I need help pulling off a surpise!

[aleshac]

My in-laws are surprising my husband and two kids by joining us at disneyworld! I need some ideas how to pull off the surprise and make t magical! They are flying on different flights and are getting there after we arrive so we will be in Magic Kingdom when they get there!! What would be a good way to surprise my family??

 

[Bluegrrl]

Make a reservation for the entire party at a nice family sit down place for breakfast or dinner or whatever. (Like Whispering Canyons maybe? Or even Crystal Palace or whatever your taste is). Then during the meal, the server can bring them over and SURPRISE, Gran and Gramps have somehow joined you for a meal!

Likewise, they can all of a sudden meet you at a favorite ride, or show up at the door of your hotel as "housekeeping", or meet you SURPRISE at the monorail or bus.

You can plus it with having them bring favorite treats, balloons (don't release balloons, it's illegal to do that in FL), pins, all sorts of things.

I always think of those sorts of surprises as the best. Like the Folgers coffee commercials where the kid shows up from college as a surprise and the mom gets all weepy. That's just awesome.

 

[aleshac]

Thank you!!! I am so excited for the surprise, just couldn't think of any good ideas!

 

[KimBean]

Good ideas you got already... I'm thinking...

I love surprises! 22 days until we leave and 20 days until I let my girls know. So excited!

 

[pampam]

let us know how it works out.

 

[Orph]

You can ask your in-laws to show up in the park before you arrive.

Ask them to wait right in the center garden or something.

 

[ArwenMarie]

Aw, that's so cute.

Have fun with your surprise!

 

[courtneyloper]

I think the dinner sounds great, but reservations are hard to come by. Even if they can't be there before you all are it would be great to have them wait in a special place and you and your family just "happen" upon them.

 

[KimBean]

I have an idea but only works if your kids are old enough. What are your kids ages? Approximate is fine, not trying to pry.

 

[SunshineTK]

A few years ago, my brother-in-law walked up to my kids while we were waiting for a parade on Main Street. They couldn't believe their eyes! He lives on another coast.

 

[BigHawk]

Just an idea, but work it out so you are waiting for the WDW Railroad and when the train pulls up the in-laws are already on the train as it pulls in the station. That would be a good "chance meeting". With multiple stations it would be possible. Would just require some communication and your ability to get your family to agree to ride the train when you want them to.

 

[aleshac]

My kids are ages 7 and 3!

 

[aleshac]

My issue is my hubby is a Disney super planner and sticks to his plan and we all follow along.. So I have to work that into the plan somehow!

 

[aleshac]

Thanks for all the ideas so far!

 

[KimBean]

Ok. So I'll tell you my idea but not might work out so well. Probably one child reads and the other one not?? I'm in the same dilemma myself. I made a video for our reveal. I put words on the screen that I thought we could all read aloud to the 6 year old (she is starting to read but basic, she actually doesn't turn 6 for another 2 weeks but she has been 6 on MDE since March, LOL!!!) But, my DH hated the idea that the reveal would happen seconds earlier for the 14 yo. He wants them to "get it" at the same time. So, we had his brother record Mickey telling them. He does a really good mickey voice. Anyhoo... The video is fun. It starts out like it is an anniversary video pics of us all lovey dovey and then acts like it is messing up and Mickey takes over!! 19 more days...

So, my idea was to print out FP tickets (old legacy style looking.) Just have to create your own but put a picture of your in laws on them and put the words that would match a "Meet & Greet" with grandparents.

Have grandparents already in park somewhere specific (close to entrance.) Right after you pass turnstiles, you guys stop and hand your kids the FP's. And say something like, Ok, we've really got to hurry if we are going to make this M&G. It is a very special one and was really hard to get FP's for. Hand them the tickets, they see pics of grandparents.... Run to grandparents... Okay, so I'm seeing children running to open arms and hugs and tears, but maybe that is just me. But, they are probably a tad young for that. Maybe someone else can use it!

 

[Heckah]

Honestly. I don't think you need to plan anything. Just keep in text communication with the in laws and do it on the fly depending on where you are in the park when they arrive.

Just them randomly showing up at the park will be a huge surprise. Though, staging them at the front of the castle with a map in front of their faces, while you force a reason to be in that area and they ask your family for directions while slowly pulling the map down to reveal their true identities would be pretty cool....

 

[aleshac]

That is actually a great idea!!! my kids love their grandparents so I think they will be so excited to see them at Disney!! Thank you so much!

 

[disnut8]

My issue is my hubby is a Disney super planner and sticks to his plan and we all follow along.. So I have to work that into the plan somehow!

And your husband doesn't know either?

I did this with my dad and stepmother and my in-laws. My dad and stepmother drove from the Florida Keys just for a night to see my in-laws. Yes, both sides got along extremely well and my husband and I felt like outsiders! I made up an excuse that I had to check out something (we were staying at the Boardwalk) so I asked the in-laws to go and sit outside while I did that. My dad and stepmother then just walked up and said "don't we know you from somewhere?"

You could do that in a park - have the in-laws call you when you are there and tell your husband that you have to check on something but it will just take a minute. Or, you could say something like, "that's strange, Disney is calling me about a problem and we have to go to Guest Relations".

Since your husband is the planner, it will require your own planning but the results will be worth it.

 

[vetrik]

We just did that a couple weeks ago. We arrived on Saturday, and my in-laws flew in and surprised DD in Magic Kingdom on Sunday. We actually didn't have a specific plan, we just kept in touch by texts as they traveled.

It ended up we were watching the castle show when they arrived, so DD's attention was directed forward. They walked up right behind us and waited for DD to notice them. She glanced behind at one point and did the biggest double take when she realized her grandparents were there. It was awesome!

 

[aleshac]

My husband doesn't know!! The only reason I know is because they needed my help to plan the trip and needed to know our plans to coordinate!