Oh, Jolyne, I absolutely love this question. This is the best kind of surprise, and I wish I could be there to see the joy in everyone’s faces!
As long as the number of people you are adding to your vacation package or room-only reservation does not go over the maximum capacity of the room, you are typically able to add more Guests. However, there is currently no way to do it secretly. But before we get to some creative ways to keep things a surprise, let’s address the second part of your question. There is typically a fee to add more Guests to your room, and since prices are subject to change, the best way to see the cost differential is through your My Disney Experience account. Simply select “
My Plans and Tickets” from the My Disney Experience dropdown menu, find your reservation details, select “Change Reservation,” click “Change” next to “Travel Party,” and follow the prompts. While you don’t have to complete this transaction if you are not ready, this process should allow you to see how much it would cost to add your Guest. Of course, you can always
reach out to a friendly Cast Member at the resort should you run into any issues.
Now, let’s get into some ways you could still surprise your group with this delightful addition. For one, if their budget allows, they could stay in a different hotel room, and as long as their plans aren’t viewable in the
My Family & Friends list (managed by clicking the "Settings" button next to their name), it has a better chance of being a secret. From there, you can get really creative. They could be waiting with a Disney souvenir to welcome you in the lobby. They could “accidentally” bump into you at some point on your first day. They could simply knock on the door of your hotel room with a smile and an Olaf-level warm hug. The world is your oyster, as I’m sure Ariel would say!
If your family members don’t check all the plans, the surprise will likely remain intact. My husband can see all our plans, but rarely looks. I always tease him that he's a "Passenger Princess" because, as long as he’s fed and hydrated, he happily goes with the flow. You can often hear him asking, "What's the plan for today?" Mind you, I've typically told him
at least three times.
Of course, if none of those options work, and they would quickly find out the surprise, you can surprise them
before you even add your additional family member to the reservation. You could get matching shirts, and when they open them up, there’ll be an extra one. When they ask who it’s for, you can surprise them. You can really do this with any piece of merchandise. If possible, it’s even better if the person is there when you give it. And sometimes, sending a postcard in the mail announcing they’re coming does the trick.
Or, and this may be the teacher in me, how about they send some clues in the mail leading up to the time before you add them to your reservation? It could be a fun game of “someone is coming with us, but who could it be?” Maybe it’s a letter from their favorite character. A small piece of Disney merchandise from their favorite movie. Really, the possibilities are endless, and the excitement will grow with each piece of mail.
Jolyne, good luck keeping it under wraps until the big reveal, and if you have any other questions,
I’m here for you!
Wishing you a truly magical surprise,
Matt