Disney Cruise Brides - Let's Chat about our Weddings/VR's!

[chelsrae85]

I just made my first call to DFTW regarding our cruise wedding in early 2012. I asked the lady a few questions. Below are the responses I got and my thoughts. LOL!

Q: When we do a Castaway Cay ceremony on the 5-day itineraries, is it the first or second stop to Castaway Cay that our ceremony will occur?
A. It's always the first stop.

Q: The website says if you have more than 48 guests to inquire about availability. How does this work?
(I kid you not this was her response)
A: Well those are put in place for a reason so there's obviously not a whole lot we can do at that point.
So if I have 51 guests they're going to get kicked off the beach? Why is this even on the website then if they're not budging from that rule? Stupid.

Q: Can I have contact information of a planner so as I think of questions I can speak with them directly?
A: You can schedule a phone appointment with them closer to your date.
We aren't able to handle those types of questions currently.Why is your staffing issue my problem? Hire more people to work DFTW DCL weddings then.

Ugh. First experience speaking to DFTW? Not good.

 

[stl_figment]

I just made my first call to DFTW regarding our cruise wedding in early 2012. I asked the lady a few questions. Below are the responses I got and my thoughts. LOL!

Q: When we do a Castaway Cay ceremony on the 5-day itineraries, is it the first or second stop to Castaway Cay that our ceremony will occur?
A. It's always the first stop.

Q: The website says if you have more than 48 guests to inquire about availability. How does this work?
(I kid you not this was her response)
A: Well those are put in place for a reason so there's obviously not a whole lot we can do at that point.
So if I have 51 guests they're going to get kicked off the beach? Why is this even on the website then if they're not budging from that rule? Stupid.

Q: Can I have contact information of a planner so as I think of questions I can speak with them directly?
A: You can schedule a phone appointment with them closer to your date.
We aren't able to handle those types of questions currently.Why is your staffing issue my problem? Hire more people to work DFTW DCL weddings then.

Ugh. First experience speaking to DFTW? Not good.

Sorry it was so frustrating....

Try again - The first person I talked to was not helpful at all. The second person let me leave a message. Shanda called me back a few days later.

 

[SI-Jen]

ok so I have to say that I have been reading these boards for a while and they have been really helpful, it really is hit or miss with some of the people at Disney but I have to say Shanda has been awesome with me, I have been answered and sometimes it does take her longer than it should but I dont take it personal. As far as Nichol so happy hope she brings some great pics. I have my last fitting on Oct.29th and hope all is well because my dress will be shipped to Florida after and wait for me to arrive. klienfeld packs and ships the dress out, it has been a rocky start with my dress. They actually if anyone watches the show broght out Vera lol, she fixed it and made me happy , but I will tell u my best friend hated my shoes and deciced to replace them with her pick, she was paying I was not going to argue...well I have about 40 days left and need help getting my marriage license can anyone give me any suggestions I did not know the courts were closed the thursday after thanksgiving

 

[Goofy4Ever]

ok so I have to say that I have been reading these boards for a while and they have been really helpful, it really is hit or miss with some of the people at Disney but I have to say Shanda has been awesome with me, I have been answered and sometimes it does take her longer than it should but I dont take it personal. As far as Nichol so happy hope she brings some great pics. I have my last fitting on Oct.29th and hope all is well because my dress will be shipped to Florida after and wait for me to arrive. klienfeld packs and ships the dress out, it has been a rocky start with my dress. They actually if anyone watches the show broght out Vera lol, she fixed it and made me happy , but I will tell u my best friend hated my shoes and deciced to replace them with her pick, she was paying I was not going to argue...well I have about 40 days left and need help getting my marriage license can anyone give me any suggestions I did not know the courts were closed the thursday after thanksgiving

You can apply for your marriage licens by mail through Brevard County. The link is www.brevardclerk.us. The license is only valid for 60 days, but some forms can be done online. I have seen a lot of Disney brides/grooms do this. Good luck!

