Disney commitment ceremony???

[Grumpy~N~Dopey]

Has anyone tried to have their ceremony at a disney park? I was just turned down because they require an "official" marrige certificate. I was just wondering if anyone else has tried, and what was the outcome.

 

[Grumpy~N~Dopey]

Has anyone tried to have their ceremony at a Disney park? I was just turned down because they require an "official" marriage certificate. I was just wondering if anyone else has tried, and what was the outcome.

Sorry I see this topic was discussed before but I am still interested in any outcomes... I was turned down by Disneyland in California. Is Florida any different?

 

[Viki]

From what I can glean from multiple sources and reports, WDW does not officially do commitment ceremonies for lesbian and gay couples, BUT you, like anyone else, can privately rent space in a the resort restaurant and have a private ceremony/party. None of this can involve public Disney space.

 

[Grumpy~N~Dopey]

Thanks Viki, that is what I was told also. We didn't want to do it in one of the party rental places. We were just looking to do a small private Ceremony with just my partner and I and our three kids in a garden by the castle. No wedding party, no hoopla, 15-20 min, in one of our favorite places.
A friend of ours Daughter just did what we wanted, but of course she had a marriage certificate. Just upsets me... I guess we can only have our wedding dreams come true, if we find someone to love that Disney approves of?
Still our favorite palce in the world, but just a little hurt right now.

 

[Viki]

Thanks Viki, that is what I was told also. We didn't want to do it in one of the party rental places. We were just looking to do a small private Ceremony with just my partner and I and our three kids in a garden by the castle. No wedding party, no hoopla, 15-20 min, in one of our favorite places.
A friend of ours Daughter just did what we wanted, but of course she had a marriage certificate. Just upsets me... I guess we can only have our wedding dreams come true, if we find someone to love that Disney approves of?
Still our favorite palce in the world, but just a little hurt right now.

I hear you, friend. I really do. I think this is the only issue around WDW that really makes me mad.

For me, it applies in two ways - one being a lesbian and two being a religious professional who does all sorts of marriages and commitment ceromies.

 

[DVC~OKW~96]

I phoned WDW and asked about this. I was told the same thing, no "non-marriage certificate" ceremonies allowed.

I even pressed and said, what if a couple were to just quietly have a ceremony for themselves without planning, without fanfare (you know, without spending a zillion dollars with WDW wedding planners) and was told this, and yes, I'm quoting, "WDW CMs are instructed to usher anyone off the property and this includes resort property as well as park property if they see any type of same gendered ceremony being conducted. The CMs are taught to approach the couple, determine the nature of the ceremony and then physically usher them off the property along with any friends of the couple that may be guests of the couple. WDW takes this matter very seriously and will not allow such ceremonies anywhere on WDW property."

Guess I really irked her when I pushed.

I was left with the thought that if I wanted to have some sort of committment ceremony on WDW property the only way to do it would be to hold the ceremony in my WDW resort room, quietly and unknown to the staff.

Then I could hit the parks and party as much as I chose.

Why I'd want to though is beyond me. Learning this really colored my opinion of WDW. I try not to focus on it, but it makes me feel wierd to go there and enjoy myself, while knowing that they'd escort me off the property should I attempt to celebrate my union.

 

[Grumpy~N~Dopey]

Why I'd want to though is beyond me. Learning this really colored my opinion of WDW. I try not to focus on it, but it makes me feel wierd to go there and enjoy myself, while knowing that they'd escort me off the property should I attempt to celebrate my union. [/QUOTE]

My feelings exactlly!!!

 

[MsLeFever]

Wow - that really disappoints me about Disney....doesn't seem in line with their other policies....

sigh

 

[piratepresleyrocks]

It is really hurtful that they would be that against it. But when you said that about a resort room I had an idea that you might like. I know its the point that we shouldn't have to hide but if you want to have a "disney" ceremony right now, this might be a good option. The suites on the 14th floor concierge of the Contemporary have nice big balconies. And on the Magic Kingdom side there is a wonderful view. There would be plenty of room to do a ceremony on the balcony with your family and maybe even a few guests. The one bedroom suites have a seperate bedroom and then a VERY large living area with a seperate entrance, bathroom, kitchen w/bar, dining table for 6, and full living room. Tons of space for a small party after the ceremony. I know its not what you want, but this would be the next best thing. The suite is $1200 a night but for a special occasion I think its worth every penny. Good luck! I hope you can find something that works while not feeling so closet-ed as disney is making it.

 

[DVC~OKW~96]

That's a nice idea! OKW has beautiful "porches" (balconies if you are on other than the ground floor) too. The larger the accomodation, the larger the "porch." You'd have beautiful grounds, and peace and quiet too!

