Hiya Sarah!
Welcome to planDisney, and thank you so much for sending us your question. Wow, Sarah, what a memorable birthday this is going to be! I celebrated my birthday at the Walt Disney World Resort last year for the first time, and it was truly so magical.
I am sorry that your preferred parks are not available for your dates, but don't fret as there are some solutions! First, I would suggest keeping an eye on the
availability calendar as you never know when more theme park reservations may be released! Indeed, sometimes more reservations are released closer to the park days, so that may be an option. Also, if you can get a theme park reservation for another park and add the
Park Hopper Option, you will be able to park hop to your favourite theme park. If you do not have Park Hopper, you can ask to add it to your ticket at any ticketing windows at the theme parks or Disney Springs. If you have any questions, don't hesitate to stop by Guest Relations or
call a Disney Cast Member.
Now, Sarah, don't forget that the magic does not stop outside the Disney theme parks! For example, on my birthday, I knew I had to eat at one of my favourite restaurants: the
Grand Floridian Cafe. This restaurant is perfect for brunch, but their dinner menu is also delicious. If you are a fan of brunch like me, though, I highly suggest getting a reservation at
Kona Cafe located at Disney's Polynesian Village Resort or
Boma - Flavors of Africa found at Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge. However, if you would like something a bit more special, I highly suggest checking for availability at
Steakhouse 71 or
California Grill. While both of these restaurants typically get booked up quickly, I always check for availability on the day of or the week leading up to my trips, as there are always spots that open up last minute. Plus, you will get a great view of the fireworks from any of the Magic Kingdom Resort hotels!
I hope this was helpful, Sarah, and that you will have the best birthday ever on your next Disney vacation. If you have any other questions or if you need help planning your next Disney birthday, don't hesitate to reach back out! As Rapunzel would say: "that's the funny thing about birthdays; they're kind of an annual thing!"
Have a magical day,
Ariane