April or June?

[justme0729]

So we've decided to do an Escape wedding at the wedding pavilion and I'm a teacher so we are limited to Christmas break, spring break (week after Easter), or summer. We have already been for Christmas and don't really want the crowds and risk of cooler weather. Ideally, we would go spring break because April is nicer weather. But... it is possible my brother wouldn't be able to attend for our whole 6 night trip with family. So... I started thinking about June and we're DVC members so I noticed that we could stay in much better accommodations in first/ second week of June due to lower point values. So...

Pros June:

• Everyone could definitely attend
• Could stay in 1-bedroom Grand Floridian villa for wedding night and night before
• Could stay in AKL Grand Villa with family after the wedding
• Lower crowds (Level 7)
• Could possibly get married on meaningful day (day started dating)
• Flights cheaper for guests
• Can maybe go on a 4-night honeymoon cruise after

Cons June:

• Weather is hot, humid, and maybe rainy. Is this a bad idea for a trip that we want pool time and for the wedding pictures, hair, etc.??

Pros April:

• Less hot and humid weather
• Would give 10 more months to plan

Cons April:

• Higher crowds (Level 9/10)
• Would stay in a BLT studio night before and night of wedding and AKL studio after the wedding

So... if my brother ends up not being able to come to April, I would very likely do June. But let's say he can attend either... which one should I do? Anyone get married or take trips to WDW in the summer and wish you could have picked a different time?

 

[marsh0013]

I'd lean towards June for lower crowds (compared to the Easter week in April). We used to go in June for my birthday (June 13) and Star Wars Weekends. Yes, it's hot, but you could get a heat wave in April as well. It may rain every day, but usually only those afternoon showers. They can come and go, it's usually not a complete wash out. I'm pretty sure we even had a full trip in June once where we never saw a drop of rain. I've never been during that Easter week time, but from what I've heard, it's pretty awful crowd-wise. I also think for DVC, you'll have a much easier time getting the availability in June than that Easter week, plus nicer accommodations. Where do you own? 7 month window could be an issue for Easter week, but I'm not sure.

 

[justme0729]

I'd lean towards June for lower crowds (compared to the Easter week in April). We used to go in June for my birthday (June 13) and Star Wars Weekends. Yes, it's hot, but you could get a heat wave in April as well. It may rain every day, but usually only those afternoon showers. They can come and go, it's usually not a complete wash out. I'm pretty sure we even had a full trip in June once where we never saw a drop of rain. I've never been during that Easter week time, but from what I've heard, it's pretty awful crowd-wise. I also think for DVC, you'll have a much easier time getting the availability in June than that Easter week, plus nicer accommodations. Where do you own? 7 month window could be an issue for Easter week, but I'm not sure.

Thank you for your quick reply! We own at AKL so we would be able to get our AKL which is most of our stay easily but I'm a little worried about getting the Grand Floridian 1-bedroom 7 months out. Thats encouraging that you had a trip where it never rained! Would you say 12:00pm would be a better time for a wedding than 2:30 to avoid an afternoon shower?

 

[marsh0013]

Thank you for your quick reply! We own at AKL so we would be able to get our AKL which is most of our stay easily but I'm a little worried about getting the Grand Floridian 1-bedroom 7 months out. Thats encouraging that you had a trip where it never rained! Would you say 12:00pm would be a better time for a wedding than 2:30 to avoid an afternoon shower?

Gotcha, yeah, Grand Floridian is tough from what I've read. It never interested us, so I haven't paid too much attention, but 1-bedroom should be easier than a studio, which is like a unicorn. But again, June should be a decently easy time for the 7 month window, as it's not super popular for DVC. Worst case, book your home for those 2 nights, then try to switch at 7 months. I'd say even if you can't get VGF, BLT 1-bedroom Lake view should be easy to get (unless you'd rather just keep your home AKV, just thought BLT is at least closer to GF), and you can always wait list VGF. For 2 nights, you've got a better chance of it coming through than if it was a longer stay.

For ceremony time, will you be doing a first look and getting most pics done before the ceremony? Or will most of the pics be after? I think noon would be a better bet. The earlier in the day, the better to avoid the typical passing storm. But you never know! Since you're hopefully staying at VGF, and your ceremony will be indoors, your photographer should be able to get pics indoors if necessary too.

 

[justme0729]

Gotcha, yeah, Grand Floridian is tough from what I've read. It never interested us, so I haven't paid too much attention, but 1-bedroom should be easier than a studio, which is like a unicorn. But again, June should be a decently easy time for the 7 month window, as it's not super popular for DVC. Worst case, book your home for those 2 nights, then try to switch at 7 months. I'd say even if you can't get VGF, BLT 1-bedroom Lake view should be easy to get (unless you'd rather just keep your home AKV, just thought BLT is at least closer to GF), and you can always wait list VGF. For 2 nights, you've got a better chance of it coming through than if it was a longer stay.

For ceremony time, will you be doing a first look and getting most pics done before the ceremony? Or will most of the pics be after? I think noon would be a better bet. The earlier in the day, the better to avoid the typical passing storm. But you never know! Since you're hopefully staying at VGF, and your ceremony will be indoors, your photographer should be able to get pics indoors if necessary too.