 

[Goofy4Ever]

I just neeed to post because I am so pleased...I spoke with Bud from Country Inn & Suites in Cape Canaveral regarding blocking off rooms for my guests. He responded to my initial email on Sunday (while at home watching football-lol) and gave a quick estimate of a room cost but told me he would follow up with me on Monday. Not only did he call me right away on Monday, he blocked rooms for our party a year out!!! He also reserved our room right away and followed up with me on Tuesday to make sure the reservation went through!!! Now that is great customer service....this is the main reason why I chose CI&S over the Radisson and will continue to stay there going forward. Just thought I would share!

 

[DisneyDmbNut]

We stayed at the CI&S before our last cruise and it was great..the meal in the morning was awesome and we could see the Wonder out our window..I will say the Radisson has a better tiki area, but the rooms are so much nicer at CI&S

 

[Goofy4Ever]

We stayed at the CI&S before our last cruise and it was great..the meal in the morning was awesome and we could see the Wonder out our window..I will say the Radisson has a better tiki area, but the rooms are so much nicer at CI&S

I agree

 

[Rora]

Hello all you wonderful Brides and VR ladies and gents!

I need some help. Currently, I'm helping my DCousin plan her wedding. She's been bouncing back in forth between an Escape, a wedding in our home town, and an DCL wedding.

We've read all the info on MouseWeddings and the official Disney Weddings site but really could use some first hand knowledge.. please bear with me as I ask all my silly questions, and thanks so much, in advance!

1. DCousin is concerned that a wedding on DCL won't "feel like a wedding". Any thoughts on this? She wants to keep it really really small-- parents and siblings only, select extended family only, etc. But, she wants it to "feel like a wedding". I told her I didn't see why it wouldn't but she's concerned about the time frame, getting enough pictures, feeling like a princess, it being a wedding, not just a vacation, she wants to be part of the planning but not feel stressed...Thoughts?

2. Can anyone tell me a bit more about the add on photography package? Is it a DCL photographer who takes the pictures? How long are they there? Where can you take pictures? Price? Also, she would want to add on the in-park photo packages when they get back to WDW (plan on staying a few days after for a honeymoon without family). She would do that through DFTW, right?

3. I briefly read that hair on board is hit or miss. Any suggestions on how to handle this?

4. I read that you can book a wedding a year in advance.. are you guaranteed to get the location you wish (saw something about you are notified a couple of months before your sail date of where your location would be..)?

Anything else you could tell me would be greatly appreciated!! Feel free to point me to a particular post (I wanted to read all 177 pages of the thread but don't have time!), or a TR.

Thank you so much for any and all help!

EDIT: forgot something major-- she wants to get married onboard on the secret deck.

 

[DisneyDmbNut]

Hi!!

First..See this video and tell me if it "feels" like a wedding? I was married at the courthouse and was worried that my DCL Vow renewal would not be taken as my wedding..all fears were relieved..everyone treated me just like a real bride and I loved it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u0sdZs9Ohao


Photography is a touchy thing..I was less than thrilled with DCL and if I had a do over, I would have paid for a photographer to cruise with us. I have plenty of pictures because I had several people take pictures..but to answer you question..yes a photographer is included in the photo package..and yes, as an official DFTW bride, she can have an in park session thru Disney photography

Hair is not an issue..they can do that in the salon, the hit or miss is the makeup..sometimes they have someone to do it, sometimes not..you won't know until you sail (because contracts continually rotate)

 

[kjg5]

Has anyone shipped their dress to the ship? We're flying Southwest the the night before and spending the night in the Hyatt Regency, and I don't know if I want to deal with storing it on the plane, carrying it around, etc. I was going to bring the flowers with us as well, but I think I'll have them sent to my parents' stateroom. How do I go about sending packages? Shanda's taking forever to respond to me too.

