Ideas for daughter turning 5 at Disney World

brittamouse · Mar 30, 2015

Hi All,

During our next Disney Trip (Oct 24 to Nov 1) my daughter will be turning 5. I'm wondering if anyone has any ideas as to how to make it a special day? I'm considering BBB (although I'm not particularly keen on the price and how made-up the kids are, etc...), and/or CRT, but I'm wondering if anyone else has any different suggestions? She loves having her hair done so was thinking maybe the Harmony Barber Shop but am concerned it might not be sufficiently "girly" for her.

Any ideas welcome

Thanks!

Britta

dprincessmom · Mar 30, 2015

First off - celebrate the entire time you are there. Any ADR book it with her Birthday celebration on it and get her the pin.
On her actual day, could you decorate the room while she is asleep (banner, streamers, confetti and a roll of tape in the suitcase wouldn't take up too much room). Maybe throw a tiara in for her to wear on her special day?

BBB is fun at that age and if she was asking for it, I would probably go ahead and do the least expensive package. Our one trip to BBB was when my DD was 4.5 and she loved it. We did it the last night of our trip before dinner at Chef Mickeys and she wore the hair style for a while (she got the longer hair/braid, bun) and we took our own sun dress with Aurora on it so she was comfortable. We got the pins, instead of the tiara clip, because she purchased a build your own tiara thing they used to have at World of Disney and wanted that.

We have done Harmony Barber Shop, but I believe that some things have changed since we did it and last I heard (though it could have changed again) the colored gel wasn't available. It's a quick, cute and cheap version but two entirely different experiences.

There is nothing like being at WDW to celebrate your birthday. If a CM asks do you have a minute after seeing her pin, say yes if you can. There is usually a little treat (phone call from character, or a little something) that the CM has chosen to do for her. During dining a little something extra for the Birthday Girl may find it's way to your table.

DisneyRegulars · Mar 30, 2015

I was recently there in January and it was my son's fifth birthday the day we left. What I did earlier in the week was let him plan an ENTIRE day. For an entire day we did exactly what he wanted to do. It was so cool to see what was important to him. For example, if I had planned his perfect day for him, it would have included riding the Barnstormer 10 times in a row. For his perfect day we never even stepped foot in the parks. Instead we played in the hotel room for quite a while, went to the Lego store and built and raced cars for 3 hours, ate mac n cheese for dinner, went swimming at night in 60 degree temperatures (Brrrrrr!), and finished with the arcade. I think letting your daughter make every single planning decision for a whole day would be an awesome way to celebrate her birthday, and you get the bonus of seeing Disney truly through a kids eyes.

robndani · Mar 30, 2015

DisneyRegulars said:
I was recently there in January and it was my son's fifth birthday the day we left. What I did earlier in the week was let him plan an ENTIRE day. For an entire day we did exactly what he wanted to do. It was so cool to see what was important to him. For example, if I had planned his perfect day for him, it would have included riding the Barnstormer 10 times in a row. For his perfect day we never even stepped foot in the parks. Instead we played in the hotel room for quite a while, went to the Lego store and built and raced cars for 3 hours, ate mac n cheese for dinner, went swimming at night in 60 degree temperatures (Brrrrrr!), and finished with the arcade. I think letting your daughter make every single planning decision for a whole day would be an awesome way to celebrate her birthday, and you get the bonus of seeing Disney truly through a kids eyes.

That's so fun!

I would do BBB! My daughter just did it for the first time in Feb (she's 5). Perfect age!

BellsFam · Mar 30, 2015

DD loved getting her face all painted up at the kiosks...

You could do the pirate league too where they turn into a mermaid... (Then grab an Ariel costume before you leave)...

The birthday pins are great too.

Honestly at that age something as simple as a big balloon and cake would be so exciting... I like the idea of the child deciding the whole day!

ruthies12 · Mar 30, 2015

Check out the cake chatter thread on the Disboards restaurant section. The custom cakes are so adorable, here is the one I'm planning on getting for my DD for her 7th birthday this year, I found it on one of the cake threads and think it looks awesome.

My DD did BBB when she was 5 and loved it and is doing it again for her bday trip with lunch at CRT afterwards. She saw the commercial they've been running on Disney Junior where the little girl is presented a tiara at the castle dinner and now of course she wants that. It is extremely expensive to do the Disney version so I'm doing it myself, bringing a nice crystal tiara with us and placing it on a small silk pillow. She will find it when she wakes up in the morning along with a birthday card from tinkerbell and some tiny foot prints in gold glitter that I'm making with Barbie shoes.

ruthies12 · Mar 30, 2015

I'm also considering putting together a whole bunch of small gifts that tinkerbell will deliver to our room in addition to the tiara but I haven't quite decided yet. The gifts would be from the princesses and here is what I have so far:
Snow White- an Apple for a snack
Belle- a new book
Aurora- a new nightgown (specifically the pink princess one from Disney)
Cinderella- new slippers
Ariel- new sunglasses or swim goggles if we might be going to the pool
Rapunzel- a new hairbrush
Mulan- a small lacy fan

I got the idea from Disney's in room celebrations that are extremely overpriced that their floral department does. This would be my cheaper version but I haven't decided if I'm going to do it yet or not.

