Magical gatherings doesn't seem so "magical" for DVC...

[gopherit]

When I joined Magical Gatherings in anticipation of our summer trip, it was a bit messy -- it required calling MS, then they called the gatherings #, then on a 3 way call we all swapped info,etc. Made a call yesterday to WDW-PLAN to try to add my sister to our Magical Gathering group. The CM -- a very pleasant fellow, so much so that you wondered what he'd been sniffing -- politely told me that he couldn't do it. It's a "DVC thing" he told me. So long as dear sis is staying on points (her own -- she's a DVC-er too), then my sister will have to call MS, tell them she wants to be added to my gathering, then they will 3-way call Magical Gatherings and add her to my "list". Well that's a pain in the ol "members are magical" batookus, ain't it! TO be honest, I'm just not real sure what we gain from the Magical Gatherings experience, other than a few more ways to be separated from our wallets. The software was a nice idea (but I'm just as happy searching WDW on my own and making my EXCEL spreadsheets). The software often gets my travel dates wrong (and hence my countdown timer) and for no reason sometimes "forgets" all my data (notes, ressies,etc). Not fun.

And as for the "planning" and ressie aid this program is supposed to provide -- well, quite honestly, I prefer to just make all my ressies myself. Sorry, but I'm not chancing missing the Castle or some similar dining event because of confusion at member services or WDWPLAN.

Anyone else have similar feelings that this isn't really so grand for DVCers? OR maybe I just haven't found the utility of it yet.... Enlighten me!

 

[Pa@okw95]

Most DVC members are very savvy travelers to WDW. They usually don't go for promotional ideas put out by WDW for the regular WDW guest.. Then again we have DVC members going to the member's home coming in a few days. Most members have been kicking around WDW for sometime and are a difficult sell regarding these ideas to promote travel to WDW. I hope everything works out for you with the so called, "Magical Gatherings".

 

[Disney Doll]

I think the MG program is for those less savvy than most DVCers are when it comes to WDW.

 

[chainkid]

When I called to make my family apart of the magical gatherings, I found myself listening to information that was less than what I already knew. Several times I had to stop the /cm and say well no in fact in goes like this. She was very pleasant but frankly having been on these boards I'm much more savy. So it was a complete waste..I am much better at planning my own trips.

 

[kathleena]

Well that's a pain in the ol "members are magical" batookus, ain't it!

I haven't done anything with Magical Gatherings (we only have six) but I just had to laugh at this.

Sorry it's been such a pain for you - they really should find a way to make it easier. As the three culture/philosophy mantras from my employer go:

Be There
Make It Easy
Add Something to Their Day

Sounds like Disney has done none, except maybe adding frustration to your day!

 

[TwirlerGirl]

Please keep us informed as to how things go for you. We are planning a MG trip next May for 12 people and would love any info on MG you think will be important.

I know from asking questions of MS's that my parents who own their own off site timeshare could not be offically included. But I also found out how to get around this. I wiil add them to our room as guests and this will included them for the two events they wish to attend with the group. My dad is 80 and my step mom is 64; they are not interested in the parks but would like to do dinner with the family at EPCOT. This is the only way to get tables together for that size group.

Any other hints you may find out would be greatly appreciated.

Sandy

 

[BCV23]

The Magical Gatherings software program is available to anyone. I downloaded it for our March trip and there were just 4 of us going. I thought it might be fun to communicate that way as I was doing the planning but my DS and his fiancee were both in other cities.

Had problems with it just like you did. "Invited" my son to join and he could never get in, things disappeared. Couldn't list any PSs as noon...just wouldn't accept it. But it was fun seeing Tinkerbelle fly!

The MG events look very expensive....has anyone tried them yet?

Since this isn't a DVC thing, why does MS have to be involved at all...to link the rooms or something?

 

[TwirlerGirl]

Only people staying on properity can take part in MG. MS is involved because they do link all reservations together, resorts & DVC. I know there are certain events that are MG exclusive but I not sure what they are. (Something at Horizons????)

