No more Grand Gatherings?

[HannaBelle]

I am planning a trip to WDW for 16 of us over spring break 2013 and in the past we have done some of the Grand Gatherings events, but it looks like I am going to need some new ideas for “activities” to do as a group since GG has been discontinued.

Anyone have suggestions for meals or activities that will accommodate 16 people? We don’t tour the parks as a group, but we do like to get together once a day for a meal or activity. Chef Mickey and O’hana’s are 2 of our favorite meals and more often than not we get to sit together / near each other. We have done the Hoop De Doo a couple of times, so I think we will skip that one this time. Our youngest traveler will be 4 so the majority of the tours are not available to us either.

We are DVC members and will be staying at BLT. We will not rent cars and will rely on WDW transportation for the week. The 7 "kids" will range from 19 to 4 and all but 1 are boys, so no princesses or anything remotely "girlie" will work for the big group.

 

[Smile&Nod]

If you like miniature golf how about a "golf tournament" - 4 teams of 4 with prizes? or individual prizes - wackiest shot, best score, worst score, most improved - any number of prizes can or cannot be given out - could be as simple as a certificate you do at home for the winning team members....there is of course a cost to this but you do get a DVC discount at the mini golf places....just an idea.

 

[grecorj]

Illuminations cruise?

http://allears.net/btp/illum.htm

EDIT: Whoops, max 10 people per boat.

But what about renting another (bigger) boat at one of the marinas near MK?

 

[HannaBelle]

If you like miniature golf how about a "golf tournament" - 4 teams of 4 with prizes? or individual prizes - wackiest shot, best score, worst score, most improved - any number of prizes can or cannot be given out - could be as simple as a certificate you do at home for the winning team members....there is of course a cost to this but you do get a DVC discount at the mini golf places....just an idea.

I like this idea! Maybe a late breakfast and then a mini-golf “tournament”! TY Smile&Nod

Illuminations cruise?

http://allears.net/btp/illum.htm

EDIT: Whoops, max 10 people per boat.

But what about renting another (bigger) boat at one of the marinas near MK?

That was my first thought as well! We did a Wishes Dessert Cruise in 2006 that we all enjoyed, but I cannot find the info that. Grecorj, do you where I can find information about renting other boats? I never heard of that.
I am considering the Wishes Dessert Party as an option too.

 

[njmeisje]

Surf Lessons at Typhoon Lagoon in the morning.

The Luau at Poly might be good for a show and a large party dinner.

The Biergarten in Germany At Epcot is family style, 8 per table -- that might work nicely for your group. And the show is fun enough.

Parasailing in the lagoon by the Contemporary might be great for the older folks. And pedal boats for the younger ones.

A day at Disney Quest might work also.

Those are my ideas.

Have fun!

Make custom shirts of your own, it'll be great.

Diane

 

[jrtoastyman]

pardon the minor tangent here, but what exactly was the benefit of doing a "Grand Gathering" when that was an option? My SIL organized a GG for us all around this time last year at the Poly, and the only benefit I was aware of was that our rooms were all adjacent to one another. Was there supposed to be something else to it? There very well could have been, but since my primary contribution to the planning process for that trip was to give the travel agent our credit card number for my wife and I, there may have been things that we did or deals that we got that I didn't realize were part of the GG.

Just curious

 

[HannaBelle]

pardon the minor tangent here, but what exactly was the benefit of doing a "Grand Gathering" when that was an option? My SIL organized a GG for us all around this time last year at the Poly, and the only benefit I was aware of was that our rooms were all adjacent to one another. Was there supposed to be something else to it? There very well could have been, but since my primary contribution to the planning process for that trip was to give the travel agent our credit card number for my wife and I, there may have been things that we did or deals that we got that I didn't realize were part of the GG.

Just curious

They offered 4 event/meals where you had a table with your entire family could sit together at a meal. Here is what I remember, please forgive me if the names are not 100% correct:

Magical Fireworks Voyage & Dessert Buffet
We met in the Contemporary Resort, had a small dessert buffet, a few characters were there for pictures, got a special pin, loaded on boats, toured the lagoon, saw the Electrical Light Parade, saw Wishes from the boat (no sound), our "captain" did quite a bit of cheesy comedy and jokes, told some pirate stories on the way back to the Contemporary and the night ended with a photo op with Peter Pan.

Safari
We met inside the AK at the bird show pavilion confused, they did a short pre-show with some animals, got another special pin, we all went on a special safari tour that did not follow the ride story line, but did spend extra time letting the kids ask tons of questions and we took lots of photographs, we all went to dinner at Tusker House, they served a family style meal with an African influence, they had characters, African performers with instruments that they let the kids use, they brought live animals for the kids to pet and there were the fab 5 for pictures.

Illuminations Dinner & Dessert Buffet
A buffet dinner at the Odyssey Restaurant in EPCOT with entertainers, another pin, characters and tons of dancing and fun activities for the kids. After dinner, we walked over to a special viewing area for Illuminations and they served a dessert buffet.

