Celebrating a Birthday at Walt Disney World

Written by Post Comment

birthday celebration at Walt Disney World, birthday celebration at Disney World, birthday fun at Disney, Walt Disney World, Disney World, Disney vacation, tips on how to celebrate a birthday without spending too much additional money at Walt Disney World,
For anyone who loves Disney and going to the Disney parks, celebrating your birthday at the parks is going to be the most magical experience ever.  Since my birthday is this weekend, I thought I would write about how we made one of my dreams come true last year.  Yes, I got to celebrate my birthday at Walt Disney World (WDW) and here's some of my tips on how to make it even more special without spending a lot of additional money.

This post contains affiliate links, which means that if you click on one of the links and purchase something, I'll receive compensation at no additional cost to you.

Booking your Walt Disney World birthday trip

I had been wanting to celebrate my birthday at WDW for may years, but never really thought that it would ever happen.  After coming back from our adult only trip to Disneyland, I got the Disney bug.  I started looking about a possible trip to WDW and noticed that my birthday was on a weekend.  My goal was to go and have fun, but not take Michael out of school for too long.  I then found a fabulous deal on flights and they were exactly at the times I wanted.  I felt that it was a sign so I contacted my Disney certified travel agent, Kristy (You can visit her Facebook page to contact her for a free quote.), to see about prices.  We wanted to not spend a lot of money so we chose to stay at Pop Century.  Since we had stayed there back in 2014 we knew that we would like it and we also would only be there to sleep.  Kristy got our room and our advance dining reservations (ADRs) booked 5 months in advance.  I highly recommend doing early booking so you make sure you get the room and ADRs you want.  During this time, Disney put out a discounted package of which we qualified for.  Before I had to say anything to Kristy, she had already contacted Disney and got our booking adjusted to reflect this new discount - one of the many reasons why we will always book through a Disney certified agent.

When talking with your agent or Disney if you personally book your trips, let them know that there is a birthday celebration going on.  I know that Kristy had let them know because when using my fastpass+, I noticed on the screen it had said, "Birthday Celebration for Lucy".  You can also have your agent add a cake order to any of your ADRs.  I chose not to do that because it was just the three of us and I knew there would be leftover.  No one wants to walk around the parks carrying cake.

If you feel like spoiling the birthday girl/boy and are staying on property, you can also have Disney Floral and Gifts create a birthday celebration package that will be waiting for them in your room.  I've always wanted to do this, maybe some day.


Preparing for the WDW birthday celebration

birthday celebration at Walt Disney World, birthday celebration at Disney World, birthday fun at Disney, Walt Disney World, Disney World, Disney vacation, tips on how to celebrate a birthday without spending too much additional money at Walt Disney World,
On top of all the regular Disney vacation preparing, you still need to do some birthday preparing.  One thing I did was go and buy me a birthday card.  I bought the card so that when we met the different characters, they would sign it.  A great way to look back at the fabulous WDW birthday you had.  I decided to go with a Mickey Mouse Clubhouse theme card and mostly because there was an extra flap to be able to hold more signatures.  I'm glad I got this card because some of the signatures were rather big.  Plus we didn't even see all the characters that were out in the parks that weekend and the card was pretty much full!  When choosing a card, just keep in mind that you will be carrying it around with you so, I wouldn't suggest buying anything larger than a normal size card.

birthday celebration at Walt Disney World, birthday celebration at Disney World, birthday fun at Disney, Walt Disney World, Disney World, Disney vacation, tips on how to celebrate a birthday without spending too much additional money at Walt Disney World,
If you're staying on property and already have deflated balloons, bring them.  Over the years, Michael had gotten several different Disney themed birthday balloons.  So, I packed them in our suitcase and decorated our room's window with them.  Decorating the windows are a big thing during Halloween and Christmas.  I used glue dots that are used for scrapbooking to attach the balloons to the windows.  Disney does not want tape or anything that will leave residue used when decorating rooms.  Just make sure that it is temporary - leave no trace behind.

Don't forget your birthday gifts for the birthday girl/boy!  Jon and Michael went shopping a few days before flying out to get my gifts and cards.  My mom had sent me several Disney gift cards in advance for me to spend while there.   

