My family’s Walt Disney World vacation began. The Summerhouse dinner party was wonderful and everyone had a great time. Here are a few photographs from the party.
(Click here for my Summerhouse photo album. And click here for my Summerhouse Trip Report.)
Before my husband and I knew it, the day had arrived for our meeting with a Fairy Tale Weddings Custom Sales Manager. Our daughter was attending the Grand Floridian’s Wonderland Tea Party that afternoon, so that left us free to attend the meeting alone. Since we had never visited Franck’s Bridal Studio before, I asked a Grand Floridian Bell Services Cast Member where the path was that would lead us there. It was very hot that afternoon so the Cast Member asked us if we wanted a ride to Franck’s in one of the Grand Floridian’s trolleys. We took him up on his kind offer and within minutes we were in front of Franck’s.
Before we went inside, my husband and I looked at each other and took a deep breath. Our upcoming vow renewal suddenly felt both very real and very close. It was an odd feeling for the two of us to have, especially when you consider that we had been married for almost 20 years.
When we walked into Franck’s, the first thing I noticed was how pretty it was. It was as lovely in person as it had appeared in the photographs that I had seen of it over the years. We checked in at the desk and gave our names to the receptionist. We were a little early so we were told to take a seat. The receptionist mentioned to my husband that he should take a look through the photo books that were on display. As my husband sat down, I decided that I wanted to look around instead.
Franck’s had many items on display:
chairs, chair coverings, table linens, table settings, floral arrangements, and so on. Those were the larger items. There were also many smaller items on display. Inside some cabinets were all sorts of little goodies:
place cards, guest books, invitations, wedding favors, and so on. It was fun looking at everything.
I thought now would be a good time to post a link to Disney’s 360-degree view of Franck’s Bridal Studio:
click here.
(Note: You need Apple’s QuickTime software application in order to take the virtual tour by moving your mouse around inside the image. This software may be downloaded for free from the Apple website.)
As I was looking around Franck’s, I glanced over to see what my husband was doing. I had to laugh when I spied him. You see, he literally took the receptionist’s comments to heart and was looking through the wedding books that were on the table before him. You just have to love a man who follows directions, and better yet, a man who was shamelessly wearing two beaded necklaces and one plastic ring that his daughter had received on the Pirate Cruise the day before. A man that comfortable in his skin truly amazes me.
Within a few minutes, our Sales Manager introduced herself to us. She led us into a small conference room and we began our meeting.
I gave her a brief history of my husband and my marriage. I also told her a little bit about our family’s Walt Disney World vacations and mentioned last year’s wedding anniversary celebration on “
The Haunted Mansion” movie set (
click here for photos). I think it was at that point that I explained the sort of vow renewal that we wanted. I stated that we were in the Intimate category but were wondering if it was worth our while to upgrade to the Custom category. I mentioned that I already had the Wanyama Safari booked for our vow renewal’s dinner. I then began asking her questions about what sort of dinner options we had with the Custom category.
On her computer screen she pulled up information about the various venues that were available within Walt Disney World. As she mentioned those venues, I must admit that they sounded lovely. However, nothing tugged at my heartstrings. Deep within me I knew I was looking for something unique; something even more unique than the Wanyama Safari.
I soon began asking questions about the Disney-MGM Studios Theme Park and what venues were available for a dinner party. I asked about two venues in particular: the
Great Movie Ride and the
Tower Of Terror. I explained that I was a little familiar with the Great Movie Ride and what could be done for a private dinner party there. The Sales Manager began discussing that venue with us in greater detail.
Since there would only be 15 people in our party, I asked if it would be possible to change things around a bit and have dinner in the “
Land of Oz” set instead of in the “
Western” set. She said that she would look into it but didn’t foresee any issues. I was pleased to hear that. She then said that she would print a proposal for us regarding that particular venue. Within a few minutes, I had it in my hands. She mentioned that she would create a more specific proposal as soon as she had verified with the Disney Studios folks whether or not the dinner could be held in the “
Land of Oz” set. She stated that she had hoped to have the new proposal delivered to our resort room before our vacation had ended. Such service. I was impressed.
