Wedding Planner Issue??

[Princess SarahK]

Our contract is signed, and we are 9 months from our wedding. Naturally I have a ton of questions. Im thinking about certain things and rethinking others. Im trying to iron out details and get most things situated....BUT Im having a hard time getting my questions answered.

When you have questions, is it better to go through the planner or the assistant? Are you not allowed to have questions answered before a certain time frame? What am I doing wrong? Im so frustrated because the answers to my questions could potentially change our dessert party to the night before our wedding or take it completely out. Is this doable after the contract has been signed? I have a phone meeting set up for 2 weeks from now--yes, I have not spoken to my planner yet and Ive had my contract signed for 3 months. I have had contact with the assistant so far but the last few emails Ive sent, Ive been told to wait for my phone meeting..in 2 weeks! I dont want to wait 2 weeks!!! It will change the amount I owe Disney by a few thousand...I need to know NOW! (This is the major issue, I have smaller questions and things to sort out with them and I wouldnt mind waiting for those but this one is big! My rehearsal dinner is pending on the DP stuff, and my FMIL is breathing down my neck to book something. What do I tell her, sorry my planner is busy for 2 weeks and her assistant wont answer my questions? ..RAAAWWWRR!)

Sorry for the venting and ranting, I really needed to get it out...Im so frustrated.

Ive emailed and asked to reschedule my phone call to anytime sooner than 2 weeks from now..but I doubt that'll happen. Now, what do I do?

 

[sambycat]

we experienced similar situations and it is frustrating. i am not saying it's OK per se, but i will say that it seems at about that 6 month (from the date for us, not IN the 6 month) more things kick into gear. i know its weird and i feel you, but it DOES all happen. they do this tons. heck, we didn't even have CLOSE to a final BEO before our final payment was due.

some people have speedier responses early, but, although it is frustrating beyond words, they will get to you and answer all your questions, etc etc etc

i would cc the assistant whenever i sent any contact and, of course, save your emails.

i'm probably not giving the answer you are looking for and i did my fair share of grumbling and hair pulling (our first planner simply wasn't available at any type of evening or afternoon hour for my time zone).

hang in there - it really does get rolling after that planning session mark, and they will pull it together!

 

[sambycat]

oh - where in texas are you? we're in DFW

 

[SaidYes]

I think this is a pretty typical problem. Do you know who your planner is yet??? I didn't know mine until soon before my planning session just 6 months out! ANNNNd, it seems like they are always telling you "we have plenty of time," despite only being 4 months out or whatever it is.

I would try to get in touch with your original contact from Disney weddings. For me, it was Joe, who took us on our tour of the venues. Have you had to put your deposit down yet? I think that is around 9 mo. before so that may be why they refuse to give any of us information before then! I would definitely try talking to one of the assistants at least. They could probably answer your basic questions to help you out.

If it makes you feel any better, I am just 3 months away and my planner and I spoke on January 6th and I still haven't gotten the answers to my questions she was checking on! I will say, my florist is EXCELLENT at responding quickly and I adore him for it!

 

[tinkerbell 766]

It really seems to be an ongoing issue, this thing with planners not getting back to their brides!!! I know they are busy, but ignoring the concerns of their clients is wholly unacceptable and not terribly professional. DFTW really need to address this problem quickly.

 

[Princess SarahK]

Houston!!

I totally know what you mean. I am sure they have it all under control and I trust them completely. My main issue is that Im wanting to change the date of my dessert party and Im not getting an answer or response on anything Ive asked. (whats available, times of fireworks, etc) What if somebody is booking the time I want because I had to wait 2 weeks? I understand its my fault for picking an inconvenient time for a DP but really..I wish they would help me out on this. I dont know what to do!!

your first planner? did you switch?

 

[Princess SarahK]

I think this is a pretty typical problem. Do you know who your planner is yet??? I didn't know mine until soon before my planning session just 6 months out! ANNNNd, it seems like they are always telling you "we have plenty of time," despite only being 4 months out or whatever it is.

I would try to get in touch with your original contact from Disney weddings. For me, it was Joe, who took us on our tour of the venues. Have you had to put your deposit down yet? I think that is around 9 mo. before so that may be why they refuse to give any of us information before then! I would definitely try talking to one of the assistants at least. They could probably answer your basic questions to help you out.

If it makes you feel any better, I am just 3 months away and my planner and I spoke on January 6th and I still haven't gotten the answers to my questions she was checking on! I will say, my florist is EXCELLENT at responding quickly and I adore him for it!

Yep, I know who my planner is but havent spoken to her. Just the assistant. Yes, they have my 2000 deposit for 3 months now as well as our contract. I wouldnt mind if it were about chargers or napkins..but changing or taking out a DP is a big deal..a big $3000.00 deal!! You would think they would want to keep the bride happy so she keeps it and they make more money on a more expensive wedding..I dont feel like its the case.

