1 and since he isn't in town when we go the first time we are going to "suffer" through it again.
Sunday - DS1 heads back to school in VA and our VA friends head back home. It is finally date night for DH and me!! We are going to Narcoossee's and hopefully have it timed well for the fireworks The group will be heading to O'Hana!!
We head back on Monday afternoon. The plan is to get into the parks early on Monday morning for a bit since it is AC and Bro's actual birthday on Monday and let them take advantage of the birthday promotion

 

[crocko]

On Thursday, we'll be at that MK EMH as well

 

[dseth]

I think that will be cool to have a little one on one time with him after traveling with a huge group.

 

[dseth]

I so want to do a Grand Gathering some day. Just need to get that many other people excited about Disney too.

I am jealous of your dry erase board with restaurant magnets, it is right up my OCD overplanning alley. I'm sure it comes in handy planning for 13, might be overkill for my little group of 5.

Whispering Canyon - we went last trip and were not impressed, may have been the time (one of the first for lunch) or the fact that we had already been to 50's Prime Time Cafe and loved it and our waitress at WCC was not nearly as good. I was the only one who did not do the skillet but everyone said the food was just okay.
Le’Cellier - on my wish list for September, we've never been
Crystal Palace (Breakfast) - never been
Kona - we had dinner here last trip and loved it, it is a unanimous most do for next trip.
Flame Tree BBQ - we skipped this last trip but may try it this time.
Breakfast with Donald (AK) - on our list for September, never been.
Mama Melrose - never been.
50’s Prime Time - one of our favorites last trip. A definite must do in September.
ESPN Zone - never been.
Planet Hollywood - not one of our favorites last time, but we've been in Vegas so it was no big deal. The food was good as was the atmosphere (we were seated close to the door so it was not too loud) I just think there were others we enjoyed much more.
O’Hana - on our wish list for September, we've never been.
Boma - never been

You ADR date should be soon - mine is less than 2 weeks away. Good luck getting what you want.

I've been accused of OCD I embrace it! Maybe you could just get a small board.