Just called DFTW - bit disappointed

[SerpentQueenClaire]

I just called DFTW as my boyfriend and I are visiting Florida in March and hoped that we could meet with someone to discuss options and perhaps visit a few of the ceremony sites. I was all ready to pencil in a date and was getting really excited but the girl on the phone said that I could only do that if I booked a Wishes wedding.

I explained that as we're from the UK we aren't able to visit very often and just wanted to chat about the different options and visit the sites but she said no and that would all be done further down the line if we book a Wishes package.

Is this the case for everyone or has anyone been able to do a site visit as an Escape bride or before the wedding was booked? We wanted to visit before we book to make sure it will be the right wedding for us...so doesn't make sense to me

 

[irisbud]

I know that must be really frustrating, but if you are thinking of doing an escape wedding, you could easily visit each of the ceremony sites yourself, without the aid of a wedding planner. Unless closed off for an event, I believe all of them are accessible to the general public.

I understand this isn't exactly what you want, but maybe it would help you to make your decision.

Good luck!

 

[Mydisneywedding]

Don't get upset, you could visit all the sites without a coordinator and get an idea of what you are looking for.

I had the same issue, I wanted to set something up to discuss options and budget and to really decide if I wanted to go with a Wishes or Escape wedding since I am right at the 25 number of guest.

I was told no, because a site visit is only for Wishes but that I could go on my own to some locations. I just did that last month and I was fine with it.

I got to see all the ceremony locations and I visited and ate at Citricos, Fultons, & California Grill.

Plan it out and check out the site

Good luck !!

 

[rachy]

I also thought we could meet up with someone to talk everything through as we are from UK, and were there last September, and prefer speaking to someone face to face than over the phone.

We visited a few of the sites though whilst there, and came home and decided we didn't want a Disney wedding after all because of various reasons, so we booked somewhere else in Florida x

 

[SerpentQueenClaire]

Thanks everyone. I will go and visit some of the locations, restaurants and hotels-sure it will give me a good idea of what I do and don't like!!

Out of interest, where are you getting married? I am open to other ideas although at the moment I think Disney is the way I want to go

 

[rachy]

http://www.celebrationhotel.com/

There package suited us better, as we can have the meal included in the package for upto 8 guests, plus we get 2 nights free accomodation in the hotel.

We were all ready for a Disney wedding too, but i didn't like the fact you couldn't book until 8 months before the date.
Good luck in whatever you choose, and hope the snow isn't too bad in Kent. Terrible in Windsor! x

 

[SerpentQueenClaire]

I will take a look-there will only be a few of us at the wedding so something to consider.

Snow is quite bad-took me 2 1/2 hours to get home from work (normally a 25 min journey!) Think you have it worse than us this time though so stay safe and warm x

 

[rachy]

I will take a look-there will only be a few of us at the wedding so something to consider.

Snow is quite bad-took me 2 1/2 hours to get home from work (normally a 25 min journey!) Think you have it worse than us this time though so stay safe and warm x

You too x

 

[gemmybear83]

Were from the uk and planning an escape wedding for December, we visited all the sites during our October trip, and from doing that, reading lots of planning journals and Carrie's book I don't think were any worse off, tbh if a planning session was now offered I wouldn't go as we mow have our date pencilled in and a wedding coordinate to answer questions and we won't book the wedding until April.

Saying all if this I love the look of the celebration hotel, this was second on my list!

 

[Mydisneywedding]

I wanted to share something I learned today...

If you really want to have the magic of Disney but not the hassle of dealing with the wedding coordinators or Disney policies why not consider having the ceremony and dinner at Fulton's in Downtown Disney

I had a board member send me some info today and I think it's a great idea.

Less money than DFTW, no people limit, you could use your own photographer, cake and florist and you are still in Disney...

 

[MsEsty]

I can only imagine your frustration! When Esty proposed, we called Disney Weddings and asked if we could meet with someone while down there, a 10 minute drive! We were also told no and we could "talk to someone over the phone or by email." We're a 2 hour flight, I could only imagine being in the UK.

We said screw it and took a day to visit the the various sites to get a real feel for the places. I highly recommend the PassPorter Wedding Planner Guide. It really gets into the details regarding all possible weddings. http://www.passporter.com/weddings.asp

Hope it helps!

 

[missy0107]

I wanted to share something I learned today...

