[dznygrl]

Aloha my dear DC friends!!

I NEED YOUR HELP!!!!

So Ryan and I were planning this big, grandiose honeymoon--2 full weeks at Disney, hopping between AS Sports, WL, BWI & AKL. ("YEAH RIGHT!" you're probably all thinking...:nooo: ) We were going to stop at nothing to make it happen...

Well then we found out that my parents are not planning on paying for as much of the wedding as we'd hoped. That leaves the two of us, working for barely-more-than-minimum-wage, to each pay for our rents, food, necessities, bills, A WEDDING *and* A HONEYMOON by the end of July!

Suddenly our honeymoon looks more like a weekend camping trip at the Oregon Coast. :hmmm

I am stressed beyond, because this honeymoon (AND the wedding, of course) is so important to me! This will be Ryan's first vacation to WDW, and I wanted lots of time to relax and show him EVERYTHING.
Our honeymoon is going to be one one official Disney VACATION we have together, staying onsite and not leaving the boundaries of the World the entire time.
Yes, we will be moving to FL at the end of next year so I can work @ Disney, but it's not the same. I wanted this trip to be long and special, since the rest of our lives Disney will now just be a "day trip" sort of thing.

Do y'all see what I'm saying? I know I'm just blabbing.

ANYWAYZ, I need tips. I need your best advice on getting Disney hotel rooms for cheap, the most affordable and fun places to eat in the World, and even ways I can earn extra money before the wedding!! :laugh I'm already considering picking up a paper route, as much as I hate getting up early...

I JUST NEED PLAIN OL' HELP!!!!!

Every bit of advice is appreciated! :love: Thanks, guys!!!

[ILUVMICKEY333]

Well if camping on the Oregon coast is acceptable then a week or so at the All-Star Sports is luxury. It doesnt have to be a deluxe resort, afterall it is your honeymoon and anyplace yall land as long as you are alone together (and have a comfy bed...;) will be perfect!

I remember my husband and my first trip to WDW. We were babies and really couldnt afford such a grand vacation (our first vacation). We scrimped and saved, stayed at the AS Sports and went with the ungodly (lol...how things change) amount of money of $1000. A small fortune to us at the time. We never even stepped foot in a sit down restaurant. We had the time of our lives! It is one of our very favorite vacations ever! And there will be time for Deluxe resorts later.

Tips:
#1: Brides parents pay for the wedding (or yall in this case) Grooms parents pay for the honeymoon. Maybe they could help a bit?

#2: Stay at a value resort.....I promise.. the only thing yall will care about is eachother, not the walls around you.

#3: Shorten your stay to a week.

#4: Book hotel and passes seperately. Get 4 or 5 day park hopper passes and spend 2 or 3 days relaxing and doing romantic stuff. You could go over to AKL and see the animals and watch the fireworks from the beach at the Poly, etc.

#5: Ask for cash or maybe even Disney Dollars as wedding gifts. It is a highly acceptable gift for a young couple for their wedding. And whether you ask for it or not you will get cash, so you can use it for your spending money.

Good Luck!

[ILUVMICKEY333]

Or if all else fails...get a PO Box and post it here and I will gladly send you my extra Disney Dollars!

[WEDINDISNEY]

Relax and take a deep breathe. The most simple thing that I can pass on to the both of you is something that someone said to me right before my wedding: "Remember that the most important thing is the wedding" that the 2 of you are married. That is the most priceless thing. Everything else can be figured out.

I can understand that you want to make this special for your soon to be DH and you still can. But I agree with ILUVMICKEY. Go with the value resort because the only thing that is going to matter is that you are together. Shorten your time there (thats not so bad) besides you will both be living there in a little while and alot of us here would love :heart to be able to move down to Disney.
And you have the rest of your lives to spend together and Disney isnt going anywhere (at least I hope not :nooo: ) You can plan almost like a 2nd honeymoon for your 1 year anniversary.

And hey get that PO BOX like ILUVMICKEY said Ill mail ya some disney dollars too.

Sending you some pixie dust and hey all your family here at the DC is here for you. We'll help ya both out.. Not to worry :)

[preidel24]

I agree with the other take it from this wise old woman (all of 40) that has been married for 19 years to her highschool sweetheart. We had a big outdoor wedding, rental tents, crystal, china, tables, lines, landscaping all had to be rented. It was beautiful and I will always cherish it but the important thing was that we loved each other and got married. We paid for our own wedding too. We did this while both of us were still finishing out our schooling. Thing have a way of working out and they will for you too.

Have you considered a small intimate private wedding with just close family and friends. Honestly there where people at wedding I never saw again. You could certainly save money there. Choose what's most important to you your honeymoon or a big wedding.

If you choose the honeymoon then start aggressively saving what you can (people will give you money for your wedding that I'm sure of). Plan to stay at the Pop Century or All Stars during value time, buy the tiks you can afford you can always add and upgrade them later if you have the money.

