Do you think we can get away with this?

[Kim10110]

I was kinda in the same boat as you I can not afford a disney wedding because we live overseas and we are moving to the states and its gonna be a fortune. So what we are doing is having our wedding at shades of green resort (military resort) and then we are gonna still have the magic because we are going to disney and we will wear the pins and the ears. I have many different places i looked at outside of disney that are very very reasonable. I understand you want a disney wedding but if you do the ceremony somewhere else and head to disney after or dinner at the GF. Please PM me if you are looking for less expensive places near but not on disney. I hope this helps. I would hate your wedding day to be ruined if you got caught.

 

[LouisianaDisneyFan]

Oh and LOL for the record I also have a problem with pool-hopping (unless you are a DVC member and are officially allowed) and using a refillable mug from one resort in another resort's food hall

Ditto on this! But see, again, I don't see the allure to running around in your swimsuit and towel from pool to pool. What a waste of time! Why not just change resorts mid-trip and get the whole experience at each place?! I think the time I felt most aggravated at Disney, though, was when we missed the free dining by a week. When we checked in, the CM went on and on about how great it had been, as if to torture us. If we'd ONLY known! ARRRRGGGGHHHHH!!!!!

There is one rule-break that goes on frequently here at the DISboards that bothers me a bit, and I'm confused how it is allowed. There seem to be a lot of people here who have no problem copying and editing Disney copyrighted material, such as on their DIY wedding invitations and save the dates, or on other memorabilia (I trust you didn't do this either, Sam!). There's even a forum for sharing work. How on earth is this allowed?! There are plenty of official Disney invitations, t-shirts, and other memorabilia available. It seems to me like the forum here on the DIS sharing this artwork is in essence encouraging breaking not just Disney's rules, but the actual copyright law. Is there some aspect of the law I'm missing? ~Ev

 

[Fantasia Sam]

Hey Ev

Yup I sure did use copyrighted material and my understanding is that it's fine to do so as long as you are not gaining any profit from it, that was what EM's have told many Brides to Be. I worked with a friend who made some of the other items for me but again this was done at cost price and after everything else she did for me for the wedding and after I'd be surprised if she made any money out of me so my conscience was clear.


That said all the images myself and my friend used were taken from the offcial Disney Print Creations software which I bought and paid for and in there it gives you templates for Brochures, Invites, etc etc. So that's what I used the images for.

You used a clipart too didn't you for your invites right Ev?

Yup I'm pretty sure as long as it's for personal use everyone is fine and I think there's something in the copyright laws about if you change an image too, but I can't be certain on that - perhaps you should start another thread on the subject Ev? LOL then we can debate that one out too

 

[Tiggerlover91]

My bf proposed to me last Saturday in front of the castle. We had been talking about getting married and want to do it quickly before he has to go back to England. This is my second marriage (first was at the dis wedding pavillion--huge ordeal, mega bucks) and his first. Do you think we could just get the license, go into the park one day and casually have my friend that's a notary marry us and avoid the whole disney wedding planner business?

No, you can't. That's what Disney Fairytale Weddings are for and MANY have gotten in trouble for trying to do it. Just marry someplace else and go to Disney and have a wonderful honeymoon. I'm not big into the Disney thing anymore, but it bugs me when people don't want to do things "the right way". I'm not flaming you, just being honest. However, congrats on your engagement and pixie dust that all works out well.

Denise

 

[LouisianaDisneyFan]

You used a clipart too didn't you for your invites right Ev?

Yup I'm pretty sure as long as it's for personal use everyone is fine and I think there's something in the copyright laws about if you change an image too, but I can't be certain on that - perhaps you should start another thread on the subject Ev? LOL then we can debate that one out too

Actually, no, mine isn't using clipart. I purchased the official Disney collectors' pins and used the actual pins on my invitations, specifically to avoid copyright enfringement. My understanding of copyright law is that you can't copy an image or other work without the owner's permission, which is specifically granted for the images within Disney's program when you purchase it, for your own personal use, but not otherwise. Public display or distribution is another matter. Perhaps Disney has granted that permission to the general public? If it was okay to copy something just for personal use, I don't see why there would be such strong repercussions for downloading music either. I know many times artistic or informative works will say they can be duplicated for educational purposes, but outside of using the Disney program, I didn't realize they had granted permission for public use, with or without a profit being made. Learn something new every day! Why would anybody pay $1200 to Impressions for 25 invitations if they can legally make their own?! That would be NUTS! That alone makes me wonder if you were informed correctly, but as I have no idea how to find out the facts with regard to Disney, I don't see much need for a full thread. ~Ev

