diff --git a/ui/jquery.ui.droppable.js b/ui/jquery.ui.droppable.js
index 552b24a5850..ec25aadc7e1 100644
--- a/ui/jquery.ui.droppable.js
+++ b/ui/jquery.ui.droppable.js
@@ -41,7 +41,8 @@ $.widget("ui.droppable", {
 	},
 	_create: function() {
 
-		var o = this.options,
+		var proportions,
+			o = this.options,
 			accept = o.accept;
 
 		this.isover = false;
@@ -51,8 +52,20 @@ $.widget("ui.droppable", {
 			return d.is(accept);
 		};
 
-		//Store the droppable's proportions
-		this.proportions = { width: this.element[0].offsetWidth, height: this.element[0].offsetHeight };
+		this.proportions = function( /* valueToWrite */ ) {
+			if ( arguments.length ) {
+				// Store the droppable's proportions
+				proportions = arguments[ 0 ];
+			} else {
+				// Retrieve or derive the droppable's proportions
+				return proportions ?
+					proportions :
+					proportions = {
+						width: this.element[ 0 ].offsetWidth,
+						height: this.element[ 0 ].offsetHeight
+					};
+			}
+		};
 
 		// Add the reference and positions to the manager
 		$.ui.ddmanager.droppables[o.scope] = $.ui.ddmanager.droppables[o.scope] || [];
@@ -198,10 +211,14 @@ $.ui.intersect = function(draggable, droppable, toleranceMode) {
 	}
 
 	var draggableLeft, draggableTop,
-		x1 = (draggable.positionAbs || draggable.position.absolute).left, x2 = x1 + draggable.helperProportions.width,
-		y1 = (draggable.positionAbs || draggable.position.absolute).top, y2 = y1 + draggable.helperProportions.height,
-		l = droppable.offset.left, r = l + droppable.proportions.width,
-		t = droppable.offset.top, b = t + droppable.proportions.height;
+		x1 = (draggable.positionAbs || draggable.position.absolute).left,
+		y1 = (draggable.positionAbs || draggable.position.absolute).top,
+		x2 = x1 + draggable.helperProportions.width,
+		y2 = y1 + draggable.helperProportions.height,
+		l = droppable.offset.left,
+		t = droppable.offset.top,
+		r = l + droppable.proportions().width,
+		b = t + droppable.proportions().height;
 
 	switch (toleranceMode) {
 		case "fit":
@@ -214,7 +231,7 @@ $.ui.intersect = function(draggable, droppable, toleranceMode) {
 		case "pointer":
 			draggableLeft = ((draggable.positionAbs || draggable.position.absolute).left + (draggable.clickOffset || draggable.offset.click).left);
 			draggableTop = ((draggable.positionAbs || draggable.position.absolute).top + (draggable.clickOffset || draggable.offset.click).top);
-			return isOverAxis( draggableTop, t, droppable.proportions.height ) && isOverAxis( draggableLeft, l, droppable.proportions.width );
+			return isOverAxis( draggableTop, t, droppable.proportions().height ) && isOverAxis( draggableLeft, l, droppable.proportions().width );
 		case "touch":
 			return (
 				(y1 >= t && y1 <= b) ||	// Top edge touching
@@ -254,7 +271,7 @@ $.ui.ddmanager = {
 			// Filter out elements in the current dragged item
 			for (j=0; j < list.length; j++) {
 				if(list[j] === m[i].element[0]) {
-					m[i].proportions.height = 0;
+					m[i].proportions().height = 0;
 					continue droppablesLoop;
 				}
 			}
@@ -269,8 +286,8 @@ $.ui.ddmanager = {
 				m[i]._activate.call(m[i], event);
 			}
 
-			m[i].offset = m[i].element.offset();
-			m[i].proportions = { width: m[i].element[0].offsetWidth, height: m[i].element[0].offsetHeight };
+			m[ i ].offset = m[ i ].element.offset();
+			m[ i ].proportions({ width: m[ i ].element[ 0 ].offsetWidth, height: m[ i ].element[ 0 ].offsetHeight });
 
 		}