Wedding Discounts:

As Guests of our Disney Fairy Tale Wedding, you will be able to receive a Wedding Discount on 3 resorts at Walt Disney World. To give all of you a sampling of the different Resorts available, we have elected to have our discounts at the All-Star Movies (a Value Resort), Port Orleans (a Moderate Resort), and the Wilderness Lodge (a Deluxe Resort). You will receive information from Disney with our Save The Date mailings that will provide the phone number to call to make these reservations. Information about those resorts is included below. Our room blocks are from August 22 to August 27, 2001. However, you can arrive earlier and stay later and still receive the Wedding Discount (as long as you stay at least one day within the room block dates). The Wedding Discount Rates are:
           All Star Movies - $89
           Port Orleans Riverside - $134
           Wilderness Lodge - $197

Other Disney Resorts:

Your choices of resorts are not limited to the three we have chosen, and you can stay anywhere on Disney property you desire. Our wedding discounts only apply to those three resorts, however. For Guests who prefer to stay at another Disney Resort, I recommend obtaining the Disney Club Card. You can receive discounts of 10% to 20% off room rates. I will include more information on this below. Rooms at these rates go fast, so I recommend booking your rooms as soon as you know your plans. Only one night's amount is needed as deposit, and reservations can be cancelled or changed up to 72 hours prior to arrival.

Staying off Disney Property:

For those guests who are considering staying outside of Disney property, you will likely need to rent a car. Depending on the number of you pooling together to rent a car, the savings you would get for staying off-site may be eaten up by car rental and parking fees. (Though there is no parking fee when parking at the Wedding Pavilion for our ceremony). Parking starts at $5 per day for the theme parks. We will try to obtain discounts on Car Rentals for those who seek it (look under Other Transportation for more information). If you wish to stay "off" Disney property but have the convenience of transportation, you may wish to look at the Downtown Disney Hotels (Wyndham Palace, Courtyard by Marriot, Doubletree Guest Suites, Grosvenor Resort, Best Western Lake Buena Vista, Hilton, and Hotel Royal Plaza)or at the Swan & Dolphin Resorts (owned by Sheraton and Westin, part of the Starwoods Resorts) by Epcot. You can often find nice specials at these places, and Starwoods often has special rates for its Preferred Guest members (and membership is free!).

The Entertainment Card:

The Entertainment Card can give you 50% off the rack rates at the Downtown Disney Resorts and the Swan and Dolphin. The Orlando Entertainment Book costs $30.00 and can be purchased online. It includes the Entertainment Card (good for a year) plus a book detailing all your savings and providing additional coupon discounts. Aside from 50% off hotel room rates, the Entertainment Card also provides discounts on Restaurants, Shopping, and other places.

More Information:

For more information on Disney World resorts, visit Disney's official site or scroll down for info on our Wedding Discounted Resorts. Detailed information on the different Disney sites can also be found at Deb's Unofficial WDW Information Guide (WDWIG). For information on the Disney Club, go to www.disneyclub.com.

For more information on the Downtown Disney Hotels, go to www.downtowndisneyhotels.com. They are currently offering a Mega Magic Package that starts at $396 per night per person, and includes 4 Nights Accomodation, 4 Day Park Hopper Pass for two, and 2 admissions to Pleasure Island.

For more information on the Swan and Dolphin Resorts, go to www.dolphinswan.com.

All Star Movies Resort

Disney's All Star Movies resort is its newest Value Resort (though the new Pop Century Resort is scheduled to be completed on December 15, 2001) and - in case you couldn't guess - is themed to several Disney Movies: Toy Story, Fantasia, Fantasia 2000, 101 Dalmations, The Love Bug, and the Mighty Ducks.

The All Star Movies is popular with many families, and John and I found the theming to be cute and fun when we stayed at the resort this past February. It's definitely more "kid oriented" and the rooms are a little small... but then, who goes to Disney to stay in their rooms?

Most rooms have two double beds, though you may be able to ask about a room that has a king bed. They also have a table and chair, tv, vanity area with sink, bathroom, in-wall safe, and voicemail on the phones. Hairdryer, iron and ironing board, coffeemaker and refrigerator are available upon request (some items at an additional charge).

There is no sit-down restaurant at this resort, but there is a food court that has a huge variety of food, as well as by-the-pool bar. Food can be delivered to your rooms up to midnight, and of course the specialty at the All-Stars is pizza delivery. :) There are also two pools and one kiddie pool, bus transportations to all the parks, and an arcade on premise.

