ME question re: surprise for BF

[NormanMaine]

I planned a combo birthday trip (moi) and college graduation trip (the BF) for later this month. Now, as a surprise present for his graduation, I upgraded us from Pop Century to PO-FQ.

I've been keeping this secret for-EVER! And was wondering if I'll be able to keep it even as we board for ME. Is it my understanding that with the mailed vouchers, you can bypass Check-In? Sounds a bit wonky, but i've been known to misread the Dis from time to time. I guess I could make him wait and I could check in for us? Probably also not an option.

I never told him about the magical express luggage benefit (his first time using it), we're bringing small rolling luggage anyway. I just wanted to ensure the secret.

Any help would be greatly appreciated! And hey, if the cat's out of the bag by that point, there's no helping it.

 

[Jestocost]

It's possible, but you'll have to be careful at a few points and there may be no way to do it. We actually were able to keep our kids from knowing we were going to the GF vs. WL until we had to get off of the bus at the GF, but we had the advantage of the two resorts sharing a DME bus. There's no guarantee, of course, but in my experience POP and POFQ typically aren't on the same route.

Here are the points where the secret could be given away:

1. You may not have to go to the counter to check in, but you will have to show your docs to a CM at the entrance to the check-in line. Lately, they just wave you through to the bus queues BUT the CM will read the docs and could name the resort out loud as they do that.
   
2. At the entrance to the bus queues, a CM will scan your DME vouchers, confirm your destination and direct you to the correct queue.
   
3. There will be a list of resorts on a sign at the entrance to the queue. POP likely will NOT be listed on the queue that you are directed to enter.
   
4. A CM at the point you are waiting in the queue to be sent to a bus could ask for your resort.
   
5. The bus driver generally asks which resort you are heading to as you present your voucher at the bus and they will ask what resort you are going to when they store your bags under the bus.

 

[NormanMaine]

Thank you so very much for your detailed response! I'll know what to expect when we get there.

Cheers.

 

[Haley]

If you really want to keep it a total surprise- I would hire a towncar service (usually about $100 round trip) - you could tell them in advance it's a surprise and not to mention the hotel.

Or you could just not say anything when you are waiting for the ME bus and let him slowly figure it out on his own- that's probably what I would do

 

[Traveliz]

Unless Port Orleans and Pop Century are the same queue you will be in a line that will have a sign that clearly says Port Orleans. They also typically confirm your hotel as you are getting on the bus and the bus driver usually lists off the hotels he is going to to make sure everyone is on the right bus.

Liz

 

[ancestry]

We were just there a couple of weeks ago and they announce the hotel all along the DME process: The lady that first looked at our DME coupons said it, the man who dropped the rope and directed us to the bus asked, the bus driver announced it when he scanned the DME tickets, the driver asked again when he stored the luggage under the bus. Basically they want to make sure they have the right people getting on the right bus. I think it would be nearly impossible to keep it a secret through this step.

Also the yellow luggage tags that you have to put on your luggage so your luggage gets deliver to the correct resort have the name of the resort on them so he is going to see it when you apply the luggage tags and check your luggage.

 

[kristinlynn]

If you really want to keep it a total surprise- I would hire a towncar service (usually about $100 round trip) - you could tell them in advance it's a surprise and not to mention the hotel.

You could also just do a towncar one way and take DME home if you want to save a few $$$.