Magical Gathering - is it worth it?

[snowflake]

Hello - has anyone had one of these? Is it worth it? We are 9 people and don't know whether we should go with the gathering (and know we have less flexibility on booking/changing plans etc)

 

[3lilprincesses]

i would like an answer to this as well. we will be 9 or 10, and TA said we should register as a grand gathering, even if we don't plan on booking any of the special things they have. i would really like to do the fireworks cruise (the wishes one, where you meet peter pan), so i said okay. but now i second guess myself.

hoping someone w/ experience will answer!!

 

[Msouth]

We went last fall and it was great! They told us it would give us priority for connecting or adjoining rooms, since they could see the reservations first, and everyone was right next door to each other! (we had five rooms at Pop, 2 at All Star, and 2 at Riverside) They also said we would get priority for all our priority seatings, but I don't know what that means. We were never split though, and always had a large table or a room to ourselves, so I guess that's what it means. We were a very large group, too.

Some of us also went on the Peter Pan cruise, and it was the best money ever spent! It was tough though - I thought we could add and change people, but it was a nightmare to do it. One family canceled, which wasn't a problem until we had a couple more people want to sign up and couldn't because the boat was filled.

We also did the illuminations dessert party (dinner was a waste, but the fireworks viewing the best we've ever done, and we've done them all!) the safari (dinner was much better) and the breakfast at Tony's. (that was a lot of fun, and I wish we'd started our trip off with it.)

 

[InstImpres]

I have done 3 of the GG events and they were amazing. That said, the GG desk is very disorganized. I did GG on two trips a year apart and there was no noticable improvement. I spent a total of about 6 hours on the phone for an event. (I got no confirmation, than wrong date confirmation, credit card charged than credited than charged, etc.)

I am an event planner by profession so was shocked this was so difficult. I also booked a private event for my family that was amazing. It was as good as any GG event. (We had a private area with seating for parade viewing and snacks).

The concept of GG is great I just wish they would get their act together.

If I can answer more specific questions, please feel free to PM or email me.

Sandy

 

[mrcricket]

We utilized Grand Gatherings during Christmas this past year. Was great. Our rooms were together, our PSs were always together and they do offer options to GG parties that they don't to others. Unfortunately we didn't have the $$ to splurge on those. We did do the Candlelight Processional dinner package and many other sit-down restaurants and we always got a large table with no-problem. A couple of times we were seated within 5 - 10 minutes.