For more pictures of the All Star Movies resort, click here.

All Star Music and Sports Resorts

Because of Special Rates offered by Disney, some of our guests are staying at the All Star Music Resort and the All Star Sport Resort. These are sister resorts to the All-Star Movies, and we have included photos of them as well.

Guests staying at the All-Star resorts can easily walk from one to the other (though depending on your building and which resort you are staying at, it may be a little bit of a walk) and are able to use the amenities at any the All-Star resorts. So don't be strangers to each other!

For photos of the All Star Music, click here. And for the All Star Sports, here.

Port Orleans - Riverside

Port Orleans Riverside (formerly called Dixie Landings) is located near Downtown Disney (in fact, it's a pleasant ferry ride down the river to Downtown Disney), Pleasure Island, and the Old Key West and Disney Institute resorts.

It is themed to the by-gone era of the Old South, and is divided into two sections: Magnolia Bend and Alligator Bayou. Magnolia Bend features the stately white mansions of the south, with manicured lawns and gardens. Rooms are located in the different mansions. Alligator Bayou is the more rustic area, themed to the woodlands and bayou of the south. Our guests have the option of staying at either section.

Port Orleans Riverside is a resort that has made many favorites list, and is often considered to be the "theming and views of a Deluxe Resort, with the pricing of the Moderate Resorts." Rooms feature either two double or one king bed, table and chairs, ceiling fan, tv, vanity area with two sinks, and bathroom. Additional Guest Room features include in-room wall safe and voice mail. Hairdryer, iron and ironing board, coffeemaker and refrigerator are available upon request (some items at an additional charge). Some rooms in the Alligator Bayou area have trundle beds, and can sleep up to 4 adults and 1 child.

Port Orleans Riverside has a full-service restaurant (Boatwright's Dining Hall), a food court (Colonel's Cotton Mill), and a lounge (Cotton Co-op Lounge). Six pools, kiddie pools, and an arcade are located on the resort. Additionally, Port Orleans Riverside guests have full use of the facilities at Port Orleans French Quarter (formerly the Port Orleans resort), and can use the pool (and the gigantic dragon waterslide!), restaurant, and other facilities at that resort. It is a leisurely stroll away.

Transportation is available to the theme parks through Disney's Bus transportation services, though Downtown Disney and Pleasure Island can also be reached by taking the ferry down Sassagoula River. Trust me, the ferry is enjoyable, and I recommend you do it at least once!

For more photos of Port Orleans Riverside, click here.

The Wilderness Lodge

The Wilderness Lodge is our favorite resort on Disney property, and John and I will be staying there in the honeymoon suite on our wedding night and the nights thereafter (August 24-27). It is located on the Bay Lagoon (which connects to the Seven Seas Lagoon), and feels as if it is nestled away in the heart of the wilderness. The theming is a magnificent tribute to the US Park Service lodges built at the turn of the century, and recreates the feel of the days when the rich "roughed it" in the great outdoors.

The Wilderness Lodge is located near to the Magic Kingdom (a short ferry ride away), as well as nearby to the Fort Wilderness, Contemporary, Polynesian, and Grand Floridian resorts. It is also the closest of the three resorts we have chosen to the Wedding Pavilion. The Electric Water Pagaent passes by this resort on a nightly basis, and the Magic Kingdom fireworks can be seen from the upper levels of the resort. The Fire Rock Geyser goes off every hour on the hour from 7am to 10pm.

Each room has either two queen beds or a king sized bed, table and chairs, writing table, ceiling fan, private balcony or patio, vanity area with two sinks, and bath. Guest Room amenities include in-room wall safe, tv, voice mail, and hairdryer, iron and ironing board, coffeemaker, and refrigerator are available upon request.

The Wilderness Lodge has two full-service restaurants, Artist Point (pacific northwest cuisine) and Whispering Canyon Cafe (all american bbq and chili). I highly recommend both. Roaring Fork Snacks, Trout Pass Bar (serving drinks and snacks by the pool), and Territory Lounge are also located in the resort.

There is one main pool and two jacuzzis, themed to look like mountain rivers and hot springs. Bay Lake Beach is also available for swimming and sunning. An arcade, boat rentals, and other recreational activities are available.

For more photos of the Wilderness Lodge resort, click here.

