Intimate Add-on... semi-OT

[Briarprincess]

My boyfriend and I are heading to Disney in about a month, and we're planning on using the trip as a sort-of pre-planning trip. We're not officially engaged yet, but should be by the end of the year . By next spring we'll know if we plan on getting married right after graduation (2008, with the wedding anywhere after May), or waiting till he's in or through grad school (so anywhere from 2009-2011). We're hoping for 2008 since we've been ready for months now to just do it. If it is in fact going to happen that year, it's going to be an elopement trip- My parent's know we're going to get married, and they know we want Disney. They've offered to send us to Disney for a week after graduation at their cost, and if we wanted them to, come along for a few days. We're both ok with this as we love my parents and have a great time with them.
So my real question is this- if my parent's booked a trip for us, would I be able to sneak an Intimate Add-on on without them knowing? I would have access to the reservations and everything, and would be able to separate anything other than the reservation. My dream wedding is Disney, and we both hate big events, so eloping is the ideal. Yet neither of us want to do it without my parents as they have been so amazing with everything we've been through since we started dating four years ago (which is a lot of stuff). Basically it would need to be set up so that my parents make the reservations/tickets/travel, and we'd set-up an add-on and surprise them with the wedding. So is this even possible?


Sorry it's so long! Just want to be ahead of the game this trip incase we don't make it back before I would need to book for it.

 

[FutureAshleyDukes]

Actually all intimate weddings are now "add-ons", they are no longer doing the packages that include the room. I know with my intimate I am paying seperately, and there hasn't been anything mentioned on my hotel bill. I am sure if you spoke to an EM they would be able to let you know. Everything is planned through the packet they send, and then they'll send you a form to make your payment. What a fun surprise for your parents! I'm sure they'll be excited that you included them in your special day.

 

[JandJ]

I booked under last year's rules, and I know there have been changes, but ours was an "add-on" Intimate. At that time they said it was an add-on because we already have APs. We had to have our rooms booked and then we were able to book the wedding once we had the reservation number. We were originally told that anything extra for the wedding (favors, our upgraded cake, etc.) would be billed to our room at check-out but in fact what happened was we were sent a separate invoice before the wedding. So, I think if they still need the reservation number to book the wedding you would be o.k. Just get that number and call DFTW and the Intimate wedding costs will be billed to you directly. Tell them it's a surprise and they will work with you.

Good luck!

 

[Briarprincess]

Thanks for the info! My boyfriend and I were talking it over last night and we decided that we're going to surprise my parents either way. We'll either plan it as a graduation trip or just a vacation, they'll fall for either. We're hoping that 2008 works out, but it's gonna depend on if he goes to grad school or law school- one will pay/give housing and will also provide housing for students with spouses/children and the other is completely on your own. Would I have to book the add-on at the one-year mark or can I get away with doing it like 8 or 9 months before we plan on going? Just wondering and thanks again!

 

[princessblueeyzes]

Hi I am an intimate bride and I booked my wedding date a year out- just to keep me sane, and to ensure that I got the date and time I wanted as I was not willing to budge. My EM told me that not very many intimate brides book 1 year to date for their wedding and that they usually wait to book for about 6-9 months out from the date that they want. Hope this helps and good luck to you in your future planning- here's some pixie dust for your planning

 

[Briarprincess]

Amazing! Thanks for the info, this will really help. We're starting to save a bit of money now, but knowing that it's common to wait a few months for something like this makes it easier to budget out what costs.
I've been thinking about it, and after knowing about what kind of timeline I'll have before hand, I've decided something huge. We're going to get my parents to borrow DVC points from my aunt and uncle (we've done this before so it wouldn't be odd), get two rooms for us four, then have my aunt and uncle in the same hotel for at least part of the stay and have them bring our wedding stuff down so my parent's don't find out before hand. And I plan everything right, my uncle and I share a birthday so we're now hoping for late June/early July to make it a super special visit. Not like it wouldn't already be if this all works out.