I have had problems with the MG software as well. After taking time to select favorites at each park for the group to select 2 group actives to do, it all disappeared. I've set up polls for everybody to vote on certain night actives but group hasn't use it yet. Does anyone know if software fixes are in the works?

Sandy

 

[bobbiwoz]

I was told that 80% of the participants in a Magical Gathering have to be staying on site. We have a name and number and are just waiting for the 90 day ressie date to arrive.

Our MG will be in December and I doubt that we'll be using the software. We expect 15-18 people, and we're probably just going to do the International Meal with Illuminations viewing and deserts afterward with all of the people.

I took part in a survey regarding the MG software. I downloaded it, but for me it's a pain because it automatically boots, and then I get rid of it. Yes, Tink flying away is cute, but I don't think it will be helpful to us.

Bobbi

 

[ceejay13]

I had posted on my feelings about MG several months ago. We brought 11 members of our family to the BWV in January. When the MG information came out late in the fall I thought it sounded great so I signed us up. For the 4 phone calls I made between November and December I was on the phone over 4 hours total, yes that is hours not minutes. All the CMs were very nice but said linking a MG to DVC members was time consuming. That was an understatement. I originally wanted to book the character breakfast and and Epcot dinner. I quickly found out that all the offerings were only offered a couple of days a week per event so the Epcot dinner was the only that would fit in with our other plans. The original call to get my MG number and make the Epcot ressie took 1 hour and 40 minutes. A couple of weeks before we left they called to say they had to cancel that nights event, we eventually found out it was because we were the only family signed up. They talked me into the fireworks cruise instead. This took an extra phone call because they couldn't find the original booking and I had to make two call to get this straightened out. To say that I was frustrated by this time was an understatement. They also told me to call their line for any PS for other restaurants which I did. Each time I called they had trouble finding my reservation, which I gave each time. Each time I called they would have to put me on hold to get in touch with MS to verify our reservation. (One phone call I got a very nice CM that was a DVC member. He was retired and had become a part time CM as his "fun" job. We had a nice chat while we waited.) By the time I was finished with everything I ended up with one PS for dinner and a fireworks cruise. I was very frustrated and left my first complaint note for Disney Guest Services. To my surprise they contacted me before we left and were very apologetic. They actually set up our own Illuminations viewing and dessert buffet on the balcony at Japan's pagoda free of charge to try and make up for all the trouble I had. When we got home I got another message from the WDW Executive Offices who had looked up the time I had spent on the phone and offered to reimburse me for the time I spent on the phone. I do have to say the fireworks cruise was great but I would never do this again if we took a big group. It certainly wasn't worth the time and effort. They did do a nice job of making up for their mistakes and I am only hoping this was just the newness of the program that caused some of these issues, but with the previous posts maybe not.

 

[blizzard]

We are a smaller group that is also using the software to plan. (We have 6 people going from 3 different households)

These are the problems we had:

-the software had to be reloaded for each person on the same computer

-2 invitations I sent out were blank when the recipient got them

-I couldn't sign up my teenage step-children (they do not live with us full time) due to the 18+ age restriction (why not 10 or 12+?)

-After entering a list of favorites, they all mysteriously disappeared for about a week or two, and then magically all reappeared

It's kind of fun the first time you log on to set up polls and things, but really as far as a communication tool it is somewhat lacking. It could be a lot more useful and fun.

 

[sandieb]

I am just back today from our Magical Gathering of 11 people. It was not a big deal getting a "MG" number. I called Member Services and they called the Magic people and gave me a number. I used this to obtain priority seatings for a couple meals that I was unable to book myself.

I didn't use the software as I do my own planning and put the plans into a Word Table.

I tried to book the Illuminations dinner and the Magical Fireworks Cruise, but they were filled the dates we were there.

Frankly, I think the MG thing is overrated. Sandie

 

[momsully]

I looked into MG for our family trip this past March. I never did get a number as nobody seemed to be able to get it straight. We had a group of fourteen and had no problem making dinner reservations etc. We just called the dining number and they helped us. We were able to all sit together at Cape May for dinner and Le Cellier for dinner. We also had nine of us at a table at Fulton's Crab House. I don't think we missed anything by not being part of MG.