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

[PixieDust1969]

Hi everyone, I wish I'd found this board earlier as it would have been so helpful with all the planning!!

My partner and I had a commitment ceremony on the Dream on the 24th Sept, it was amazing despite the rain which meant we had to switch to the Outlook bar from Castaway Cay.

Anyway our photographer Lee took some amazing photos but we've just arrived home to find that all the photos on the CD are of a different wedding, does anyone know how long they keep the photos for after the ceremony? I've emailed Shanda but with it being a Sunday don't think I'll get a response for a while.

Thanks

Pompeygal-

Did you get your pictures or hear back from the cruise line?

 

[othello32]

Welcome to the boards and good luck with your planning...did you already book the cruise? If so I would RUN and call to make sure it is still available for the vow renewal, maybe use a travel agent who is familiar with Disney to help with that...I have someone if you would like to use her and she is free for her services (and a former Dis bride!) She was and still is so helpful with my wedding!

Thanks everyone! Good news! Got our VR booked for our cruise! Now the planning begins! I'll be sure to be studying these boards for ideas and recommendations!

 

[PixieDust1969]

Thanks everyone! Good news! Got our VR booked for our cruise! Now the planning begins! I'll be sure to be studying these boards for ideas and recommendations!

Woo Hoo!!!

 

[PrincessTinker11]

I am getting so excited we leave in exactly two weeks for Disney!

 

[Goofy4Ever]

Thanks everyone! Good news! Got our VR booked for our cruise! Now the planning begins! I'll be sure to be studying these boards for ideas and recommendations!

Congrats!!!

 

[Freckledginger]

What is everyone doing for dinner the night of their wedding/VR? Staying in the main dining rotation? I was really hoping to have dinner with my guests at Palo, but our group will be large-ish (20-30), and Shanda says DCL discourages brides from booking the private room + tables in the main dining area for that size of a party. I can understand the reasons behind that, but I was really looking forward to letting everyone experience Palo Anyways, guess I'll have to figure something out.

Another question, has anyone planned/or is planning a DP at WDW as a welcome event before the cruise? I'm toying with that idea at the moment

Thanks!!

 

[Evi]

What is everyone doing for dinner the night of their wedding/VR? Staying in the main dining rotation? I was really hoping to have dinner with my guests at Palo, but our group will be large-ish (20-30), and Shanda says DCL discourages brides from booking the private room + tables in the main dining area for that size of a party. I can understand the reasons behind that, but I was really looking forward to letting everyone experience Palo Anyways, guess I'll have to figure something out.

Another question, has anyone planned/or is planning a DP at WDW as a welcome event before the cruise? I'm toying with that idea at the moment

Thanks!!

I'd ask Shanda or call Disney Cruiseline and ask if there is a space where they can accomidate that size party. I think its a reasonable request to try to eat together that night. Perhaps there is an area that is open in the day but closed in the evening or maybe the restaurant would be able to accomadate a late lunch. I don't think you loose anything by asking.

 

[Freckledginger]

I'd ask Shanda or call Disney Cruiseline and ask if there is a space where they can accomidate that size party. I think its a reasonable request to try to eat together that night. Perhaps there is an area that is open in the day but closed in the evening or maybe the restaurant would be able to accomadate a late lunch. I don't think you loose anything by asking.

Thanks for the reply, Evi

I have already emailed Shanda about it (the entire response is in my PJ, if you're curious), and her reply was DFTW can offer brides the ability to request the private room in Palo, which holds up to 14 guests. For larger parties, however, they discourage requesting the private room and tables in the main dining area (as tables in the main dining area cannot be pushed together, and guests may feel detached). She also says that she cannot book tables in the main dining room, so that would have to be done by individual guests. Her suggestion was for the wedding party to remain in the main dining rotation.
So kind of a major bummer

But as you said, Evi, maybe they can accomodate it at an alternate time. Goldeelox9, who is helping me with the bookings, also said not to give up yet. I think I'll wait and see how many people I have for sure, and then approach her again about it with exact numbers. In the meantime, I was just wondering if other brides had any experience with this situation/advice.

Thanks for your help!!!

 

[PrincessTinker11]

Thanks for the reply, Evi

I have already emailed Shanda about it (the entire response is in my PJ, if you're curious), and her reply was DFTW can offer brides the ability to request the private room in Palo, which holds up to 14 guests. For larger parties, however, they discourage requesting the private room and tables in the main dining area (as tables in the main dining area cannot be pushed together, and guests may feel detached). She also says that she cannot book tables in the main dining room, so that would have to be done by individual guests. Her suggestion was for the wedding party to remain in the main dining rotation.
So kind of a major bummer

But as you said, Evi, maybe they can accomodate it at an alternate time. Goldeelox9, who is helping me with the bookings, also said not to give up yet. I think I'll wait and see how many people I have for sure, and then approach her again about it with exact numbers. In the meantime, I was just wondering if other brides had any experience with this situation/advice.

Thanks for your help!!!

Yea Lisa helped me get the private room we have 14 people going and I am adding some people the night of (probably two more if they want to go) BUT with that being said Shanda was stuck on the number 14!!

Lisa is great and she will help you out...Lisa was able to get Shanda to work with me on picking on who sits where on dining rotations as well...

