LittleKittyMarie
DIS Veteran
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- Mar 25, 2011
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- 908
Oh, this story just gets more and more entertaining every time.
Proposing at the World & More! WDW/IoA/DCL - July 2011 -- UPDATE: 10/30/11
- Thread starter LudwigVonDrake
- Start date
LudwigVonDrake
Hello dere!
- Joined
- Jul 10, 2011
- Messages
- 37
Yipes! What did you do?
That's good. I have a feeling I'll be retelling it a lot, because you won't let me forget it.
I'm so excited to read more & see how this goes! I'm glad you can laugh about forgetting the ring now I can imagine the feeling when you realized you forgot it!But the rest of your night seems wonderful!
Thanks! Sadly, it wasn't the only problem that night. It was really just the beginning. But it all worked out.
LudwigVonDrake
Hello dere!
- Joined
- Jul 10, 2011
- Messages
- 37
So there I was: uncomfortably seated in flight AC 906 out of Toronto, medicated into a Dramamine stupor and stewing in the guilt of having forgotten the engagement ring for my surprise proposal dinner that evening. Little did I know that was only the first of the problems we would encounter before the day's end.
Nevertheless, by the time our flight touched down at Orlando International Airport, a plan was hatched to buy a placeholder ring at the gift shop and promise my DF the real ring (which is pretty spectacular) upon our return home. We're coming from Canada, and I briefly considered telling her I didn't want to risk transporting an expensive ring into America and risk paying duty on the way home, but that would be a fib. Fibbing to the fiancee is probably a bad start to the whole marriage thing. (When I purchased the ring, the jeweller suggested I take the receipt on the trip with me to prevent duties from being charged. I forgot the receipt as well.) This is the ring I purchased for twelve dollars:
Yeah, it's not so great, but it's the only ring they had on sale at the AKL gift shop. It's also a coil and not really a ring. We actually went and bought another, better Mickey Mouse souvenir ring at the GF gift shop afterwards. Here is that ring:
So my DF actually has three engagement rings! The more the better, right? Right?
Anyway, that was just the first of a number of things to go wrong with my super-special surprise engagement dinner, not counting, y'know... forgetting the ring.
The second thing that went wrong: we found out, upon our arrival at our hotel, that the camera we'd purchased just before the trip, an amazing Canon G12, had run out of batteries. The problem is, we couldn't get at the charger because my DF had packed it in her suitcase, which had yet to be delivered. She said, Oh well, it's only dinner. We can have the camera charged for the parks tomorrow. Meanwhile, I was absolutely withering inside. We had this big, important, life-changing dinner, and no camera to record it.
Cameraless and ringless, we made our way to the Grand Floridian. My girlfriend was under the impression that we were dining at 1900 Park Fare, and was surprised when we instead met our personal butler in the lobby. He pulled me aside and discreetly asked if we were celebrating a special occasion and I told him I was going to propose during dinner. A wink and a nod, and we were taken up to the fifth floor. There, we were seated in wingback chairs at a table overlooking the GF with the castle in full in the distance. Notice I said fifth floor which is not the third floor balcony I'd asked for. The rainy weather moved our dinner to the indoor location. That was the third thing that went wrong.
Can I just pause and make an aside here? The best Disney servers have a great knack for balancing jovial familiarity with professional, precise delivery of food. One never feels intimidated at a Disney restaurant, like you need to impress the server; they're there to help you through the meal. It's something most restaurants and service industry never achieve, but you see it time and again, whether its at the Disney parks or on a Disney cruise. Our server on this day had that knack. Service was timed precisely, with enough conviviality to make us comfortable. Which forgives him for what's coming soon.
The fourth thing that went wrong: Perhaps it was the plane trip or the Florida heat, but our appetites deserted us and we were both uncomfortably stuffed by the time our entrees arrived. We each only took a couple of bites of what was otherwise a delicious meal. It was a terrible waste, and when I thought of the headaches I'd gone through to organize the dinner, the forgotten ring and absent camera, I was feeling like the evening was a total disaster. Everything seemed to be going wrong, and by the time the entrees were cleared from our tables, I'd begun to rethink whether I wanted to propose that night or wait for a do-over. I wanted to mulligan my proposal. Look over there! It's Mickey! I'd exclaim, and while she'd have her head turned I'd scoot off, leaving only a man-shape cloud of dust, and live to propose another day.
