Back to Basics

[meryll83]

Ok, so it's not all too long now before we're 1 year out and can get booked in with DFTW.

However, I know when I have called DFTW's before, there seemed to be a telephonist who took very basic details down and would then arrange for one of the wedding team to call me back.

So, do I still initially ring to book on the exact 1 year pre-anniversary, or do I need to do this call a day or two early, so that when the wedding team call me back it will be exactly a year? I'm guessing the first option, as they normally give a couple of days in which the team call you back, so you wouldn't really know when exactly to expect this phone call.

Also, what are the opening hours of DFTW's? I have a feeling they're not open every day of the week, and I need to suss out what time to call with the time difference over here.

In this first phonecall do we discuss adding on the likes of the MK photoshoot, dessert parties etc, or is it very basic, this is your escape package for this date and time, with all other things to be sorted at a later date? If this is the case, when do you start to get down to more detail?

Sorry for all the questions, just want to know what to expect and what information needs to be ready

 

[lurkyloo]

You're right - it's very basic. I would call a few days before your actual 12-month date so that when the day rolls around you will already be dealing with an actual sales Wedding Coordinator, rather than the Sales Lead Associate who answers those first calls.

If you want to be really prepared, you should make your 4-night (or more) room reservation before you call, because DFTW will need that info within 48 hours of booking in order to proceed.

MK photoshoots, dessert parties, etc. are left for later. On the first call, the Sales Lead Associate takes down the names of the bride and groom, the wedding date and location, and your preferred time. The Sales Lead Associate will pass you on to a sales Wedding Coordinator to supply you with basic information about locations and timings, answer any questions, and collect your deposit. After your first call, your Wedding Coordinator will mail or email you a contract. You have two weeks to return the signed contract with your $750 deposit, which can be paid by credit card, check, money order or wire transfer.

Two or three weeks after Disney receives your deposit, you will be assigned a service Wedding Coordinator who guides you through the rest of the process. He or she will send you a planning kit that confirms the details of your wedding and outlines the options and add-ons.

DFTW is open Monday-Friday from 8:30am-5:30pm Eastern Standard Time.

 

[meryll83]

Cool thanks for this.

My booking is with Virgin, does anyone know if the Virgin booking reference number alone is sufficient for DFTW?

Also, we will be adding a couple of rented DVC nights in due course over the wedding period, shall I just mention this later on so they have the right locations for us nearer the time, otherwise we'd have to wait until 11 months out to have the correct ressie number.... (We are keeping the Pop room with Virgin on the whole time, but I will be staying at BWV the night before the wedding, and with Simon on the wedding night).

 

[bridetobe789]

I actually live close enough to go down there within a few ours so we went about a month or so in advance and talked to a wedding coordinator and she wrote us in for our date but we were not guaranteed it until of course the one year mark!! If you think it is going to be a popular day and all you may want to talk to someone now so it will be less stress of trying to get through the morning and they will have you on the books as wanting that date!! Also they told me I may know that exact day or a few days later if I actually got the date .. which happened to be the exact day... since they do a drawing randomly if there are too many requests ! (which there was!) Hope it helps!

 

[Pinkerbell1983]

I rang the day before the one year mark, but I'm sure you can ring up a few weeks before and be pencilled in as long as no one else wants your date and has got there before you