Planning a surprise meeting :)

[Jays2013]

We're going to be staying at Royal Pacific four nights in April. It's our boys' first time visiting US and IOA. They are very excited.

My younger brother, their much-loved uncle, realized that he will be traveling to a different part of Florida for a friend's bachelor party the same week we will be in Orlando. So he's coming a few nights early and booked a hotel near Universal! He wants to surprise the boys in the park that day and spend the day with us. They will not be expecting this at all: We see him at most a handful of times a year and those visits are much anticipated.

Any thoughts on setting up a fun surprise at IOA? (I think we're just going to stick there this day; we have park-to-park tickets, but he'll probably just get a single one.) I'd like do more than just "Hey, look, it's Uncle Scott!"

 

[squirrel]

Is there a ride that seats 5? If there is maybe you could tell him ahead what you are wearing and then he could arrive earlier. Not sure if the TM would be into helping out but maybe he could wait ahead and then just as you are getting on the ride he could be there. The kids would have to wait for hugs after the ride, so maybe this isn't a good plan.

 

[keishashadow]

Book a breakfast (Islands or perhaps character one at LaBamba) and have uncle waiting at the table?

 

[Jays2013]

I love these ideas, but older DS can't do many rides (special needs), so I'm not sure what would work for that. And we have club-level rooms, so we plan to just breakfast there. (And Brother is NOT a morning person. )

Hmm ...

The last time I was at the Universal parks, it was 2003, so I'm having a hard time visualizing the best way to spring this!

 

[Lynne G]

Why not meet him for lunch or dinner in one of the parks, and order dessert. Meet at the ice cream store in Diagon Alley, and have him waiting near by.

That is so cool of your brother.

 

[nkereina]

What a fun surprise! Are the kids into any characters? You and your brother could check the character meet schedule in advance, and he could arrive a few minutes before you. I bet if he explained to the character and handler the surprise you wanted to pull off, they would help him out. The kids could think they are going to meet Spiderman and when they show up, Spiderman is hanging with their Uncle!

P.S. Buffalonian, I presume? I'm in Niagara Falls Go Sabres!

 

[dixonsontour]

What about something at the meet a raptor encounterat I of Adventure? You go up as a family group. Maybe if the cm are in on it he could join your group from the other side or something. The kids would be so focused on the dinosaur they would be very suprised

 

[macraven]

have your brother go to guest services when he enters the park and request buttons for the kids.
he can explain he is surprising the nephew/niece and thought a button would be a great treat for them.

when they do see him, he can put the universal celebrating buttons on their tops.
the kids will remember that moment when they look at their buttons days after.

 

[Jays2013]

I love these! I will talk to him and see what he thinks too. Older DS in particular adores Spider-man; I'd almost be concerned he'd ignore his uncle.

This is going to be fun.

nkereina, I'm in the Ken-Ton area! I actually worked for the NF paper for years, but they closed my site last year. Small world.

 

[JustCallMeMommy]

How about taking a picture at the entrance when you arrive? There are team members stationed there with their photo service, but you can get the team member to take one with your camera/phone. Your brother could sneak in behind you - when you get the camera back, show the boys the camera with your brother photo bombing you.

Or, he could just start walking with you without saying anything until the boys notice. That would crack me up!

Or, he could slip in in front of or behind you at the boat dock at RP...or when the boat arrives in CityWalk.

 

[anierodzik]

Contact guest services before you go- they may be able to help you arrange something.

 

[Jays2013]

How about taking a picture at the entrance when you arrive? There are team members stationed there with their photo service, but you can get the team member to take one with your camera/phone. Your brother could sneak in behind you - when you get the camera back, show the boys the camera with your brother photo bombing you.

Or, he could just start walking with you without saying anything until the boys notice. That would crack me up!

That would crack me up too!

I actually purchased the photo package (PhotoConnect? I keep wanting to call it Photopass. ). I wonder if I could set it up with the photographer in on the joke ... ask him or her ahead of time to set up the shot and wait until Brother walks up behind us and says something to the boys. Getting the expressions would be awesome.

That one, I could probably set up right there. If we were to plan something else, when would you folks recommend contacting guest services? Before or after we arrive?