Grand Gatherings

[ILIKEWDW]

Has anybody made it? I wanted you to share your experiences with us, we will be 16 in September, but I wanted to know if it worth it?

I am interested the most in get preferred view of parades or fireworks......

Thanks

 

[oakmanner]

 

[BlakeNJ]

I have done a GG twice. Once as a DVC member and once not. Our first trip we stayed at WL (not villas). Our rooms were supposed to be adjoining and were not. I know this isn't promised but it doesn't seem that hard to make happen. We had to wait until the following day, change rooms, to have connecting. On that same trip, we did the Safari and dinner. It was great, dinner was family style at Tusker House. Safari was much, much better than regular safari--not silly baby elephant story. It was also a 20-30 minute or so ride. We were not offered preferred viewing for fireworks or parades. No special treatment for dining ressies either.

Our second trip, as DVC members, was pretty much the same--except this time, we were not even in the same section at SSR! It took over 1 hour to get everything figured out--a total waste of time IMHO. We did not book a GG experience on this trip. I did it solely with the hope that our rooms would be in the same building--eventually there were --but at the expense of my time.

If it were me, I would not book a GG again. I would just deal with the hassel at check in to get our rooms together. Has not worked for me yet. Also, the Fireworks cruise that was once offered for MK viewing is not offered to all guests. The Illuminations Dessert and Fireworks viewing sounds nice but personally, I have been enough to know where to get a good viewing spot, and thanks, but I'll bring my own dessert from Kringla Bakery! Breakfast with Mickey at Tony's in MK sounds pretty cool but I can not comment on that experience. If I had two days at MK I might consider this but I would not want my only MK morning to start after a long breakfast while the crowds filter in.

Good luck with your decision.

 

[ejsteg]

We did not book a grand gathering our last trip but we did book on our own the Safari Dinner - we loved it. There were 14 of us. You got a longer safari ride - more detail by our driver and she stopped whenever we asked so we could get really good pictures. The dinner at the Tusker house was a buffet but each group had their own long table. The food was great. Rafiki and Timon showed up and took pictures with everyone and they also brought in some live animals. There was a show with African musicians and anyone could get up and join in and play instruments. We would definately do this again. Enjoy your trip.

 

[bellazachmom]

We did not book a grand gathering our last trip but we did book on our own the Safari Dinner - we loved it. There were 14 of us. You got a longer safari ride - more detail by our driver and she stopped whenever we asked so we could get really good pictures. The dinner at the Tusker house was a buffet but each group had their own long table. The food was great. Rafiki and Timon showed up and took pictures with everyone and they also brought in some live animals. There was a show with African musicians and anyone could get up and join in and play instruments. We would definately do this again. Enjoy your trip.

Would you mind telling me how you were able to arrange this? It sounds like something my group would really enjoy when we head down next year -- only a group of 5 in April so were out of luck then.

Thanks!

 

[JasonDVC]

I would also like to know more about Grand Gatherings like are there any additional costs invloved? I checked Disney's site but did not find the information I was looking for. Can Member Services provide answers or is there a separate phone number?

 

[ILIKEWDW]

I would also like to know more about Grand Gatherings like are there any additional costs invloved? I checked Disney's site but did not find the information I was looking for. Can Member Services provide answers or is there a separate phone number?

I have found this info (I hope it can help you):

http://disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1977770

 

[bobbiwoz]

Our GG was in December '04 at BWV, beginning on the 19th for 4 nights, and our rooms were very close. I had a 2 bedroom and 4 studios and except for the preferred studio, we were all in a row. The preferred was on the same floor but across the elevator area. We were very happy.

We did the International Dinner GG and I wouldn't do that again because of seating issues which Disney could control and weather issues which of course, they can't.

However, we were able to book dining for all of our group, we had 13 through group reservation, and we got everything we wanted.

It's no longer a GG trip,(you can book smaller groups now) but the Magical Fireworks trip out of the Cont. was a lot of fun. We did it as part of a GG group with another Dis family and if I were booking a GG to see fireworks, that was the best! There was excellent interaction with Mr. Snee and Capt. Hook and Peter Pan took lots of time taking pictures with us after the fireworks cruise.

Bobbi

 

[bradisgoofy]

We did a Grand Gathering, sort of. I got a Grand Villa and a studio for our family, there were 19 total in the whole group, with us staying out at FW in our coach and our son on the next site in his trailer. The only thing we did as a group was Chef Mickey and I called them directly. We got a 5:30pm seating and they put us all along the wall right by the buffet. Also, DW did shirts for the whole group, which was required wearing at that dinner.

 

[joepest6]

we have done it a couple of times fire works voyage very nice but now open to public. Also did it in Feb 09 just to get rooms close. Rooms were on same floor thats it. It is a hastle getting grand gathering # would email member services to get grand gathering #.

 

[Kickapoo Joie Juice]

What a PITA Grand Gatherings are.

I spent all this time getting all the info together for our huge group to get our GG #, only to be told, once I got the number, that NONE of the GG events we wanted to do were available.

And I'm not a last minute kinda girl, either, this was *way* in advance.

Now we just don't even bother, when we go down with a big bunch, being the tour director type, I just create our own Grand Gathering events .

 

[wildernessDad]

We did the Safari Celebration Dinner and the Magical Fireworks Voyage and loved both. It was nice listening to Wishes from our boat, great sound system btw, and watching the fireworks.