Question about 1-Year Out Requirement...

[hjc1277]

My fiance and I are planning a custom wedding at WDW for April 22, 2006. I have read that one year out from the wedding, we need to turn in our request for date, locations (ceremony/reception), time and hotel selections (am I forgetting anything?!) Does this have to be done exactly one year out? I know that they don't make the selection & send the contracts until eight months out, so does our part have to be done so early?
Here is my hang up... I would like to go down to Disney before making the decisions. I haven't been to Disney for about 15 years and 1) don't remember too much and 2) know that they have added alot more since then. My fiance has been more recently, but is leaving the decisions mostly up to me. I would like to take a look around and see my options in person, rather than looking at pictures online (which are not helping me too much anyway) My mom agreed to go down with me, to help me make the decision, but there isn't too much time between now and April 22, 2005 for us to make the trip (I am also in the process of selling my house, finding a new job, moving, etc.) Plus I'm thinking it would be fun to go Mother's Day weekend & make a nice Mother/Daughter trip out of it.
Does anyone know about this? Will I be able to turn in my dates/locations/time about 11 months out? Will that affect my chances of getting my first choice?

-Heidi

 

[Firefly Girl]

Hi Heidi, congratulations on planning a wedding! The first thing you should do is contact a Disney Sales Manager to get a quote and plan a site visit. They will show you around to all the different sites you have expressed interest in. Since unless you are planning an in-park wedding they do not allow you to book until 8 months before your wedding day, doing this at 11 months out is no problem.

Disney wedding locations are selected by lottery, they are not first come first serve. So if you and another couple both want the exact time, locations, and date, you will be placed in a lottery for those locations. However, if you have a weekday wedding, there is not much chance of you both wanting the same thing. And if you are flexible with your date and time so much the better!