 

[jezebella]

Good Lord---I didn't know this would cause such an uproar. Just to clarify a few things, it is not my intention to hose Disney out of any extra money I would typically contribute. Financial reasons are not the issue---the issue is TIME...if you recall, we're trying to do this in a matter of weeks due to his departure back to England. And for the record, if you scroll back up--I've already given Disney a hefty $28,000.00 for a wedding I had at the WP back in 2000...so I know how much it costs to do things the "right" way. Also, we're DVC members, both of our parents have been since 1993, both of my parents have been cast members, and I blow hundreds of dollars every month at Disney---more than the typical family that comes once a year as we average about 4-5 times a month, plus PI, and DD. I don't see what the big deal would be with having a brief ceremony on a balcony----

It kind of irritates me that people would get offended that we're considering doing something brief instead of a huge blowout wedding with all the trimmings. I've already done this...and to me...it was an enormous waste of money and frankly just not my style. In addition, whatever we do, we are planning on having a renewal ceremony one year later on the disney cruise!!!!

 

[hmgolden]

Two things - I believe that the issue of Bride's using Disney's name and images is addressed in the custom wedding contract. I don't remember what the actual wording it, but I am pretty sure it states that you can't make a profit off of using their name or images. Sending a wedding invitation with a Mickey head is hardly trying to make a profit - especially if you use Disney's print software. If Disney had a serious problem with bride's using their images on place card holders, table numbers, etc - the staff of DFTW could refuse to use them. Based on numerous photos of weddings on this board, that is not the case.

I totally agree with Sam in that I personally think getting married on the balcony of your room is circumventing the rules, no matter what your future intentions are. Disney states that all weddings conducted on their property are to held through DFTW, and if they aren't, they can be stopped. Realistically, are you going to get caught having a small ceremony on the balcony of your 4th floor room at the Boardwalk? Probably not. But if the real issue for you is time, Disney only requires one weeks notice for an intimate wedding, and a month for a custom.

 

[littleladykaty]

sort of off topic, but speaking of the Resort Mugs...I asked a question about what on earth they were as there was this whole thread about them on the Resort board...a moderator promptly locked my thread and told me to "research" them on one of the information boards. It sort of freaked me out! I mean I realize now that they are for use at the resort at which they were purchased, and some people get off on filling them up at other resorts on the sly (which seems sort of lame to me )but the "mystery" with which they are shrouded seems a little intense for plastic travel mugs...doesn't it?

just thought I'd share!!!

 

[ead79]

I totally agree with Sam. I see it as a pretty simple issue. Disney has rules that ALL on-property weddings must go through Disney’s Fairy Tale Weddings. If you try to circumvent that system, you are breaking the rules. The issue isn’t whether or not you’ll get caught, it’s whether or not you are abiding by the rules Disney has set forth.

Also, I have to be honest. I’ve never understood the argument about having spent so much with WDW that it justifies ignoring their rules. I have also had a custom DFTW and countless WDW trips—all told I’ve probably spent upwards of $50,000 at Disney World over the years. I don’t think this entitles me to bend rules. The issue isn’t how much money Disney makes, it’s obeying the rules.

 

[Ember]

I have to say, I had no idea some of these rules existed! I'm not a Disney novice but I don't think it ever occured to me, to tell the truth.

I would never think to pool hop - I just wouldn't see the point. And are your really saving that much going out of your way to refill a mug at a different resort? Because that really sounds like more trouble than it's worth (and I couldn't imagine pinching pennies to that extent while on vacation). I will admit that I sometimes eat a kids meal. This may be considered breaking the rules (is it? I didn't really think about it until now...), but an adult meal would be a waste because I'm just not that hungry.

 

[sajetto]

Lord, this thread has gotten long and I haven't had the time to read it all. Just wanted to say that I agree with Ev That I have NEVER seen anyone rent points at $6 per point. I wouldn't even approach a DVC member with that offer b/c #1 it would probably tick them off to the point that they won't rent to you and #2 its such a tight nit community over there that I can just about bet that the member would run over to the DVC board and tell everyone about the offer as a warning to avoid whoever made the offer of 6 per point.

