Group rates?

[MaryKatesMom]

Our gymnastics team is coming to WDW in January. One of the mothers should be able to get a sponsor to supply airline tickets for the kids. Our family will have AP's by then.

Our coach is looking at room/ticket prices through a travel agent and has decided that POP would be the best choice since several of the kids can barely afford the trip.

We go twice a year and stay at BC (although we are trying BWV this Dec) so I'm sure I will miss desperately being that close to WS.

I would love to be able to get a group rate of some sort so that we could move up to a moderate.

Even if I used our AP's for a discount, we only have 4 AP's and I think the limit is two rooms per AP which won't be enough.

The packages are based on adult dbl occup which won't be the case.

Has anyone attempted to get a group rate for an organization?

Maybe I should call Starwood and check for a group rate at the Swan and Dolphin.

We're AAA members. Should I try there?

How about DU?

Does anyone have any ideas or thoughts?

 

[djm99]

Unless things have changed, Pop doesn't 'allow' groups. Pop will allow overage of All Star Resorts. I could be wrong, but last year, I tried to get Pop for a Senior Class Trip and I was told that Pop does not allow group. Group Rates a few years back used to really be great, but now its like 10 - 15% off. Now you can all just book rooms at Pop, but you will NOT get the group rates. In 2004, when we had our family reunion in Disney, We had group rates that had the All Stars for only $64, only CS for $99 and Animal Kingdom Lodge for $139. All rooms were non-preferred. Our family was allowed to pick which resort of the above mentioned resorts. We planned several 'magical gatherings', and we even had a character breakfast w/Mickey and Minnie at CS. CS was the host hotel. It was lots of fun. Ticket options were great too. After 2pm tickets were offered, 2 day hoppers with 1 water park. We had group meets and were able to ride and see certain attractions all together. It was really nice. Sooooo many options to even mention. Call the group reservation center or Magical Gatherings and they will give you another number to make the arrangements. I also set up a website so the family could book their own reservations. Have fun!

 

[SplashMountainRocks]

To get a room-only group rate at WDW, you need to guarantee at least 10 rooms.

Pricing is very similar to AAA rates.

 

[malibuconlee]

My cousin has taken her daughter and their cheerleading group to Orlando the last two years. They rent houses (villas) offsite and they say it ends up being much cheaper even when adding in van rentals. They cook some meals in and that saves money too.

That being said, they still had problems with girls not raising enough money. They are starting this year that the parents/girls have to pay or raise a certain $$ amount each month.

 

[MaryKatesMom]

We have a couple of car wash's scheduled.

I called WDW and you need to have 10 room's for the group rate which makes me nervous.

WDW reservations gave me the 800 number and I'll call during the week next week.

Thanks!

 

[zumbergc]

How many girls total, how many adults will be going?

That would give everyone here and idea of how many rooms you need, and tactics people could suggest for getting the biggest bang for the buck.

I've never looked into the grand gathering, and what all that entails, if it saves you any money on certain features of the trip.

Who ever is doing the organizing. Might want to create their own yahoo group. That way all the info could be contained in one spot, people could post questions, and it would all be in one spot.

I looked over at allearsnet.com and they mention you can get 3 rooms per AP.

Good luck in your fund raising.

 

[MaryKatesMom]

Thanks for all your help everyone. I called WDW and the event is at the WWoS and there is a special package put out by WDW for the event and there is no minimum number of rooms!!

The information is not up yet, it is pending in their system. I was the first to call.

 

[momocay]

We did the Sand Dollar Invitational this year at Disney. The rates we got were incredibly inexpensive. My family of 3 went for 4 nights, 5 days. We got four days of tickets with hopping and stayed at Carribean Beach. The total cost was about $900 total. Everything is discounted, so you might not want to get the AP's just yet. We did have 1 mom book everything for us, as to block the rooms together. The girls and us parents had a wonderful time. It was a great bonding experience. Have fun!