Hello! Looking for Engagement Help!!!

[lynzi2004]

Another option would be to do it right before Festival of Fantasy parade. Get a spot on Mainstreet and there are photopass people walking up and down. Pull one aside and tell them what you want to do. He took pics of my kids dressed in Prince Charming and Cinderella costumes. It was literally right before it started so it looked like people were lining the streets for them and the street was empty behind. They are super cute pics! Good luck!

 

[engideas]

Thank you all for the input. I do think she would be okay with this type of proposal.

@HopperFan - we have done the dessert parties at the tomorrowland terrace and there are not photographers. This makes me nervous for having to ask another guest to take photos. It's exciting so see happen, but guests are paying money to enjoy the experience of the dessert party as well.

@TropicalDIS - I agree I (and I'm guessing the same with her) couldn't envision anything without the castle in the background.

I am thinking probably the first night so I am not anxious for half the trip and to celebrate during the entire week. We will get to MK around early dinner time so hopefully I can make it happen in front of the castle with a smaller crowd. A question I have that I have never thought of - is it possible to have a photopass photographer ask guest to step to the side a little just to "get a better photo"? Again I know there are a lot of people but if someone was blatantly in the shot, I wouldn't see this as being rude to ask them to move out of the photo.

 

[engideas]

Another option would be to do it right before Festival of Fantasy parade. Get a spot on Mainstreet and there are photopass people walking up and down. Pull one aside and tell them what you want to do. He took pics of my kids dressed in Prince Charming and Cinderella costumes. It was literally right before it started so it looked like people were lining the streets for them and the street was empty behind. They are super cute pics! Good luck!

That's a good idea as well. Do you mean when they are blocking the walkways off? I think I saw a similar vide on youtube of a proposal like this. This would be a cool time to get a shot with virtually no one in the background by the castle!

 

[Nurse Sully]

Back in June when my boyfriend now Fiance and I went to WDW he totally surprised me and proposed and as you can see by my avatar photo it was in front of Cinderella's Castle right as the park opened that day. He had also booked a Cast photographer who not only took that shot, but also several other Magical photos showing off the engagement ring. It was something I will never forget and will hold in my heart forever. Good Luck with your planning and Congratulations.

 

[engideas]

Back in June when my boyfriend now Fiance and I went to WDW he totally surprised me and proposed and as you can see by my avatar photo it was in front of Cinderella's Castle right as the park opened that day. He had also booked a Cast photographer who not only took that shot, but also several other Magical photos showing off the engagement ring. It was something I will never forget and will hold in my heart forever. Good Luck with your planning and Congratulations.

Wow that's a great photo. Was that just a regular photo pass photographer and so early that you were able to get it without many people in the shot? I would love something like that but we won't be going to rope drop until halfway through the trip. That's why I would hope maybe getting there during early dinner time would be a low point for crowd size.

Separate question for you and anyone with some insight - do you know how your fiancé got the ring in the park without you seeing? We take a backpack (I carry it) and obviously the security needs to do their job checking everything. I talked to someone from Disney weddings and she suggested taping a little note saying something like "shhh proposing" or something like that so they don't give it away.

 

[Sweetpancake]

Hey all, just joined the disboards and I am here for some ideas/help. I will be heading to WDW with my girlfriend in the beginning of 2017 for a week. I will be proposing to her and I have a general idea of what I want to do but am still not quite sure. Here are two ideas i have:

My first idea has been to pop the question during the dessert party in the garden terrace. This would be about halfway through our trip. My hope would be to get a spot at the front of the terrace for a good view and photo spot. My concerns are lighting during the fireworks and the risk of relying on a stranger to take photos/actually take a quality photo. I know i would not be able to get a photo pass cast member to help with this since they have their designated locations.

My other idea is to propose in front of the partners statue/castle. I would be able to do it during lighter hours of the day if I did it the same day as the dessert party. This would allow for a photo pass cast member to snap photos more professionally than a guest. My concern with this is the amount of people that will be around at this time, potentially getting in our photo. I also am curious if there would be enough light to do this on our first day when we get to MK probably around 5:30pm. If it gets too dark, then it would be the same day as the dessert party, but obviously earlier in the day.

If anyone has any tips/suggestions for my ideas, or even any ideas of your own that could help me, I would truly appreciate it.

Thanks!!

Have you been to Walt Disney World together before? Is there an area that is special for you? While both of your ideas are very nice, sometimes adding a personal touch really makes a difference. I would also work with a cast member or call up Disney, from what I've heard, they are apparently incredibly accommodating and I'm sure have lots of experience assisting with engagements.

