Disney Proposal Help Needed

Need to arrange a surprise proposal at the Magic Kingdom in December. Cinderella's Table is full. All the "appropriate" settings are already full. Would someone please recommend an alternate plan? They want a lot of photos, so I am thinking the firework show is not the place..... Also tried to find a photographer, but the best suggestion I received from Disney was "Try to find a Photopass photographer who is not too busy." I was really expecting to have more warm & fuzzy feelings right now. I spoke to Disney Photography - they will be happy to take the photos before the park opens and for $1700. Not quite in the budget.

Any suggestions for financially challenged people who waited too long to make dining reservations?

Thank you!

I think you should keep checking back every day if your heart is really set on proposing in a restaurant at MK. Reservations should open up as time passes. I know December can be busy, though.

Otherwise you could see on the Disboards if there are any photographers or budding photographers who could take photos for less money than that. Personally, I feel that that price is ridiculous.

Have you considered doing it on a private firework cruise. You can rent a pontoon or even a Yatch for private viewing of fireworks, either Wishes or Illuminations, and if you would like you can get private dining or cake and champagne served on the boat. It starts at $346. If interested call 1-(407) WDW-PLAY.
You can hire an outside photographer to take pics of you on the boat with the fireworks and even after you once dock at the resort you decide to rent the boat from.

Here are some couple who did just that:

http://magicaldayweddings.com/2015/05/page/2/

http://www.stevenmillerpix.com/walt-disney-world-proposal-photographers-orlando-surprise-proposals

http://www.stevenmillerpix.com/magi...l-surprise-proposal-photographers-near-disney

You could also hire an outside photographer and do it anywhere or at any restaurant around Disney World you would like.
Here are some ideas of places to propose
http://blogs.disney.com/disney-styl.../the-best-proposal-spots-at-the-disney-parks/

http://magicaldayweddings.com/roundup-disney-wedding-proposals/

Hope that helps

Someone I used to work with (who happens to be a former CM) has kind of gotten in the business of surprise proposal photography - his website is http://aharrisphotography.com/. Be aware an outside photographer may not go into the park to shoot a professional session, as shooting any kind of session that Disney Fine Arts Photography could be hired to shoot might put said outside photographer in jeopardy of being banned from shooting future Disney weddings, were they ever contracted to do so (some photographers are willing to take this risk, but many aren't - just preparing you!)

I think a fireworks cruise sounds like a lovely idea. If they want fireworks photos without shelling out the money for a cruise, you can actually see the highest Illuminations fireworks from Jellyrolls on the Boardwalk, or of course Wishes from the Contemporary and other monorail resorts. Regarding the above photographer, I know he's done photoshoots on both the Polynesian beach and Yacht/Beach Club beach (which could be gorgeous), as well as the Grand Floridian. Have you tried a California Grill reservation? The observation deck has a gorgeous view of MK as well as Wishes. Anyone who has a reservation there can visit the deck, even if your reservation is at 5:00pm and Wishes doesn't start till 9:00pm (you can return later for the fireworks).

i would have the proper decide what is a significant place in MK and plan around that. how do you envision helping this person? usually family/friends are doing that stealth/assistive role. so you can help scout photopass or additionally alert restaurant CMs? i think it depends a lot on the time of year and time of day one is trying to do. it's true, there isn't an "engagement package", it's more arranging things on your own, but people do it and it happens! one issue with restaurants to consider is that even if you were able to "arrange" things, scheduling can change, CMs might get scheduled somewhere else, so having the proposer or a friend to apprise them of what is going on is perfect and CMs will be super helpful in any way they can!

keep checking back at CRT if that is "the" place for you (them). no place is "typical", i guess unless what you are thinking is "castle". a fireworks cruise is gorgeous but also spendy. you say photos are important. what kind? professional? it will cost, although not $1700 necessarily. it really depends what your budget for this is because photos can be wrangled with the help of extra people and then you could pick a picture or few if you want them?

i guess i am not help, but in my mind there are a million places to propose at WDW/MK. if you are wanting a castle in the background and/or a meal i would try:
california grill/fireworks on the terrace there
narcosees
cindy's table
BOG (late lunch? or dinner)
polynesian
GF

I can tell you that from the Grand Floridian Dock you can see the MK fireworks well, and shooting at the Grand Floridian should pose no issues for outside photographers. This particular couple had already proposed at DHS so it was recreated, and then they came back for a second session at the Grand Floridian.

http://sophiasartphotography.com/po...-hollywood-studios-and-grand-floridian-hotel/

Another vote for forgetting about a restaurant reservation, and finding a nicer place at a Disney resort instead, where outside photographers can be hired.

