Considering the abundance of celebration buttons at Walt Disney World on any given day, it’s no surprise that The Most Magical Place on Earth is a favorite pick for celebrating birthdays. We’ve talked before on Theme Park Tourist about how to score sweet freebies on your birthday as well as celebrating coming of age milestones at Walt Disney World.
But you, intrepid reader, aren’t just looking for any standard Disney birthday. If you want to take the magic to the next level for your loved one’s special day, it might just be time you plan the ultimate Disney quest…
An epic Walt Disney World birthday surprise trip.
It’s a gift your special someone will never forget. Want to know how to pull it off? First, you’ll need to make some important preparations…
1. Stealth planning your trip
Image: Disney
Whether you are planning a surprise trip for your child or an adult loved one, the most difficult part of the job is making your plans without spoiling the secret. Walt Disney World vacations take months to plan, and it can seem a daunting task to put one together without the whole house knowing.
You will need a sound battle plan and to keep the circle of trust as small as possible. Obviously, any adult family participating in the trip will need to know what’s going on, but be wary of letting siblings and others with a less-than-stellar track record for secrets in on the game too early. Also, be careful who you send to pick up the mail in the weeks leading up to the trip. MagicBands and other Disney pre-trip mailings might give you away.
Your first hurdle is picking your dates. With an adult, you might be able to convince them you are headed somewhere besides Orlando. We actually pulled this particular trick off on my husband who thought we were going to visit my mother (which was partially true). This will ensure they take the necessary days off work and know how many days to pack for. If you have the resources, you could even plan a stop in the fake destination then surprise them by continuing to Walt Disney World.
With kids, you have two options. The first is similar to the trick already mentioned: they know you are going on a trip (which will help with packing), but when you get to the airport—SURPRISE! Headed to Disney World instead of Aunt Schnelda’s! This works well if you are taking the kids during summertime or while they are off school for a holiday. The trade-off, however, is that these times frequently mean heavier crowds at the parks.
This could prove extra-entertaining if you child is so glued to their smartphone that they don’t realize you’re heading to Orlando until you arrive…
Image: Intel Free Press, Flickr (license)
This could prove extra-entertaining if you child is so glued to their smartphone that they don’t realize you’re heading to Orlando until you arrive…
If it is possible to take your child out of school (some schools give some leniency for situations like this if the students has good attendance and can make up homework), you can execute a particularly awesome trick that my parents pulled on me when I was around ten years old. Basically, talk to your student’s teachers ahead of time to let them in on the scheme so they know your child will be missing school but also not to mention it. Secretly pack a suitcase for your child before your departure day arrives.
The day of the surprise trip, start the day like any other. Leave your child bored and convinced that they are heading to school… then see how long it takes for them to realize something is up. For me, I didn’t realize what my parents were up to until we arrived at the airport. They wished me a huge happy birthday and sprang the surprise that we were headed to Disneyland.
Oh, and taking the kids out of school means you can plan your trip during the off-season, which means shorter lines, better prices, and more birthday fun. It isn’t possible for every family, but if you can manage, go for it!
2. Plan a few surprises
Image: Disney
Planning doesn’t end with just picking a date. If you’re going to plan a surprise trip to Walt Disney World, take some opportunities to make it extra magical.
If you are staying at a Walt Disney World resort (a good idea for keeping things epic), Disney Floral and Gifts can actually prepare your room with a wide variety of gifts and surprises for your birthday guest. These can range from a simple balloon or customized vase of flowers to a full Disney-magic transformation of your room. For both kids and adults, they have some seriously cool packages that will be waiting when you walk through the door. It’s like bringing the parks right into your room for your beloved pirate, princess, or Jedi.
It is also easy to order a birthday cake to be delivered during any table service meal you’ve reserved during your stay. You can also pick one up from Amorette’s Patisserie in Disney Springs. My parents did this at Crystal Palace when I was a kid, and I will never forget how cool it was. I returned the favor to my mother by giving her a celebratory cake at Biergarten when we visited many years later. Everything is better with cake.