I'm in agreement that I think its too shady to get married at WDW on the sly, but I gave an answer that I've seen to this question before. People have been married on their hotel room balconies before. Would I do it, no. Can I stop someone else from doing it, no. I just wish you the best of luck

 

[Fantasia Sam]

Oooo Ev I didn't realise those were actual pins on your invites that just makes them even more WOWSER to me. A lot of people pay good money for Disney invites that are already made by Impressions and others because a) they can afford to and b) it's easier and a lot less work to do so. I made mine, I didn't make any profit on them and infact on my invitation I just used the Mickey head punchie and there certainly wasn't any copyright attached to that. And no I don't think my EM, he pretty much new his stuff, got it wrong when he told me that all my placecards and table cards and programs were NOT and infringement of the Copyright law. Begs the question, if it wasn't OK to use official clipart for invitations from my Disney Print Creations software then why did it come with a template to do specifically that job?

Yeah LLKaty - the resort mug thing can be a real sensitive issue on the DIS, that's for sure

 

[ohanafamily]

Sam, EV Please take a few deep breaths and relax ...remember, P{ete CLOSED the debate board a while back...

First off, let me apologize for stirring the ant pile by saying it has been done and a few of the precautions. As I thought I said, if you do it on the sly, the magic isn't there for me. I couldn't see starting out a new life together with a dishonorable act.

jezebella, just a word, this site is one of the largest Disney Fan sites, and people here are VERY PROTECTIVE of Disney and the magic that lies therein. Also, I am recalling bits from other threads over the last few years, and I am fairly sure that "On a balcony is not permitted. You can get married in the room, but it would require the windows closed. Not really the magical wedding most of the brides here (including yourself) paid for. You can call the resort and ask them; they may refer you to FTW, but they should know the room restrictions. Other note, Non-Disney owned resorts (like Swan and Dolphin) have their own rules that may let you do more than the BW. You Still won't get the full experience of a DFTW, but the rule vary slightly. SOG is another example of a resort with different rules.

For the record, an intimate wedding can be done fairly inexpensively, but it is still more than the $719 figure...
Other notes: Licensed Printed invitations are expensive. A lot of the licensing fee is so that they can sell and profit from the invitations. If you print your own invitations (especially with the software that they sell) you are well within the scope of the licensing. If you print invitations for someone else for a profit you are out of the licensed scope.

Clip-art: There is certain clip-art that Disney has licensed out. There is some that others have drawn "Similar to Disney's" that can be freely distributed. You will find a lot of both kinds on this website. You run into problems posting items that Disney has not released. An example is copying the pictures that were taken of you by the Disney photographers.

[Sam, I am writing this next part for informational purposes. Please feel free to edit out anything you feel is inflammatory or wrong or evil]

Refillable mugs...A VERY SORE SUBJECT on these boards. If you read on the bottom of the mugs it clearly states that it is for that resort only and for the length of your stay. They are available at most resorts. If you ask CM's at the various refilling stations you will get a different answer from each one. The general answer I have gotten over the years when I have asked this question is that they do not refill mugs from other resorts, but they generally ignore the dates of the stay; most never bother to write the dates on them when the mugs are purchased. Once again, this is my personal opinion and not the official printed word. I was on a thread once where there was a running gag about how many refillable mugs are needed for a wedding party of 50. This is and was a joke. People take refillable cup abuse VERY SERIOUSLY on these boards. I personally always get a refillable mug for me every time I come to WDW (much to my DW's chagrin), I use it for a year at home and by the the end of the year I need a new one anyway.

I think that is everything.....


Again, Sam, please feel free to edit this post as you feel is appropriate. I touched on some sensitive subjects

 

[fun2bmomof3]

Ok to those debating the infringement rights.

" The designs in this "product" are intended solely for non-commercial home use. No license has been granted to apply these designs to create article which will there after be sold. Any such use is an infringement of the copyright in the charcters portrayed and is specifically prohibited. "

That is from inside the booklet that came with my software which has templates to make invitations, cards, party supplies, banners, t-shirt transfers and many other things. That is also the same statement in a Disney Book called Mickey and Friends Decorative Painting, and in a book called Mickey and Friends Decorative Stenciling, and it is inside the direction book with my Disney embroidery machine. Probley something similar is on the Disney cake pans I own as well.

My opinion as someone who as Ev has said is guilty of taking creative liberty when using a disney clipart is this: If Disney doesn't want me to use these things to be creative then why do they sell them????

 

[ohanafamily]

PS, I was misread by a couple of you on my first post in this thread.

If you own DVC, you points probably paid about $6 per use-year point.
If you are renting points you will pay around $10.

That is why I posted both numbers. Please don't report me to the DVC Police..