My DH proposed to me on the boardwalk in front of Yacht Club near the Wedding Gazebo. We didn't have photographers heh. He also didn't want to make a scene, so he waited until there weren't too many people around.

Hi, My fiance proposed to me last October outside Cinderella's Castle, it was so magical! My fiance before we left home purchased the memory maker, then when we got to the Magic Kingdom he went off to grab one of the professional photographers (He said he was going to the restroom) when we went to grab our usual photo outside of the castle he got down on one knee And all 130+ photos (2 photographers came) were stored on our magic band.

So the photos didn't cost us any extra as he had already purchased the memory maker

Good luck!

In April, my mom and I went to visit my sister, BIL, and their 3 kids in Florida. We went to MK on our second to last day there. My sister was VERY adamant about HAVING to have a family photo on the ride side of the castle where the stone wall curves into a bench area. To cut to the chase, she made me walk up first because I am the tallest and was going to need to be in the back, but when I turned around and no one else was walking up with me for this photo SHE wanted so bad, BOOM-- there was my fella standing in front of my family, looking happy as could be in a Toy Story t-shirt. We live in Memphis, and he even called me late the previous night to say he "made it safely to his cousin's house in Nashville for the weekend", when in reality he had gotten to his resort room at noon the previous day. We didn't have a photographer, but my family was there, so they took a ton of pictures and the Photopass CM caught a couple, too.

Anyways, it was beautiful and special. If you're set on proposing in a restaurant, that will be lovely, and I know she will be excited no matter what. The proposal was my fiance's first WDW trip (we ended up going for a big trip at the end of May), but this was great because it was a "private" little cove to where we had our own little bubble. Unlike proposals in front of the castle (WHICH ARE GORGEOUS AND MAGICAL AND AMAZING), we didn't have people walking all around us, but they were in the back of our group walking down the sidewalk so we weren't really bothered.

There are so many places you could propose to make it special. There are beautiful resorts, "quiet" areas to the side, or even certain rides! I thought my fiance was going to propose on our May trip (so I was EXTRA surprised), and I was imagining all different ways he would do it--at all kinds of restaurants, walking along the Poly, riding on Peter Pan (my favorite).

You can do anything, and anything you do will be magical and special. Good luck.

You may have already figured out alternate plans but just in case...

if you are worried about catching the moment in photos or video.... what my fiance did was the first day of our vacation at Universal he pulled out his phone and and said we should make a video for the family at home. I just thought awesome he is warming up to the idea of videoing our trips!! Once we got to Disney two days later and chilling on our balcony at AKL after our day at MK he said we should do another video, didn't think anything of it cause we already did one and I start blathering with Disney excitement and then BOOM! He's pulling out a ring and getting down on one knee! It was fantastic! (Had a few giraffe spectators too!)

Wishing you the best of luck with your plans!

If you choose to propose anywhere that there is a photopass photographer, they will definitely take photos, just keep a bag with you or something that you will need to put down and whisper to the photographer your plan.

Paparazzi proposals does proposal photography... not sure if they do Disney, but they did my cousin's engagement and were awesome! Would not recommend using PhotoPass, even though I have seen it done.

Alexsandra said:

Have you considered doing it on a private firework cruise. You can rent a pontoon or even a Yatch for private viewing of fireworks, either Wishes or Illuminations, and if you would like you can get private dining or cake and champagne served on the boat. It starts at $346. If interested call 1-(407) WDW-PLAY.
You can hire an outside photographer to take pics of you on the boat with the fireworks and even after you once dock at the resort you decide to rent the boat from.

Here are some couple who did just that:

http://magicaldayweddings.com/2015/05/page/2/

http://www.stevenmillerpix.com/walt-disney-world-proposal-photographers-orlando-surprise-proposals

http://www.stevenmillerpix.com/magi...l-surprise-proposal-photographers-near-disney

Click to expand...

I 100% was going to suggest this same thing with Steven Miller! He is fantastic! He'll be doing our wedding pictures in February and did an amazing job with our engagement photos!