Escape vs Wishes

[katydidbug1]

Quick question for all you ladies. While my boyfriend and I are not engaged yet, but will be, I have been doing a little pre-planning to get a ball park idea of which package we will go with. Either way it will be small, 18-25.

I have a friend getting married at Disney in April and she sent me the PDF pack for her Wishes wedding. Was wondering if there is one for Escape weddings and if anyone would be willing to share.

I really want to get a ballpark on prices figuring that the will go up, so we can start saving our pennies.

TIA

Cait

 

[smalltowngirl]

FI and I are planning an Escape wedding but not until 2010. And we are as well planning some where between 18-20 people which is the perfect size for an escape wedding I guess. And we are a little worried about cost. So we still have not yet made up our mind 110%

 

[katydidbug1]

This is exactly why I am doing some planning now. He and I have talked about it....And we want small at disney. I figure the earlier we plan it will be easier for our families to committ to going.

So if anyone has any advice, pretty please share it. I have spent some time now lurking on PJ, and well frankly what you can and can't do, and costs have my head spinning.

 

[Xiarra]

Quick question for all you ladies. While my boyfriend and I are not engaged yet, but will be, I have been doing a little pre-planning to get a ball park idea of which package we will go with. Either way it will be small, 18-25.

I have a friend getting married at Disney in April and she sent me the PDF pack for her Wishes wedding. Was wondering if there is one for Escape weddings and if anyone would be willing to share.

I really want to get a ballpark on prices figuring that the will go up, so we can start saving our pennies.

TIA

Cait

Have you looked at the Disney Weddings Official Website?

http://www.disneyweddings.go.com/site/gate/index.jsp

It states that there is a maximum of 18 guests allowed for an Escape wedding.... not sure if they have any "flex" on this.

In 2004 we did the intimate wedding (now called the Escape Wedding) and we had 20 people.... however, the person I originally spoke to made a mistake when I told her how many people I had, she told me I could do the intimate and since she told me this Disney honored this in lieu of having to do a custom wedding (now called Wishes Wedding) which can be very expensive.

If I am remembering correctly.... for the intimate wedding (now Escape) we spent about $5500.00 in total. This included the being married at Sunrise Terrace (WL), my bouquet, my sisters bouquet, lapel roses for 2 men, cake, champagne toast, violinist for the ceremony, officiant (Rev. Day), limo for the service, intimate wedding photo session (however we upgraded to Ariel's Package not sure if they still have this package), hair and makeup for me the day of the wedding.

Then we did a reception at Fulton's that night for an additional $1700.00.

Not sure if this helps... but take a look at Disney's Website and this will give you a feel of what to expect expenditure wise and what is and isn't included.

 

[lurkyloo]

There is no flexibility on the 18-guest (20 people total) limit for Escape weddings, unfortunately, and even babies count. That's how Disney keeps the costs of the package down. For 2009, the price is $4,500 for outdoor locations and $5,500 for the Wedding Paviion. Hope this helps!

 

[katydidbug1]

There is no flexibility on the 18-guest (20 people total) limit for Escape weddings, unfortunately, and even babies count. That's how Disney keeps the costs of the package down. For 2009, the price is $4,500 for outdoor locations and $5,500 for the Wedding Paviion. Hope this helps!

That is what I gathered in that respect, but was wondering if things like an upgrade was possible for the cake and flowers?

And if you are doing an escape wedding, and want to say do a desert party, how does one book that? Do the wedding peeps do that or are you on your own?

I'm wondering if when all is said and done, if we wanted to have say 20 people at the wedding, and wanted to do dinner at one of the resturants, and a desert party, total cost would more then likely be around the min for the Wishes wedding, when all was said and done?

 

[lurkyloo]

That is what I gathered in that respect, but was wondering if things like an upgrade was possible for the cake and flowers?

Now that they're offering 6 design choices for the Escape cake, I'm not sure whether they still let you upgrade to a customized cake with a $200 credit for the cake that is included in the package (which they used to do). If you want to pay full price for it, you can have any kind of cake your heart desires, though. You are also welcome to pay for additional floral or upgrade the included floral.

