Why is catering and conventions so difficult to deal with?

[connorlevismom]

We want to plan a special event for some families that are going down with us in December. It will be our family and two others. The others have never been to Disney so we wanted to do something to get them in the disney spirit. Off the top of my head I was thinking of a dinner buffet, a couple of characters and possibly watching wishes from GF. We were thinking Sago Cay would be the best place but I am always open for more suggestions.

I called C&C yesterday and the woman who answered really did not seem all to interested in taking my information. She said, "doing something for only 11 people is kind of unusal". I thought that was kind of rude as I know they CAN do something for 11 people.

So she took all my information and told me that she was sending it to someone at AKV since that is where we will be staying. She told me that I would hear from someone in less than 24 hours. 24 hours would have been 9:00 this morning and I still have not heard anything.

A month or so ago I had called them and had to leave a message. I told them what I wanted and I never heard back from them. Why are they so hard to deal with? I don't need their permission on how many people I should be doing it for. If I can meet the minimums at whatever place I pick, why do they care? I feel like I am being blown off because my party is so small. She never even asked me what my budget was.

Kristine

 

[Petals & Pixie Dust]

Since you have 11 people have you thought about booking it as a grand gathering? You need 8 or more people to do that-which you have...They provide some options with groups. Check with your TA or whom ever you booked through to help with that.

 

[connorlevismom]

Since you have 11 people have you thought about booking it as a grand gathering? You need 8 or more people to do that-which you have...They provide some options with groups. Check with your TA or whom ever you booked through to help with that.

We want something private and something that we can customize, so that is why we are going this route.

Kristine

 

[Petals & Pixie Dust]

They do customizable events...

http://disneyworld.disney.go.com/wd...roducts?id=GrandGatheringsSpecialProductsPage

Last one on the page...HTHs

 

[connorlevismom]

They do customizable events...

http://disneyworld.disney.go.com/wd...roducts?id=GrandGatheringsSpecialProductsPage

Last one on the page...HTHs

Thanks, it sounds great but says you need a group of 20 or more.

I wonder if I just called GF private dining if they could set it up for me. I wanted someone that could help me plan it and maybe gives me some cool ideas, but I will take whomever is going to get it done for me.

Kristine

 

[Petals & Pixie Dust]

Sorry...I should have read the fine print..whoops!

 

[connorlevismom]

Sorry...I should have read the fine print..whoops!

Not a problem. Sometimes there is just WAY to much fine print to waste time reading it anyway. Maybe I will call them anywa and ask how set in stone that 20 people is.

Kristine

 

[lurkyloo]

I wouldn't worry about it - that woman is not who you're going to be working with on your event. Now if your planner at AKL won't give you the time of day, that's a different story.

They can't really start planning your event until about 6 months out, which may be why you haven't heard anything yet. I'd give them a day or two to get in touch with you and then call if you still haven't heard from them.

 

[connorlevismom]

I called them back today because I had not heard anything. I am soooo glad that I did. The girl that I got on the phone wa s helpful and transfered me immediately over the Rick who is a planner. He was so friendly and nice to work with.

We decided that we are going to do Sago Cay from 6-10 on December 10th. I am realy excited!

Now I need your help. I want to do a BBQ type buffet and my DH said he does not care, as long as there is good meat. We are having a BOC bar so that is set. Any cool or fun ideas for dinner or fun desserts? I have on BIL who is moving from North Carolina to north Dakota in a month an he is going to soooo miss biscuits and gravy. I was thinking of puing it on there for him.

Any other cool ideas??


Kristine

 

[connorlevismom]

Just wanted to give a little update on this. I ended up calling the grand gathering line that is listed on the WDW website and they had absoluely no clue about the custom events. The guy must have asked me 4 times if I was really looking at the WDW website. Then he put me on hold to talk to someone else and came back and told me that nobody has ever heard of custom events for grand gatherings. I explained that it was right there on the website and even read him what it said. He just told me he had no idea what I was talking about but I could book a grand gathering experience.

Sometimes I think that Disney is way to big. 1/2 the time when you call, you get people who have no clue what your talking about.

Kristine

 

[Lorelei528]

It's not just you....I also had asked about the custom experiences because it's mentioned on the Grand Gathering site and they admitted to me that they don't really do that, they put it in so guests know if they need help arranging say dining reservations or something.

I ended up booking the Safari Celebration Dinner and everyone LOVED it and had a great time.

Just wanted to let you know, you're not the only one who has had this happen to them!