by Mommy Frog on June 26, 2023 110 Orlando
There's no place more magical to celebrate another year than Walt Disney World, especially for the little tadpoles. It's certainly not something we can afford or arrange every year, but we've celebrated at least one birthday each for Lily and Tad at Disney World, and it's been a major hit.
A birthday bash at the Most Magical Place on Earth can make things extra special, and Disney has lots of additional pixie dust available for parents and friends to consider. If you're planning a Disney World vacation around a birthday, here are some ideas that are icing on the cake!
Tips for Celebrating a Birthday at Disney World
Make Reservations Early
If you want to surprise your prince or princess with a special experience such as dining with their favorite character or building a lightsaber on the big day, make your reservations early. Most reservations can be made up to 60 days in advance. "What should I make those reservations for, Mommy Frog?" I'm glad you asked. We've got a ton of ideas below our tips. Read on! And don't froget that you will need to make a Disney Park Pass reservation for each day of your visit. If you know there's a park the guest of honor will prefer, try to book it ASAP, as spots can and do fill up!
Shout It Out Loud
If you do nothing else, be sure to get a free Disney birthday button, available at your front desk, Guest Relations or nearly any shop throughout the resort. You can write their name on it for even more personalized greetings. Pin it to your shirt and be prepared for lots of well-wishes from cast members from all areas. It's truly the best day ever when meeting characters on your birthday. We've even had princesses tell Lily "Happy birthday!" from the parade float. This added attention willmake your tadpole (and adult frogs too!) feel even more special on their big day.Don't froget to have the remainder of your party grab complimentary "I'm Celebrating!" buttons to join in on the extra attention, as well.It's these extra moments of recognition that really add to the celebration!
When you make your Disney hotel reservation and Advance Dining Reservations, be sure to tell the cast member that you're celebrating a birthday. (It never hurts to remind them when you check in, either.)Your birthday honoree may receive extra-special treatment in the form of celebrity-level attention, confetti, a cupcake or a personalized note. We once even had balloons and a signed card from Mickey Mouse delivered to our room for Leap, and Dale even helped us to sing "Happy Birthday" during a recent character dining meal! That said, there's no guarantee anything will happen, but you've got nothing to lose and only a dose of Disney magic to gain.
Surprise Them With a Special Disney Hotel Room Celebration
If you are staying on-site at a Walt Disney World Resort hotel, you can have a surprise waiting for your little one! Disney offers a wide variety of gift baskets and packages you can have sent to your room before you even arrive. When you enter your hotel room for the first time, your tadpole could walk in to see that the celebration has already begun! This would just be an added bonus to an already wonderful trip. And of course, adults can celebrate their birthday too! They also have packages to surprise the king or queen in your life.
Let Them Eat Cake
No birthday is complete without a cake and candles! Order a cake and have it delivered to your table at any of the Walt Disney World table-service restaurants. You can find a full list of participating restaurants on Disney World's website. Cakes must be ordered at least four days in advance, but Advanced Dining Reservations must have already been made. The cake hotline is 407-827-2253.
If a cake is needed sooner than that, don't fret! Disney offers six-inch cakes (both chocolate and vanilla) that feed four to six people. These cakes need no advance notice. Simply order one upon arriving at most of Disney's table-service restaurants. However, due to limited quantity, it's usually best to order the cake at the time of your reservation to ensure availability.
Another option is visitingAmorette’s Patisserie at Disney Springs. You can pick up an adorable Mickey character cake (like the one pictured above), or pre-order a specialty cake at least 72 hours in advance.
You can find lots of specialized toppers in advance of your trip on places such as Etsy or Amazon that are perfect for popping in the guest of honor's favorite treat, sprinkling some birthday pixie dust on that Dole Whip.
Wear Special Birthday Gear
If you want to call even more attention to the birthday honoree, a birthday Mickey Mouse ear hat is sure to do the trick. Each of the four parks or Disney Springs have large selections of Mickey Mouse ear hats or headbands. Leap's mom sent one to him once. The photos are precious.
Plus, Loungefly has even released a special Mickey Mouse and Friends birthday merchandise collection. The mini backpack even has a removable "It's my birthday" decal so you can sport the confetti any day of the year!
Ideas for a Most Spectacular Birthday at Disney World
- For the young royal in your family, there are lots of opportunities throughout the parks to meet princesses. For an extra magical experience, consider booking Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique, where tadpoles ages 3 to 12 can get the royal treatment and receive magical transformations (there's even a special birthday sash just for the occasion)!
- If you have a young swashbuckler, tell them to grab their eyepatch and sword — make sure to make a stop near Pirates of the Caribbean, where Captain Jack Sparrow is usually out to say hello! For even more pirate garb, check out the retail just after you step off of the iconic attraction. There's even a fun (and free!) pirate-themed scavenger hunt throughout Adventureland!
- If being a Jedi is more your tadpoles' speed, be sure to check out Disney's Hollywood Studios! Young Padawans can build either a lightsaber or a droidduring their adventure in Black Spire Outpost. Reservations are available 60 days in advance. (Don't miss those photo-ops in front of the TIE Fighter or Millennium Falcon!). For a more budget-friendly experience, tadpoles can also build their own plastic lightsaber at Tatooine Traders.
- While at Disney's Animal Kingdom, you can also set out on a series of fun, nature-themed challenges to become an official Wilderness Explorer. It's self-guided, and you'll collect over 25 badges around the park. Pick up a Wilderness Explorer handbook from headquarters —located on the bridge between the Oasis and Discovery Island — or drop by Wilderness Explorer Troop Leader locations in Africa, Rafiki’s Planet Watch, Asia, Dinoland U.S.A. and Pandora – The World of Avatar. This experience is toadally free!
- When planning dinner for your little princess, I might suggest Be Our Guest at Magic Kingdom. Here you will have the opportunity to have dinner in the Beast's Castle! You have three different rooms you can eat in: The West Wing, The Library and, of course, The Ballroom. Your little princess will feel just like Belle among the storybook castle! Don't froget to try the gray stuff — it's delicious! For another unforgettable royal experience, consider dining inside the castle with Cinderella's Royal Table. Be sure to check out our complete guide to character dining for a look at all the great options at Disney World!
- Be sure to capture those hoppy birthday memories with some photos! PhotoPass photographers around the resort will be happy to take some group and solo shots to commemorate the occasion. For an extra splurge, consider booking a Capture Your Moment session — a 20-minute, personalized session with your own photographer — for the perfect way to remember this special day.
We're sure you'rehoppin' with ideas for celebrating a birthday at Disney World. Do you have any ideas to add? I'd love to hear how you celebrated a birthday Disney-style. Let me know in the comments below!
Related: Which Disney World Character Dining Experience Is the Best? We Ranked Them All
Hoppy planning!