And if you are doing an escape wedding, and want to say do a desert party, how does one book that? Do the wedding peeps do that or are you on your own?

Your wedding planner can book the dessert party for you.

I'm wondering if when all is said and done, if we wanted to have say 20 people at the wedding, and wanted to do dinner at one of the resturants, and a desert party, total cost would more then likely be around the min for the Wishes wedding, when all was said and done?

It all depends - if you had a lunch or brunch after your Escape wedding, you might be able to have a meal for a few hundred dollars. And even if the extras you add to the Escape package bring your total up to the $10K minimum, remember that Wishes weddings have tax and service charge on top of the minimum, which could total anywhere from $1,000-$2,000 or more.

That said, if you're right on the edge of spending the Wishes minimums, it may be worth it to spend a little more and have a Wishes wedding just for the flexibility, extra planning assistance, and customization offered. That's why we did it, and we kept our costs right to the Wishes minimums instead of getting carried away once we'd switched from an Escape.

What I did was add up the approximate costs of everything I wanted based on prices people posted here to get a realistic idea of the budget. If you do a search, you'll find some posts I've made about what gets taxed and what has a service charge, if you want to be really accurate.

OR, if you tell Disney you want a Wishes wedding, you can ask them to do a rough estimated cost proposal. Just know that it's based on a lot of generic categories and charges for things you may or may not want.

 

[disprincessatheart]

We did our escape wedding at the WP for $7500 including an upgraded cake, extra floral, dinner for 19 at Narcoossee's including alcohol, and a Wishes cruise on the Grand 1. If we'd done a DP or Cinderella's coach, it would have been close enough to $10k that we would have upgraded to Wishes. We loved our wedding - it was perfect for us.

Just to be clear, we had 17 of our 18 allowed guests (a 3 yr old and 4 yr old included) and then the two of us, getting us to the 19 total. If you have more than 18 guests, the only other thing you can do is have only 18 of them come to the ceremony, and have the rest meet up for dinner and the DP. We were thinking my one aunt and uncle might have had to do that (they're very laid back and were totally fine with it) if my DBIL and best friend had each brought a guest. We did have to send one aunt and cousin home early (they were down with other friends anyway) before the Grand 1 because that has an 18 person max.

 

[katydidbug1]

You ladies are awesome!!! Thank you thank you thank you...I am sure I will have more questions...I know I have some somewhere, but can't get my hands on my notebook at the moment.

I know that the prices will change over the next couple of years, but it helps to get an idea of what other people did. We have talked about it, and as we will be paying for the wedding (my first his second) better to be well armed with informaiton.

 

[Xiarra]

And if you are doing an escape wedding, and want to say do a desert party, how does one book that? Do the wedding peeps do that or are you on your own?

My wedding coordinator was able to assist with only some locations. We were considering a dessert reception (I forgot what venue) but I had to deal directly with the venue, but when I was considering a meal at Narcossee's (sp?) my wedding coordinator was able to work the details out for me.... so I guess it really depends on the venue....

For our Fulton's reception, I had to work directly with Fulton's for this.

As for the flowers and cake.... I didn't inquire about that, but I did on the photo package and we did upgrade for an additional price (which to me was worth it due to what the "base" photo package included.).

Actually, I thought the cake was rather nice but that is my opinion and actually quite large for such a small group..... but I am sure you probably can upgrade but of course with an additional cost.

 

[smalltowngirl]

Is there anyway ahead of time we can add stuff to a list with prices on it online? ( like with the honeymoon registry?) If that makes sense ? I keep going to the wedding site clicking and looking and reading and I haven't found any? I guess I'm just kind of hoping its hiding.

 

[Xiarra]

Is there anyway ahead of time we can add stuff to a list with prices on it online? ( like with the honeymoon registry?) If that makes sense ? I keep going to the wedding site clicking and looking and reading and I haven't found any? I guess I'm just kind of hoping its hiding.

Disney now has a "Wish Book" option.... you have to register for this.... here is the link

http://www.disneyweddings.go.com/wishbook/register.jsp?referer=int

The site says that this will help you estimate the cost as well as a way for you to keep track of things that you might like to have...

