Hip, Hip, Hooray, Theresa! Welcome to planDisney and Happy Celebrations to your daughter. We love celebrating birthdays (and even very, merry un-birthdays) here at planDisney, so you've come to the right place! I have two daughters of my own, so I asked them to share their favorite pieces of advice for a
magical birthday celebration at 'The Happiest Place on Earth.'
First, I recommend that every Guest celebrating something special at Disneyland Resort pick up a complimentary celebratory button at select Guest Relations and merchandise locations throughout the theme parks, or at any of the Disneyland Resort hotels. These are customizable buttons that your daughter can wear to let Cast Members and fellow Guests know about her special birthday celebration! Plus, I find that they attract pixie dust, so you never know what kind of magic might follow you throughout your day! They also make for a lovely souvenir at the end of your trip.
If you're looking to savor a special meal with the birthday girl, you might consider booking a table service dining reservation. These
dining reservations may be booked up to 60 days prior to your arrival, and some of my favorite dining locations for a birthday celebration are Lamplight Lounge in Disney California Adventure Park or Blue Bayou Restaurant in Disneyland Park. I'm not exactly sure how old your daughter is, but let's be honest, everyone loves a birthday greeting from their favorite Disney character! If this sounds like it would make your daughter's day, consider booking a
Character Dining Experience. My girls love both Goofy's Kitchen at the Disneyland Resort (characters are available for both breakfast and dinner) and Storyteller's Café at Disney's Grand California Hotel & Spa. If you're really looking for an elevated experience worthy of royalty, you can book the
Disney Princess Breakfast Adventures, which includes a three-course meal, dedicated meet-and-greet time with Disney Princesses, and a keepsake gift for children. My daughters regularly request to visit their favorite Princesses, so
this was a major highlight for their recent birthday celebrations last Spring.
As a mom, one of my most treasured gifts is the photo memories of our precious family moments together. For this reason, I always recommend taking advantage of
Disney PhotoPass, especially for a special celebration like a birthday. Don't forget to ask the Disney PhotoPass photographers about adding a magic shot! Currently, the purchase of
Disney Genie+ Service includes unlimited downloads of your Disney PhotoPass images. It really is a great value to include all the benefits like the use of Lightning Lane entrances to reduce your wait times, plus your Disney PhotoPass images!
Theresa, I sure hope this is a helpful start. As you can tell, chatting about family celebrations at the Disneyland Resort is one of my favorite topics. If I can clarify anything or share other recommendations in the meantime, please feel welcome to
reach out to me again. May you and your daughter make unforgettable memories and share in the wonder of spending time together in such a special place as Disneyland Resort. That is the true gift that will last a lifetime!
Magically yours,
Tishra