10 yr vowel renewal! Need advice!

[TravelingJen24]

My husband and I got married on 7/2/00 at the Disneyland hotel. We had a wonderful time, but I was only twenty and don't think I realized what I would have really wanted in a wedding. For our 10 year I would like to go back to Dis and have our vows renewed. I was wondering how far in advance I should contact them and also how many people do you invite to that type of event. We have two children now and would love to have them be a part of this special day. I just wondered if anyone had any input on vow renewal. Thanks.

Also, does anyone know how much the in the park weddings cost? I would love to do that if budget permitted.

 

[hiwaygal]

Congratulations on almost 10 years!

You might want to take a look at the Disney Wedding Website (LINK) that will give you the basics. With Disney, there is no real difference between a wedding and a vow renewal (except the license thing) so you can look under the wedding descriptions.

Are you considering Disneyland or Disneyworld for your vow renewal? There is a difference. Disneyworld has more options than Disneyland.

There is no limit to the number of guests you have...it's totally up to you.

If you plan to invite about 18 people or less you might consider the Escape option. It's intended to provide "the basics" and is the least expensive option.

A Wishes wedding is more for larger wedding groups, but you can have fewer guests as long as you meet the required minimum expenditures ($10,000 is the absolute minimum but only applies to certain days).

As for in-park ceremonies...there are some options and the minimums vary. Usually when someone asks about "in park" options I assume (maybe incorrectly) that they are really thinking of the Castle. That option, I believe, starts at around $50,000 (minimum). It used to be higher and I've heard it's come back down again but there are MAJOR restrictions on time, etc.

Take a look at the website, and read some threads here.

Janet2k is a wealth of information for vow renewals at either park (Disneyland or Disneyworld) and I'm sure you'll get some input from her as well.

Good luck and let us know what other questions you have!

 

[Starr W.]

My husband and I got married on 7/2/00 at the Disneyland hotel. We had a wonderful time, but I was only twenty and don't think I realized what I would have really wanted in a wedding. For our 10 year I would like to go back to Dis and have our vows renewed. I was wondering how far in advance I should contact them and also how many people do you invite to that type of event. We have two children now and would love to have them be a part of this special day. I just wondered if anyone had any input on vow renewal. Thanks.

Also, does anyone know how much the in the park weddings cost? I would love to do that if budget permitted.

Hey Jen, I think we've talked over at the DVC boards!

Well it depends if you want to do a custom aka Wishes wedding, there is a min amount you have to spend on your wedding day. This goes by season and day of the week. The absolute min is $10,000 and I think a Saturday during "premium" is $25,000. This includes food, floral(big budget killer), transport and site rental.

Your best bet is to get on Disneyweddings.com and create a wish book it will give you some idea.

I'm helping my cousin(since I"m DVC and "supposed" WDW expert) figure out her 30th VR for next year. Hoping to convince DH to do our 20th in 6 yrs(will probably take that long or longer). Darn it I to wear a long "bridesy" dress.

 

[Janet2k]

For our 10 year I would like to go back to Dis and have our vows renewed. I was wondering how far in advance I should contact them and also how many people do you invite to that type of event. We have two children now and would love to have them be a part of this special day. I just wondered if anyone had any input on vow renewal.

TravelingJen24, welcome to the Weddings & Honeymoons Board!

Hiwaygal and Starr W. have already given you excellent advice. I don't have too much to add.

For my 20th, I had a custom (wishes) vow renewal in WDW. We had an evening ceremony inside the Wedding Pavilion, followed by a progressive dinner party inside the Disney Studios theme park. There were 22 guests at our event. Our son & daughter stood up for us (along with our niece & nephew). Our children even read a poem during the ceremony (our Officiant recommended this and it worked out beautifully). It was wonderful having them share such a special day with us in such a special way.

As to the rest of the details of my event, consider reading one of my old trip reports: click here. I have lots of info in there regarding what I went through as I planned my vow renewal. It was quite a ride. And working with the FTW folks was an awful lot of fun. They're such a wonderful bunch of folks. Truly topnotch.

