Engagement or MK Photo Session?

[veronyca_82]

Hi guys, I love this forum! I am planning either an engagement or a Magic Kingdom Bridal Shoot. However, I am not sure what the difference is.

According to the website:

magic kingdom portrait session - $800
Includes:

Pick up at 6:00 a.m. in the lobby of your Walt Disney World® Resort hotel
Portrait session at Cinderella Castle and Cinderella's Golden Carrousel
A 12-print 4x5 white Disney-themed folio

honeymoon / engagement photographic session- $295
Includes:

Guided tour of the Disney Theme Park of your choice to determine a photo location. (Includes Cinderella Castle at the Magic Kingdom park, Epcot's World Showcase, Tower of Terror at the Disney-MGM Studios, or The Tree of Life in Disney's Animal Kingdom Theme Park)
Twenty (20) 4x6 prints
A beautiful white leather-bound album

If I want to wear a blue evening gown for the engagement photographic session (casual attire was suggested, so we have a choice, right?), do you guys think we could do that? I just want to take picture around the Cinderella Castle, so probably it is savvier to get the engagement package ($295 and 20 prints) instead of the bridal shoot ($800 and only 12 prints).

Have any of you had Engagement photographic session? Any suggestions? I have also heard Randy Chapman around the forums for wedding pictures. Is he a Disney photographer? We can't bring outside photographers in, I suppose?

Any help from Disney lovers out there is appreciated!

 

[hfehr1s]

I don't know if I can answer all of your questions, but I can try. Randy Chapman is not a Disney photographer - he is an outside vendor. As far as the difference between the Mk photo session and the engagement/ hm session, i think the main difference is just having the park all to yourself. With the engagement/hm session you will be in the park with all of the other resort guests, so I guess there's no guarantee of pics w/o others in the background. Whereas the MK photo session -- it's only the two of you at the Magic Kingdom for your session. HTH a little -- I'm sure others will be able to provide some more info for you!

 

[veronyca_82]

Thanks a lot for the information. I guess I am just confused about Randy because people keep saying that he is a good photographer. I thought he could take our pictures in Magic Kingdom.

If anyone has done Engagement Session, please please please let me know.....

 

[Tinkerbellz]

Thanks a lot for the information. I guess I am just confused about Randy because people keep saying that he is a good photographer. I thought he could take our pictures in Magic Kingdom.

If anyone has done Engagement Session, please please please let me know.....

From the pics I've seen from other here on the DIS, Randy IS a fantastic photographer. He does not work for Disney and he is not able to do the MK photo shoot or the engagement/honeymoon package photos. He does shoot weddings as an outside vendor. That's the way I understand it.
I plan to use him myself for my VR in 2008. But I am also planning on the MK photo shoot with Disney Photography.

 

[karentan]

the difference between the 2 shoots is that the MK bridal shoot is in full bridal attire before the park opens (at either 5 or 6am). if you are having a DFTW its one of those things you only get a chance to do once.
the engagement shoot is during park hours, normally in the morning, theres no guarantee that you'll get photos that dont have other guests in the background, and it is in casual attire.
theres been lots of debate on whether people will be allowed in the parks in formal attire of any kind (you may not be allowed in wearing a evening gown, theories include disney not wanting real life to permeate the fantasy image, and that they dont want people thinking you're part of the show)
the MK bridal session is only available to people who have had disney fairy tale weddings and as such can only be booked in conjunction with the DFTW department.
i did the MK session last november and wouldnt have missed it for the world, where else can you get photos like that?! (link to photos is in my signature)

hope that helps
karen

 

[phisigprincess]

After looking at Karen's MK pictures, I'm thinking how could you not pick that one!!! I want another wedding just so I can do it!!

 

[veronyca_82]

Hikkssss.... the MK shoot is only for couples who marry in Disney? I am planning to get married in my home town... so that is not possible. HIIKKKKKSSSS (*more tears*)......

 

[JonetteA]

Sorry, the MK photoshoot is just for DFTW brides. I am sure that Disney photography would work with you to do a honeymoon shoot of some sort. Or Randy would, I am sure, be happy to do one outside of the resort at different resort locations. He is the BEST.

 

[MrsM]

I don't know if this is much help, but we did a family portrait session with a Disney photographer. We chose to have them done with the castle as the background, and the photographer was very good about waiting to take the pictures when there was no one in the background. I would imagine if you were there at a very busy time of year that may be harder to do, but there are no other people in the background of our pictures. HTH!

 

[JonetteA]

You could always photoshop out the additional people if you needed to.

 

[veronyca_82]

MrsM, did you approach the Disney photographer to do the family picture? Is it a package or is it one of the photographers who stand in the park? (I don't know who you call those people...)

Here is what I want: taking a picture with Cinderella Castle in an evening gown with my guy in tuxedo. When I called Disney, they said they will not let anyone wearing formals to go inside the park. I am not getting married at Disney as well, so I will not be able to do Magic Kingdom Bridal Portraits....

