How to surprise my family with WDW on Saturday

[Iggipolka]

I have to tell someone, or I'm just going to blow up! My brother, sister-in-law & their two pre-teen daughters are going to WDW this Saturday and they really wanted us to go. We told them we couldn't go and then upon urging of these boards and my wife, we decided to just go ahead and take a 3rd Disney trip this year! So, we leave for WDW this Saturday for 9 days!

We haven't told my brother or his family and are planning on surprising them. I can't wait! We're staying at the Boardwalk and they are at the Beach Club. Any suggestions on how to surprise them? I'm thinking about texting my brother, asking him what park/ride they are planning on going to and meeting them at the exit. However, that just seems like it would be way to easy to miss them.
They don't make any ADR's or any other specific plans, so it will be a challenge.

Thanks!

 

[Fantasmic23]

How awesome is this?!?

Try to trail them inside a park ... Then call/text and say "You want to meet for lunch?" Dang, I was just reading about something like this in Mousejunkies. Hold on ...

 

[Fantasmic23]

Okay ... From what I've read in Mousejunkies ...

1. Try to trail brother and family into a park. I know, I know ... This might be difficult.
2. Call/text him and ask "How's WDW? Where are you right now?" OR call in the AM and ask what park they're going to that day.
3. Meet them at the entrance/exit of a ride, restaurant, etc.

I don't know! I'm so bad at this! But I'm so excited for you!!

 

[jillianml]

This is so awesome!Keeping a secret like this is hard.I am doing a surprise trip for december for my daughter.I would find out there room number at the resort and then knock on the door!Or follow them to a park and like bump in to him on purpose and be like oh sorry exuse me surprise!

 

[LoriABil]

Oh wow! Who doesn't dream about surprising someone like this!

I would wait until they were on Space Mountain or Splash Mountain and wait by the photos for them to come by and say "Look at this goofy family! Shhh, that's them!"

I know, the logistics of that aren't realistic, but still, fun to think about!

Actually, Call or text (and hope they answer) then meet them. The best time might be when they are eating - then they are likely to be in one spot for a while.

 

[Iggipolka]

So nice to have other people excited about this too! I'm having such a hard time keeping this secret!

I like the idea of finding out their room number. We have the same last name, so it might not be that difficult. I'm also thinking about texting him that I'm so excited about them being at Disney that I want to go along for the ride through txt's and to let me know what park they are going to. From there, I can probably narrow it down to what ride or quick service place they are at.

If that doesn't work, I know that they'll hit Stormalong bay sometime on Sunday afternoon and I'll hang out by the bar (such a hardship) and buy him a drink!

I just hope the hurricane doesn't impact the trip too much. The weather is looking pretty funky.

 

[corky441]

My husband and I did this very same thing to our daughter and her family last year.

In our instance, we had arrived a day ahead of time. I was texting my daughter repeatedly and when they where on their way to their resort, my husband and I took a Disney bus over to surprise them.
We waited in the lobby in a spot where we could see the main entrance but relatively out of their sight range. When my daughter went into the check-in line I snuck up behind her. My husband intercepted my son-in-law and grandson.
I just stood there in line and when she was done checking in and turned around, I just said "HI" - she almost fell on the floor

We had a great weekend together - it was truly one of our best trips to WDW

 

[Cherinva]

What an awesome thing to do. You're a good brother.....I would do as others have said....find out specifics of where they are, or going to be, and show up....Have a wonderful time.

 

[WaltD4Me]

My husband and I did this very same thing to our daughter and her family last year.

In our instance, we had arrived a day ahead of time. I was texting my daughter repeatedly and when they where on their way to their resort, my husband and I took a Disney bus over to surprise them.
We waited in the lobby in a spot where we could see the main entrance but relatively out of their sight range. When my daughter went into the check-in line I snuck up behind her. My husband intercepted my son-in-law and grandson.
I just stood there in line and when she was done checking in and turned around, I just said "HI" - she almost fell on the floor

We had a great weekend together - it was truly one of our best trips to WDW

Love this. Great story.

 

[basketlacey]

That's such an awesome surprise! Good luck - make sure to report back!

I am surprising my kids with a trip in November. I don't know how I am going to pull it off with the school work. I want to be able to pick them up from school on Friday and head straight to the airport. So when they go to school that morning, they will have NO idea what is going on.

 

[DisneyWitch]

What an incredible thread! Makes me giddy just reading it!

I'll bet if you explained the situation as you did here, the CM's at their resort would be totally into helping you surprise your family. You probably wouldn't even be able to see through the haze of pixie dust!

Warning: I allowed myself to let my mind wander and thought of a "what if" scenario. Could be dangerous, but in this instance, I think we're safe. Besides, I'm an incurable romantic and love this kind of stuff.

