This proposal story was submitted by Aly. Check out her blog at Dreams to Become. Congrats to Aly and Drew!
My husband Drew and I met as performers at the Bristol Renaissance Faire in Kenosha, WI. We’re both actors and storytellers — and huge Disney dorks to boot. In late May 2015, Drew and I went to Disney World for five days. We had been talking about traveling together since we started dating, since both of us love traveling and adventure a great deal, so we were very excited to be able to go to Disney together and share the magic!
On our first day of the trip, I was constantly catching Drew fidgeting and looking shifty, so I knew something might be up. On the second day, we were in Epcot, and as we wandered through the different nations and window shopped at every possible store, Drew seemed more and more dejected. Finally I sat down with him on a bench and asked what was eating at him so badly. He confessed that before our trip, he had been investigating options for an engagement ring. He’d attempted to have something custom made for me – but it didn’t turn out like he wanted, so he gave up on it. He knew he wanted to propose to me at Disney – this was not a total shock, as weeks earlier he had asked my parents’ permission to become engaged to me (they said yes) – but he had no ring to do so!
“I just thought we could find something down here,” he groaned. “But then we got here, and it’s like, what kind of idiot goes to propose at Disney World and doesn’t bring a ring with him?!”
I was so touched by his attempts that I promised him that the surprise part was not ‘ruined’ and the engagement was not ‘ruined’ before it had even begun. I told him I loved him and that we’d figure it out together. If we could find something while we were there, we’d go for it. If not, we’d find something when we got back to Chicago. Easy peasy.
That night we went to Downtown Disney and had dinner together. We strolled the very crowded streets and window shopped some more… and found a fine jewelry place – Something Silver. We checked it out – again, super crowded, and found some pretty things, but when I found something I liked, the sizes were all wrong. I was about to give up, when I saw a really lovely halo setting that caught my eye. It wasn’t what I’d anticipated wanting for a ring, and yet… So I tried it on, and it was my size! After some deliberation and careful financial discussion, Drew purchased the ring and we left the store.
He showed me the ring in the box, and then pocketed it.
“So…we’re not doing this now?” I joked.
“Nope,” he said smugly. “I’m not going to propose yet. You have to wait.”
So wait I did. We had the most incredible trip over the next few days. We loved wandering through the Animal Kingdom – we rode Expedition Everest twice in a row. Hollywood Studios was fantastic for Star Wars weekend – we DisneyBounded as Han and Leia of course. By the end of the trip, I was starting to think he wasn’t going to do it while we were there, and that maybe he’d propose when we were back home.
On our last day, we were in the Magic Kingdom, and we realized the only thing we hadn’t done yet that we wanted to do was meet Peter Pan. So off we went to find out where he’d be, and got in line to wait for him.
The line was long, but shortly after we got into the queue they ‘closed’ the line and actually had to turn people away. We were glad we’d made it just in time. When Peter came out, he was very noisy and chatty, just like the Pan should be, and everyone in line had a great time watching him interact with kids and adults alike. I was busy laughing at Peter’s fast-talking comic timing, and Drew seemed to be in his own little world. Finally, it was our turn.
We walked up to Peter, and began joking around with him. We explained that we’d been to Epcot a day or two before and had looked for him and Wendy in the England area. Peter rolled his eyes. “Why would I be there? My ride is right here! It’s the best ride in the whole world!” We were all having a good time just chatting before our portrait. Suddenly Drew interrupted and announced, “So I have a question for you!”
“Okay,” said Peter, “What is it?”
“Well, I consider myself to have been a Lost Boy for quite a while now…”
“Really?” Peter interjected, “I’ve never seen you before!”
“I was incognito?” Drew said.
“Actually you’re IN Fantasyland.” Everyone who was watching laughed. I started to get nervous. Drew flushed.
“Well, that’s true… my question is, since you’re the head Lost Boy, I’d like permission to grow up a little bit, sir.” And he saluted.
Peter immediately clapped his hands and bopped Drew on the nose, scolding him like a dog. “NO! NO. NO no nonono. BAD. BAD. No! Never grow up! Never ever ever! IF you grow up, you have to drink coffee and have coffee breath and get up early and go to work and no one will like you it’s awful! Don’t do it!”
“But if I can’t grow up a little tiny bit,” Drew replied, “I can’t get married!” A hush fell over the crowd. I held my breath. Peter looked surprised and a little embarrassed.
After a long pause, Peter answered, “Well…….you’re NOT allowed to grow up….but I suppose if you had a Mother like Wendy that would probably be all right.”
“All right…so then I guess the question is…” Drew got down on one knee. “…will you be my Wendy?” And he pulled out the ring.
I immediately started crying and nodding – even though I had helped pick out the ring and I knew he was going to propose at some point, I was still completely overwhelmed with joy and surprise. I said “Yes!” I threw my arms around him.
We posed for a picture with Peter Pan, and the photo guy and the girl helping run the line were both choked up and congratulated us. They were so sweet! As we were about to leave, Peter says “Well, good job, I guess,” to Drew, and then to me, “Promise you won’t let him grow up?” I promised, naturally. Then Drew shook his hand, said thank you, and off we went.
It was completely magical, and we were so dazed and giddy afterwards that we almost forgot we had FastPasses to ride Space Mountain. We didn’t want to miss it, so we ran all the way across the park and jumped in line, which was basically the best possible way to complete the adrenaline from getting engaged. At Disney World. With Peter Pan presiding.
Needless to say, it will always be our happy thought when we need to fly with pixie dust.
