Congratulations, Christine!
That is such exciting news, and I bet you can't wait to be walking down Main Street with your little Mouseketeer. Truly, some of the most magical memories I have are when my kids were too small to remember, but their eyes said it all when they saw Mickey for the first time. Sleeping Beauty Castle makes for a great spot for a gender reveal, because just like Aurora's dress - will it be pink or blue?!
Let's see how we can make your moment extra special. I love the idea of the Mickey balloons! Mickey balloons typically aren't for sale along Main Street until the afternoons, so if you're a bit flexible in your timing, you could wait to do your reveal until later in the day. Alternatively, you could purchase them the day before, either in the parks or in
Downtown Disney. Balloon Cast Members will sometimes be out by the Lego Store near the Disneyland Hotel in the afternoons, and the helium will likely keep them afloat for at least a day or two. Another idea I've seen, if the timing for the balloons doesn't work for you, is to purchase classic Mickey ears embroidered with "Baby Boy" or "Baby Girl". These are available at
The Mad Hatter just to the right on Main Street as you pass under the Disneyland Railroad. What I love about this idea is that it is a keepsake you can keep forever and gift to your little one!
While there are currently no private photo shoot offerings,
Disney PhotoPass photographers are sprinkled throughout the resort to capture the moment and take professional pictures for Guests. These photographers are stationed at the most iconic and scenic spots, and you will not have a hard time finding the one located at the castle. You can even scout their locations ahead of time in the
Disneyland app by tapping the pindrop icon along the bottom navigation bar to pull up the park map. Along the top, scroll until you see PhotoPass, and the map will reveal all of their locations for the day! I recommend letting the photographer in on the gender reveal; you never know what pixie dust they may have up their sleeve, and you may end up with some memorable Magic Shots!
At this time, the only way to secure a private character meet and greet would likely be through an event organized by
Disney Fairytale Weddings. That's not to say, though, that you can't have a special moment with your favorite character. PhotoPass photographers are stationed at character meet-and-greets to capture these moments as well. You can find character locations in the app by heading to the pindrop icon and scrolling to the Mickey icon for "Characters".
Christine, I hope this information helped plan a special moment for your family! I know it was not exactly your original vision, but I think you are going to have a magical experience. I highly recommend picking up a complimentary "I'm Celebrating" button, which you can find at most merchandise locations or City Hall on your way into the park. You will be showered with well wishes for your baby boy or girl, which will make the day feel extra special.
If you have any more questions or want some additional ideas on how to make your gender reveal magical, we are always here for you at
planDisney.
Magic awaits!
Tara