Has anyone...(Grand Gatherings)

[JonetteA]

Has anyone done the international dinner and Illuminations dessert party or the Wishes cruise with Peter Pan?

 

[HLester3]

Haven't done it yet, but we are scheduled for the fireworks cruise on April 16th, so I will let you know when we get back.

 

[rngrblu9]

i know this is a stupid question but...are they really strict with the 8 person minimum?...we will be 7 people going in january...

 

[kyirish25]

We did the Fireworks Cruise in Dec. They had a dessert area set up outside the boat dock at Contemporary. Hook & Mr. Smee were there to meet with everyone. They walked you out to the boat when it was time to leave. Our captain, in full pirate gear, pulled us around to view the water parade and then did trivia and such while we drove around the lake to get into postion for Wishes. An amazing view and the music is piped in!!!! More trivia on the drive back. When pulling into dock Peter Pan was there to meet with everyone.

They are very strict on the 8 paying people staying onsite to be part of Magical Gatherings. Something you can always do is post here on DIS to see if anyone else going the same time as you would want to set up a MG and do some of the same events.

Or you can book a Wishes Fireworks cruise on a private boat but you wouldn't have the dessert party or the characters. We are doing this option this year since we don't have a MG group and we found the jokes & trivia from the captain a tad annoying (also note we don't like WC or 50's Prime Time ~ we are a quiet family).

 

[nkjzmom]

Can we still do the Grand Gatherings cruise if not all of us are staying on Disney property? We will have about 16.

 

[HLester3]

Hi. I think that you could do a grand gatherine if at least 8 people are staying on the disney property, but then only the people staying on property would be able to do the cruise. I got together with some other DIS people to make our grand gatherine. You don't need the 8 people to make the gathering reservation, then you have the number and you can add people. You just have to be carefull, since the CM kept telling me that if all 8 people from your party do not show up, even if they have paid, you will not be allowed on the boat.

 

[Figment2]

Actually a certain percentage has to be staying on site. We had about 50 people this past October and did several of the MG events (most staying onsite). However friends who live in the Orlando area were able to join us on a couple of the events since not everyone attended everything. MG can tell you what percentage needs to be onsite.

Cyn

 

[UrsulasMyHero]

at least 80 percent of your people must be staying on Disney Property to qualify as a grand gathering.

 

[UrsulasMyHero]

Yes, they are Strict on the 8 persons going. If there are not 8 people 3 and older, you would not be considered a GG.

 

[Soupermom]

kyirish25, I pm'd you.

 

[Soupermom]

The Peter Pan Cruise includes desserts, character meet and greet, viewing of the water parade, and Wishes, right?

 

[UrsulasMyHero]

yes you meet Cptn Hook and Mr. Smee as you shove off, and on the way back from the cruise, you're told the story of peter pan, when you arrive on deck, he's there to greet you.

 

[Soupermom]

How do you book these and what is the cost? You're GG group has to have 8 or more, but you're with others on the boat, right? If you are a GG, do you have to make all of your ressies this way, or can I do it all on my own except for this cruise? Sorry for all of the questions, I can't find good answers anywere else! THANKS!

 

[KIRSTIN'S MOMMY]

If you book a Magical Gathering, they will assign everyone in your group a gathering number which will be attached to your resort reservations, "linking" all of your info together. Everyone doesn't have to stay in the same place, and you can book the GG events yourself, just give your gathering number. We did the GG Wishes cruise in August and it is wonderful! It was about $30 per person, and worth every cent, I would not hesitate to reccommend it to anyone.