Trying to surprise my parents with my sister and her husband finally being able to come back into the country for the first time in two years due to covid. What resources are available for a surprise arrival at the parks around Christmas time?”

Hi Hayleigh,

Thank you for stopping by planDisney with a great question!

Well this is going to be a happy surprise! My first thought would be to contact a Dream Maker with Disney Floral & Gifts. We ordered balloons twice for our girls and they were adorable. With this kind of surprise, photos are a must-do. Consider Capture Your Moment - A Disney Parks Photo Experience. If you have Memory Maker, your photos will link to your Memory Maker.

So, start thinking about where you want to have the actual surprise, in the resort hotel or in a park. If you arrange the Capture Your Moment experience in Magic Kingdom, you could have your sister and her husband appear there. I would have matching shirts for everyone so that your sister and your husband wear theirs and you all have on yours when you arrive. If they are staying at the same resort hotel, you could hand deliver their shirts to their room when they arrive. 

If you want a more budget-friendly option, you could just make good use of a PhotoPass photographer in one of the parks. Pick a time to meet, have your sister and her husband be in the line for the photographer when you arrive and then you all could walk in and join them in line. They turn around and "surprise!" This strategy would require some focused communication efforts since other people could jump in that PhotoPass line, so your sister and you would need to time it accordingly.

Another option would be to have them meet you for a meal. Pick a favorite restaurant and make advanced dining reservations. Alert the Cast Members. You can also make a note on your dining reservation to let them know you are celebrating. So, you all could arrive at the restaurant and your sister and her husband could magically appear. And then, you can catch up on life while dining. A few of our favorite restaurants for celebrations are Be Our Guest Restaurant, Cinderella's Royal Table, and California Grill. 

My family loves visiting during The Holidays at Walt Disney World Resort. This is always a busy time of year, so book your vacation package and make sure you have Disney Park Pass system reservations. Remember to stop by Disney Springs. We adore the festive spirit here and you could visit the Disney PhotoPass® Studio to take some fun family photos.

Hayleigh keep planning! This is so exciting. I am sending a little extra pixie dust trusting that your surprise will be magical. And remember to have someone in your family video the surprise!

Magic and memories,
Donyell