I'm new here...and I need advice on a VR!

[MinnieMouse08]

Hi everyone!
After reading a few posts, I had to join! I'm new and don't quite know all of the acronyms yet, but hopefully I'll get the hang of it soon. My husband and I are hoping to renew our vows on a Disney Cruise in June of 2013...I'm in the very early planning stages and already my Hubby is freaking out over how much this will cost...I'm definitely a bigger Disney fan than he is and I'm kind of dragging him along here, haha.

I originally wanted to have our VR on Castaway Cay and then do the Magic Kingdom photo session after we return to Florida...I HAVE to have the MK Photo Session! But we live in California and this VR is going to cost more than half of what our wedding costed for 400 people...for just the two of us! I think it's worth it, be my Husband isn't on board yet...

So, here are my questions:

Has anyone had a wedding or VR onboard a Disney Cruise to Mexico?

If so, is there an option to have a photo session in Disneyland Park before it opens, similar to the MK photo session after docking? (I asked Shanda this and she told me no...but I KNOW I've seen pictures on the Disney Weddings Blog of private Disneyland photo sessions...)

And if any other Disney Brides can give me advice on how I can save money doing all of this, I would sooooo appreciate it!

Thanks everyone!

 

[sambycat]

Congrats and welcome! I do not have the intricacies of DCL weddings memorized as I was a WDW bride but many on here will chime in I'm sure...
I want to recommend the passporter's guide to Disney weddings and honeymoons tgat will have lots of answers to your questions and cover DCL and DL facts as well. I think they are all separate animals as far as getting pictures on land with a wedding at sea? But others will know!

 

[MinnieMouse08]

Congrats and welcome! I do not have the intricacies of DCL weddings memorized as I was a WDW bride but many on here will chime in I'm sure...
I want to recommend the passporter's guide to Disney weddings and honeymoons tgat will have lots of answers to your questions and cover DCL and DL facts as well. I think they are all separate animals as far as getting pictures on land with a wedding at sea? But others will know!

Thanks so much!

 

[redshirt]

We are getting married at Shades of green which is on WDW property but not a DISNEY hotel. So I called to ask if I could still get the MK photo shoot and they seemed fine about it and said it would be $750. If you're doing a VR on a cruise I'm sure they'll be fine with it, especially after you explain. But in all honesty I don't think they are THAT picky about where you get married. I mean that is a lot of money for a short about of time so it's a win win for them.

 

[princesswendy720]

We are getting married at Shades of green which is on WDW property but not a DISNEY hotel. So I called to ask if I could still get the MK photo shoot and they seemed fine about it and said it would be $750. If you're doing a VR on a cruise I'm sure they'll be fine with it, especially after you explain. But in all honesty I don't think they are THAT picky about where you get married. I mean that is a lot of money for a short about of time so it's a win win for them.

The MK shoot is $1,500.

OP - I know you used to be able to pay a fee to bring a photographer into Disneyland to do pictures, but I don't think it is something that is offered all the time and I remember reading that they hiked the price up by a lot recently (I think I read it went from $1,500 to $3,000 and it is just permission to shoot, you have to pay to bring in your photographer).

Also, I thought DCL wasn't departing out of California to Mexico after 2012? Or, are you looking to depart out of somewhere else but do the shoot when you get back home?

 

[Jilian]

We are getting married at Shades of green which is on WDW property but not a DISNEY hotel. So I called to ask if I could still get the MK photo shoot and they seemed fine about it and said it would be $750. If you're doing a VR on a cruise I'm sure they'll be fine with it, especially after you explain. But in all honesty I don't think they are THAT picky about where you get married. I mean that is a lot of money for a short about of time so it's a win win for them.

You can still have a MK shoot if you are not a Disney Fairytale wedding? This is the first I've heard about that. They told you that you could have a shoot while the park is still closed for half of the normal price? Color me shocked!

OP, as far as I've heard you can only get the MK shoot if you are a DFTW bride. I'm having our ceremony at the Swan/Dolphin which is still on Disney property but it isn't a DFTW so I cannot have the MK shoot. It is one of the only things a swan/dolphin bride cannot have that a DFTW bride can. I have my choice of the other 3 parks for photo shoots though.