Also, does anyone know how much the in the park weddings cost?

When I was planning my vow renewal a few years ago, I did look into moving my event to the Magic Kingdom when I realized the kind of money I was on track to spend. If I had moved my event, I would have had to move my date too since a MNSSHP was already planned for the night of my wedding anniversary. There was actually only one date during that entire week that was free since there were special events happening inside the theme park besides the MNSSHP events. I'm not sure if Disney would have allowed it, but I was encouraged to pursue the subject and was told that the following year there would be no Magic Kingdom events due to the yearlong celebration that Disney had planned for their theme parks. Boy, talk about pressure! But after a sleepless night or two, I decided to stick with the Disney Studios event. The FTW folks had planned such a fantastic night for my guests, I didn't think a Magic Kingdom event would have been half as much fun (the "feel" of a MK event would have been completely different than the "feel" of a DS event). I am very happy that I stayed with what had been planned for me at the Studios. My husband & I (and our guests) truly had a night to remember.

Now, with all that being said, I honestly have no idea if a MK event is even possible anymore. That is truly a question that only the FTW folks can answer. When I looked into it myself, I was surprised to learn how rare that event was. It wasn't that Disney didn't have the customers for it; it was due to all the restrictions that were put in place. Since the MK theme park is wildly popular all year long, there aren't a lot of nights when it closes early enough to allow an after-hours event to be pulled off. Not too many people want to eat dinner at midnight or later, so I can completely understand why the event is rare. I do remember reading the plans of a bride who had her event there in October of 2000 (I think that was the year). Her story was fascinating (she shared her planning details on a private website). Just a few years ago she contacted me and shared a few photos. I actually invited her to my FTW Welcome Party, but since it fell at the tail-end of her vacation, she didn't have a chance to stop by. It would have been fun to have met her in person.

The FTW folks do have the following information on their website. However, I don't know how accurate it is anymore:

- - - - - - -
Magic Kingdom Park Wedding Ceremony ~$25,000*
Taking place at Swan Boat Landing in Magic Kingdom® Park, with Cinderella Castle as your backdrop, this once-in-a-lifetime event is the ultimate fairy tale celebration in a place where dreams really do come true!

Your Magic Kingdom® Park Wedding package** includes the following magical elements:

• Ceremony at Magic Kingdom® Park at Swan Boat Landing beginning at 8am for up to 50 guests (based on limited availability – please contact a Wedding Consultant for more details)
• Transportation for guests from their Walt Disney World® Resort to the Magic Kingdom® Park and reception venue
• Your guests will be transported down Main Street, U.S.A., via motorized cars, to Swan Boat Landing
• A string quartet to play your musical selections
• A Fanfare Trumpeter and Major Domo to announce the arrival of the bride in a horse-drawn Landau Coach
• Ceremony floral and décor package for Swan Boat Landing
• A Magic Kingdom® Wedding Ceremony Photography and Videography package by Disney Photography

*In addition to the above package elements, food & beverage and room night minimums must be met:

• A minimum food and beverage expenditure of $75.00 per person, plus 20% service charge and 6.5% sales tax will apply to functions beginning prior to 2:00 p.m., excluding Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa
• A minimum food and beverage expenditure of $100.00 per person, plus 20% service charge and 6.5% sales tax, will apply to functions beginning after 2:00 p.m., excluding Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa
• Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa has a minimum food and beverage expenditure of $100.00 per person, plus 20% service charge and 6.5% sales tax for functions beginning prior to 2:00 p.m. A minimum food and beverage expenditure of $125.00 per person, plus 20% service charge and 6.5% sales tax will apply to functions beginning after 2:00 p.m.
• Based on your number of guests, you must guarantee a minimum number of hotel room nights at WALT DISNEY WORLD owned and operated Resorts. A minimum of 25 room nights is required (bride & groom accommodations can go towards this minimum). Your Disney Wedding Consultant will be happy to discuss these minimums in detail to ensure your comfort level.

