Hiya Nicole,
Welcome to planDisney! Wow, you have so many things to celebrate in April.
Walt Disney World's 50th Anniversary Celebration, your brother's college graduation, and your parents' 25th anniversary! It is truly going to be a magical vacation for you. It is so sweet that you want to surprise your parents with a photoshoot. Every year I try to surprise my parents with something fun for either their birthdays (they have the same one or their anniversary); planning surprises takes a special kind of planning, that's for sure.
The Capture Your Moment photoshoot at Magic Kingdom is definitely a great way to commemorate your celebration. This 20-minute session lets you mark the 25 years with photos in front of the iconic Cinderella's Castle. They say that the perfect gift to celebrate a 25th anniversary is silver, and the EARidescence of Cinderella's Castle is pretty perfect for that. I'm sorry that you are currently unable to find a reservation for Capture Your Moment at Magic Kingdom. It is one of the most popular Capture Your Moment options, so spaces fill up fast. But, don't worry, you might still be able to book it. I have personal experience with this. I was trying to book Capture Your Moment at Magic Kingdom for my upcoming trip and was struggling. I checked back every day. I happened to be on the
Enchanting Extras page last night, and guess what popped up?! A reservation! Once you get closer to your arrival date (for reference, I was under five days until my trip when the spot became available), there is a chance that a reservation will become available. As other Guests change their plans, they tend to cancel their existing reservations to avoid no-shows and late cancellation fees. Sometimes all it takes is a little sprinkle of some pixie dust.
If you still are unable to secure a reservation, have you considered a
Magic Kingdom 50th Fireworks Dessert Party or
Ferrytale Fireworks: A Sparkling Dessert Cruise? I love commemorating my anniversaries with Walt Disney World nighttime spectaculars, so this may be a unique way to surprise your parents with a special romantic view of Disney's Enchantment. You could join them and celebrate your brother as well or send them on their merry way alone. However, if you really want them to have a photo, there are always Disney PhotoPass Photographers near Cinderella's Castle all day. Just maneuver your parents over to the castle and discreetly tell the photographer nearby that you are celebrating their 25th anniversary. While your parents are marveling at the castle's beauty, you will have secretly set up a little mini photoshoot for them. The Disney PhotoPass Photographers are fantastic, and I know they will get you a photo that your parents will cherish for a lifetime.
Don't forget to stop by Guest Relations when you arrive (or while your parents are on an attraction) to pick up a Celebration Button for your parents. You can surprise them with the button that they can take home as a souvenir, and it also allows Cast Members to recognize they are celebrating a special moment and join in on the celebration.
I feel so privileged to be a part of your planning journey! I hope this was helpful, Nicole and that you can plan the most magical surprise. If there is anything else I can help you prepare for the trip, please reach out to
me.
Happy Planning,
Ashley F.