Add-On's for Escape packages

[Racey]

is there a limit to add-on's or will disney take your money no matter what you want?

Ive decided that i AM definitely having a disney wedding otherwise i'll regret it. But this tiem i'm going to stick to just close family and the guest list is not going to spiral out of control like it did last time i was planning one, so i'll be having an escape .....

this is how i plan my day:

ceremony at a selected point
meal ..... does it HAVE to be a recommended place, or can it be in fultons for example,
but then i REALLY want a dessert party in epcot UK in the evening
I will require photography (probably by disney if i'm struggling on minimum)
Magical Express coach to get everyone around.

So can I have it all this way

 

[Brit_Jude]

is there a limit to add-on's or will disney take your money no matter what you want?

No there is no limit but if you get close to the minimums for a Wishes wedding then I would suggest having a Wishes wedding for the extra attention and benefits. I was originally an Escape but upgraded. You can still keep it to a small number. However with a Wishes you have to pay your bill earlier than an Escape so keep that in mind.

Ive decided that i AM definitely having a disney wedding otherwise i'll regret it. But this tiem i'm going to stick to just close family and the guest list is not going to spiral out of control like it did last time i was planning one, so i'll be having an escape .....?

I am having 14 for my Wishes wedding.

this is how i plan my day:

ceremony at a selected point
meal ..... does it HAVE to be a recommended place, or can it be in fultons for example,
but then i REALLY want a dessert party in epcot UK in the evening
I will require photography (probably by disney if i'm struggling on minimum)
Magical Express coach to get everyone around.

So can I have it all this way

No the meal can be in any location if you have an escape and you would really need to set it up yourself though a planner can help, and pay for it separately. However if you want a dessert party then currently you have to meet the $7500 total minimum spend when adding any catered event to an Escape, so that is about $2000-$3000 on top of the Escape package prices. Not all of has to be on food it can be on the coach, (called a bus in the US, a coach is a person who runs a football team here we might get away with using motorcoach),extra flowers etc.

Photography by Disney photographers is included with the Escape package for the ceremony, cake cutting and first dance. If you want your own photographer then you do not get a credit on the Escape package though some photographers will work together with the Disney photographer.

To help you I recomend getting the Passporters Disney Weddings and Honeymoons guide it's about five pounds. You order it on-line and it downloads as a PDF. The author is LurkyLoo on here. Also read through some of the completed wedding trip reports and planning journals using the links on here. Both of these should help answer a lot of your questions. Everyone on here is also so good at answering questions. Here the link to the Passporters Guide: http://www.passporter.com/weddings.asp

Welcome and good luck with your wedding!

 

[Racey]

Thanks Brit Jude

I'll defo get that passporters guide, it wasnt around the first time i was planning on doing a disney wedding - jeez that was about two years ago now when I first got engaged (weve been through a tough two years financially so I gave up on planning about 6 months after the engagement thinking we were never going to afford ANY wedding)

 

[Nikisha421]

Have fun keep it simple and you will get everything that your heart desires!!!

 

[Brit_Jude]

Thanks Brit Jude

I'll defo get that passporters guide, it wasnt around the first time i was planning on doing a disney wedding - jeez that was about two years ago now when I first got engaged (weve been through a tough two years financially so I gave up on planning about 6 months after the engagement thinking we were never going to afford ANY wedding)

I know how you feel - I have been engaged for 3 years and have suffered some financial set backs but now it is all coming through for us. DF was just laid off last week. However we are now debt free and can have our wedding.

I agree with the previous poster - keep it simple and it will happen. Check out WeeDee's, Chilly's and Boardwalkbride's planning jornals for their lovely recent Escape weddings for inspiration. I am sure there are others but those are three I have been following.

 

[gemmybear83]

If you want a dessert party you will have to keep to $7500 minimum. Were having the escape package, private lunch reception with bar package and a dessert party in epcot for 15 people for about $8500 (roughly including all the taxes).

Have you thought about a ceremony and reception at fultons? You could book a dessert party through Disney event group but I don't think you could wear your wedding dress if it's not booked through dftw?

 

[Racey]

If you want a dessert party you will have to keep to $7500 minimum. Were having the escape package, private lunch reception with bar package and a dessert party in epcot for 15 people for about $8500 (roughly including all the taxes).

