Hiya Shannon!
Welcome to planDisney! I'm so excited to be able to say happy early birthday to your little girl! I love spending birthdays at Walt Disney World Resort!
You are asking your question at the perfect time as we just learned that starting May 31, 2023, you can book for 2024! The time to start planning begins now!
Let's start with the things you should start booking or planning before you arrive. Every little princess must have their special makeover and right now that is only available at Magic Kingdom Park at
Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique. Your little one will be appointed a Fairy Godmother Apprentice who will treat her like the princess she is as they style her hair, apply makeup, nail polish, and other surprises. There are several packages to choose from. When I did it with my little princess I brought a dress I purchased elsewhere as I had a specific one in mind. This books up very quickly so make sure to be ready to secure this 60 days before you arrive. If you stay at a Walt Disney World Resort Hotel then you can book this experience 60 days before your arrival day and for your entire trip. This is great as you can book this for a day later in your trip and compete with fewer people for this booking.
Once you have her all beautified I would consider booking a
Capture Your Moment session specifically at Magic Kingdom Park where you will have a professional photographer take photos of her or your entire family in a special 20-minute session right in the Park. I highly recommend pre-purchasing
Memory Maker before your trip as you will want to use the regular PhotoPass photographers often throughout the Parks to document your entire trip.
I'm not sure if you are looking to have a large party with family or something more intimate but I would consider a few options. You can try booking 60 days prior for the party size that has been confirmed and this can be done
online or you can call Dining Reservations. I asked a Cast Member which would be the best number to call and they recommended (407)-560-CHAT (2428). When booking a dining reservation at most Walt Disney World Resort restaurants you should consider purchasing a
Mickey Mouse Celebration Cake. I ordered one for my daughter for her first birthday and it was delicious. We ended up eating it for the whole trip as a late-night treat while storing it in our Resort room refrigerator. Another option, if you want something a bit more spectacular for a larger group of people, is to reach out to
Disney Meetings & Events. They can make serious magic happen.
Once you arrive in the Parks make sure to head to Guest Relations or the Front Desk of your Walt Disney Resort Hotel to ask for the free "Happy Birthday" button. It can be hard with little ones but encourage her to wear it for her trip. I love how Cast Members and even other guests wish me "Happy Birthday" when I wear one.
Something else I would suggest is while you enjoy the Parks and visit all the characters, get autographs on a picture frame mat so that when you return home you have a special way to showcase the favorite photo of your birthday princess!
I hope this helps and if you need more help please free to
let me know!
Happy Planning!
-Nimmy