That is so sad you are having issues as well, I hope they get straightened out for you sooner rather than later.

 

[Princess SarahK]

It really seems to be an ongoing issue, this thing with planners not getting back to their brides!!! I know they are busy, but ignoring the concerns of their clients is wholly unacceptable and not terribly professional. DFTW really need to address this problem quickly.

Whole-heartedly agree!!

 

[Gareth& Hayley]

I must admit, i'm getting pretty annoyed myself. Gareth phoned Disney yesterday but got through to Carol's assistant and asked her about the measurements for the WP so we could buy our aisle runner (its 69feet but need to know if WE need to arrange to cut it or if Disney will do it). Was told she would contact floral and get straight back to us. No response last night, no response today. Do not tell me that no-one in floral has been available for 2 days!! I live in the UK, so have to order in plenty of time as its a custom runner and international shipping time etc. Need to check it when it arrives to ensure theres nothing wrong with it, so allowing time for replacement if needed (i'm paranoid!) I havent even spoken to my planner, she's only ever spoken to Gareth once and that was because we were in Orlando and phoned her. This may come across as a bit bridezilla but I am really frustrated!

 

[sambycat]

Houston!!

I totally know what you mean. I am sure they have it all under control and I trust them completely. My main issue is that Im wanting to change the date of my dessert party and Im not getting an answer or response on anything Ive asked. (whats available, times of fireworks, etc) What if somebody is booking the time I want because I had to wait 2 weeks? I understand its my fault for picking an inconvenient time for a DP but really..I wish they would help me out on this. I dont know what to do!!

your first planner? did you switch?

sadly, our original planner transferred departments about 2 months before the wedding. actually, it worked out better for us because our new planner had a schedule that allowed a little more contact (if needed) after 4pm eastern time.

i was hoping you were going to say around DFW, i could buy you a glass of wine and talk you down!

do you at LEAST get an out of office confirmation? i would definitely contact the sales person contact and the assistant. i'm not sure who the next person up the chain will be, but short of someone needing every possible permutation of every possible venue spelled out to them, then of course you are not being unreasonable. we didn't have to deal with the DP issue, so that was helpful.

good luck!

 

[FutureMrs.B]

I was having the same exact issues with trying to figure out if I'm keeping the DP or not. I emailed a million questions to the assistant but I'm assuming they're not really supposed to do alot of that so she ended up setting up a phone conference so that I can talk to my planner. I must say she was very prompt. I had to wait 2 weeks. Which was annoying, but that again it was around the holidays. If anything email the assistant and let her know that you have questions you want to speak with your planner about and if it's possible to set up a phone conference. HTH.

 

[DisneyBride1207]

Houston!!

I totally know what you mean. I am sure they have it all under control and I trust them completely. My main issue is that Im wanting to change the date of my dessert party and Im not getting an answer or response on anything Ive asked. (whats available, times of fireworks, etc) What if somebody is booking the time I want because I had to wait 2 weeks? I understand its my fault for picking an inconvenient time for a DP but really..I wish they would help me out on this. I dont know what to do!!

your first planner? did you switch?

What I have done with the whole issue of wanting to iron out details is that if I had an urgent issue like yours above (DP issue), I would call and email them until they answered me, then I would back off and wait for my Planning Session. The date of your DP is important, so go ahead and bug them until someone responds about it. I collect all my questions and wait to ask all at once - that seems to work best for me even though I'm majorly impatient!!

 

[Princess SarahK]

Well Ive got to give credit where credit is due! Lisa, my planner swooped in and remedied the situation. I got an email from her a little while ago saying she could bump my phone meeting up to Saturday and answer my questions then. Its still not today or tomorrow but at this point, I guess Ill take what I can get. This is the first contact Ive had with her and I am completely optimistic and going in with a great attitude on this. Hoping that something very important is what kept someone else from helping me out in such a time of need. Anyway, that gives me a few days to gather my thoughts and questions (because apparently there are so many they cant be answered through email by her assistant....) and get them taken care of at once.

I am so happy that this was fixed so quickly, because honestly lately there have been a lot of "cons" where there should have been "pros" on Disney's behalf and I was starting to get a bit worried about things; not just planner related either. I hope all of you other DISBrides who have had trouble lately can get a hold of your planner too! If not, tell me your question..maybe I can sneak it in my phone meeting. Hopefully things keep going up from here! Fingers crossed!!

 

[jarrett08]

it will all work out

 

[decdisneybride2011]

I had the same issue when they first contacted me to tell me who my planner was and that they would send the planning kit info the next day. Well, I still didn't get anything and I waited a week. I then contacted my sales associate and let her know what was going on. Needless to say, the next day, I received my planning kit. Maybe you could try to contact your sales associate to see if they can help. I at first tried contacting the assistant, but that's who never responded, so I tried my planner and she responded that day.