Thanks for the reassurance... and if we don't get it then it really isn't the end of the world. The reason we want the one bedroom at GF is because we want a space for our guests to hang out if there is a gap between the wedding at 12:00 and dinner at 5:00 that is indoors and relaxing...but if we don't get it we can just get a normal hotel room and go to a lounge. I am thinking that we would do pictures for two hours.. one hour before the ceremony around the GF and one hour during the ceremony and cake cutting. I agree that it wouldn't be awful if it rains if we stay at the GF which is nice to know

 

[epcotcenter1982]

My brother owns at quite a few DVC (including GF, BLT, AKL etc) and he says getting Grand Floridian is a nightmare and you really need that 11 month window.
So I'd not 'expect' to get that unless you're open to renting from someone for that 11 month window booking at those key dates (it's still cheaper than a cash room) and then maybe putting in a request for non key dates? Or just renting the whole time. You could even do a deal with one of the renting companies and put in your points if you'll end up with too many left over and rent yours out...to get back cash to rent points from someone WITH GF.

As for when...I don't think one really will be any better than another in terms of weather. I got married in February and it rained on our Wedding Day and the day before our wedding. We were there for near on 2 weeks and they were the only days it rained and it was literally passing showers. Downpour...clear sky....downpour....cloudy but fine....
So we got not all but most of our outdoor grand floridian photos. Only thing we missed was the dock as it was soaking. But our 12pm wedding I walked across that bridge in glorious sunshine and then it was ok...and then it rained during the ceremony itself.....and then let up enough for a few shots outside. Then more inside the pavilion. Then we did the walk back across in sunshine.

It'll be a bit glarey but the thing was that when we were getting the limo back to AKL (where we were staying) about 3:30ish? it was proper pissing down so it's probably better we had a 12pm ceremony time for better weather even though it was a clear night when we went back to GF for dinner.

 

[justme0729]

My brother owns at quite a few DVC (including GF, BLT, AKL etc) and he says getting Grand Floridian is a nightmare and you really need that 11 month window.
So I'd not 'expect' to get that unless you're open to renting from someone for that 11 month window booking at those key dates (it's still cheaper than a cash room) and then maybe putting in a request for non key dates? Or just renting the whole time. You could even do a deal with one of the renting companies and put in your points if you'll end up with too many left over and rent yours out...to get back cash to rent points from someone WITH GF.

As for when...I don't think one really will be any better than another in terms of weather. I got married in February and it rained on our Wedding Day and the day before our wedding. We were there for near on 2 weeks and they were the only days it rained and it was literally passing showers. Downpour...clear sky....downpour....cloudy but fine....
So we got not all but most of our outdoor grand floridian photos. Only thing we missed was the dock as it was soaking. But our 12pm wedding I walked across that bridge in glorious sunshine and then it was ok...and then it rained during the ceremony itself.....and then let up enough for a few shots outside. Then more inside the pavilion. Then we did the walk back across in sunshine.

It'll be a bit glarey but the thing was that when we were getting the limo back to AKL (where we were staying) about 3:30ish? it was proper pissing down so it's probably better we had a 12pm ceremony time for better weather even though it was a clear night when we went back to GF for dinner.

Good idea about transferring points and just renting them out if we end up not being able to get our reservation at GF and booking cash! It sounds like we have similar plans... My family will be staying at AKL. What did you do in between from 3:30 until dinner?

 

[epcotcenter1982]

Good idea about transferring points and just renting them out if we end up not being able to get our reservation at GF and booking cash! It sounds like we have similar plans... My family will be staying at AKL. What did you do in between from 3:30 until dinner?

We were absolutely exhausted so just chilled in the room for a bit....went to the bathroom! HAHA....that was fun and I'm glad I could wait until we were back to the room where my hubby helped with the dress...

I don't know how much family you will have and if you will be "required" to entertain them in the meantime? I thankfully didn't need to entertain anyone so hubby and I just chilled in the room for a bit.
The lounge at Sanaa is lovely but doesn't look out to the savannah. The Jambo house one sort of does but I'm not sure when they both open.

We were staying at Kidani in a 2 bed lock off the whole time as we only booked 4 months out and there was Saratoga, Kidani, Jambo some of the time but not all, and bits of other places. Family in the studio we had the 1 bed. In part to have space for our "stuff" and so on...
If they have a balcony that's relaxing but in our experience there...well in truth that time of afternoon there I think were a few animals...but there often aren't that many animals. BUT...it's worth a wander around that time to where the restaurants are...the viewing area...as they will be hanging about then about that time.
The afternoon before the wedding we got a drink at the lounge at Sanaa and then went out to look at the animals for a bit before the fire lit up (this was about 4-5ish) and had a lovely relaxing time. My dress was being steamed and my mother kindly offered to look after it.

We went to Victoria and Alberts on our wedding night in our wedding attire...just us...the family went to Raglan Road.

 

[justme0729]

Thanks for all the responses! I'm thinking we will try June the humidity worries me a little but it could always be humid in April too I suppose!