POFQ fans - planning complete surprise trip; need help!

[SolitaryPhoenix]

So, my mom and DD have birthdays within days of each other in September, Mom's is the 18th, Jasmine's is the 14th. We've gone to Disney multiple times for their birthdays, but this year I'm going to attempt to fake them out, and plan a complete surprise for them, keep the details a surprise as long as possible.

I'm trying to mix it up, and do things we haven't before. I've decided on POFQ, a long weekend from Friday, 9/13 thru Mondays, 9/16 - we've never stayed at FQ before. I was going to do a CRT breakfast (attempt it, anyway!), but decided it would make more sense to do a breakfast at Kona, which sounds fabulous! I also want to do the Dessert Party for Wishes one night. I'm thinking about doing a boat rental at FQ and mini golf, which we also haven't done before.

My plans are coming along, but one thing I'm trying to work out is room decorating. I checked out Disney Floral & Gifts, but they're so expensive, and I don't understand any business nowadays that isn't able to do much of their work online - I wrote to them and got a message saying not to write, but to call (I paraphrase, but that's the upshot!). I was thinking I could do something pretty nice and more personalized for them myself, less expensive, but way more mileage for my dollar! We live in Lakeland, FL, which is about 40 minutes away from WDW, and my daughter and nephew will be in school on Friday, so we wouldn't be checking in until late afternoon. I would be taking the day off, but I was thinking of telling them I was going to work a partial day, but instead go to the hotel, check-in, then go to the room and decorate, then go home, pick up everyone, and come back for a nice little surprised. I'm trying to work out what to do when we come back - we usually all go to the desk to check-in. I was thinking of including my nephew/15 in the planning, have him do something with mom and DD when we get there, and I can go and pretend to check-in then....? Those who have been to FQ, is there anything right around check-in that I can send the 3 of them to that will keep them occupied for a bit?

And anyone with any good surprise ideas, please feel free to post them!

 

[outahere]

Not sure about what is around the POFQ check in area, but I do see one possible snag in the plan..... you may not be able to check in early, if your room is not ready. Might want to come up with a plan B. I'd help, but I'm terrible at surprises.

 

[SolitaryPhoenix]

Not sure about what is around the POFQ check in area, but I do see one possible snag in the plan..... you may not be able to check in early, if your room is not ready. Might want to come up with a plan B. I'd help, but I'm terrible at surprises.

Yeah, I'd thought of that too; I figure I could probably get away with waiting till about noon, then I'd have to go back home to pick everyone up, admit defeat. Oooorrrr... hmmmm....

Plan B (if Plan A crashes and burns, and I have to go home without getting into the room): My mom will be using a scooter. I could probably get away with having them all go get that for her, while I "check in", but I would basically disappear to the room; might be able to get away with 15 minutes or so to put flowers, packages and such in, maybe throw a few pretty things up around the room. If I stuck to mostly balloons and one or two banners, I could probably get away with it. Then call from the room, tell them which room it is, have them come up, and be in the room when they get there. Hopefully the surprise would wipe out the irritation of me leaving them all running around directionless for a bit!

Thoughts?