Researching/Planning a Vow Renewal - Memories Style - at WDW

[ELLH]

My DW & I will celebrate 5 years marriage in June. But, we have plans to go to the Beach for the anniversary.
However, in December, we'll be taking our first trip as a family (since our 14mo DD has come in to our lives) to WDW with my parents and brother/family. We plan to stay at a Value Resort to keep costs down for everyone. Coincidentally, our 10 year anniversary - the one that marks how long we've been a couple - is December 9th.

I got a wild hair to start researching having a Vow Renewal at WDW while on our vacation and came across the Memories collection. This seems to be right up my alley; not terribly lavish but a cool way to celebrate our bond, nonetheless.
I'm really liking the Luau Beach at Disney's Polynesian Resort locale.

I called the Wedding "center", for lack of better word, but they are closed; normal business hours during the week only. Was hoping someone here might be able to shed some light on a few quick questions I have while I'm continuing to research.

1) We have a very large sum of Disney Visa Reward points which were going to go toward our vacation. Can these points also be used toward the ceremony?
2) The Memories Collection site is apparently still only geared toward the previous 2011 season. I just wanted to make sure that this in fact is something that will be offered throughout the remainder of this calendar year. I've seen the price will increase about $500 in May 2012 but there's no specification as to if this increase also reflects an extension in this particular ceremony option or if this option will go away and there will only be three (Escape, Wishes, Couture).
See below for why I'm a bit confused here:
http://disneyweddings.disney.go.com/weddings/florida/escapememoriespackage/faq/detail
To add to that, I'm hopeful that a December date isn't already booked but I'll have to wait until Monday to see.


Generally, would anyone care to chime in on this? Any of you do a vow renewal and specifically do one with the Memories option?
Any sage words of advice going in to this?
Dress protocol for a renewal? Do I need to get a tux? Is this really just up to us and there's no formality in this regard? Not sure how involved Disney is in the attire.

It's not exactly cheap, but this would be a great way to surprise my wife and give us something we both missed out on (a Disney wedding). Figure I better get my butt in to gear now if I want to make this happen. My wife will (hopefully) be oblivious to this until about a month or so before; enough time to get a mani/pedi, pick out a nice dress, etc). I plan for my parents to attend with (and watch) our daughter during the event.

Thanks in advance for any input. It's greatly appreciated.

- Erin

 

[lurkyloo]

Congratulations on your upcoming anniversary!

1) We have a very large sum of Disney Visa Reward points which were going to go toward our vacation. Can these points also be used toward the ceremony?

Unfortunately, no. Disney rewards/gift cards/Disney dollars cant be used as a form of payment to Disney's Fairy Tale Weddings. But I'm sure you'll find plenty of other ways to spend them!

2) The Memories Collection site is apparently still only geared toward the previous 2011 season. I just wanted to make sure that this in fact is something that will be offered throughout the remainder of this calendar year. I've seen the price will increase about $500 in May 2012 but there's no specification as to if this increase also reflects an extension in this particular ceremony option or if this option will go away and there will only be three (Escape, Wishes, Couture).

The Memories Collection has been extended indefinitely. The only changes are the addition of 20 5x7" prints (instead of 3), the elimination of Narcoosee's Landing as a ceremony site (it's been replaced by the Escape ceremony location Sunrise Terrace at Wilderness Lodge), and extending the availability to Fri-Mon.

You can see photos of all three sites HERE.

To add to that, I'm hopeful that a December date isn't already booked but I'll have to wait until Monday to see.

Memories events can't be booked til 6 months out, but in general there is not a lot of competition for sites and dates, so I wouldn't worry much.

Dress protocol for a renewal? Do I need to get a tux? Is this really just up to us and there's no formality in this regard?

The last one! You can go as dressy or as formal as you want. If you think your DW would get a kick out of seeing you in a tux (as many wives do), go for it. If you'd be more comfortable in something casual, go for that! The only restriction Disney has is that traditional wedding attire cannot be worn inside the parks. So if your wife picks a wedding gown and you pick a tux or a fancy suit, you would not be able to, say, dine at a restaurant inside the park.

Hope this helps!

 

[ELLH]

Congratulations on your upcoming anniversary!



