Disney Bride to be! (with questions lol)

[djsmith]

hi all, just joined the forum and this is my first post so ber with me if anything is not quite as it should be, i'm new to forums/discussion boards as a whole!

The first thing i wanted to do was get talking to some other disney brides (preferably from the UK) out there who'v been married at the disney wedding pavillion or the rose garden in Magic Kingdom in the last year. Hope some of you can share you experiences and give advice.

I know very very little about disney weddings apart from it would be the escape package we would be going for as this is tailored for a small wedding with 20 or less guests and this package includes champagne toast an cake cutting which suits us great as we having reception back home in scotland after the wedding.
Plan to get married in June 2014.
Would love to stay at disney swan/dolphin hotel for a week/the 5 night minimum needed as part of wedding package. Is this hotel an option or is it not eligible with the escape package?
also can anyone give me rough guide on prices eg upgrading photography package, getting videography package for ceremony etc as disney do not give you these prices until after you book? (i know prices will prob go up by time i book as well!)

think that is all for now look forward to talking to you lovely disney fans like me

 

[Chilly]

Welcome from a fellow Brit and past WP bride.

I suggest you buy this book:

http://disneytravelbabble.com/disney-weddings/passporters-disney-weddings/

It'll answer all your questions and more!

With the Escape package you only have a limited number of locations you can pick, the WP is one but MK is not.

You'll get better value for money by using outside vendors for photography & videography.

 

[tinkerbell 766]

Hi sweetie and congrats from another (VR) UK bride!!!

As you like the S/D, have you considered a S/D wedding? I realize that you seem to have your heart set on the WP, but in case you are open to suggestions, I strongly recommend that you look in to S/D weddings!!!
S/D weddings and VRs are still right there in WDW, and can include everything that can be included in DFTW packages (with the exception of Cinderella's coach and a MK bridal shoot). The S/D packages are much more flexible than the smaller DFTW packages, and are significantly cheaper (in some cases, about half the price!!). Also, IMHO, the wonderful planner who co-ordinates the weddings for S/D, Karen, is much better at communication and keeping you up to speed, than some of the DFTW planners appear to be - this is of utmost importance when planning such an event from a long distance!!!
My gorgeous husband and I our celebrated our VR in May and it was perfect!!!
We had the ceremony at the Swan, reception dinner at the GF (Citrico's) and had photos taken (by the great Randy Chapman), at the Contemporary (BLT), Swan, Boardwalk and GF (inside and on the beach). We also did a TTD session at the Poly later in the week.
I really feel that I missed out on none of the magic, and paid much less for my amazing day than a lot of DFTW brides have to pay!!
Feel free to check out my PJ/TR (link in my signature), and if you have any other questions, don't hesitate to ask - we are all very friendly on the boards!!!
Where in Scotland are you? I am in the North of England (Cumbria)
Good luck with your decision sweetie!!

 

[TabZ]

Yay another 2014 UK bride!!

Definatly get the passporters guide to weddings and honeymoons - someone has posted the link for you in your other thread

Prices will change - and probably change dramatically knowing Disney between now and 2014 - I have budgeted the best I can with the information I have now, going to save a touch more to hopefuly combat Disney inflation!

With regard to photography, we are having an Escape wedding at Sea Breeze Point (hopefully) We are going to stick with Disney Photography Services as we get two hours with the package, and my splurge is the Magic Kingdom Bridal Portrait Session, which if I remember correctly currently stands at $1700 + the photos on disc... my family and friends are pretty much into their photography so I know I'll come out with some amazing amatuer shots as well

The Passporters book will give you an idea of the additional prices your looking for as well

Happy planning!!