 

[Nurse Sully]

Thank You, it was rope drop and I believe it was a special event Cast photo my fiance got because he took several photos.

To be honest I really don't know how he did it. I wasn't paying attention and I may have actually been in front of him while going through as he may have also purposely planned it that way as well. I will have to ask him that. (Hold On). OK, he told me after I passed through security he whispered to the Security guy that he was going to propose and had the ring on him. The Security guy asked him to take it out as he handed the bag and than quickly put it back in his pocket. I didn't notice a thing. He just said make sure your girlfriend goes through first and you are carrying the backpack. With all the stuff going on she will be easily distracted as I was and I noticed nothing.

 

[engideas]

Have you been to Walt Disney World together before? Is there an area that is special for you? While both of your ideas are very nice, sometimes adding a personal touch really makes a difference. I would also work with a cast member or call up Disney, from what I've heard, they are apparently incredibly accommodating and I'm sure have lots of experience assisting with engagements.

Yes we have been several times together and with family. Honestly I feel like there's nothing more special to her and us as the castle since it's such an icon of WDW overall (obviously lol). Not to mention she thinks it's beautiful. Any tips about working with a cast member? Or by this do you mean call? I did call and the cast member I spoke with gave me some good ideas and things to consider such as lighting at night compared to day, crowd levels, etc.

 

[Sweetpancake]

Yes we have been several times together and with family. Honestly I feel like there's nothing more special to her and us as the castle since it's such an icon of WDW overall (obviously lol). Not to mention she thinks it's beautiful. Any tips about working with a cast member? Or by this do you mean call? I did call and the cast member I spoke with gave me some good ideas and things to consider such as lighting at night compared to day, crowd levels, etc.

Sounds like you have everything covered! I've always thought a proposal during wishes would be amazing! But it is kind of loud and crowded. A friend of a friend of mine proposed to his girlfriend at Fantasmic. I'm not sure when he spoke to a cast member but they arranged for he and his new fiancé to take photos with some of the cast members afterwards which was a nice touch.

 

[Shwhatevs]

This past September my Fiance proposed to me during dinner at Be Our Guest. My first bit of advice.. if you're worried you are going to be nervous, definitely propose the first day. My fiance was visibly stressed out - which I attributed to us being late for our dinner reservation, but thought it was weird that he was that worked up over dinner... although I did not suspect the proposal at all. As far as sneaking the ring in, maybe just hop in a different bag check line than your girlfriend and quietly tell them what you have. When we went my fiance's parents were with us and he had his dad carrying the ring into the park (so I wouldn't find it), my fiance and I went through security first and I just kept on my merry way because I was so excited to be there, but my fiance's father actually got stopped by security who said "Sir, you need to empty your pockets" and he said "No, I can't" to which they responded "Uh, yes sir, you HAVE to" haha. Luckily my fiance's step-mother stepped in and told them what he had, but they still made him show them the ring box and open it.

Good luck with your planning and I hope you get through security smoothly!

 

[BigredNole]

My advice is to do it SOONER than LATER on the trip. The entire time leading up to it you will be off somewhere else in your head thinking about it. The chances of her spotting the ring is there too.

If it were me, you could do it before getting on the plane (if you are flying). Otherwise, do it somewhere early. You could do something at DME, on the bus. What I am getting at is do it Day 1 of the trip.

Another option is to get a pre-opening breakfast scheduled for Crystal Palace or at the Palace. It can even be right at park opening or a little after. Talk to the CM letting people in. Inform them you are proposing. There will be almost no one there and you can get the picture in front of the Castle with the park almost empty.

 

[wilkeliza]

With your added information on the dessert party I would strongly discourage against that. The biggest one being that the people at the dessert party are paying extra to be there. I would probably say yes to snapping a photo during the dessert portion or after wishes but if you asked during wishes I'd be kind of upset that you are interupting my wishes viewing that I paid extra for. Just adding in the other people. Also who knows what photos you'll get if you ask someone else.

A lot of the "free" special photos (meaning empty main street, character meets, etc) you see are worked out between people who know someone who works at Disney or is/was a CM themselves. The others are usually paid for through special events.

If privacy and clear photos is a big deal do it at the wishing well. It is almost never busy there and if you see a photopass CM you can ask if they would come up to the wishing well to take some special photos. You'll have to find one that doesn't seem to be "achored". I find it easier to get those in other parks but know a few people who have had success in MK.

