Apparently you can wear your dress in the park!

[MolonLabe]

It's just really weird and tacky to me. I guess everyone just wants a shot in front of the castle...but the picture will be from a crappy camera and there will be people with fanny packs etc in the background...I don't get it.

for $1,500 you can BUY a better camera and lens than the Disney photographers use, lol. Heck for $450~ you can buy a canon G11 point and shoot and get the same results or better than the disney people if you have someone using the camera who knows what they are doing.

So that's not a reason.

That said, I don't think I'd want to wear a tux, let alone have the wife, wear a gown all day.

I would love to have some pics in front of the castle. Specifically a ADR at CRT for an hour before the park opens, then leave after breakfast to go change.

Minimal others in the way, it'd be nice.

Even if other people were in the pictures... who cares? Want a people free picture (maybe, I've seen some of the pics and some of the dis photogs have service people in the backgrounds)? Fork over the $1,500+.

I think it's a horrible policy to not allow wedding dresses unless you pay a huge chunk of change.

 

[Evi]

I've also seen a few pics of brides on rides in wedding dresses. So this is an issue. I get that Disney doesn't want to turn someone away in there wedding garb so as not to kill the magic of their day. But its not fair that they are charging their brides so much for the privilege to walk through. If anyone else can do it then they need to make a new rule for their brides. Personally I don't really think I want to be walking around the parks in my wedding dress. But if your a dftw bride and you want this then maybe this should be an option since they let non dftw brides do it.

 

[redshirt]

I agree that if it's a rule it needs to be enforced for everybody not just when it suits them.

But, I think if they did actually drop the rule and let everyone walk around in wedding gear you're going to come across a lot of people that feel like they should get special treatment because it's ''their'' day. Disney is already crowded enough and can you imagine how it would be if you came across wedding parties trying to get pictures in specific shots.

I don't think I would've wore my dress to the park even if I could. I think I lost 10lbs in sweat just walking around in it for as long as I did, and that was in the start of May. I can't imagine how someone would do it all day in the weather we have been having lately. Like others have said add the 1000's of people and your dress getting stepped on constantly.

 

[JenelleJo]

Whether or not people agree with them, rules are rules and they should be enforced for everyone. It's just not fair otherwise.

Remember, Disney also doesn't want brides to be in full dress because people might get them confused with one of their princesses. This is totally understandable...my dress is very princessy and could be confused for a character costume. It makes sense that Disney needs to control this.

 

[rosworms]

i think one reason we see this happening every once in a while is because... disney is a huge company and there are five billion rules to it. i'm sure not every castmember knows every single little rule to be able to enforce it.
since we deal with DFTW all the time and they deal with weddings as their job, this is one rule they most definitely need to and do know about and so we get the speech from them. some random teenager or semi-retired dude working an entrance gate... not so much.

 

[CP Princess]

Just checking out some WDW wedding info here and wanted to throw in my 2 cents as a past Cast Member. I'm kind of familiar with the photo shoot session rules, but like someone said, there are so many rules and they aren't really passed down correctly.
I worked at EPCOT, attractions, and never heard a rule about no wedding dress/tuxes. Maybe security people or main gate workers are told more info about those sorts of things. But there was never a rule about "can't ride" if you're in a dress.
The only rule similar to this would be that you can't wear costumes w/ masks, for security reasons. At Star Wrs weekends, people dress up as characters, so you would think they couldn't do that, if they were concerned with people not being mistaken as characters. I never saw any wedding dresses, but I did see girls (teenage and up) dressed in prom dresses to go to princess breakfasts. I guess the question gets to be where's the line between a princess costume and a wedding dress, you know?

Ok..just my experience, but I'd think you would be OK going there all dressed up. I guess the issue gets into people trying to take elaborate photo shoots in the outfits, and that's why they charge the big $$.

 

[Scrappy_Tink]

My luck, the day I wore a wedding dress during park hours, would be the day "Jr" had too much rides and snacks and would puke on me, or "Little Suzy" would walk into me with her Mickey Bar.

I don't see any reason for giving the Bride a "glaring stare" or evil eye, she may not have been aware of the rules, and if CMs allowed them in, or didn't gently guide them out, it's not the couple's fault.

Those who paid $$ for the privilege has no tacky tourists in the background, so you still got something very special for your money. I'm with the majority here and say I wouldn't want to wear my dress during park hours anyway, so no sour grapes from me.

 

[woofiejd]

I wish I knew if I could get away with it. The only reason I would want to is to get one night time picture with the castle christmas lights. Now if they had night time photo shoots I would be thrilled to shell out the money.

 

[SheilaHeartsDisney]

I wish I knew if I could get away with it. The only reason I would want to is to get one night time picture with the castle christmas lights. Now if they had night time photo shoots I would be thrilled to shell out the money.

