Hi Michele! Traveling to Walt Disney World in a large group is definitely lots of fun, but can take lots of planning as well! Thanks for the question...you've come to the right place!
Unfortunately, the Grand Gatherings Program has been discontinued as of January 28th, 2012. You will still be able to link multiple reservations and vacation packages together, but this can now be done through the general booking department of the Walt DIsney Travel Company instead of through the Grand Gatherings department.
As far as special events are concerned, the Grand Gatherings offerings are no longer available. With that being said, there are still lots of fabulous opportunities for larger groups to come together and have a blast a Walt Disney World, one of my favorites being the
Pirates and Pals Fireworks Voyage which was formerly only available to Grand Gatherings parties.
Be sure to take a moment to browse the
Tours and Special Experiences page on the official Walt Disney World website! Many of the experiences listed are perfect for large parties so if you see something you're interested in, just give a call to (407)WDW-TOUR to set something up for your group!
Interested in securing dining reservations for your large group? Be sure to book online or by phone up to 180 days in advance, as many of the restaurants have a limited number of tables that can accommodate larger parties...the earlier, the better!
Just because Grand Gatherings is a thing of the past doesn't mean your gathering can't be GRAND! Thanks for the question, and please write back if I can be of further assistance in the planning of this magical vacation! -Amanda F.