Celebrating a Birthday at Walt Disney World

by Trudy Allen
AllEars® Guest Columnist

Feature Article

This article appeared in the July 21, 2015 Issue #826 of ALL EARS® (ISSN: 1533-0753)

Editor's Note: This story/information was accurate when it was published. Please be sure to confirm all current rates, information and other details before planning your trip.

Trudy Allen Buzz LightyearWe are a family that loves all things Disney, so much so that 10 years ago we became Disney Vacation Club members and so our wonderful journey began!

Just this past year, I decided to put a different spin on our Disney vacations by incorporating a birthday celebration for a different family member in each vacation. With eight immediate family members ranging in age from 2 to 56, the excitement of giving each one an unforgettable celebration designed especially for them began to swirl in my mind!

Yes, there are some conventional ways to celebrate — dinner at a restaurant, for example — but I like the idea of planning something more special all myself. There were so many things to consider; the actual birth date, special interests and favorite foods of the birthday recipient (who I will refer to as Mouseketeer from here on out), gift ideas, but most importantly — and this comes from Mr. Walt Disney himself — a birthday THEME!

First things first: the reservation. This will revolve around the actual birthday. I try to leave myself some flexibility and just choose dates within the birthday month, but if the actual birth date is of the utmost importance to you, book early to achieve that goal! Do you have a birthday that falls during a peak vacation time, say Christmas time or summer? Perhaps it's better to choose to do a "half-birthday" instead. For example, my birthday is July 2, which would mean a hot and crowded birthday celebration, so I chose to do a January 2 date, which is six months away from my birthday, my half-birthday. I try to choose a resort that seems to go along with the time of year and the birthday Mouseketeer's personality. Once the reservation has been made, the stage is set. You can then let your creative juices flow!

Our first celebration was this past September for our youngest son (age 26). I kept in mind his desire for a special memory with his son (age 2) as it was his very first trip to Disney. I booked the reservation at the Beach Club based on the following: that it would be very warm in September, that my son loves to relax at the beach, the design of Stormalong Bay is perfect for a 2-year-old and the backdrop of the Boardwalk would provide a romantic setting for him and his wife.

Your length of stay will probably determine how many parks you will visit or which ticket options will work best for you. Again, keep the birthday Mouseketeer in mind. Are they high-energy and all about the rides? Do they enjoy the luxury and relaxation that the resorts provide? Do they like to shop, see shows, play video games? I try to keep the birthday celebrations well-rounded. We only visit one park per trip as it allows plenty of time to relax at the resort and experience all that it has to offer. We also enjoy spending one day at the ever-changing Downtown Disney AKA Disney Springs. Since we always stay four days, this works perfectly for us.

We decided on Hollywood Studios for this birthday trip, as that is where Buzz Lightyear and Woody live. Our grandson LOVES them and it was my son's request that we MUST meet them.

The next step after determining your theme park tickets is to plan your itinerary. I try to envision every minute of the trip through the birthday Mouseketeer's eyes and plan details that are sure to make all his or her dreams come true (according to my budget of course). I begin with arrival time and include each day's game plan. I then decide on desired meal times and restaurants that I think the birthday Mouseketeer would enjoy, selecting one for the special official Birthday Dinner! Next up, make those dining reservations as soon as possible!

Once the logistics are out of the way, the real fun can begin. As the birthday surprises begin to unfold in your mind you may need to alter your itinerary (excluding reservations and park days) several times to accommodate all your ideas.

All you have to do at this point is become a birthday Imagineer, starting with the first minute you arrive and planning every detail to make things effortless and special for your birthday Mouseketeer. I make sure to purchase Disney birthday cards in the weeks before our trip in my shopping travels. My son received one each day with special surprises. He is a collector of all things, so one card contained Disney Dollars, which he immediately researched and began collecting.

He had never had a massage so since there is a top-notch spa at the Beach Club, a gift card was included on the next day for the spa appointment that I had reserved previously.

Of course, not all cards need to contain monetary gifts. The third day his card had a free babysitting service (compliments of his parents) so that he could have that romantic getaway with his wife. Because he is a graphic designer his fourth card contained his reservation for dinner with an animation artist and an original sketch from the Art of Animation.

