Hi Marsha,
I’m so glad you stopped by planDisney with your question. When my girls were little, they loved nothing more than
celebrating their birthdays at The Most Magical Place on Earth with their favorite Character pals. How exciting that so many of your family will be at
Walt Disney World Resort to celebrate with your boys!
First things first, Marsha. Stop by
Guest Relations in the theme parks and pick up a complimentary "Happy Birthday" button. Walt Disney World Cast Members go out of their way to recognize and celebrate birthdays by helping to create little magical moments for you. You can also pick up “First Visit” buttons to continue the celebration.
Now, our family has always enjoyed
Character Dining for great interaction with the Characters. It gives you a chance to eat, rest your feet and have some sweet time with your favorite pals. I have a few favorite places to suggest. Mickey Mouse and Goofy are dressed and ready for a safari adventure at
Tusker House Restaurant in Disney’s Animal Kingdom. Over at EPCOT, there is nothing quite like chowing down with farmer Mickey and Pluto at
Garden Grill Restaurant. And you can’t go wrong with the classic,
Chef Mickey’s, at Disney’s Contemporary Resort, with Mickey Mouse, Goofy, and sometimes Pluto makes an appearance! Marsha,
Advanced Dining Reservations, which can be made 60 days in advance, are highly recommended and Characters are subject to change without notice, so keep that in mind.
Marsha, consider ordering an extra special
Celebration Cake when you book your dining reservation online or through the
My Disney Experience app. Also, if you let the server know you are celebrating a birthday, they often bring out a cupcake to celebrate!
You can also check the Walt Disney World website or the My Disney Experience app (on the menu at the bottom of the screen select the map “pin” symbol, then tap “Wait Times” to open the menu, and select “Characters”) to
find other Character meet-and-greet locations throughout the theme parks.
I have one final tip that my
planDisney pal Jeremy discovered while celebrating his birthday at Magic Kingdom Park recently! Stop by and see
Casey’s Corner Pianist located outside of Casey’s Corner on Main Street, U.S.A., and let the pianist know you are celebrating a birthday. You just might hear the most rousing rendition of “Happy Birthday,” ever!
Stop back by any time, Marsha, and let us know if you have any other questions!
Wishing you two-times the magic on your special vacation,
Shannon