If anybody can come up with gift ideas from these princeses let me know!
Tiana
Elsa and Anna
Merida
Jasmine
Pocohontas

Ladcassidy · Mar 30, 2015

We have celebrated DD's 5th, 6th, and 7th birthdays at WDW. The birthday button is a MUST, have your daughter wear it every day so that people wish her happy birthday over and over again. As noted above, you might be delighted by birthday surprises, too. (One year the Dapper Dans serenaded DD on Main Street, another year we were invited for a private viewing of Anna & Elsa's (then-Epcot) stage). We have not done BBB, but DD wears a princess dress to the parks most days, and a tiara if she wants. Tinkerbell leaves little presents in our room for her to find each morning of our trip, and she is allowed to pick out one bigger thing on the last day of our trip as her birthday present.

brittamouse · Mar 30, 2015

Thanks for all the great ideas! The tinkerbell footprints are a cute idea and I agree that a cake and a balloon go a long way at 5 years old (especially a Mickey balloon). I'm leaning towards the BBB - anybody know if they do anything special for Halloween (i.e. LE costume or if there is a "princess" Minnie option?

ABCastillo · Mar 30, 2015

Awesome ideas!

DisneyWishes14 · Mar 30, 2015

Other salon options include children's packages at Ivy Trellis at GF and the salons at CSR and YC/BC. You can call 407-WDW-SPAS for details.

DisneyRegulars · Mar 30, 2015

ruthies12 said:
I'm also considering putting together a whole bunch of small gifts that tinkerbell will deliver to our room in addition to the tiara but I haven't quite decided yet. The gifts would be from the princesses and here is what I have so far:
Snow White- an Apple for a snack
Belle- a new book
Aurora- a new nightgown (specifically the pink princess one from Disney)
Cinderella- new slippers
Ariel- new sunglasses or swim goggles if we might be going to the pool
Rapunzel- a new hairbrush
Mulan- a small lacy fan

I got the idea from Disney's in room celebrations that are extremely overpriced that their floral department does. This would be my cheaper version but I haven't decided if I'm going to do it yet or not.

If anybody can come up with gift ideas from these princeses let me know!
Tiana
Elsa and Anna
Merida
Jasmine
Pocohontas

Oh my gosh these ideas are so cute!!!! I love how it's not all junky stuff, but useful things. Here are my feeble attempts to help you:
Tiana - No idea really
Elsa and Anna - One of those spray fans, or a kleen canteen or other thermos to keep things cold, something to keep things cold. Or something to keep you warm, like a new sweatshirt or rain coat.
Merida - Again completely useless here
Pocohontas - stuffed racoon? Something related to nature, like a grow your own strawberries kit or something.

DYOBL0305 · Mar 30, 2015

All great ideas, might use some for our next trip (hoping to celebrate our dd2's birthday while there). We did celebrate our oldest's 6th birthday on our trip this past Aug, she had a blast!! We let the resort know ahead of time, they had a special birthday button for her and we had a complimentary call from mickey the morning of her birthday wishing her a happy birthday. We had reservations at bbb, we purchased the basic package since we were having dd2 do it as well, they loved it and looked absolutely beautiful. That gel/glitter they use on their hair is something else though lol we also had dinner reservation at epcot (akershus royal banquet hall) where she got to meet and take photos with some of the princesses visiting belle. All day she got wished a happy birthday from cm's to perfect strangers, stickers, and even a free balloon, making her day that more special :love:

dprincessmom · Mar 31, 2015

Tiana - a little plastic frog

) You have to kiss a lot of frogs :love2:

Anna and Elsa - a coupon for a frozen lemonade to stay cool.
Merida - a coupon for a special mother daughter outing when you get home???
Jasmine a little lamp necklace for wishing
Pocohantas - little hummingbird earrings

Ideas for daughter turning 5 at Disney World

brittamouse

Earning My Ears

dprincessmom

dprincessmom

DisneyRegulars

DIS Veteran

robndani

DIS Veteran

BellsFam

DIS Veteran

ruthies12

DIS Veteran

ruthies12

DIS Veteran

Ladcassidy

DIS Veteran

brittamouse

Earning My Ears

ABCastillo

Mouseketeer

DisneyWishes14

DIS Veteran

DisneyRegulars

DIS Veteran

DYOBL0305

Mouseketeer

dprincessmom

dprincessmom

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