Starting to get frustrated...Group Getaways

[Limmer]

I am not sure where this belongs as there is not much info on this topic that I can find but...

I am trying to plan a family trip through Group Getaways for October 2020. I had originally contacted them in 2017 and got an idea of what was available to groups. It looked awesome and we are all very excited. We have a group of approx 50 people (from 16 months to 50 years old) coming from several provinces and places and budgets.

I was told they should have group pricing in early January. So i waited... and waited. I emailed at the beginning of Feb and was told they were hoping to have them within the week. It has been another month and still nothing.

I guess I am just venting. I know my sales rep cannot give me information that she does not have but this is driving me crazy. My numbers cannot be confirmed until we have a set price and I am constantly having 10+ families ask me if I have heard anything yet.

Any experience with Group Getaways? Recommendations? Talk me down? haha.

 

[Queen of the WDW Scene]

Never heard of them.
You're still well away from your travel dates.
Maybe they MEANT early JUNE 2019 as that is when rates for 2020 are likely to come out for them to book blocks of rooms and get a group rate.

 

[Limmer]

Never heard of them.
You're still well away from your travel dates.
Maybe they MEANT early JUNE 2019 as that is when rates for 2020 are likely to come out for them to book blocks of rooms and get a group rate.

Group Getaways are what used to be called Grand Gatherings. It is the Disney large group booking portion of sales, so dealing directly with Disney.

 

[Beth33]

I've never heard of them, but the biggest group (well, the only group, actually) I've planned for is a party of 5.

As a general piece of advice, if you're feeling frustrated with the group/organization you're using it never hurts to look around and see what other places can offer. That way, at the very least if something goes wrong you have a back up plan. And sometimes you find something even better than what your original organization offered. Maybe try reaching out to a few travel agents to see if they ever work with large groups? Just a thought.

 

[Queen of the WDW Scene]

Group Getaways are what used to be called Grand Gatherings. It is the Disney large group booking portion of sales, so dealing directly with Disney.

Oh OK. I had a Grand Gathering a couple times but I just did it all myself and only booked the Grand Gathering ADR and t-shirts by calling Disney.
Yes I'd say that you were given some bad info about when they could book you since you can only book room only 499 days in advance and for a package you'd have to wait until the rates come out for next year which is likely early/mid June of this year.
I guess THAT is when I'd contact them.

 

[Limmer]

Thank you.

 

[amberpi]

Are the other people involved even able to commit at over a year and a half away? That's a long time.

 

[DisneyWishes14]

I am not sure where this belongs as there is not much info on this topic that I can find but...

I am trying to plan a family trip through Group Getaways for October 2020. I had originally contacted them in 2017 and got an idea of what was available to groups. It looked awesome and we are all very excited. We have a group of approx 50 people (from 16 months to 50 years old) coming from several provinces and places and budgets.

I was told they should have group pricing in early January. So i waited... and waited. I emailed at the beginning of Feb and was told they were hoping to have them within the week. It has been another month and still nothing.

I guess I am just venting. I know my sales rep cannot give me information that she does not have but this is driving me crazy. My numbers cannot be confirmed until we have a set price and I am constantly having 10+ families ask me if I have heard anything yet.

Any experience with Group Getaways? Recommendations? Talk me down? haha.

They aren't going to be able to give you a group block rate until after the 2020 rates are released later this year, most likely in June or July.