Escape Wedding in 2010 - Advice needed

[Nicola2010]

Hello there everyone, this is my first posting on the boards and im seeking some advice and would really appreciate some help and guidance.

My fiance and i live in England (born & bred) but are planning on getting married in disneyworld in 2010.

Our plans that we hope are possible are: Ceremony at the wedding pavillion. Evening reception at the upper terrace of UK in Epcot in order to have a front row seat for the Illuminations fireworks.

I have been on the disney website almost everyday since we got engaged in June 2007 but i dont feel it gives me the details that i am looking for.

There seems to be quite alot of the details for the wishes package but not so much for the escape package.

Can any of you lovely people tell me whether our plans are possible?
If so a rough estimate of cost would be great and if anyone has done this combination or something similar i would love to hear from you and view some pics.

My fiance and i are DVC members so we will be planning to stay at our home resort of Saratoga Springs & Spa... we are staying there for the first time in Sept 08, which we are so looking forward to and we are hoping to view the wedding locations and speak to a wedding planner but i am very impatient so if any of you could answer my queries it would be most appreciated.

I have also heard about an Illuminations dessert cruise. can anyone tell me about this? rough estimate of cost and what's included?

Also is a bride able to wear their dress within a park (i.e. for my epcot reception) or will i need to purchase another dress?

thanks in advance for your help x

 

[Beep]

Hello fellow UK-er and congratulations!

Here is a good link for info on the cruises: http://www.magicalkingdoms.com/wdw/rec/spcruises.html

I'm sure there will be loads of people coming along to give you advice and answers. I can't really help with the reception venue (we are having ours at the Yachtsmans) but I think there is a minimum number of people or a minimum expenditure.

If you go to the Disney Weddings website and start a wishbook you can get an idea of the costs of things there. They aren't always completely up to date but it gives you an idea. Here's the link: https://disneyweddings.go.com/wishbook/register.jsp?referer=

We were looking at a Wishes wedding as there are more options than an Escape but there was no way we could have met the 25 night minimum stay on property so we went for the Escape instead. I could easily have spent the $10,000 minimum spend though!

 

[Nicola2010]

Hi Beep!

Thank you for your help... how funny at the time you were responding to me i was writing a message on your journal asking for your help ha ha!

Hope to speak to you some more!

Nicola

 

[Nicola2010]

oops forgot to say,

as we are DVC members, my fiance and i are planning to stay at our home resort for a total of 20 nights (2 weeks with the family and then 1 week honeymoon)

my fiance's sister and brother-in-law are also DVC members so they will also be staying on disney property for 2 weeks so between us we can meet the requirement of a minimum 25 night stay... we have always planned that the rest of our family would stay off-disney to keep their costs down so that would still work.

Do you know then if the $10,000 minimum spend is just for food and drink or can we make that up by wedding site and reception costs and additional extras? if we could then maybe a wishes package would work out better for us? we do only have 15 people inc us at the mo but i would think some of our friends may want to go if we ask them (we havent asked them due to the escape limit)

what do you think?

 

[Beep]

Ooohh, lucky you with DVC! It's great that you can make the minimum number of nights.

The $10,000 can be made up of almost anything apart from the rooms. Have a look at the Wish book - when you click on the different topics on the left and then pick what you want it adds it as a running total on the page. You can include floral, centre-pieces, cinderella's carriage, limos etc. You can also include entertainment from a violinist to a harpist, photography, videography and loads of other things too.

The Disney floral is quite expensive and people on here have used outside vendors, and outside vendors for photography.

I'm sure you've seen this on the boards but two of the most popular photographers are Randy Chapman and Misty Miotto. Lurkyloo used Roots and her photo's are lovely.

Hope that helps - the Wish book gives a load of different options to get you started.

We are planning ours for December 2009 and I'm so glad I started finding out info now. I wouldn't have known about the customs problem with shipping my dress if I hadn't found a bridal shop in Orlando by being on these boards, or found Randy Chapman and Kevin Knox and be able to book them so early.

I thought I might be a bit early in planning but no - it's never to early. That way you get all your bases covered!

Alex x

 

[Nicola2010]

oh wow you're having rev kev too!

that is who we really want... one of my work colleagues' niece got married at the wedding pavillion last dec so ive been trying to find out everything and she had rev kev! she couldnt say enough nice things about him!

so with regards to the photographer, what happens to the 20 photos and album that is included in the escape package price? do you just give that up? i hadnt really thought about an external photographer but does it work out better? as i would want a photographer at the reception, would love some firework pics lol!

with regards to wishes package... if we can only have 15 people but pay for 20 would they let us do that?

