So Many Questions......Any Answers? About This Page:

[ellis_farms]

It may be early to be asking all these questions, but here is the situation.
We will be going to WDW again in June 2011. There are several others wanting to go as we do. The problem is, there are 3 of us planning to stay 10 days, 4 wanting to stay 7 days, and 2 only planning to stay 5 days.
Here are a few of my questions:

1. For the days that we are all there at the same time, will we be able to get the benefits of a grand gathering?

2. The group of 4 thinks that things will be cheaper to stay off property, Will they still be able to get DDP?

3. With DDP, do we all have to eat at the same restaurants?

4. Do we all have to stay at the same resort? Me and mine would like to stay at a moderate, while the others are preferring a value. What moderate resorts would be most reasonable?

Those are my four questions for now, I'm sure there will be many many more to come!!!
Thanks in Advance!!
Sandy

[lukeandbrookesmom]

1. Yes, the reservations can be linked together.
2. No, the DDP is only available with a Magic Your Way package, staying on property. They would also miss out on any Extra Magic Hours offered.
3. No, you do not have to all eat at the same place, or time either, unless you are booked for one of the GG experiences.
4. No, you do not have to all stay at the same resort, although many Grand Gathering groups do and get adjoining rooms. Any of the the moderate resorts would be nice choices.

[Disney*Dreams*]

1. For the days that we are all there at the same time, will we be able to get the benefits of a grand gathering?
I am not sure about this

2. The group of 4 thinks that things will be cheaper to stay off property, Will they still be able to get DDP?
It may be cheaper but it's not worth it and no they would not be able to get the DDP .. only those who are staying on property

3. With DDP, do we all have to eat at the same restaurants?
Nope! You all can be at different restaurants ..

4. Do we all have to stay at the same resort? Me and mine would like to stay at a moderate, while the others are preferring a value. What moderate resorts would be most reasonable?
It doesn't matter if you are a group you do not have to stay at the same resort.. it's your vacation so you plan it your way I really like Caribbean Beach resort for a moderate resort

[CinderAbby]

Hi and Welcome to the Boards.

While I can't answer your question about the grand gathering (my family isn't big enough for one), I can help with the others.

The group of 4 thinks that things will be cheaper to stay off property, Will they still be able to get DDP? Absolutely NOT. You have to stay on Disney property to get the DDP.

With DDP, do we all have to eat at the same restaurants? No, you don't. You're free to eat wherever you want. But if you do eat at the same restaurants and eat seated together, you have to let the server know that there will be either multiple dining plans used, cash used, whatever the payment method would be. If you don't, you'll get only one receipt that will take time to get fixed and billed correctly.

[chezp]

Cool, I'd been wondering that myself about Grand Gatherings.

[Nova]

The group of 4 will miss out on some of the Magic staying off property. If they choose a value resort to stay at they will get the EMH and night ones giving them more time in the parks. Not to mention if parks get full staying off disney they wont get in. The transportation from outside hotels to Disney is not as great as Disney transportation, lots of hotels only have buses in and out specific times, needing to pick them up middle of lots etc. So if there is a reservation to eat and they have a bus to catch it will cause problems. Maybe they will change their minds and do Value.

[Disney*Dreams*]

Also don't forget that if you are staying off property you are paying to park everyday

[mommadjones]

1. For the days that we are all there at the same time, will we be able to get the benefits of a grand gathering?
There has to be a certain percentage of the group staying on property. I can't remember the number but I think its like 80%. If that percentage is on property(no matter if its all the same resort) you will be able to take advantage of everything a GG has to offer.

Have fun planning! We are doing our first GG this Sept. I know how nerve racking it can be to be in charge of an entire group!

[ellis_farms]

Thanks to all of you for the information. I feel that they will be missing out by staying off property also, but its going to take some convincing. Its really going to be bad not getting DDP, thats the main perk of staying on property as far as I'm concerned.
I'm wondering too tho, with a lap-band, would my daughter and I be able to share some meals, since I can't eat that much now? I know the buffets would be out of the question, and counter service won't care, but what about table service?
Thanks again!!

[ellis_farms]

What is the cost of parking on average? Anyone know? The more numbers I have to show them, the better off we are going to be I think.
Will those staying off property have access to the transportation between parks on property or will they have to move vehicle each time?

[HiddenMickey]

Everyone in the same room package has to pay for the same package components. If you have DDP for your package, everyone in your room willl be required to pay for it. Your daughter with the lap band will still pay for DDP even if she doesn't really use it much if she's in the same room as other who wish to use the DDP. That is something to take into account when planning.

Correct me if I'm wrong about this someone, but didn't parking recently go up to $14 a day?