If you have your photos taken on a day when the sun doesn't start to rise until closer to 7:00am you could certainly get those night shots. My photoshoot was on June 21st, the longest day of the year, and we were able to get some shots with the castle lights on.

 

[Ember]

I seriously want to try it. Just to get re-dressed up and get some in focus pictures in front of the castle!

 

[tinkerpea]

You were much nicer than me. I glared at them for about 5 minutes debating trying to get a CM to do something about it. Also, you say resort? That doesn't even seem like they had a DFTW!

You honestly thought about trying to ruin a Brides special day by getting them kicked out the park Its not the bride and grooms fault that they was allowed in with their wedding attire on! Its Disney's for allowing 1 rule for one and 1 for another, NOT everybody comes on the Dis and knows the rules.They proberly had NO idea that it was against the rules!
Also they very well could have gotten married at their resort in DISNEY and had a Disney wedding as most people call the Disney hotels resorts (not that im sure why that would matter Im sure all Brides are equal on their special day no matter where the wedding is held)

I had a DFTW and it was not everything i hoped and dreamed it would be "infact we are still trying to sort out who is taking the blame for our wedding" from the awful planner to the fact they stuck us in a pathectic little room instead of the terrace we was ment to have and then run out of champagne and tried telling us no more was available!!..BUT i would never dream of being jealous of somebody else day because they managed to get something i didnt

I hope that they got the pics they wanted and had a wonderful day.

 

[LittleMissMagic]

You honestly thought about trying to ruin a Brides special day by getting them kicked out the park Its not the bride and grooms fault that they was allowed in with their wedding attire on! Its Disney's for allowing 1 rule for one and 1 for another, NOT everybody comes on the Dis and knows the rules.They proberly had NO idea that it was against the rules!
Also they very well could have gotten married at their resort in DISNEY and had a Disney wedding as most people call the Disney hotels resorts (not that im sure why that would matter Im sure all Brides are equal on their special day no matter where the wedding is held).

That's a very good point. Disney doesn't really publicize the rules that well. I'm sure the adults who try to wear costumes into the park don't know it's against the rules, either. Unless you're having a Disney Fairytale Wedding or frequent the Dis, you probably don't know it's against the rules. Other people probably don't know that hiring a professional photographer to take their pictures is against the rules, either. If it weren't for Dis, I wouldn't know these things!

I think DFTW tells all of the brides that it's a rule because they figured that since they already roped you in with a Disney wedding, they can rope you into a $1000 MK photoshoot, as well.

It is unfair for DFTW to set rules for Disney brides and push them to get a photoshoot, then allow another bride and groom to go into the photoshoot in bridal attire. I think if they have rules, they should enforce them throughout. But that's not what's happening, and I don't blame the bride and groom if they didn't know (I would be peeved if they did know and did it anyway... I just don't think I could feel right doing that). But since they weren't sneaking attire in and changing in the bathroom, I would think that it was an honest accident.

 

[Ember]

BUT i would never dream of being jealous of somebody else day because they managed to get something i didnt

I hope that they got the pics they wanted and had a wonderful day.

You are a better human being than I am! While I would never wish ill on another person or resent them for having things turn out well, you can bet I am pea green with envy every time I see other people's stunning MK photos.

I am sorry to hear you're having troubles. I know how difficult Disney can be when things go wrong.

As for this couple, I must own that I would be tempted to turn them in, too. I wouldn't actually do it. But I'd think it... The OP didn't do it either, but I think feeling that the whole thing is rather unfair is justified. It's not the couple's fault, but Disney needs to get their act together and apply the rules fairly.

 

[tinkerpea]

You are a better human being than I am! While I would never wish ill on another person or resent them for having things turn out well, you can bet I am pea green with envy every time I see other people's stunning MK photos.

I am sorry to hear you're having troubles. I know how difficult Disney can be when things go wrong.

As for this couple, I must own that I would be tempted to turn them in, too. I wouldn't actually do it. But I'd think it... The OP didn't do it either, but I think feeling that the whole thing is rather unfair is justified. It's not the couple's fault, but Disney needs to get their act together and apply the rules fairly.

