Where to stay when having a Disney world wedding and honeymoon

[Ellie_N_Carl]

My "Carl" and I are planning a Walt Disney World Wedding Oct 11, 2012... We are currently looking at the chapel for our ceremony and the living seas for our reception.

We are planning a Ellie and Carl, Up theme. Ellie and Carl take an adventure ... finally. Yes yes that really didnt happen, but its just a bit of fan fiction. In any case, the theme is a combo of Up and the late 20's early 30's.

The dress I am in love with is a bit old world meets new. Its a great combo. I am also a photographer so my desire to choose the right resort is weighing on my mind, since that is where getting ready images will be and our first meeting.

So my two questions are:

a) where to stay for our honey moon Current choices are Contemporary or GF.... I have dreamed of staying at the contemporary but I am wondering if the food and service are as good as the GF

b) any thoughts to where I should get a room for the getting ready images and the night of sleeping quarters for me and my honey. I was thinking the GF since its close by and beautiful for photos. I would consider the contemporary but i am concerned it will clash with the theme and i am really disappointed with the huge mickey ears they added on the main floor there. I think it takes away from the beauty of the wall mosaic and the over all space.

All opinions are helpful even if they are outside of my 2 possibilities.

Thanks for reading... I feel like im being a bit over analytical I never thought I'd get so into my wedding.

Thanks fellow Disney Wedding lovers!

 

[jandersonlj]

I would definitely pick GF. The grounds are just soo beautiful. It sounds like it would "fit" your wedding better too. I guess you can't go wrong with either, but GF just seems the better choice!

 

[lurkyloo]

a) where to stay for our honey moon Current choices are Contemporary or GF.... I have dreamed of staying at the contemporary but I am wondering if the food and service are as good as the GF

I would say that in one case, the food is superior at the Contemporary, and that's California Grill. (Victoria & Albert's excepted, since it's more of an event restaurant.... and not necessarily superior to CA Grill in food quality, just different.) I've eaten at CA Grill, Citricos and Narcoossee's a lot, and CA Grill consistently has the best execution and service. Although, with the monorail, you can easily eat at all three places.

As for hotel service, I stayed at GF and CR last week and had great service both places. The GF does have a reputation for above-and-beyond service, but we had a great experience at CR.

Also, depending on how long your honeymoon is, you might consider staying both places. We stayed at 4 places in 2 weeks on our honeymoon, and each time we moved it was like starting a whole new vacation.

b) any thoughts to where I should get a room for the getting ready images and the night of sleeping quarters for me and my honey. I was thinking the GF since its close by and beautiful for photos. I would consider the contemporary but i am concerned it will clash with the theme and i am really disappointed with the huge mickey ears they added on the main floor there. I think it takes away from the beauty of the wall mosaic and the over all space.

I've actually seen some *gorgeous* getting-ready photos from the Contemporary (the rooms and the Wave lobby and bar make a nice backdrop, plus there are ways to shoot the mural so you don't see the huge Mickey ears). However, if you're getting married at the Wedding Pavilion, it'll be way more convenient to stay at the GF. If you're asking about how to handle the sleeping arrangements the night before b/c you don't want him to see you getting ready, I can tell you that we had no problem foisting my fiance on a family member who was staying on property for the nights before the wedding!

Thanks for reading... I feel like im being a bit over analytical I never thought I'd get so into my wedding!

You've come to the right place! We DISers LOVE to analyze!

 

[tinkerbell 766]

Hmm a tough one!! I stayed at BLT during my recent VR trip and love BLT and the Contemporary. I also love the GF!! I can see, however that your theme will 'fit' better at the GF, although IMHO it is maybe a little grand for Carl and Ellie. They may have preferred the Poly with it's tropical theme which screams 'adventure'!!!
The beauty of the monorail resorts is that they are so close together via (obviously) the monorail. There is nothing at all preventing you staying at one resort, and having photos done at others. During our VR and the subsequent TTD, we had photos at BLT, Swan, Boardwalk, GF and Poly.
It is great fun travelling on the monorail in your dress as everybody is so kind and full of congratulationary comments. Good luck whatever you decide

 

[Lorelei528]

hmm..you're going to get loads of different opinions!

