Hi there, Sierra, and welcome to planDisney! If you're planning a Walt Disney World Resort vacation to celebrate your birthday with a large group, you've come to the right place for advice and tips! My Panelist pals and I are always thrilled to help our fellow Guests, and I absolutely love talking about visiting the Most Magical Place on Earth with a big group. The more, the merrier!
Sierra, I have a feeling that you'll be pleasantly surprised with how streamlined the planning process can be for a large group at Walt Disney World Resort. You'll want to make sure everyone has a MyDisney Account and is connected within My Family & Friends in the
My Disney Experience Mobile App. Once you're connected, you'll be able to make all of your plans together, like
Advance Dining Reservations,
Enchanting Extras bookings, and
Lightning Lane selections. When traveling with a large group, I recommend making an Advance Dining Reservation each day, so that everyone has a set place to be at the same time. This will give each person in your crew the freedom to move through attractions and experiences at their own pace, if desired.
While I don't recommend bringing a lot of stuff into the Disney Theme Parks, you'll find that most items (including snacks) are permitted and you can find specifics on
this website. My must-haves include: my smart phone with My Disney Experience Mobile App, sunglasses, chapstick, drivers license, and rain gear if it's necessary. I wear a Minnie Mouse ear headband to keep my hair tucked back and I wear a
MagicBand+ because it holds my
Disney Theme Park admission and I'm able to charge all of my purchases to my
Disney Resorts Collection hotel room. You're even welcome to bring your own water bottle into the parks with you, though you can find free water at most quick-service dining locations if you prefer not to carry one.
Sierra, I want to give you a quick tip about making Advance Dining Reservations. You'll see that there will be very few dining locations that can accommodate a party of 20, so I recommend booking in smaller groups at the same time. When my large extended family does this, we make sure to check in with the Cast Member at the front of the restaurant and let them know that we'd be delighted to sit together or near each other. Sometimes, this works out well and we are seated at one large table. Sometimes we are at nearby tables, and sometimes, we are more separated. But it's worth a try!
Be sure to stop by Guest Relations for a complimentary button you can wear that will let everyone know you're celebrating. In fact, everyone in your party can grab an "I'm Celebrating" button to join in the fun!
Sierra, I hope this is helpful as you plan your amazing birthday celebration. Please stop back by planDisney with any other questions you have as you continue to count down to the big day!
See you real soon!
Jennifer