This post is sponsored by DJ Pat from Sound Prodigy.
I recently posted the 7 most romantic places to propose at Walt Disney World, just in time for the holiday proposal season. Of course, if you’re heading to the West coast for a little Disney magic, the Disneyland resort has it’s own special corners in which to pop the question. Both Disneyland and Disney’s California Adventure have some great places to create that memory and add a little extra pixie dust to the big moment.
BIG TIP: Unlike the Walt Disney World resort, you can take your own professional photographer into the Disneyland resort parks so consider hiring someone to snag some great shots of the moment and follow up with a mini-engagement session. Just be sure to let them know that they can’t take in any large equipment and they need to respect the park rules (no climbing into places they aren’t supposed to be to get the perfect shot) and they need to not interfere with other park guests (no blocking off guest areas to keep them clear for your photos).
Here are my picks for the 7 most romantic places to propose at the Disneyland resort:
7 /// Snow White’s Wishing Well
This wishing well falls into the “almost private” category of proposal spots…which is about as close to private as you can get at Disneyland without proposing next to a trash can near a cast member entrance. The well is exactly east of Sleeping Beauty’s castle (not marked on the map but you can see it if you look closely) and it’s part of a footpath that takes you around to Fantasyland if you don’t want to go through the castle. The good news is that (A) everyone wants to go through the castle, (B) the well is to the side of the path so there is a little bit of space to have your moment without people walking through it, and (C) there’s a pretty water feature there with lovely music to set the scene. Plus, you could go all “make my wish come true” etc. if you got creative with the wishing well theme.
6 /// At a character experience
Another popular Disney proposal option is to bring the ring out while you’re doing a character meet-and-greet. You don’t have to make any special arrangements ahead of time (although pulling a cast member aside to let them know what’s about to happen both increases the likelihood of getting a great photo and decreases the likelihood they’ll let another group crowd you out of your moment).
5 /// The Blue Bayou Restaurant
As the nicest restaurant in Disneyland that the public has access to (and a fantastic piece of Disney history), the Blue Bayou is your go-to if you wanted to propose over a candlelit dinner. They don’t do anything special for proposals as far as standard practice goes, but I have heard rumors of free desserts. Just know that this is a very popular place to eat, so it’s not as private as some of your other options and you definitely need to make a reservation well in advance if you want a good dinner time. Another tip: if you want a water view (more private and you can see the boats heading off to Pirates of the Caribbean), be sure to check in an hour (or more!) before your reservation time and make the request (letting the host/hostess know about your proposal plans if you can).
There are a few other wonderful restaurants at the Disneyland resort with less history but (in my opinion) better food and more privacy. I’ve heard wonderful proposal stories from each so you might want to explore the menus to see if there’s another setting you might enjoy. Call (714) 781-3463 to make a dining reservation at your desired location, and then ask to speak with a manager to assist in coordinating your proposal.
4 /// On an attraction that takes photos
Can you tell I’m all about the photos? Hey, if you’re going to do at Disney, get that moment on film! Of all the options, I think this is the most fun and probably the most likely to catch her completely off guard. Of course, you have to time it correctly and if you want your own ride vehicle (with no strangers in your photo) it’s a good idea to be either as early or as late as possible. Giving the cast members a heads up may help, but know that they can rarely pull strings even for such a special moment (especially with as many requests as they get!). Final thought: some rides are a little louder and bumpier than others so be sure you’ve got a good grip on that ring if you’re daring enough to go with Splash Mountain or the Tower of Terror!
3 /// With a caricature at Disney’s California Adventure
DCA hasn’t really made the list so far because there aren’t a lot of quiet-yet-romantic places that are kid and traffic free in the park. A fun option, however, would be to get your caricature done by one of DCA’s artists and let your caricaturist know that you’d him to draw the illustration up with you proposing. Surprising and you get a great keepsake at the end of it – so cute!
2 /// In front of Sleeping Beauty’s castle
You can’t beat a classic. If the person you’re proposing to is a “go big or go home” type, they may enjoy the collective oohs and aahs that come with a proposal in front of the castle. It’s sure to draw a crowd (with lots of strangers Instagraming your romance) but you can’t beat a spot in front of the castle for classic joyful Disneyland love.
1 /// The Rose Court Garden at the Disneyland Hotel
Once again, I saved the number one spot for my personal favorite (i.e. the place I would have wanted to be proposed to at Disneyland). The Rose Court Garden is the popular location for wedding ceremonies at the Disneyland Hotel and it would be a very sweet place to pop the question. It isn’t quite as private as the Wedding Pavilion in Walt Disney World and you would need to be sure to avoid trying to propose while they’re setting up a wedding (no, you can’t just pop in for a second) so if I were you I would either propose late at night or early in the morning. A breakfast proposal might seem a little odd to you, but people will be too focused on getting to the parks to wander in and watch you propose and you can start your day at Disneyland with a stop at City Hall to get “Engaged!” buttons.
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