Please please please anyone... ????

Thanks for the advice, JonetteA!
Thanks in advance.

 

[Mommy Poppins]

MrsM, did you approach the Disney photographer to do the family picture? Is it a package or is it one of the photographers who stand in the park? (I don't know who you call those people...)

Here is what I want: taking a picture with Cinderella Castle in an evening gown with my guy in tuxedo. When I called Disney, they said they will not let anyone wearing formals to go inside the park. I am not getting married at Disney as well, so I will not be able to do Magic Kingdom Bridal Portraits....

Please please please anyone... ????

Thanks for the advice, JonetteA!
Thanks in advance.

I'm sorry to say that you will not be allowed into the park in an evening gown with your guy in a tuxedo. That is considered formal attire and as stated by someone else Disney doesn't want anyone to mistake you for one of their "princesses". The MK photo shoot is only available to couples who marry or renew their vows at Disney. So, if you want the castle in the picture, you will have to wear casual clothing and book a photo session with a Disney photographer. Again, they are only done after the park opens and there may be other guests in the background of your photos--although I am sure that Disney photographers do their best to keep the background "extras" to a minimum.

I"m so sorry, I know that's not what you want to hear at all.

 

[veronyca_82]

OK... I called Disney Photography Services (407) 827 5029. They basically said the same thing that you guys told me and suggested to do a vow renewal or a honeymoon package (casual attire is a must, not just recommended like the website claims).

When I asked for samples of Honeymoon pictures, they gave me this:

collages.net/disneyweddings

Username: Disney Photography Samples
Password: 1971

I am not sure if anyone has posted this before, but I hope this is useful for those who are looking for sample pictures before deciding. I guess if this doesn't work out for me, then some other brides could be fortunate enough and may find this information useful.

 

[dee slack]

thanks for the link Veronyca_82 I found it very useful and I'm sure others will too.

 

[DisLUV]

We actually book a honeymoon package and one of our choices was a photo shoot in the park in the morning when the park first opened and the photographer took us all over the MK and too pictures with us (even got to go on some of the upper levels of the castle. There was no one else in the pics with my DW and I except one of us with the Dapper Dans as they sang to me and my bride. WOW is was a great time we loved it!!!! The Photographer was taking pics of us and everyone else thought we were some special couple and kept asking us who we were!!! It was FUNNY!!!!

 

[Cinderella2006]

I am not sure if anyone has posted this before, but I hope this is useful for those who are looking for sample pictures before deciding.

Thank you very much veronyca_82. That has put my mind at rest, we are having the honeymoon shoot two days before the wedding at 11am, i didnt know what to expect but the sample pictures looked fantastic. The reason i am having ours before the wedding is so that i have an excuse to have my hair and makeup trial! I am hoping in Oct the parks will be fairly quiet, cross fingers!

 

[veronyca_82]

DisLUV,

Did you get more than 20 pictures? The package was $295, correct? How much did you end up spending? Are the poses traditional or candidly taken?

Could I see your pictures, if you don't mind please? I am still not sure if I want to go and do the engagement pictures because I was not too keen wearing casual in the most magical place. Too bad I am not getting married in Disney world.

Cinderella2006,

Congrats and hope you enjoy the session. I am happy that my link is useful for future brides. Post your pictures when you are done, OK?

 

[NeverlandClub23]

OK... I called Disney Photography Services (407) 827 5029. They basically said the same thing that you guys told me and suggested to do a vow renewal or a honeymoon package (casual attire is a must, not just recommended like the website claims).

When I asked for samples of Honeymoon pictures, they gave me this:

collages.net/disneyweddings

Username: Disney Photography Samples
Password: 1971

I am not sure if anyone has posted this before, but I hope this is useful for those who are looking for sample pictures before deciding. I guess if this doesn't work out for me, then some other brides could be fortunate enough and may find this information useful.

Thank you so much for this info!!

 

[NeverlandClub23]

We actually book a honeymoon package and one of our choices was a photo shoot in the park in the morning when the park first opened and the photographer took us all over the MK and too pictures with us (even got to go on some of the upper levels of the castle. There was no one else in the pics with my DW and I except one of us with the Dapper Dans as they sang to me and my bride. WOW is was a great time we loved it!!!! The Photographer was taking pics of us and everyone else thought we were some special couple and kept asking us who we were!!! It was FUNNY!!!!

Sorry if this is OT, but I just had a question....How long did it take you to get your pics and photo album?

Or anyone else that has had the honeymoon/engagement session, approx. how long did it take you to get the pics and album?

Thanks!

 

[Gradar1]

So....has anyone done the engagement shoot? I'm guessing that it is exactly the same as the honeymoon shoot. Now that I think about it, I'd love to do that next time I'm in the world (which, I'm happy to report may be next year--possibly for a site visit!)