Hi there Ashley, it's great to have you here at planDisney!
As a Disney Groom myself who had a Disney Fairy Tale Wedding here at Walt Disney World Resort, there's always going to be something very special about
Disney's Wedding Pavilion. It truly was a stunning spot to tie the knot, and I almost got proposed to at the same location myself! When I looked into having that moment captured, the Cast Members at
Disney's Grand Floridian Resort & Spa let me know about a few key restrictions in place when it comes to professional photography at the
Disney Resort Hotels, but I do have some suggestions on how you may still be able to visit Disney's Wedding Pavilion:
- An important thing to take note of that the Cast Members wanted to make clear, is that hiring a professional photographer to take photos on Walt Disney World Resort property is currently considered one of the Prohibited Activities under the Walt Disney World Resort Property Rules that list: "Photography, videotaping or recording of any kind, or otherwise engaging in any activity, for unapproved commercial purposes." With this in mind, our close friend captured our shots on a phone instead especially as the Cast Members indicated that while personal photography was acceptable with our own cameras or devices, hiring a professional was not and they risk being approached by management and asked to leave property.
- Authorized photography companies are required to sign third-party agreements with Disney in order to be able to shoot events such as those organized through Disney's Fairy Tale Weddings & Honeymoons, and have documentation that can be presented on request. It has been observed across various Disney Resort Hotels that there are Cast Members who report what they may suspect to be unauthorized photo sessions taking place; a popular wedding destination like Disney's Grand Floridian Resort & Spa that sees several celebrations take place every day tends to have a higher likelihood of Cast Members watching to ensure that these locations remain available for authorized photographers and their teams.
- That said, since you did say that you'll have your family with you it might be a safer bet to have one of them or a friendly Cast Member help take your shots on a day where you wouldn't want to worry about breaking any rules. Though access to Disney's Wedding Pavilion past its ornate gates is generally closed off to guests, there are scheduled Open House dates when you'll be able to pop in for a visit and take some personal photos of your own and there's usually even a member of the Disney Fine Art Photography team on hand.
Since policies are subject to change without prior notice and may be at the discretion of management you might want to ask the leaders at Disney's Grand Floridian Resort & Spa directly ahead of time for their input on your plans - especially since you've put into writing that you've already hired your photographer and provided the date and location that you're intending to take your photos - just to ensure that everyone's following the rules and playing it safe!
Here's to perfect proposals properly captured at the Most Magical Place on Earth!
Prince