Cinderella's Coach???

[Glass Slipper]

Hey Disney Brides!!! I'm just starting to plan my WDW wedding. For those who have used Cinderella's Coach, was it worth it??? I think it would be great! I've heard that it can be a hot ride. Any plusses or minuses??? Thanks!
Oh...and how long are you actually in it? (I'm still waiting to hear if I got the day and time I want!)

 

[WonderWomanDC]

I did not get the coach. I felt that the money was better spent elsewhere. Consider this - it costs $7000 (more or less) to rent the Great Movie Ride for your wedding. The Wedding Pavilion costs $2200. Characters cost $600-800. 20 minutes in the coach is $2500!!! I did not think it was worth it - for me. However, if it's your dream and you have the money, or you are willing to cut back elsewhere, then go for it. The pictures are certainly beautiful, and it's quite a memory.

 

[mufasa0505]

I plan on using the Coach (as long as it fits in with the budget). For me the Coach epitomizes the dream of a FTW. But that's just me. I haven't heard anyone yet say, "well I had the Coach, and it was a waste of money." Most people who get it do so because it's a realization of their wedding dream.

Good luck with your decision! Remember, there's also the Landau Coach, which is $1000 cheaper.

 

[melanieewr]

Thanks Wonderwoman for posting the approximate cost of the Great Movie Ride. I want to use it Oct. 2006 as our reception location for a vow renewal and I was wondering the approximate cost. I just have not gotten to that stage in the planning....actually haven't really begun yet at all. I think we will choose sunset pointe as our renewal location, but wouldn't it be great if it could all be done at MGM.....

Also, was that price just the venue cost or did it include any extras. Again...I know it is approximate.

THANKS!

 

[yusinskas]

I haven't heard anyone yet say, "well I had the Coach, and it was a waste of money."

When I think about the money and amount of time you use it for, it doesn't seem worth it. But you're so right, I've never heard anyone regretting their decision to get it, so it must be a wonderful experience. Thanks for pointing that out!

 

[tinkerbela]

we were considering getting the cinderella coach. we knew that it was $2500 from the list of prices from the video but then when we found out that you spend $2500 for a 90 minute ride and it can't go too far, we scratched it from our budget. you can rent it just for pictures, but it is the same price.

 

[Glass Slipper]

Thanks for the responses! It is a tough decision. A lot of money, but also a once in a lifetime fairytale opportunity! I'll keep thinking.

 

[dreams91]

I spent the money on it and wouldn't have it any other way!! It was sooooo magical. Everyone that was around the GF at the time stopped and WAITED for me to get insdie. That was about 60 (that I didn't know waiting to see who was getting in it). Then they all clapped for me. It was magical. And to ride away in it...breathtaking. If you have the extra money, go for it!! I'd rather do it than have the characters.

 

[WonderWomanDC]

That' s approximate - it's either 7k or 7500, thereabouts. My understanding is that the price includes actors for several of the scenes, lighting and sound, and some of the decor (if you want to go with what they have - it's extra to customize the linens, centerpieces, etc.) It's after park hours of course.

 

[pouncingpluto]

That' s approximate - it's either 7k or 7500, thereabouts. My understanding is that the price includes actors for several of the scenes, lighting and sound, and some of the decor (if you want to go with what they have - it's extra to customize the linens, centerpieces, etc.) It's after park hours of course.

We came close to deciding on doing GMR for our wedding this fall. Instead we're doing Living Seas and Illuminations. I think we were quoted $7500 for rental of GMR. That doesn't include the "black box," though (where people typically dance), which is expensive for decor and lighting because it is so big and bare. That could easily have been another $3K.

In the end, we're probably spending almost the same amount of money as we would have if we had done GMR, but if we had done GMR we would have had to do everything pretty bare bones... really limiting decor and extras for both ceremony and reception. When I was trying to decide, I was getting so stressed out about doing everything as cheaply as possible that I decided it wasn't worth it to me.

The other issue we had was that we are sooooo not country-western kind of people, and that scene is where you spend the most time in GMR. They are willing to work around that (like we talked with our SM about having cocktail hour in the lobby area and then dinner in the gangster area)... but it kind of messed up the flow... and the gangster set isn't exactly a beautiful wedding reception location, anyway. Totally fun and cool for awhile... like the length of a cocktail hour (which is how it is typically done).

 

[melanieewr]

I absolutely agree! If I were a young bride, then I am sure I would want something more elegant. As a fun and informal vow renewal reception, I am thinking that GMR is a perfect fit.

How exciting for all of you starting your lives with Disney Fairytale Weddings!

 

[Merandab4]

When we first started our wedding planning, I thought having Cinderella's coach was the biggest waste of money and could not understand why anyone would blow that much money for a short ride, (except maybe if you needed to add it to meet your minimum).

For us, the coach was a last minute decission. When DH saw that it was available, he told me to go ahead and get it. I felt guilty at first spending all that money, but it is a once in a lifetime opportunity and like Cherie said, it just made everything seem more magical! It's done and paid for now, and I am so glad that we did it.

Was it really worth $2500. No Way, I don't see why Disney needs to charge that much. I personally feel that it should be a perk of getting married at Disney and that everybride should be able to use it.
I kept the coach a secret from my mother and sister (who rode in it with me to the WP). For me, the real joy came from seeing my mother's face as we walked out on the porch of the GF and seeing the coach and knowing it was there for her and her daughters to ride in. It was like a fairytale come true!

 

[pouncingpluto]

We felt the same way originally... that it was a crazy huge amount of money. But then we saw someone's video who had their ceremony at Sea Breeze Point like we are... I am convinced that that is the coolest venue to have the coach, because you can ride all the way around the lake in it, and your guests can watch you coming from across the water.

Someone else posted at some time that the coach isn't quite so outrageous when you think of it in terms of what goes into it. If you get one character, it's $700. For $2500 you have two characters (I guess the driver and footman?), all the horses, plus the coach itself.

I also think of it in terms of the photo op. We're not doing the castle pictures, but to me these will be great pictures to have instead, since they're a little more "real." Really *at* our wedding (rather than getting dressed up just for pictures two days after our wedding, which was our plan with the MK photos)... and unique in that we can have our photo taken in front of the castle any time we go to the MK (granted, not in wedding clothes, but still... pictures with the castle), but this is the only time we will ever be able to have these coach photos.

 

[Skylarr29]

Do you have to get married at the wedding pavilion to use the coach??? I havent seen it say that anywhere and was wondering if I could use it for my upcoming wedding at the WL

 

[Rustyflwr3]

Can anyone tell me exactly how many people can fit into the coach at one time?

 

[mufasa0505]

I know that you CAN use the Coach at Sea Breeze Point.
You can NOT use it at Sunset Pointe. I'm not sure about other locations.

I believe you can fit 3 smallish people inside.

 

[Glass Slipper]

Anyone know how far in advance you would need to book using Cinderella's coach?? I'd hate to miss out because it was already taken.

 

[Merandab4]

I don't know if there is an exact time frame, but if you want it, I would book it the day you are able to book your wedding. Good Luck!

 

[dreams91]

Yeah 2 people can sit on one side (me and hubby did) and then on the other side there is room for probably one person and maybe a child.