Wishes Grandgathering

[Carrie Ellis]

Hello all,

I am in a sad situation. We were going to do the Wishes Cruise for the Grandgathering. Well when I scheduled they said have the other parties call by Aug. 6th a pay their part. Well now it is booked and my family of 6 (whom I have paid for) will not get to go because my cousin did not call soon enough.

My cousin will not care if they don't go but I do. I really wanted this for my kids.

Is there anyone who has booked for Sept 20th cruise..Wishes?

If so could I move our group onto your GG#? It would be the 6 of us and I could just say that our group did not add up and we are going to switch over to friends. It would not cost or trouble you at all because I would do the calling.

Thank you so much and I hope there is someone out there going!!

 

[MouseEars4us]

Hi Carrie
Good Luck with your search! I hope you find someone to share with..I'm not going in August, but I wanted to let you know, there are other types of cruises. I think there is a fireworks cruise in EPCOT...anyway you can check out other options at, allears.net ...Deb Wills site.

I don't blame you for being a bit sad about it, I would like to book for our Nov. trip, if things go well...

 

[Carrie Ellis]

Thanks MouseEars4us,

I emailed the contact us on the Disney site and voiced my opinion that the CM did not tell me that the spots were first come first serve. My understanding was that they were reserved and they needed to be paid by Aug 6th for our mid September trip. She DID say Aug 6th. I wrote it down!

I was looking so forward to this for my 2 sets of twins!

Anyone out there???

 

[4greatboys]

If there are 12 or less of you then you could always just book a regular Wishes cruise. They are $120.

 

[Partridge4ever]

I'm sorry this happened to you. We're not arriving until Oct. 2, so I can't help you out. I have been very frustrated w/Grand Gatherings so far. I have spent hours (literally) on the phone trying to set up just 2 families....I hate to think what it would be like to have a large group. Last Monday was our 90 day mark and today was the first day we were able to book the fireworks cruise. Still couldn't book the Illuminations dinner.

Are you sure your family won't be allowed to go? When I booked this morning for the 9 of us, I had to pay for my family of 4 immediately because we are DVC members. The other family is on a package and I was told they had until 45 days out to pay. I expressed concern to the CM about what if they didn't pay and he assured me that my family is all set. I hope he's right, although our friends are very dependable, and I'm sure they'll pay.

 

[grammy3princesses]

I have spent many days on the phone with the MG "experts". I had one CM tell me that she didn't usually work on the MG but would try to help. AGHGHGHG this is AFTER I asked for the MG person.

We were locked out of the PeterPan fireworks cruise also. So far the one and only benefit that I got from haviing a MG is that they booked our Princess breakfast.
Very dissapointed so far in this special service.

Four generations going in 6 more days......

 

[Carrie Ellis]

Partridge4ever, That was what I was told! I paid on the spot and was told the rest of the group had until Aug 6th! This was almost a month ago so it would probably be 45 days too. Have everyone PAY as soon as possible!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! The rest of my family called to pay and it was sold out way before August 6th.

Now the GGM who told me that it was sold out also informed me that my 6 spots might be filled w/ other guest who are already booked that night and want more spots. Because I asked him the same question...How can it get filled by anyone if you need 8!!

Just a FYI. I wrote a blunt email to WDW and they called today. I was not able to call back before the CM would be gone but she said on my machine that she would be back tomorrow before 3pm. I will call her back!

I will let you know what she says!

Thanks for the sympathy.

 

[InstImpres]

Originally posted by Partridge4ever
When I booked this morning for the 9 of us, I had to pay for my family of 4 immediately because we are DVC members. The other family is on a package and I was told they had until 45 days out to pay. I expressed concern to the CM about what if they didn't pay and he assured me that my family is all set

GG is just totally untrained. I spent about 8 hours with them for my trip this past Feb. They cancelled my paid ressie and reinstated it twice. (Glad I used my MAC visa and do online banking to catch them).