What did I do, dear readers? You'll find out in the stunning conclusion of the proposal trilogy. It's really not that stunning, I guess. It turns out well!
Nevertheless, by the time our flight touched down at Orlando International Airport, a plan was hatched to buy a placeholder ring at the gift shop and promise my DF the real ring (which is pretty spectacular) upon our return home. We're coming from Canada, and I briefly considered telling her I didn't want to risk transporting an expensive ring into America and risk paying duty on the way home, but that would be a fib. Fibbing to the fiancee is probably a bad start to the whole marriage thing. (When I purchased the ring, the jeweller suggested I take the receipt on the trip with me to prevent duties from being charged. I forgot the receipt as well.) This is the ring I purchased for twelve dollars:
Yeah, it's not so great, but it's the only ring they had on sale at the AKL gift shop. It's also a coil and not really a ring. We actually went and bought another, better Mickey Mouse souvenir ring at the GF gift shop afterwards. Here is that ring:
So my DF actually has three engagement rings! The more the better, right? Right?
Anyway, that was just the first of a number of things to go wrong with my super-special surprise engagement dinner, not counting, y'know... forgetting the ring.
The second thing that went wrong: we found out, upon our arrival at our hotel, that the camera we'd purchased just before the trip, an amazing Canon G12, had run out of batteries. The problem is, we couldn't get at the charger because my DF had packed it in her suitcase, which had yet to be delivered. She said, Oh well, it's only dinner. We can have the camera charged for the parks tomorrow. Meanwhile, I was absolutely withering inside. We had this big, important, life-changing dinner, and no camera to record it.
Cameraless and ringless, we made our way to the Grand Floridian. My girlfriend was under the impression that we were dining at 1900 Park Fare, and was surprised when we instead met our personal butler in the lobby. He pulled me aside and discreetly asked if we were celebrating a special occasion and I told him I was going to propose during dinner. A wink and a nod, and we were taken up to the fifth floor. There, we were seated in wingback chairs at a table overlooking the GF with the castle in full in the distance. Notice I said fifth floor which is not the third floor balcony I'd asked for. The rainy weather moved our dinner to the indoor location. That was the third thing that went wrong.
Can I just pause and make an aside here? The best Disney servers have a great knack for balancing jovial familiarity with professional, precise delivery of food. One never feels intimidated at a Disney restaurant, like you need to impress the server; they're there to help you through the meal. It's something most restaurants and service industry never achieve, but you see it time and again, whether its at the Disney parks or on a Disney cruise. Our server on this day had that knack. Service was timed precisely, with enough conviviality to make us comfortable. Which forgives him for what's coming soon.
The fourth thing that went wrong: Perhaps it was the plane trip or the Florida heat, but our appetites deserted us and we were both uncomfortably stuffed by the time our entrees arrived. We each only took a couple of bites of what was otherwise a delicious meal. It was a terrible waste, and when I thought of the headaches I'd gone through to organize the dinner, the forgotten ring and absent camera, I was feeling like the evening was a total disaster. Everything seemed to be going wrong, and by the time the entrees were cleared from our tables, I'd begun to rethink whether I wanted to propose that night or wait for a do-over. I wanted to mulligan my proposal. Look over there! It's Mickey! I'd exclaim, and while she'd have her head turned I'd scoot off, leaving only a man-shape cloud of dust, and live to propose another day.
What did I do, dear readers? You'll find out in the stunning conclusion of the proposal trilogy. It's really not that stunning, I guess. It turns out well!
we borrowed my dad's ring. Forgetting the ring may be a good omen, we have been married 22 years.
JAMIESMITH
DIS Veteran
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- Jan 26, 2011
- Messages
- 2,071
Can't wait to read the rest!
Bethislucy
DIS Veteran
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- Oct 14, 2009
- Messages
- 1,541
Maybe the wedding will go super smooth since there were so many bumbs with the proposle.
Lucille1963
DIS Veteran
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- Sep 2, 2005
- Messages
- 1,031
What a cliffhanger!!!!!
LittleKittyMarie
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Mar 25, 2011
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- 908
I'd like to know what the plan would've been when we eventually met back up at AKL after your grand escape. Hmm... Awkward. 
