Engagement help from you experts!

[Wedges]

Hello!

I'm so glad to have run into this website because it's exactly what I was looking for! I too am getting ready to propose to my girlfrien and want some advice and ideas to bounce around. A little bit on my woman:

She loves Disney, we go at least 7 times a year she can't get enough of their movies and even though shes in her 30s she's like a little kid in a candy store and I love how full of life she is! She really is a princess. Her favorite characters are Tinkerbell, Cinderella and Mickey in that order. She's been with me through rough economical times and waited patiently almost 5 years to get her ring. She's knows we are made for each and other and she's dying for her ring already and it's time!!

I youtubed and browsed forums for some ideas and here's what I'm looking for:

We'd like something somewhat intimate but at the park, a huge crowd around us would be scary! I like the idea of proposing next to a Mickey character while they take pictures and he does his expressions. I wonder if it's possible to get a somewhat private area with him? Or take us somewhere off limits to public.

The wish and fireworks ideas are great but it's a little too crowded and I want to propose during day so it truly is a magical day for her! I don't know of any ideas with tinker bell or Cinderella but I definitely like concept of the proposal coming to life with animated character in background as they take our pictures. Do I need to bring a photographer or will Disney staff do it for us?

Thanks I'm open to ideas and suggestions!! Proposing in less then a month.

Cheers,
"Bob"

PS
Exuse typos and missing words, iPhone!

 

[tinkerbell_S]

Call Magic Kingdom Guest Relations - if you want to arrange something extra special - they can help you! Trust me - for a cast member - this kind of thing makes their day too! Everyone will want to help you!

 

[Wedges]

Definitely! I plan on calling this week. I looked at the Cinderella castle engagement package and she would absolutely love it with her slipper and being inside castle which she never has been. The only two problems with this is that 1) at 380$ with tax and tip it's out of my price range given hotel cost ticket cost etc. and 2) based on YouTube videos it doesn't feel as romantic as it could be there's a lot of people and crying kids everywhere!

 

[GoochDSA]

You have to remember you're in a theme park with thousands of other people. You really need to decide if you want to do it in a theme park or want it to be quiet with just the 2 of you and maybe a couple of other people who are helping you out. It's going to either be really hard or really expensive to get both.

Now if you want romance or just seclusion from other guests, there are a lot of options out there, but none that are really in a theme park. If you want it in a theme park don't expect it to be romantic or don't expect it to be cheap. I think you need to figure out which is more important and take it from there.

The one suggestion I would have, to help get the ball rolling, that would be cheap (especially if you are planning to use Photopass) would be to pick out a Photopass photog that you think best works for you (there is usually one on the path from the HUB to Fantasyland that is a pretty decent shot of the castle where no one is really behind you, but you may have some on-lookers) and propose while they are taking your pictures. This is an easy option because you don't have to plan too much, don't have to break the bank to do it and you'll have the pictures as it happens. If you or she don't mind that it is common, it's an idea. But again, figure out what is most important, the romance or the theme park and we (you and those of us on the boards) can help take it from there.

My one bit of advice is to do it real early in your trip. You don't want to have it stressing you out and distancing you from the trip. Get it done and over with so you can use as much of the trip to celebrate (and make sure to get a "Just Engaged" pin from guest relations, it adds to the magic of the trip). Also, do not put your engagement on any of your reservations, I have read a couple of horror stories about the hotel ruining the surprise before the proposal. You can always add the engagement to any ADRs after the deed is done.

 

[Wedges]

Hello again and thank you for replies!

I agree that I'm going to have to pick and it's gotta be the theme park, may just have to suck up the shyness but it's what I know she will love the most and there's always time for a romantic dinner afterwards or next day.

With that said I had to back away from the Mickey idea because as much as I like it I know her and she would find it do much more special with Cinderella or tinker bell. With that said I agree we will have to deal with some level of publicity.

I really fancy the engagement package at castle, does anyone know if it's dinner and lunch only? Because breakfast might get butterflies out of way sooner and let us enjoy rest of the day! It's still out my price range but I suppose you only hopefully propose once so might as well try to make it best it can be.

I would still like to hear other ideas you might be able to think of that don't involve wish or fireworks. I personally feel the castle is a bit uhh mainstream? Im afraid it'll come off as me not putting a lot of planning into it and while she may never say that I might feel that way myself

 

[MouseDreaming]

It might be kind of sweet if you proposed by the wishing well, or by Cinderella's fountain. They are both a little off to the side.

 

[GoochDSA]

It might be kind of sweet if you proposed by the wishing well, or by Cinderella's fountain. They are both a little off to the side.

The one problem OP may have with the Wishing Well is that the line for the Rapunzel M&G goes right past it and if at first the OP wanted something romantic and quiet I would tend to think that doing it in front of a line that is made up of screaming little kids would not be ideal.

The problem with something like the engagement package for CRT is that a couple of years ago we saw not one but two of those engagement packages take place, which I am sure that second guy felt like crap after. There was maybe a 5 or 10 minute gap between the 2.

I wouldn't worry too much about how either you or she feels about how much planning you put into your proposal. Sometimes the most thoughtful proposal is one that just comes right from the heart at the right time. I think one option you should consider is to just carry the ring with you and whenever you feel that a moment is perfect, go for it. Just because there is no character there or there is no one there to take your picture as you do it (I am sure there isn't a character or Photopass photographer that hasn't had someone propose in front of them), does not make the moment any more or less special. Go with your gut.

