Hi Jessica,
Welcome to the Disney Parks Moms Panel, and thank you for your question. Your son is going to have a birthday blast at Walt Disney World! Be sure to read our tips for
planning a visit with preschoolers so you can make the most of every moment.
Jessica, you’re right that children who are under age 3 on the first day of their visit are considered Guests of Mickey, and do not require theme park tickets. Where your question becomes tricky is the split stay part, because when you change resort hotels, you have a new check-in date. I checked with a Cast Member, who confirmed that, if your child is 3 upon check-in to the second resort in a split stay, he would need a park ticket for the remainder of your vacation.
My advice is to either avoid the split stay or to consider splitting your stay in such a way that your child is 2 upon check-in to the second resort. My family loves split stays – in fact, we stayed at three resorts on our last vacation – so I don’t want to discourage you, as it’s a great way to enjoy different theming, amenities, and pools over the course of one trip. I would advise calling Walt Disney World Reservations at (407) 939-1936 to check availability and pricing for your possible split stay, and ask the Cast Member you speak with about the policy. The Cast Member can help you figure out what works best for your family.
Jessica, have the
best time celebrating your son’s birthday at The Most Magical Place on Earth! Be sure to pick up a celebration button at your resort, which will let Cast Members and your fellow Guests know to provide birthday wishes, and sometimes even a little pixie dust. I love seeing cute birthday t-shirts and decorated strollers around the parks, too!
Wishing you a magical vacation and birthday celebration,
Robyn