Other Disney Resorts

Value Resorts include the All-Star Music Resort, the All-Star Movies Resort, and the All-Star Sports resorts. Each of these is themed according to music, movies, or sports, but otherwise are very similar to one another. We stayed at the All-Star Movies when we visit Disney for our whirlwind 2-day site inspection (to choose reception site), and thought it was a very cute, fun resort - especially if you love Disney movies! The pricing on the Value Resorts is the same: $99 per night for a standard view room. (Resort rates are $77 after 8/25/01).

Moderate Resorts include the Caribbean Beach Resort, the Coronado Springs Resort, and the Port Orleans (consisting of the former Dixie Landings resort and the Port Orleans resort). The Caribbean Beach resort is themed like the Caribbean Islands, and each section of buildings is themed towards a particular island. John and I stayed in the Caribbean Beach Resort before, and we truly loved this resort. The Coronado Springs Resort is themed to regions of Mexico and the American Southwest. Set around a lake, it features a Mayan pyramid in the center of a fun pool area. We have yet to stay at this resort, though we wish to. The pricing for the Moderate Resorts is the same: $149 for a Standard View Room. You can also choose a room with a King Bed for $164, or a Water View Room for $164. (Resort rates are $129 and $144 respectively after 8/25/01).

Deluxe Resorts are extremely varied, and include the Animal Kingdom Lodge (newly opening in April 2001!), Beach Club Resort, the Boardwalk Inn, the Contemporary Resort, the Grand Floridian Resort & Spa, the Polynesian Resort, the Wilderness Lodge, and the Yacht Club Resort. The pricing on these resorts is not consistent. Suites are available in most of these resorts. If you're interested, I can get pricings on them. The Animal Kingdom Lodge is a Resort adventure in the making. Here, most balconies overlook a picturesque savanna where giraffe, zebra and other exotic animals roam about a spacious wildlife reserve, and the décor is consistent with the African theme. The Beach Club resort is the casual elegance of New England seaside resorts combined with an aquatic playground offering water slides and a pool full of surprises. The Boardwalk Inn is captures the essence of a lively seaside resort on a boardwalk full of shopping, dining, and entertainment. It is within walking distance to the International Gateway entrance to Epcot, which is very nice! We stayed at the Boardwalk Villas before, and it was awesome! The convenience of being able to walk to Epcot was very nice. The Contemporary Resort has a "Jetsons-esque" theme to it, and the monorail runs right through the resort. The Grand Floridian is Disney's flagship resort and the most expensive as well, featuring the graciousness of a bygone era in a stunning world of Victorian charms and pampering service. This Deluxe Resort features a pool area, white-sand beach, monorail access, and a complete array of dining and recreational options. Waterfalls and lush gardens reflect the South Seas essence of the lavish Polynesian Resort. Disney's Wilderness Lodge is a majestic reflection of the famous national park lodges of America's Great Northwest. The Yacht Club is similar to the Beach Club, featuring the casual elegance of New England seaside resorts.

The Home Away From Home resorts consist of villas, cabins, and other accommodations which include kitchen or kitchenette features (allowing you to make your own food), and many include laundry facilities, living rooms, and porches. There is a great deal of variety among the Home Away From Home villas, but generally Studios can sleep up to 4, One-Bedrooms up to 4, Two-Bedrooms up to 8, and Three-Bedrooms/Grand Villas up to 12. The Tree House Villas at the Disney Institute can sleep up to 6. Home Away from Home resorts consist of the Villas at the Wilderness Lodge, the Fort Wilderness Homes & Cabins, the Boardwalk Villas, the Villas at the Disney Institute, and the Old Key West Villas.

Following are resort rates during the time of our wedding. Please note that there are a limited number of Disney Club rates available. So if you want them, book them now:

There are also specials and promotions run throughout the year. A Fall Fantasy package is usually offered that begins on 8/26/01. Other promotions are also available. We got a special intro rate to the Animal Kingdom Lodge, and are paying $179 per night for a Savannah View Room (which normally goes for $295 per night!). Always ask Disney CRO if they have any special rates. Many of Disney's specials go unadvertised, and you need to ask for them to get them.

SPECIALS!!!

All Star Resorts for $49 and Moderate Resorts for $95 - Rate Code CVZ
   - Call 1-407-W-DISNEY to book these rates. There are a limited number of rooms available at this rate, so call soon! You only need to send in the first night's payment within 14 days to book the room, and they can be cancelled at no penalty up to 5 days prior to arrival, so book now!
   - The Moderate Resorts consist of Coronado Springs, Caribbean Beach, and Port Orleans.
   - Supposedly, this Rate Code will also work on the Fort Wilderness Homes & Cabins, though I do not know what the offered rate is.