 

[LouisianaDisneyFan]

Actually, no, mine isn't using clipart. I purchased the official Disney collectors' pins and used the actual pins on my invitations, specifically to avoid copyright enfringement. My understanding of copyright law is that you can't copy an image or other work without the owner's permission, which is specifically granted for the images within Disney's program when you purchase it, for your own personal use, but not otherwise. Public display or distribution is another matter. Perhaps Disney has granted that permission to the general public? If it was okay to copy something just for personal use, I don't see why there would be such strong repercussions for downloading music either. I know many times artistic or informative works will say they can be duplicated for educational purposes, but outside of using the Disney program, I didn't realize they had granted permission for public use, with or without a profit being made. Learn something new every day! Why would anybody pay $1200 to Impressions for 25 invitations if they can legally make their own?! That would be NUTS! That alone makes me wonder if you were informed correctly, but as I have no idea how to find out the facts with regard to Disney, I don't see much need for a full thread. ~Ev

This is what I wrote in my previous posts. I have underlined the pertinent parts. Somehow, several of you are under the impression that I am saying you cannot use the Disney program for creating invitations, etc. That is NOT what I am saying. You ARE specifically granted permission for home use when you purchase that program and are the licensed owner of it (home use=you and your family, not your friends, or your friends' friends, for profit or not). Incidentally, I've been told they no longer offer that program new for sale... and buying it second hand means you are not the original owner and therefore do not have the same permissions granted. My problem is with people who scan or grab images, change them to suit their needs, and then print invitations. They have no such permission for use by Disney and ARE infringing on the copyright. I am not surprised if the custom wedding contract includes wording granting permission to use Disney art for your reception, but as I haven't seen the contract, I can't really comment on what it does or does not say. I would be surprised, though, if it allows for the compilation pictures I have seen freely shared over the art forum, or for Save-the-Dates like the one that was posted earlier in this forum, even if you are a bride-to-be. Does anybody know for sure? I'd be curious about the answer to that.

(begin sermon... sorry!)
Sorry to be so emotional about copyright rules, but too many people see it as a victimless crime. It's NOT a victimless crime. My first profession was in programming, my second in teaching (once my children were born). Early on in the personal computer craze, I wrote a beginning math program for early elementary students. I shared it with the coworkers in my school, asking them to evaluate it for me, but to NOT share it with anyone else. My plan was to market it. It took so much of my time to write and debug that. Well, as is typical, each of those teachers thought it wouldn't be a problem to share the program with just ONE close friend, who of course they could rely on not to share it with anyone else... and so on and so on and so on. The end result was that literally the entire local school system had my program free of charge within a matter of about two weeks. Prosecuting them wouldn't have been an option, as these were my friends and co-workers, but it was a very aggravating and demoralizing experience. Sure, Disney is huge and has lots of income, and recording artists that you download or copy for friends may be millionaires, but it's the PRINCIPLE of the matter that's important. Every time you show your children it's okay to cheat, just for this "one little thing"... you are chipping away at the moral fiber you are trying to nurture. (end sermon!)

~Ev

P.S. - Sam, thanks for the compliment on the invites!

 

[ohanafamily]

Hey EV, I realize that we are getting way OT, but one of my many hats is that I head an IT department for a medium sized small business. You would not believe how hard it is to keep all of our workstations licensed properly. Esp when one of our VP's has a son who just went off to college, is moderately talented with computers, and believes in free downloads. I have managed to keep his work computer licensed.


At any rate now back to our original topic...

 

[Fantasia Sam]

Sam, EV Please take a few deep breaths and relax ...remember, Pete CLOSED the debate board a while back.........
.......
Again, Sam, please feel free to edit this post as you feel is appropriate. I touched on some sensitive subjects

LOL you are cracking me up today - I think healthy non-confrontational debate is still allowed and so far so good - no need to edit or delete anything yet and that to me is always a good sign I think we're all "good" so to speak.

fun2bmomof3 - that's what I thought about the software (which incidentally I did not buy second hand, thankfully)

Ev - you sermon away, it's your opinion and everyone is allowed their own one and I love reading when someone is so passionate about something. Good for you.

 

[lowie]

My bf proposed to me last Saturday in front of the castle. We had been talking about getting married and want to do it quickly before he has to go back to England. This is my second marriage (first was at the dis wedding pavillion--huge ordeal, mega bucks) and his first. Do you think we could just get the license, go into the park one day and casually have my friend that's a notary marry us and avoid the whole disney wedding planner business?

i just recently was talking to a friend about doing just this. i'm a florida notary so i can do it for her. There are so many beautiful locations you can choose, many off the beaten path, as to avoid prying eyes.. i've never seen any 'rules' that say you can't get married on disney property, but i'm pretty sure doing in IN a park would be frowned upon. CONGRATS!

 

[LouisianaDisneyFan]

I'm guessing Lowie didn't read the rest of the thread...