Questions - Escape vs. Wishes, and adding reception?

[Sanwich]

Hello there,

I'm recently engaged and just starting the planning process, though my fiance and I have always known we'd be getting married at Disney.

I have some basic questions that I can't seem to find the answers to. Our main problem is that our guest list is very uncertain - we're on the "line" between Escape and Wishes, where we would likely invite 28 or so people, but only 18 might show up.

1. My first question is this - how do you "guarantee" to Disney that you're going to have 20 people at a Wishes wedding? If it's the wedding day and only 18 people show up, do they kick you out? I'm just curious how it all works. I've heard that you're not allowed to just pay for the "extra" (non-existing) guests to add up to 20.

It's frustrating because as I understand it, the deposit and timelines are different for Escape and Wishes, so it's not like you can start with Wishes and then suddenly change to Escape 3 months before the wedding because people found out they can't make it.

2. Second question - both my fiance and I (and my immediate family) absolutely love the idea of a Tamu Tamu Courtyard reception. I know the F&B minimum is pretty high for a smaller (18-ish) group. If we HAD to have an Escape wedding due to less than 20 people, would we be able to add on a reception at that particular location? I know it would trigger a $7500 minimum (I think), but we'd likely exceed that amount anyway. Has anyone been allowed to use Tamu Tamu with a non-Wishes wedding, and is there a minimum number of people to use that venue, period?

3. Finally, and this ties into the first two questions - since Escape is now 20 or less and Wishes is 20+, can you basically add on whatever extras you need to an Escape wedding? It doesn't feel fair to be punished for having less than 20 people... we're willing to spend the money to have a nice wedding, but it would just be a small one.

If it comes to it and we had to do Escape, I wouldn't mind the ceremony venue limitations, etc... but could we customize the cake, decor, add a reception, etc. just by paying extra for all the add-ons? I feel like in the past they used to be pretty strict about Escape being very cookie-cutter (not to say that they can't be nice, either).

Thanks for any help you all might be able to offer. We're aiming for an October 2013 date, so there's some time yet. I just wanted to have some idea of what I'm getting into before I contact Disney.

 

[Chilly]

Yes you can customize flowers, cake etc for the Escape package, but are limited on venues.

I'm not sure how Disney would handle the drop in guests but I would just tell them your inviting 30 people and leave it at that, I can't think they would cancel your wedding 1 month before if it turned out only half could come.

Have you got the Passporters Wedding book? Get it, it answers most questions:

http://disneytravelbabble.com/disney-weddings/passporters-disney-weddings/

 

[NoOrdinaryPrincess]

Hello there,

I'm recently engaged and just starting the planning process, though my fiance and I have always known we'd be getting married at Disney.

I have some basic questions that I can't seem to find the answers to. Our main problem is that our guest list is very uncertain - we're on the "line" between Escape and Wishes, where we would likely invite 28 or so people, but only 18 might show up.

1. My first question is this - how do you "guarantee" to Disney that you're going to have 20 people at a Wishes wedding? If it's the wedding day and only 18 people show up, do they kick you out? I'm just curious how it all works. I've heard that you're not allowed to just pay for the "extra" (non-existing) guests to add up to 20.

I have heard of situations in which people had to pay for non-existant people to meet the minimum for the location requested (The one that comes to mind is MrRomances Fantasmic dinner), so I would double check this as an option.

It's frustrating because as I understand it, the deposit and timelines are different for Escape and Wishes, so it's not like you can start with Wishes and then suddenly change to Escape 3 months before the wedding because people found out they can't make it.
You can switch. If I recall correctly, it's much easier ot switch to a more expensive package (ie from Escape to Wishes) than the other way around.

2. Second question - both my fiance and I (and my immediate family) absolutely love the idea of a Tamu Tamu Courtyard reception. I know the F&B minimum is pretty high for a smaller (18-ish) group. If we HAD to have an Escape wedding due to less than 20 people, would we be able to add on a reception at that particular location? I know it would trigger a $7500 minimum (I think), but we'd likely exceed that amount anyway. Has anyone been allowed to use Tamu Tamu with a non-Wishes wedding, and is there a minimum number of people to use that venue, period?
I'm not sure. They may tell you you're ineligable because of your group's size, but just ask your planner.

3. Finally, and this ties into the first two questions - since Escape is now 20 or less and Wishes is 20+, can you basically add on whatever extras you need to an Escape wedding? It doesn't feel fair to be punished for having less than 20 people... we're willing to spend the money to have a nice wedding, but it would just be a small one.

If it comes to it and we had to do Escape, I wouldn't mind the ceremony venue limitations, etc... but could we customize the cake, decor, add a reception, etc. just by paying extra for all the add-ons? I feel like in the past they used to be pretty strict about Escape being very cookie-cutter (not to say that they can't be nice, either).
I think there are some limitations. For example, I'm reasonably certain (but not 100%) that you can't have a completely custon cake for an escape wedding, but you can "upgrade" to one of the regularly offered cakes that isn't a part of the standard escape package. As far as I know, you can upgrade any kind of floral/ceremony decor you want.

Thanks for any help you all might be able to offer. We're aiming for an October 2013 date, so there's some time yet. I just wanted to have some idea of what I'm getting into before I contact Disney.

Responses in red. Hope that helps!

 

[Sanwich]

Thanks for the responses! Yes, I do have the Passporter book - I ran out and got it as soon as the enagement was official.

My concerns weren't specifically addressed in the book though, which is why I thought I'd try here and see if I could learn from anyone else's experience.

 

[lurkyloo]

For what you want to do and the number of people you will invite, I say go with a Wishes Collection event to get the flexibility you need. Disney is not going to cancel your wedding at the last second if your head count drops to 18. The 20-person minimum for Wishes seems mostly to be designed to discourage very small groups (like, you know, 8 people), which would have a tough time meeting all the minimums anyway.

 

[Sanwich]

For what you want to do and the number of people you will invite, I say go with a Wishes Collection event to get the flexibility you need. Disney is not going to cancel your wedding at the last second if your head count drops to 18. The 20-person minimum for Wishes seems mostly to be designed to discourage very small groups (like, you know, 8 people), which would have a tough time meeting all the minimums anyway.

Thanks for the response.

That's useful to know; it'll help ease my mind a bit if we choose to go Wishes after all.