Magical Gathering with DVC? First trip please advise.

[mommyceratops]

Hi! I am getting ready to plan our FIRST DVC trip!! We have decided to invite our family to go with us total 12, 8 adults and 4 kids.

First question can do a magical gathering with the DVC

We are going the first week of Dec. should we try for a grand villa or get (2) 2 bedrooms?

Any advise is welcome

TIA!!

 

[bobbiwoz]

Congratulations!

We've never had a GV, when we had our Grand Gathering, I booked 1 2-bedroom and 4 studios, we weren't all in the same family, and I thought some alone time would be good for everybody. It worked for us. Also, we didn't have enough points for a GV at BWV for the entire time, if we had the points, I would have tried to book it, but we still would have needed other accomodations.

This is what we did regarding GG in December '04. I called MS and they gave me a GG number and then I booked a GG event. We did the International dinner and fireworks viewing at Epcot. We were disappointed with that event and we wouldn't do it again.

They begin booking GG events 6 months out. We want to do one in October and so far, they can't even tell me what days what event will be offered.

Bobbi

 

[Aneille]

This is what we did regarding GG in December '04. I called MS and they gave me a GG number and then I booked a GG event. We did the International dinner and fireworks viewing at Epcot. We were disappointed with that event and we wouldn't do it again.

Bobbi

I also have done a GG with DVC but haven't done any events. We are doing another in Dec. 06 and we booked 1 two bedroom and 1 one bedroom. So we are doing some sharing. We will have 6 adults, 2 children, 2 infants with us. We also didn't have enough pts for a GV at the BWV so we got boardwalk views instead.

I booked my DVC rooms and then called GG MS and got a GG number. And that was it.

Bobbi - Would you mind telling me what you didn't like about the dinner and fireworks show? I was considering that for December. Thanks!

Kim

 

[mommyceratops]

Thanks! I would like to more about the events too. I would like to do one of them.

TIA

 

[RCM]

We are going in 40 days and have a GG # but that is it. Haven't gotten anything from it. I thought we would have some special booking or seating privelidges. Not sure what to do with it

 

[Aneille]

We are going in 40 days and have a GG # but that is it. Haven't gotten anything from it. I thought we would have some special booking or seating privelidges. Not sure what to do with it

This is the list at WDW website for the exclusive events.

http://disneyworld.disney.go.com/wd...roducts?id=GrandGatheringsSpecialProductsPage

 

[Nanajo1]

We did a Magical Gathering last month with DH's Brother's family, 4 adults, 4 teens and 2 children. MS gave me a MG number. I booked the Magical Fireworks Wishes Cruise. Once I did that I got called twice from MG to double check how many people and rooms. They said so the rooms would be close and they were. We were all on the third floor. Which was better than the last time when we were 3 floors and several hallways apart! The cruise was pricey but a lot of fun. I might budget for my next trip with my DKd and DGKs.

 

[bobbiwoz]

Bobbi - Would you mind telling me what you didn't like about the dinner and fireworks show? I was considering that for December. Thanks!

Kim

It was less than we expected. DMom was 85 and this was what she picked. We got there (Odyssey restaurant) before our appointed time, to find that many of the other parties were already seated, and many had already eaten. (We must have been given staggering start times.) Much of the food at the buffet, different sorts from different countries was cold. Now, people were willing to go heat up the food for us, and we took up their offer. Roz, the hostess was as wonderful as she could be, a real character and she made the day for DM. Much of the entertainment was geared toward the under 12 year old crowd, however it was the special Illuminations area that was the biggest disappointment.

We were expecting deserts at tables and chairs outside and seating to watch Illuminations. This is not what we had. We were led into an area, everyone from the dinner, maybe 70-100 people, (we had 14), and everyone just crowded up against the fence to watch. I've seen people in areas across the water near France sitting and enjoying Illuminations, and that's what I expected. Our deserts had been served at areas inside the restaurant. Not even hot chocolate was available outside.

It was cold that night. December 20th, 2004.

I did send a note. They said that would take my suggestions for seating into consideration. I don't know if anything is different now.

Now, Dmom is a bit afraid of small boats, and that ruled out the fireworks cruise. She was happy, it was her choice. I think it was an overpriced disappointment.

Bobbi

 

[Aneille]

Thanks Bobbi for the details. That does sound disappointing about the seating. I would rather not be crowded around a rail watching the show.

If anyone else has reviews of the events please post them. It seems there are a few of us that are interested.

I'd like to try the cruise or the safari I think. But the morning gathering at Tony's sounds like fun for my little ones.

Thanks again.

