Hi Kathy,
How special to be taking your niece for a first visit to Walt Disney World on her birthday! Simply being at Walt Disney World for these occasions will be wonderful. Let me give you a couple of other suggestions for making it extra magical.
First, be sure to get "Happy Birthday" and "1st Visit" buttons from Guest Relations at any of the Disney theme parks. These are free of charge, and when you wear them, you are likely to hear other guests and cast members alike wishing you a happy celebration. You also never know when a little extra pixie dust, like a free cupcake or balloon, will be sprinkled on your vacation when you are wearing these buttons. This kind of magic is not guaranteed, but is so much fun if it does happen! By the same token, when you are making dining reservations, be sure to indicate that you are celebrating your niece's birthday.
I also suggest that you order the free
Walt Disney World vacation planning DVD. Let your niece watch it, and she can start to get an idea of the attractions that really interest her. You could even let her pick the theme park that you go to on her birthday, and let her plan the attractions and restaurants for the day.
Finally, take a look at the unique gifts and in-room celebrations available through
Disney Floral and Gifts. They can create wonderful gifts for any occasion. My daughter loved the Minnie Mouse plush holding a bouquet of balloons that we had delivered to our Walt Disney World resort one year on her birthday! Once you have perused the website, I suggest that you call them at 407-WDW-GIFT (407-939-4438) to work with a Dream Maker to customize a gift for your niece.
I am limited in the amount of space that I have to answer, Kathy. Please do write back if you have any further questions!