??'s for those of you that have done a "Grand Gathering" fireworks cruise

[KIRSTIN'S MOMMY]

Just wondering how you go about paying for it? We are planning this in August with about 20 people or so, some of whom are from a different state...We are in GA., some are coming from Iowa, and Nebraska. I know this has to be paid for 45 days in advance, and booked 90 days in advance. I'm supposed to be booking this on May 1st, just wondering if everyone sends a check in seperately or something? Help!

 

[Mike]

For my group, they added the cost of the cruise onto each room reservation and each family was responsible for paying it off (their portion only) before we hit 45 days out.

Mike

 

[InstImpres]

I put it all on my cc and had everyone send me checks. It was a good thing as they regularly cancelled and reinstated my ressie which I could see from my on-line banking. If I hadn't tracked it I believe we would have gotten there and had nothing!

Sandy

 

[kadaten]

I booked 90 days out. When I got it, I got cc# from all my family members and told them the amount that would be charged.

I called back at 46 days out to pay for it and put the right number on each card. Told the CM "First I'm going to pay for 6 adults and 2 kids" She gave me that total and I gave her the card number. "Ok, next set is going to be for 3 adults." She gave me the total and I gave her the card number....Repeat until finished.

They understand that generally one person does the planning, so they let me use all the different cards. I ended up having a file of them....between rooms, tickets, cruises, prepaid dinners, etc. one person had to keep tabs on it all, and when it comes to Disney, that one person is me My family's the trusting sort about giving out card numbers...at least to other family members, anyway!!

We LOVED the cruise! Hope you and yours have a GREAT time!!

 

[KIRSTIN'S MOMMY]

I think the easiest way for us to do it would be adding it to the room cost. Some of us have room only reservations, some have AP's and some have packages. I'm not sure how they would feel about giving me their cc#'s! If we do it this way, will we receive something in the mail? When we changed resorts we got a new confirmation letter in the mail, and another one when we paid it in full. Is this what they will send me if we add this to the room? Do I need everyone's confirmation # to book for them??? Help! I only have 9 days left before booking!!!

 

[Anne MN]

When you call, if you are the "main" reservation, you need your reservation # & your gathering #

everything they do after you sign up for the grand gatherings is accessed thru both the res# AND the gatherings #. I called with a few questions earlier tonight and they tried with res# first then last name, then I said do you need the gatherings #? it makes it so that when you call, only the people who do the gatherings will be handling your reservation. ( I have the extra "lock" so that only the special reservations can do stuff with my room)

I have not done anything but deposit yet. we are going over christmas. So I will be looking here for your tips when I get closer.

 

[KIRSTIN'S MOMMY]

Great! At least I don't have to call everyone and get their confirmation numbers! My reservation is the main one, so I have that one and our Gathering #. That makes it so much easier! Have you booked anything else for your group? Mine keeps talking about $$$ so I'm just doing some PS's for us to meet up once each day. Other than that, they're on their own!!! So far, this is what I have:
Sat. July 31- Wishes fireworks cruise
Sun. Aug. 1- Breakfast at Chef Mickey's
Mon. Aug. 2-AK/ TL no PS's here
Tues. Aug. 3- lunch at 50's Prime Time Cafe
Wed. Aug. 4- Ice Cream Social
Thurs. Aug. 5- some of them are leaving, so nothing here
Fri. Aug. 6- US/IOA
Sat. Aug. 7-come home
We have a group of 18, so I thought anything more than that would be too much to try to get together. As it is it's going to be hard for them to seat us! I bought the Tour Guide Mike program and will copy some things from that as well as the Unofficial Guide. I have made a folder for each family that will contain all PS numbers, phone numbers for the resort, packing lists, other confirmation #'s, and this itenerary info. I hope you guys have a great time, and when I get back I'll let you know what worked and what didn't!

 

[Anne MN]

I do know that for grand gathering events that they are just like PS. you have to call 90 days out to book. the difference is that they have to be PAID for 45 days in advance. AND your whole group has to do it. I asked, because we have one that just like to hang in the park, not the dinning or shows, just park days. the answer I got was everyone in the group must be booked.

All the res # are connected to the MG # so that everything get's to the same place. when you call, like to make a payment or do a PS, you need BOTH #'s! your res# and your MG#. just so that you know if you have't called lately. I called last night and they finally asked if I had a Magic Gathering #. that is how they got it. They also still had not corrected my info. they still had my adress as my MIL. lucky for me she is going and called me to get the confirmation! I have to call them next week to make a payment, I will ask them again if they have the correct address for me yet!

 

[KIRSTIN'S MOMMY]

We have some in our party that are not interested in doing this at all. I was told that you have to have 8 people in order to book it. We have more than 8, but not everyone. I'll ask when I call, but I'm pretty sure that's the way it works! I know I have to book it May 1st, and it has to be paid for in advance, I just didn't know HOW everyone was going to pay, lol! I don't need anything else to be in charge of! They're driving me nuts already!!! How's your group treating you? Mine doesn't respond to phone calls or e-mails, they just want me to "handle it" and tell them where to be!!! Hope I don't come back

 

[Anne MN]

They probably told me everyone because we have 8 as of right now. I am trying to talk my friend who lives in Tx and is a disney nut like me to go and add her and her family onto my MG.


I have had no problem with my group. my family and my inlaws are it so far, so it is small.

As for paying. I am going to have rooms paid for before I get there and tickets also.

I read somewhere that someone doing a gathering had them add the cost onto the room and had it paid for before the 45 day mark.

The only snag that I can see is with some of the PS. I know that my friend would love to do cindy's breakfast, but her son is a little older then my twins, and I know that he would not like the princess thing. Their daughter will be 1 at the end of the year, so she is too young to enjoy it.

 

[KIRSTIN'S MOMMY]

So far we have our room paid for, and we have AP's paid for as well. As far as the dining thing goes, they also have a Princess Breakfast in Norway at Epcot that isn't as hard to get into as Cindy's, you may want to try that. If the little boy isn't into the princesses, maybe he'd just like to eat at a cool restaraunt! We are doing Chef Mickey's for our character breakfast, we went last time we were down and had such a great time! Fun lively atmosphere, lots of characters, and on the monorail! Just a thought...Anyway, hope you guys have a great time, I'll post when I get back what worked for a large group and what didn't. Maybe I can help someone out!

 

[Anne MN]

Thanks-

I will be trying really hard for Cindy's.. This will be the 3rd time for us down there with the kids. Have tried the other 2 times 90 days out at just before 7 am EST and no luck (tried this for a week! each time)

We will be doing Chef Mickey's for dinner. The kids love this! last time down, one of the twins had just lost her front teeth and Chip and Dale both tried to feed her! Very funny pics!

I will be looking forward to hearing about your experiences at WDW!