Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
45
Moments
A Mickey Mouse Affair: Getting Married
at Walt Disney World
Want to fly up the aisle on Aladdin's magic carpet? Arrive in a glass coach
pulled by six white horses? Or take the plunge, literally and figuratively, on the
Twilight Zone Tower of Terror?
If you've always dreamed of a fairy-tale wedding, Disney is happy to oblige
for a price (though often a large one). Recognizing WDW's popularity as a hon-
eymoon destination—each year, more honeymooners head here than to any
other spot in America—Disney, in 1995, cut out the middleman and officially
went into the wedding business. And, oh, what big business it is!
Disney's first step was building the multimillion-dollar nondenominational
chapel in the middle of the Seven Seas Lagoon. The next step was letting the
world know the Disney wedding chapel was open for business. The first nup-
tials were televised live on the Lifetime television network. (Construction was
still in progress at the chapel, so the bride and groom wore white hard hats.)
Since it opened, more than 27,000 couples (approximately 1,500 couples each
year), hailing from every state and a number of foreign countries, have mixed
matrimony with Disney magic at the chapel, which resembles a Victorian sum-
merhouse. You'll have to cough up at least $2,200 just to have the ceremony
here (not including the minimum expenditure of $10,000-$20,000 required for
a custom wedding).
An intimate “Escape” wedding at WDW for two starts at about $2,950 (not
including the 4-night minimum stay at one of Disney's resorts) and includes a
daylight ceremony at one of several Disney resort locations, a wedding cake,
a bouquet for the bride, a marriage certificate signed by Mickey himself, and a
host of other trimmings (at Disney's Wedding Pavilion, prices start at $3,900).
“Custom Wishes” weddings start at $10,000. The average Disney wedding costs
$28,000 and has 100 guests (Prince Charming not included). A la carte add-ons
range from $800 for a 30-minute visit from your favorite Disney character to
$2,700 to arrive in Cinderella's glass coach. It would cost at least $25,000 to
have your ceremony at the Magic Kingdom (minimum food, beverage, and
hotel expenditures are required and are at an additional cost). The introduction
of the Disney Couture wedding collection (by David Tutera), a unique honey-
moon registry, and a line of princess-inspired designer wedding gowns (avail-
able only in select Florida locations at press time) bring additional elements of
elegance that only Disney could create to the wedding mix. If you can imagine
it, Disney can likely do it—as long as your wallet matches your imagination.
For details, call
&
321/939-4610
(
&
800/370-6009 for honeymoons only),
or go to
www.disneyweddings.com
.
2
Golfpac Vacations
(
&
800/327-0878;
www.golfpacinc.com) offer play-and-stay
packages.
For more information on package tours
and for tips on booking your trip, see
www.frommers.com/planning
.