Now, this was not available when I got married in 2004 so I don't know how accurate it is and if it is just for the Wishes Wedding etc. as I have no experience with it, but I thought I would share in case you wanted to check it out.

 

[lurkyloo]

The Wishbook pricing is almost universally out of date. Also, it doesn't show you even half of the options you can choose from.

I suggest reading through people's BEOs and Planning Journals to get a more accurate idea of the current prices. If you search this board on the term "BEO" you will turn up several threads where people have listed line-by-line breakdowns of their budgets, including pricing.

 

[Sha]

This is exactly why I am doing some planning now. He and I have talked about it....And we want small at disney. I figure the earlier we plan it will be easier for our families to committ to going.

So if anyone has any advice, pretty please share it. I have spent some time now lurking on PJ, and well frankly what you can and can't do, and costs have my head spinning.

Cait... am adding this to my subscription so you an just refer me to whatever post.

I can vouch that she (Cait) is planning and head spinning, as I am one of her sounding boards.

LurkyLoo... she sent me to your thread (great thread btw) and I have ideas for her, as she wants me to try and take some simple pics of her and DBF. Off topic: love the close up shot of cats nose.

OKAY... BACK TO CAIT !!! Just let me know if there is something for me to go and do for you. Any good reason to drive down the road is good

 

[MegKate]

I was originally planning an Escape wedding. But finding out that they count infants and children forced my hand into the Wishes wedding. I would recommend making both a Wishes and Escape wishbook to estimate out the prices of each ceremony. What I came up with between the two was 3,000 dollars difference, but I had 30 more guests.

Either way, let us know what you find out! I have a friend who wants to take an Escape wedding with just 4 other people.

 

[katydidbug1]

Cait... am adding this to my subscription so you an just refer me to whatever post.

I can vouch that she (Cait) is planning and head spinning, as I am one of her sounding boards.

LurkyLoo... she sent me to your thread (great thread btw) and I have ideas for her, as she wants me to try and take some simple pics of her and DBF. Off topic: love the close up shot of cats nose.

OKAY... BACK TO CAIT !!! Just let me know if there is something for me to go and do for you. Any good reason to drive down the road is good

Thanks Sha....and yes my head is spinning.

I have decided that my goal, if I do a wishes wedding, is to get as close to the budget as Lurkyloo did....she's my budget idol..lol (by the way, read your PJ and TR....you wedding was awesome....and your dress OMG....is all I can say)

 

[katydidbug1]

I was originally planning an Escape wedding. But finding out that they count infants and children forced my hand into the Wishes wedding. I would recommend making both a Wishes and Escape wishbook to estimate out the prices of each ceremony. What I came up with between the two was 3,000 dollars difference, but I had 30 more guests.

Either way, let us know what you find out! I have a friend who wants to take an Escape wedding with just 4 other people.

That is one of the things that is sticking with my...My best friend and my DBF niece both have babies and would put us over the limit, unless of course, I can convince someone, maybe my Best Friends niece to come along and watch the babies in the room (which is possible, but would have to pay her way).

Here is another question. If we do the escape and add on a DP can we have more people at the DP then we did at the Wedding itself?

 

[ToontownPrincess]

While my boyfriend and I are not engaged yet, but will be, I have been doing a little pre-planning to get a ball park idea of which package we will go with. Cait

I feel happy knowing I'm not the only one! Sometimes I think I'll have my wedding planned before dbf pops the question. I've been debating back and forth between escape and wishes and would be interested in any further input

 

[katydidbug1]

Hi all

I have another question, not sure where to find the info. But I read somewhere and now can't remember where, about using outside Photographers....is that just in the parks, or not at all.

Am think after reading all of this and talking with by DBF, that we will most likely have an escape wedding. I am really liking pics I have seen by the Roots and Randy Chapman.

If anyone can help with info on this....that would be AWESOME!!!

TIA

 

[lurkyloo]

You can have an outside photographer anywhere BUT the parks. And since Escape weddings aren't held in the parks, you are good to go.