I then began asking about the Tower Of Terror venue. She presently didn’t have any detailed information to give to us, but said that she would gather it up and draft a proposal with it. If she could do that before our vacation had ended, she would have it delivered to our resort. Again, I was impressed.
We discussed a few other items but basically my husband and I had gotten exactly what we had wanted out of the meeting:
(1) more specific information regarding the Custom vow renewal package, and
(2) a dinner venue that was definitely more unique than anything we could have possibly imagined. We were pleased that we had taken the time out of our busy vacation schedule in order to attend the meeting.
The Sales Manager asked us if we wanted to see the Wedding Pavilion. Since we had never had the opportunity to view it before, I said yes. But my husband mentioned that it was time to pick up our daughter from the Wonderland Tea Party. He told me to go ahead and take the tour without him. He said I could join up with him in the lobby of the Grand Floridian after I was done. I was happy that he didn’t mind my staying behind.
The Sales Manger first took me inside the pavilion. It was beautiful. I was so pleased that we had decided to renew our vows there. Our vow renewal ceremony would definitely feel
real, unlike the first time that we had said our vows.
~Shudder.~
I was a little sad that my husband wasn’t with me to see the Wedding Pavilion. I can’t credit Disney
~magic~ for what happened next, but I can definitely credit the Grand Floridian for it. When I turned around, my husband was standing there. He said the Wedding Pavilion was beautiful but he needed the receipt and the pager for the Wonderland Tea Party (
he couldn’t pick up our daughter without them). I quickly gave them to him and away he went.
After my tour of the pavilion, the Sales Manager took me outside and we toured the grounds and the boat dock. She was very easy to talk to and was full of all sorts of wonderful information. I was glad that she had taken the extra time to spend with me. She had definitely gone above and beyond the call of duty, and I was most grateful.
When we made it back to the entrance of Franck’s, I asked her how I should get back to the Grand Floridian Resort. She asked me if I had a car with me. I told her that I wanted to walk back to the resort. Since it was hot outside and there were a few Cast Members piling into one of the Grand Floridian’s trolleys, she asked them if they had room for me (
I thought that was very sweet of her). They said they did, so I hopped onboard and away we went. They thought I was another Cast Member, but I quickly explained to them that I was just your average guest.
It was a fun ride back to the Grand Floridian and I was grateful that I didn’t have to walk in the intense heat. When the Cast Members dropped me off in front of the resort, I thanked them for the ride. I walked inside the lobby and found my husband and daughter waiting there for me. My daughter handed me a bouquet of flowers that she had made at the tea party. She then began describing the party to me. It was obvious that she'd had fun that afternoon without her parents. The Grand Floridian’s children’s activities really are marvelous fun for the little ones.
As the three of us headed back to our resort, which on that day was the Villas at Wilderness Lodge, my husband and I began discussing whether or not we wanted to spend the kind of money that was going to be required to not only move into the Custom vow renewal category but to also host a dinner party inside the Disney-MGM Studios Theme Park. With everything that life had thrown at us within the past year (
college, surgery, job issues), would it be wise to spend the money? We had a very tough decision facing us, and one that wouldn’t be decided overnight.
I am going to quote the last paragraph of Robert Frost’s poem, “
Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening,” because it so poignantly describes exactly how we felt:
The woods are lovely, dark and deep,
But I have promises to keep,
And miles to go before I sleep,
And miles to go before I sleep.
A new report to read. Maybe if I start saving now, by the time my 20yr comes around we can do a vow renewal at WDW. Since it will be 10yrs for us in Oct, I have some time. But unlike you, DH and I dated for 7 years (Sr year of HS, through college, and then some)
- that is an inspiration as well. I am so happy for you