Stringbean&Wingnut
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Dec 27, 2010
- Messages
- 3,989
Joining in!!! I'm looking forward to hearing about how the rest of the proposal went! Not having the camera would have driven me crazy too!!! But I'm sure in the end everything worked out well!
janabananas
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Jun 19, 2011
- Messages
- 1,116
Joining! Really enjoy your writing style.
teacher1717
Mouseketeer
- Joined
- Jun 9, 2010
- Messages
- 134
LOVING the report so far. Sorry about the calamity of errors regarding the proposal, at least it makes a great story!! 
LudwigVonDrake
Hello dere!
- Joined
- Jul 10, 2011
- Messages
- 37
i am looking forward to hearing how everything went in the end.
I guess it went well since you refer to her as DF already. lol.
Thanks! It turned out about as well as can be expected.
Thank you!
Everything on the trip was darn near perfect after that, so I hope you're right.
I would have been the guy curled up in the fetal position sobbing like an infant on the floor in the airport if I had forgotten the ring!!
You are a brave and resourceful man!
Love the story!! Cant wait to hear the rest.
Sometimes a man has to do what a man has to do... And I don't really do that in my day to day life, so I'm glad I was able to in this instance.
I didn't want to make folks wait too long, but we only just got the ring back from resizing, and I wanted to post photos of it in the final post.
I'd like to know what the plan would've been when we eventually met back up at AKL after your grand escape. Hmm... Awkward.
I would have slept with the zebras. Strangely, not a metaphor.
Joining in!!! I'm looking forward to hearing about how the rest of the proposal went! Not having the camera would have driven me crazy too!!! But I'm sure in the end everything worked out well!
Thanks! Surprisingly, I think the camera is my biggest regret about the night. The business with the rings was patched up well enough, but you can't re-capture the night you proposed.
Joining! Really enjoy your writing style.
Thank you very much! I think I take a little too much time drafting and revising, but I'm glad it's paying off.
LOVING the report so far. Sorry about the calamity of errors regarding the proposal, at least it makes a great story!!
Thank you! Hope you enjoy the rest. It's going up soon.
LudwigVonDrake
Hello dere!
- Joined
- Jul 10, 2011
- Messages
- 37
When we last left our hero, he was sinking, defeated, into his chair at Disney's Grand Floridian Hotel, his lady love opposite him. Exhaustion creeping into their eyes after a long day of travel and dinners laying nearly untouched in front of them, he was struggling to decide if he should propose after a series of unfortunate setbacks.
The dutiful butler who had waited on us all night came to clear our plates and deliver our desserts. We didn't even need to check our watches: it was nearly ten, and the start of Wishes. I turned my chair to sit next to my DF, and before us was a clear view of the castle, changing colours against the sky.
They don't pipe in the Wishes music where we were, but I'd downloaded the Wishes soundtrack and put it on my iPod, and we listened to it with a spectacular view of the castle and fireworks. Have you ever listened to the Wishes soundtrack? The syrupy music, Jiminy Cricket's rambling monologue, the children's choirit's all a little too saccharine for me. And yet... and yet something happens when you see it with the castle and the fireworks in the sky. All the grand pronouncements about wishes coming true and believing in your dreams feel true and real. It worked! Quite a balm for the ill feelings I was having. I was letting my conscience be my guide, and my conscience was telling me not to be a fool and propose to the woman I love.
I was ready to pop The Question.
While I was trying to figure out how to press on, our butler arrived to take our dessert plates away. As he's about to leave with them, he paused and said, Congratulations! He obviously didn't take into account nerves and procrastination, and thought I'd already asked by then. It was pretty much out of the bag at that point, so what other choice did I have but go through with it?
Me: So... You know how Disney World is the Happiest Place on Earth?
DF: Yes...
Me: I think it would be happier still if we were engaged.
DF: Yes!
(pulls out placeholder ring from pocket and slips it over DF's finger)
Me: Now, before you think I'm going to give you a $12 ring... *cough* It's actually a funny story...
My DF probably remembers it differently (i.e. accurately). In this version I'm six inches taller and speak without stammering. But that was it! I can honestly say, I didn't expect it to go that way, but it didn't matter: everything was right with the world again.
I explained to her how I'd forgotten the ring, and the many obstacles up to that point, and my DF laughed them off, which is part of why I love her. And it's why, afterwards, every time someone asked to see the ring and saw a cheap souvenir, I had to preface my explanation with It's actually a funny story... so I sincerely hope you laughed.
