Disney Dream Cruise Wedding Booked

[dkosdros]

Well it is official. We just booked our Disney Cruise on the Dream and added the wedding package to boot. Yaaaaaay! My fiancee and I are big Disney fans. I have always dreamed of getting married and somehow incorporating Disney into it somehow. I never expected to be getting married on a Disney Cruise. She wanted to get married on the beach so we opted for the Castaway Cay option after exploring both options. Also a little bonus... Well who are we kidding, a BIG bonus is we are also booking 5 days at WDW before the cruise.

Our cruise leaves Feb 9th 2014 on the Dream from Port Canaveral through the Bahamas and we will have approximately 20-25 guests. We got a Oceanview Room with Veranda and our guests are booking rooms all around us as you read this.

I have a few questions. Well we will probably have lots and lots of questions. After reading a ton of reviews, trip reports, forums we have a good sense of what to expect and what not.

We plan on doing Out of Town gift bags for our guest. We want to bring them with us and then have them distribute into our guests rooms. Our thoughts are we can have them shipped to our resort since we are staying at WDW right before the cruise and then just bring them with us to the port and carry onto ship (kind of a hassle and I am hoping an easier way) or I just read recently you can ship it to the port/ship. Anyone have done this or know how this works? Do they bring it right onto the ship for you?

Also once we get them to the ship and put them together do we leave them in our room and they come to get them and distribute them? or do we have to deliver them somewhere? We understand there is a $2 fee per delivery and we are ok with this. Any help appreciated.

Second question is... I heard that if you book a wedding package you can check in at the Concierge desk and skip the lines. Is this true? Kind of a cool perk if you ask me. I also heard any family that is with you at the time you check in also can go this route and everyone would get on together. Most of the family is staying with us at WDW prior to the trip and we would all be getting their at the same time so this would be a nice perk for us to take advantage of if it is true.

Any other tips, suggestions, etc is welcomed.

 

[Figgy1]

That's awsome! Congrats!

 

[sweetpee_1993]

Hi there, @dkosdros! Congrats on your wedding!

Yes, you can ship a box to yourself on the ship. I think the specifics are all in the FAQ thread. There's a size restriction and you can't send anything liquid or food/beverage. Otherwise, you're good to go! Not sure on the distribution. That must be something with the weddings. Never heard of it but I've never been part of a wedding onboard either. Do you have a wedding planner you can ask about this?

Same goes for the priority boarding question. I've never been a part of a wedding onboard but I wouldn't doubt that you would get that perk. Again, I'd ask a wedding coordinator that question.

I have seen a wedding on Castaway Cay and it was really pretty. We were sitting in loungers near the ceremony site. You'll have a lovely ceremony, that's for sure!

Again, congrats to you!!!

 

[dkosdros]

Thanks @sweetpee_1993. Yes we have a wedding coordinator. Meredith I think is her name. She has been helpful thus far and we can ask her I was just curious if someone knew of this and has used either of them to see how smoothly it went. I would hate to spend all this time and money on shipping the OOT bags and have them get lost or walk up to the concierge desk and have them laugh at me. LOL

The pictures look amazing just have to hope for great weather. I am a little worried about onlookers. Fearing the big hairy dude in a speedo in our wedding pics kind of thing. LOL I have heard that the early wedding gets let off the ship before other guests so they can start the ceremony and as it is wrapping up is about the time the other guests start arriving. So if that is the case it eases my mind a little and is what we are hoping and pushing for.

 

[sweetpee_1993]

Oops! Okay, I thought it was in the FAQ! Here ya go:


- ONE box per stateroom, no exceptions.
- The package must have the guest full name, ship, sailing date, stateroom number or GTY if you have not been assigned a stateroom number.
- The package also must have a packing slip attached to the outside of the box that details the contents of the package. For prescriptions, a copy of the prescription is sufficient. Your list may or may not be read but it must have one. Write packing slip on the outside of the envelope.
- NO FOODS/DRINKS OF ANY KIND, LIQUOR OF ANY KIND, FIREARMS, ETC.. Items that cannot be shipped to the Disney Cruise Line Warehouse and delivered to the ship include: food products (any and all food products including baby food/formula), beverages (liquor, water, etc.), chemicals, and luggage. These items will not be accepted at the warehouse and will be returned. This may cause the dogs to hit on your box and that would be a bad thing.
- The required size of the cartons you are shipping down have to be about the size of a record storage box 12 inches on a side and should not weigh more than 20 lbs. (This has been asked personally by Dave Adams who is the owner)