Wouldn't it be fun to get a fruit basket or some other type of goodie basket (I happen to love Edible Arrangements, but that's just me), or breakfast, or flowers...and deliver it to their resort door? You could hide off to the side and have a CM knock on the door the first morning so they wouldn't be able to see you through the peeper hole. When they ask "who is it?", just have the CM say, "Special Delivery for the Smith Family" (insert the family name for Smith, of course). As they open the door, let the CM give you the basket and you hand it personally to them!

This would eliminate you having to stake out the main entrance like Hawaii 5-0 and hope to catch them among the throngs of people milling through. Furthermore, the surprise would be much more personal and you could squeal at each other in the privacy of the room, and not worry about people bumping into you or jostling you around! You could then start the day out together!

Surprise! LOL

I think it would be just as much fun coming up with a cool way to surprise them as the surprise itself! OMG, how fun!!!

Whatever you choose to do, I am sure it will be completely wonderful and I wish you all a safe and lovely vacation!

 

[GaRain]

How about this - call the resort where they are staying and see if you can leave a note for them at check in. Give them a mysterious scavenger hunt with clues leading to a place where y'all can meet up and have lunch/dinner or whatever.....

"Welcome to Walt Disney World. In order to have the best time, you must solve this rhyme.....You know you want to play and play, but first you must eat at Cape May......"

Oh, I am so excited - I hope things work out and you have the bestest time!

 

[BriarRosie]

So nice to have other people excited about this too! I'm having such a hard time keeping this secret!

I like the idea of finding out their room number. We have the same last name, so it might not be that difficult. I'm also thinking about texting him that I'm so excited about them being at Disney that I want to go along for the ride through txt's and to let me know what park they are going to. From there, I can probably narrow it down to what ride or quick service place they are at.

If that doesn't work, I know that they'll hit Stormalong bay sometime on Sunday afternoon and I'll hang out by the bar (such a hardship) and buy him a drink!

I just hope the hurricane doesn't impact the trip too much. The weather is looking pretty funky.

Monika, you probably won't be able to get the room number for security reasons. Even when you're related, the front desk is supposed to transfer your call to the room phone / voice mail.

I love the idea of the scavenger hunt, but that requires the front desk to actually pass along your first clue. Hopefully they would, but there's no guarantee.

I think text messages with a "we want to live vicariously through you" requests for location might narrow location down for you.

 

[DSNY4ever]

Okay first, I am totally jealous... 3 trips from California this year?!?! Lucky ducks!

I don't know if Disney would do this for you, but maybe you could call them in the morning and make sure they are still in their room and then have the front desk call them and tell them they have a special delivery waiting for them in the lobby. Then when they come down you guys will all be waiting there. That could be cute, then you could start the day together!

I can't wait to hear what you decide to do- please report back...with pictures
HAVE FUN! I am so jealous that I don't think I can look at this thread anymore!

 

[DisMullins]

Oh my, reading this thread gives me chills!!! I love all the ideas and please please please keep us updated on how it all turns out!!

 

[Iggipolka]

Woo! You all have such awesome and creative ideas! I love the "special delivery" to their resort..either directly to the door or at the front desk. That sounds totally doable and better than trying to find them in the park. Maybe I could just hand them the baby and head off to the pool! Here's your package!
(totally just kidding, Mama's tired tonight)

Woohoo! Two more sleeps and we'll be at Disney! My wife has been teaching Lillian to sing "Yo, Ho, Yo, Ho", so we're getting her all prepared for Pirates. It's super cute.

 

[jillianml]

That's such an awesome surprise! Good luck - make sure to report back!

I am surprising my kids with a trip in November. I don't know how I am going to pull it off with the school work. I want to be able to pick them up from school on Friday and head straight to the airport. So when they go to school that morning, they will have NO idea what is going on.

I am doing the same thing for my DD for xmas!I am in the same rut about school work!I think I have decided to not tell the school ahead of time and just makeup the work when we return!I am not sure how to spring the surprise either especially since my DH doesnt know either(He doesnt go to disney ever!)Obviously at some point I will tell him ahead of time and he will be in on the surprise too!I thought about saying we were going to the airport to pick someone up but she would see the luggage!Disney makes my life sooo much better!LOL!

 

[Cherinva]

However you decide to surprise them....Have a Wonderful time. Please let us know how it all turns out.....


I leave in 45 days...can't wait.

 

[AlbertZeroK]

Having a teen age daughter, I'm wondering if you can get his girls in on it, I bet they would LOVE that. Play the trick on your DB and DSIL!

I know your little nieces would love that!

This seems worth of an iPhone 4 commercial. You know, call them on their iPhone, then wait till they realize you are in the lobby of their hotel...

 

[pklein09]

subscribing....just want to see how everything goes....have a MAGICAL trip!!!