If you are flying be very careful at bag check! My fiance made a whole plan of action just in case his bag got searched and well we share carry on bags often so he was so worried I'd find the ring. A simple oh honey the extra headphones are in my carry on can ruin the entire surprise so he actually had our trusted friend who was on the same trip carry the ring through security and they swapped back once we were in Orlando.

 

[DisneyMom111]

When are you going? I'm dying to see the pictures now! I hope you will some back and tell us how it went, I'm so nervous for you!! Congrats and good luck! I hope it all goes magically!

 

[AJT607]

Someone above referenced the Cinderella's Royal Table Engagement package and I wanted to jump in the conversation to add that I would highly recommend that package, as well. I proposed to my wife at CRT in 2015 and it was a fantastic experience. You get great seats near the large windows looking out on Fantasyland and you get a great meal. The whole experience is planned perfectly.

At dessert, they bring out a covered plate full of rose petals with a glass slipper. When the waitress removes the cover to show off the roses and the slipper, you start your proposal and a photopass photographer will be able to capture every second. We treasure all of the photos we got from this experience. We got tons of photos from the experience. Afterwards, they will take additional posed photos with the couple, the ring and the roses/slipper. Each princess also stops by to wish you congratulations.

 

[Hopefully]

I am worried that you seem very focused on having pictures in front of the Castle with no one/very few other folks in them. During normal hours this is just not going to be the case unless you pay for something you pre arrange.
I fear you will be disappointed and that would be very sad.
Good Luck

 

[WaltDisneyGirl84]

I would definitely call Disney to see if they can work with you on this. They love accomodating their guests to make the experience special for you. The tricky part is getting the assistance of the cast members without your fiance-to-be around. I'm sure they would be happy to give you some additional ideas or help you with seating for the dessert party. It's worth trying.

Goodluck and congrats!

 

[Jules76126]

How exciting! Can totally understand why you would want everything to go perfectly. It sounds you are very concerned about crowds (and rightly so). You are always going to have crowds in front of the castle particularly by the partners statue. I know you mentioned if the photopass photographer could politely ask people to move over. They can, but a lot of people are very oblivious when in Disney and may still walk into your shot (despite best efforts). If you want a direct castle shot, you best bet is either rope drop or at the very end of the night. Have you checked what time the MK closes on the day you are there? Some nights in January the park closes early so that may help you get the perfect shot.

If you do want to propose early in the day, as a previous poster mentioned, the walkways by the castle are your best bet. They are typically left congested and generally have photographers around there. Way better chance of getting a less crowded photo. I have had two friends get engaged at WDW and both were on those pathways. I wouldn't recommend the dessert party as there will be a lot people around and can be tight. Would hate for you to plan out that night and then find the location is less than ideal.

When my husband proposed to me, he was very nervous both about the proposal and me discovering the ring. The night he proposed, he was acting weird and seemed a little stressed. You may want to do it early in the trip to avoid potential stress. Plus then you can celebrate the entire trip which would be so much fun. You can wear the engaged buttons and get lots of cool photos with the characters. It will be amazing no matter if you get the photos or not. I have no photos from our proposal but still think it was one of the best nights. Best wishes!

 

[Virtucomp]

You definitely want to get the Photopass person involved before you start. My son got engaged right on Main street at with the castle in the background. He tipped off the Photographer about what was going to happen and they started snapping lots of pictures through the entire event. That way you can pick out the right photo. I like the main street before the parade trick but you don't want to feel rushed so make sure you have everything worked out for the sequence you want and where you want to be.

Congrats!

 

[TropicalDIS]

Someone above referenced the Cinderella's Royal Table Engagement package and I wanted to jump in the conversation to add that I would highly recommend that package, as well. I proposed to my wife at CRT in 2015 and it was a fantastic experience. You get great seats near the large windows looking out on Fantasyland and you get a great meal. The whole experience is planned perfectly.

At dessert, they bring out a covered plate full of rose petals with a glass slipper. When the waitress removes the cover to show off the roses and the slipper, you start your proposal and a photopass photographer will be able to capture every second. We treasure all of the photos we got from this experience. We got tons of photos from the experience. Afterwards, they will take additional posed photos with the couple, the ring and the roses/slipper. Each princess also stops by to wish you congratulations.

Man that's awesome!!

Giving me ideas with my girlfriend now!!! Congrats!

 

[Cinderella94]

Do it the first night! Then you get to spend your entire trip being excited together