Bit upset

[sunset30]

So, as you all know, we booked our DFTW through a travel agent in the UK in April 2009 for 10/10/10.

We paid the deposit for teh WEDDING separately from the holiday deposit so BOTH were paid in April 2009.

Now, we know Disney don't book these types of wedding (it counts as Escape - EVEN though we want to add a bunch of extras that will bring the cost up) until 8 months out, so our travel agent should have made this clear HOWEVER, what we now know with the whole stress of their being a lottery for that date is that Disney have our pencilled in request from way back then (apparently the travel agennt bookings work slightly differently from regular ones) So we WILL be in the lottery for the date and we want YCG and are happy to take any time slot on that day so we HOPE it will be OK and Disney DO know that we booked that far in advance so IF that carries any weight at all, it MIGHT help.

BUt for me, it has really taken the shine off my planning, I feel like my whole plan is completely stopped until we know whether we can get the date, and, with it being allocated by lottery this is a million times worse than just waiting to see.

Coming from UK too means that if we don't get that date or our back up date we will have to cancel the whole wedding as it just won't fit into our holiday well. (Having a three year old with us, for whom wewant the vacation to be as special as the wedding, pushing the wedding to the end of the fortnight makes it stressful for us all, and less of a real vacation)

We chose this option to have the Magic of Disney and the stress free experience of having them organise it all (more or less) but now I just feel like how DUMB was I to expect a big corporation to care about my once in a life time day, and trip. I can't plan one more thing, until we know now as it is a REAL possibility that we may have to cancel completely and make whole other plans if that day is so hugely popular then I guess the days around will be busy too which is hard for our back up date.

I feel like my whole experience has been made difficult and upsetting, all my guests are now on tenterhooks as THEY might have to rearrange plans too, and many won't be able to make it to an alternative ceremony.

I am going to drive myself mad worrying aboutthis for the next 19 days, but it has really tarnished the Disney Magic I was hoping for!
Lx

 

[tinkerbell 766]

I am so so sorry you feel this way, and being from the UK too, I understand the stresses of planning at such a distance. Reading your story, I think there is a good chance you will get your date for the gazeebo. I would not be so hopeful for WP or SBP. If you are unlucky and do not, I am sure that another date nearby will not be so popular - I believe it is the whole 10-10-10 thing. We will probably see the same thing next November (11-11-11). Try not to be too disheartened and I send lots of pixie-dust your way!!!

 

[sunset30]

yeah, apparently they have had the same thing with all the same number dates, but since,as you know, over here no one much gets married on a Sunday the travel agent couldn't see any problem at all!

It's just so horrible having to wait and see, having paid out for all the deposits and everything.

Thanks for the good wishes though and fingers crossed I guess
Lx

 

[mcarthur205]

I'm sorry to hear that you wedding planning is turning out to be more stressful than you thought. However, I don't think that DFTW are at fault here. Your Travel Agent is the guilty party in that they haven't given you the correct information regarding booking your wedding. Your wedding deposits have been paid to the TA, Disney does not take a deposit from you until your wedding is booked and you have a contract with them.

On a positive note though, I think you've probably got a very good chance of getting a slot at the YCG on the date you want, particularly since you are not set on a particular time. It would definitely be a different story if you wanted the WP.

I really hope you manage to book the date that you want.

 

[Beep]

I'm sorry to hear that you wedding planning is turning out to be more stressful than you thought. However, I don't think that DFTW are at fault here. Your Travel Agent is the guilty party in that they haven't given you the correct information regarding booking your wedding. Your wedding deposits have been paid to the TA, Disney does not take a deposit from you until your wedding is booked and you have a contract with them.

Yeah, I have to agree. Disney are just operating in the way they operate - it was the TA that didn't explain it to you. Not making excuses here at all but perhaps the TA didn't know enough about how Disney operates. Poor form if that is the case though.

I really hope you get things sorted.