Rora, I can't say from experience, but from the photos I've seen, the onboard ceremonies definitely feel like a 'real' wedding. The photography is through Shutters, so I don't believe they're actually Disney cast members. The photo packages seem like a rip off, but I don't have another option as we can't afford to bring a photographer with us. There are 3 different packages, ranging from about $350-1000. As far as reserving the ceremony, we booked at 11 months out and my travel agent organized the whole thing, so I can't help you there.

 

[MomsOf2boys]

Hi everyone.... so many ceremonies getting planned and here I sit wondering how I am going to pull it all off.

So let me see... you can't book your wedding/renewal/commitment ceremony prior to 1 year... but we hope to get concierge rooms so will most likely have to book at the 2 year mark and take chances...

Our minister will be traveling with us and I haven't read anywhere if we can use our own (vow renewal/commitment ceremony) so legal stuff shouldn't be an issue.... any thoughts?

We will have 7 or 8 rooms of people... 15 or so in our group... and my youngest son will be 16...any chance at all of getting him into palo in the private dining room?

Any thoughts and/or ideas are appreciated! I'll be following along to hear about everyone's special day.

 

[kjg5]

You'll be able to pull it off without a problem! Its actually really easy to plan- they give you a Planning Guide and you just select what you want from the available options and add whatever music you want. There's very little, if any, customization allowed so it's a breeze- we planned our whole thing in about 15 minutes, lol

Hi everyone.... so many ceremonies getting planned and here I sit wondering how I am going to pull it all off.

So let me see... you can't book your wedding/renewal/commitment ceremony prior to 1 year... but we hope to get concierge rooms so will most likely have to book at the 2 year mark and take chances...

Concierge service comes with the wedding package, so the bride and groom will have it regardless of what category they book, if that helps at all. Also, they'll do 2 on-board ceremonies per cruise, so I think chances are pretty good you'll get the sailing you want, although it is possible you won't get the exact date or location. Mention it when you book the cruise, or call DFTW and explain the situation to them- they may give you a better idea of what you can expect.

Our minister will be traveling with us and I haven't read anywhere if we can use our own (vow renewal/commitment ceremony) so legal stuff shouldn't be an issue.... any thoughts?

I haven't heard anything one way or the other. I can't recall whether or not anyone on here brought their own minister. I know a few brought photographers, but I don't think anyone mentioned bringing a minister.

We will have 7 or 8 rooms of people... 15 or so in our group... and my youngest son will be 16...any chance at all of getting him into palo in the private dining room?

It's worth asking the wedding planner, but n in all honesty he'll probably only be allowed for the cake cutting- and that's from lurkyloo's Passporters Disney Wedding and Honeymoon book, so you it's legit! The only time I ever heard of anyone under 18 allowed in Palo was for cake cutting after Castaway Cay ceremonies, since the restaurant is closed to everyone else at that time. Also, again according to Passporters, the max number allowed in the private dining room is 14.

Any thoughts and/or ideas are appreciated! I'll be following along to hear about everyone's special day.

 

[DisneyDmbNut]

Concierge service that comes with the package is not the same as having a suite room booked..my friends were in the suites and they had dedicated staff member that checked on them several times a day..we had our wedding coordinator onboard that did act as a concierge and we were able to book at the 105 day mark..but still..not the same

Sadly, they will not make the exception for Palo..each person that dines must have a reservation # and if they are under 18, it will not allow them. The only exception is the CC post reception. My daughter really didn't care about being in Palo with us..dinner conversation bores her so she went to the club with her friends..same with dinner each night..she couldn't wait to be done so she could be off

 

[DisneyDmbNut]

kimmy - I have never sent packages to the ship, but my bridesmaids did..I ordered the floral from The Perfect Gift and had them sent to the suite she was in..this worked great because TPG was already sending a basket to the room and it was only one delivery charge.

If you go over to the cruise boards..I think there is a thread about sending packages to the ship..in 2005, one girl sent all the halloween costumes and decorations ahead!

