Is "Magical Gatherings" a Joke????

[Dizzy4Dizney]

We're planning a family trip in Oct with 17 of us. We qualify for the Grand Gathering of the Magical Gathering. I spent 20 min on the phone to get my Grand Gathering number. I find out that we can get "special" seatings and Wishes cruises for BIG BUCKS! What a joke! We're going to be spending BIG BUCKS already by having 17 of us come down and now they want us to spend more! I'm very dissapointed in this promotion. The only good thing about it is that I found 17 "Magical Gatherings" sweatshirts at the Disney Store for $5.50 each ($3.50 for kids). We'll have the same sweatshirts atleast. Anyone else think MG & GG is a joke?

 

[Mike]

The administration of it is certainly a joke. I cannot believe the number of phone calls and bad information I was given by the MG CMs. I had to jump through hoops just to get a MG# and then booking the Wishes Cruise was another nightmare. That whole group is an embarassment to Disney. What a fiasco.

But that said, we all thought the Wishes Cruise was an incredible experience and I would like to do that again - if I can ever get up the nerve to deal with the MG CMs again

 

[Dizzy4Dizney]

Thanks for the info. If I can get everyone to pay for the Wishes Cruise, it might be worth it. BTW- Hi Neighbor....I'm in Billerica

 

[disneygoof]

I've read complaints about the availability of PS's for parties of more than 8.

 

[eeyore0062]

Actually Magical Gatherings has been a very successful and popular promotion. I have heard much positive feedback from guests who have made trips organized by the castmembers at Magical Gatherings, and they said it was really nice and took away the headache of trying to coordinate plans for so many people.

Of course, it is only an option, it is not forced on party's of 8 or more, so no one has to use it.

 

[valeriekc]

Our experience from out friend was a disaster and therefore promptly dubbed
"TRAGICAL GATHERINGS"
It is a shame and Walt Disney would have fired everyone remotely associated with this fiasco!

 

[Philly81]

We're planning a family trip in Oct with 17 of us. We qualify for the Grand Gathering of the Magical Gathering. I spent 20 min on the phone to get my Grand Gathering number. I find out that we can get "special" seatings and Wishes cruises for BIG BUCKS! What a joke! We're going to be spending BIG BUCKS already by having 17 of us come down and now they want us to spend more! I'm very dissapointed in this promotion. The only good thing about it is that I found 17 "Magical Gatherings" sweatshirts at the Disney Store for $5.50 each ($3.50 for kids). We'll have the same sweatshirts atleast. Anyone else think MG & GG is a joke?

I have to agree. I've read about some bad experiences and the prices are "grand" I will say.

 

[disneyjunkie]

I booked our last trip as a grand gathering since there were 8 of us going. The only good thing about booking it as a GG, was knowing that our rooms would be together.

Dealing with them was such a pain. I was giving wrong information most of the time. The hold times were insane. I was afraid to trust them with our PS so I did them myself.

 

[cra-z-4-dizney]

I booked our last trip as a grand gathering since there were 8 of us going. The only good thing about booking it as a GG, was knowing that our rooms would be together.

Dealing with them was such a pain. I was giving wrong information most of the time. The hold times were insane. I was afraid to trust them with our PS so I did them myself.

wow...after hearing this maybe I shouldn't do the MG?????

Haven't officially started talking to anyone yet so....

 

[lenshanem]

It was a pain setting up Magical Gatherings, but that Wishes cruise is FANTASTIC! Worth every single penny. Actually, we all agreed we would have paid even more. (Which gets me wondering - have they gone up in price? Cause I think what we paid was very reasonable.)

I did a short review of it in my July trip report -
Wishes cruise

If you skim thru it you'll get to the Wishes cruise part and at the end of my report I have a link to a pic of us with our pirate guide.

 

[bytheblood]

In a word - YES.

 

[3xthecharm]

I am the disney person in our family. I'm not an expert, but the others are clueless. Therefore, they all asked me to book all of our resort res.. This made our total people "10". They would not let me book all of the reservations myself unless it was as a gathering.

I could have had the others call for their res., but we were spliting the res. in the same hotel because part of the trip was holiday and the rest was value season. They were a little confused how to do this.

4 of the people are probably no longer going. I was told by a CM that the rest of us would have to lose our current res. and make new ones. We are going 12/31-1/4!!

 

[ILoveWDW2003]

It was a pain setting up Magical Gatherings, but that Wishes cruise is FANTASTIC! Worth every single penny. Actually, we all agreed we would have paid even more. (Which gets me wondering - have they gone up in price? Cause I think what we paid was very reasonable.)

I did a short review of it in my July trip report -
Wishes cruise

If you skim thru it you'll get to the Wishes cruise part and at the end of my report I have a link to a pic of us with our pirate guide.

How large was the boat for the Wishes cruise? Was it a normal pontoon boat or larger? I've read one report that said it could hold 40 people, is this true?

 

[lenshanem]

It was a large size boat with rows of benches. I'd agree with about 40 people.

 

[eeyore0062]

Sorry to hear about all of the disappointing trips. I know that I have talked to folks who swear by it, but were just getting weary of being with all of those relatives for so long!

If you have had difficulties with the actual planning and execution of the Gathering, might I suggest letting Guest Communications know? If WDW doesn't hear about the problems and the good points, how can it refine its product to it is more user friendly?

That link is: wdw.guest.communications@disneyworld.com. They read every letter and email. You may not hear back from them, but believe me, they hear you.

 

[DISNEYFAMILYOFFOUR]

We did two Magical Gatherings events in December and they were both wonderful and worth every penny. All nine of us thought so which included 5 adults and 4 children. I had Sue Ellen (she is the best) from Dreams Unlimited set everything up for me so I had no problems.

We would not hesitate to do them again and/or try the other two in the future. This next trip with be just us four so we cannot participate.

 

[WDW TRIP NUT]

How far in advance can you book a Magical Gatherings Wishes Cruise? There are 8 of us and my nephew LOVES Peter Pan. It might be worth it for this one reason. We haven't booked rooms, etc. yet.

 

[DISNEYFAMILYOFFOUR]

How far in advance can you book a Magical Gatherings Wishes Cruise? There are 8 of us and my nephew LOVES Peter Pan. It might be worth it for this one reason. We haven't booked rooms, etc. yet.

You need to be staying at a WDW resort (I believe at least half of your party). I believe they are booked 90 days out and need to be paid in full 45 days out.

Captain Hook and Mr. Smead were at the dessert reception before we boarded the boat, then Peter Pan showed up at the dock when we got back.

 

[WDW TRIP NUT]

Thanks!!! We will be staying at a Disney Resort. I just don't know which one yet (LOL) Does anyone know if these book up very quickly. I know these boats hold more people than the pontoon boats but I was wondering how many. Also, Do you think this has caught on yet? I don't hear that much about it.

 

[lenshanem]

I called right at 90 days out I believe. I heard they do fill up quickly.