I too am a DVC member and what they told you is either new or wrong. I booked and was told I had until 45 days out to pay.

GG is a great concept with very poor execution, IMHO

Sandy

 

[Partridge4ever]

I get conflicting information every time I call Grand Gatherings. I also "disappear" from their system each time, supposedly because I'm DVC. Then they put me on hold while they "find me." They've never lost my friend, although they entered my address under her name and it would apparently take an act of Congress to correct it, so I just pass her mail along to her.

I called yesterday to book the Illuminations dinner. I was told it won't be held on Friday nights in October due to the Food and Wine Festival. Mind you, the previous day I was told the Illuminations dinner WOULD go on as usual during F&W.

As to paying w/in 45 days, Friday when I booked the fireworks voyage I was told I had to pay immediately because I'm a DVC member. Yesterday when I booked the Illuminations dinner I was told I had until 45 days out. I paid in full just in case.

Good luck Carrie!

 

[Tinkerbell04]

I am sorry for your situation, the MG Wishes Cruise is wonderful. We were there in June and did the cruise with our group. However, I, too, was very frustrated with the planning with theMagical Gaterings through WDW. I had a whopper of a telephone call trying to get the reservations for the Magical Events, we also did the Magical Gathering Breakfast at Tonys! The CM's, although friendly, really do not know how the program works and/or how to book things. I was, on multiple occasions, sent to group dining, even after calling the Magical Gathering phone number. Maybe, hopefuuly, because the program is new...things will get better!

 

[Carrie Ellis]

Hello to all!

Good news! We are booked!! I wrote a long email to Disney and began the email saying "I am sure we will get a form letter thats says that we are sorry...blaa, blaa, blaa." (I actually wrote blaa, blaa...)! Well guess what a Grandgathering coordinator called me! Well they opened another cruise the night before our other one was suppose to be booked. I don't know if it was because of us or because of demand but we are on!

I am so happy! This was the gathering that we chose to do since some of them are pretty high. It was sad not to have nothing plus I have read that this one is awesome.

They need to get the kinks out of this program. It is not as efficient as they make it out to be. I have been on the phone for lengths at a time.

Our entire group paid today and the GGM told me to have them pay today. I really don't think you have 45 days to pay. I hope they don't lose my ressie!

My cousin is buying points from a person w/ a timeshare at Old Key West . He was told that he would not qualify for GG. He still has a FW cabin booked (they first thought they would stay there) so I told to go ahead and book and pay for the cruise. Disney is getting all our money anyway, I don't understand why the buying points makes a difference.

Thanks you.

 

[4greatboys]

Is he linked to your GG number? We had a GG number during our BWV stay in June. As long as you have over 8 ppl (kids under 3 do not count towards total) you can get a GG number. Once his ressie has his name on it call DVC member services and they call the GG coordinators for the number.

 

[Partridge4ever]

I'm so glad it worked out for you! Be sure and post about how it went.

I know what you mean about the cost. At first I didn't plan to do the Illuminations dinner, but I saw the Food Network show about Disney weddings. I've always wanted a vow renewal at Disney. So I looked up the cost...makes the dinner seem cheap.

 

[Dreamin' Disney]

Someone mentioned on this thread that you can book the Wishes cruise directly for $120. If that's the case, it would cost us $10 pp for our group of 12. Does this also include the characters and treats?

I know that booking a boat on Crescent Lake to see Illuminations costs $120. Was this what you meant?

I can't find anything about a Wishes cruise unless you do the Grand Gatherings one.

 

[Penny12]

Dreamin' - you can book a Wishes equivelent of the Illuminations cruise. It is in a pontoon and is cruise only, it doesn't include the characters, treats and other 'frills' like the Grand Gathering one.

 

[Dreamin' Disney]

This is the only time we are going that we qualify for a GG, so I am going to try for the Magical Fireworks Voyage with all the trimmings. It is a bit pricey, but this way, we can guarantee a bit of Disney magic.