Hi Jessica!
Welcome to the Disney Parks Moms Panel and thank you for your question! I am so excited for you to be celebrating this incredible milestone birthday with your little boy at the Walt Disney World Resort! As a mom of two boys, I cannot imagine a more magical way to ring in your son's fourth trip around the sun. I still remember so fondly a trip we took as a family when my oldest was 3. It is such an amazing age, where they start to have the stamina to take in so much, but still approach it with the wide-eyed wonder of a curious toddler. There's really nothing like it!
When it comes to food, Walt Disney World resort has so much to offer. Each restaurant on property has menus posted right on the
Disney World website, where you can search and see what items may appeal most to your little one before your trip. Also, many of the food and beverage locations now offer
Mobile Food & Beverage Ordering, which can be accessed easily through the
My Disney Experience mobile app. This means that you can often pre-order your food and drinks for a much shorter wait when it is time for a snack! I love efficiency when every minute counts!
Personally, I would recommend adding in 1-2 character dining experiences during your trip. Our favorites include
Chef Mickey's at
Disney's Contemporary Resort where he will meet Mickey and the gang, and
Crystal Palace at
Magic Kingdom Park, where your little boy will join in a Friendship Day celebration with Winnie the Pooh and pals. It also happens to be one of my favorite central locations in the park!
If you are interested in adding the
Disney Dining Plan to your upcoming vacation, I just learned that it can be done up to 1 day prior to your visit! It is a wonderful way to know that your meals are all covered before you arrive, and it can save some money plus give you freedom in choosing and experiencing so much of what is available to you! Before your son turns 3, he will be able to eat free from an adult's plate. Children 3-10 can eat from the children's menu, and children 10+ order from the adult menus. I have no doubt that you will find so many options that will thrill you and your child on his birthday adventure!
Lastly, if you are looking for a way to add even more pixie dust to his birthday celebration, consider perusing
Disney Floral & Gifts. They can create magic of any size, anywhere from a cake to an entire in-room surprise! It would be just another way to add some pixie dust to what is sure to be a celebration that you will never forget!
Jessica, I hope that this was helpful as you plan for this incredible trip. Please feel free to come back if we can be of any more help to you, and do consider adding
Disney's Photopass Service to your plans if you haven't already, so you can capture every magical smile on this adventure!
See ya real soon!
-Clara