Hi Kamini! A mutual acquaintance told me you were the absolute best person to answer this question. We are celebrating our daughter's 16th birthday at Disneyland this month. How do we unlock the FULL Disney magic to mark this milestone? Thanks you!”

Hiya, Billy! Welcome to planDisney. I am honored to share advice on making your daughter's 16th birthday special and magical! There is no better place to celebrate a birthday than the Happiest Place on Earth. I have celebrated many birthdays with my Little Mermaids at the Disneyland Resort over the years! Here are a few tips for your birthday celebration: 

- Pick up a complimentary birthday button for your daughter at a Disney gift shop or any Guest Services location. She will likely get lots of birthday wishes and special attention from Cast Members throughout your visit. Recently we celebrated my brother-in-law's birthday at Disneyland Resort and he was touched to be wished at least 10 times each day by Cast Members! The rest of your party can pick up complimentary "I'm Celebrating" buttons and write in your daughter's name and 16th birthday! 
- At select restaurants you can order a scrumptious Mickey Mouse Celebration Cake in advance. 
- We've had fun at Character Dining locations on birthdays, such as Goofy's Kitchen. In the reservation you can note that you are celebrating your daughter's sweet sixteen.
- We popped in to the World of Disney gift shop in the Downtown Disney District and purchased special birthday ears for my daughter. You'll find ears at many gift shops but this shop has a very large selection. 
- Our family likes to get matching t-shirts made in advance. You can order custom t-shirts on the shopDisney website. They have other fun birthday merchandise as well. 
- Included in the Disney Genie+ service is Disney PhotoPass, which gives you unlimited digital downloads from your day. This is a great way to get your entire family in one picture and get those downloads in high-resolution. I have seen families take vibrant and colorful pictures with Disneyland balloons in front of Sleeping Beauty Castle. You will find Disney PhotoPass Photographers in multiple locations to take your photos. The Disneyland mobile app has a map showing where the photographers are located! 
- You can visit Animation Academy, where you learn step-by-step how to draw Disney characters. Check the schedule to find when your favorite character is being sketched. You'll get to keep the complimentary sketch, and you could write happy birthday to your daughter on the sketch and take photos of her with the sketch throughout the parks. We saw a family doing that and thought it was such a cute idea! 
- Don't hesitate to stop and ask a Cast Member for any other ideas while you are there. They have great tips to create a little extra magic! 

I wish your daughter a very magical sweet sixteen! Thank you again for stopping by! 

Kamini