Fairy Tale Weddings Opening To Gay Couples

[FoodLover]

I'm a little confused by the change of policy. It seems to me that the only difference between a "vow renewal" and a "wedding ceremony" is that in the latter, the couple is legally wed... I just don't quite understand the point of this change in policy in practice.

The reason it's confusing is that Disney did NOT allow gay vow renewals, despite what the recent articles are stating. Disney required couples who wanted to do vow renewals to submit a valid marriage license in advance. No marriage license, no vow renewal. I know this for sure because my husband and I recently (February) did a vow renewal at WDW and a big deal was made about us submitting the license in advance.

I have read several accounts stating that Disney would not accept Massachusetts marriage licenses for gay couples for this purpose, either. I suspect someone challenged that and that led to a complete re-think of the whole policy.

Mary
MouseSavers.com

 

[IrishCinderella]

jasonandlisa-

Up until this announcement, *every* couple who had a DFTW vow renewal had to proove that they were already legally married. In other words, even the vow renewal couples had to present a valid marriage license to DFTW. Since gay *marriage* is illegal virtually everywhere in the US (except MA I think?), gay couples didn't have a valid license to show DFTW and they couldn't "buy a wedding" from DFTW.

Obviously, with this announcement, Disney is saying that you don't need a valid marriage license to buy one of DFTW's packages. The previously allowed "commitment ceremonies" were handled as private events through Disney event planning, *not* DFTW - that is an important distinction. How this affects things for hetero, non-married couples ability to have their own "commitment ceremonies" remains to be seen.

Personally, I see this as a welcome change. It recognizes that while our government may move at a slower pace than molasses, our society can and will accept people for who they are. It also means this major corporation is joining the ranks of people who are willing to treat everyone with equality.

 

[jasonandlisa]

The reason it's confusing is that Disney did NOT allow gay vow renewals, despite what the recent articles are stating. Disney required couples who wanted to do vow renewals to submit a valid marriage license in advance. No marriage license, no vow renewal. I know this for sure because my husband and I recently (February) did a vow renewal at WDW and a big deal was made about us submitting the license in advance.

I have read several accounts stating that Disney would not accept Massachusetts marriage licenses for gay couples for this purpose, either. I suspect someone challenged that and that led to a complete re-think of the whole policy.

Mary
MouseSavers.com

Thanks!! That makes a lot more sense. That's interesting that they were refusing Massachusetts marriage licenses for renewals. Seems to me that policy could have very easily led to lawsuits. It's too bad that journalists aren't being more careful about what they write in the articles.

 

[PrettyInTink]

Unfortunately, ignorance and bigotry abounds. To the poster who stated that disney should have taken a stand, they did. They are now allowing ALL couples to pledge their love to one another. Disney is not God. Disney allowing commitment ceremonies and granting equal benefits to same sex couples is not going to make God strike the Magic Kingdom down. Yes, while people are allowed their own opinions, they really should think before posting. If his was a discussion about whether or not gay couples should be allowed to marry (commit, whatever, only difference is a piece of government paper) then your narrow minded comments would be welcome. But it's not. Debates over. Disney took a stand - for equal rights. Get over it. And for all those couples previously excluded, again, welcome. This should be a celebration of equality, not another stinkin' debate thread. No room for hatred on this board.....

 

[Kitty-chan]

I'm a little confused by the change of policy. It seems to me that the only difference between a "vow renewal" and a "wedding ceremony" is that in the latter, the couple is legally wed.

Part of the issue before the change of policy was that same-sex couples couldn't have their ceremonies in some of the most prized, romantic locations at WDW. There was an in-depth article at AfterElton.com which talked about the issues, and may have played some role in pushing Disney towards the change of policy. Despite what news reports have said, it doesn't seem that the policy was changed because of a request from one same-sex couple; I'm aware of a few situations where people were told they couldn't have ceremonies through Fairy Tale Weddings.

 

[bumbershoot]

They didn't have the courage to stand up for traditional marriage.

Don't get me wrong, I planned and did the big poofy wedding that my hubby had dreamed about since his short-lived (annulled) backyard quickie-wedding in his 20s, I wore the gown, I wrote the vows, I cried 3 days later when I realized none of the men but DH actually GOT the personal flowers we ordered (DH's fault)..... I even ordered the Disney wedding DVD (and just about choked when I saw how expensive it was (sorry, just wasn't worth it to me, especially since I really just wanted simple-Vegas, not even Bellagio ))

But I can't help but wonder, what on earth "traditional marriage" means? I know there's a modern-day religious version, but before that, I wonder what a traditional marriage was? Since both hubby and I consider ourselves part of religions that were around before the modern-day stuff, I can't help but wonder that sort of thing.


I'm glad Disney opened it up. I think places like Sandals already did, unless I'm making up something in my head. I think cruise ships other than Disney allow it (though today I can find nothing on my cruiseline of choice OR on the disneywedding website that doesn't say they still require marriage licenses, but I'm sure that's just a webmaster oversight). I see nothing wrong with any couple who wishes to make a public committment to each other, and I'm glad that these places are opening their facilities and bank accounts to them!

Hmm, I wonder if those resorts in Tahiti are still requiring marriage licenses for their honeymoon special deals, like they were in '02...


My point is, I'm glad they've opened it up, even if it wasn't MY cup of tea for a wedding, b/c it just didn't make sense from any business's point of view to have it closed for so long.

 

[Cdn Friends of Pooh]

The whole issue of gay marriage has died down in Canada since it became legal, and I think it's sometimes easy to forget that this isn't the case in many other places.

Isn't that the truth...when we heard this on the news this morning our first response was surprise that same sex couples couldn't have commitment ceremonies at WDW previously.

I guess it's just because we see people as people and couples as couples...not a gay couple, an interracial couple, or a straight couple. Labels are for clothes, not people.

We offer our sincerest congrats to any couple planning their FTW, regardless of orientation!

 

[tmli]

It is true how it has died down here in Canada....every once in a while some politician or religious leader will bring it up but for the most part its a non issue.

When they were first legalized here, my ds (10) was shocked that gay people couldn't be married before. To him it was very simple, people who love each get married. If only some of the grownups in the world could see with the innocence and honesty of a child!

 

[DisneyFairy19]

I just wanted to pop in to say hello and YEAH! WOO HOOOOO! I've often been disturbed whenever I thought about how my partner and I couldn't have a commitment ceremony in my favorite place in the whole world. It saddened me from time to time. But I just kept thinking positively and figured that one day in the future, it could happen.

And LOOK!

I can't even begin to express how happy this makes me!

After reading it on the 'net, I ran over to my partner of 16+ years and told him the great news. He knew how happy I was and he said, "So when are we doing it" I responded, "We are getting married in Disney World on our 20th year together in 2010 and you aren't stopping me." Grinning like a fool I was!

His response? "Why wait so long? Why can't we do it sooner than that?"

I have the best partner in the entire world!

Very Happy for both of you... Cant wait to hear some of your details...