Have you thought about a ceremony and reception at cuprous? You could book a dessert party through Disney event group but I don't think you could wear your wedding dress if it's not booked through dftw?

what is cuprous

Why does it have to be a minimum 7500? the reason i've gone with a disney (compared to a UK wedding) is to keep the price to a minimum but now the cost is going up again .... I starting to get really fed up with my wedding stuff!

Ok, so its still cheaper than a uk do but I really didnt want to spend loads, and all i want is ceremony, dinner and a dessert party for about 14 people!

 

[gemmybear83]

Apologies my predictive text has gone mad! I meant getting married at fultons and having the reception there?

The $7500 minimum is set by disney if you want a dessert party or private reception through them. There are 15 of us and I think you would find it difficult to spend less than $7500 anyway if you want a meal and dessert party? We are only adding a little extra decor and upgraded chairs to that amount.

As I said you could marry at fultons or somewhere else offsite and book a dessert party through Disney event group?

 

[Brit_Jude]

The $7500 inlcludes the price of either the Premium or Deluxe Escape package. It is not that whole amount again on top of the package price. The Escape prices are as follows:

2010 Premium Escape Wedding Pricing
- Disney's Wedding Pavilion $5,750.00
- Canada Pavilion at Epcot® $5,895.00

2010 Deluxe Escape Wedding Pricing
-Sea Breeze Point at Disney's BoardWalk Resort $4,750.00
-The Wedding Gazebo at Disney's Yacht Club Resort $4,750.00
-Sunrise Terrace at Disney's Wilderness Lodge $4,750.00
-Sunset Pointe at Disney's Polynesian Resort $4,750.00

So depending on which location you choose for the ceremony the enhancements you get need to add up to either $1750, $1650 or $2750.

As Gemmybear said it would be hard to do everything you stated in your original post for much less than this anyway on our own.

The Passporters Guide has some other cheaper options such as the Swan and Dolphin Hotel, Disney cruise - still on Disney property that you should also check out.

 

[tinkerbell 766]

Racey
Hi from another UK bride!!
Have you considered having your ceremony at the Swan/Dolphin?
I was in the same position as you (except I am having a VR). The price of my Escape package was fine at first. I was going to do a very basic Escape with few enhancements, a lunch in a restaurant and then a DP in the evening. Then Disney slapped on this $7500 minimum if I added a DP, and it was just a step too far for me. I am now having my ceremony at the Swan (still at WDW - right?), having a good deal more say over my cake and floral than I would have been able to afford with Escape enhancements, my choice of officiant, a harpist to play during the ceremony and cake/champagne reception, two limousines for transportation and Randy to do the photos (we will be having photos done at BLT where we are staying, the Swan, Boardwalk and the GF). I have got all this for about $3,700.00. As you know the Escape package alone with no enhancements and no officiant is $4750.00. Admitidly, I have reserched a bit myself to find vendors but feel I am getting a good deal now. We are having a cocktail hour at Mizner's and dinner at Citricos afterwards and then I am hoping to book the Grand1 in the evening for a fireworks cruise (these things are obviously extra to the ceremony costs). What I am saying is don't give up on your dream of a Disney wedding. There are ways round things
Good luck with your planning

 

[Racey]

Thanks people .... I just dont know what to do now?? I feel like giving up on the whole idea and staying engaged forever the amount of times my choices have been shot down in flames because of one reason or another!

We have looked into a swan/dolphin wedding and were not really taken on the idea and a cruise is out of the question as I cant do boats/ships/anything that sails on water (medical reason) plus i've never had the urge to do a cruise.

Im just keeping my fingers crossed that teh Maldives pass a law to allow marriages now that I dont think i'll be getting a disney wedding

 

[Brit_Jude]

