Hi there, Mary Ann - welcome to planDisney! We're so glad you're here. I'm delighted to hear that your family will be celebrating a special birthday at
Walt Disney World Resort next month, and I'll be happy to share some tips to make the occasion extra magical. Let's get right to it!
There is nothing special that you will need to do in terms of a particular
ticket that you purchase. As your Mouseketeer is already over the age of 3, she will need a regular Child ticket. We often add the Park Hopper option, which lets us experience more than one theme park each day. For instance, we might start the day bright and early at
Disney's Animal Kingdom Theme Park, head back to our Resort Hotel for a midday swim, then catch
Happily Ever After at
Magic Kingdom Park!
To kick off the festivities, I always recommend picking up a "Happy Birthday" button. These are available at the Front Desk of your Resort Hotel, or at Guest Services in the theme parks. Your birthday girl can show off her button proudly throughout your vacation and is sure to receive plenty of birthday greetings - and perhaps even some unexpected pixie dust!
If you're planning a special birthday meal, you can select an option for a celebration cake to be served when you make
Dining reservations. When my girls were young, they could not get enough of the Disney Princesses, so we often chose
Cinderella's Royal Table (Magic Kingdom) or
Akershus Royal Banquet Hall (
EPCOT) for a meal that included some delightful Character interactions with their favorite royal friends. It's a good idea to book as far in advance as possible, as you are now within the 60-day window in which you can make reservations!
I also recommend letting your little one pick out a special souvenir or two to commemorate their magical 5th birthday. A
Disney Gift Card gives them freedom to choose something they really love, and teaches a bit about budgeting to boot!
Mary Ann, I hope this information is helpful for your planning purposes. Thank you so much for bringing your question to planDisney, and please don't hesitate to reach out again if we can help with any other tips to make your vacation as magical as can be!
See Ya Real Soon!
Susan