Oh, and lest you think I'd forgotten, here's the ring that stayed safely at home the entire trip:
I gave it to my DF the moment we returned home. She thinks it pretty darn perfect and well worth waiting for. I guess I'll have to agree with her on that one. It's a diamond ring set in platinum (which meant something when I bought it). It's a bit voluminous, most of it empty space created by the basket-like setting, but certainly unique. I quite like the lattice detailing underneath the stones, and the unique petal pattern surrounding the centre stone. Since it isn't a flat setting, the different angles of the stones catch the light quite brilliantly. I didn't know a solitaire from a channel setting when I started looking, and by the end I'd seen hundreds of rings, but that was the only one I was sure about.
Up next! Many hearty congratulations, trivia and the magic of Hollywood.
The dutiful butler who had waited on us all night came to clear our plates and deliver our desserts. We didn't even need to check our watches: it was nearly ten, and the start of Wishes. I turned my chair to sit next to my DF, and before us was a clear view of the castle, changing colours against the sky.
They don't pipe in the Wishes music where we were, but I'd downloaded the Wishes soundtrack and put it on my iPod, and we listened to it with a spectacular view of the castle and fireworks. Have you ever listened to the Wishes soundtrack? The syrupy music, Jiminy Cricket's rambling monologue, the children's choirit's all a little too saccharine for me. And yet... and yet something happens when you see it with the castle and the fireworks in the sky. All the grand pronouncements about wishes coming true and believing in your dreams feel true and real. It worked! Quite a balm for the ill feelings I was having. I was letting my conscience be my guide, and my conscience was telling me not to be a fool and propose to the woman I love.
I was ready to pop The Question.
While I was trying to figure out how to press on, our butler arrived to take our dessert plates away. As he's about to leave with them, he paused and said, Congratulations! He obviously didn't take into account nerves and procrastination, and thought I'd already asked by then. It was pretty much out of the bag at that point, so what other choice did I have but go through with it?
Me: So... You know how Disney World is the Happiest Place on Earth?
DF: Yes...
Me: I think it would be happier still if we were engaged.
DF: Yes!
(pulls out placeholder ring from pocket and slips it over DF's finger)
Me: Now, before you think I'm going to give you a $12 ring... *cough* It's actually a funny story...
My DF probably remembers it differently (i.e. accurately). In this version I'm six inches taller and speak without stammering. But that was it! I can honestly say, I didn't expect it to go that way, but it didn't matter: everything was right with the world again.
I explained to her how I'd forgotten the ring, and the many obstacles up to that point, and my DF laughed them off, which is part of why I love her. And it's why, afterwards, every time someone asked to see the ring and saw a cheap souvenir, I had to preface my explanation with It's actually a funny story... so I sincerely hope you laughed.
Oh, and lest you think I'd forgotten, here's the ring that stayed safely at home the entire trip:
I gave it to my DF the moment we returned home. She thinks it pretty darn perfect and well worth waiting for. I guess I'll have to agree with her on that one. It's a diamond ring set in platinum (which meant something when I bought it). It's a bit voluminous, most of it empty space created by the basket-like setting, but certainly unique. I quite like the lattice detailing underneath the stones, and the unique petal pattern surrounding the centre stone. Since it isn't a flat setting, the different angles of the stones catch the light quite brilliantly. I didn't know a solitaire from a channel setting when I started looking, and by the end I'd seen hundreds of rings, but that was the only one I was sure about.
Up next! Many hearty congratulations, trivia and the magic of Hollywood.
JAMIESMITH
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Jan 26, 2011
- Messages
- 2,071
Wow! That is some ring! Congratulations to you both 
janabananas
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Jun 19, 2011
- Messages
- 1,116
Wow is right!! That is spectacular and so unique! I have never seen a design like that ever.
I am glad you decided you stick with the plan and not give up. If my dbf proposed to me in the setting you guys were in with a beautiful dinner and with Wishes in the background, I would say yes with a Ring Pop or maybe even a napkin ring!
Congrats to you both!
I am glad you decided you stick with the plan and not give up. If my dbf proposed to me in the setting you guys were in with a beautiful dinner and with Wishes in the background, I would say yes with a Ring Pop or maybe even a napkin ring!
Congrats to you both!
walt's girl
Earning My Ears
- Joined
- May 22, 2011
- Messages
- 38
Joining in. The real ring is absolutely, hands down, one of the most beautiful rings I have ever seen!! Congratulations to you both and what a wonderful idea to propose at the very start of your trip... you got to celebrate the entire time!!
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