Why hello there Kayla, I'd like to wish you a warm welcome aboard planDisney!
As a recent Disney Groom I've spent the past few years doing extensive planning and research which began all the way from the start when I was plotting how to organize a surprise engagement, similar to what you're up to now. To help you out, I spent the past few days gathering the latest information along with my personal experience to provide some handy nautical knowledge on asking someone to tie the knot as you set sail!
At the present time, when you contact Disney's Fairy Tale Weddings & Honeymoons team about an upcoming engagement they will let you know that they are currently only able to provide recommendations for experiences or moments ideal for popping the question; they made it clear that while they are focused on planning weddings and vow renewals, they "are not available to assist with planning a proposal". This was similar to what they had told me for my engagement as well and while this could be subject to change in the future, there are a few other handy resources out there for you in the meantime:
- Ahead of your stop at Disney Castaway Cay there are a few key crew members on board who have made a little magic and helped others pop the question in the past that I highly recommend speaking with early on the voyage. This can include the Cruise Director who can often be found before and after showtime in the Walt Disney Theatre and may be able to provide suggestions or connect you with a member of the Entertainment team to see what they can do given enough time to prepare! The Dining team on board are often very keen to help with proposals, especially at popular spots like Palo but are more limited in what they can help with on the island itself.
- The onboard photography team may be able to arrange a private photo session on Disney Castaway Cay to capture that moment but as this is subject to availability with no guarantee on timing nor location, some couples even choose to bring their own photographer onboard so they can discuss secret plans in advance and make sure they have the shots they want with their "Future Co-Captain"!
Personally, I found that there were far more opportunities for the Crew Members to assist while on the ship, and at the current time Disney Castaway Cay proposals tend to take place without much planning assistance. However the spots I'd recommend without too many families around are on Boat Beach with the ship in the background or out on Serenity Bay - but I've also seen proposals happen in front of Mount Rustmore with folks applauding as they head past on the main path. In the meantime,
feel free to message me directly again at planDisney about any other surprise proposal ideas before you set sail!
Here's to the Perfect Proposal on your upcoming voyage!
Prince