Escape WP Cake Cuttings No Longer on Commander's Terrace?

[pixie921]

I'm just wondering if any other Escape brides with recent or upcoming WP weddings have been told that their cake-cuttings can't be on Commander's Terrace? We just received our BEO (before we had any type of phone planning consultation, which confused me) and it specifies that our cake-cutting will be in the Key West Room.

I've emailed our (new) planner about it, but I thought I'd ask here in the meantime to see if anyone else has had this happen and if so, what explanation was given.

Thanks!

 

[leonix8238]

Perhaps it's to do with construction noise?

 

[Clareathon]

That's what it said on my BEO too (wedding was 12/6/11), the planner told me it's because they were warned that there would likely be construction noise at that time. I assured her that I didn't care about the noise and I wanted my cake cutting on Commander's Terrace (long story as to why!), and she said it wouldn't be a problem. Talk to your planner, you can still have the terrace if you don't mind potential noise!

For the record, I didn't hear any noise at all!

 

[LuvLuvLuv]

I'm just wondering if any other Escape brides with recent or upcoming WP weddings have been told that their cake-cuttings can't be on Commander's Terrace? We just received our BEO (before we had any type of phone planning consultation, which confused me) and it specifies that our cake-cutting will be in the Key West Room.

I've emailed our (new) planner about it, but I thought I'd ask here in the meantime to see if anyone else has had this happen and if so, what explanation was given.

Thanks!

I'm glad to see you're back in planning action!! I hope you can get this!! I love Commander's Terrace!!

 

[pixie921]

That's what it said on my BEO too (wedding was 12/6/11), the planner told me it's because they were warned that there would likely be construction noise at that time. I assured her that I didn't care about the noise and I wanted my cake cutting on Commander's Terrace (long story as to why!), and she said it wouldn't be a problem. Talk to your planner, you can still have the terrace if you don't mind potential noise!

For the record, I didn't hear any noise at all!

Talked to the planner today (Karen Serrette). She wasn't friendly at all; if we were going to stay with DFTW, I'd definitely be asking for a change. HOWEVER, I was "informed" that Commander's Terrace would be "noisy and dangerous" during construction so it was completely out of the question. That's BS. If that's true, then the pool (which is, by the way, BETWEEN the construction and the GF) would be closed, wouldn't you think?? She told me basically that they choose where we will go and we will like it or cancel. Guess what? I CANCELLED.

I have no idea whether we will proceed at this point with another option or not. I'm just furious with myself that after the crap DFTW pulled with us when we were first planning our VR last year (cancelled our MK shoot with no way to reschedule) that I moronically decided to give it another go this year. Stupid, stupid, stupid! I have no one but myself to blame, but I am just so bummed.

 

[Clareathon]

I am really baffled that she told you it would be dangerous. It's not as though shrapnel is flying around up there. Sorry you got such a lousy response! I don't see what the big deal is, unless they have majorly changed the construction objectives in the last month!

 

[pixie921]

I am really baffled that she told you it would be dangerous. It's not as though shrapnel is flying around up there. Sorry you got such a lousy response! I don't see what the big deal is, unless they have majorly changed the construction objectives in the last month!

I know, right? And that's how she made it sound ... like I was crazy for wanting to have my cake cutting in the midst of a construction site! I asked her if the GF was going to be so affected, then why on earth was I paying so much to have my event and stay there?!

I reminded her we are supposed to be the clients and that a) we should've been consulted about the change and b) that it was only the 3 of us and we weren't concerned about looking off at the construction, since everything is framed against the lagoon. She honestly acted like she couldn't have cared less and it didn't make one bit of difference to her that I was upset and that we were cancelling.

Not only have we cancelled our VR, we've also just cancelled our GF RPC reservations and moved to the Poly. There's no way that place is seeing one dime of my money.

 

[Clareathon]

Good for you! If they are not accommodating you by all means move. Like I said before, I didn't notice the construction at all when I was out there, I was focused more on the lagoon view than on the construction view, and my planner (Tanis) said it was no problem to be outside at that time. I definitely recommend that you complain to whoever is in charge about your bad experience.

 

[pixie921]

Good for you! If they are not accommodating you by all means move. Like I said before, I didn't notice the construction at all when I was out there, I was focused more on the lagoon view than on the construction view, and my planner (Tanis) said it was no problem to be outside at that time. I definitely recommend that you complain to whoever is in charge about your bad experience.

We spoke with our initial sales consultant and Janice Prados (assistant director of DFTW) this afternoon. Disney is unwilling to budge; all cake-cuttings MUST be held in the Key West Room ... it's not up to the clients to decide whether they want to deal with potential construction intrusion or not, the decision has been made for them.

And as I said, we can't live with that. We cancelled.

 

[kiss da girl]

I'm so sorry that is the outcome. That really sucks! I hope in some way, everything works out of the better for your special day!

 

[pixie921]

I'm so sorry that is the outcome. That really sucks! I hope in some way, everything works out of the better for your special day!

Aw, thanks. I'm not sure what we'll do yet -- my dh still wants to do the whole VR maybe at the Swan, but I don't know if that's even an option at this point. We're looking into it.