Breakfast at Tony's in the MK
Family style breakfast with characters, our last special pin and fast passes to Fantasmic! for your group.

We liked them because it allowed us all together, not worry about waiting for ADR's and if our tables were going to be together, they allowed time to relax, the kids to hang out together and play & TONS of photo ops.

I am that they don't have them anymore! The safari was our favorite. It was awesome!

Edited to say that all of these were 2 meal credits on the dining plan or $50 to $70 per adult and had to be booked separately 180 days in advance with the grand gatherings team.

 

[Buzzsgramma]

Took 14 mostly adults and teens to WDW for Thanksgiving week 2008 & 2011..I planned everything...if they wanted to meet up that was fine if not they could do their one thing....
i did ask if any didnt want to attend the dinners to let me know so i could cancel part of the ADR,s..
Our first day we all start out at MK....head to Pirates,then SMT, HM, have lunch at Columbia House or eat turkey legs...Next day we went to Universal, yes the Dark Side ...mostly cause of WWoHP....we seperate...we are 3 families.
Next day is Epcot..start out together then seperate
We all met for dinner in the evening...making ADR,s for that many wasnt always easy...I will say one of the best restaurant... was Kozzunias....lot of room....also O'Hana's...& Boma,s for sitting together..

Sometimes we met at the pool ..some golfed...after a few days..we go our own way...

 

[HannaBelle]

Surf Lessons at Typhoon Lagoon in the morning. Love this idea!

The Luau at Poly might be good for a show and a large party dinner. We have done this 2x and unless they have changed the show, I think we are going to pass this time.

The Biergarten in Germany At Epcot is family style, 8 per table -- that might work nicely for your group. And the show is fun enough. Love this idea too, TY!

Parasailing in the lagoon by the Contemporary might be great for the older folks. And pedal boats for the younger ones.

A day at Disney Quest might work also. I have to veto that one, I have been to DQ and it is not for me!

Make custom shirts of your own, it'll be great. No one will do this with me, not even the girls!

Thanks for the suggestions!

Anyone been to the Backyard BBQ?

 

[jrtoastyman]

They offered 4 event/meals where you had a table with your entire family could sit together at a meal. Here is what I remember, please forgive me if the names are not 100% correct:

Magical Fireworks Voyage & Dessert Buffet
We met in the Contemporary Resort, had a small dessert buffet, a few characters were there for pictures, got a special pin, loaded on boats, toured the lagoon, saw the Electrical Light Parade, saw Wishes from the boat (no sound), our "captain" did quite a bit of cheesy comedy and jokes, told some pirate stories on the way back to the Contemporary and the night ended with a photo op with Peter Pan.

Safari
We met inside the AK at the bird show pavilion confused, they did a short pre-show with some animals, got another special pin, we all went on a special safari tour that did not follow the ride story line, but did spend extra time letting the kids ask tons of questions and we took lots of photographs, we all went to dinner at Tusker House, they served a family style meal with an African influence, they had characters, African performers with instruments that they let the kids use, they brought live animals for the kids to pet and there were the fab 5 for pictures.

Illuminations Dinner & Dessert Buffet
A buffet dinner at the Odyssey Restaurant in EPCOT with entertainers, another pin, characters and tons of dancing and fun activities for the kids. After dinner, we walked over to a special viewing area for Illuminations and they served a dessert buffet.

Breakfast at Tony's in the MK
Family style breakfast with characters, our last special pin and fast passes to Fantasmic! for your group.

We liked them because it allowed us all together, not worry about waiting for ADR's and if our tables were going to be together, they allowed time to relax, the kids to hang out together and play & TONS of photo ops.

I am that they don't have them anymore! The safari was our favorite. It was awesome!

You've got to be kidding me. This would have been AWESOME. We got to sit together at the Spirit of Aloha show at the Poly -- which I suspect we could have done anyway -- and that was it. Not sure if I should blame my SIL or her travel agent, but we clearly left a ton on the table. Bummer.

 

[disnut8]

You've got to be kidding me. This would have been AWESOME. We got to sit together at the Spirit of Aloha show at the Poly -- which I suspect we could have done anyway -- and that was it. Not sure if I should blame my SIL or her travel agent, but we clearly left a ton on the table. Bummer.

Just to mention, you would have had to pay extra for all these events. It was not included in the resort price.

I think what the OP is saying is that he/she paid for the events in the past, they are no longer offered so he/she is looking for other group events to replace what he/she used to be able to do with one phone call to his/her Grand Gathering person.

 

[quadaunt]

We did all the Grand Gathering events way back in 2005. Had fun at all. We've been going through the scrapbooks from that trip and are trying to remember the name of our hostess at the Tusker House restaurant. She greeted us as we arrived there after our safari. Trying to recall her name. "Mama ______"? Does anyone remember?