 

[tinkerbell 766]

Hi girls!!
I am pretty sure that my dear friend Jilian is right!! Only DFTW brides are able to book at MK photo shoot - not anybody else. The shoot is $1,500.00.

Redshirt - Are you absolutely sure that the person you spoke to was clear that you were inquiring about a MK bridal shoot and not just a regular MK shoot?

MinnieMouse08 - If you have your VR on a DCL ship, you are still counted as a DFTW bride, and so you are entitled to book a MK bridal shoot at WDW but I am unsure of the rules at Disneyland. Good luck!!

 

[redshirt]

Hi girls!!
I am pretty sure that my dear friend Jilian is right!! Only DFTW brides are able to book at MK photo shoot - not anybody else. The shoot is $1,500.00.

Redshirt - Are you absolutely sure that the person you spoke to was clear that you were inquiring about a MK bridal shoot and not just a regular MK shoot?

Yup. I talked to 2 different people at two different times. And they both said it was no problem, told me all about the shoots and was even ready to set up dates on the spot. They stressed how if it is an MK Bridal shoot it needs to be booked right away. I did make a point many times in both calls to stress that I was getting married at Shades of Green. When I called the wedding number they were unsure and transferred me to the photography people who I go my answers from.

My apologies on the price, you guys are right about the $1500 for MK and $750 for the rest. We are doing a Bridal Shoot at Hollywood studios, that's where I got the $750 from.

If you guys are in doubt it's just a quick call to the wedding team and they'll transfer you to photography.

 

[tinkerbell 766]

Well, I am really glad that you get to do your bridal shoot sweetie!! Maybe it is a special concession for the military brides of S of G.
However, I really do think that Disney are a bit picky where you are getting married, as far as being allowed a MK bridal shoot is concerned. I know that S/D brides, and brides having their ceremonies at other WDW locations (eg. Fultons, Characters in Flight etc.), are not afforded this privilege at all!! What a shame this cannot be offered to all Disney brides!! it goes without saying that brides having ceremonies completely off property are not allowed a shoot!!
I must admit that I know very little about S of G weddings, so thanks for letting me know that S of G brides are allowed the MK bridal shoot.
Good luck with your planning.

 

[sambycat]

SOG is a different animal within the whole DFTW/WDW wedding machine. It wouldn't surprise me if their pricing tier for even a MK brial session was in a more affordable realm.


Congrats and happy planning!

 

[tinkerbell 766]

Oh I see, so the team at S of G kind is under the same umbrella as DFTW then? I assumed they were completely separate for some reason. Thanks for putting me right sweetie!!!!

 

[MinnieMouse08]

Thanks everyone, for all of the info!
I was trying to cut out the costs for airfare to Florida and hotels/park entry fees at WDW by cruising to and from CA (where I live) and having Bridal portraits done at Disneyland...we only live about 45 minutes from Disneyland and already have passes.

The MK shoot is $1,500.

OP - I know you used to be able to pay a fee to bring a photographer into Disneyland to do pictures, but I don't think it is something that is offered all the time and I remember reading that they hiked the price up by a lot recently (I think I read it went from $1,500 to $3,000 and it is just permission to shoot, you have to pay to bring in your photographer).

Also, I thought DCL wasn't departing out of California to Mexico after 2012? Or, are you looking to depart out of somewhere else but do the shoot when you get back home?

But, after reading princesswendy720's info, if the Disneyland park session outside photographer fees are up to $3,000, I'm thinking it pretty much costs the same to go to Florida!
And, I didn't know that DCL weren't cruising to Mexico after 2012...but that makes sense since I tried to look up dates/prices for 2013 cruises to Mexico and they weren't available!
Looks like we'll be going to Florida after all! Although we might have to wait until 2014 to save up, haha!
What do think, Ladies? Will it be worth it? I know it will be for me...but will it be worth it for my DH (who loves Disney, just not nearly as much as I do)?