I'm new and I already need help lol

[tinkerbell7801]

Hi everyone,

I was directed here from a poster on the Modern Bride message boards and I'm so excited that I've finally found a place to ask questions and talk about everything relating to a WDW wedding and actually get answers! Glad to meet all of you!

Okay, I'll get right to the point: my FH, Chris, and I decided with our families over the weekend to have our wedding at WDW. We've looked at the Disney Weddings website and we created a Wish Book, but we haven't really made any decisions yet (it's kind of early for that -- we're looking for a June 3, 2007 wedding). My question is this -- do we have to wait until next June to at least tentatively reserve our date, or could we do that now and have the peace of mind knowing that we're going to be able to have our wedding when and where we want it? Just wanted to know. Thanks for the help, and I hope to get to know all of you soon!

 

[allisonswonderland]

You can only reserve your date one year in advance. I just booked mine for Nov 10, 2006 and got it with no problems, June however is a busy month for weddings in general, but I do not know what the busy wedding season is at Disney-

 

[tinkerbell7801]

Does that mean we can't even have a space tentatively held until next May or June when we actually book? We just don't want to run the risk that we can't get our date because unfortunately we can't be very flexible -- this is the best date we can get after my college graduation in mid-May.

 

[UnderTheMistletoe]

My suggestion would be to try to schedule a trip to meet with a sales manager for this June 3rd. June is a busy wedding month, but as long as you're a little flexible (location and even time), you should be OK.

Getting December 29th was really important for us- it is our 5 year anniversary of meeting in Disney- so we made sure that we called a few months in adavnce (being active duty military didn't help either... THAT was the time off). Try to get in first thing in the morning for that day. It's only tentative, but at least your name and time are slated in early! The meeting isn't anything you absolutely have to do. They show you the rooms and locations your most interested in. If you can't be there, call.

Good luck and welcome!
xoxo

 

[UnderTheMistletoe]

Does that mean we can't even have a space tentatively held until next May or June when we actually book? We just don't want to run the risk that we can't get our date because unfortunately we can't be very flexible -- this is the best date we can get after my college graduation in mid-May.

Disney will not book anything until the 365 day mark...exactly one year. Nothing is set in stone until your contract is signed and your deposit is in when it comes to time, date, and location.

 

[tinkerbell7801]

Well at least now we know....that kinda stinks, knowing that you can't even call to book until exactly one year before and then you call and find out that someone's taken the site you want on the date you want. We're really not all that flexible with the date, that's why I'm sort of worried. I hope I'm not sounding rude or anything -- we just really want our Disney wedding and now I know that I can't plan anything for another 7 months! I was really looking forward to getting into the planning but I guess it'll have to wait. Do you think they'd send us anything besides the DVD and brochure you can request off the website, so that we have a good idea of which sites we want to book when we call?

I'm asking because I have no idea how this works, and I need help from someone who does -- that means all of you! Thank you so much!

 

[UnderTheMistletoe]

I don't know if they'll send you anything at this point, no. But, it doesn't mean if you're looking for information it's not available to you on this board.

Check out www.yourfairytale.com. I think that's right. Otherwise, Google "The Unofficial Disney Wedding Guide."

Trust me... it goes fast. I freaked out when I opened my mailbox and it said, "Your 6 week wedding checklist." I looked at the calendar and coutned it 4 times before I accepted they were right- it's 6 weeks!

The boards on the Knot can be fun, too. Watch some of them though- they should be avoided unless you want to tangle with the big girls as they call themselves. Just lurk and get a feel for the boards before posting.

xoxo

 

[tinkerbell7801]

What web site is that and how do we know that it's credible? Their calendar says Disney already has weddings booked through December 2007! If everyone's saying you can only book exactly one year in advance, something's not right. I just want to know for sure -- I think I might call Disney in the morning to find out for sure what's going on.

I like the site very much though (the bit I've looked at thus far), very informative....thank you Mistletoe

 

[UnderTheMistletoe]

To be honest, people probably send that information in all the time despite the fact they haven't actually contracted for that date. I wouldn't trust it as credible.

xoxo

 

[tinkerbell7801]

Yeah, I figured as much...especially the note at the top of the calendar that says "Add your wedding info here!"...lol I could put in November 15, 2015 if I wanted to and that wouldn't make booking any easier!

Everything else looks good, though, thanks!

 

[Tinkerbelle14]

I wouldn't worry too much about not getting your date and time. No one else can book before the 1 year mark either, so as long as you book on the exact day (or a couple days after), you should be fine!