 

[Beep]

oh wow you're having rev kev too!

that is who we really want... one of my work colleagues' niece got married at the wedding pavillion last dec so ive been trying to find out everything and she had rev kev! she couldnt say enough nice things about him!

so with regards to the photographer, what happens to the 20 photos and album that is included in the escape package price? do you just give that up? i hadnt really thought about an external photographer but does it work out better? as i would want a photographer at the reception, would love some firework pics lol!

with regards to wishes package... if we can only have 15 people but pay for 20 would they let us do that?

As far as I know Disney do a honeymoon shoot if you don't use the photography included, which is 2 hours I think. I'm not sure how many pictures you get or about the photo album.

We wanted to book Randy because I love his style of photos. I love the reportage and photojournalistic style rather than the formal and posed ones. We initially arranged 5 hours with him for well under $1000 but might be changing that to 4 hours. he is very flexible and a great guy to deal with. Summer booked him to do her wedding and then he came back after their meal to take night photos at the Wedding Pavillion. You book him for the number of hours you want and he will split it so it isn't continuous.

Not sure about having 15 people and paying for 20 - but i'm sure if you have the dollar Disney will do! On the Wish book with Disney it states some venues have a rental fee and a minimum expenditure. It says the minimum expenditure for a Wishes wedding is $75 minimum per person +20% service charge + 6.5% sales tax before 2.00pm and $100 minimum per person after 2.00pm. This can be comprised of food and beverage costs including a pre-reception reception, wedding cake, all drinks etc.

The UK Upper Terrace says $17.50 minimum (+service fee and tax) per person and a minimum of 20 people so you would need to make up the $75 or $100 from other food and beverages. I'm sure you can include things like wedding favours from Disney and signature drinks.

It also states you need to use a charter bus (presumably due to wearing wedding gear in the park) and I think that is around the $440 mark. They also charge $12.50 per person to view Illuminations (ie they don't need a park ticket) and $50 for a host/hostess. They also charge $75 if you reuest to use the tables and chairs. That wouldn't be included in your $75 minimum and it isn't food and beverages.

$10,000 isn't hard to spend

I'm taking this information from the Wish book and I'm sure someone will come along and give you a definitive answer x

 

[B2B-2008]

Congratulations from another UK bride. I'm having a wishes wedding and only have 12 people attending including us. We have just started the planning there is a link to my PJ on my signature. We are using outside photography and an outside videographer as they are better value for money. We went with a wishes wedding as we wanted the wedding to flow nicely we are getting married at the WP and are having our pre-reception and reception at the GF and a DP at Epcot. The only thing is we wanted UK lower for Epcot but because our group was so small another group got that area. My contract did state that because of our mall group we have to pay a small group fee of $50.

 

[feline figaro]

Hi Nicola


& welcome to the boards. You ll love it on here as you end up getting so much info & ideas its fab

Glad to see theres another uk bride on here & better still one from Essex!!! Where abouts are you from??

Its never too early to start planning your wedding trust me on thatI ve been planning my wedding for the last 2 years (having been now engaged for nearly 9 yrs) so now thats im able to start booking things its getting so excited. I ve been able to go through so many possible options for our big day that now ive pretty much planned everything down to a "T".

With Disney i think nearly anythings possible so if you ve got specific ideas & are nt too sure whether they would accomodate them give them a call & someone will give you a call back to just answer a few q's.

As for pricing they ve not yet even released the pricing for 2009 so i would get the pricing for this year to get a rough idea of possible costs & then add a few $$$'s on it to give you a better idea.

We re getting married May 2009 at Wedding Pavillion, staying at Poly for 10 nights & the transferring to POFQ for another 10 nights. We ve booked Randy for photos & i ve booked Beaute Speciale for both our Oct planning session & for my weding day hair & makeup . we re more than likely to book Rev Kevin Knox as well. Def gonna end the day with a Wishes Cruise on Grand 1

 

[orangetiggs]

congrats from aanother uk and essex bride!!

we are getting married on sept 2nd in disney but we are having a wishes wedding as we have around 30 going with us

 

[Nicola2010]

Hello to you all and congratulations to you all!

I'm so excited that ive had so many lovely and helpful replies! However i left this board at 3:45am and am back as couldnt sleep for the amount of questions buzzing around in my brain lol

I am from Harlow felinefigaro

I am having a meeting with my fiance's family today to discuss possibilities and am now totally confused as to whether we should have a wishes wedding or an escape wedding! Please help me lol

Ok we had originally planned to get married at WP based on escape package, however now undecided as to whether to go for yacht club with wishes package (as venue cheaper). i dont know much about this venue though... is this on a beach overlooking the castle? as that would be magical if we could do that.