I would rule out the Contemporary even though I LOVE it as I feel the theming is a bit lacking and I don't see it fitting with your theme as well, plus the photo locales are not as many there.

Out of CR and GF, I would say GF would go with your theming better, although DH and I "hate" it there. We do like Narcoossee's but for us personally, it just feels too stuffy and nose in the air...

I like the Poly idea with your whole adventure theme or even our fave AKL both have great theming and fantastic set-ups for pictures.

As far as the 20's-30's part of the theme, the BW area is awesome! We kind of ended up with a theme to our wedding without even thinking about it as we used the Model A Ford and got married at SBP and my dress had kind of a turn of the century feel to it, I didn't even realize until after the wedding that everything kind of worked together very well.

So, to sum up

GF
Poly
AKL
BW

HTH!

 

[torsie24]

GF all the way, we stayed there for the few days surrounding our wedding and it was amazing. If only we could have afforded all 21 nights of our trip there, but we were in the Main Building and that'd cost more than a new car!

We stayed at 4 different resorts on our trip (AKL, GF, BW and BLT) and the GF was 100% the best in my opinion, although DH adores AKL and can't decide which of the two he prefers.

AKL would really fit an 'adventure' theme! And it's a gorgeous resort, my second favourite even when you do take the locations of BW and the CR/BLT into account.

 

[princesswendy720]

I have to say the Poly even though it's not one if the choices. All of the lush landscaping ties in with the exotic locales they wanted to travel to. You could also walk from the poly to the GF and get pictures at both places.

 

[katrina1122]

I think WL would be great for pre-wedding pics. The indoor bridge was used for wedding pics when I was there once and I thought they'd be faboulous. I also love the grounds with the geyser in the background. They then got on the boat over to the monorail for the ceremony. More great pic opportunities.

Also, it's got that adventure feeling too.

For the hm, depending on how long you are staying, do a split stay. We did pop/akl for our 1 yr anniv with pop coming first. It was like we had 2 vacations instead of one.

 

[Ellie_N_Carl]

I would say that in one case, the food is superior at the Contemporary, and that's California Grill. (Victoria & Albert's excepted, since it's more of an event restaurant.... and not necessarily superior to CA Grill in food quality, just different.) I've eaten at CA Grill, Citricos and Narcoossee's a lot, and CA Grill consistently has the best execution and service. Although, with the monorail, you can easily eat at all three places.

As for hotel service, I stayed at GF and CR last week and had great service both places. The GF does have a reputation for above-and-beyond service, but we had a great experience at CR.

Also, depending on how long your honeymoon is, you might consider staying both places. We stayed at 4 places in 2 weeks on our honeymoon, and each time we moved it was like starting a whole new vacation.



I've actually seen some *gorgeous* getting-ready photos from the Contemporary (the rooms and the Wave lobby and bar make a nice backdrop, plus there are ways to shoot the mural so you don't see the huge Mickey ears). However, if you're getting married at the Wedding Pavilion, it'll be way more convenient to stay at the GF. If you're asking about how to handle the sleeping arrangements the night before b/c you don't want him to see you getting ready, I can tell you that we had no problem foisting my fiance on a family member who was staying on property for the nights before the wedding!




You've come to the right place! We DISers LOVE to analyze!

Thanks! I'm happy to know im in the right spot for analyzing. I just recently ate at the Cali Grill. it was amazing. I am glad to hear that both places have great service. I dont want to have any worries. I do like the idea of splitting our wedding/honeymoon in two different rooms. I think that would be fun.

 

[Ellie_N_Carl]

Hmm a tough one!! I stayed at BLT during my recent VR trip and love BLT and the Contemporary. I also love the GF!! I can see, however that your theme will 'fit' better at the GF, although IMHO it is maybe a little grand for Carl and Ellie. They may have preferred the Poly with it's tropical theme which screams 'adventure'!!!
The beauty of the monorail resorts is that they are so close together via (obviously) the monorail. There is nothing at all preventing you staying at one resort, and having photos done at others. During our VR and the subsequent TTD, we had photos at BLT, Swan, Boardwalk, GF and Poly.
It is great fun travelling on the monorail in your dress as everybody is so kind and full of congratulationary comments. Good luck whatever you decide

Tink, your comment that the GF may be too Grand for Carl and Ellie is sooo true. I didnt think about it so thank you for that thought. Did you have your photos done by disney or by an outside vendor?