Address your package(s) to:
Disney Cruise Line Warehouse
Guest Name / Stateroom # (GTY, if you don't know what it is when you send the package)
8633 Transport Drive
Orlando, FL 32832
Phone: 407-566-8196

In the bottom left corner of the top of the package put the following information: ATTN: HOUSEKEEPING
*Name
*Sail Date
*Ship
*Stateroom Number
*Packing slip that details contents of the package (for prescriptions, a copy of the prescription is sufficient)
" Packages must arrive by Friday by 3:00pm for the 7-Night Cruise on the Disney Dream (Saturday).
" Packages must arrive by Friday by 3:00pm for the 4-Night Cruise on the Disney Dream (Sunday).
" Packages must arrive by Wednesday by 3:00pm for the 3-Night Cruise on the Disney Dream (Thursday).

If your box is hit on by the screening dog or chosen for additional screening they will open the list and the box and look through it. They will close it back up and provided nothing bad is in it then it will be in your room as usual later after boarding. These boxes will be coming on the ship with the crew mail among other things so they may be in the staterooms later then they were before as they are low priority in the scheme of things for Disney.

The arrival dates of the packages in the above info is kinda old. Just make sure it's there 2 days early and you're good. I've shipped packages to myself onboard twice with no problems.

 

[sweetpee_1993]

Thanks @sweetpee_1993. Yes we have a wedding coordinator. Meredith I think is her name. She has been helpful thus far and we can ask her I was just curious if someone knew of this and has used either of them to see how smoothly it went. I would hate to spend all this time and money on shipping the OOT bags and have them get lost or walk up to the concierge desk and have them laugh at me. LOL

The pictures look amazing just have to hope for great weather. I am a little worried about onlookers. Fearing the big hairy dude in a speedo in our wedding pics kind of thing. LOL I have heard that the early wedding gets let off the ship before other guests so they can start the ceremony and as it is wrapping up is about the time the other guests start arriving. So if that is the case it eases my mind a little and is what we are hoping and pushing for.

Yes, I took pics of the wedding we saw for storytelling purposes in my trip report. In this post there's a shot of the ceremony site before the wedding as well as our wedding crashing pics:

http://forums.wdwmagic.com/threads/...mething-like-that.837605/page-10#post-4972491

If it were me, I'd definitely be doing my ceremony as early as possible for the heat-factor alone. I'm made of sugar. I melt. LOL!

 

[Disneyfalcon]

It's so exciting!! Don't worry, your photographer can avoid speedo guy! Lol!
Kelly told you about shipping a package. It's super easy.
As far as I know you can still check in with concierge, but the wedding coordinator will have the most up to date info on that.
It's going to be amazing!

 

[dkosdros]

@sweetpee_1993 yup already read your trip reports before you posted your links, LOL. The pictures are what got me interested in the Disney Cruise Weddings in the first place. and I also believe you are the one that got me hooked on getting a Cabana. But we heard they are hard to get and with 20 people we would probably need 2 of them so with one being hard 2 is probably impossible. But it would be so nice to be able to chill with the day away with family on our cabanas.

and Thanks @Disneyfalcon Tammy. I am the most concerned about the photographer. I want really really good pictures to remember this big event in our lives and the cost Disney Charges for photographers I want to make sure I am getting the best one. I've scoured over everyone's wedding photos I could find and some are amazing, some are good, and some are like wow they paid for those?!?!? So that is one of my missions to find out who is the best of the best and see if we can get assigned to them.

 

[Disneyfalcon]

@sweetpee_1993 yup already read your trip reports before you posted your links, LOL. The pictures are what got me interested in the Disney Cruise Weddings in the first place. and I also believe you are the one that got me hooked on getting a Cabana. But we heard they are hard to get and with 20 people we would probably need 2 of them so with one being hard 2 is probably impossible. But it would be so nice to be able to chill with the day away with family on our cabanas.

and Thanks @Disneyfalcon Tammy. I am the most concerned about the photographer. I want really really good pictures to remember this big event in our lives and the cost Disney Charges for photographers I want to make sure I am getting the best one. I've scoured over everyone's wedding photos I could find and some are amazing, some are good, and some are like wow they paid for those?!?!? So that is one of my missions to find out who is the best of the best and see if we can get assigned to them.

I would be the exact same way. You do want the best photographer!!

