We are pretty excited, but please tell me about Grand Gathering's?

[Disneyhenry]

There will be 9 or 10 of us going not counting the baby, we will be getting 3 rooms in the Cars section at AoA, 7 or maybe 8 adults and 2 boys ages 4 and 5. The 5 year old will be having his 6th birthday while we are there, it just worked out that way, we didn't plan it as a birthday trip. Anyway I can't seem to find to much info on Grand Gathering's, what it has to offer. Also any ideas on must do's with a large group? All the adults, but one, has been to WDW before. Oh and baby will be 20 months old. We will be going the 1st week of December 2013
Thanks!

 

[daisyduck123]

There will be 9 or 10 of us going not counting the baby, we will be getting 3 rooms in the Cars section at AoA, 7 or maybe 8 adults and 2 boys ages 4 and 5. The 5 year old will be having his 6th birthday while we are there, it just worked out that way, we didn't plan it as a birthday trip. Anyway I can't seem to find to much info on Grand Gathering's, what it has to offer. Also any ideas on must do's with a large group? All the adults, but one, has been to WDW before. Oh and baby will be 20 months old. We will be going the 1st week of December 2013
Thanks!

I believe Grand Gatherings were discontinued last year. Sorry.

If I'm wrong, someone should be by in a minute to tell us.

 

[PictureJumpr]

No, PP is correct - Grand Gatherings are no more.

 

[Pakey]

Yes Grand Gatherings were discontinued.

We did 3 grand gatherings. My best advice is not to plan all activities together. We made that mistake on the first one. Now we leave a lot more flexibility and everyone is much happier.

 

[mmeb144]

WDW still has group numbers. When you reserve the rooms tell them you are together. The folks at the resort will attempt to put the rooms close to each other. My family had 6 rooms right next to each other this past June. It was nice to be that close to my sibs.

As far as must-dos for a group, we planned a meal together each day everyone was there. We have so many age groups and attraction interest levels that we didn't attempt to tour together.

Have fun!

 

[Disneyhenry]

oh thanks everyone,
We plan on just going to the same parks on the same days, and dinner together, that is about it. Maybe a character breakfast just for my sis and I with our hubby's and little boys, but we will not force everyone to go to those lol
Thanks

 

[DHK]

Very unfortunate that Grand Gatherings were discontinued. The Epcot GG (with Aunt Roz) was a lot of fun and I had looked forward to trying the others.

 

[disnut8]

There will be 9 or 10 of us going not counting the baby, we will be getting 3 rooms in the Cars section at AoA, 7 or maybe 8 adults and 2 boys ages 4 and 5. The 5 year old will be having his 6th birthday while we are there, it just worked out that way, we didn't plan it as a birthday trip. Anyway I can't seem to find to much info on Grand Gathering's, what it has to offer. Also any ideas on must do's with a large group? All the adults, but one, has been to WDW before. Oh and baby will be 20 months old. We will be going the 1st week of December 2013
Thanks!

Grand Gatherings were NOT discontinued. Only the special events associated with the gatherings. The ones you had to pay extra for.

When you call Disney to make your reservation, mention that you have X amount of people (as long as it's over 8, you will be considered a Grand Gathering). About the only thing it does now is to almost (and nothing is ever guaranteed) ensure your party will have rooms right next to each other. You will also have one Grand Gathering number so that the primary person can call and make any changes to any reservation. Each adult person on the separate reservations can make changes but only to that particular reservation.

Example (true life). Had four rooms at Pop Century and I made all four reservations so I could make changes to any of those. Mother-in-law could make changes to her individual reservation, stepmother could make changes to her individual reservation, son could make changes to his individual reservation. That was in January and nothing has changed since then. We had a special room request for my wheelchair bound father and all our rooms were moved to first floor. I even got a phone call from Disney on it.

Grand Gatherings are NOT gone.