Ask a Disney Question: What is a Grand Gathering?

This question comes from Emery, who asks, “What is Disney’s Grand Gathering? Is it food related? I couldn’t find any news on your site about it.”

Emery, good call. We don’t have any information up about Disney Grand Gathering, which is useful information to have.  A grand gathering is for groups of eight or more; children under three-years of age do not count towards your total.   To qualify, 80% of your group must stay at a Disney resort or at the Swan or Dolphin.  When you call to arrange this, you’ll be assigned a grand gathering number and all your reservations will be linked together.    The nice thing is that while your reservations are linked, you can pay for your own room (or rooms), dining plan, tickets and extras  individually, so it’s easy for everyone to keep track of what they owe and when they need to pay for it.  The only thing the grand gathering number does to your reservation is link your group together.

Having your large group designated as a “grand gathering” allows you to get extra help with making dining reservations, ensures that your rooms are all together if you’re staying at the same resort, and qualifies you to sign up for activities designated especially for grand gatherings, including:

• International Dinner and IllumiNations Desert Reception. Available on selected evenings in Epcot, this dinner includes an international dinner followed by story time for the kids, a character meet and greet, a dessert party and special viewing area for illuminations.  $59.99 for adults; $24.99 for children.
• Guests of the Good Morning Gathering will be escorted into the Magic Kingdom by Tony and other Disney characters and served breakfast at Tony’s Town Square.  $39.99 for adults; $19.99 for children.
• Magical Fireworks Voyage. Dessert party and a character meet and greet followed by a fireworks cruise on the Seven Seas Lagoon.  $34.99 for adults; $19.99 for children.
• Safari Celebration Dinner at Animal Kingdom includes a special dinner and nighttime safari with your own guide.  $59.99 for adults; $24.99 for children.

You’ll make these and your other dining reservations at the regular 180-day mark. You can have your group designated as a grand gathering whenever you make your resort reservations, up to 500 days in advance.

I’ve heard grand gathering cast members described as some of the most experienced cast members on site, so you can be sure that they’ll have a good idea of where larger groups can dine comfortably (and together) and what resorts may work better for your group’s needs.   Make sure that when you make your reservations that you discuss any mobility or other issues anyone in your group may have so that you can best be  accommodated.

One caveat:  Keep in mind that while having your resort rooms grouped together can be convenient, it can mean that some of you may not have a balcony. If this is a perk that’s important to you, make sure you let the cast member know when you make your reservations so that this can be avoided, if possible.

Thanks for your question and for reading Chip and Co.  I hope this helps!

For more information, write  www.disneyworld.com/magicalgatherings or call 407-939-7526.

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