I hadn't realised the YCG could only be booked at 8 months out, I thought that was the conference places like the GF. Are you absolutely sure you have to wait until the 8 month mark? We booked SBP at exactly 12 months out.

 

[alwaysdisney]

Yeah, I have to agree. Disney are just operating in the way they operate - it was the TA that didn't explain it to you. Not making excuses here at all but perhaps the TA didn't know enough about how Disney operates. Poor form if that is the case though.

I really hope you get things sorted.

I hadn't realised the YCG could only be booked at 8 months out, I thought that was the conference places like the GF. Are you absolutely sure you have to wait until the 8 month mark? We booked SBP at exactly 12 months out.

I was told the same thing toward the end of last year, we could only book at 8 months out. I will give Bill and e-mail and ask that question. He did however 'pencil' us in for our date.

 

[TiffJ]

Its not the location, its the Escape wedding that can't be booked until the 8 mo. mark regardless of its location. Good luck!

 

[sunset30]

The thing that annoys me about the Disney (and yes MOSTLY it is my travel agent who is at fault I do get that) is that it seems like if you ring today for the first time and pecil in that date, you will have as much chance of getting it as we will, even though we requested it so long ago (and irrespectve of the 8 months T/A bookings are registered with Disney when they happen, they just cannot be officially booked until 8 months out) That seems unfair, and is not something I had bargained on, the lottery aspect of it.

All the rest I know is about my Travel agent, and I know I have calmed down a bit now and am less hideously angry at everyone involved, but it's STILL horrible to have to wait for the lottery after paying the deposit so long ago.

ALL we can do is wait and see, and hope and pray, but it's a horrid place to be. We did ask people to hold off booking their trip until we confirmed the date, but DISNEY told me last may that there should be no problem with it (I am just HOPING that this is because I have picked the YCG, and there really WILL be no problem, but now we don't know) I HATE the not knowing.

We always knew we would be confirming on 10/11 feb (depending on time difference etc) but to have to go through the lottery after so long waitig already is just painful

HOPEFULLY it will all be fine and our wedding and holiday will eb the dream we hope for, and my little boy WILL get to "go on an aeroplane to meet Mickey Mouse in Mickey Mouse's home" as is his wish (he's 3)

Lx

 

[Bethany66]

Check out the Swan & Dolphin. Great location still on Disney Property and you can have the Disney Characters, even! I just got some information from them in case we don't get a spot out of the Lottery. Celebration also has great packages but I am going to go for the Swan & Dolphin, as it's still on Disney property and better for my guest. So if we don't get the 10-10-10 I'll be calling them to set up the ceremony.

Chin up!

 

[Nikisha421]

heres my two cents...i spoke with someone directly at disney on friday the 22nd of january...and what i as told is that yes it will be a lottery, but as it looks everyone should get the date as long as the are flexible in location and time...she basically called me to tell me this and only this...second i dont think you should be made a disney for the penciling in...BECAUSE ITS NOT REAL OR OFFICIAL...THEIR POLICY IS TO BOOK 8 MONTHS OUT IF YOU ARE PLANNING AN ESCAPE...also since you are doing so many things that are going to make your escape lavish enough to better than a regular escape then you should have thought about booking a wishes backin in october...you could have kept it very close to the $12,000 minimum...

...also there is no need to be stressed...i think you should have a little flexibility in your plan...like for example be opened to other locations and different times of the day....<3

 

[gemmybear83]

Hi, from a fellow uk bride I am sorry to hear this, but sadly I have heard of problems with Virgin before. Could you not just move your wedding date to the day before or after if you don't get a time on the 10th? I assume your guests will be in Disney for at least a week? We have our date pencilled in (also for the yacht club gazebo) but if it gets booked out we will just swap days?

 

[Bethany66]

Hi there,

Just wanted to see how you were doing. I am one of the 10-10-10 Brides, but not for your location. We already had to put in for our time off from work, so although we are flexible by a day or so, that's it. Only a couple more weeks, hang in there!