 

[Wedges]

That's great advice! Thank you.

I know it should be when moment is right but I know just how much she will value those pictures if we have them so she can show them off.

And yeah with CRT package that's my fear that I won't be the only one proposing and that would be crappy.

 

[Wedges]

Hey guys so here's what I was thinking of doing...

Call Disney services and book breakfast at the princess castle. I have heard that if you get first breakfast of day you get to enter park a few minutes before everyone else.

If that's the case I'll call guest services and ask if we have have a photographer in front of castle waiting and I can propose right outside when there's still not a lot of people around and have pictures. Afterwards we can relax and have breakfast inside castle and enjoy the rest of our day. It doesn't involve any characters but I think a picture with castle behind us and breakfast inside is still very sweet!

What do you think, doable?

 

[KJ1081]

^That is absolutely doable! I've had early morning reservations in the MK, and there has always been at least 1 Photopass photographer in the hub, and often one on Main Street too. Try to get there very early, so you can be among the 1st admitted. Crystal palace has a very popular character breakfast as well, so you'll want to try and beat those people inside too. Another reason to get there very early- they only have a few sets of turnstiles open for those with ADR's so the line can back up at times.

Wait until there isn't a line for Photopass, and tell him that you're proposing when you give him the Photopass card. My husband did this when he proposed, and the photographer took dozens of shots!

I wouldn't worry about a crowd gathering. My husband proposed in front of the castle during evening EMH- the place was PACKED but as soon as he dropped down on 1 knee, I didn't even notice the HUGE crowd that had gathered. Everyone else, the noise, everything just faded out- kind of like tunnel vision, lol. I don't even remember what he said, I just kept thinking 'OMG he's proposing!' I think she'll be so in the moment that she won't pay any attention to the crowd. Her focus will be entirely on you. Plus, you can't beat all the cheers and applause from the crowd when she says yes! For us, the crowd really added to the magic of the moment. The applause was actually what snapped me out of the moment and made me realize it was real! Strangers came up and congratulated us and this little boy followed us down main street clapping and telling everyone we passed that we were engaged, haha. It was adorable!

Best of luck with your proposal and don't forget to post pics when you get back! Congratulations!

 

[GoochDSA]

That is doable. Photopass photographers are usually out before the park opens and the pictures come out great. The only problem is that if it happens to be raining that morning the photographers may not be out. I know I sound like a "Negative Nancy", but I think it's best to realize what can go wrong, this way you can be somewhat prepared, instead of just assuming everything will work out perfectly. Disney is not exempt from Murphy's Law. Don't get discouraged and just go with it. That's kind of why if you're going to do it in a park it is best to not overthink things and let the mood sort of guide you a bit.

 

[dreamfinder]

Our trip the other month we had 8:05 ressies for CP. I think they opened the turnstiles at 7:45 or so. Had to be 4-5 photopass photographers on Main Street. We stopped for a few, and also took a bunch of our own pictures. Most have next to no one in them. It's definitely an option, just be prepared with a backup in case the weather is bad. You could do it at the Tink M&G, where there should also be a photopass photographer, but that is up to you. You can "hire" a character for a private session, but that normally will end up costing you a few hundred bucks. But definitely call guest services and see if they can do anything to help out.

 

[YuggYuggWDW94]

Hey guys so here's what I was thinking of doing...

Call Disney services and book breakfast at the princess castle. I have heard that if you get first breakfast of day you get to enter park a few minutes before everyone else.

If that's the case I'll call guest services and ask if we have have a photographer in front of castle waiting and I can propose right outside when there's still not a lot of people around and have pictures. Afterwards we can relax and have breakfast inside castle and enjoy the rest of our day. It doesn't involve any characters but I think a picture with castle behind us and breakfast inside is still very sweet!

What do you think, doable?

I think its a great idea! Its special, personal, you get it done early so you can enjoy the day, its at the castle without all the publicity..sounds like you solved it on your own!

 

[slappy magoo]

Your idea sounds great. Just going to throw this out as an alternate. I know you want it to be in the park, but you're also worried about being nervous in front of a large crowd. So I was thinking the beach at Poly or Grand Floridian just before or during the fireworks. Have a romantic dinner at one of monorail resorts' nicer restaurants, then watch the fireworks from the beach. While it won't be secluded, it won't be as crowded as the park, either but you still get the thrill of the castle. And while to each his own, I think the question popped at night always seems more appropriate (though a morning engagement would certainly be unique). If she absolutely loves the characters, then you can arrange as late a dinner as possible at Chef Mickey's (IF they still serve after fireworks), and pre--plan something with the characters there. Do the beach walk, fireworks and question-popping first, then go to dinner where the character interaction will be icing on the cake, as opposed to the appetizer before the meal (sorry for the mixed metaphors). Or, if you arrange something like a special cake or flowers to be delivered to your table, the characters will probably get into the spirit of things without having to work anything out with their handlers and make the night magical anyway. Doing it this way might take some of the pressure off of you because the question's already been asked; so the attention given to the two of you by crowds won't be as nerve-wracking because you're already in your own little moment, know what I mean?