Dessert Party Transportation

[JaxTeach]

We have finally made contact with our WC! I am so happy that so far everything is going smoothly except for one thing-- our dessert party. We are planning to have our DP the night of our wedding after our meal at CG. All of our guests will be returning to the Boardwalk before going to Epcot. I've asked if we can be escorted (in wedding attire) through the International Gateway and have been told that some Epcot managers will allow it, some will not. I can't justify having a charter bus for our small group.

Has anyone arranged for alternative transportation for just the bride & groom for a DP? It would make sense to me for a limousine or town car to take DF and I backstage. DF and I are the only people staying on property so our group wouldn't use a bus for anything besides pick up at the Boardwalk and drop off at the Boardwalk.

I know someone out there will have some information to share! Thanks!

 

[figmentfan814]

At my recent planning session I asked this same question since most of our guests and my DF and I will be coming over from the Beach Club. My coordinator said that she would make sure that someone escorted us into the park and that there would be no need to pay for the extra transportation.

 

[pixie08]

It seems like everyone gets a different response on this- unforunately it is up to your planner and the communication he/she has with EPCOT mangement.

 

[hisprincess]

Oh that would be great to not have to pay for that transportation. I was budgeting, and that transportation is what put me over budget to have a DP. Maybe when I finally get a WC I'll be able to figure something out now.

 

[aprincess72]

We went in through the International Gateway with no issues. My WP never mentioned that it would be a problem at all as long as we are escorted in. I wasn't able to be anywhere in EPCOT in my dress without the escort, even on the way out!

 

[JoD]

We had all of our guest (100) meet at the International gateway for our Dessert party and we were escorted in to Epcot. I never heard of that being a problem.
Good Luck

 

[JaxTeach]

I think we will roll the dice and hope we are allowed into Epcot for our DP in our wedding attire. The International Gateway is not that far from Morocco. Probably close to the same distance as the nearest backstage entrance. It sounds like a lot of people have been allowed to enter through the International Gateway in wedding attire. We are at Epcot at least once a month so maybe our frequent visitor status will help us out!

 

[sasmmb]

I think if your wedding is on Disney property, you can get in in your wedding attire. They just don't want a non-Disney bride walking through. I understand your concerns about budget, but ask your WC how much a friendship boat would be. It can take you directly from the Broadwalk into Epcot and dock at Morocco. That's what we did and our guests loved it. Plus I can't imagine walking that distance in heels anyway!

 

[SRUAlmn]

I am totally confused by this too!! When we first went for our planning session in January, our coordinator said we could do the IG entrance and all meet there and the only problem would be everyone getting there from POFQ, CR, and ASMovies. Then I talked to her about 2 weeks ago, and now she's telling me that if I want to wear my dress, we have to charter the 8 person limo again. It's $242 and it will take you to the DP and then back to your resort. There goes my MK brick we were going to buy! I guess it would be easier than trying to get there from the CR in my dress, but I just feel like things shouldn't be this complicated! You know?

 

[JaxTeach]

I totally agree about this transportation thing! We will be having dinner at CG and then making our way back to the Boardwalk. I like aprincess72's idea of taking a Friendship boat from Boardwalk to the IG. I honestly think they will allow you in w/o the transportation. But I have that nagging "what if" question in my head. I would be so upset if they turned me away. My WP was telling me how long the walk was and how uncomfortable it would be in cold/wet weather. If it's cold and wet we are going to be miserable for the DP so that is not an issue to me.

I wish there would be set rules for everything. I do not like allowing some couples to do things and others not.

You are so right, SRUAlmn, that $242 for transportation is not a huge amount, but it's enough to do something else that you might not otherwise do.

 

[mhcueball2]

For us, all of our guests met outside the main entrance and were escorted in. We had a round-trip limo (about $240) for us. Talk of walking through the international gateway never came up with our wedding planner...maybe cause we wanted the limo. At the end of a long day...its nice to have one.