Rate Code CVZ available at other resorts as well
   - This Rate Code will work at other resorts, provided there is availabilty. Other known rates are the Wilderness Lodge for $180 per night (normally $219), the Grand Floridian for $199 per night (normally $359), and the Disney Institute Bungalows for $126 per night (normally $209).

Wilderness Lodge Woodland View Room for $174
   - Call 1-407-W-DISNEY and ask for the Wilderness Lodge Special Fall Value Rate for August.
   - These rooms are normally $234 per night (a savings of 36%)

Beach Club Resort for $184
   - Call 1-407-W-DISNEY and ask for the Special Fall Value Rate in August for the Beach Club Resort. These rooms are normally $269 per night.

Rate Code CBG at the Moderate Resorts - $89 per night
   - Call 1-407-W-DISNEY and ask for Rate Code CBG to receive a rate of $89 per night at Coronado Springs, Caribbean Beach, and Port Orleans Riverside/French Quarter resorts.

Rate Code CBG at the Beach & Yacht Clubs - $169 per night
   - Call 1-407-W-DISNEY and give rate code CBG to receive this discount. Standard rooms are $169 per night (normally $269 per night).

Rate Code CAC at the Polynesian Resort - $179 per night
   - Call 1-407-W-DISNEY and give rate code CAC to receive the discounted rate of $179 per night on Garden View Rooms (normally $324 per night).
   - This Rate Code can also get Lagoon View Rooms for $229 per night (normally $405).

Teacher and Nurse Discounts at the Swan & Dolphin Resorts - $129 per night
   - Teachers and Nurses receive a substantial discount (over 50% off) on rooms at the Swan and Dolphin Resorts, outside of Epcot in Disney World. These resorts are a part of Starwoods (they are a Sheraton and a Westin hotel).
   - Rate code is TEACH and NURSE, respectively, and proof of occupation is required
   - The number of the Swan is (407) 934-3000. The number of the Dolphin is (407) 934-4000.

Disney Resort Guest Benefits

• Resort guests get Early Park Entrance - they are allowed to enter up to one hour and a half before the general public. Early Entrance for the Magic Kingdom is Monday, Thursday, and Saturday. For Epcot, it is Tuesday and Friday. And for MGM Studios, it is Sunday and Wednesday.
• Guaranteed admission to the parks (assuming you purchased park admission), even on the busiest of days when they start turning others away at the gates. (Except when the parks are at their highest level of attendance and closed to everyone.)
• You can purchase a special Magic Kingdom E-Ride Night ticket, which are limited to resort guests with multi-day or annual passes only, based on availability during your visit.
• You're surrounded by Disney "magic" and service 24 hours a day. Many people say that the level of service, cleanliness and security at the Disney hotels makes them worth the extra expense. Staying off-site can be hit-or-miss if you're not familiar with the various properties.
• Resort guests receive a resort ID card which can be used as admissions media, your door key, and/or for charging privileges (this varies by resort and eligibility).
• Only resort guests can purchase Unlimited Magic Pass (formerly Length of Stay) park passes.
• Resort guests can purchase souvenir mugs that can be refilled for free at the resort for the duration of their stay.
• Resort guests have the option of charging meals and purchases to their rooms with their resort ID card.
• Disney resort guests can have their purchases delivered directly to their resorts. (Please allow at least 24 hours for delivery.)
• Free parking throughout the resorts and parks. Parking is now $6/day for non-resort guests.
• If you valet park as a resort guest, there is no charge but a gratuity is generally given.
• Unlimited free Walt Disney World transportation , which is really great if you don't have a car to get around. If you're staying off-site, getting around can be very expensive and time-consuming.
• Resort guests have the option of keeping pets overnight in Disney's kennel (for an additional fee).
• Wake-up calls from Mickey Mouse or one of his pals.
• Access to Disney's closed-circuit television information channels, plus the Disney Channel, ESPN, and others.
• Free wheelchairs from the resort for the length of your stay, based on availability. (Deposit may be required.)
• Proximity to the parks and attractions. None of the off-site hotels are as close to the Disney attractions as the Disney resorts.
• Resort guests can make priority golf reservations up to 60 days prior to arrival.