Grand Gatherings

[zulaya]

Remember that announcement about Magical Gatherings...well, here's the scoop about the special events available to those "Grand Gatherings" which are groups of 8 or more travelling together:

Pricing is per person per experience.
Valid Theme Park admission is also required for most experiences.

International Storybook Dinner
A sumptuous Epcot® dinner includes storytelling for kids, followed by reserved viewing for IllumiNations: Reflections of Earth on World Showcase Lagoon.

$59.99 per adult and Junior
$19.99 per child 3-9

Safari Celebration Dinner
A guided adventure on Kilimanjaro Safaris® followed by an exciting dinner experience with characters and entertainment at Disney's Animal Kingdom® Theme Park.

$59.99 per adult and Junior
$19.99 per child 3

Good Morning Gathering
A fun-filled breakfast celebration at Magic Kingdom® Park with classic Disney characters. You even get some one-on-one time with Mickey himself.

$24.99 per adult and Junior
$11.99 per child 3-9


Magical Fireworks Voyage (seasonal availability)
This moonlit dessert voyage, hosted by a storytelling pirate and his crew, takes clients on a cruise around the Seven Seas Lagoon for a perfect viewing of WishesTM, the new Magic Kingdom® fireworks spectacular.

$29.99 per adult and Junior
$14.99 per child 3-9


The only kicker is whether DVC people can take advantage of this at all. Here's the wording that makes me wonder;

If there are eight or more in your party, staying at selected Walt Disney World® Resort Hotels, you're considered a Grand Gathering and can join other Grand Gatherings in some exclusive Disney experiences. (The same experience must be purchased by at least eight guests 3 years and older in their party.)

Anyone want to guess as to whether DVC people can do this?

 

[CarolMN]

If I had to guess, I'd say no. Based on the wording, I can't help but wonder if the "selected" hotels are those Disney classifies as deluxe (as opposed to Home-Away-From Home, Moderate and Value).

They all sound like fun, but since we do not travel with 8 or more, we wouldn't be able to take advantage of them, anyway.

Thanks for the post. It's nice to know what is being planned.

 

[zulaya]

We normally wouldn't travel with 8 or more. But next year we are travelling with my in-laws, my parents and at least 2 of my sibs. We will have at least 10 in our party, possibly 11 if my other sib can make it.

This is probably the only time this will ever happen with my kids being at that wonderful young age. I'd love to take advantage of a couple of these functions for our extended family gathering.

 

[Happy Birthday Cat]

In December I will be there with a total of 12 people. We would be interested in the Magical Fireworks Voyage. Does anyone know how far in advance you can book these? I would love to give it a try.

HBC

 

[Terry S]

Zulaya.... Where did you find this? I called Disney World and of course they don't know a thing, they transferred me around to a few different people who had no clue what I was talking about.

 

[zulaya]

It was on a thread on the resort board. The link transferred me to Your Magical Journeys, a travel agency website.

Here's the address:

http://www.yourmagicaljourneys.com/magical gatherings.htm

 

[zulaya]

Happy Birthday Cat - I believe the fine print says it can be booked 90 days out.

 

[Happy Birthday Cat]

zulaya

Thanks for the link. Sounds like I will have to wait to try on October 6 though. This should be interesting to see if DVC is included.

HBC

 

[disny4ever]

a group of DVC'ers getting together and going. I would think that should work....if we are eligible?

 

[Kick it up a notch!]

The fireworks cruise is cheaper if you rent the boat. I rented one for my mother's birthday to see Illuminations and the guide drove us around told us neat stuff, had a cake for her and soft drinks for $150. This was a couple of years ago and probably costs more now, but still cheaper than $30 PP.

 

[Happy Birthday Cat]

The fireworks cruise is cheaper if you rent the boat

Sure it is but I have will have a bunch of kids with me and the description says....

"This moonlit dessert voyage, hosted by a storytelling pirate and his crew"

The pirate alone is worth the extra money. I just hope DVC members can book it.