 

[djsmith]

thanks everyone will look into the book been given link for another e-book(passporters one) so think i'l buy both when i get paid

don't think MK is an option, u r right its not part of the escape package an we don't have enough guests or the minimum expenditure for it anywayz.

didn't know u could use outside vendors for photography an videography, i know someone did this about 5 years ago but was under the impression disney did not allow this anymore!

i did have my heart set on the wedding pavillion but a few people have mentioned having the ceremony at S/D resort so i think i might look into this as well, especially if it will b less expensive an the wedding coordinator communicates better as this is one thing i am worried about is not actually bein there to do anythin face to face in advance of the wedding. As its gonna b our wedding an holiday an honeymoon all combined i dont want to spend every day on the run up to the wedding running around fixing wedding things when i could b at the parks (i know there will obviously b somethings that need done like goin to the courthouse to get the marriage documents and confirming final details with disney etc)

Tabz r u a 2014 bride to be as well??? wooooo yes i am doin the same tryin to get prices together to make a loose budget an saving as much more than that if i can! i'm lucky my parents hav said they will give us £5000 towards the ceremony and upgrades so hopefully that covers the ceremony and photography/videography. i'd love to splurge on a MK photo shoot but i don't think we'l b able to afford it.

tinkerbell wht is PJ/TR (i'm not completely up on the abbreviations yet but i'm gettin there lol) will go check it out on ur link. I'm from a town bout half an hour drive from edinburgh city centre in scotland

thank you all for the replies

 

[TabZ]

I'm so excited!!! But it's still over 1100 days for me!

If you don't think you can stretch to an MK shoot, why not one of the other parks? They all offer portrait sessions, and for a third of the price?

I recommend only buying the passporters guide to weddings and honeymoons on e-book, you get lifetime updates, if you buy the paperback you have to buy a new one every time it's updated

 

[tinkerbell 766]

thanks everyone will look into the book been given link for another e-book(passporters one) so think i'l buy both when i get paid

don't think MK is an option, u r right its not part of the escape package an we don't have enough guests or the minimum expenditure for it anywayz.

didn't know u could use outside vendors for photography an videography, i know someone did this about 5 years ago but was under the impression disney did not allow this anymore!

i did have my heart set on the wedding pavillion but a few people have mentioned having the ceremony at S/D resort so i think i might look into this as well, especially if it will b less expensive an the wedding coordinator communicates better as this is one thing i am worried about is not actually bein there to do anythin face to face in advance of the wedding. As its gonna b our wedding an holiday an honeymoon all combined i dont want to spend every day on the run up to the wedding running around fixing wedding things when i could b at the parks (i know there will obviously b somethings that need done like goin to the courthouse to get the marriage documents and confirming final details with disney etc)

Tabz r u a 2014 bride to be as well??? wooooo yes i am doin the same tryin to get prices together to make a loose budget an saving as much more than that if i can! i'm lucky my parents hav said they will give us £5000 towards the ceremony and upgrades so hopefully that covers the ceremony and photography/videography. i'd love to splurge on a MK photo shoot but i don't think we'l b able to afford it.

tinkerbell wht is PJ/TR (i'm not completely up on the abbreviations yet but i'm gettin there lol) will go check it out on ur link. I'm from a town bout half an hour drive from edinburgh city centre in scotland

thank you all for the replies

Hi again sweetie!!!
PJ = planning journal
TR = Trip report

Just so as you know, S/D brides are not eligable for the MK bridal shoot. They may have a shoot in bridal attire in any other park, but the MK shoot is a priviledge reserved exclusively for DFTW brides. All bridal shoots (whether you are a DFTW bride or a S/D bride) require the use of DPS (Disney Photographic Services). If you have you wedding ceremony or reception in a theme park location, Disney will not allow you to use an outside photographer. At other locations (eg Sea Breeze Point, WP, etc), you may use an outside photographer. If you book a package which includes a DPS photographer (eg Escape), DFTW will not longer allow you to have both your photographer and theirs at the wedding, you would thus have to opportunity to use the DPS photographer for something else (eg dessert party photography or a honeymoon shoot)
HTH
BTW my daughter's boyfriend is from Penicuik

 

[djsmith]

thanks again to everyone for your help! spend the last week pourin over peoples TR's videos an photos from weddings in both venues.
After this an talkin it thro wi the fiance i think we'r goin to stick wi the wedding pavillion, stay in some other disney hotel an mayb spend 2 or 3 nights in the S/D either at the very beginning or end of our holiday. We r thinkin either the polynesian hotel or the french quarter or possibly the key west resort.