 

[ccbride412]

What is everyone doing for dinner the night of their wedding/VR? Staying in the main dining rotation? I was really hoping to have dinner with my guests at Palo, but our group will be large-ish (20-30), and Shanda says DCL discourages brides from booking the private room + tables in the main dining area for that size of a party. I can understand the reasons behind that, but I was really looking forward to letting everyone experience Palo Anyways, guess I'll have to figure something out.

Another question, has anyone planned/or is planning a DP at WDW as a welcome event before the cruise? I'm toying with that idea at the moment

Thanks!!

We had that dilemma too. We decided to do Palo the night before the wedding as a private dinner before we split up for the night and do our bachelor/ette thing (he's staying with his parents the night before the wedding so I won't see him after midnight until the ceremony). We wanted to have our whole party with us for dinner the night of the wedding too, but we have so many kids going that we decided to stay with our dining rotation. Hopefully everyone will be close together since we all have early seating and everyone's booked either together or gave our res # when they booked to link to us. (hint-if they're still doing it, I booked most of my guests rooms as a group with Disney and they all got a $50 room credit per room. You have to book at least 8 rooms. It's kind of a pain bc you have to pick a group leader, me, that is the only one allowed to make/change the reservations. The guests can call and pay, but if they need an address or passport info or anything changed, the leader has to do it. But it keeps everyone together.)

Sorry for the long response! Once I got going it just kept coming.

 

[Goofy4Ever]

Since we have eaten in Palo a few times we decided to skip it all together. We want to eat with are guests and we have some small kids with us. I would have however loved to have tried Remy. Maybe next time.

 

[PixieDust1969]

I was able to send seating in to Shanda to be approved by DCL. I got a list back with the tables and sections (which were all close together) and I got to assign people to tables. That way I already know who is sitting with who and people that know each other are together. We chose not to do Palos the night of our wedding since it is the last night of the cruise. We are going to stay in the rotation. When we go on our Honeymoon in March, we will do Palos.

 

[bdps2011]

I was able to send seating in to Shanda to be approved by DCL. I got a list back with the tables and sections (which were all close together) and I got to assign people to tables. That way I already know who is sitting with who and people that know each other are together. We chose not to do Palos the night of our wedding since it is the last night of the cruise. We are going to stay in the rotation. When we go on our Honeymoon in March, we will do Palos.

I wish I had been able to assign tables! Or knew I could. We had some horrible seating arrangements. We had mothers on opposite sides of the section, neighbors with best friends. It was awkward. Thankfully, one mother took it upon herself to "correct it" and make a head table with us and the parents. It was difficult because we did Paolo the first night and didnt see anyone till we stopped by after our dinner.

In the end it all worked out. Not that we really got to eat much on the cruise EXCEPT at Paolo! Other night we were doing the host/hostess thing and going through out tables.

BD

 

[jenbear25]

Attention 2013 DCL Brides:

Not sure if this was posted previously. But I was checking out the DFTW Cruise Collection website and noticed a $500 increase posted for 2013 weddings.

2013 Onboard Ceremony Price: $3,000 for up to 8 Guests, plus the Couple*

2013 Castaway Cay Ceremony Price (inclusive of onboard celebration): $4,000 for up to 8 Guests, plus the Couple*

*Disney Cruise Line wedding packages are designed for the wedding couple only. You may invite additional guests to be a part of your wedding celebration. Weddings for more than 10 people will be considered based on your ship's availability. Additional service charges will be applied to events for more than 10 people.

 

[DisneyDmbNut]

wow..they are charging more and you can have less people..that doesn't sound good

 

[PixieDust1969]

They are charging more but the number of people included in the price is the same. For Castaway Cay for me it was $3500 for the couple and 8 guests. Every additional person was $20.00 which covers the cost of the cake and toast and transportation to the wedding site.

 

[PrincessTinker11]

They are charging more but the number of people included in the price is the same. For Castaway Cay for me it was $3500 for the couple and 8 guests. Every additional person was $20.00 which covers the cost of the cake and toast and transportation to the wedding site.

I think they are charging more with less guests b/c right now 3500 is for 10 guests (including bride/groom) where as now you have 4K for 6 guests, bride/groom....

I guess it is inevitable that prices will go up, but kind of sad....it is a nice more cost effective wedding if you ask me.

 

[PixieDust1969]

I think they are charging more with less guests b/c right now 3500 is for 10 guests (including bride/groom) where as now you have 4K for 6 guests, bride/groom....

I guess it is inevitable that prices will go up, but kind of sad....it is a nice more cost effective wedding if you ask me.

I said it wrong above...it is still 10 guests (including bride and groom) but is costing $500 more. I agree with you that it is a cost effective way to have a Disney Wedding but is slowly creeping up. I would pay another $500.00 though to have my wedding on Castaway Cay!! You are allowed to have up to 100 guests on Castaway Cay now, also. Before it was 50 and if you had more, you had to have it approved.

 

[Goofy4Ever]

Wait...it seems that we all receive different things on our confirmation papers???? I don't know who is my onboard coordinator, I never received a confirmation about the requested dining seating? I am really confused. I think I going to email Shanda tomorrow. I want to make sure we are all sitting together and have the same rotation and time. Great I knew things were going too smoothly, lol!

 

[othello32]

Does anyone know if you are able to switch your dinner from Palo to Remy. I haven't been to either but French food sounds good. Just wondering if that is a possibility. Very excited for our VR next year!