Something to Remember
I guess you could say that I was feeling ambitious when I woke up that morning. My original plan had been to pop the question somewhere along the sand at Caribbean Beach where we would be staying that weekend, however the more I thought about it, I wanted something more. A big thing in particular was getting photos of this once-in-a-lifetime event, but with the location not offering any real guarantee that someone would be nearby to take photos, I finally decided that a change of scenery was in order. Someplace with easy access to a photographer, someplace special to the both of us, and maybe even someplace just a little more public than the private beaches at the resort.
Then it hit me!
Epcot was the place where we had shared our second date a little over a year ago. There’s a PhotoPass photographer stationed right in front of Spaceship Earth at the entrance to the park.
That was it – I was going to propose to my girlfriend in front of Spaceship Earth after IllumiNations.
Ambitious enough for ya now?!
Secret, Secret – I’ve Got a Secret…
Of course, half the challenge after actually coming up with the plan was then keeping cool about it all day long! I think she always knew that the proposal was coming eventually because we had spent several weekends looking at rings together in the months prior, and worse yet, being that those leather ring boxes are ridiculously huge, I nervously wondered whether she had picked up on there being something bulky in my pocket all day long! The icing on my paranoia cake, though, was when she called her parents at random to chat while we were waiting for fireworks … coincidentally, they both answered quite excitedly because I had talked to them about it the night before … so it was all that I could do to just shrug it off and reply, “Yeah, that is pretty weird…” when she mentioned it after hanging up!
The Big Moment
So with IllumiNations ending and the front gate seemingly approaching a lot closer than I had remembered it in years past, I made my final preparations for one of the most important moments in my life, all the while trying to make random conversation so as to not lead on that I was also rehearsing lines in my head! As we reached the front of the park, I momentarily panicked upon finding that the PhotoPass photographer had already packed up for the night, however quick on my feet, I instead walked over to one of the awesome cast members working the turnstiles and asked if she could help me out…
“Hey,” I asked, holding my camera out, “I’m about to propose to my girlfriend over there – do you think you could take a couple of pictures for me?!”
Enthusiastically saying, “What?! Yes – of course!” as we walked over, I told her to just take as many as she possibly could before returning to my girlfriend’s side, who was now waiting in front of the topiary display with Spaceship Earth in the background for what she thought was just a simple photo. After a couple of “regular” poses together, though, I turned to face her directly and took her hands in mine as I began…
“Sara – a little over a year ago, we shared our second date here at Epcot and we had such a magical time, it seemed only fitting that it would be the perfect place for me to give you this…”
“You would make me the happiest man at The Happiest Place on Earth if you would be my wife. Will you marry me?”
And while tears poured down her face, with a smile that made every bout of nerves completely worthwhile, she said that single word that I’d been waiting to hear all day, “Yes!” The newly-engaged couple embraced, the crowd that had apparently gathered around us erupted with applause and shouts of congratulations, and best of all, one of the most helpful cast members I’ve ever met at Walt Disney World had captured the whole thing on film for us to treasure for years to come.
Happily Ever After
As anyone who’s been engaged can vouch, the next couple of moments were mostly a blur of happiness and excitement. Eventually the crowd parted, I retrieved my camera, and we slowly made our way back out to the parking lot where many phone calls were anxiously made. Eventually we retreated back to our resort where we settled in and enjoyed some quality hot tub time together before e-mailing photos out for everyone to circulate while we finished the rest of our vacation. The following days we would swim with dolphins at Discovery Cove, thwart an angry yeti at Expedition Everest, and even enjoy an elusive picture with both Mickey and Minnie Mouse, but it was hard to top the once-in-a-lifetime magic that we’d experienced that very first night!
More Pics…
Tags: engagement, Epcot, Spaceship Earth