 

[hwygirl1928]

When I got engaged this past January, I called Disney in March for my May 2006 wedding. I talked to a a Sales Manager and we discussed some possible locations and she put my name down on the spot that I thought I would want for my wedding. She explained to me that what would happen is... if there were more than one couple that wanted to have their wedding at a particular spot on the same day, our names would go in to a pool and randomly selected. So technically you can start talking to Disney and select a location, but you will not be guaranteed that spot until a) 1 year before the wedding and b) you sign your contract with disney 8 months prior to your wedding. Does that make sense?

 

[allisonswonderland]

I was also going to mention that I called 2 weeks before my dats and my sale mgr "put me down" so she could submit it on the 10th she also asked for back up choices. Disney will give you some info if you have a wedding date. My problem in the beginning was that we had questions, like a lot of questions that the dvd and website did not answer but they would not let me talk to anyone ultil I had a date set. So you could probably call an dthey will answer your questions, but i do not know for a fact

 

[pixie08]

Hi and Welcome...We are also looking at a saturday in June 2007...here's how it goes for us:

We have spoke to Disney already (we got engaged there and dh2b was already working w/ someone at dftw to set it up) They told us in Jan/feb 2006 (when the new prices come out ....yes they will go higher lol) they will start initial planning HOWEVER there is no garauntee for our date until the 365 day mark...we are hopping for June 16 or 23 so what happens is we will go in a lottery. If there are other couples competing for the Wp at the same date and time then that is what happens...if you lose the lottery then you chose another date and time.....So this is my advice to you: If you are set on a disney wedding then don't lock yourself into one date or time (we need a Sat in June so we are slightly limited but we are open to any of the four sat at various times). Is the 3rd a weekday( irt could also be simple to get a sat it all really depends on how many other people want that date and time and also what venue you choose ...Wp seems most tricky to get?)? if so it may be easier! Good Luck.

 

[Chrissie-riel]

It will also make a difference if you have a custom vs. intimate. I called FTWD last week and they said that with a custom, they will look things up for you 18 months out. Intimate wedding questions won't get answered until 1 year. Like everyone said though, nothing official happens until 1 year out regardless of the type.

 

[tinkerbell7801]

Just out of curiosity, what do you mean by "look things up for you"....things like what? I want to have a very long and informative discussion with them, but I don't know what to ask.

 

[Chrissie-riel]

Sorry I can't help with more info. Since I am considering an intimate, they didn't go any further with information. Some of the other girls posting here talked about putting their names in for the lottery and such. Perhaps that is what they meant - looking up different sites to see if anyone had expressed interest in your dates. Write down as many questions as you can and give them a call. They can hopefully answer them or at least just tell you to call back. Good luck!!

 

[tlbwriter]

Well at least now we know....that kinda stinks, knowing that you can't even call to book until exactly one year before and then you call and find out that someone's taken the site you want on the date you want. We're really not all that flexible with the date, that's why I'm sort of worried. I hope I'm not sounding rude or anything -- we just really want our Disney wedding and now I know that I can't plan anything for another 7 months! I was really looking forward to getting into the planning but I guess it'll have to wait. Do you think they'd send us anything besides the DVD and brochure you can request off the website, so that we have a good idea of which sites we want to book when we call?

So they won't even answer questions until you're within 365 days? How frustrating! I wonder if you could... um... lie and set a date within the 365 days just so you could get your questions answered, and then reschedule? I mean, normally I wouldn't condone lying to them, but for them to not be willing to answer questions - and yet you can't decide where you want to get married until they answer those questions - that's really poor customer service.

 

[JonetteA]

I think it matters too if you are doing a weekend vs a weekday. We booked less than a year out and had no problem getting what we wanted. Then again we booked for a Thursday, and decided to do a morning celebration at Epcot. Realize what is going to be a higher demand (ie weekend and WP) and plan around that. Disney has some other sites that are WONDERFUL. If you are open to different sites, then maybe you won't have to be in the lottery. Also remember be flexible with your time. I think evening weddings at the WP are more in demand than morning ones. I don't think you will have an issue getting what you want as long as you are willing to make minor changes.

 

[hiwaygal]

So they won't even answer questions until you're within 365 days? How frustrating! I wonder if you could... um... lie and set a date within the 365 days just so you could get your questions answered, and then reschedule? I mean, normally I wouldn't condone lying to them, but for them to not be willing to answer questions - and yet you can't decide where you want to get married until they answer those questions - that's really poor customer service.

I'm pretty sure they will answer your questions. At least general questions...there's really no point getting too involved in the details until after you are booked...which you can't do more than a year out.