Honeymoon Kick-Starter to Disney World

[bigr3ddog]

We listed Disney gift cards, amongst other things, in our registry, specifically for the honeymoon purpose. Since we registered them at target, people who had target cards actually received a 5% discount if they purchased them for us.

 

[drewxes]

We have been to Disney together a few times and know the ends and outs of planning a trip. We also will be just booking what our budget allows, which in the past few times we have gone is a Moderate resort stay.
As for the "Tacky" issue that has come up I would say this. Both of our family's love and support us to the ends of the earth and all of the amazing people in our lives know just how much DISNEY means to both of us! Everyone's options are different i know that. We will not be having a traditional wedding, we will be having a wedding that is 100% truly US. With not having a traditional wedding we will not be ask for traditional wedding registry gifts.
If a wedding guest does not want to donate to our Disney trip then that's fine. I just want to spend time with my bride and share a Disney magical honeymoon with her. So I do not think its "tacky" to ask our wedding guest to donate to our Disney trip inlue of buying us a blender we do not need or want.

 

[drewxes]

Thanks to everyone for the support! and advice. I read on the Disney Honeymoon website that they charge 3% of the total donations, is this not true or is it a misleading amount?
Also to clergy something. We are NOT using the Honeymoon Registry as a way to pool and scrap up some cash to afford a Honeymoon. We are using it as a tool to let our love ones share in a life experience with us.
Hey thinking that my $10 donation went towards someone getting to Ride Space Mountain or eat at BOMA, sounds freaking awesome to me lol

 

[mb187143]

Thanks to everyone for the support! and advice. I read on the Disney Honeymoon website that they charge 3% of the total donations, is this not true or is it a misleading amount? Also to clergy something. We are NOT using the Honeymoon Registry as a way to pool and scrap up some cash to afford a Honeymoon. We are using it as a tool to let our love ones share in a life experience with us. Hey thinking that my $10 donation went towards someone getting to Ride Space Mountain or eat at BOMA, sounds freaking awesome to me lol

It is 7% that comes out of your total gifts. So for every $100, you would get $93. I logged into my old account that I had set up before we decided not to use it when I posted earlier in the thread to verify the amount.

 

[MomTo3PrincessesInNJ]

.
Hey thinking that my $10 donation went towards someone getting to Ride Space Mountain or eat at BOMA, sounds freaking awesome to me lol

Donation? Contrary to what you may think, weddings are NOT fundraisers.

 

[a1tinkfans]

Op, congrats on the upcoming wedding. I think that IF you want To remind people that u want funds for ur honeymoon ( since u said they all know that's what you want) then registering at 1place ( ie target and listing Disney cards) is probably enough. Those who wish to gift you cash, will. Those that choose to gift you target disney gift cards will, and those that choose to
Give you a set of sheets, should not feel badly that it's what THEY wanted to give and thought you'd like. A wedding really isn't about the " gifts" after all. I'm sure you and your bride will be Thankful for all those people that felt you deserved Their Time, Effort , Money, Love, and Gift, whatever that may be.
May your wedding be beautiful and your Marriage be Blessed!

 

[AFrey]

My now-wife and I used the Disney Honeymoon registry and it has worked fabulously. If you use direct ACH deposit, there are no fees and no fuss. Those that didn't feel comfortable giving online sent us a check, which was then used for our honeymoon.
The customer service experience was great, and we and our gusts found the website very easy to use. Anyone that finds it "tacky" is probably being a wee bit old fashioned. You can always provide an alternative registry for those people And besides, tacky is relative. If you want to do it, I highly recommend using the Disney Honeymoon registry.
ETA that through the Disney Honeymoon site, you can make a connecting wedding website, which is what most people use nowadays to connect with their guests. It was particularly useful to us since our wedding was technically a destination wedding for many of our guests. We provided the link to our wedding website on our invites.

 

[Elevationist]

The customer service experience was great, and we and our gusts found the website very easy to use. Anyone that finds it "tacky" is probably being a wee bit old fashioned.