Of course if I can't I could always put on an eye patch and say "arrrrrrghh" over and over. The kids would probably make me walk the plank.

HBC

 

[Kick it up a notch!]

you could make the kids walk the plank and you would have a more peaceful vacation?

Just a thought...

 

[married@wdw]

I really do think Disney will open this up to everyone staying on Disney property. Doesn't make sense not too -- the goal is to get more people to stay on property and get those people staying on property to spend more money at Disney. Turning some guests into "second class" citizens defeats the purpose, and isn't usually the way Disney does things.

Hmmm -- I wonder how strict they'll be with how many people are staying on property. Will you have to give reservation numbers? We always have a group of 10, but we're the only two staying on Disney property as the rest of our family lives in the Orlando area. We love doing stuff together and those options all sound like things we'd enjoy. Can't wait to hear more about this!

 

[zulaya]

I too hope they realize the profit of allowing DVCmembers and their guests in. But this is Disney. What is common sense to us is not usually common sense to them.

They still market to the general public and think a frequent visitor is someone who comes every 3 years. They are truly not aware of how untapped DVC members are to special events/offerings like this. At least that's my impression from a lot of the stuff I hear about.

 

[smvdelv]

I was talking with my former Disney Store manager who, beginning next week, will be working as a Grand Gatherings Coordinator. He told me that DVC members can take part in the Magical Gathering Program. I also asked him if you could have 8 people staying a different Disney resorts and he said "yes".
What a great marketing plan on Disney's part - to get families to encourage other members of their families to come with them!
I guess the Coordinator's job will be to see that room requests are honored, arrange PS, and other stuff.

 

[zulaya]

smvdlv - I so hope your friend is in the know! I sent you a PM as well. If there are any further details your friend can share with you PLEASE post or PM me as this is something I truly want to make happen for my trip next year!

Looking forward to more info!

 

[married@wdw]

That's great! I hope this program doesn't fall apart -- at least 11 of us will be going in February 2005 and I'd love to have the help in planning and have some fun group activites we can participate in. Now, I'll just need to find out if the family members who live in the Orlando area -- and won't be staying at Disne -- can be included.

 

[zulaya]

So I decided to contact Jackie at MS and see if she could tell me anything.

She called me today to let me know that DVC members will indeed be eligible!!! (See me jumping up and down with joy!)

Apparently after the first 2 weeks of October (I am reading this as after the media event) that on the website there will be a special phone number for you to call if you have a large enough group to be eligible.

She did say that people staying at DVC will qualify as long as you have 8 or more people - which I will have.

I doesn't appear that non-resort guests can be counted as part of the Grand Gathering. You have to be staying onsite is what it sounds like.

SO, I guess we will have to watch the website around mid-October and see how we can use it! I am so excited for this for my big trip!

 

[married@wdw]

Originally posted by zulaya
I doesn't appear that non-resort guests can be counted as part of the Grand Gathering. You have to be staying onsite is what it sounds like.

Great news. Now I'm very excited too!

If anyone gets the opportunity to ask someone in the know, I'm curious about the above statement. We're in the early planning stages of a family reunion but the trip isn't until February 2005. There will be atleast 11 in our party staying on Disney property, but we have an additional 8 family members that live in the Orlando area and will not be staying on Disney property. So my question is, if we have 8 or more on Disney property can those that aren't staying at Disney participate in the Grand Gatherings events as well? I'm afraid the answer to this may be "no" as well, but I'll keep my fingers crossed.

 

[zulaya]

married@wdw, I don't know all the rules and such and I don't know if anyone does at this point.

It did sound like that you had to be staying on Disney property to participate.

I know it's hard to wait, but I think we will have to wait till mid October to be able to read the fine print. Even then I would call whatever this new special phone number will be and get the skinny directly from the Magical Gatherings department.

Luckily, we both have a lot of time before our big trips! Doesn't make the excitement abate though!

We'll just have to try and be patient together.