Hi Paul, welcome to planDisney!
Happy birthday to you! There is truly no better place to celebrate a birthday than
Walt Disney World Resort. I recently celebrated a milestone birthday with a resort-only stay at Disney's Riviera Resort. Highlights included a birthday breakfast with Mickey at
Topolino's Terrace - Flavors of the Riviera and a
Minnie Van ride to Disney's Grand Floridian Resort and Spa for dinner at the
Grand Floridian Cafe. Both meals included a special birthday treat that filled my belly and memories that filled my heart.
I've got an early birthday present for you, Paul. Guests staying at a
Disney Resorts Collection hotel can make advance dining reservations 60 days before your check-in date for the duration of your stay, up to 10 days. Because you're doing a split stay, this means you'll be able to book dining reservations for your nine nights at Disney's Art of Animation Resort 60 days in advance of your first check-in date and dining for your five nights at Disney's Grand Floridian Resort and Spa 60 days in advance of your second check-in day. Isn't that grand?!
Reservations can be made
online beginning at 5:45 a.m. EST, which requires some time zone math. Reservations can also be made via the
My Disney Experience mobile app, though I find booking from a desktop computer to be more efficient when making multiple reservations. I recommend logging into your
My Disney Experience account with the webpage of your top choice restaurant pulled up by that time, ready to go. In my experience, you may have to refresh the page and click "Check Availability" a few times, but new reservations typically go live by 6:00 a.m. EST. I also recommend going for any character dining experiences towards the end of your nine-day reservation to maximize availability.
Be sure to pick up a birthday button at the front desk of your Disney Resort hotel. You'll be showered with birthday wishes and smiles, which are the greatest gifts of all!
Plan magic; planDisney.
Jennifer