Escape min. expenditures?

[Dvcmbr09]

Ok so I love passporters disney wedding book, its like the disney wedding bible! I would like to know what counts towards the $8000 min. exp. (which is only if u have a sat or sun event)? We would like to do a dinner party at maybe napa room at CG and dessert party at Epcot, will either or both count? Oh and if we hire transportation will that count as well? I pretty sure portrait sessions in park count, right? What about other things like gf tea party or round of golf?

 

[bigr3ddog]

Escape weddings are a package and have very limited customization. The $8000 gets you what they have listed: ceremony, violinist, cake, toast, 4 hours of limo, 1 hour photography and videography, and whatever else is specifically listed on the package.

It does not include in park bridal portraits, receptions, guest transportation. Those are all extra that you can add on top of your escape package, but very rarely can you replace an escape component with something else. (I'm not sure if you can add guest transportation or not.) There are upgrades, but what you have listed are not upgrades but rather add-ons and are not included in the $8000 package price.

 

[Summer Daydream]

The MK session counts from what I have read. Also upgrades to photography, floral, cake, and adding videography would also count. I think that DP and small private meals count as long as they are on your wedding day.

 

[jenna77]

I do not think that $8,000 is a package price, as Escape packages are less than that: http://disneyweddings.disney.go.com/weddings/florida/pricing/escape/detail

$8,000 is a minimum expenditure that applies to Escape weddings on Saturday or Sunday, and should include things like dinner or a dessert party on the wedding day or portrait sessions. Transportation should count too. According to the DFTW web site:

"Escape Weddings occurring on Saturday and Sunday must meet a $8,000+++ minimum expenditure. This minimum (based on guest count) can be met through a combination of elements provided by Disney's Fairy Tale Weddings including your Escape Package, food & beverage, floral, décor, entertainment, photography/videography, additional transportation and venue rentals."

 

[bigr3ddog]

Oh sorry. My mistake. It is an $8000 minimum expenditure, of which whatever escape package chosen applies towards. So does that mean you can add anything else to meet the balance to reach $8000? If this part acts like wishes weddings, then my guess is that your reception, tea, in park bridal portrait, guest transportation, and probably even mini golf would count, but I'm not positive. In wishes events, practically anything that disney supplies on the day of the event counts. If the same applies to Saturday and Sunday escape weddings, then you'd be having a really nice wedding event (and not just a wedding).

 

[lurkyloo]

Ok so I love passporters disney wedding book, its like the disney wedding bible! I would like to know what counts towards the $8000 min. exp. (which is only if u have a sat or sun event)?

Anything you pay Disney's Fairy Tale Weddings for on the day of your wedding will count.

We would like to do a dinner party at maybe napa room at CG and dessert party at Epcot, will either or both count?

Both, if planned through DFTW and held on the wedding day.

Oh and if we hire transportation will that count as well?

If hired through Disney, yes.

I pretty sure portrait sessions in park count, right? What about other things like gf tea party or round of golf?

Portrait session, yes; tea party, only if it's planned through DFTW, not if you just go to the Gardenview Tea Room; golf, no.

Hope this helps!

 

[lurkyloo]

And don't forget that the Escape package price also counts toward the $8,000, so you're more than halfway there already....

 

[Dvcmbr09]

Thank you so much for all your responses!! I have two more questions I read somewhere (not in the wedding bible) that you couldn't book the napa room or other dining through DFTW nor could you book DP through them. I am confused, what can u book or not book through DFTW if you are having an escape wedding? Also I read if you don't book DP through DFTW you can not wear your bridal gown. Is this true?

 

[lurkyloo]

If you're having an Escape event, you can add on a private catered reception or a dessert party through DFTW, but they usually only offer you a limited choice of venues. Also, the reception's just a 2-hour meal—no DJ or anything like that. If you book an in-park event through Disney Catered Events instead of Disney's Fairy Tale Weddings, you can't wear bridal attire.

 

[Dvcmbr09]

Thank you lurkyloo. Now I am debating if we should have wishes wedding, 1) so we don't have worry about cutting down our list of invites from 28 and 2) so we are not so restricted in what we can do. But I don't want to get so stressed out either, with decisions to make, making sure all the different expenditure min. are met, room nights included.
Okay so I can book let's say the napa room through either disney catering and then I can have longer then 2hrs and have DJ and dance floor?

 

[lurkyloo]

Weeeelllll... if Disney Catered Events thinks you're trying to have a wedding without going through DFTW, they will not work with you, so I'd say no on the DJ and dancing. Really, if the only thing keeping you from just doing a Wishes event is not wanting to make a lot of decisions, don't sweat it. Your DFTW planner will be sure you meet all your minimums and handle all the heavy lifting for you. (And this podcast episode will explain the room block). All you have to decide on is fun stuff like colors and flavors. Plus you will have way more options and flexibility.