A former Disney wedding planner shares the most overdone places to propose at the parks - and where to go instead

• Disney proposals are so popular that Disney has a wedding sector for such planning in the parks.
• Rebecca Martens, a wedding planner, used to work there and shared the best spots to pop the question.
• Martens suggested off-the-beaten-path alternatives for a more intimate and personal memory.

People go to Disney theme parks for many reasons: for the rides, to eat the iconic foods, to meet their favorite characters - and, for many, to pop the question.

Rebecca Martens, a wedding planner and owner of Belle Events, is one person who knows that better than anyone else. Before starting her own wedding-planning business, she worked at Disney World in Orlando, Florida, where she helped couples plan proposals and weddings at the theme park.

Martens interned for Disney Weddings before spending about 10 years planning events and weddings in and out of the parks, she told Insider. While working for her own company, she's also planned weddings and proposals at Disney resorts for clients and friends.

Martens said that you don't need to go through Disney Weddings to plan a proposal at Disney parks - anyone can get down on one knee and pop the question.

Speaking with Insider, Martens shared her tips for picking the perfect proposal location at Disney parks.

Avoid overdone proposal spots, like in front of the Cinderella Castle

Martens said she thinks couples propose on Main Street in Disney World's Magic Kingdom more than anywhere else in the resort because it's a picturesque spot, as it has the Cinderella Castle in the background and fireworks at night.

She said that the Cinderella Wishing Well - a decorative well near the Cinderella Castle - gets a lot of proposals, too.

Iconic spots in other Disney parks are popular too, like Animal Kingdom's Tree of Life. Martens thinks this is because everyone wants a special backdrop for their photos.

Look to a less-predictable spot, like Epcot's country-themed pavilions

Martens said that the person proposing to their loved one should consider Disney World's Epcot park, especially if traveling is important to the couple.

"You can have the Eiffel Tower in the background of your proposal photo, and you don't have to be in Paris," Martens said. "If you're from Germany or Japan or the UK and want to propose in and your hometown, you can do that at Disney without having to travel abroad."

Martens added that Epcot has tucked-away areas in its 11-country World Showcase that are beautiful and not crowded, like a courtyard behind the main building in the park's UK-inspired area.

For a crowd-free moment in Disney World's Magic Kingdom, Martens suggested popping the question on the trails between parks, where there's lots of foliage.

"There's lots of trees, shade, and nice quiet areas that are tucked into the park that I think people don't always pay attention to," Martens said.

The person proposing at Disney should expect to embrace the crowds

Some people plan a proposal at Disney parks because they want to be surrounded by a crowd. Even if you do find a quieter spot to propose, you should be prepared for other people to watch, Martens said.

"Part of the lure of getting proposed to at Disney is having all of these happy people surrounding you who are also on vacation and are also fairy tale romantics," she said.

Martens encourages people to propose in front of an attraction that's unique to their story, like a ride from their favorite Disney movie.

Martens said that for many fans, visiting a Disney resort is an escape from the "real world," and that above all else, the person proposing should take into account their partner's favorite parts of the theme park.