SSR and Magical Gatherings Dining options?

[kweaver]

While taking the Disney survey today (following our SSR trip), there were several dining options listed (along with Artist's Palette, Turf Club and the pool bar) that I'd never heard of.

Can anyone give some details? Are these located at SSR, or were they just trying to get feedback on them since SSR is a DVC resort that can handle larger groups?

International Dinner
Safari Celebration Dinner
Good Morning Gathering
Magical Fireworks Voyage

 

[DebbieB]

They are part of the magical gatherings program, offered at all resorts:

International Dinner and IllumiNations Dessert Reception
Indulge yourself in Epcot® with international delights and tantalizing cuisine from around the world. Share the magic of live entertainment that's sure to please your whole gathering. Then enjoy a delicious dessert buffet along with VIP viewing of IllumiNations: Reflections of Earth. Theme park admission is required.

Price:
Adults and Juniors - $59.99, Children (ages 3-9) - $19.99 (available 90 days prior)

Schedule:
Please call (407) WDW-MAGIC† for dates and times.

Safari Celebration Dinner
Set off on safari in Disney's Animal Kingdom® Theme Park. Enjoy a spectacular VIP journey across the rolling savanna. Then dine family-style on an African influenced cuisine at the Tusker House Restaurant with a side of live entertainment, characters and up close animal encounters. Theme park admission is required.

Price:
Adults and Juniors - $59.99, Children (ages 3-9) - $19.99 (available 90 days prior)

Schedule:
Please call (407) WDW-MAGIC† for dates and times.

Good Morning Gathering
Begin your day with a Magic Kingdom® morning filled with special songs and fun for kids of all ages. Here, classic Disney Characters join you for breakfast and fun at Tony's Town Square Restaurant. You'll even get some one-on-one time for your group with Mickey himself. Theme park admission is required.

Price:
Adults and Juniors - $24.99, Children (ages 3-9) - $11.99 (available 90 days prior)

Schedule:
Please call (407) WDW-MAGIC† for dates and times.

Magical Fireworks Voyage
Cast off on a moonlit voyage around the Magic Kingdom® Seven Seas lagoon, which provides the perfect viewing location for the Electrical Water Pagent and the all new Disney Wishes: A Magical Gathering of Disney Dreams. Your evening will begin with a mouth-watering array of sumptuous Nestlé® Toll House® cookies and desserts. You'll then enjoy your moonlit voyage and have fun with Disney trivia and tales of pirates and Peter Pan along the way. Your evening will end with a special Disney meet and greet with Peter himself. Available on a seasonal basis.

Price:
Adults and Juniors - $29.99, Children (ages 3-9) - $14.99 (available 90 days prior)

Schedule:
Please call (407) WDW-MAGIC† for dates and times.

 

[Dreamfinder2]

Katie, none of these are located at SSR. We just got back from a Grand Gathering of our own (absolutely splendid - I'll report when I have a day or two of recovery behind me.)

The International Dinner and dessert buffet is at Epcot, for instance. We did this Monday, the 21st. It was held in the old Odyssey restaurant, on the border between World Showcase and Future World. Seven or eight countries had sections set up on the buffet, and you could try as many entrees and sides as you wanted. There was a DJ and a special visit from Minnie and Goofy, along with dancing and other entertainment. Then, we were escorted to a private viewing area for Illuminations, where there was an insane dessert buffet. Lord, it was fine, and consequently we had the best view of Illuminations ever.

The safari celebration dinner is at Tusker House in AK; the Good Morning Gathering is at Tony's, in the MK; and the fireworks voyage is a "charter boat" trip.

When I talked to the Magical Gatherings planners, they steered me toward restaurants that could handle big groups, such as 'Ohana, 50's Prime Time, Whispering Canyon, etc.

We had an absolute blast, btw.

 

[kweaver]

Thanks guys! Glad you had a great time Dreamfinder2! Can't wait to hear all about it.