I can honestly say this because I've lived it. Some of our most memorable vacation were when we were just starting out a didn't have a lot of money. Now that we're older and can stay anywhere we want it doesn't enhance the memories or feeling we have during our vacations. It's simply a little more luxury, If I know you and Ryan you won't be spending much time in the hotel you'll be out experiencing the magic together.

Relax everything will workout. hey, that disney dollar thing is not a bad idea..... think about it. Where is the bride registered .... DISNEY of course LOL

Paula

[justval00]

I'll chime in with the others. As a married woman for only the past six years, I can tell you that big weddings can sometimes be over rated. Like Priedel said, I would suggest toning down the guest list, there were people there I didn't even know.

And really out of all of my memories, I remember our honeymoon the most. Also, I was very surprised at the amount of money we recieved as gifts at the reception, more than enough spending money for our honeymoon. Try not to stress, you have the rest of your lives and you shouldn't ruin this time when you should be having fun w/ your planning!!

[tiggerlover1971]

I agree with them 100 percent go with the intimate wedding instead of a big wedding ( I wanted an intimate and then my parents out voted me and went for a circus as I called it ) and if you can spend some days at All stars or even Pop Century at least you are honeymooning at Disney

[preidel24]

Originally posted by tiggerlover1971
( I wanted an intimate and then my parents out voted me and went for a circus as I called it ) Disney

LOL to funny Cheryl. I agree with you I wanted a small wedding but my DMIL (rest her soul) kept adding people. My DBIL and SIL had it right. The took the wedding money and ran - all the way to WDW for their honeymoon!!! They are still as happily married as my DH and I are. Remember if you do small and intimate now when you can afford it you can be re-married at WDW. My DH just gave me (had them redone and added a new eternity band) new and bigger diamond rings because when we first got married we couldn't afford big fancy one. When he surprised me with them last year it was as romantic as if he's given me them when he proposed. Just a thought.

[Amneris]

Get Birnbaum's book. It lists all the restaurants everywhere in WDW with a handy pricing key. Check out the "$" ones. I absolutley ADORE the Plaza restaurant in MK -- great ambiance, and great ice cream & food. I think this should be definite "must" for you guys. We tried Columbia Harbor House this time, but although there were some unique menu items I wasn't thrilled with the ambiance. But it was an indoor place to sit down, and probably quiet nice at non-meal times when it would be filled with screaming kids, lol! :) If the weather's nice enough for outside dining, the cafe in Mexico on the lake sounds like a great romantic place to go. Also consider bringing food from the fast food court at whatever resort you end up in back to your room. All hotel rooms have a nicer view and ambiance than a noisy, ketchup-spilled, brightly-lit food court. And a heck of a lot more privacy! You may be dining on chicken strips and Quik, but it will feel a lot better than that if it's just the two of you in your comfy room having a great conversation or just chiling and watching tv. Pizzafari, I think it's called, in Animal Kingdom has a zita dish that comes with a salad -- at least they did a few years ago. I thought that was a nice surprise to find real food at a fast food place. Also check out the Grand Floridian Cafe and the $$ one at the Yacht Club (name escapes me right now) for a really nice "expensive" lunch that isn't over $10-15 per person.

Don't know what to tell you about resort help. I'd personally try 1) discount code for moderate resort (but don't ask me how to find one, lol!), 2) comparing staying at an All-Star (is on Disney, but not a fancy hotel) to staying at on of the DownTown Disney hotels (not a Disney hotel, but - from what I've read on here - you should be able to find a room/hotel nicer than the All-Stars for the same price.

[Amneris]

uuuhhhh, sorry my coherency factor is so low on the above post! I got as far in reading as my description of the Harbor House, and cringed away in terror! but everyone knows what I was trying to say ... I hope! :)

[DougiesMommy]

I agree with the others and try scaling back the wedding so you can have the honeymoon you dream of. Are your parents paying for any of the wedding? If not, jump on that plane and get married in Disney. If so, then you have to try and work with them in the planning, etc.

Weddings are so stressful and in the end I wish I would have listened to my mother. Took the money for the big wedding and just did a small family wedding. It would have made no difference in our love for each other.

Just try to relax and go with the flow. Make it as small as possible to save on money and have that extra money for the honeymoon. Also let it be known that you already have dishes, towels, etc (guessing this is true if Ryan has his own place) and what you really need is money for the honeymoon.

[LAURENGOLD]

Kim-
Just one more person saying tone down the wedding. Figure out what your parents are willing to pay for and go from there. Check out the discount places to buy a gown, or maybe, from reading what you've said on some other posts, you could sew your own? Have a friend or relative who likes to bake? Maybe they'd do the wedding cake. When my DH and I got married, we had the actual ceremony, all by ourselves in Vegas. When we got back we planned a big "party" for the reception. It was great. The "ladies" in my family did all the cooking, my Aunt made our cake, a beautiful, 3 tier with flowers and for a Topper she did 3 breyer horses (we already had our DD;) ) We rented a tent and had it in my parents yard. We were able to invite who we wanted, and not really worry to much about cost. Make your own centerpieces and favors. You can do it.