Kim

 

[Pooh's Pixie]

We did the Fireworks cruise in January. It was fun. I agree, it's overpriced, but it's Disney!

We met at a conference room at the Contemporary and there was a nice dessert buffet set up...I can't remember exactly what they had but cookies, fruit, brownies etc. Coffee, soda, water etc also set up. Just a little mix & mingle time...Captain Hook and Smee were there for autographs and pics and then our "pirate" hosts came out to greet us. They were real characters, had us singing the Pirates of the Carribean song as we paraded thru the Contemporary (kids got a kick out of that!)...walked down to the boats and played some games on the boat with the pirate...kids earned some pins or other little baubles. We stopped very close to see the Electric Water parade, which was neat. Then the Wishes fireworks started and the music and narration is piped into the boat. It was an awesome vantage point to see the fireworks and no crowds! Then back to the Contemporary where Peter Pan greeted us at the dock (surprise). We had fun. My biggest complaint was just that it was so late but that is a function of what time Wishes is...We didn't get back to the dock until about 11 I think.

 

[Plutofan]

Last June we did all four Grand Gathering events. I personally liked Tony's the best. All of us enjoyed getting up and dancing with all of the Disney Characters. The kid to character ratio was the best I have seen. The kids loved getting all the autogragh's and Tony does a great job with the show. Of course the private one on one time with Mickey and our family was great.

 

[blossomz]

We did a Grand Gathering a couple of years ago. We had one 2 BR and rented points for the relatives to get 2 more studios. We did 3 of the events. We did the safari in Animal Kingdom...which was GREAT. The food and fun was wonderful and the late afternoon safari was so much fun. It was fun to have the park to ourselves and see all of the lights on. We also did the EPCOT dinner/buffet/fireworks. The dessert was fabulous as was the viewing area for illuminations. Then we did the pirate cruise. It was the most money for the least amount of "stuff". But the pirate and the cruise was fun. We actually voiced a complaint for the dessert buffet which didn't compare at all to the one at EPCOT. We used the Grand Gathering number to book all of our other dinners as well as the events. In addition, there is a special place to view AK parade for GG groups. Call them and ask about any other perks that there may be. If you call they can be very helpful. We even ordered our shirts from them so they could match and be personalized. We all still wear them when we get together!

 

[byoung]

You can do a 2bed and a studio. I wouldn't wait to long to book for that time.

 

[mommyceratops]

We did a Grand Gathering a couple of years ago. We had one 2 BR and rented points for the relatives to get 2 more studios. We did 3 of the events. We did the safari in Animal Kingdom...which was GREAT. The food and fun was wonderful and the late afternoon safari was so much fun. It was fun to have the park to ourselves and see all of the lights on. We also did the EPCOT dinner/buffet/fireworks. The dessert was fabulous as was the viewing area for illuminations. Then we did the pirate cruise. It was the most money for the least amount of "stuff". But the pirate and the cruise was fun. We actually voiced a complaint for the dessert buffet which didn't compare at all to the one at EPCOT. We used the Grand Gathering number to book all of our other dinners as well as the events. In addition, there is a special place to view AK parade for GG groups. Call them and ask about any other perks that there may be. If you call they can be very helpful. We even ordered our shirts from them so they could match and be personalized. We all still wear them when we get together!

BlossomMZ do you mind telling more about the Safari? and what is Tony's?

Thank you!!

 

[mommyceratops]

What is Tony's?

TIA

 

[kimberh]

Please tell me about the AK, I had no idea that it was after the park was empty. We were going to do it last year and I didn't understand it to be like that. I have never heard of Tony's either.

 

[Plutofan]

The AK Safari - All of the Grand Gathering groups meet and they break into group. Each group has it's own safari guide. You then take an extended Kilmangario Safari ride where you can ask the guide any questions. The private Safari rides are taken after the park closes. Then you go have dinner with all the groups with music and they bring out some disney characters for you to meet and they bring out some small animals for kids to look at. I was disappointed in the animals that they brought out. I can not remember but they were small and in glass cages. I was hoping for some more exiting animals.

Tony's - Is a breakfast with characters. Tony does a show with the characters. Everyone gets up and dances with the character's doing the hoky poky etc. It was a lot of fun. You also get one on one time with Mickey and your family. We did all four of the Grand Gathering experiences last year and when we go back this year we are doing Tony's again.

 

[Nanajo1]

This is the link to the info re prices etc.
http://disneyworld.disney.go.com/wd...roducts?id=GrandGatheringsSpecialProductsPage
As I said we did the Wishes Fireworks Cruise and enjoyed it. We may try Tony's on our next family trip.