 

[sweetpee_1993]

Actually, you're going at a time that isn't typically that busy. You just might get those cabanas. You DEFINITELY need to mention to your coordinator that you want them. You never know. They hold back at least 1 on each beach (family & adult) for last minute. I don't see why they couldn't just hold 2 out of the inventory for you. I'd say the wedding parties are pretty priority, ya know? I may have some questions for YOU with all this. Tracey & I have talked about a vow renewal for years. I even have a gown he bought me for my birthday 4 years ago. We didn't have a big wedding when we got married so doing a vow renewal has always been on the radar.

 

[dkosdros]

That is music to my ears. I am really hoping to score two cabanas and think the family would really appreciate it. But then again if it is a slow season then the beach won't be that crowded. hmm tough decision now. I was concerned as well if we have over 20 guests who do we tell that they wouldn't be able to join us. That would be a tough call. We would want everyone there with us. I was worried it was going to be super busy. It isn't a winter break or anything for us up north here in NY or the New England area so I was hoping it would be their slow season. However I have been watching the room prices increase almost every day. My sister said she noticed the room she had her eye on increased $300 in a week and just $40 over night yesterday. So that was interesting and made me think the ship is booking up or maybe it was because of the rise in gas prices.

And a VR would be so cool to do on a cruise. We are planners and will have all the details for you so feel free to ask away. You and Tracey should do it. You only live once and that is how we look at it. BTW I loved reading your trip reports. You really do a good job keeping humor and being detailed enough to make us feel like we are right there. Your boys crack me up staying out late and crashing the next day. And I am hoping we score the Mickey Crispy treats like you did. They are our favorite.

 

[93boomer]

How romantic!! Congrats!!

 

[dkosdros]

Time for an update. Well we are still booked so that is good news. Means the wedding is still on. We just had a baby over a month ago so we will have one more joining us. Plus my fiancee's mother and boyfriend are joining us in WDW for the entire time and my dad is coming in on our last day there to join us for a park day too. It is going to be so much fun.

The plans so far are We fly in Tue Feb 4th and arrive around 11:30am take the DME to AoA. Check in and head to DTD. Going to try to get a ADR for Rainforest Cafe for dinner. Walk around and shop go back hotel and swim and hang out.

Wed Feb 5th have breakfast in room (We use Garden Grocer), head to Magic Kingdom. No EMH but will head straight to Little Mermaid and hopefully the Mine Train ride is going by then too. Enchanted tales with Belle and then hit the barnstormer on the way out, then make my loop around starting back at Jungle cruise. Should be able to hit all the attractions. It supposed to be a light crowd. I think it will be like around a 1 on the scale. going to try to snag ADR's for Be our Guest for dinner. Hopefully catch the night parade and Wishes and call it a night.

Thur Feb 6th head to Ohana's for breakfast. Then hop on monorail to Epcot it is another light crowd I think another 1 day on the scale. No EMH's Hit the biggies, walk around the world, then try to get ADR's for Coral Reef for dinner. Watch Illuminations (We missed it last time).

Fri Feb 7th. Breakfast in the hotel room, Head to Animal Kingdom. No EMH's again but crowd level is another 1 on the scale. Hit the biggies, see the shows. then leave the park and head to Animal Kingdom Lodge for dinner at Boma's. We have always wanted to stay at this resort so I figured lets do the next best thing and at least eat dinner there and check it out.

Sat Feb 8th breakfast in the hotel room. My dad would have arrived last night. May or may not have joined us for dinner last night. But he is joining us for the day at Disney Hollywood Studios. and guess what we get EMH finally. Head to the biggies. See the shows. Dinner is at 50's Prime Time Cafe, see Fantasmic and call it a night.

Sun Feb 9th. Get up eat breakfast in room. Use a shuttle (most likely Quick Silver) and get to port as early as we can. Board ship, meet up with 23 other family members and enjoy...

Mon Feb 10th. Nassua Bahamas Port day. Doing the Blue Lagoon Dolphin Encounter and spending day on their beach. Can't wait. Have some family doing this with us as well.

Tue Feb 11th. Cast Away Cay day. We're getting married on Castaway Cay. I cannot wait!!! it is going to be amazing. Really a dream come true. After the wedding will be hanging out with family on the island.

Wed Feb 12th. Day at sea. We're hoping gas sky rockets so we get a 2nd day at Castaway Cay. if not we will find onboard activities to do. Our DD is really looking forward to taking the drawing class on board. I know they offer it to adults do they also offer it to kids?

Thur Feb 13th. Disembark from cruise as early as we can. Grab rental car and hightail it back to WDW. Yup we are squeezing in one more day of the magic. Why sit an an airport all day when we can go have fun. Probably head back to Magic Kingdom and hit up our favorites. We're letting DD decide during the trip what park to do that day. Head back to airport, drop off car and hop on 7pm flight. will be back home by 11:15 and tucked into bed by midnight.

