Suggestions for a great surprise?

[revdon64]

I'm taking DS7 for a DCL and WDW trip over his 8th birthday next January. We're cruising on the Dream Fri-Mon and then doing WDW from Mon - Sat or Sun. His actual birthday is Thursday. He knows about the trip and right now thinks that it will just be him and I. DW got the idea this week to bring DS5, DD11, and DD31 down to Florida on Wednesday or Thursday to Surprise him for his birthday. She wants to keep it a surprise even to the other kids at least until they're in the airport. So I'm asking the board for some suggestions about how to pull off a great surprise for the birthday boy. DW wanted to try to get connecting rooms, knock on the door, and have him open it. I think that'd be fun, but I'm also thinking that there are probably better and more fun ways to pull off that big a surprise. Any suggestions?

 

[disnut8]

Connecting rooms are not guaranteed so I wouldn't plan on that. What we did to surprise my in-laws with my father and stepmother being there at the same time was to suggest going to the Boardwalk (where we were staying) porch to meet up for the day. My dad and stepmother were there early enough and would meet us. As it turned out, my mother-in-law was in the lobby because it was a bit for her to wait so she wanted to walk around and my dad was walking through the lobby to get to the porch and tapped her on the shoulder and said "don't I know you?" My father-in-law said it was one of the best moments he had ever seen.

So, I would plan on a spot to "meet" away from the room and maybe for a "meal" or something like that.

 

[jaycns]

I have done scavenger hunts throughout the resort for my kids...it's been a lot of fun and we once had our other family members join us at the end of a scavenger hunt and that was great fun. To put mine together, I just asked on the resort threads of the resorts I was staying at (the Poly and the BW) and DISers stepped up with awesome info to help me put together really fun scavenger hunts. My kids were 9 and 10 when I did it.

 

[Maineiak]

Custom cakes are fun too. Did one for the wife last Spring.

 

[DisneyWishes14]

Are you planning a special meal or event to celebrate his birthday? Maybe book a character meal and have them meet you there. Perhaps they could check in first (they would need to tell the host you are trying to pull off a surprise) and then walk in right after they are seated? Or maybe make a reservation to bowl at Splitsville? Or "run into them" at mini-golf?