Unfortunately, no. Disney rewards/gift cards/Disney dollars cant be used as a form of payment to Disney's Fairy Tale Weddings. But I'm sure you'll find plenty of other ways to spend them!

I figured as much. It's not a deal breaker. Guess we'll just save any remaining points and use them the next year.

The Memories Collection has been extended indefinitely. The only changes are the addition of 20 5x7" prints (instead of 3), the elimination of Narcoosee's Landing as a ceremony site (it's been replaced by the Escape ceremony location Sunrise Terrace at Wilderness Lodge), and extending the availability to Fri-Mon.

You can see photos of all three sites HERE.


Memories events can't be booked til 6 months out, but in general there is not a lot of competition for sites and dates, so I wouldn't worry much.

Great! And thanks for the link. I appreciate it.
I'm liking the Luau location the most, I believe. Any input on this spot vs the others?

6 months out is actually good. Gives me more time to plan.

The last one! You can go as dressy or as formal as you want. If you think your DW would get a kick out of seeing you in a tux (as many wives do), go for it. If you'd be more comfortable in something casual, go for that! The only restriction Disney has is that traditional wedding attire cannot be worn inside the parks. So if your wife picks a wedding gown and you pick a tux or a fancy suit, you would not be able to, say, dine at a restaurant inside the park.

Hope this helps!

Good to know as well. That means it won't be such an ordeal. I can make it intimate, yet cool, without requiring dressing up which makes things more complicated. Business casual it is!


Thanks for your help!

 

[lurkyloo]

Any input on this spot vs the others?

I think Luau Beach is probably the most popular Memories location because it is the classic beach wedding spot. One thing to know is that it is quite close to the public walkway between the Poly and the GF. But, as someone who has traversed that path many, many times taking photos of wedding locations, I can tell you it is not very well traveled (well, except by me, I guess; wave if you see me!).

The nice thing about Sunrise Terrace is that it has an adjacent indoor space where they could move you if the weather was bad, and it's just more pleasant to hang out there when it's hot and humid outside. It also has an amazing view.

I find Conch Cay too utilitarian and close to the marina, but the Memories couples on this board who've used the spot loved it, so it's really just personal preference.

 

[wiserabbit]

I think it's great that your thinking Memorie VR - DH and I did this at Luau Beach last July - it was perfect - the location is beautiful - and private enough so we didn't see but one lone jogger who quickly went by on the path...

There are enouh options with the package to make it personalized (with flowers, music) but not overhwelming. We added a park photo session at DHS - it was definitely a "once in a lifetime" thing.

We chose to go full out wedding attire - but I have seen others here who used a "beachy casual theme" at Luau Beach - and chose the lei(s) as flowers - it looked so nice - so that might give you causal /cool ideas for you and your DW.....

Have fun planning - and Congrats

 

[CositaRicaFabulosa]

You may just find ways to use all those Disney Rewards Visa points to make your trip special. One thing I often do to use them up (when we have any left over after paying for dining and souvenirs) is go to the front desk at my resort and use them to pay down the balance on anything I've charged to the room with my Key to the World. The important thing here is to do this *before* they tally your bill and check you out. Once they check you out, it's all on the credit card you left on file. Prior to that, CM's are more than happy to let you apply the points to your bill. We are having an Escape wedding so the reception is being held at a restaurant, and we will likely use the points to pay for that, so that's another way you can use the points to enhance your vow renewal.

 

[ELLH]

Yea, we planned to use the DVR points to "pay" for the entire trip. When I say we have a lot... I mean we have a lot. We'll be covering my parent's room as well. That's what happens when you travel a whole lot for work and use your personal card to pay for everything and have them reimburse you ... and when you haven't been in 3 years. Those points add up! lol.
That's why I was wondering if I could use some points to go toward the VR.
I guess I can use the remainder to go toward our trip in Oct 2013.



Thanks for all the suggestions, folks.

So, is the ceremony laid back? I'm picturing it being pretty relaxed. From what I've read, it seems like I can plan this as an aside to our trip. Just tell the wife to put on something nice to go eat somewhere while the folks watch the DD and then have the Limo pick us up and take us to the beach. Have the ceremony, and take the limo back to the resort we're staying in and enjoy the rest of the day.
Which does bring up something else... typically what times are offered for this? Are the ceremonies blocked off for certain times? Morning, afternoon, evening??