 

[29apr00]

I sent 3 boxes of stuff to the ship.....in addition to the 2 boxes (and luggage) I took with me.....dumbest idea I ever had! OMG we had SO MUCH #$*&(!@ Stuff in our room it was crazy!!

i shipped down the sand ceremony vase and sand which we were unable to use......I shipped down all our FE gifts and cards, I shipped down the invitations and programs and a huge box of rose petals and petal cones. I took with me the box that held everyones welcome bag and stuff, my bouquet for the Epcot Shoot (took it on the ship just incase I didn't like the rose bouquet) and of course the floral cake topper and all the chocolate. plus shoes and purse and jewelry.....it was a nightmare trying to get everything on teh ship, and then luggage services couldn't find the boxes I mailed down....had to have the wedding coordinator go down and hunt for them. SERIOUSLY package as much as you can into just 1 or 2 boxes.....because what you take down, you have to figure out how to ship back. and our ship returned on a Sunday, when the post office and UPS stores were closed.

 

[MomsOf2boys]

You'll be able to pull it off without a problem! Its actually really easy to plan- they give you a Planning Guide and you just select what you want from the available options and add whatever music you want. There's very little, if any, customization allowed so it's a breeze- we planned our whole thing in about 15 minutes, lol

Concierge service that comes with the package is not the same as having a suite room booked..my friends were in the suites and they had dedicated staff member that checked on them several times a day..we had our wedding coordinator onboard that did act as a concierge and we were able to book at the 105 day mark..but still..not the same

Sadly, they will not make the exception for Palo..each person that dines must have a reservation # and if they are under 18, it will not allow them. The only exception is the CC post reception. My daughter really didn't care about being in Palo with us..dinner conversation bores her so she went to the club with her friends..same with dinner each night..she couldn't wait to be done so she could be off

You were both very helpful. I did not know that Palo you could only have 14 people in the private dining.. I misread it thinking you had to have at least 14. As for my son not being able to share that with us, i will talk to him (his brother and cousins will be "adults" and able to go) and see how badly he wants to be with us. We may just do regular diining or dine in our suite that night via room service.

I do like that special service that comes from the suites however am really wondering if that will change a lot on the new ship since it will have a concierge lounge more along the liines of the resorts concierge service. Guess we will hear about that soon enough.

We did have a 17 year old in Palo with us for tea once... but he turned 18 on that cruise (the next day) and concierge said it went through. But 16 is not anywhere near 18 and I get it really. Can't blame a girl for asking.

 

[sja03a]

You were both very helpful. I did not know that Palo you could only have 14 people in the private dining.. I misread it thinking you had to have at least 14. As for my son not being able to share that with us, i will talk to him (his brother and cousins will be "adults" and able to go) and see how badly he wants to be with us. We may just do regular diining or dine in our suite that night via room service.

I do like that special service that comes from the suites however am really wondering if that will change a lot on the new ship since it will have a concierge lounge more along the liines of the resorts concierge service. Guess we will hear about that soon enough.

We did have a 17 year old in Palo with us for tea once... but he turned 18 on that cruise (the next day) and concierge said it went through. But 16 is not anywhere near 18 and I get it really. Can't blame a girl for asking.

I guess the private room in Palo is a little bigger on the Dream. I just received an email stating that you can have a maximum of 16. We are just one over as of now and we still have other people probably booking last minute so the private room doesn't work for us. But that's good news for a few people

 

[sja03a]

I have a question about the photo shoot. How long after the shoot do they allow you to order prints or albums? do you have to order them all right away or do they save them for awhile?

TIA!!!

 

[sja03a]

Hello again everyone! Is there any way anyone can share a few of their magic kingdom shoot photos? I am curious to see some of the shots and where they do the pictures etc... Thanks in advance!!!

 

[29apr00]

we did an Epcot shoot and I just last week ordered my album......I believe they keep the images for 3 years.