 

[mb187143]

My now-wife and I used the Disney Honeymoon registry and it has worked fabulously. If you use direct ACH deposit, there are no fees and no fuss. Those that didn't feel comfortable giving online sent us a check, which was then used for our honeymoon.
The customer service experience was great, and we and our gusts found the website very easy to use. Anyone that finds it "tacky" is probably being a wee bit old fashioned. You can always provide an alternative registry for those people And besides, tacky is relative. If you want to do it, I highly recommend using the Disney Honeymoon registry.
ETA that through the Disney Honeymoon site, you can make a connecting wedding website, which is what most people use nowadays to connect with their guests. It was particularly useful to us since our wedding was technically a destination wedding for many of our guests. We provided the link to our wedding website on our invites.

Not sure if you didn't notice, but they absolutely take the 7% out, regardless of whether you use ACH deposit or get a check sent to you. We received $450 worth of gifts from friends on the Disney honeymoon registry and used the ACH deposit and received a deposit of $418.50. You can find it when you look at the full accounting on your account page. There are other online registries that Chafee a much lower fee. I don't know of any that are free/without any fee, as that's how these websites make the money to operate.

 

[Scrappy_Tink]

When we used the Disney Honeymoon Registry in 2009 (we didn't ask for contributions, we just contributed it to ourselves and used it as a way to save) Disney took NOTHING, and they sent you a really pretty "Happily Ever After" gift card to use. I loved it, and we could see what the balance was when we bought something, on the receipt.

It's a shame that they are making $ off this now.

 

[mb187143]

When we used the Disney Honeymoon Registry in 2009 (we didn't ask for contributions, we just contributed it to ourselves and used it as a way to save) Disney took NOTHING, and they sent you a really pretty "Happily Ever After" gift card to use. I loved it, and we could see what the balance was when we bought something, on the receipt.

It's a shame that they are making $ off this now.

They aren't. The "Disney" honeymoon registry is run by a company called honeymoonwishes.com, independent of Disney.

 

[AFrey]

Not sure if you didn't notice, but they absolutely take the 7% out, regardless of whether you use ACH deposit or get a check sent to you. We received $450 worth of gifts from friends on the Disney honeymoon registry and used the ACH deposit and received a deposit of $418.50. You can find it when you look at the full accounting on your account page. There are other online registries that Chafee a much lower fee. I don't know of any that are free/without any fee, as that's how these websites make the money to operate.

You know, I'm just looking at my bank statement and I realize they did take a good chunk out! That stinks. Oh well, better luck next time (jokes). There are quite a few good honeymoon registry websites out there that I'm sure don't take nearly as much out! Disney's Honeymoon registry I don't think actually specifies specifically the percentage they take out (at least not in the FAQ I was looking at), which is kinda shady if you ask me.

 

[Scrappy_Tink]

Oh well, better luck next time (jokes).

 

[Beast913]

My wife and I did the Disney Honeymoon Registry, although I don't remember them taking anything out in terms of fees. Anyway, we paid for a Disney Cruise Honeymoon, so we had this as an option if people did not want to buy a usual gift (we were registered at the usual places) and we had things like dinner at Palo's (which someone got us) wine packages, excursions (which some people did that) and general funds (which a couple of people did that as well.) It worked out great for us, and like I said I don't remember anything about fees but maybe there was.

 

[jude&jonah]

Almost every single wedding forum will emphasize over and over and over again that honey funds are extremely rude and tacky. I didn't quite understand it myself until I read up more about it- but after tons of reading- I realized just how rude it was. Picture a friend said, "It's your birthday! Let me take you out for dinner and I have a gift for you." And you just said back to them, "Eh- I'd rather just have the cash value." Can you imagine how rude that would be?

Proper etiquette for weddings is you do NOT mention money, gifts, registries etc. You're not even supposed to put registry information on your invitations. The exception is you can have it on your wedding website- a link posted- but you should never ever address money or gifts to wedding guests. They should give what they want to give- it's a gift! And most likely people will give you cash (especially if you don't do a registry- or do a very limited registry)- then you'll have the money you want for your honeymoon without you having to ask for it and making them feel uncomfortable and alienate people.

If you can't afford an expensive honeymoon- then a little 2 night stay at a local B & B is always an option too. Plan what you can afford. Luxury honey moons are are just that- a luxury- and not a need.

 

[jude&jonah]

Ps. I do vote that the one way to do it in a way that minimizes tackiness would be having a traditional target registry with some items you need and then some Disney gift cards. It's still asking for money- which is poor etiquette- but it's not as bad.

