Hi Gretchen,
Thank you for swinging by the
Disney Parks Moms Panel with your great question!
Park Hopper tickets will give you the flexibility to visit both parks (or more) in one day. In
this link, you will find a list of recommended attractions for preschoolers at both
Magic Kingdom and
Disney's Hollywood Studios. If you only have one full day to enjoy the Parks, I agree that this would be the best way to make sure your son gets to ride his favorite attractions at both parks and doesn't feel like he missed out on a lot of the good stuff he was hoping to see and do. Be sure to get a Happy Birthday button for him to wear all day; you never know when Tinker Bell will be around with an extra dose of pixie dust!
If you will be staying at a
Disney Resort Hotel, you can spend the remaining half-day at the pool or doing one of the activities at the resort. You can also have a super special
character meal at
Chef Mickey's in Disney's Contemporary Resort or at
'Ohana in Disney's Polynesian Village Resort, where he would be able to meet Mickey Mouse and spend some dedicated time with him when he stops by for pictures, an autograph and of course a big hug that your son will treasure in his heart forever. You could also
order a cake and have it delivered at the restaurant for everyone to join in the fun of singing him the traditional Happy Birthday song right there in the middle of the magic. It will surely be the most magical birthday celebration ever!
Gretchen, I hope to see you here again with more questions about your upcoming vacation. In the meantime be sure to check out this
guide for traveling with preschoolers. I wish you and your little musketeer the most fabulous time at
Walt Disney World!
~Desiree