engagement idea...need help

[SLUGGER07]

I plan on proposing to my girlfriend in October on our trip to Walt Disney World....I want to do it on the little mermaid ride at the part where ariel and erik get married...i would like to have a photographer photograph us throughout the ride and the actual proposal. does anyone have any ideas of how that would work? (if possible at all)

Thanks in advance

 

[bigr3ddog]

oh dear, that might be difficult. i don't want to rain on your parade, but there are a number of technical difficulties with proposing right at the point where ariel and eric get married and getting photos, not to mention photos of you during the ride itself.

first, little mermaid is considered a dark ride, so no flash photography is permitted.

there are segments along the ride in which it is nearly impossible for one clamshell to see into another. it's not as much of a problem at the end when ariel and eric get married.

won't your girlfriend notice if some creepy person is shooting pictures of you throughout the ride?

that being said, if you can accept photos of just the proposal itself when ariel and eric get married, and that there will be no flash so the pictures might be dark, it could be done. you would need castmember help and get a photopass photographer who would ride the clamshell either ahead of you or behind you. you will need to be able to set this up before you and your girlfriend arrive for the ride. i suggest, due to the popularity of the ride, that you do it very early in the day, like first thing in the morning, or when the park is about to close, for that is when the line is shortest and you're most likely to get cast members who can help you.

also keep in mind that at the end of the ride, the clamshells are side by side, so the photographer can only get your picture from the side, which means one of you will have your back to the photographer and potentially would be obstructing the view of the other person.

would you be able to do a test run on the ride to see how you might overcome these technical difficulties? i'm not saying it can't be done, and it is a very creative idea, but if pictures of this special moment are important to you, you'll want to know with some reasonable assurance that the pics are going to turn out okay. you only get to propose to her once.

good luck.

 

[SLUGGER07]

bigr3ddog

Thank you so much for all the thought you put into your answer. it is way more info than i ever imagined anyone would give me, and i truly appreciate it. Thanks again!

 

[4under4]

Maybe instead of the ride you could find out when Eric and Ariel will both be at the M&G. Eric could "show you how it's done" then you could do it for real? Easy for a photographer to be there!

 

[SLUGGER07]

4under4

That is a really cool idea also...i got so caught up in the new ride i didnt even think about something like that. also ive only been twice so my imagination is limited to what i saw while there and what i see/read in disney travel books.

Thanks a lot 4under4

 

[4under4]

Good luck, and whatever you decide, please let me know when you post pictures.

 

[bigr3ddog]

might i suggest this blog from touringplans.com if you need other ideas:
http://blog.touringplans.com/2012/12/12/101-ways-to-propose-at-walt-disney-world/

carrie hayward also does a podcast called the disney wedding podcast. episode 45 is the same subject, but you should listen to the two stories she has at the end. http://disneyweddingpodcast.com/2012/12/19/101-ways-to-propose-at-disney/

hope that gives you some other ideas in case little mermaid doesn't work out.

also, i'm not sure how often eric comes out any more. he used to be with ariel at a meet and greet in adventureland when ariel's grotto was taken out in order to make room for new fantasyland. now ariel has her own place back just behind the little mermaid ride and she's a mermaid again, but i don't know if eric shows up there or not.

 

[pixie08]

Not really what you are looking for but my DH proposed to me at Disney. I blogged about the story here:

http://www.disneytravelrecord.com/2013/06/throw-back-my-journey-to-disney.html

He used some people from Disney fairytale weddings to help set things up. He was going to do the flowers and champagne on the beach but it was August and they decided to do it back at the room with the rose petals and spa basket. They set that all up for him. So I believe they can help, or direct you to someone. I know for a price they will for SURE set up Disney Fine at phtography in the park for you, I just don't think in the ride, maybe outside by the meet and greet or in fantasyland which could be cool.

 

[DisneyDudet]

DF proposed in The Rose Garden in front of Cinderella Castle with my mom and Photopass cast member present. Mom videoed it on her iPhone. I now have the video and photos forever.

I didn't have the while shocked look on my face bc I had NO IDEA what he was doing... I was more nervous than anything

No matter what you do, it will be magical.

 

[pixie08]

DF proposed in The Rose Garden in front of Cinderella Castle with my mom and Photopass cast member present. Mom videoed it on her iPhone. I now have the video and photos forever.

I didn't have the while shocked look on my face bc I had NO IDEA what he was doing... I was more nervous than anything

No matter what you do, it will be magical.

That was the same thing for me. I was clueless lol. I love the rose garden. How pretty!

 

[SLUGGER07]

To all who replied,

Thank you so much for all the ideas. I did pop the question in September and she said YES!!

For the engagement i flew in her parents and best friend/cousin as a surprise.
I bought a pin prior to the trip of Mickey and Minnie in wedding attire sitting on an engagement ring and gave it to her in an envelope that morning and told her she couldn't open it until i said it was ok. Well the day proceded as normal (as normal as it could for as nervous as i was) lol. At about midday we took a break to get ready for the Not So Scary Halloween Party at MK, then hopped on the bus and headed that way (she had been steadily bugging me about opening her surprise all day). Her parents/cousin had been at epcot at the food and wine festival all day to avoid us. Upon us arriving at Magic Kingdom i took a pic of her in front of the park and sent it to them to let them know where we were to avoid us, i did this at various parts of the park as a heads up. I had a "stomach bug" at the park to try and call them to touch base but my phone had no service. lol what luck. So we finally make our way to the Little Mermaid Ride and the wait time said 20 minutes so i texted them that and proceeded to the ride...2 minutes later and im at the shell carts!! freaking out!! We boarded...Still freaking out!! We get to the part where ariel and prince eric are kissing in the boat and i tell her to open the envelope once we start moving. She does and by the time she turned to look back at me I had the ring out and asked her. her response, "seriously" "Did you ask my parents" I said "Of course" so she finally said yes, and was calm for the most part, until the cart turned to the exit and she saw her family then lost it!" It was great. The supervisor of the ride or something let them enter through the exit to let them take pics and be there for the engagement, then let us all ride again. So once again thank you all for the great advise. Hope you enjoyed the story.

P.S. For the ring i custom designed it with her own hidden mickey in the ring. She loves it.

 

[Chilly]

congratulations

 

[wiigirl]

Maybe instead of the ride you could find out when Eric and Ariel will both be at the M&G. Eric could "show you how it's done" then you could do it for real? Easy for a photographer to be there!

 

[Bewitch324]

Great story!! You did a terrific job with the planning and coordination on that proposal... I love the touch with the pin in the envelope all day... Can you post of picture of the ring when you get a chance?

I'm sure it's a moment and a memory she will treasure forever!!

Congratulations!

Brooke