Thanks, Im hoping they eventually sort something out with us as we will never get that day back "Luckily i will be having another wedding day as Dh said it was so bad i deserve to have it again" I mean the planner didnt even allow my Dh to do his speach as she told us SHE had run out of time and we needed to go

I suppose on the whole turning the couple that was able to wear their attire in to a CM im wondering what anyone would gain from that all you would end up doing is ruining a couples wedding day and for what? so you can go on with your park day knowing that they are now not getting something us other brides wanted but couldnt have!! ........And trust me i would have LOVED to have my pics in the park with the castle and was totally gutted when i was told that in no way shape or form was that happening unless i shelled out $1000's lol

I understand the thinking of wow i wish I could have had that (I feel that pain everytime i look at somebody taller and slimmer then me) but i dont call that Jealous, Jealous to me is when your thinking horrid things whilst wishing you could of had the same for yourself

 

[Scrappy_Tink]

You honestly thought about trying to ruin a Brides special day by getting them kicked out the park Its not the bride and grooms fault that they was allowed in with their wedding attire on! Its Disney's for allowing 1 rule for one and 1 for another, NOT everybody comes on the Dis and knows the rules.They proberly had NO idea that it was against the rules!
Also they very well could have gotten married at their resort in DISNEY and had a Disney wedding as most people call the Disney hotels resorts (not that im sure why that would matter Im sure all Brides are equal on their special day no matter where the wedding is held)

I had a DFTW and it was not everything i hoped and dreamed it would be "infact we are still trying to sort out who is taking the blame for our wedding" from the awful planner to the fact they stuck us in a pathectic little room instead of the terrace we was ment to have and then run out of champagne and tried telling us no more was available!!..BUT i would never dream of being jealous of somebody else day because they managed to get something i didnt

I hope that they got the pics they wanted and had a wonderful day.

I'm so sorry your wedding wasn't all you hoped it would be.

 

[redshirt]

I could just imagine the rules you have to learn when you are a cast member, so it makes sense that they aren't always enforced (for the most part). Last time we were there when I was stuck in some line I remember reading somewhere that it actually says no wedding attire. It could have just stood out to me though since we were there for a wedding. I want to say it's on the maps, but I'm not sure and do not have one to check.

I think too that it's a grey area of what is actually considered a wedding dress. So people get married in very simple white dresses, so would they have to harass everyone in a white dress in case they are trying to sneak in wedding attire? Also some people dress a bit fancier than others but the same thing could apply. Some people wear different color dresses to get married in, so again anyone in a fancy dress could run into issues. I'm guess (but could be wrong) that the person in question wasn't wearing a huge puffy wedding dress with a huge train on it.

 

[hoosiergirl7]

I seriously want to try it. Just to get re-dressed up and get some in focus pictures in front of the castle!

I'm sorry you had out of focus photos. You would think that with all the money couples/families spend on a Disney wedding Disney would finally get a clue that they need to hire professional photographers or contract with them to take photos at weddings and photo shoots. I've seen some decent Disney wedding photos and I've seen some bad ones. As a semi-professional photographer (I'm just getting my business up and running) I completely cringe when I see photos of Disney weddings that are really not that good when I know someone has spent a lot of money for them.

Before I became a photographer I wanted to do a vow renewal in Disney but now that I know great photography from just OK photography, no way. I won't settle for the kind of photography Disney does at weddings.

Just out of curiosity for those of you who have done Disney weddings, are you limited to what the photographer decides to do or can you tell them what photos you want or don't want? I'd like to know if you have flexibility or if Disney dictates what photos are taken on your wedding day.

 

[lurkyloo]

Just out of curiosity for those of you who have done Disney weddings, are you limited to what the photographer decides to do or can you tell them what photos you want or don't want? I'd like to know if you have flexibility or if Disney dictates what photos are taken on your wedding day.

You don't have to use Disney photography for your vow renewal unless the event is inside a park. With Disney you can definitely request what types of shots you want and the style of photography, it's just that ultimately you are limited by the skills of the photographer they assign you. If you get one of the ones whose style you like, great! If not, then...

 

[mousermerf]

Let's talk rules...

Anyone.. and I mean ANYONE.. giving a tour at Walt Disney World who is not a Walt Disney World employee and does not have their permission to be doing so on a contracted basis is breaking the rules.

Lou Mongello does this frequently and advertises it and flaunts it right under Disney's nose. He has no permission from the company to be doing so, rather they turn a blind eye to it. They have, in fact, escorted other bloggers (Jim Hill) out for doing the exact same thing he does citing that exact rule for why they did so.

Also, the employee handbook clearly states that working for a competing company is plainly a violation of policy and conflict of interest. The only way to do so "legally" is to get the permission of Disney before doing so. A large number of the CM's you encounter at WDW are in violation of this rule because they also work at Universal Orlando full or part-time. There is essentially no acknowledgement of this by the company, despite the fact that it has been pointed out to the powers that be as an apparent issue/mistake within their employee handbook. Again, they choose simply to enforce what they want.

So did you get screwed? Yup. Is this out of the norm for Disney? Not at all. Sorry.

 

[chipscinderelly]

You aren't allowed on a ride in your dress even if you buy it out.

Unless its changed recently there is not a rule about rides. Our reception was at MGM (back in 2006 when it was called that) and we, along with our guests rode RnR (we paid for a ride mix in) and have photos in our wedding attire. It was well worth it!