Image: Jett Farrell-Vega (@mykingdomforamouse Instagram)
On a budget? With a little planning and ingenuity, you can set up your own in room celebration. Take a look at some ideas at Disney Floral and Gifts, then purchase those items ahead of time and keep them in a separate bag. When you arrive, come up with a good excuse to break away from the group before everyone heads to the room (maybe a dining or Fastpass+ reservation for the rest of the family). Quickly set up your own birthday extravaganza to be enjoyed when the rest of the family arrives. You can also utilize local retailers and florists in the Orlando area that may prove much less expensive than Disney.
Oh, and don’t forget to book dining reservations and Fastpass+ as early as possible, especially if the birthday king or queen has a favorite restaurant or attraction!
3. For kids, make a magic backpack
Image: David Goehring, Flickr (license)
We’ve talked about the “Magic Backpack” hack before on Theme Park Tourist. Generally, it’s a very helpful tool to encourage good behavior and keep anxious kids settled during a Walt Disney World trip, but if you are taking a little one on a birthday surprise trip, it’s a wonderful way to kick off the magic once the surprise is revealed.
The trick works like this. First, get yourself a backpack that your child will be able to use, preferably with a cool Disney-related theme. Before your trip, put together a kids’ survival kit for the vacation. This could include activities and snacks to enjoy on the plane, an autograph book and pen, a water bottle or sipping cup, a kid’s guidebook, and other various Disney swag. Keep these items hidden.
Image: Disney
When you spring the birthday surprise, give your child the backpack and something to enjoy at the airport. From that point forward, let them know that for every hour they behave during the flight, they will get something else from the backpack—but they can’t see what those things are until they are revealed. It gives them something to anticipate and establishing a sense of routine that can comfort squirrelly kids. Feel free to make them wait a little longer if they don’t behave, always with the hope that good behavior will lead to positive reward.
When you arrive at your resort, they can get something else from the kit like a pin trading kit. Adjust the intervals according to your preference and how many items you have, but the idea is that every day, they have a new reward to look forward to. This is a fantastic way to deliver birthday gifts throughout the trip. You can also save a huge amount of money by getting most of these things online ahead of time, then saving for one or two souvenir gifts in the parks. By the end of the trip, they’ll have a full Disney fun kit!
4. Springing the surprise
Image: Disney
The closer you get to your trip, the harder it may become to keep the secret. Plan for this ahead of time. Maybe have some outings and projects during the week to keep everyone busy in the days leading up. If for some reason your cover gets blown, don’t panic! A surprise is still a surprise, so be ready to play things by ear if that happens. You’ll have already done your preparation, so you’ll have plenty of other goodies ready for when you all arrive in Orlando that they won’t be expecting.
How you spring the surprise is up to you. Maybe you’re the type to wake your loved one up with confetti and banners and dubstep, or maybe you’re a master of stealth who will leave them convinced they’re in for a boring day shopping for office supplies before they realize you’ve brilliantly trolled them. If you’re going to spring the surprise at the airport, a convenient tarp in the back of the car can hide any suitcases. You can also bring a family friend in on the scheme and pretend you are taking that person to the airport. When you arrive, BAM! HAPPY BIRTHDAY!
6. Have a great trip!
Image: Disney
Speaking for myself, the two birthday surprise trips I participated in were experiences I will never forget. My experience as a child inspired me as an adult to give the same gift to my husband, and he never saw it coming. We had an absolute blast and made memories for a lifetime.
For your own surprise trip, take advantage of every opportunity to embrace Disney magic. Get your birthday-beloved a celebration button and make sure they wear it proudly. Be super friendly and engaging with cast members, and you never know what the results might be. I’ve seen janitors break out into operatic birthday choruses, characters treat little princesses like characters they’re dressed as, and I’ve definitely enjoyed my share of free birthday desserts. Time and time again, our readers tell amazing stories of the unexpected ways Disney helped make birthdays shine for their loved ones. Be ready to capture these magical moments!
Have you ever experienced a Disney birthday surprise?