If we did the wishes package we would not want to spend much over the $10,000. Ive had a look in the wish book but am still confused, im so sorry if i sound dumb, it's just really difficult when ive got no one around me who has planned this type of wedding and all i keep getting is "you'll have to wait and see" and i soooo cannot wait for anything lol

Dont know how you've remained so patient through a 9 year engagement! im a nightmare... i want everything to happen now lol

so if we went for the yacht club for ceremony... i was looking at ariels for the reception... does anyone know if that reception venue would need additional entertainment (well some background music really as i wouldnt want to sit in silence lol)

We originally wanted the upper terrace of UK but ive worked out that the meals and firework viewings would come to around $800 inc taxes so there is no way we could or would spend $1,200 on alcohol to meet the site minimum spend of $100.00 pp!

Whereas at least with somewhere like ariels, as far as i understand it, you get a reception soiree, main meal, open bar, wedding cake etc for the $2,000 which i think is much better value for money.

I really wanted to see the wishes fireworks at the end of the day but didnt think this was possible... by the sounds of it it is so could you tell me more about that? i do want to end the day with fireworks, is it possible to have them at the yacht club, without having to spend $3,000 as the wish book says (although thats for fireworks at WP).

If anyone could reply to me asap i would really appreciate it as then i can go to my in-laws with the facts lol

 

[orangetiggs]

you have to spend over the $10k min as this is without thier service charge and tax.

we are having the pavillion, whitehall room and uk lower for ours.

we wanted a wishes dessert party but they dont do them in magic kingdom you have to have the music pipped into a location at the grand. if the wishes are cancelled then you have spent alot of money but with illuminations it hardley gets cancelled

 

[Nicola2010]

hi orangetiggs,

hmmm yes i see what you are saying about the cost.

i was wondering how everyone was managing to have an outside photographer and still meet the minimum spend but yes i had forgot that the tax was on everything lol

thanks for that... i also see your point about illuminations... my fiance really wants to end the evening on that note but i just dont see how we can spend the $2,000 at the UK now

 

[Nicola2010]

sorry another question

is that $10,000 min plus taxes or do they allow you to spend $10,000 inc taxes?

 

[Nicola2010]

doesnt look like i can do any of the cruises anyway as they all seem to only allow up to 12 guests and we will have more than that

 

[B2B-2008]

Hi Nicola,

Is the $2000 a minimum spend at the UK area of Epcot. I found that the areas they have in the wish book show a spend you have to meet but when I talked to disney they recommended the whitehall room at the GF where you just have to spend $125 per person. So we have to spend $1500 in total on food, drink and the wedding cake. This is quite easy to do depending on the choices you make. For my DP I have to pay the cost of the area approx. $275 and I have to spend $19.50 per person which is easy as the menu we want is $27 per person. I think the DP is looking at being about $1000 for the 12 of us including viewing fee.

$1000 min is without the taxes and service charge.

 

[Nicola2010]

Hi B2B 2008, i loved your PJ btw... it brought a tear to my eye as i know what you mean about feeling guilty about what you want.

I am mega confused as you can probably tell.

I am only assuming as i cant do anything else at this stage so if i am wrong please make my day and tell me i am wrong lol

I was thinking that the UK venue would be our evening reception meal and fireworks, however because it said min spend for reception is $19.50 plus $12.50 for fireworks plus taxes, i am thinking that we would not be able to reach the $100 p/p min spend as this is too cheap.

Are you saying that the $19.50 is only for a dessert party and an actual meal would be more than that? If so then this could work.

You mentioned the cake cutting ceremony at white hall at GF. Is that included with the ceremony cost? or is that extra? if so is that something i should have? well i do want a cake cutting ceremony but I just have no idea now how the day should go and i cant afford to go over budget.

 

[B2B-2008]

I'm glad you like my PJ, I'm so happy we are having a Disney wedding even if it can be a little stressful sometimes

I don't think you can really start to do anything until 18 moths out. I think I called in the May and my date was confirmed at the year point.

If you are wanting Epcot as your reception meal you will be able to meet the $100 min spend easily. I think the $100 min spend is for dinner and the $19.50 is for the dessert party, perhaps an Epcot bride can confirm this for us. I thought about Epcot for our reception but my DF wanted a private meal away form lots of people. I have some menu PDFs for the GF PM me your email address if you want me to send them to you it may give you a bit more of an idea.

 

[B2B-2008]

Escape brides have a 30 min cake cutting ceremony after their ceremony. If you get married at the WP I think this is held somewhere in the GF. Wishes brides have this at their reception I think normally after dinner. We are having our reception in the whitehall room at the GF, this is where we will have our dinner but to save money on the photographer and video man I have asked if we can do the cake cutting, mickey visit and first dances before we start our meal. So we are extending our pre reception. The the photographer and video man can go, less time = less money

 

[Nicola2010]

i see, thanks for that i'll PM you now.

i knew about the escape package as that was what we were originally intending to do, ive only thought about the wishes package over the past couple of days so i just dont know much about what happens.

So the cake cutting ceremony at GF is included with site rental fee and meal is extra? is that right?

im off to the in-laws now so will have to await your response.