 

[Ellie_N_Carl]

GF all the way, we stayed there for the few days surrounding our wedding and it was amazing. If only we could have afforded all 21 nights of our trip there, but we were in the Main Building and that'd cost more than a new car!

We stayed at 4 different resorts on our trip (AKL, GF, BW and BLT) and the GF was 100% the best in my opinion, although DH adores AKL and can't decide which of the two he prefers.

AKL would really fit an 'adventure' theme! And it's a gorgeous resort, my second favourite even when you do take the locations of BW and the CR/BLT into account.

I hear you on the crazy cost of GF stays...I looked at their Grand Suite its over 2000 a night. It is beautiful, though to be honest I dont know that it is worth the cost even with the upright piano in it!

My future DH while he does love animals I dont know that he would like waking up next to them. I am not a fan of the distant that AKL is from the rest of the parks.

I have to say the Poly even though it's not one if the choices. All of the lush landscaping ties in with the exotic locales they wanted to travel to. You could also walk from the poly to the GF and get pictures at both places.

My sister LOVES the poly... she doesnt want to stay anywhere else. I think you are right though, the poly may be a better fit. Depending on the weather we could walk to the GF but i dont know do disney photographers allow that?

I think WL would be great for pre-wedding pics. The indoor bridge was used for wedding pics when I was there once and I thought they'd be faboulous. I also love the grounds with the geyser in the background. They then got on the boat over to the monorail for the ceremony. More great pic opportunities.

Also, it's got that adventure feeling too.

For the hm, depending on how long you are staying, do a split stay. We did pop/akl for our 1 yr anniv with pop coming first. It was like we had 2 vacations instead of one.

I do want to stay at the WL one day, my family always stayed in the cabins and had a bunch of fun... but I dont think its right for this trip. Though I do get the adventure theme and i am sure the photos would be beautiful, I just rather a jungle adventure if we go for an adventure theme.

hmm..you're going to get loads of different opinions!

I would rule out the Contemporary even though I LOVE it as I feel the theming is a bit lacking and I don't see it fitting with your theme as well, plus the photo locales are not as many there.

Out of CR and GF, I would say GF would go with your theming better, although DH and I "hate" it there. We do like Narcoossee's but for us personally, it just feels too stuffy and nose in the air...

I like the Poly idea with your whole adventure theme or even our fave AKL both have great theming and fantastic set-ups for pictures.

As far as the 20's-30's part of the theme, the BW area is awesome! We kind of ended up with a theme to our wedding without even thinking about it as we used the Model A Ford and got married at SBP and my dress had kind of a turn of the century feel to it, I didn't even realize until after the wedding that everything kind of worked together very well.

So, to sum up

GF
Poly
AKL
BW

HTH!

Lorelei do you have any photos of your wedding you could post or send to me? I would LOVE to see the model A in a wedding and some other shots too. Did you use a Disney photographer?

I agree I think the CR is out, at least for the wedding part of it. I think it is between the Poly and GF. AKL as I said earlier is a distance away. My "carl" would say that the poly and GF are more efficient because they have the monorail to connect you to the parks. I would say its a great perk due to our laziness and slowness! LOL... sillie boys

I was thinking BW and if we can take some photos there, I would like to but its not a priority #1. I just visited the BW for the first time about 9 days ago, it is beautiful, but I do feel sillie as we have the real thing only 30 min from us.

BTW a little note about one of the pieces of decor in the BW resort. The elephant in the main room above the fire place, I am pretty sure it is suppose to be a replica of Lucy, the elephant shaped hotel in Atlantic City.

But Lorelei, if you wouldnt mind sending me some of your wedding photos I would be sooo grateful!


I am grateful for everyone's opinions and I look forward to hearing more of them! ;-)

 

[tinkerbell 766]

Tink, your comment that the GF may be too Grand for Carl and Ellie is sooo true. I didnt think about it so thank you for that thought. Did you have your photos done by disney or by an outside vendor?

Ellie sweetie - We used the fantastic Randy Chapman. He was more than happy to go marching all over WDW taking photos at different locations!!!