Escape Wedding budget questions

[lurkyloo]

No worries - it's a new thing.

You can still have an Escape wedding for just the package price. However, if you want to have it on a Saturday or a Sunday OR if you want to add any kind of catered event (like a dessert party or a private meal arranged through your wedding planner), you must spend $7,500 total - which includes the price of whatever Escape package you pick.

So if you get the basic Escape package and you want to add, say, a dessert party, you now must spend at least $2,750 on the dessert party and anything else you want to add - flowers, characters, transportation, more photo albums... anything Disney provides.

 

[athenna]

Ok, thanks! I think I get it now...So say we get the date we want, which is a Saturday, I can book for example an Illuminations dessert party? As long as everything adds up to $7500.
What would you suggest for a VERY small wedding? I think a dessert party wouldnt make much sense for us.

 

[tinkandonaldfans]

would a dinner at a disney resort count towards the minimum?

 

[BlovesC]

No worries - it's a new thing.
So if you get the basic Escape package and you want to add, say, a dessert party, you now must spend at least $2,750 on the dessert party and anything else you want to add - flowers, characters, transportation, more photo albums... anything Disney provides.

Wow. Just wow. I had no idea about this change and this is heartbreaking to hear.

My DF and I are buying our first home a couple months before our wedding. We'd tossed the idea around so many times of having a much cheaper garden/hotel wedding to save money, but we can't get away from the idea of the Disney wedding. We worked it out so we could spend a max of $6,000 on the ceremony+a small dinner reception afterwards, which we really want. We had to change our venue from Epcot to SBP, which was a good deal cheaper.

Now I read this! $7500...that may be a good total for the wedding ALL inclusive, with dress and resort room, but that extra $1500 really will break us when we cannot dip into our savings anymore, which is mostly relegated to the 20% down payment for our home.

I guess we may have to scrap the idea of a nice private dinner and look into booking restaurant reservations somewhere.

 

[athenna]

BlovesC, I'm kind of feeling the same way right now...I want to married @ WDW more than anything, but I want a small, simple wedding...Yes, I want to organize a few things for us to do with our guests, but not for $3k extra.
A dessert party is out, ridiculous, for such a small party. I dont know. But I am kind of attatched to the date I picked, I dont want to have to change it, because it happens to fall on a Saturday.

 

[ZipADeeEm]

I thought the extra money was required only for a wedding on Saturday or Sunday. Why not have a weekday wedding, instead? Our photographer was half price because we're doing it on a weekday! I hope you don't have to give up on your dreams!

 

[BlovesC]

I thought the extra money was required only for a wedding on Saturday or Sunday. Why not have a weekday wedding, instead? Our photographer was half price because we're doing it on a weekday! I hope you don't have to give up on your dreams!

Oh!!! Did I misread lurkyloo's post?I took it to mean that Saturday or Sunday weddings OR weddings with private receptions must meet the minimum. We have always planned a Thursday wedding so if it is just a weekend thing I will be so relieved!

 

[amy_schlemer]

Yeah I'm with you guys. I was wanting to possibly have a small lunch/dinner depending on the time of day we are having our wedding. If we have our wedding at noon I would figure that we can have a lunch reception which would help with cost. Or a dessert party, maybe? Everyone keeps saying that Sago Cay is nice and inexpensive but I really cannot find anything online that tells me about Sago Cay. We are only having about 20 people and really do not want to spend loads of money for a small wedding.

And is the $5750 for the DP Escape Package, does that include your resort stay or do you have to book that seperately?

I was hoping to be able to stay at a resort (which you have to have a 4 day minimum stay to have the wedding at WDW) but I was hoping for a Park Hopper pass as well. I didn't know if the Annual Passes help or kicked in with that or what. I'm so confused and Disney really doesn't explain any of this well.

 

[amy_schlemer]

Are there any other places besides Sago Cay that would be inexpensive to have a possible lunch or dessert party?