Has anyone ever experienced any of these hotels have anything they'd like to share about them or a TR from a stay there? would love to here from u all again

Debra
xXx

(ps jo what a coincidence your daughters boyfriend being from penicuik its so strange to meet people who have places in common normally when i go abroad on holiday or whatever most people struggle to get that 1)scotland is not infact in england its completely seperate(an most scottish people get really offended if they are called english/someone asks if scotland is in england) 2)that edinburgh is the capital an not glasgow 3)i can say i'm from edinburgh but through further disussion they discover that infact places like dalkeith, bonnyrigg an penicuik r bout 40minutes drive from the city centre an that we can live in work in these smaller towns without really ever goin in2 the city centre lol) anyway think thats enough of my rambling for one night lol

 

[Chilly]

We stayed at the Poly for our wedding and POFQ for our trip after the wedding. Links to both TRs in my sig. I loved them both.

 

[djsmith]

We stayed at the Poly for our wedding and POFQ for our trip after the wedding. Links to both TRs in my sig. I loved them both.

Claire i'v loved reading your trip report! u'v got some great pictures from the whole trip an it sounds like some amazin memories have been made. shame bout the illness an the few annoyin moments wi family members but family is family eh some things never change!
Not read the quadrilogy report yet its next thing to read, taken me all weekend 2 read the wedding an honeymoon one as i'v jus been readin it 5/10 mins here an there lol
the polynesian rooms look great(i'v been round the hotel before just not in a room) an the animal kingdom lodge looks amazin as well.
for the ADR's do u think there a great help an worth the time an effort or does it sometimes mean ur watchin the clock to make the reservation in time instead of goin on that extra ride or watchin a show? i'v never used them before(just 21 an everytime we'v been to disney i'v been wi parents an family an close friends its not somethin we'v ever done as we'v not stayed onsite at disney before normally in a villa an we tend to jus eat from "fast food" like restaurants in the parks during the day an either eat in the villa or make use of buffet restaurants an such on international drive/on way bck 2 villa)
would u recommend the chef mickey dining experience i quite like the sound of it an would look to try it when we'r there?
also (last question i promise!) what is the view like from the poly beach of the MK fireworks this seems like a very romantic way 2 watch the fireworks from the beach without the hassle/business off the park!

thanks for sharing!

 

[Chilly]

Claire i'v loved reading your trip report! u'v got some great pictures from the whole trip an it sounds like some amazin memories have been made. shame bout the illness an the few annoyin moments wi family members but family is family eh some things never change!
Not read the quadrilogy report yet its next thing to read, taken me all weekend 2 read the wedding an honeymoon one as i'v jus been readin it 5/10 mins here an there lol
the polynesian rooms look great(i'v been round the hotel before just not in a room) an the animal kingdom lodge looks amazin as well.
for the ADR's do u think there a great help an worth the time an effort or does it sometimes mean ur watchin the clock to make the reservation in time instead of goin on that extra ride or watchin a show? i'v never used them before(just 21 an everytime we'v been to disney i'v been wi parents an family an close friends its not somethin we'v ever done as we'v not stayed onsite at disney before normally in a villa an we tend to jus eat from "fast food" like restaurants in the parks during the day an either eat in the villa or make use of buffet restaurants an such on international drive/on way bck 2 villa)
would u recommend the chef mickey dining experience i quite like the sound of it an would look to try it when we'r there?
also (last question i promise!) what is the view like from the poly beach of the MK fireworks this seems like a very romantic way 2 watch the fireworks from the beach without the hassle/business off the park!

thanks for sharing!

Glad your enjoying my reports.

I think it depends what sort of holiday you want whether you book ADR's or not and also how busy the period is. For our first trip we didn't make any ADR's and for our 2nd trip just a few. When we were there at Christmas it was a very busy time and we needed tables for 6 so thought it best to make ADRs. For our 4th trip we made an ADR everyday because having a nice meal each day was a big part of that trip and not so much the parks.

I liked Chef Mickeys for breakfast, we had great character interaction.

The view of the fireworks from the Poly is great and we've done that a few times, its very romantic.

Ask as many questions as you want.

 

[djsmith]

Hi all not been on here in a long time!

