Grand Gatherings

[laurabelle]

I'm thinking about putting together a Grand Gathering for Christmas 2005, if everyone makes it, it will be 24 + a little one. I'd love to hear from anyone who has done this, especially for a group this size. Any tips, is everything you need to know on the Disney site? Were they very helpful? I haven't signed up for it yet, I'm just talking it over with my hubby. What special events did you like, ect...

 

[mommystieg]

Our GG leaves next Friday We are doing the MG fireworks cruise so I will let you know how that goes. If your group is larger than 13, you need to do all your PS's through Group Dining and you are limited to the first or last twenty minutes of the seating. I haven't had much experience with booking stuff through the MG staff. We had the trip planned before the MG events were announced--we belong to the DVC so we did our room ressies way back during last July. Good luck with your plans!!

 

[webmomom]

a few years ago we did our own Grand Gathering. We had at one time 22. I did all of the Ps for this and all of the CM's were so helpful.

To be perfectlly honest with you I would never to it again. It was to much. You have this one wanting to do this and another wanting to that and I was going crazy trying to make everyone happy.

Now what I do and someone wants to come with us, I tell them this is what I am doing, if you would like to join us we would be more than happy to have you join us. Otherwise they can do what will make them happy and we will meet later in the day or next day.

 

[BALAMAV]

We just got back. There was 20 of us. I didn't do Grand Gathering because. I saw a post that said that it was not very orginized. They said you had to pay for the events all on one credit card. I don't know about you but that is alot on my card. But I also saw a post where it all went fine so you be the judge. The last post was sorta right. If you want to all be at the same table you have to have PS the first 20 min. and the last 20 min. But we had PS for 20 at. Sci Fi dinnerat 3:30 we had 3 cars right next to each other. At Caped May at 7:30 we had 2 table of 10 right next to each other. At Crystal Palce at 6:40 we had 3 tables right next to each other. At Planet Hollywood at 6:00 3 tables next to each other and River Front Brew Pub at 7:30 3 tables next to each other. It all worked out great we were able to talk all we wanted. We had the best time we were in Disney for 7 days then off to a 3 day cruise. We had 3 Disney parties before we left to share all our info and also to tell everyone that they need to make sure that they all do what they want. Everyone who went spent a lot of money and they needed to make sure that they got to do as little or as much as you want. We would usually talk in the morning around 8 and tell everyone what some of us were doing some did what we did some didn't. Even if some went to the same park. We would do our own thing and we would meet for dinner. Have fun You will love being with everyone. Brenda

 

[PirateFan]

We leave two weeks from tomorrow for a Grand Gathering event for 24 people. Really the only thing that was booked through the GG was the rooms. I was asked if there was a special celebration. I told them no, but that my birthday was during the visit and so they named it the Birthday Celebration trip. I have made all of the PS through group dining without any special assistance.

We did a group trip 2 years ago with 28 people. It was a lot of fun. But, like webmomom said, it is hard to make everyone happy. This year, we have a daily PS for either lunch or dinner and that's when everyone will get together. I have given an itinerary to the other moms and they know they are welcome to join us at any time, but not obligated, except for meals.

You don't actually pay for the meals when you book them. A credit card is required to guarantee in case of no shows. I was concerned that someone in the group wouldn't make it to a PS and that I would get charged, but that's not the case. They will only charge me if none of us show up. No big deal if we are a couple of people short of 24. And everyone can pay for their meals separately.

14 days and counting!

 

[laurabelle]

Wow, I'm glad I asked! If you look on the site, it sounds like they assign you someone to help do the work with you. I definitely don't want everything on my credit card!
I told hubby that I would plan dinners to have together, and I would share my itinerary for the day with them, but I wasn't going around like a herd of cattle everyday!

I also would like to know more about the special events only GG guests can book if you've done them.

I'm going to start asking the family this weekend if anyone is interested. Hubby thinks I'm nuts, but I told him I'd rather have us all get together for Disney than together for a funeral...