So what do you think about our peaceful, relaxing wedding vacation? LOL

 

[Mmcginnis1127]

I just got engaged and the cruise/ beach is what we want to do. The website hasn't been very helpful. We will have about 20 people. Could you tell me what you all get with the package? Cruise and wedding? Food, etc. Sounds like you have a great trip planned! You may not want to share, but about what was the final cost? We would like to cover out parents and nieces and nephews for the trip, just wondering the cost and what we get. Good luck with everything and congrats!

 

[PolynesianPrincess]

Well it is official. We just booked our Disney Cruise on the Dream and added the wedding package to boot. Yaaaaaay! My fiancee and I are big Disney fans. I have always dreamed of getting married and somehow incorporating Disney into it somehow. I never expected to be getting married on a Disney Cruise. She wanted to get married on the beach so we opted for the Castaway Cay option after exploring both options. Also a little bonus... Well who are we kidding, a BIG bonus is we are also booking 5 days at WDW before the cruise.

Our cruise leaves Feb 9th 2014 on the Dream from Port Canaveral through the Bahamas and we will have approximately 20-25 guests. We got a Oceanview Room with Veranda and our guests are booking rooms all around us as you read this.

I have a few questions. Well we will probably have lots and lots of questions. After reading a ton of reviews, trip reports, forums we have a good sense of what to expect and what not.

We plan on doing Out of Town gift bags for our guest. We want to bring them with us and then have them distribute into our guests rooms. Our thoughts are we can have them shipped to our resort since we are staying at WDW right before the cruise and then just bring them with us to the port and carry onto ship (kind of a hassle and I am hoping an easier way) or I just read recently you can ship it to the port/ship. Anyone have done this or know how this works? Do they bring it right onto the ship for you?

Also once we get them to the ship and put them together do we leave them in our room and they come to get them and distribute them? or do we have to deliver them somewhere? We understand there is a $2 fee per delivery and we are ok with this. Any help appreciated.

Second question is... I heard that if you book a wedding package you can check in at the Concierge desk and skip the lines. Is this true? Kind of a cool perk if you ask me. I also heard any family that is with you at the time you check in also can go this route and everyone would get on together. Most of the family is staying with us at WDW prior to the trip and we would all be getting their at the same time so this would be a nice perk for us to take advantage of if it is true.

Any other tips, suggestions, etc is welcomed.

Awww, we were going to sail Feb 9th on the Dream but plans changed.... I would have definitely scoped out your wedding

CC is BEAUTIFUL! There was actually a wedding going on when we were docked there during the girls cruise. Here's hoping for great weather and sunshine for you on your wedding day

 

[EOD K9]

@dkosdros You made mention in your first post that your guests are booking staterooms around you as you speak. Maaaaybe that's not such a good idea.

 

[Figgy1]

@dkosdros You made mention in your first post that your guests are booking staterooms around you as you speak. Maaaaybe that's not such a good idea.

 

[dkosdros]

HA HA HA @EOD K9 Yea my future MIL will be staying right next door. She will be helping out with our two kids when we need it. Other family members have gotten rooms nearby as well as other floors of the ship based on their budget and needs. Nonetheless we will make it work. We always make it work

 

[dkosdros]

@Mmcginnis1127 the packages aren't to expensive IMO for what you get. I think it will end up being around $8,000 or so for 32 people. The base packages start at $4k for onship wedding or $5k for on the beach wedding. Then you get 10 people for that. Then it is an additional $20 per person for each after. We have I think 32-34 going. So we will pay another $400-$500 for the extra guests. Which covers the ceremony, first dance back on ship, champagne toast, and cake, and flowers, and they press our clothes for us. Its an expense that might be out of some budgets, but we priced out doing a resort wedding and the costs involved and we kept coming back that the Cruise is cheaper for everyone involved. Our guests will get days and nights of entertainment in a sense FREE of charge, all the food and regular drink they want FREE of charge. Top notch Disney service that many of them have never experienced and it will be a very memorable, dream wedding that i'm sure everyone will remember for as long as they live. Especially us.

 

[dkosdros]

oh plus the cost of your room you book that is how I go to the approx $8k price. Oh shoot then there is the photographer.. that runs $700-$1000. and you can pay more for upgrades on flowers and cakes and stuff. but the basic ones they have are pretty cool and there are several styles and colors to choose from.