Grand Gatherings hint

[Twende]

If you are planning to do any of the Grand Gathering "Experiences" with your group or family please do not mess up like I did this week.

You need to have a GG# before they will allow you to book anything and through DVC it takes many days to get a GG number. I guess if you are not a DVC member you can get one immediately on the phone and then book your "experience" but DVC members can not do it that way.

I called to make our ADR's on our 180 day arrival mark and there was an opening for our family to do the Safari Dinner but I did not have the GG# so they could not book it. Now two days later I still do not have the GG# but the "experience" is booked solid!

So get your number a good two weeks in advance so you have it in hand at your 180 day mark!
Live and learn!

 

[DiznyDi]

Thanks! Good information to know.
We will be traveling to the world in October with family - a total of 9 persons... 10 if you count the infant that's going along. Is there a direct link to information available anywhere? We are very rural and have only dial-up available to us. Anytime I try to access the Disney site, my computer bombs out. The site is just too vast and graphic intensive for my dial-up to handle.

 

[Twende]

Grand Gatherings is here: http://disneyworld.disney.go.com/wdw/special/magicalgatherings/ggSpecialProducts?id=GrandGatheringsSpecialProductsPage&bhcp=1

And the phone number is 407-939-7526 but you will have to call MS to get the GG# before you can reserve anything.

You can call GG and they can explain what is available though.

 

[Inkmahm]

If you are planning to do any of the Grand Gathering "Experiences" with your group or family please do not mess up like I did this week.

You need to have a GG# before they will allow you to book anything and through DVC it takes many days to get a GG number. I guess if you are not a DVC member you can get one immediately on the phone and then book your "experience" but DVC members can not do it that way.

I called to make our ADR's on our 180 day arrival mark and there was an opening for our family to do the Safari Dinner but I did not have the GG# so they could not book it. Now two days later I still do not have the GG# but the "experience" is booked solid!

So get your number a good two weeks in advance so you have it in hand at your 180 day mark!
Live and learn!

Is it a special safari ride like the sunrise safari or you just do the normal safari as a group?

I think I would much prefer the safari in the morning when the animals are more active. Lunch at Tusker house is a nice buffet and much cheaper than the Grand Gathering cost for dinner. I'd just get ADRs for lunch and do the safari earlier.

 

[Twende]

This is what I was told about the GG Safari:

" Safari Celebration Dinner
Make dinnertime an adventure with an amazing experience. Meet your tour guide in Asia at the "Flights of Wonder" theater for an exciting tour on Kilimanjaro Safaris.

After you've returned from your Safari, continue the Disney's Animal Kingdom fun in the Tusker House Restaurant with a delicious all-you-can-eat African-inspired dinner menu served family style. Dine on a full range of delectable foods that will please even the youngest members of your family. Then, have an "up-close" experience with exotic wildlife brought to the restaurant courtyard just to meet you — even get an autograph from one of the special Disney Characters who stop by the restaurant to say hello! And if you're celebrating a birthday, anniversary, family reunion or other special occasion, your Disney friends will surely add their recognition to the festivities. Theme park admission is required.

Price:
Adults and Juniors - $64.99, Children (ages 3-9) - $33.99 (available 180 days prior)."


The actual safari is suppose to be longer and more leisurely than the ones when the park is still open. Many people have said that they saw many more animals and much closer since the driver takes different routes.

The dinner is served family style which is nice for our family since we have several member who have a difficult time walking and carrying plates.

There is also suppose to be some entertainment during the dinner and some live animals to get close to outside the dinner.

When dinner is over that park is closed and you basically have the place to yourself to take photos and slowly enjoy the walk to the front gate.

We just thought it would be fun and a great way to end our trip!

Oh well what can I do now?

 

[Deemarch]

I got my Grand Gathering number while I was on the phone with MS...It took a while but I didn't have to wait. I did this about 1 month ago. Sorry to hear that you had a problem.

 

[Twende]

I got my Grand Gathering number while I was on the phone with MS...It took a while but I didn't have to wait. I did this about 1 month ago. Sorry to hear that you had a problem.

I don't get this! I have talked to two different people there and they both say you can not get a GG# over the phone. They tell me it is done a a separate office of the DVC member services and that they email or call you to give you the number.

 

[TyRy]

Is there any reason that as a DVC memeber you have to call MS to get the GG# and not just the general phone one that every non-DVC group calls? We'll be the only ones staying DVC and everyone else will be in regular resort rooms.

Ty

 

[DiznyDi]

Grand Gatherings is here: http://disneyworld.disney.go.com/wdw/special/magicalgatherings/ggSpecialProducts?id=GrandGatheringsSpecialProductsPage&bhcp=1

And the phone number is 407-939-7526 but you will have to call MS to get the GG# before you can reserve anything.

You can call GG and they can explain what is available though.

Thank you, Thank you, Thank you!
I'll research this tonight.

 

[Twende]

Is there any reason that as a DVC memeber you have to call MS to get the GG# and not just the general phone one that every non-DVC group calls? We'll be the only ones staying DVC and everyone else will be in regular resort rooms.

Ty

I don't really know the answer to this but it seems that when they ask where you are staying or they get the reservation number they seem to figure out that you are a DVC member and from there you get sent to MS(Member Services).

I don't know what would have happened if I had lied and said I was with a group staying at say the PC. Who knows? All I know is that I am frustrated that I called with months out and still did not get the GG I wanted.

 

[Twende]

Today was the 1 week mark from when I tried to get the GG#. It has still not come!

I called MS and was on the phone almost 2 hours trying to get it straightened out.
I finally have my number and my groups name but of course there are not enough openings in the dinner we want.

A Jasmine at MS was very nice and said there are three openings that she will try to hold them and will continue to check it to see if she can get five more so that at least 8 of us can go.

So I guess that means we have one more "wait" list to wait on!

 

[Inkmahm]

This is what I was told about the GG Safari:

" Safari Celebration Dinner
Make dinnertime an adventure with an amazing experience. Meet your tour guide in Asia at the "Flights of Wonder" theater for an exciting tour on Kilimanjaro Safaris.

After you've returned from your Safari, continue the Disney's Animal Kingdom fun in the Tusker House Restaurant with a delicious all-you-can-eat African-inspired dinner menu served family style. Dine on a full range of delectable foods that will please even the youngest members of your family. Then, have an "up-close" experience with exotic wildlife brought to the restaurant courtyard just to meet you — even get an autograph from one of the special Disney Characters who stop by the restaurant to say hello! And if you're celebrating a birthday, anniversary, family reunion or other special occasion, your Disney friends will surely add their recognition to the festivities. Theme park admission is required.

Price:
Adults and Juniors - $64.99, Children (ages 3-9) - $33.99 (available 180 days prior)."


The actual safari is suppose to be longer and more leisurely than the ones when the park is still open. Many people have said that they saw many more animals and much closer since the driver takes different routes.

The dinner is served family style which is nice for our family since we have several member who have a difficult time walking and carrying plates.

There is also suppose to be some entertainment during the dinner and some live animals to get close to outside the dinner.

When dinner is over that park is closed and you basically have the place to yourself to take photos and slowly enjoy the walk to the front gate.

We just thought it would be fun and a great way to end our trip!

Oh well what can I do now?

Go early in the morning for the safari and you will see just as many animals. More, I'd think. That's why I love the sunrise safari.

Make a reservation at Tusker House for lunch and have younger family members help those who can't walk get their food. It's worth it.

You'll save a lot of money.