 

[Beep]

I wonder if Disney have changed their policy? We booked SBP at exactly 12 months out, paid our money and it was booked. We registered our interest in the date, time and location before that but we definitely booked it at the 12 month mark. Oh, and that was for an Escape wedding.

 

[gemmybear83]

I wonder if Disney have changed their policy? We booked SBP at exactly 12 months out, paid our money and it was booked. We registered our interest in the date, time and location before that but we definitely booked it at the 12 month mark. Oh, and that was for an Escape wedding.

They changed the policy a while ago, all escapes can only be booked and deposit paid at 8 months.

 

[sunset30]

I have to say I have been MUCH more impressed with DISNEY over this now. They called me back to reassure me that we are in the lottery, and that since we are COMPLETELY flexible over the time, and don't want the most popular location it SHOUDLN'T be a problem - just have to hang on in there I guess.

We can postpone by a day or two, but no more than that so it is a bit stressful!

When we booked with the travel agent, we didn't know about the wishes option, as they didn't sell it as escape versus wishes, they only sold it as the ONLY option for a disney wedding.

anyway, just waiting and hoping!
Lx

 

[Bethany66]

So, as you all know, we booked our DFTW through a travel agent in the UK in April 2009 for 10/10/10.

We paid the deposit for teh WEDDING separately from the holiday deposit so BOTH were paid in April 2009.

Now, we know Disney don't book these types of wedding (it counts as Escape - EVEN though we want to add a bunch of extras that will bring the cost up) until 8 months out, so our travel agent should have made this clear HOWEVER, what we now know with the whole stress of their being a lottery for that date is that Disney have our pencilled in request from way back then (apparently the travel agennt bookings work slightly differently from regular ones) So we WILL be in the lottery for the date and we want YCG and are happy to take any time slot on that day so we HOPE it will be OK and Disney DO know that we booked that far in advance so IF that carries any weight at all, it MIGHT help.

BUt for me, it has really taken the shine off my planning, I feel like my whole plan is completely stopped until we know whether we can get the date, and, with it being allocated by lottery this is a million times worse than just waiting to see.

Coming from UK too means that if we don't get that date or our back up date we will have to cancel the whole wedding as it just won't fit into our holiday well. (Having a three year old with us, for whom wewant the vacation to be as special as the wedding, pushing the wedding to the end of the fortnight makes it stressful for us all, and less of a real vacation)

We chose this option to have the Magic of Disney and the stress free experience of having them organise it all (more or less) but now I just feel like how DUMB was I to expect a big corporation to care about my once in a life time day, and trip. I can't plan one more thing, until we know now as it is a REAL possibility that we may have to cancel completely and make whole other plans if that day is so hugely popular then I guess the days around will be busy too which is hard for our back up date.

I feel like my whole experience has been made difficult and upsetting, all my guests are now on tenterhooks as THEY might have to rearrange plans too, and many won't be able to make it to an alternative ceremony.

I am going to drive myself mad worrying aboutthis for the next 19 days, but it has really tarnished the Disney Magic I was hoping for!
Lx

Did you get your date? Hope so!!!

 

[Nikisha421]

I was coming to ask the same question did you get your date???

Since I was in the lottery for the same date and haven't heard a thing yet!!!
...although I did speak with Heidi and she said that she would have some information for me before 5pm today...GOOD LUCK AND PIXIE DUST!!!

 

[dallastxcpa]

Hope you got your date.

I agree that Disney's policy stinks. Considering most people are booking a destination wedding it really should be one year out.

 

[Bethany66]

I was coming to ask the same question did you get your date???

Since I was in the lottery for the same date and haven't heard a thing yet!!!
...although I did speak with Heidi and she said that she would have some information for me before 5pm today...GOOD LUCK AND PIXIE DUST!!!

Is Heidi your contact at WDW? You should hear something by today it seems.

 

[Nikisha421]

Heidi is my contact person...I did hear something. I got exactly what I kinda sorta wanted to begin with...Yacht Club @ 12noon...10.10.10