Hiya Anne!
Welcome back to planDisney, and thank you for sending us this magical question. Wow, Anne, what a special day you are planning! I also celebrated my birthday at the Walt Disney World Resort this year, which was truly so magical. Indeed, there are so many ways to make this day extra special for your son, so let's talk about what you can do to celebrate his birthday. Warning: he may want to celebrate his birthday at Disney every year from now on. At least, that's how I feel!
There are a few things you can do to kick off the
birthday celebrations even before leaving your room! First, you can call your front desk and let them know that you are celebrating a birthday for a small surprise, but you can also order decorations through
Disney Floral and Gifts. Indeed, these decorations and gifts can be purchased online or by speaking to a Dream Maker. Second, Rapunzel also told me on my birthday that no birthday was complete without cake, which you can pick up at your Resort's food court or in the theme parks. If you are planning on eating at a Disney restaurant, you can even request to have a
Mickey Mouse Celebration Cake delivered to your restaurant or Resort if eating at one of the selected restaurants.
In the theme parks, I always recommend picking up a Happy Birthday button at a Guest Relations counter or a merchandise location to let other Guests and Cast Members know you are celebrating! Since you mentioned your son has sensory issues with clothing, you could always tie it to a bag or wear an I'm Celebrating button yourself with your son's name. If you are eating at a restaurant, also let your server know you are celebrating his birthday for a small complimentary surprise. I especially loved meeting Mickey, Pluto, Chip and Dale at
EPCOT's Garden Grill Restaurant, and I even received a signed birthday card from them! It now makes the best souvenir. If your son enjoys meeting characters, I would also recommend checking other character dining options or checking for character experiences on the
My Disney Experience mobile app. There are so many opportunities to meet characters throughout the Walt Disney World Resort, and I always love meeting them, even now in my twenties!
I hope this was helpful, Anne, and that you and your son will have the most magical vacation ever on your upcoming trip to the Walt Disney World Resort. If you have any other questions leading up to your trip, please don't hesitate to reach out. You're as welcome as can be here at planDisney!
Have a magical day, and happy new year!
Ariane