Got a few more questions and ideas to throw about if anyone can help......

Firstly, been looking into hotels to stay in 4 our 4/5night disney stay and we'v decided that polynesian, contemporary and grand floridian are just too expensive for our budget. . So was wondering what other hotels people recomend and what the rooms/hotel in general are like. Also what is the transport to the parks like for each hotel eg which ones get picked up by the disney buses first etc. We'r wanting something more than the "budget" hotels like pop century for our honeymoon so was thinking animal kingdom lodge or key west or french quarter or the like thought recommendations are best to go on!

secondly, and this might be quite a toughie, being scottish the men in the party would like to wear kilts if possible (i know they'r gonna overheat in kilts in june!) we were wondering if anyone knew of anywhere in orlando where you can hire kilts for a day or 2 as this would be so much easier and probably cheaper than hiring kilts for 2 weeks, insuring them to travel from the uk and paying the extra charges for heavier/extra bags at the airport.

Debra
xXx

 

[DFTWbride2013]

Hi all not been on here in a long time!

Got a few more questions and ideas to throw about if anyone can help......

Firstly, been looking into hotels to stay in 4 our 4/5night disney stay and we'v decided that polynesian, contemporary and grand floridian are just too expensive for our budget. . So was wondering what other hotels people recomend and what the rooms/hotel in general are like. Also what is the transport to the parks like for each hotel eg which ones get picked up by the disney buses first etc. We'r wanting something more than the "budget" hotels like pop century for our honeymoon so was thinking animal kingdom lodge or key west or french quarter or the like thought recommendations are best to go on!

secondly, and this might be quite a toughie, being scottish the men in the party would like to wear kilts if possible (i know they'r gonna overheat in kilts in june!) we were wondering if anyone knew of anywhere in orlando where you can hire kilts for a day or 2 as this would be so much easier and probably cheaper than hiring kilts for 2 weeks, insuring them to travel from the uk and paying the extra charges for heavier/extra bags at the airport.

Debra
xXx

I'm sorry, I don't have too much to contribute here- I have no idea about the bus schedules and I've never had need for a kilt, but I thought I'd throw in a recommendation for the Coronado Springs resort. It's a moderate level resort but still significantly cheaper than the deluxe resorts. It's very lovely and colorful on the outside, but the rooms themselves are nicer and more "grown up" on the inside imo. It's also the only moderate with room service. We stayed there last year and I loved it, I think it might have more of a honeymoon feel than a room covered in Mickey Mouse.

 

[tinkerbell 766]

I am a big fan of AKL (it is my first DVC home ), but it is quite expensive too.
My favourite moderate is Port Orleans Riverside. It is beautiful, peaceful and romantic!!
If you have your heart set on a deluxe, why not consider renting DVC points for your stay. It can work out far less expensive, and you may find you can rent out a one bedroom villa fro around the same price as you would get a moderate room. Check out David's DVC rentals (link below). He is very repeatable, and very highly thought of here on the boards. As a DVC owner, I have rented out my points through him very quickly and easily. Highly recommended!!

http://www.dvcrequest.com/

The only downside of renting points is that you miss out on any free dining deals that may be being offered by the UK agents. It depends on what your priorities are!!!

 

[djsmith]

I'm sorry, I don't have too much to contribute here- I have no idea about the bus schedules and I've never had need for a kilt, but I thought I'd throw in a recommendation for the Coronado Springs resort. It's a moderate level resort but still significantly cheaper than the deluxe resorts. It's very lovely and colorful on the outside, but the rooms themselves are nicer and more "grown up" on the inside imo. It's also the only moderate with room service. We stayed there last year and I loved it, I think it might have more of a honeymoon feel than a room covered in Mickey Mouse.

thats good to know will look into that one its definitely an option then we'v got enough 4 the moderate hotels just cant justify spending the money on the deluxe hotel (we originally had our hearts set on poly) when theres so much else to pay for as well.

with the buses i'v heard people say before there bus was always completely full eg in the morning because their hotel is the last to get collected before the bus arrives at the park, or this hotel is first to get picked up for the parks because its furthest away etc. Just wondered if people have specific experiences where they can give specific hotel names and possible locations (if that makes sense to you all)

