2021 Memories and Various Questions

[laufaeson]

I know I’ve made some posts in the past with various questions, but after discussing things with my fiancé, we’re opting for the Memories package. We’re paying for this on our own and we’d rather elope back home within the year and save up to do a vow renewal & honeymoon for the 2 of us in 6 years instead of driving up debt to do something bigger now. I never wanted anything big to begin with and got overwhelmed by all the possibilities at Disney once I got looking into it. But I digress.

The ulterior motive here is that I want to go back in 2021 for MK’s 50th anniversary and would love to do the bridal portrait session with the inevitable anniversary decorations in their splendor. I mean, have you seen what they did for Disneyland this year? I’m just hoping they don’t make the castle a cake again.

Lurkyloo, I am indebted to your knowledge and I love the book, so thank you for doing a lot of the legwork for not only me, but the entire Disney wedding community! BUT! I do have some questions that I am hopeful someone has some answers to.

How soon in advance can you contact them about the memories package? Are they pretty firm about the 6 month time frame?

Have any of you done the Animal Kingdom shoot? It is my fiancé’s favorite park and we’re going to plan on doing both. Was it worth it? I see so few pictures from that park compared to MK and Epcot, so it’s hard to judge based on a couple of shots I’ve seen around the Belvedere ruins. I’d imagine Pandora will be open by 2021, so I am thrilled to see how that turns out. Are there really any other great spots for pictures?

And speaking of doing 2 shoots – how does that work? Do you spend an hour at the first park and then the 2nd? Or can you space them out? I’d like to do AK on another day, mostly because I’d like to adapt hair and makeup for a more “rugged” environment than the fairytale MK.

Also, what about the Disney photography? Is an hour enough? How short is a “short” ceremony? Would adding an hour be worth it to get some shots around the venue/resort area? I have heard some horrid reviews of DFA photographers, but I find it hard to justify getting an outside vendor for photography when it’s included in the package deal and a decent photographer basically doubles the price of the package, not to mention you can't use them for the in-park shoots.

For any other Memories brides in the past – did you add a dessert party to serve as a reception of sorts? We’re currently planning on taking a page from Carrie’s book and doing a small dinner/dessert anniversary party so we can still have cake and celebrate! EDIT: Apparently they don't do these anymore? *sigh* I guess I'll aim for Victoria & Albert's instead and have a cake in-room?

Finally, I have some random honeymoon-associated questions. We’re planning on DVC-hopping between AKL and GF. When can you start reaching out to the owners about rental points? I’ve heard they make the DVC rooms available 11 months out, so maybe a year+ would be good? Since we’re shooting for being there the week of the 50th anniversary I’m anticipating there to be more traffic at WDW than normal for that time of year. And in regards to the DVC dining plan - do DVC dining plans also get to make ADR’s at the 190 day mark instead of 180 days?

Hopefully that’s it from me for the next few years!

 

[lurkyloo]

How soon in advance can you contact them about the memories package? Are they pretty firm about the 6 month time frame?

Six months is when you can book. If you called them a month or two before that to get information and start the process, I'm sure they'd be fine with that.

Have any of you done the Animal Kingdom shoot? It is my fiancé’s favorite park and we’re going to plan on doing both. Was it worth it? I see so few pictures from that park compared to MK and Epcot, so it’s hard to judge based on a couple of shots I’ve seen around the Belvedere ruins. I’d imagine Pandora will be open by 2021, so I am thrilled to see how that turns out. Are there really any other great spots for pictures?

People who do AK shoots love them. It's so heavily themed, I think it would be hard NOT to get great photos there.

And speaking of doing 2 shoots – how does that work? Do you spend an hour at the first park and then the 2nd? Or can you space them out? I’d like to do AK on another day, mostly because I’d like to adapt hair and makeup for a more “rugged” environment than the fairytale MK.

Epcot is the only park you can double up on for pre-park photo shoots, because World Showcase opens so much later. If you did AK and MK, they'd have to be on separate days.