While at Hollywood Studios, he opted to forego the adult rides and recapture his inner child as he chose to experience the day through the eyes of his son, as we all did. Toy Story Mania, Disney Junior Live!, Muppets 3D and the Voyage of the Little Mermaid have NEVER been as much fun as they were in September!

Downtown Disney held its own special memories as we braved "Characters in Flight" so the birthday Mouseketeer could view the building of Disney Springs from the air. Our lunch at Rainforest Cafe was unforgettable. We dined there when the birthday Mouseketeer was 2 years old himself and he fell asleep during our meal, lulled by the sound of animals that came to life in the very loud rain forest. We always laughed at how strange that was. We laughed once again as our 2-year-old grandson — you guessed it — fell asleep during our meal, lulled by the sounds of the very loud animals in the rain forest! Such sweet memories.

Trudy Allen Mickey MouseThe possibilities are endless when planning a custom-designed birthday party for your loved one. Here are some ideas that I have used and some I plan to use for my future Disney Birthday Celebrations. All of these wonderful ideas and more can be found on AllEars.Net, my "go to" for all Disney trips!

  • Gift basket or arrangement delivered to your room by Disney Florist. Whatever the age of the birthday Mouseketeer, there is something perfect. From balloons, snacks, banners, stuffed characters, pins, lanyards and the list goes on, all packaged beautifully and delivered upon request.

  • Guided tours. Some tours at the resorts are free of charge. You can experience architecture, horticulture, safaris, behind the scenes, and much more.

  • Outside the park adventures. Miniature golf, DisneyQuest (while it lasts), Cirque du Soleil, Splitsville, Dine-In Movie Theatre to name just a few options.

  • Excursions here and there around the resorts: carriage rides, fishing excursions, cruises, pond fishing, water activities.

  • Spa treatments, facials, massages, even couples' massages.

  • Something for the little guys. Build a dinosaur, customize a light saber, become a pirate, fill a treasure chest, go on a pirate cruise.

  • Something for the little gals. Become a princess with the help of a Fairy Godmother, attend a princess tea, have breakfast with Cinderella in her castle.

According to our birthday Mouseketeer, the absolute best thing about his Disney birthday was time spent with family. Splashing in the world's most fabulous beach side pool with his sweet little boy, sharing a "Kitchen Sink" at Beaches and Cream with the entire family on a warm afternoon and ordering all his favorites for breakfast via room service to share with a sleepy crowd were some of his best memories that will definitely last a lifetime. Funny that somewhere along the way of a Disney Birthday Celebration you realize that it's not just a celebration for your birthday Mouseketeer, but for everyone that loves that Mouseketeer and loves Disney World!

A very special surprise that was presented to us after the trip from our very sweet daughter-in-law was a scrapbook of the vacation that contained photos, napkins, menus, autographs, balloons and many other things that always take us back to this special time. It has now become a tradition that a Birthday Scrapbook will be made after each Disney Birthday Celebration.

Currently, I am planning the second Disney Birthday Celebration — this one for our oldest son who loves animals, video games, shopping and can speak with a Scottish accent on demand (despite being from the South). Hmm… I'm thinking Animal Kingdom Lodge, Kilimanjaro Safaris, DisneyQuest, gift cards, and dinner at Raglan Road for starters.

Back to Walt for a moment and his uncanny ability to envision a theme with the most intricate details to bring an idea to life, this should be the most important thing to keep in mind when planning a Disney Birthday Celebration. Your theme is always the same, your "Birthday Mouseketeer". You add the intricate details and watch as your loved ones bring this wonderful celebration to life at the "Most Magical Place on Earth"!

Best of Birthday Wishes to all you Mousketeers!

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RELATED LINKS
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Birthday Ideas for Children:

Birthday Ideas for Adults

Birthday Parties at Walt Disney World

Searchable Tips Database

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
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Trudy Allen is proud of her family's deep WDW roots — as a young adult her husband Rick performed as Baloo the Bear in the 1976 WDW Bicentennial Parade; her father-in-law was a draftsman on a team that helped design much of the gate work on Main Street in Magic Kingdom. Her family became Disney Vacation Club members 10 years ago for the grandchildren when they were but a dream. She lives in Columbus, Georgia, with her husband, and her cat Simba.

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Editor's Note: This story/information was accurate when it was published. Please be sure to confirm all current rates, information and other details before planning your trip.