Some off property hotels offer tranportation to the parks for their guests. They have a strict schedule that doesn't usually work for most people's needs. Often with a couple morning trips and a couple evening trips (sometimes with the last one leaving before the park closes). The group who wishes to stay off-site will need to make inquiries of what a typical schedule would be before reserving a room there.

In answer to your question about transportation b/w parks....the offsite people will be able to use the transportation at WDW because they have tickets to the parks.

[Pax]

Originally Posted by ellis_farms

2. The group of 4 thinks that things will be cheaper to stay off property, Will they still be able to get DDP?

Tell them to book rooms at a Value resort. POP Century is a good choice. And tell them that what Disney calls (and prices as) "Value", is what anywhere else would call "nice". The beds are the same as the Moderates, the rooms are almost as large (maybe ten or twelve square feet smaller - which is like a six- or eight-inch strip along one long wall). You just don't get table-service restaurant in the resort, no waterslide at the pool, and a few other minor, tiny little omitted perks along those basic lines.

Originally Posted by ellis_farms

Thanks to all of you for the information. I feel that they will be missing out by staying off property also, but its going to take some convincing. Its really going to be bad not getting DDP, thats the main perk of staying on property as far as I'm concerned.

Tell them about these perks, too:

• Extra Magic Hours (the parks stay open late, or open up early, only for guests staying on-property)
• No carrying cash or credit cards (just your KttW card), which puts a real crimp on pickpockets.
• No extra travel time to/from their hotel. Staying at POP Century, you can be in a park within an hour of waking up, including time for a light breakfast. (During low-crowd periods, anyway.)
• Have your purchases delivered directly to your room - no need to carry bags of souvenirs around all day. This includes items bought in Downtown Disney!
• If youw ant to, your rooms are close enough to the parks for an afternoon break (pool time, a siesta, naptime for the baby, etc).

I'm wondering too tho, with a lap-band, would my daughter and I be able to share some meals, since I can't eat that much now? I know the buffets would be out of the question, and counter service won't care, but what about table service?
Thanks again!!

That shouldn't be a problem, especially if you not the lap-band on yoru reservation. You may end up with a raftload of extra dining credits at the end of your trip, that way, though.

[ellis_farms]

Thanks Again Everyone!!
This information will come in handy.
DD isn't the one with the lap band tho, its me!! And what a blessing it has been!!
With our left over dining credits (mostly snack credits), the last night we were on our way out of the park, I stopped by main street bakery and got all the cinnamon rolls they had!! I put them in ziplocks and then in other bags and put them in suitcases. They made it fine, clothes smelled like cinnamon, but that was OK, lol.
My friend who used to live near WDW loved her suprise!! She didn't care that they were day olds. She said it brought back a lot of memories!! Will probably do the same thing this trip!!

[Russi01]

We are not going until May 2011 as well and I have done some research. It is not the more expensive to stay at the Value hotels as it is off property and you get all fo the perks that Pax stated. Hope you can talk them into staying on property to have more fun.

[nicki.momof3]

Originally Posted by Pax

Tell them to book rooms at a Value resort. POP Century is a good choice. And tell them that what Disney calls (and prices as) "Value", is what anywhere else would call "nice". The beds are the same as the Moderates, the rooms are almost as large (maybe ten or twelve square feet smaller - which is like a six- or eight-inch strip along one long wall). You just don't get table-service restaurant in the resort, no waterslide at the pool, and a few other minor, tiny little omitted perks along those basic lines..

I think the difference between a value and a moderate is much greater than you described "littel differences".

• The rooms at moderates are larger
• Much nicer furnishings in the rooms - values remind me of dorm living
• The grounds at the moderates are themed and much nicer. I am thinking right now of POR it is beautiful. Values have little shade, tree, or any plant life.
• Values cater to many school groups and such and can have a ton of teenagers running around at times.
• Values due to the way they are designed are louder - all one building.
• Moderates are more spread out in different buildings making the whole place quieter and calmer.
• POR and POFQ have boat transportation to DTD
• POR has 6 pools
• Shaded bus stops which make a difference in the hot FL sun
• Moderates have coffee makers and fridges in the rooms. At a value you have to pay extra for one.
• Moderates have on site recreational activites that values don't. Boat rentals and pirate cruises for children come to mind.
• Themed pools with waterslides

Personally you I think you get what you pay for. If someone wants to go as cheap as possible or does not care about the resorts "it is for sleeping only" than valuse are the way to go. If you are looking for more of a "resort" feel and want to enjoy what the resort as to offer moderate or deluxe is the way to go.

We stayed in a value the first time and never agin - I truesly flet like I was back in my college dorm. We always choose a moderate it is a nice balance between a "checp' room and a super nice deluxe room athat cost a ton.

Our favorite is POR.