 

[S <3 M]

Yeah I'm with you guys. I was wanting to possibly have a small lunch/dinner depending on the time of day we are having our wedding. If we have our wedding at noon I would figure that we can have a lunch reception which would help with cost. Or a dessert party, maybe? Everyone keeps saying that Sago Cay is nice and inexpensive but I really cannot find anything online that tells me about Sago Cay. We are only having about 20 people and really do not want to spend loads of money for a small wedding.

And is the $5750 for the DP Escape Package, does that include your resort stay or do you have to book that seperately?

I was hoping to be able to stay at a resort (which you have to have a 4 day minimum stay to have the wedding at WDW) but I was hoping for a Park Hopper pass as well. I didn't know if the Annual Passes help or kicked in with that or what. I'm so confused and Disney really doesn't explain any of this well.

The $5750 does not include your resort stay.

 

[S <3 M]

Are there any other places besides Sago Cay that would be inexpensive to have a possible lunch or dessert party?

How about the Key West room in Grand Floridian?

 

[lurkyloo]

Ok, thanks! I think I get it now...So say we get the date we want, which is a Saturday, I can book for example an Illuminations dessert party? As long as everything adds up to $7500.
What would you suggest for a VERY small wedding? I think a dessert party wouldnt make much sense for us.

Well, I'm biased because we had an anniversary dessert party for just 2 people, so I don't think any group size it too small. But you could book a catered meal after your ceremony in order to reach the minimum. Or you could just add Cinderella's glass coach - that'll put you the minimum over right there.

would a dinner at a disney resort count towards the minimum?

Only if it was privately catered, which means you'd arrange it through your wedding planner. Just making a reservation at a restaurant wouldn't count.

Wow. Just wow. I had no idea about this change and this is heartbreaking to hear.

My DF and I are buying our first home a couple months before our wedding. We'd tossed the idea around so many times of having a much cheaper garden/hotel wedding to save money, but we can't get away from the idea of the Disney wedding. We worked it out so we could spend a max of $6,000 on the ceremony+a small dinner reception afterwards, which we really want. We had to change our venue from Epcot to SBP, which was a good deal cheaper.

Now I read this! $7500...that may be a good total for the wedding ALL inclusive, with dress and resort room, but that extra $1500 really will break us when we cannot dip into our savings anymore, which is mostly relegated to the 20% down payment for our home.

I guess we may have to scrap the idea of a nice private dinner and look into booking restaurant reservations somewhere.

How about booking a private dinner at Downtown Disney or the Swan or Dolphin instead? Or what about booking the private room at Citricos - that's done through the restaurant itself - it's not a catered event - so it wouldn't trigger the higher minimum.

This trend of booking private events thru Disney in conjunction with an Escape wedding is a fairly recent thing. In the old days, couples made their own dinner arrangements at places like the ones I've listed above or just made a non-private group dining reservation.

I hope you're able to find something that works!

Oh!!! Did I misread lurkyloo's post?I took it to mean that Saturday or Sunday weddings OR weddings with private receptions must meet the minimum. We have always planned a Thursday wedding so if it is just a weekend thing I will be so relieved!

I'm afraid not - the $7,500 it is in effect every day of the week if you want to book a private catered event. They just don't say that on the web site because they are not really in the business of adding catered events to Escape weddings. They will do it, they just don't advertise it.

 

[gemmybear83]

Since when has this new $7500 rule been in place? My coordinator has never mentioned but has sent me details regarding hosting a dessert party. Iam due to book my wedding in about 6 weeks.

 

[SuzeQ]

So do you have to use a Disney Photographer? It is included with the package but I didn't know if you had to use them and if you don't want to do they exclude the price of one or can you use the price of the photographer for something else?

I know David and Vicki Arndt Photography will also work with a disney photographer at your Escape Wedding. David shoots primary and Vicki shoots the photojournalism then you would have the disney photographer too, giving you a good variety of images.