The WDW birthday celebration

birthday celebration at Walt Disney World, birthday celebration at Disney World, birthday fun at Disney, Walt Disney World, Disney World, Disney vacation, tips on how to celebrate a birthday without spending too much additional money at Walt Disney World,
Our first day at the parks was the day before my birthday and was spent at the Magic Kingdom.  Once we got into the park, we went straight to a store and got me a Happy Birthday button.  These are free and a great way to let Cast Members (CMs) as well as other Disney guests know you are celebrating.

birthday celebration at Walt Disney World, birthday celebration at Disney World, birthday fun at Disney, Walt Disney World, Disney World, Disney vacation, tips on how to celebrate a birthday without spending too much additional money at Walt Disney World,
The CM didn't want to leave out Jon or Michael so, they each got an I'm Celebrating button.  Jon had me write "My Disney Wife" on his and we just wrote "Mommy" on Michael's.  There are websites out there were you can purchase in advance even more customized buttons to wear at the park.

After getting our buttons and meeting a few characters, I went ear shopping.  I always have to wear ears while at Disney.  I wanted to get birthday ears, but when we went last year the only birthday ears were beanie style.  I prefer the headband ears and when I was looking a few days ago on the Shop Disney app, they now have headband ears with a cupcake in the center.  As with the buttons, there are several websites out there that you can purchase fabulous looking ears before your trip.  They may even be cheaper!

birthday celebration at Walt Disney World, birthday celebration at Disney World, birthday fun at Disney, Walt Disney World, Disney World, Disney vacation, tips on how to celebrate a birthday without spending too much additional money at Walt Disney World,
My actual birthday was a hopper day.  We spent the morning at Animal Kingdom and had breakfast at Tusker House.  Our waiter brought me out a little cupcake as well as a birthday card that was signed by the characters that are at this character dining experience.  I knew there was a possibility of a cupcake, but had no idea I would get a birthday card!  Disney magic/pixie dust right there.

birthday celebration at Walt Disney World, birthday celebration at Disney World, birthday fun at Disney, Walt Disney World, Disney World, Disney vacation, tips on how to celebrate a birthday without spending too much additional money at Walt Disney World,
With all of our Disney trips, I always make sure to purchase Memory Maker (PhotoPass for Disneyland).  Completely worth it because you would never get this magic shot without it.  We didn't even ask for a magic shot, but make sure to ask for a magic shot because you never know who or what might appear in the picture.

birthday celebration at Walt Disney World, birthday celebration at Disney World, birthday fun at Disney, Walt Disney World, Disney World, Disney vacation, tips on how to celebrate a birthday without spending too much additional money at Walt Disney World,
My birthday dinner was at Coral Reef in the Seas area of Future World at Epcot.  I decided to splurge and get dessert and they added a candle and the chocolate sign to it.

birthday celebration at Walt Disney World, birthday celebration at Disney World, birthday fun at Disney, Walt Disney World, Disney World, Disney vacation, tips on how to celebrate a birthday without spending too much additional money at Walt Disney World,
Our last ADR was for dinner the day after at Sci-Fi Dine-In Theater Restaurant.  The couple in our car was on their honeymoon and they had the dinning plan.  With the dinning plan, each plan receives a dessert with their meal.  This couple decided that they wanted to just share a dessert and gave me their second dessert since they had heard I was celebrating my birthday.  See, Disney magic can come from just regular Disney guests.

There's just some simple tips to help make the birthday celebration even more special.  One thing I will say is to not go expecting to get magic.  I wasn't expecting anything special at all and we did receive some extras throughout our weekend there.  We also spread some Disney magic to others as well.  Have you been to Disney for a birthday celebration?  If so, are there any tips or advice you would add?  I know that Michael has been asking when we were going to go to WDW for his birthday.  I'm hoping maybe next year, fingers crossed.

Want to see some of the fun things we did during my birthday celebration?  Here's some of the posts written from this trip:

Epcot International Flower and Garden Festival
Disney EGGstravaganza: Easter egg hunt around Epcot's World Showcase
Traveling around the world at Epcot with kids
Treasure Hunting at the Magic Kingdom

Tags:

Share:

0 comments