Also, what about the Disney photography? Is an hour enough? How short is a “short” ceremony? Would adding an hour be worth it to get some shots around the venue/resort area? I have heard some horrid reviews of DFA photographers, but I find it hard to justify getting an outside vendor for photography when it’s included in the package deal and a decent photographer basically doubles the price of the package, not to mention you can't use them for the in-park shoots.

The ceremony only lasts 5 or 10 minutes, so that leaves 50 minutes for photography.

For any other Memories brides in the past – did you add a dessert party to serve as a reception of sorts? We’re currently planning on taking a page from Carrie’s book and doing a small dinner/dessert anniversary party so we can still have cake and celebrate! EDIT: Apparently they don't do these anymore? *sigh* I guess I'll aim for Victoria & Albert's instead and have a cake in-room?

I'm not sure where you read that, but they do offer still small anniversary parties. I just interviewed a Memories bride who had one in last week's episode of the Disney Wedding Podcast: http://disneyweddingpodcast.com/2015/12/02/memories-wedding-spotlight-tonya-michael/

You have to go through Disney Catered Events, not DFTW, and sometimes that first person you speak to says you have to have 10 people to do an event. (Even though many of us hold smaller events with DCE all the time - you just have to pay for a minimum of 10.) If you get someone like that, just tell them you're having 10 guests and work it out once you are connected with an actual planner.

Hope this helps!

 

[laufaeson]

Super

Six months is when you can book. If you called them a month or two before that to get information and start the process, I'm sure they'd be fine with that.



People who do AK shoots love them. It's so heavily themed, I think it would be hard NOT to get great photos there.



Epcot is the only park you can double up on for pre-park photo shoots, because World Showcase opens so much later. If you did AK and MK, they'd have to be on separate days.



The ceremony only lasts 5 or 10 minutes, so that leaves 50 minutes for photography.



I'm not sure where you read that, but they do offer still small anniversary parties. I just interviewed a Memories bride who had one in last week's episode of the Disney Wedding Podcast: http://disneyweddingpodcast.com/2015/12/02/memories-wedding-spotlight-tonya-michael/

You have to go through Disney Catered Events, not DFTW, and sometimes that first person you speak to says you have to have 10 people to do an event. (Even though many of us hold smaller events with DCE all the time - you just have to pay for a minimum of 10.) If you get someone like that, just tell them you're having 10 guests and work it out once you are connected with an actual planner.

Hope this helps!

Super helpful. Now comes the hard part - waiting!!

 

[sambycat]

I would imagine the offerings will change drastically over the next 6 years?

 

[laufaeson]

I would imagine the offerings will change drastically over the next 6 years?

Obviously. That doesn't mean I can't be proactive in planning so I know of any changes and how much I need to save up.

 

[TinkLoverSam]

I did an AK shoot way back in 2010 and they are some of my favorite pictures. Link to my pj with pictures is in my signature.

At the time I was able to do mk and ak on the same day but I know the rules have changed now and you can't double up anymore (other than Epcot) We did have guests entering the park for early meals in ak before we were done with our shoot so I can see why they don't allow it anymore.

 

[laufaeson]

I did an AK shoot way back in 2010 and they are some of my favorite pictures. Link to my pj with pictures is in my signature.

At the time I was able to do mk and ak on the same day but I know the rules have changed now and you can't double up anymore (other than Epcot) We did have guests entering the park for early meals in ak before we were done with our shoot so I can see why they don't allow it anymore.

Thank you! Your pictures turned out gorgeous! I've been having difficulty imagining where to take pictures, so it's helpful seeing some inspiration!

 

[TinkLoverSam]

Thank you! Your pictures turned out gorgeous! I've been having difficulty imagining where to take pictures, so it's helpful seeing some inspiration!

You're welcome! I saw only one other ak shoot when we did ours so I try to show others our pictures whenever they ask