Carrie's response is correct.
And, actually, if you're willing to accept a wedding outside of the parks (and outside of the wedding pavilion), I would DEFINITELY suggest Swan & Dolphin. After looking at DFTW prices...and then look at theirs...it's EXTREMELY affordable, considering.
The biggest question you have to ask yourself, I think, is what are the most important aspects to you about having a wedding at Walt Disney World? Is it the ability to get married in the parks? The ability to have characters come to your reception? To get married in the wedding pavilion? To get those beautiful castle pictures?
Once you figure out WHY you want to get married at Disney (specifically, which aspects of a wedding at Disney draws you there), I think you can make a better decision. If it's having Mickey and Minnie there...I'd say have your ceremony at Swan & Dolphin with a small reception. It's much more affordable than Disney, and you can still have characters. Additionally, if you're able to pay for it, you can still contact Disney about having a dessert party (a "Disney wedding" experience that I wanted to have). I'm not 100% on this--but I believe that if you do the dessert party, you still won't be able to wear your wedding attire into the park unless you do a DFTW.
If getting married inside the park, or inside the wedding pavilion is important to you--then caving into Disney's exorbitant Wishes package (based on what it sounds like your guest count is) may be your only option to have THOSE specific things. The Escape wedding is very affordable (and worth it, I think)--but your guest count won't allow for it. It also, again, depends on where you'd want to get married (pavilion's in there, but the other options are pretty limited).
If those gorgeous castle pictures (every Disney bride's dream, I would think) are your reason for wanting to get married there, then you will ALSO have to cave in some way to having an official DFTW. To my knowledge, you can get a park session in any other park, even if you're having your wedding at Swan and Dolphin...EXCEPT Magic Kingdom.
It's no surprise that Disney has done their homework. They have zeroed in on exactly what their customers want...and they find every way they can to block the loopholes. After I signed my contract, I got a survey from Disney asking about my experience. And I remember writing them a very nasty review of their policies, and how they've put a monetary premium on the price of people's dreams...so much to the point of where it's nearly unattainable, even with years of saving. Truth is--they don't care, because they're making money. And, honestly, with how much I'm sure a lot of people want that "experience," the only way for them to really accommodate the volume is by controlling it with price. Yeah, they may price a lot of people out--but there always going to be people willing to pay it...and that's what they bank on. :/
So, that's my love-hate relationship with Disney. I love the Mouse. I don't like his current animators. :/ Sorry for the rant. I had to go through the five stages of grief before finally becoming resigned to just "accepting" Disney and their policies. My groom and I ultimately decided that the dream was more important to us...so we saved, saved, saved, and saved. We could probably put a down payment on a house for what we're paying (I think that's most everybody here). It's ridiculous for one day! But...a magical day without comparison.
So, yeah...figure out WHY you want a Disney wedding. If it's for all the reasons that you can't get without having one...you need to make the decision to work with Disney by their rules, or try to have an adorable wedding at home and do EXTRA special things on your Disney honeymoon. If it's just the characters that are super duper important....then I'd say Swan & Dolphin all the way.
Tiffiny