 

[djsmith]

I am a big fan of AKL (it is my first DVC home ), but it is quite expensive too.
My favourite moderate is Port Orleans Riverside. It is beautiful, peaceful and romantic!!
If you have your heart set on a deluxe, why not consider renting DVC points for your stay. It can work out far less expensive, and you may find you can rent out a one bedroom villa fro around the same price as you would get a moderate room. Check out David's DVC rentals (link below). He is very repeatable, and very highly thought of here on the boards. As a DVC owner, I have rented out my points through him very quickly and easily. Highly recommended!!

http://www.dvcrequest.com/

The only downside of renting points is that you miss out on any free dining deals that may be being offered by the UK agents. It depends on what your priorities are!!!

thanks for that tinkerbell i'v never heard of renting the DVC points to be honest i'v never really looked into the disney vacation club as until we got engaged i never actually thought i'd be staying in a disney hotel. will need to check out the link its something worth looking into if it would mean we could stay in polynesian for slightly less. Last time i priced it think we were saving about £500 between the AKL and GF so AKL is still in the running for now lol
(ps we'r not too fussed about any particular dining deals or anything *** we'r only staying 5nights plus we'l prob be meeting up with family that wont be staying in disney for some meals or during the day to go round the parks so prob wouldn get the most out of a deal anywayz lol)

We'v been able to have a look around the french quarter of orleans but not the riverside one sounds like its got 3 things we do want, lovely setting, peace&quiet and bit of romance i work with children so obviously i know they'r not "seen and not heard" or anything like that i just think the budget hotel are more child orientated and would be busier with families so we look forward to taking our own kids there one day. While we'r still a couple without children I like my mickey mouse in more subtle ways eg arranged in the towels on the bed or something lol.

 

[Anniemahabir]

Hi everyone this is my first time so any help would be great .so I will be there on July 4 th I heard that goin to poly beach is a great place to watch the fireworks ,does anyone have any info,advice etc,thanks a bunch I will be in Orlando area

 

[Chilly]

Hi everyone this is my first time so any help would be great .so I will be there on July 4 th I heard that goin to poly beach is a great place to watch the fireworks ,does anyone have any info,advice etc,thanks a bunch I will be in Orlando area

Not sure but if its as popular as the NYE fireworks then its only people staying at the Poly that will be allowed so you might want to check on that.

 

[SWBride]

I absolutely love the Animal Kingdom Lodge and the French Quarter. Keep in mind that Disney will give you and your guests discounts on the hotel which can make many of the hotels quite affordable. I never in a million years thought I'd ever be able to afford staying at the Beach Club but with the discount, we're able to stay there for the honeymoon. Also, if enough of your guests rent rooms in your room block, you will get one night free in any Disney hotel you want. You could definitely use that for the Poly if you wanted!

 

[djsmith]

I absolutely love the Animal Kingdom Lodge and the French Quarter. Keep in mind that Disney will give you and your guests discounts on the hotel which can make many of the hotels quite affordable. I never in a million years thought I'd ever be able to afford staying at the Beach Club but with the discount, we're able to stay there for the honeymoon. Also, if enough of your guests rent rooms in your room block, you will get one night free in any Disney hotel you want. You could definitely use that for the Poly if you wanted!

thanks i'v heard disney do give a discount if you get people from your wedding party to also book too. does that apply if they'r not stayin at the same hotel as u tho? my fiance's family have never been to florida or WDW so are torn between whether to stay in disney(our nephew will hav jus turned 5 in 2014 when we get married) or whether to hire a villa next to where my family plan to hire a villa (my family prefer a villa, this'l b there 7th time to florida an their done wi hotels lol).my fiances family r kinda overbearing sometimes an i know if they stayed in the same hotel as us they'd b wantin to sit wi us at the pool or have meals together, or even coming to the door in the morning to see which park we'r goin to then end up coming with us. i love them as much as i love my family but our time in disney is meant to b jus us for our honeymoon an we want to spend time as jus a couple. So if we'd still get discount an they could stay in a different disney hotel that'd b great if not i'd rather not hav the discount if that makes sense lol