Hello Judy, and welcome to planDisney! I want to start by wishing your son a very happy birthday. Making memories together at the Happiest Place on Earth is a wonderful gift. I have two little ones, and we love celebrating birthdays at Disneyland, so I have some ideas to make your son's day extra special.
First things first: Grab a complimentary birthday button at the start of the day for your son to wear! Many retail locations and City Hall on Main Street, U.S.A. have them – just ask a Cast Member. We've experienced Cast Members, Characters, and even other Guests wishing us a Happy Birthday after noticing the button.
Judy, since you're visiting for one day, you'll want to make the most of your time. I recommend purchasing the
Lightning Lane Multi Pass. It grants access to the Lightning Lane entrance at many attractions, leading to shorter queues.
Food always plays a big part in our park visits – plan to get your son something festive and sweet! The
Foodie Guide on the Disney Parks Blog highlights some of the offerings currently available for the 70th Anniversary Celebration, and I see a few that would make fantastic birthday treats.
Without knowing the age of your son, I'll provide some other ideas that can sprinkle a little pixie dust onto your plans:
- Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique offers a Knight Package for kids ages three to twelve. Reservations are required. If you don't see any reservations available, keep checking back, since there's a chance a spot can open up between now and July 1. You can also head there first thing and ask if walk-up reservations are available, although that's not guaranteed.
- Character dining is always a big hit with my kids. There's nothing like enjoying a meal while multiple Disney Characters stop by to greet the table. Breakfast at Plaza Inn is the in-park Character dining option, and the others are located at the Disneyland Resort hotels.
- Get a Disney Gift Card so your son can browse the shops along Main Street, U.S.A. and pick out the perfect birthday souvenir. The Key to Disneyland is a fun activity that can be purchased at retail locations throughout the Resort (subject to availability).
We did something different for my daughter's recent birthday visit to the park. I had a set of envelopes, each labeled with a different category: Snack, First Attraction, Character Meet, Lunch, Treat, Souvenir, and Last Attraction. Inside each envelope were three to five small cards, each with a photo representing one option for that category. For example, the “Snack” envelope had cards with pictures of popcorn, a Mickey pretzel, and others. She got to pick her favorite card (sometimes two) from each envelope to help guide our day. It took some time and prep work to put it together, but it was so worth it! It kept things simple for her, gave her a sense of control, and made the day even more magical.
Judy, I hope this information is both enchanting and helpful for you. I wish your son a very happy birthday and an adventure that will be remembered forever, just like a fairy tale ending. If you have follow-up questions about your son's upcoming birthday visit,
I'd be happy to provide more recommendations. You've got a friend in me, and in all of us here at planDisney!
Your pal,
Kriss