Quick question about ADRs and Magical Gatherings

[ms_missy66]

Silly backstory... I booked a trip for our family the other day in July. Since then my mom has decided she wants to take our WHOLE family (my brothers and their families included) in August. Woo hooo!!!

We'll be going during free dining and the ADR system has changed since I booked ressies for our trip last December. I believe it is 90 days out, correct? So if we booked the trip today, we'd have just as much chance of getting good reservations as anyone else, correct?

Last, what is the benefit of booking through the Magical Gatherings service? There will be 11 of us going, so I know we "qualify". But is it necessary? What would be my motivation? Do they help with things like larger parties getting desirable ADRs?

Thanks in advance! And now I'm off to change my ticker again!

 

[Faldred]

I'm not 100% certain, but I think you can book the "grand gathering" events at 180 days still. Never hurts to call and try.

As for non-GGEs, call early and have backup plans ready.

 

[JaimeK]

You only need to book the 3 grand gathering events through GG. The others ADRs are through regular dining. I think if you have 14 or more you book through large group reservations, but for less it's just regular disney dining.

 

[Artist]

I have a Grand Gathering booked for this July. There are several benefits:
1. If you want, they will try to put all of your rooms as close together as possible (some families might request NOT to be so close)
2. You can make ADRs for the whole group- for instance, I just made 18 ADR's the other day for various combinations of our group- between 8 and 14 people, some include me and some don't, but I was able to make the ADRs for everyone.
3. You can opt to participate in special "grand gathering" events- like a Safari Dinner, Epcot Illuminations Dinner and MK Breakfast with Characters- just for grand gathering groups.
4. The Grand Gathering phone number can be used for all the parties of your group (if you have several families in the group) to book their stays- all the ressies are then linked with one Grand gathering number to keep your info together.
That being said, there is nothing offered that gives you a jump on ADRs, your window is 90 days just like everyone else's- and trust me, getting an early morning ADR for Cinderella's Royal Table for 14 people is stressful- I did it- but it is stressful!
HTH!
-Danielle

 

[Artist]

You only need to book the 3 grand gathering events through GG. The others ADRs are through regular dining. I think if you have 14 or more you book through large group reservations, but for less it's just regular disney dining.

This is true- BUT when I used the "group dining" phone number the other day, I got through to dining without all the voice prompts "press one if..."s. So that was nice!

 

[ms_missy66]

Awesome information! Thank you everyone!