Sort of Disappointed-Help!

[honey2741]

I wrote to my sales coordinator asking her about possible suggestions and locations for me to have lunch/dinner after my Escape ceremony. I told her I would want an Ipod setup to do a dance. This was her reply:

"It would strictly be a luncheon for up to 2 hours, no dancing, music, characters, etc. as that would be a full reception and would be a Wishes experience. "

Can someone help me to understand this? I didn't go with Wishes because I wouldn't be able to have an outside photographer and didn't want to have to worry about the room block and hitting a minimum (even though we would end up going over).

Thanks.

 

[hiwaygal]

There may be some misunderstandings here...

If you choose the Escape, they probably won't allow a "reception" style lunch (with dancing, etc). However, I know you can do a few dances immediately after your ceremony (especially if you do your cake cutting later at the restaurant where you are having your lunch)...so it would seem the ipod set up would be possible...just maybe not exactly how you planned.

With the Wishes option...you don't necessarily have to use Disney photography. It can sometimes help if you can't reach your minimum expenditures with other things, but that doesn't seem to be much of a problem for most brides.

For either an Escape or Wishes ceremony you are only required to use Disney if you are having any part of your celebration in a theme park (ceremony, reception, dessert party). For Wishes, if you are having your ceremony at WP, SBP, or any of the other "standard" locations, your reception at a ballroom (or any location at one of the resorts), and not having a dessert party (or having one at one of the resorts)...you CAN use an outside photographer.

In addition, the room block is based solely on the number of guests you have. Generally it works like this:

Based on your estimated number of guests, you must guarantee a minimum of hotel room nights at the Walt Disney World owned and operated Resorts. Your Disney Wedding Consultant will be happy to discuss these minimums in details to ensure your comfort level.
10-40 guests = 25 room nights
41-75 guests = 50 room nights
76 or more guests = 75 room nights

If you will have problems meeting your room block, there are other things that can be done...talk to your coordinator for ideas and input (some brides here will also have ideas). I know one thing is that you don't get your complimentary night at a resort...and it might be worth it to you to not have that rather than pay for unused rooms.

I hope that helps some...keep asking questions if it doesn't make sense. Many brides have done worked out a lot of these details before ad can help you make the things you want work for you.

 

[pinkcow]

There are other options as well. We looked into absolutely everything before ultimately deciding to go with a Wishes wedding.

Raglan Road, The Rainforest Cafe, Bongos, Fulton's, Portobello Yacht Club, House of Blues, Planet Hollywood and the restaurants at The Swan and Dolphin are all on Disney property, but not necessarily owned by Disney. Which means they have different polices. Some may be willing to set up a dance floor for you, you would just have to contact them directly.

The Gaylord Palms is not far off of Disney property and be willing to work with you as well. There are also resorts at Downtown Disney with ballroom space like Buena Vista Palace or Royal Plaza.

HTH

 

[DisneyBrideToni]

I don't know much about Escape weddings but I think that you can have characters and an ipod set up for your dances for the cake and toasting portion of the wedding after your ceremony. I can understand why you wouldn't be able to do dancing and have characters at a restaurant since that would kind of be a full blown reception.

If you did want a wishes wedding, you can have an outside photographer still just as long as your wedding and reception is outside of any of the parks. You can even do a dessert party at sago cay and I am pretty sure you can have the outside photographer there was well since its at a resort.

It sounds like for what you want, you would easily come within the wishes minimum and as far as room nights go, if you have any extra rooms and need to fill the room requirements you can always post it on here as many people going on vacations at the time of your wedding can use your room nights. I have one of the girls here using my room block and she is not going to my wedding. Just a thought. At least with a wishes, you have more options.