Racey
Hi from another UK bride!!
Have you considered having your ceremony at the Swan/Dolphin?
I was in the same position as you (except I am having a VR). The price of my Escape package was fine at first. I was going to do a very basic Escape with few enhancements, a lunch in a restaurant and then a DP in the evening. Then Disney slapped on this $7500 minimum if I added a DP, and it was just a step too far for me. I am now having my ceremony at the Swan (still at WDW - right?), having a good deal more say over my cake and floral than I would have been able to afford with Escape enhancements, my choice of officiant, a harpist to play during the ceremony and cake/champagne reception, two limousines for transportation and Randy to do the photos (we will be having photos done at BLT where we are staying, the Swan, Boardwalk and the GF). I have got all this for about $3,700.00. As you know the Escape package alone with no enhancements and no officiant is $4750.00. Admitidly, I have reserched a bit myself to find vendors but feel I am getting a good deal now. We are having a cocktail hour at Mizner's and dinner at Citricos afterwards and then I am hoping to book the Grand1 in the evening for a fireworks cruise (these things are obviously extra to the ceremony costs). What I am saying is don't give up on your dream of a Disney wedding. There are ways round things
Good luck with your planning

Tinkerbell 766 - that is fanstatic. What location are your using at the Swan/Dolphin? I think they have more than one right? Did you/are you considering getting any Disney Charaters? Wendy had such a lovely report on her reception at Citricos so I am sure it will be a great time. You'll have some great pictures with all those locations with Randy too.

 

[tinkerbell 766]

Thank you so much
We are using the West Courtyard so I am having my ceremony in front of the beautiful Swan fountain!!
Yes I am really pleased with my choices and the prices!!
I am going to start a PJ soon so will give out all the boring details then!!
I have considered characters (and you are certainly allowed them at S/D in the same way as a wedding through DFTW) but they are so expensive and I just couldn't justify it!!
I am really looking forward to Citrico's. Gary, one of the managers has been so helpful and quick at replying to e-mails!! The only downside is that I cannot officially book the meal until 1st November and it's hellish having to wait!!

Racey,
It's a shame you can't consider S/D. What put you off it?

 

[Brit_Jude]

Thank you so much
We are using the West Courtyard so I am having my ceremony in front of the beautiful Swan fountain!!
Yes I am really pleased with my choices and the prices!!
I am going to start a PJ soon so will give out all the boring details then!!
I have considered characters (and you are certainly allowed them at S/D in the same way as a wedding through DFTW) but they are so expensive and I just couldn't justify it!!
I am really looking forward to Citrico's. Gary, one of the managers has been so helpful and quick at replying to e-mails!! The only downside is that I cannot officially book the meal until 1st November and it's hellish having to wait!!

Racey,
It's a shame you can't consider S/D. What put you off it?

Yes I can imagine the wait is terrible, I decided on my wedding date quite late so it has been a bit of a whirlwind for me. Yes the characters are expensive and I understand completely about wanting to save and keep the money for something else. The area with the fountain looks beautiful with the harpist playing and the water it sounds lovely - it will be nice to read your PJ and find out more about all your plans. Everyones wedding day is so unique while all in one location and it is so nice to see all the differences and all the options for our special days.

 

[Racey]

Racey,
It's a shame you can't consider S/D. What put you off it?

we looked at someone else's pictures (the name escapes me right now) and my other half was really put off, he though it looked like concrete heaven which to be honest I agree, the pics they put up had hardly any greenery and just didnt make me go "ohhhh" like i get at least once with everyone else's trip report.

im sure there are places we can have pics that dont look like a concrete heaven but we wont have the opportunity to go and look over it so were depending on reports on this board.

Now that my other half made his mind up I doubt he will change it

 

[Brit_Jude]

we looked at someone else's pictures (the name escapes me right now) and my other half was really put off, he though it looked like concrete heaven which to be honest I agree, the pics they put up had hardly any greenery and just didnt make me go "ohhhh" like i get at least once with everyone else's trip report.

im sure there are places we can have pics that dont look like a concrete heaven but we wont have the opportunity to go and look over it so were depending on reports on this board.

Now that my other half made his mind up I doubt he will change it

Really - I thought the pictures of the location on the hotel site looked lovely. The beach is seems you can't use the beach for and intimate wedding. http://www.swandolphin.com/weddings/gallery.html

 

[tinkerbell 766]

Gosh!!!
The Swan and Dolphin have beautifully manicured gardens and lush lawns and is right on the waterway!!! IMHO it's not a concrete jungle at all. It certainly has more greenery than, say, SBP. The harpist who is playing at my VR told me that she has played in all the locations of Disney Weddings and the Swan is one of her favourites as she thinks it is beautiful. Each to their own I guess!!