Happy birthday to your soon-to-be eight year old, Andrea! Welcome to planDisney, where helping our fellow guests map out special celebrations is in our DNA! My family has celebrated weddings, holidays, and birthdays at Walt Disney World Resort, and I'm so glad I get to assist you with your question.
A 3 day, 2 night trip is a quick and manageable visit, especially if you're planning a park day or two and some time to enjoy your resort. My top recommendation is to book a stay at
Disney's Port Orleans Resort - French Quarter. This will put you in the heart of the action, just a boat ride away from
Disney Springs and centrally located to the four theme parks. This resort has an amazing pool, fantastic outdoor spaces, and is home to one of the most beloved Disney treats: Mickey-shaped beignets. This snack has been the talk of the town for quite a while now, and choosing a stay at Port Orleans puts these pillowy, powdered sugar-covered pastries right at your doorstep. What better way to celebrate a birthday than with a sweet treat fit for a princess? Princess Tiana, that is.
If you're planning a park day or two, I recommend hitting up
EPCOT or
Disney's Hollywood Studios. I know Magic Kingdom is the most popular of the four parks, but Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween Party will be running on September 25th, so operating hours for non-party guests will be from 9AM to 6PM. You can get a lot accomplished in that amount of time, but you might prefer to go to a park that will be open later. EPCOT is home to my daughter's favorite ride, Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind, and our whole family loves to sample the international treats across the World Showcase. It might be fun to ask the cultural representatives in the different pavilions if they have special ways of celebrating birthdays in their home countries, and you can couple your international excursion with the
Kidcot Fun Stops Passport. This item is available for purchase at merchandise locations inside EPCOT, and it's a great souvenir and practical tool for marking off your visits to the various countries. We also prioritize Hollywood Studios for attractions like Mickey & Minnie's Runaway Railway and Toy Story Mania!, plus this park has our favorite nighttime spectacular,
Fantasmic!Don't forget to grab your
"Happy Birthday" celebration button from the front desk of your resort hotel or from a Guest Services location inside the theme parks. Wearing this will have Cast Members giving your daughter well-wishes all day long, and it's a great way to plus-up her birthday experience. I wore this button on my 18th birthday and I felt like a real VIP!
If you have more questions or are seeking more insight on how to make this birthday truly special, please stop by again and ask. We absolutely love sharing our experiences with guests and hope that our recommendations contribute to simple and stress-free vacation planning. Have an incredible visit, Andrea, and we'll see you real soon.
Stay magical,
Scott