If you really want to have the magic of Disney but not the hassle of dealing with the wedding coordinators or Disney policies why not consider having the ceremony and dinner at Fulton's in Downtown Disney

I had a board member send me some info today and I think it's a great idea.

Less money than DFTW, no people limit, you could use your own photographer, cake and florist and you are still in Disney...

I had my wedding at Fulton's a month ago and it was perfect! Check my planning journal for a few photos. I'm happy to answer any questions!

 

[aduck126]

yah if you are having an escape wedding i found that especially in the beginning stages of planning when you have a lot of questions that disney are not the ones to turn to. I dont know how many times i felt like i was being pushed aside and ignored because i was only having an escape wedding. this is most frustrating when it comes to their booking restrictions. you book your wedding 8 months out then you book your reception 180 days out then the dessert party is somthing else. i almost gave up PLENTY of times. my advise is to hang in there and accept that it is going to be really annoying and some days you will want to rip your hair out and never want to hear the word disney again, but it will get better, i promise.

 

[Janell]

Im sorry to hear they can't meet with you. If it helps, I planed our Wishes wedding with out going on a planning session or even meeting our planner. We meet our planner the day of the wedding. Its easy to do over the phone and internet. its only easy to do this, because of the internet boards. You will learn more about the wedding, options form the ladies here then you will from your planner. Just because a lot of us have already had our weddings,so we can share photos, in site and help out in anyway.

While your at WDW, just go and see the sites where the wedding could be help and see what you like. For me I was at WDW 5 years before we got married, not know I was going to get married there. We choose the WP through photos and I had a brief memory of seeing it from the Monorail. We choose Living Seas Salon because it fit what we wanted and I knew it was a neat place because we had lunch there in 2003. We choose food that sounded good and the flavors of the cake were chosen because of the ladies here and what they raved about.

So don't stress, know where you could have the wedding before you go, so you can go by and see the locations. If you think you might want to have a meal afterwards, either make reservations at the location on this trip or just go and see it. You don't have to eat there. And know WDW has great food no matter where you go. (way better then Disneyland in Cal lol) You can't go wrong. Take lots of photos so you can re-look at them when you get home.

Have a great trip and happy planning.

 

[erin.w]

Isn't there a website with photos of all the locations? Does anyone know the website?

 

[Luvableoldonkey]

Isn't there a website with photos of all the locations? Does anyone know the website?

www.mouseweddings.com has a lot of information and pictures. I haven't been on the site in awhile, so I'm not quite sure how up to date the information is. I know some of the others have said this but I found Carrie's book Pasporters Disney Weddings and Honeymoons immensely helpful!

 

[kingLouiethe1]

Wow, it really sucks that they don't do that for WDW weddings. When we went to Disneyland we spoke to someone and they drove us around in their little golf cart, and this was just to see if we wanted to even have our wedding there.

 

[SerpentQueenClaire]

Thank you so much everyone-really nice to hear from so many people in relation to my little moan!! We're still going to look at the different options whilst we're out there and I am always on the boards picking up tips from you lovely ladies (and men!) I'll also look into some of the other suggestions, such as Fultons and Celebration. If anyone has any other ideas of places we could look at whilst we're out there please let me know

 

[tinkandonaldfans]

We're another UK disney couple and having an Escape 2011 wedding. We have chosen Sea Breeze Point(I made Df look at even before he proposed!!) but the gazebo would also have been easy to go look at if you wanted it there. We are having our reception at The Yachtman's Steakhouse (don't like the idea of having Steakhouse on invites though) as it sounds yummy and looks pretty- so feel free to have a look there and report back!! and afterwards we will be having a dessert party in morrocco! I wanted to keep my guests in one area so they don't wander off!

As difficult as Disney is I can't even imagine how wonderful it will be having a disney wedding. Nothing else will ever really be good enough!

i'm particularly excited about seeing the first timers in our wedding party experience the magic!

 

[Scrap_Vamp]

Hi Claire,

Another Kent Disney bride here! I also had an Escape wedding and found I got the best idea of the locations by looking at other people's trip reports (we weren't able to go over at all once we had decided to get married in Florida!).

We also considered getting married at one of the Universal Resort hotels but in the end we decided we wanted the Disney magic. I also think one of the biggest advantages was having the wedding co-ordinator - I didn't have to stress about anything!

What part of Kent are you from?