I LIKE that idea.

 

[Grumpy~N~Dopey]

Thank you for your suggestions everyone... we just don't want to hide to exchange our vows. We wanted the castle garden. We just decided to do it on the beach in Hawaii. That just means no Disney for us next year

 

[DVCajun]

I wonder what would happen if a couple from Canada were to present their valid marriage license....

 

[PghLybrt]

I wonder what would happen if a couple from Canada were to present their valid marriage license....

my guess....Florida does not acknowledge it so neither will Walt Disney World.
Funny how (and I have no doubt) we (gay) pretty much run the place but can’t celebrate our unions there!

Although thinking about it, we can be angry with WDW but they are only following what people want. We should be angry at our fellow citizens for denying us basic rights.

 

[mufasa0505]

"WDW CMs are instructed to usher anyone off the property and this includes resort property as well as park property if they see any type of same gendered ceremony being conducted. The CMs are taught to approach the couple, determine the nature of the ceremony and then physically usher them off the property along with any friends of the couple that may be guests of the couple. WDW takes this matter very seriously and will not allow such ceremonies anywhere on WDW property."

For what it's worth, Disney's Fairy Tale Wedding Department is pretty lucrative, and a heterosexual couple performing a ceremony that is not through the FTW department will also be stopped and escorted off.

The CM was making no attempt to be tactful at all when she specified "same gendered." A commitment ceremony of any kind in public is stopped immediately. Disney wants to be paid for their wedding picture backdrops and doesn't allow "freebies." I've even heard of couples trying to arrange a private ceremony in their room being turned down by local pastors (who regularly perform services through FTW) because they don't want to sour their relationship with Disney. I do know of people having successful vow-renewal ceremonies in their WDW suites. That's certainly an option for you, but I understand that the castle is your dream.

Then again, Disney doesn't like to do castle weddings so they jacked the price up so no one can afford it. But that's a whole other topic.

 

[TiggerAllie]

my guess....Florida does not acknowledge it so neither will Walt Disney World.
Funny how (and I have no doubt) we (gay) pretty much run the place but can’t celebrate our unions there!

Although thinking about it, we can be angry with WDW but they are only following what people want. We should be angry at our fellow citizens for denying us basic rights.

What about marriage certificates from Massachusetts? Or does DOMA preclude their recognition of that? Not up on my legalese this evening...

 

[CanadianGuy]

And in curious as heck if the MA marriage certificate is recognized in Canada and vice-versa.

J

 

[hematite153]

And in curious as heck if the MA marriage certificate is recognized in Canada and vice-versa.

J

Well, from the Canadian perspective, marriage is marriage.

If you are married (in any part of the world) then you will be acknowledged as married within Canada.

 

[hmp2z]

What about marriage certificates from Massachusetts? Or does DOMA preclude their recognition of that? Not up on my legalese this evening...

Excellent, excellent point! If you were to tell them that you were already legally married & wanted to do a vow renewal, I wonder what they would say. They'd allow a heterosexual couple with a MA marriage license to have a vow renewal in a heartbeat. I'd be interested to know what excuse WDW would make, in this case, to forbid the event.

Oh, and I wanted to add, for those who suggested having a wedding on a balcony at a WDW resort, a friend of mine (heterosexual) looked into this as an alternative to going through WDW weddings. They told her that, if she did that on the balcony, it would be considered as being in full view of other guests, and they'd make her leave the resort.

I think WDW needs to get with it & allow ALL couples to be treated equally.

Cheers!
Heather W

 

[Kitty-chan]

Excellent, excellent point! If you were to tell them that you were already legally married & wanted to do a vow renewal, I wonder what they would say. They'd allow a heterosexual couple with a MA marriage license to have a vow renewal in a heartbeat. I'd be interested to know what excuse WDW would make, in this case, to forbid the event.

That would certainly be an interesting test case, especially if the two couples intended to book it together, as a ceremony for both couples to renew their vows.

On a side note . . . I wonder what the policies are at the (non-Disney-owned) Downtown Disney hotels, and whether a couple could exchange vows there.

 

[Viki]

Excellent, excellent point! If you were to tell them that you were already legally married & wanted to do a vow renewal, I wonder what they would say. They'd allow a heterosexual couple with a MA marriage license to have a vow renewal in a heartbeat. I'd be interested to know what excuse WDW would make, in this case, to forbid the event.

Apparently, what WDW says, Heather, is that the marriage would have to be recognized according to FLA law - or some such thing. In which case we've all got a bit of a wait.