 

[jude&jonah]

Btw sorry for sounding a bit harsh- I too was surprised when I first read how must other online posters felt strongly about how rude honey funds are considered to be- but I think it's better to be honest about how most guests perceive them in hopes of preventing you from making a decision you'll regret down the road- looking back at your wedding. Through planning my wedding- I'm learning a TON of about etiquette that I never knew before- and it's been helpful in saving me from making some major faux pas!

 

[disnmooner2013]

We are getting married in October of 2015 and we are planning our Honeymoon for sometime in December 2015. Instead of a wedding gifts registry we will be setting up a Kick-Starter type web page where our wedding guest can donate money for our Honeymoon to Walt Disney World. We usually stay at a Moderate Resort POFQ and CSR, but since we will be getting some extra money for our trip I hope to stay at a Deluxe Resort POLY,BW, AKL or the Contemporary. Planning will be an issue due to the fact that we will not know how much money to expect..... So I am asking if A) Anyone has done this before. B) Has tips on how to go about it.

I was in your exact position back in 2013. The honeymoon registry is what we used. That money essentially goes into a general fund even though people put the money into specific gifts you pick. That money that is given in the registry can be used towards anything on your honeymoon in Disney World. So, if you were given money towards a dinner and want to use it on something else you are free to.

I estimated $100 per couple for our wedding. Plus we were given extra money from my parents for the honeymoon as their wedding gift to us. I booked our trip over a year in advance and did not have the money at the time for the trip. It all worked out as we had plenty of money to pay for our entire honeymoon and some left over. We did book only the room in advance. If you book a Magic Your Way Package you have to pay for it all up front. The room only was fine because Disney had a 3% discount on Deluxe Resorts.

We stayed in honeymoon suite 7085 at the Wilderness Lodge with club level. My dad on the Monday we arrived in Disney World deposited all the checks into My wife's and mine joint account so we would the money for the trip. If you want to read my honeymoon report the link is in my signature below. If you have any more questions feel free to private message me. I booked everything (including a Chef's Table Dinner at Victoria & Albert's) ahead of having the money before our wedding.

I also spent a lot of time researching and listening to podcasts and asking lots of questions to the mom's panel to help find great ways to save money while not diminishing the special romantic experience of our honeymoon. Everything worked out perfectly and I got a lot of great advice (including on these Disboards) and found ways to save money.

Some tips are to get discounted park tickets. We got ours from a Disney Store local to us. Make your ADRs 180 days in advance. Try to do at least 2 romantic Signature Dinners (if possible). Do not go too outlandish since you do not know your exact budget. I booked club level honeymoon suite at Wilderness Lodge since my wife and I both liked the Lodge; and since it along with AKL is significantly cheaper than the other deluxe resorts. Plus Disney offered the 30% discount. I would have loved to have stayed at Beach Club; but since we did not know the exact budget in advance I went with Wilderness Lodge since room was $200 per night cheaper than BC. But for our 5 year anniversary trip back to Disney World since we are paying and know the budget; we will be staying at Yacht Club.

Again, I hope this is helpful. If you want to you can read my honeymoon trip report which will show you pictures of our room at WL incase your are interested in WL. Also, feel free to send me a private message and when I have a chance I will respond to it; since I was in the exact same boat you are in now 2 years ago.

 

[Ember]

Btw sorry for sounding a bit harsh- I too was surprised when I first read how must other online posters felt strongly about how rude honey funds are considered to be- but I think it's better to be honest about how most guests perceive them in hopes of preventing you from making a decision you'll regret down the road- looking back at your wedding. Through planning my wedding- I'm learning a TON of about etiquette that I never knew before- and it's been helpful in saving me from making some major faux pas!

I think you explained things quite well. I may be a "wee bit old fashioned", but I always thought weddings were about joining your life to someone you love and celebrating with the people who mean the most to you. Not to shake those same people down for the gifts you (the receiver) deem appropriate. There is no polite way to instruct someone on the gift you want. If the gifts are what's important to you, save the money hosting a wedding and just use the money for yourself. Otherwise, be grateful and happy for any gifts your receive without worrying over them being the "wrong" gift.