 

[gopherit]

Originally posted by Dreamfinder2
The International Dinner and dessert buffet is at Epcot, for instance. We did this Monday, the 21st. It was held in the old Odyssey restaurant, on the border between World Showcase and Future World. Seven or eight countries had sections set up on the buffet, and you could try as many entrees and sides as you wanted. There was a DJ and a special visit from Minnie and Goofy, along with dancing and other entertainment. Then, we were escorted to a private viewing area for Illuminations, where there was an insane dessert buffet. Lord, it was fine, and consequently we had the best view of Illuminations ever......

....When I talked to the Magical Gatherings planners, they steered me toward restaurants that could handle big groups, such as 'Ohana, 50's Prime Time, Whispering Canyon, etc.

We had an absolute blast, btw.

Boy am I GLAD to hear you had a good experience!

We are booked for a party of 9 for the Illum. dinner. I had read good things and then recently someone reported it was a "waste" (of money and time). Granted, it was raining -- hard -- so the Illum. was a bust, but they rated the entertainment and food low too -- please tell me more about your experience!

As for the restaurants for large parties -- interesting. While the CM was able to get us a table for 13 at Ohana, there seemed to be great difficulty with a party over 8 at WCC and even a party of 8 at PT resulted in a 2-table situation. And this was dialing at 90 days out. Weird. Another strange thing -- in some cases being a party of 8 plus an infant they would term us as just that -- and it was fine. Soon as they thought we were a party of nine, no dice. I only hope those ressies made as party of 8 with infant anre't too cramped... Yet the party of 12 (plus infant) at Ohana was easy. I will also add that you never know when you may get placed at several tables -- and may not. We once cancelled a meal because we thought we would get separated -- only to find out the next night they could have easily accommodated us (their words!) Likewise, we have goen to a restaurant (GG, for example) where they said no problem, yes you can all sit together ... and they the 12 of us at 3 tables. So you never can tell 'til you get there when you have a big group, I guess.

 

[Dreamfinder2]

I might just add that at Hoop De Doo, we were at one table, as we were at the Int'l buffet, 50s Prime Time, 'Ohana, Hollywood and Vine, and 1900 Park Faire. The only time we were split up was for the Liberty Tree Tavern, at a four and a six top, which were adjacent. Worked fine.

There was a party of 18 at a table close to us at 'Ohana, which had a whole team of "cousins" waiting on them.

Concerning the International Dinner - sort of like at Boma, several countries had individual buffet serving tables set up. Represented were China, Morocco, Germany, Italy, perhaps another that escapes me, plus a table of kid's stuff (mac and cheese, chicken tenders, etc.) It was all nicely prepared and very fresh - for instance, at the Italian station, a chef was preparing alfredo sauce from scratch for the penne pasta.

Entertainment was a deejay, which was just OK. The MC was a costumed lady (hard to describe ... she was dressed in a cross between a gypsy, a saloon girl, and a flapper, all in red and violet), and she called all the kids on stage, told them a story, and then had them act out their parts for the parents. The highlight was an appearance of Minnie and Goofy, who danced with the kids, with older couples (anniversary and birthday folks had a real fuss made over them), and did a conga line throughout the restaurant. The six teenage girls in our party thought it was an absolute hoot, and photo ops abounded. We were then escorted to a rope-off area behind Disney Traders (I think), right where the main walkway from Future World terminates at the lagoon. There were four or five stations set up with desserts - sinful, decadant, come up with your own list of adjectives. There were cakes and pies and cookies and mousses and parfaits and fruit - you get the idea. While we weren't seated during Illuminations, we had an excellent unobstructed view. Now, I can imagine if it were raining, it would be a total bust. Was it worth it? Purely subjective here, but for us, it was.

There's just something about traveling with a group you really like, y'know? And sharing in such a special communal experience - priceless, as the commercial says.

Sorry about wandering away from DVC land in my post.