Happy Early Birthday, Cathy!
I am delighted you stopped by planDisney, as you happen to be my birthday twin! And what better way to celebrate your 70th birthday than at
Magic Kingdom Park? It’ll be absolutely magical!
First things first, be sure to request a celebratory birthday button! It feels so wonderful as Cast Members greet you with a “Happy birthday!” You can find these at Guest Relations in the parks, as well as the front desk at any Disney Resorts Collection hotel. And please do be sure to make your
Disney Park Pass reservations for Magic Kingdom because those are required to enter the park.
Starting your morning as early as possible would be best. Currently, the
hours of operation show Magic Kingdom opens at 9 AM. If you are staying at a Disney Resorts Collection hotel, you will have the perk of
Early Theme Park Entry, which would allow you in at 8:30 AM. If you do not, I recommend getting there before 9 AM so you can spend time taking pictures at Cinderella Castle!
Experiencing 3 or 4 attractions sounds lovely! For now, you can begin filling out preferences in the complimentary
Disney Genie service in your My Disney Experience Mobile app. This is a free tool where you can add things you and your husband enjoy, and the service will create the perfect itinerary for you for free! To get started, please open up your My Disney Experience Mobile app, select the three horizontal lines located on the bottom right corner, and then tap on “My Genie Day.” On the top, you will see “Get Started with Disney Genie,” where you will be able to select “Get Started Now!” And follow the steps in choosing your favorite attractions, entertainment, and other experiences. It even features forecasted wait times and updates them while you’re at the park!
Although Disney Genie service is complimentary, Guests can purchase the
Disney Genie+ service if they would like to enter the Lightning Lane entrances of several attractions one arrival window at a time. Guests can begin choosing the available arrival window for their first experience on the My Disney Experience Mobile app beginning at 7:00 AM.
Now let's think of the rides you'll want to experience! I would recommend classics such as Jungle Cruise and Pirates of the Caribbean! Both happen to be boat rides, and both are entirely different experiences! If you're thrill-seekers, you may want to try heading to Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, which happens to be nearby. Speaking of classics, you should also head over to Fantasyland to experience "it's a small world" and Peter Pan's Flight! Another fan favorite is Walt Disney's Carousel of Progress which allows Guests to marvel at the evolution of technology through the 20th century!
Once you’re ready, hop on the Disney Monorail to head to my favorite hotel of all,
Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa! You’ll smell the sweet aroma of gingerbread as soon as you walk in, as the resort features a giant gingerbread house with a bakeshop where you can purchase some yummy treats to take with you!
I hope you have the most enchanting birthday, Cathy!
Aena