Heading out of Cosmic Rays’ I had butterflies in my stomach, despite a very satisfying burger.  About 20 minutes before Wishes, I was prepared – the plan all in place.  I was going to bite the bullet, head round to the wishing well and wait for the fireworks.  Then ‘star light, star bright…’ I get down on one knee <cue loud sound of needle scraping across a record! then silence>.  The entrance to the path was roped off, there was a very friendly looking cast member standing in my way.  I hadn’t anticipated this, nowhere in my research had anyone said forget the wishing well during Wishes, it is roped off!!  So we paused on the bridge, “this’ll be a good place” I said, “it won’t be busy”.  My carefully orchestrated plan had come to a stunning halt.  I thought about trying to sneak through the rope, but it didn’t seem likely – or maybe get the cast member on side, but that might be too obvious.  Ok, I thought – it is only Tuesday, loads of time left to come up with another plan.  But I was psyched up and it had all gone perfectly…

Mickey’s Magical Express was good (despite the horror stories, I think it is better outside of peak season). Check in at Port Orleans Riverside was a breeze, we even got a free upgrade to a water view room and Fiona (my fingers-crossed-fiancée) was given a Happy Birthday badge at check-in (which is why we were here).  The room was great (Magnolia Bend) and an easy stroll to the main building, restaurant and facilities.  The day after we arrived I managed to get a glass slipper at the Germany pavilion in Epcot and had it engraved, which was tricky.  There was a bit of a queue and I was nervous that Fiona would come back before I was finished and spoil the surprise.  The cast member at the stand gave me a piece of paper on which I wrote the words to be engraved ‘will you marry me’, to which a lady in the queue behind started saying how sweet it was and asking when I was going to do it.  I was worried that Fiona had come back looking for me but it worked out well, she had waited and I came back 20 minutes later to pick it up.

Once I had the slipper I was really nervous, I had a bit of a plan but hadn’t set everything in stone (just in case).  Monday in the Animal Kingdom was brilliant, and I thought about proposing at Boma – since the Animal Kingdom is Fiona’s favourite park.  But I left the slipper in the room (although I carried the ring the whole time, stashed in my camera case).

Then it was Tuesday, after a great lunch at Teppan Edo in Epcot’s Japan pavilion we headed back to the resort for a swim before our first trip to the Magic Kingdom.  We were going to go later in the week but Big Thunder Mountain was calling.  I had my camera round my neck and the ring and slipper in my camera case.  Despite being Extra Magic Hours the park wasn’t too busy.  I still had hope that we would be able to have a quiet moment for the proposal.

…Wishes started, it was the first time we’d seen it but I wasn’t really paying attention – I was busy trying to come up with an alternate plan.  When the fireworks finished we walked around to the castle, through Fantasyland but some of the route near the castle was still roped off.  We rode on Snow White’s Scary Adventures, which is really good (despite the creepy witch) and apparently I was “gibbering” all the way through, but I don’t remember.  I thought about changing  my mind and waiting but I was set now, no turning back.  When we came out of Snow White the ropes were down and walked round the path at the opposite side of the castle, which was nice and quiet.  This boosted my confidence, maybe it could work after all.  A few night photos of the castle and back across the hub.  I suggested that we walk up to the wishing well, and when we got there it was totally secluded.  We talked about the fireworks and I asked Fiona what she wished for.

“I can’t tell you” she said “because then it won’t come true”.  “What about you?” she asked.  I smiled “but I sort of, have to let you know what I wished for…”  we were standing by the bench.  As I was talking I had taken the slipper out of camera  case with one hand (scary in case I dropped it).  I got down on one knee, held up the slipper with the ring in it and said “Will you be my princess, will you marry me?”  No dramatic pause, Fiona said “Yes, yes” then she put the ring on and said, perfectly “It fits.”.  I stood up and kissed her (with my legs shaking). Of course when we looked around for someone to take a photo there was no-one there.  But we sat on the bench and I balanced my camera on the well.  I certainly got my wish and our trip was even more magical.