You can contact them through their website
http://www.davidandvickiarndtphoto.com/

They have a facebook page with a lot Disney Wedding Pictures
http://www.facebook.com/#!/OrlandoWeddings?ref=ts

I'm using them because I love their work, but their prices are very reasonable too, and their albums are beautiful!

Suze

 

[lurkyloo]

Since when has this new $7500 rule been in place?

It just happened within the last week or so. If you're planning on adding a dessert party, that could easily add $2,000 more toward the $7,500 you'll need to spend.

 

[athenna]

Thanks, lurkyloo, for the suggestions...I dont want the coach, not my thing...But could you tell me more about the catered meals? That sounds good for us, got a couple of examples?

 

[tinkerbell1988]

can someone please tell me if the Magic Kingdom / Epcot portrait session counts towards the new Escape minimum? or is it just wedding day enhancements such as transport, food etc? if that makes any sense!

 

[BlovesC]

Well the new limits pushed us over the edge and our Escape wedding is off. After countless hours spent reading others' PJs and pouring over my printed-out passporter book, of course I'm sad to say goodbye to a Disney wedding. But when it comes down to priorities, buying our house is simply #1 and we can't justify so much extra expense for our 20 person wedding. Maybe in 5 or 10 years from now when we've had a chance to save up with no more big purchases, we can book an Escape vow renewal.

But, not all is lost, since we're not spending much money on a ceremony we've amped up our honeymoon a bit! 4 night Disneymoon and 4 night cruise. Small victories!

 

[athenna]

Well the new limits pushed us over the edge and our Escape wedding is off. After countless hours spent reading others' PJs and pouring over my printed-out passporter book, of course I'm sad to say goodbye to a Disney wedding. But when it comes down to priorities, buying our house is simply #1 and we can't justify so much extra expense for our 20 person wedding. Maybe in 5 or 10 years from now when we've had a chance to save up with no more big purchases, we can book an Escape vow renewal.

But, not all is lost, since we're not spending much money on a ceremony we've amped up our honeymoon a bit! 4 night Disneymoon and 4 night cruise. Small victories!

I think you made a smart decision!

 

[lurkyloo]

Thanks, lurkyloo, for the suggestions...I dont want the coach, not my thing...But could you tell me more about the catered meals? That sounds good for us, got a couple of examples?

Let's see, depending on where your ceremony is, you could have a lunch/dinner reception in one of the smaller rooms in a nearby convention center. Popular spots include the Key West and Whitehall rooms at the Grand Floridian and half of the St. James Room at BoardWalk Inn. Or you could have it outside at the Grand Floridian Marina during Wishes. Or you could use one of the special venues, like Ariel's or the Attic. Your planner can help you come up with ideas to suit your taste and budget.

Depending on the locations, it could be plated or buffet, and you can have all the trappings of a traditional wedding reception except a DJ and dancing. You could play songs on an iPod instead, though. There is a two-hour limit (although at least one person here reports being allowed to go to three hours, so it can't hurt to ask).

can someone please tell me if the Magic Kingdom / Epcot portrait session counts towards the new Escape minimum? or is it just wedding day enhancements such as transport, food etc? if that makes any sense!

If you buy it from Disney, it counts. Now, with Wishes couples they say that only those who use Disney for their wedding photography can do the photo shoot on a different day and have it count. But since most Escape couples use the Disney photography that comes in the package, this shouldn't be a problem.

Well the new limits pushed us over the edge and our Escape wedding is off. After countless hours spent reading others' PJs and pouring over my printed-out passporter book, of course I'm sad to say goodbye to a Disney wedding. But when it comes down to priorities, buying our house is simply #1 and we can't justify so much extra expense for our 20 person wedding. Maybe in 5 or 10 years from now when we've had a chance to save up with no more big purchases, we can book an Escape vow renewal.

I'm so sorry to hear you had to change your plans, but I think it's great that you know what your priorities are. And that Disney honeymoon will be a blast!