Disney Planning Session--What to expect?

[Codie]

Hi--We are heading down for a site view session first full week in March. How long should I expect it to be? Also, because we won't be able to come down again until the wedding, the sm suggested a mini-planning session...any idea what to expect from that? I'm hoping that we will have a definite date and can sign a contract at that time...but won't be sure until we get closer...
Thanks for any advice/input!

 

[ead79]

These are the really fun parts! Enjoy yourself!

For our site visit, we already had a pretty good idea of the locations we wanted, so we didn't visit that many choices. I think that your SM will take you to as many as you want to see though. My SM gave us lots of helpful information, including suggesting an Illuminations pre-reception, which we are so glad we did.

My guess about a "mini" planning session would be a regular planning session without the menu tasting. Don't worry about that though--Disney's food was excellent in our experience (we used Epcot Convention Catering since our reception was at the American Adventure Rotunda). You can pick table linens, flowers, etc.

Have a wonderful time!

 

[Janet2k]

Codie, I had a little bit of a Site Visit last year during my May vacation. Then in July, I had a full-blown Planning Session. I have written about lots of details of the planning of my Fairy Tale Weddings vow renewal in a thread here on the Dis' Trip Reports Board (click here to read it).

I want to warn you that my Planning Session was a little out of the ordinary due to the fact that my dinner party was being held after hours inside the Disney-MGM Studios Theme Park. It was a rather involved party that began with a handprint ceremony, followed by a progressive dinner party inside the Great Movie Ride. After dessert, everyone moved outdoors for a dance party underneath the stars (and the full moon & lunar eclipse). To cap off 20 years of marriage, my husband and I surprised our guests with a custom fireworks display that was set to music that we had picked out but that Disney had blessed. Our Kiss Goodnight fireworks display went off at 2 AM. It was the most magical night of my life. Disney did a wonderful job with everything.

I don't know what kind of wedding you have planned, but if you read my trip report, you can see what I experienced. It should give you an idea of what sort of things are possible with Disney.

Have a fun time at your Site Visit. And congratulations on your upcoming marriage.

 

[Majekmoon14]

Hey Janet,
I am interested in possibly having a reception inside of GMR b/c my fiance and I met there while working on the college program. Can they do a dinner in there or just a dessert type reception? Also, did you have yours in OZ? And how did everyone get there, ride the ride through or walk through? Was there enough space in there, we are planning to have about 70 people..does it cost extra to have it there? Thanks!!
"I want to warn you that my Planning Session was a little out of the ordinary due to the fact that my dinner party was being held after hours inside the Disney-MGM Studios Theme Park. It was a rather involved party that began with a handprint ceremony, followed by a progressive dinner party inside the Great Movie Ride. After dessert, everyone moved outdoors for a dance party underneath the stars (and the full moon & lunar eclipse). To cap off 20 years of marriage, my husband and I surprised our guests with a custom fireworks display that was set to music that we had picked out but that Disney had blessed. Our Kiss Goodnight fireworks display went off at 2 AM. It was the most magical night of my life. Disney did a wonderful job with everything."

 

[marn913]

Codie -
I think the one thing that we did not expect was that our planning session took pretty much the entire day. We met our EM at about 9am at Franck's and went through the big details. They arranged for us to meet with Disney Floral as well as the entertainment manager (he handles not only the music/DJ's but transportation and caracture artists as well). Then we had our cake tasting (at Franck's as well). After that we were taken to the Epcot kitchen to meet with their head chef and have our menu tasting.

If you are not doing the cake and menu tasting, expect your planning session to take about 3 hours. If you set up cake/menu tasting I'd probably double that to about 6 hrs. They are very thorough and will go over everything with you. Try to bring down color swatches of bridesmaids dresses or pictures of your dress and/or bridesmaids dresses as well as any pictures of floral arrangements that you might have in mind so that they can give you suggestions. We were really tight with some parts of our budget and they were more than willing to stay in our price range.

Have fun!
Marne

 

[Codie]

Thanks!