From Intimate to Custom & back again

[janine]

I started out intimate, and then read Janet's wonderful reports and fell in love with her idea of a bbq for my grioup of 15 by the beach. After much planning I got my price back from custom department, which went just over the minimum, but I had planned to have Minnie & Mickey arrive by boat to the beach, for which they charged $2000 to build a floating deck for them to stand on whilst they got off the boat!
I Decided against that, as it is grossly overpriced, as well as the castle cake that was a whopping $950. I thought this was a lot for just 15 of us, so I knocked that off also. I then had $3000 to try and make up. Of course I could have had lots of nice extra things, but nothing inparticular excited me, so as a last resort I contacted the conventions department at Disney to see if they would allow me to still do the event as an intimate bride to save me having to find things to spend $3000 on. 'Yes' said the lady, 'you can'. Wonderful I thought. Well that was 2 weeks ago now, and I have emailed her, left her phone messages asking her to call me back. I did manage to speak to her the other day, through gritted teeth I may add (I obviously cought her off guard ). She promised me faithfully she would let me know for sure that day... that day came and went without a response. I emailed her again a couple of times, and she's opened my emails (I know because they are tagged), and she still wont respond.
I have just decided to go back intimate instead. This is too much like hard work. It really is like trying to get blood from a stone. I think the Yacht Club conventions are so rude and totally unprofessional.
I realise there isn't just me having functions there, but I do believe that a reply within 2 weeks is not too much to ask.
I feel totally let down by them, and to be quite honest at this moment in time couldn't care less if it was at Disney or not.
sorry just letting off some excess steam........................

 

[Janet2k]

Janine, I am so sorry to hear that you've been having problems communicating with the Yacht/Beach Club's convention folks. I thought I would share my experiences with planning private events, not to make an excuse for what is happening to you, but to let you know that you are not alone in your experience.

Sometimes things in the corporate world took longer to plan than I expected them to take. I had to keep reminding myself that Disney was a huge corporation that was working on hundreds of events. My events were small and paled in comparison, and thus didn’t require the same level of attention.

I would sometimes find myself chomping at the bit, waiting to finalize plans and tie up loose ends, while Disney took a more laid-back approach. Yes, it was frustrating at times, but I have since learned that my pace is not their pace. They operate according to their own schedule, and I had to learn to play by their rules. But for any frustration that I might have experienced along the way, I can honestly say that it all evaporated the moment my events began. Each and every single one of my events was beyond wonderful.

I should note that for one of my events, I was waiting for final clearance on something. It was taking longer to get this clearance than I had expected it would. Eventually, I complained. When they responded, they apologized and shared with me that they themselves had been waiting for final clearance from another group within the company. They couldn’t move forward until they were given the okay, and the person who was giving the okay had unexpectedly left the country due to a death in the family. Boy, did I ever feel small when I learned that. Someone had just lost a loved one. How absolutely tragic. It put everything into perspective for me.

Janine, I see that you’re in the UK. This is Thanksgiving week over here in the States. Even though the Cast Member read your e-mail, she might have been on holiday for a portion of this week. I know that I always read my work e-mail from home whenever I was on holiday or on my own time (late nights, early mornings, weekends). I usually didn’t respond to my e-mail messages until I was back in the office.

Again, I do not want to make any excuses for what is happening to you. I only wanted to share a few of my personal experiences. Hopefully, you can take a little comfort in the fact that you are not alone.

Janet

 

[Janet2k]

By the way, I am still hopeful that you can plan your BBQ at the YC/BC. As you know, I attended a private event there and it was lovely. I have since seen other events take place on that beach. The attendees at those events all appeared to be having the times of their lives. I definitely have the YC/BC’s beach on my list of “future” events.

If it is at all possible, try to see if there is someone else within the YC/BC’s convention organization who can help you. You deserve at least a “yes” or “no” regarding whether or not your event is a “go.”

Please let me know if there is anything that I can do to help. I've got two shoulders that you can cry on. <<Hugs>>

 

[janine]

Janet, I just PM'd you, but I just want to say a huge thanks. It helps just to hear of other people's stories and how they sometimes had to wait too.
Like you say though, I just want a yes or no. I wouldn't be so desparate if it was 6 months to go, but it's just 11 weeks until I leave for Florida.
The only thing she said to me was "I doubt it as I am sure there is a $10,000 food and beverage minimum for beach parties. but will check it out and let you know".
She reckoned the custom department had deals with the yacht club for special events which is why the food and beverage minimum isn't the same.

 

[JessHooper]

Janine, I'm doing an intimate wedding as well with 15 people. What are you doing for a reception? I want to have the traditional dances and the dinner w/cake but I don't want the full blown reception. Any suggestions? Where are you doing yours?

 

[WDWbride2007]

Hi Janine,

I hope everything works out for you. I am planning an intimate wedding for 2007. I am going to work with convention services to create a private dinner after the wedding at the GF. I have heard that this can be quite frustrating for intimate brides, but we can't afford the custom wedding minimums. Please, let us know what you hear back. I am sure that there are many intimate brides on the board that would love to hear more about your planning experiences. Thanks...and lots of luck!!!

 

[janine]

Hi
Thanks for replies.
I just heard back from my Custom EM and also Yacht Club conventions.
They said no, intimate brides CANNOT have a private event, only custom brides.
They told me if I were to get married outside of Disney then I could hold a private event. In other words, any other sort of party is fine, but not a Disney fairytale wedding party.
Well next step is to try again, thing is, it's also my birthday on my wedding day.
I am not bothered about a wedding cake, birthday cake is just as sweet.
I shall keep you informed........ keep fingers crossed for me.
Janine

 

[WDWbride2007]

That is just CRAZY, Janine! Disney would rather you spend your money on a ceremony elsewhere than to allow you to pay for a private party after the wedding on their property. I don't see the logic in that, since they would be losing out in the financial sense. I am planning an intimate wedding and I intend to have a private party. Maybe I am transforming into a horrid Bridezilla...but I don't see why you can't pay to have a private event on your wedding night. Although I don't have $12K to spend on the custom wedding, I was planning to spend about $9K at Disney for my event. Hopefully, they will come to their senses...sending lots of pixie dust your way!!!!