 

[Jilian]

Aw, thanks. I'm not sure what we'll do yet -- my dh still wants to do the whole VR maybe at the Swan, but I don't know if that's even an option at this point. We're looking into it.

Swan swan SWAN!

 

[pixie921]

Swan swan SWAN!

LOL Jilian! You are too cute! Thanks for making me smile!!

 

[dreamsdidcometrue]

I know, right? And that's how she made it sound ... like I was crazy for wanting to have my cake cutting in the midst of a construction site! I asked her if the GF was going to be so affected, then why on earth was I paying so much to have my event and stay there?!

I reminded her we are supposed to be the clients and that a) we should've been consulted about the change and b) that it was only the 3 of us and we weren't concerned about looking off at the construction, since everything is framed against the lagoon. She honestly acted like she couldn't have cared less and it didn't make one bit of difference to her that I was upset and that we were cancelling.

Not only have we cancelled our VR, we've also just cancelled our GF RPC reservations and moved to the Poly. There's no way that place is seeing one dime of my money.

I am sorry this is happening to you. That's awful that it got to the point of you canceling! I just wanted to give another perspective and let me start out by saying I am NOT defending them. I am simply offering up a possible explanation for why this is happening. Disney probably has a group of very expensive lawyers. Although some have still been able to use that area with the construction occurring, the lawyers were probably not aware of this. Now they probably are and have obviously put a stop to it. Now, this doesn't excuse the treatment you received. I'm sure if they gave you a valid reason you would have been more understanding. This is just a guess about what is occurring but it makes sense considering it was allowed and now it is not. It is even possible that someone got hurt and this was the consequence. Often times rules are made due to reacting to situations. 1 person spoils it for everyone! It is unfortunate but true.

 

[tinkerbell 766]

Oh my sweet Amy!!
Just caught up with your post and I am disgusted to see that you have been treated so badly by DFTW yet again!!!!!
I really would hate to see you give up on your dream of a VR in WDW and have to echo Jilian's cry of 'Swan, Swan, Swan' (but then you knew that I would didn't you?)!!!!!
Much love to you sweetie and keep us posted!!!

 

[LuvLuvLuv]

Ugh.... so is it potentially dangerous for someone staying RPC to be out on their balcony in their uber-expensive room?? I think it's all a crock, and I feel terrible for you!! Key West room??? It's sooooo small and enclosed!! I wouldn't have went for it either. I'm glad you didn't settle!!

I hope you get to do this at the Swan!!

 

[LittleStinkerbelle]

What a bummer , Commander's Terrace is so pretty I'd be disappointed as well. It's too bad they don't have another more comparable alternative to offer you. I'm glad at least that you found out now vs. at the very last minute since this is a dealbreaker for you. I hope you are able to continue with your plans elsewhere.

 

[pixie921]

Oh my sweet Amy!!
Just caught up with your post and I am disgusted to see that you have been treated so badly by DFTW yet again!!!!!
I really would hate to see you give up on your dream of a VR in WDW and have to echo Jilian's cry of 'Swan, Swan, Swan' (but then you knew that I would didn't you?)!!!!!
Much love to you sweetie and keep us posted!!!

Thanks, Joanne -- you are a doll as always! I've left a voice mail for Karen at Just Marry (though I believe I read she's not directly planning individual events anymore IIRC) but haven't heard anything back yet. *crossing fingers*

Ugh.... so is it potentially dangerous for someone staying RPC to be out on their balcony in their uber-expensive room?? I think it's all a crock, and I feel terrible for you!! Key West room??? It's sooooo small and enclosed!! I wouldn't have went for it either. I'm glad you didn't settle!!

I hope you get to do this at the Swan!!

Thanks Deena! And I agree -- are all those balconies gonna be off-limits?? It doesn't make sense to me at all. And the thing that killed me was when I told her I wasn't happy with the Key West room, she was all, "It's a large, airy, beautiful room with lots of windows". Uh, no ... I've seen it, and while it's a fine room, it's not what I wanted for our cake-cutting. We're not having guests or a reception or anything, so the locale on the cake cutting is important to me, and the Key West room doesn't do it.

What a bummer , Commander's Terrace is so pretty I'd be disappointed as well. It's too bad they don't have another more comparable alternative to offer you. I'm glad at least that you found out now vs. at the very last minute since this is a dealbreaker for you. I hope you are able to continue with your plans elsewhere.

Yes -- very true! We're lucky that we found out before we were stuck! I'm hopeful that we can still work something out at the Swan. My florist, photographer, and officiant are all booked and ready to go -- now I just need a venue!

 

[giffy231]

Pixie, sorry to hear about your dealings with DFTW. Mine were also less than magical. I think the very least they could do would be let you know and offer you a couple of comparable locations. The whole this is what you get and deal with it really should not be acceptable with the pricetag of a dftw.

 

[pixie921]

Pixie, sorry to hear about your dealings with DFTW. Mine were also less than magical. I think the very least they could do would be let you know and offer you a couple of comparable locations. The whole this is what you get and deal with it really should not be acceptable with the pricetag of a dftw.

I agree completely. I even asked about alternative locations and every one I mentioned was shot down. *sigh* So much for "fairytale magic"!