Minimum food and beverage expenditure is comprised of food and beverage costs planned on the event day, which may include pre-reception, reception, wedding cake and all alcoholic / non-alcoholic beverages

** Additional floral, entertainment, and décor for your reception are not included in the above package

To learn more about hosting your dream vow renewal at Magic Kingdom® Park, please contact a Disney Wedding Consultant today!
- - - - - - -

The price listed is for a ceremony only. And I believe it starts at that price and escalates from there. Now, I don't think that price is too high for a ceremony, but I don't like the fact that you have to have the event in the early-morning hours. Yikes! I am so not an early-riser.

As to a dinner reception like I almost had, the price is definitely much higher than that. When Disney stopped doing MK events the year after my vow renewal, they actually put a price of $500,000 on their website. Holy, moley! The price wasn't quite that high during the prior year.

So, if you are considering a MK ceremony and/or dinner party, you're going to have to speak to the FTW folks directly to see if/what is possible. And be prepared to have a nice chunk of change at the ready in case you opt to go that way.

If you have any further questions to ask, please feel free to ask them. There are lots of brides & grooms -- and even a few old folks like me -- on this message board who will try to answer your questions. Welcome to our little corner of the 'net!

 

[TravelingJen24]

Thanks for all the great info. I am looking forward to planning this. We didn't have a honeymoon the first time around because of the cost of the wedding. I remember 8 years ago the ceremony and reception at the disneyland Hotel was about 19,000. We had all the extras such as the carriage and characters. I can't believe we spent that much for about 40 people. I can hardly imagine what the prices now a days will be. I guess I can start doing my homework. How far in advance do they start holding dates?

 

[roozlilone]

My husband and I got married on 7/2/00 at the Disneyland hotel. We had a wonderful time, but I was only twenty and don't think I realized what I would have really wanted in a wedding. For our 10 year I would like to go back to Dis and have our vows renewed. I was wondering how far in advance I should contact them and also how many people do you invite to that type of event. We have two children now and would love to have them be a part of this special day. I just wondered if anyone had any input on vow renewal. Thanks.

Also, does anyone know how much the in the park weddings cost? I would love to do that if budget permitted.

Congrats! We, too, are planning our 15th Anniversary VR for July 17, 2008. We have 2 DD's that we are including in on the ceremony. There are so many things you can do to include them. We are doing a family unity candle ceremony that has the kids' name on the candle. We will also be presenting them with something special during the ceremony as we do our rings (not sure what yet) I have a planning journal, plus there are several other VR PJ that will probably give you lots of info. For me it has so much more fun the second time around and a lot less stress! Happy Planning!

 

[Miniefan]

Where exactly is Swan Boat Landing??

Kim

 

[Janet2k]

Where exactly is Swan Boat Landing??

Miniefan, it's inside the Magic Kingdom, basically in the grassy area near the Plaza Restaurant -- the rose garden area.

Many years ago, there was an attraction called the Plaza Swan Boats. It was a seasonal attraction in which guests rode in a large boat (with a swan mounted on the front of it) through the canals of the Magic Kingdom. The landing is where guests boarded these boats.

Even though the attraction has been gone for years, the dock is still there. Here are a couple of photos that I found on the 'net that should give you an idea as to where Swan Boat Landing is located: click here and click here and click here.

I hope that helped.

 

[Janet2k]

How far in advance do they start holding dates?

TravelingJen24, depending upon where you want your ceremony/reception held, it can be a year out -- or less than a year out. For theme park events, I believe the contract can be signed at the 12-month mark. For non-theme park events, I believe the contract can be signed at the 8-month mark. Hopefully, if these dates are no longer correct, someone will come along and mention the proper ones.

When I planed my VR, I planned it without a whole heck of a lot of notice. But I was an oddity since I started down the intimate (escape) path and then switched to the custom (wishes) path in June or July (my event was in October). I was fortunate that the date was available for the venue that I wanted.