Any point in calling prior to one year out?

[Ember]

I know you can't start booking anything prior to one year, but is there any benefit to calling before that? I am getting closer to the date I'm hoping for (May 7th) and was just wondering.

Also, I know somethings can be booked at one year, and others at eight months. I am unclear as to the guidelines surrounding this - can anyone help?

Thank you!!

 

[Whilykit]

Yes, call - call - call! I called about a year and 3 months out, turns out the weeked we wanted to a busy one, and there was an 18 bride lottery. You def want to get yourself on a list in case your date is at a busy time. Good Luck!

 

[Luvndisney]

i can help a little. In park events can be booked at one year out and sign their contract. these would include epcot locations and mgm or even magic kingdom. Ballroom events like GF and Boardwalk can not be booked until 8 months out because of possible conferences needing space.

And it cant hurt to call before the 1 year. In my experience it can take disney a bit of time to get back to people so no harm in calling early and having them call you back. HTH

 

[allisonswonderland]

I signed my contract before the 8 mo mark and I am not in the park- WP/Ariels, I signed late Nov for Nov 10

 

[allisonswonderland]

I signed my contract before the 8 mo mark and I am not in the park- WP/Ariels, I signed late Nov for Nov 10 - Is it that they can not ne "guaranteed" until 8 mo? But I would think that if you signed a contract that you should have priority-

 

[starflower]

It might take Disney a day or two to get back to you, but they will definitely be interested in talking with you. We're a little over a year out right now (our date is May 14th), but we're already penciled in and Disney is already aware of what we're interested in. Just be polite and persistent.

As other people have said, you can sign your contract at a year out if you're having an event inside one of the parks. This is good for both receptions and ceremonies. If you're having it elsewhere they try encourage you to sign at the eight month mark, but I've heard of people signing at ten months depending on a variety of things.

I'd say go ahead and call them. It certainly can't hurt!

 

[AnimalPrincess]

I signed my contract before the 8 mo mark and I am not in the park- WP/Ariels, I signed late Nov for Nov 10

Ariels is the only non park location that can be booked, with a contract at the one year mark. I'm not sure why but thats they way it is.

I would definetly call them before one year. I got assigned a sales manager at 14 months so call call call =) Oh and they called me back the next day!

 

[pixie08]

We are hoping for late June and went on a site visit late January. Once we decided on our location we chose 5 times and dates in order of preference and submitted them to our EM Kristi. Now I am not sure that it helps in anyway because even if you are pencilled in at the time slot you want (which is what she did) if others want it you still have to go through a lottery.....but if you date and time is not a sat in June like ours (which is the MOST popular time) it might be good just to get pencilled in, if anything just for sanity's sake

In terms of Ariel's I believe the reason you CAN book at ayear before is because it is not a convention spot. So with the GF, Yacht, Boardwalk the reason is if a company say coca-cola comes in and wants the whole convention center they don't want to gaurantee it to you because they have first priority. My EM said this rarely happens because big corps usually know before a year out that they are going t have a 1000 person convention.

Anyway I would get pencilled in if I were you...it can't hurt!