Hi Gary, welcome to planDisney!
The phrasing of your question about planning for a special moment during your Walt Disney World Resort vacation brings a dozen Disney song lyrics to mind. You are literally going the distance like Hercules and, like Moana, there's no telling how far you'll go to pull off this core memory in the making. Consider me your magical accomplice, and let's get this surprise party started!
Multiple Disney PhotoPass photographers can consistently be found on Main Street, U.S.A., and around the area in front of Cinderella Castle (known as the Hub). They can easily be spotted thanks to their lime green shirts. While their presence can be guaranteed, there's no guarantee whether or not they'll be able to capture your special moment when it happens due to the likelihood that they will be taking pictures of other Guests who have been waiting patiently in line. You should leave nothing to chance, Gary, so I have two suggestions for you:
1. Approach a Disney PhotoPass photographer and act as if you are having a normal picture taken in front of Cinderella Castle. Have a bag or something you can leave next to the photographer and, while you are putting the bag down, discretely mention something to the photographer about the surprise that's about to take place.
My husband and I did just this for a pregnancy reveal with our extended family over ten years ago. We discreetly asked the photographer to count to three loudly so we could announce our pregnancy and she nailed her important task. The resultant images are proudly displayed around our house and capture a mix of excitement and disbelief. I get goosebumps just thinking about this incredible memory.
2. Schedule a
Capture Your Moment: Magic Kingdom Park - Main Street, U.S.A. & Cinderella Castle up to 60 days in advance. This means you'll have a Disney PhotoPass photographer all to yourself for 20 minutes; the trick will be getting them in the right spot at exactly the right time. The Capture Your Moment website includes a number to call, 0800 028 0778 (UK), to give details about special occasions and I think your moment more than qualifies. Read on in case an extra layer of secrecy is required.
Check-in for a Capture Your Moment: Magic Kingdom Park session takes place immediately to the right as you enter Town Square Theater. I suggest you send anyone not in on the surprise to shop around the
Emporium while you "use the restroom" <<wink wink>>. Sneak into Town Square Theater (there is a restroom in the lobby of Tony's Town Square Restaurant, which helps your cover story) and check in for your photography session. Explain the surprise element of your plan and give the Cast Member all of the details needed to make your dream a reality.
News that I was invited to become a planDisney panelist came in the form of a surprise ambush soon after exiting Country Bear Jamboree. Talk about a core memory! The adrenaline was pumping and I was so glad there was a photographer/videographer on hand to capture the magical moment that changed my life.
If you can dream it, you can do it, Gary. Be sure you have Memory Maker, which includes unlimited downloads of all of your Disney PhotoPass media. Memory Maker is included in Magic Tickets purchased through the Walt Disney Travel Company.
I'm so excited for you, Gary! Here's my
direct link for Special Moment Planning Phase 2, if needed.
Choose magic,
Jennifer