Site visit without a Contract signed yet

[mermaidbride1108]

Anyone know what actually happens at a site visit when you don't have your formal contract signed yet?

I'm going for one in September (DF and I are taking a cheap trip to check out locations, Photgraphers, etc.) and I'm curious what they do. Has anyone actually had a site visit that ended with signing your contract and paying the deposit? That's what Df and I are hoping for - to get as much done as we can during that week.

Thanks again!

 

[GlobalDiva]

Hello

DF and I went for a site visit last year, a couple of months after we got engaged, and we had no intention of coming out with a contract. I had told them ahead of time that we wanted to visit the Wedding Pavilion, the ballrooms and get some printed info about pricing and policies, etc. You can also ask whatever questions you want. No contract involved at this point--you have to see the stuff and make sure it's what you want

There's no pressure or any type of selling or anything. We met with Diane Mahoney-Brown, and she drove us around from the WP to Boardwalk, Yacht Club and Grand Floridian ballrooms. Then after that, we sat with her in a little room at Francks and discussed some questions with her that we had written down before hand. She was really great and down to earth.

Very easygoing. I basically wanted to see the ballrooms in full detail, make sure I could do my guest count, and get paperwork describing their pricing, etc.

Hope this helps!

 

[mermaidbride1108]

This is great info! Thanks

Question though... Did you sign your contract then? We are going to do a site visit but with the idea that we are definitely doing this would want to sign the contrat then and there. Can we do that? Since I'm taking a week off tand making the trip down there I'm hoping to get as much done as possible and I would be soooo happy if I could just sign my contract and put deposit down then.

 

[twiu]

I don't think you can do that. I say this because they have to prepare your contract for you personally. It's not a standard one. It depends on the venues you decide on, time of year, etc. Also, I know that when they gave me my contract, it's signed by your wedding consultant as well as a lawyer (I think). There are definitely 2 signatures on it and that second person isn't someone who's at Franks.

Don't quote me on any of this, but I think it's a little more complicated than it seems. Also, before they give you the contract, you have to turn in your room block. Trust me, this is a pain in the butt - but you can always change it later.

Anyway, no worries though. The contract thing is painless. They can overnight it to you and it takes no time. I'm sure if you say you want the date, they'll give it to you as long as it's available.

Good luck!

 

[TamTab]

On the site visit they just take you to all the locations you may be interested in. After that you will sit and talk about what things you want and what date(s) and time(s) you would be interested in. They will pencil you in on the date and time you want. You will not get to sign your contract there, they will e-mail it or mail it to you.

The reason you do not sign it there is one - depending on what locations you pick you can not sign your contract until it is either 1 year or 8 months to the day. 2nd - they need to make sure that no on else is interested in your time, day or location. If there is you will have to go into a lottery to see who gets that spot. If the other couple gets it they will try and get you your sencond choice.

Hope this helps.

 

[GlobalDiva]

This is great info! Thanks

Question though... Did you sign your contract then? We are going to do a site visit but with the idea that we are definitely doing this would want to sign the contrat then and there. Can we do that? Since I'm taking a week off tand making the trip down there I'm hoping to get as much done as possible and I would be soooo happy if I could just sign my contract and put deposit down then.

Hey Mermaid Bride

If only contracting a Disney wedding were as easy as doing it at any other venue, but nope you're gonna wait and sweat a bit first. It just makes it all worthwhile when you get it later ;-)

As Twiu and TamTab mentioned, the contracts are not just generalized, and it takes time to reserve a date that you want, etc. So the contracts are usually done from a distance. You would also want time to read it over in detail and everything.

Good luck! I know it's only January, but I'm sure you're thinking about it tons!!

 

[mermaidbride1108]

Ok so I think you guys have all made pretty good points to me! Duh, I definitely would like to read the fine print and such and that takes time. I guess I'm just really anxious to make it official. And the fact that I really just want to get things moving. Is it your Ceremony or Reception venue that determines the 8 or 12 months out? Like if you wanted WP but an Epcot reception? or reverese - Epcot but ballroom?

What's the likelihood of having a Lottery with a Tuesday Wedding in September?

How long does it usually take to write the contract up formally? If we went down on Monday, any chance (in your opinion) that we would be signing something on Friday? I'm not just trying to jump into a financial obligation without thinking it through first, but we are going down in September with sole purpose to start wedding planning (because we are using one of our timeshare weeks and going the cheapo route ) And I would just really like to come back and say one major thing done woohoo!

 

[TamTab]

We did our site visit in September. Pam called us on October 22nd to tell us we got our date and time. Our wedding is on Oct 20th. About a 3 or 4 days after that we recieved our info and forms to fill out about the room block and then ...... about a week after that we finally recieved our contract.

I would say the chances of signing your contract on that Friday are probably slim. I would say but the following Friday for sure. Who knows though ... they might work alot faster for you. lol

 

[mermaidbride1108]

I was just thought maybe since I'm from Philly and they have a week to get me in person then maybe, I guess it's not really a big deal

Question for you all - What exactly do you have to do for the room block to give to give to the planners? IS this just picking your resorts for your guests or is it more detailed?

 

[Dreamer24]

How long does the site visit last? For example, is there time to see the WP, ballrooms, and DP locations?

 

[GlobalDiva]

How long does the site visit last? For example, is there time to see the WP, ballrooms, and DP locations?

Hey Dreamer24,

We saw the WP, the ballrooms at Boardwalk, Yacht Club and Grand Floridian, and then spent time talking about some stuff at Franck's too. Can't help you with the DP locations since we had never planned on having one.

In total, we were there for like 2 or 3 hours with the wonderful Diane Mahoney-Brown

 

[twiu]

I was just thought maybe since I'm from Philly and they have a week to get me in person then maybe, I guess it's not really a big deal

Question for you all - What exactly do you have to do for the room block to give to give to the planners? IS this just picking your resorts for your guests or is it more detailed?

for the room block you choose your resorts and then you have to have an estimated number of rooms for each night. So, you can say for All Star Sports you would need 8 room on 8/29, 10 for 8/30, and 14 for 8/31,... same for the other resorts. What I did was I looked through my guest list and guessed when my guests would be arriving and what resort they would like to stay in. It's hard because you have no idea where people would like to stay and when they plan on arriving. You can change your room block once you start getting an idea, but if the rooms have been sold then you're out of luck.

I thought most people would want to stay at the value resorts but most of my guests are booking the deluxe. Weird. I guess people have more money than I expected

Good luck!

 

[mermaidbride1108]

for the room block you choose your resorts and then you have to have an estimated number of rooms for each night. So, you can say for All Star Sports you would need 8 room on 8/29, 10 for 8/30, and 14 for 8/31,... same for the other resorts. What I did was I looked through my guest list and guessed when my guests would be arriving and what resort they would like to stay in. It's hard because you have no idea where people would like to stay and when they plan on arriving. You can change your room block once you start getting an idea, but if the rooms have been sold then you're out of luck.

I thought most people would want to stay at the value resorts but most of my guests are booking the deluxe. Weird. I guess people have more money than I expected

Good luck!

Wow that sounds scary actually! I have no idea how to judge that