Also, be sure to let everyone know what it is you would like for a wedding gift..We did and it worked great;) .

Let us know if we can help!!

Lauren

[trishb]

What a hard decision you have to make! Dh and I only had a long weekend to get married. We had only 2 nights for our honeymoon. But, we made up for it the next year with a fantastic anniversary/ honeymoon trip.

Just keep in mind that the most romantic things in Disney World are free. Go ahead and get the best room that you can afford. Get park-hopper passes...or even day passes (if it fits better in your budget). Then spend your time basking in the romance of the resorts...which is usually free!

Dance in the lobby of the Grand Floridian while the Pianist plays wonderful disney tunes.

Watch the fireworks from the beach at the Polynesian while you are cuddled in a hammock.

Share a glass of wine in front of the private fireplace at the Wilderness Lodge.

Canoe, Hike or Bike at Ft Wilderness.

Enjoy the BoardWalk, walk hand in hand while eating ice cream cones.

Sneak into a resort pool (except the Beach Club!)

Watch the Animals at AKL.

Enjoy the ambiance and romance of Port Orleans.

I could go on and on...just remember that getting married is about the two of you, not anthing else.:love:

[JBKoala]

I would agree with Lauren. I have not been proposed to yet, but I am planning on wearing my mother's wedding gown. She made her own in 1976 and is still married to my father. Walmart and the craftstore Michael's have great books on how to make things for your wedding. I plan on having cupcakes for the guests as part of the wedding cake. You can make these yourself or your family. Get a two-tiered cake (you can also make yourself), something small (save the top for your anniversary, like you are supposed to) and let the wedding party eat from this. Many movie stars are doing this with their cakes, but of course they don't make the cake themselves.

For the honeymoon, stay at a budget priced hotel. Maybe splurge one night at a luxury hotel (if you can). Sign-up for the mousesavers newsletter at www.mousesavers.com for discount codes for hotels and rental cars. They are posted on the 1st and the 15th of each month. There are budget saving tips and links to other websites for more money saving tips. If your room has a refrigerator, run by the local grocery store when you get there and pick up quick snacks and meals. You can save money if you pack some PB&J sandwiches to take to the park with you. (Tip: put PB on both sides and jelly in the middle to prevent soggy bread). Buy bottled water somewhere like Walmart (aberfoyle is fairly inexpensive). Other sites you could try for budget info is www.allearsnet.com ,www.camelbak.com ,www.passporter.com

Good luck and best wishes.

[iluvwdw]

Girl, weddings can be EXPENSIVE! And stressful, too. I planned my ENTIRE wedding from beginning to end in 2 months! DH and I also paid for our wedding ourselves...we are married almost 3 years now! (together almost 13) We also got the place of our dreams HALF PRICE since we booked so close to our date...we got a great deal, in a place I have always wanted to have my reception since I was younger!

When you have a BRIDAL shower and have to register for gifts, DON'T REGISTER ANYWHERE...have your mom (or whoever throws your shower) put little cards saying something to the effect that you just need DISNEY DOLLARS for your Honeymoon!

Also, start taking $10 here, $15 there and go and buy disney dollars and put them aside. Take your lunch to work every day and SAVE that $$ you would have spent. Put all of that $$ towards your Disney honeymoon!

Don't have a wedding with 200 people...your wedding can be just as wonderful no matter how many people you have!

If $$ are a HUGE issue, you can still stay 2 weeks (depending on the time of year you are going...and I hate to say I forgot your wedding date! Sorry!!! :dazed ). You could use AP discounts and get All Stars or Pop Century for $49 per night!!!! $700 for 2 weeks on Disney soil...who could beat that?!? You could also eat breakfast, lunch and snacks in your room or with items you bring to the parks with you, to help some of the cost. That food can be SOOO expensive!!! When DH and I go during summer months, we get a cooler and bring all of our soft drinks and fruit for the day so we don't have to spend a penny for anything except our meals.

I know you really wanted to experience some other resorts, so if you can swing it, maybe stay a day or two at a moderate or deluxe. If not, make the most of the Value Resorts because after all....you will be making MAGICAL new memories of your own at WDW!!!!!!!! And with the extra $$ you save, you could have a REALLY nice meal or two while you are there! ;)

I hope some of this helped...I definitely think you HAVE to honeymoon at WDW...I can see how happy it makes you and how much you want to share it with Ryan! So I think you should just GO FOR IT, and just be frugal with your spending...you could definitely do it!

GOOD LUCK TO YOU KIM!!!!!! :love: