Non-Disney Disney Wedding

[boray]

Hi everyone...it's been a couple of years since I've been on here and it feels good to be back! I do have a question that I hope you all can help with...

My fiance and I have tossed the idea around of getting married in the Magic Kingdom without Disney doing it. It's not the first marriage for either of us so we're looking to make it small and special to us. Does anyone know if Disney would care if we just had someone marry us in the park - a short little 5-10 minute ceremony with an officiant and probably someone taking pictures. It would be no big deal and I'm thinking we'd just "melt" in with the rest of the crowd and not draw any attention to us. There will be no tuxedo's or gowns!

 

[Robo]

Hi everyone...it's been a couple of years since I've been on here and it feels good to be back! I do have a question that I hope you all can help with...

My fiance and I have tossed the idea around of getting married in the Magic Kingdom without Disney doing it. It's not the first marriage for either of us so we're looking to make it small and special to us. Does anyone know if Disney would care if we just had someone marry us in the park - a short little 5-10 minute ceremony with an officiant and probably someone taking pictures. It would be no big deal and I'm thinking we'd just "melt" in with the rest of the crowd and not draw any attention to us. There will be no tuxedo's or gowns!

Sounds like something that would be completely against the rules.


And, I can think of exactly 3 places where I would do it without
it interfering with any other guests.

Since it's against the rules of the DISboards to discuss "getting around the rules," I'm going to clam up about it.

 

[SafetyPinndSally]

MK is a no go...they are very strict about unofficial things happening on their property. Perhaps you can set up something small at one of the Resorts, but I would forget about getting married in any of the parks because it probably wouldn't last 2 minutes without you being told to vacate the park because of an infraction to a rule.

 

[bjscheel]

There is a weddings board here, you could read for ideas of what is allowed.

 

[Ember]

I guess it comes down to what you're willing to risk. Having an unauthorized wedding is not allowed and if you are caught, your wedding will be interrupted and you will be escorted out. Could you actually get away with it? Maybe.

Keep in mind Disney is very proprietary about its weddings, and they do watch out for "illegal" weddings on their property. If you were going to do it, I would suggest having your wedding in your hotel room and then heading out to the parks to celebrate. While still technically not allowed, there is almost zero chance of your wedding being interrupted.

To me, personally, the risk of my wedding day memories including being escorted out of the Magic Kingdom by security is not my idea of happily ever after.

 

[zumbergc]

they have an intimate package which is more affordable, or you can look at a swan / dolphin wedding. But, neither of those occur in the MK.

MK wedding are extremely $$$$$, and they only do them after hours (when the park is closed).

 

[torsie24]

The only places you can have a 'disney' wedding without DFTW getting involved are Shades of Green or S/D resort.

 

[ADisneyQueen]

How about getting a room with a great view at the S/D and getting married on the balcony of your room? Would there be anything illegal about that?

 

[Mrs. Charming]

The "escape" wedding packages are actually really nice, castle in the background and everything for at least 2 of the locations off the top of my head. They do a VERY nice job, and are a delight to work with.

You *might* be able to pull it off, but it wouldn't be much of a traditional wedding. BUT, I think that if you aren't big on the ceremony part of it (which I'm thinking you might be because you want a photographer) you might possibly be able to pull it off. Oh, and it would look kinda suspicious bringing a priest/pastor into the parks with you in full uniform.

Just my thoughts.

 

[torsie24]

I'd say definitely just go for an Escape package. You could choose either the pavillion or sunset pointe and have a 'legal' Disney wedding, with all the benefits of the DFTW team helping you out, and a wonderful view of the castle. We're having a bigger package, but it's a comfort to know if we needed to downsize we could do so, and have a wedding at an amazingly reasonable price adn still have a perfect and magical day.

I don't think I'd be able to cope with the wedding planning without our wonderful co-ordinator. When I tell my friends how helpful and organized she is they all wish they were having disney weddings too!

 

[disney_dreaming_mom]

There is a wedding package at Swan Boat Landing with the castle in the backround at Magic Kingdom that starts at $28,000. Considering Disneylands park weddings were about 10 x that price when I had inquired a few years ago that seems pretty decent. The package also includes quite a bit. You might want to call to speak with a Disney Wedding Planner. They are very helpful. Best of luck!

 

[torsie24]

There is a wedding package at Swan Boat Landing with the castle in the backround at Magic Kingdom that starts at $28,000. Considering Disneylands park weddings were about 10 x that price when I had inquired a few years ago that seems pretty decent. The package also includes quite a bit. You might want to call to speak with a Disney Wedding Planner. They are very helpful. Best of luck!

We looked at this, and although $28k doesn't seem crazy for a wedding, that price is just the site rental fee.

If you want your guests to sit on pretty chairs, drink any champagne, eat any food, or have a wedding that last longer than 45 minutes then you'll be looking at another $15k easy on top of that. Which for us was too much when the site rental for the wedding pavillion with the castle view is only $3k.

Also, MK weddings have to be over by 8am I think. No thank you! (And I think it's a bit of a cheek that it has to be a SWL and not in front of the castle when they have a perfectly good stage right there!)

 

[Brian_WDW74]

I've moved this thread to the Disney Weddings and Honeymoons board. If anybody has a definitive answer, it will be the people here.

 

[missy0107]

The only places you can have a 'disney' wedding without DFTW getting involved are Shades of Green or S/D resort.

Or Fulton's Crab House! A very reasonable option!

I got married there on 12/4 and it was wonderful!

 

[Emmabean2000]

We were married at the Swan 10 years ago. They really did a great job, and provided us with a beautiful ceremony and a great meal to boot. We had about 25 people attend. Best part of the day was going to MK, with wife in her dress and I in my tux, and being allowed in to the parks for pictures. It was not easy though. We did call in advance, and was told it would be ok, but when we got there, they did not want to let us in. My BIL was our photographer, and he threw a stink for us, and they finally let us in for 30 minutes, to take a few pictures. Quite memorable to say the least. Somehow, I don't think they would allow this today...