Magicial Gatherings?Who has done this and what can you tell me???

[Maleficent2]

We have a small family group going in April 11 people total and would like to know all the in and outs ASAP


Thanks

Mal

 

[KIRSTIN'S MOMMY]

We are doing this in August as well. I have found a few good mentions of this on the dining board, particularly of the EPCOT Illuminations gathering. hth!

 

[Mickey Moose]

Click Here to see Disney's web site regarding Magical Gatherings. Your group of 8 or more (not including those under 3) needs to be staying in one of the select Disney resorts. I read in another post that not 100% of your group needs to be staying on Disney, but that 80% needs to stay in Disney to qualify your group in the program. I have not seen a comprehensive list of exactly which resorts are the select ones but I can tell you the Swan and Dolphin are in because that is where we are staying. When you call, they link all your ressies with a "magical gatherings" number which is used to identify your group as qualified for the special products listed on the above link. I had a tough time getting our group a MG number because our ressies were not booked with CRO or Disney Travel. Because I booked directly with the web site of the Swan, the MG staff could not access my ressies and had to wait several days until a "shell" computer system was on line to link our ressies to the special products. Initially, I had to contact the Swan reservation staff and tell them I wanted a MG number for my group. 4 days later, I called back and they finally had the number for me. Then after 5 or 6 times being bounced back and forth from the MG phone line to the Swan reservation line, I finally got a great CM at the MG number named Alan who said he would take care of everything for us and would call back in a few days to confirm. Well Alan was true to his word and took care of our group and got our group reserved on one of the special products (magical fireworks voyage). He also sent a confirmation in the mail to us. I saw another DISer posted that they had trouble with the MG system because they are DVC members and also do not book through CRO or Disney Travel.................

Mickey Moose

 

[jennypenny]

We have a party of 11 going next week. Make your dining reservations through group dining, and ask if you'll be seated together. We were very surprised that many of the restaurants didn't have a table big enough, and had to seat us at two tables next to each other (was told most tables are bolted to the floor and can't be pushed together). My DH's family was not happy about sitting at different tables, especially since we'll have a lot of kids with us. And actually, they don't guarantee that your tables will be next to each other.

Eating at off hours helps (although if you're there easter week it might not help much) Some restaurants were more accommodating than others, so ask the CM at group dining. And as with any reservation at disney, if you get an unhelpful CM when you call, just call back.

Jenny