What's a good place for birthday celebration?

[sfnsfn]

Daughter will be turning 8 on our upcoming stay. What would be a good restaurant to celebrate her birthday? Are there any that go out of their way to make it special?

Thanks.

[disney queen]

Chef Mickey is a fun place. Cinderella's breakfast in the castle would be nice. What about afternoon tea for a "grown up" celebration? Happy Birthday to your daughter!!

[nwaslynchuk]

Our girls are both celebrating birthdays on Feb 25 and Feb 26. We'll be at the park on those dates, but I'm having a heck of a time booking anything. Obviously I should have booked months ago, but we just planned the trip last week.
We were able to setup a Princess Makeover on the 24th at Downtown Disney. That might be a good option for you.

As many have written here, and friends who just returned, the common thing I am seeing is that the quality at Chef Mickey's has dropped lately. Akershus Royal Banquet Hall in Epcot was referred to me as a good location as well.

Is a character experience what you're looking for?

[TheRustyScupper]

For birthdays, anniversies, honeymoons, and other celebrations,
no restaurant or resort is that much better than another.

1) It is a matter of the CM's personal initiative.
. . . depends upon how much they like you as a guest
. . . depends if they feel like doing anything special today
. . . depends upon the phase of the moon
2) CM's can do a lot, or they can do nothing at all - they have immense control.
. . . they are under no obligation to give goodies
. . . they are under no obligation to even acknowledge your special day
. . . but, they can go way overboard and give lots of gifts to a guest
3) The CM's have a lot of leeway of things to do or not do for you if they wish
4) Some of the things a CM can do for free are
. . . table with Mickey confetti
. . . best table location
. . . special personalized menu
. . . character-autographed birthday cards
. . . balloons
. . . wine or champagne or Shirley Temples
. . . appetizers or desserts
. . . cakes
. . . cupcake with candle (almost always available for the asking)
. . . placemats autographed by characters
. . . free appy or free dessert
5) Other items CM's can give for free
. . . room full of balloons and/or flowers
. . . fruit basket or wine basket in hotel room
. . . individual fastpasses or booklets of several fastpasses
. . . food and snack items (candy, popcorn, sundries)
. . . room uogrades
. . . attraction rides with characters
6) If you want something special (cakes, etc) buy them instead of hoping for them.

[jwfla422]

Originally Posted by TheRustyScupper

For birthdays, anniversies, honeymoons, and other celebrations,
no restaurant or resort is that much better than another.

1) It is a matter of the CM's personal initiative.
. . . depends upon how much they like you as a guest
. . . depends if they feel like doing anything special today
. . . depends upon the phase of the moon
2) CM's can do a lot, or they can do nothing at all - they have immense control.
. . . they are under no obligation to give goodies
. . . they are under no obligation to even acknowledge your special day
. . . but, they can go way overboard and give lots of gifts to a guest
3) The CM's have a lot of leeway of things to do or not do for you if they wish
4) Some of the things a CM can do for free are
. . . table with Mickey confetti
. . . best table location
. . . special personalized menu
. . . character-autographed birthday cards
. . . balloons
. . . wine or champagne or Shirley Temples
. . . appetizers or desserts
. . . cakes
. . . cupcake with candle (almost always available for the asking)
. . . placemats autographed by characters
. . . free appy or free dessert
5) Other items CM's can give for free
. . . room full of balloons and/or flowers
. . . fruit basket or wine basket in hotel room
. . . individual fastpasses or booklets of several fastpasses
. . . food and snack items (candy, popcorn, sundries)
. . . room uogrades
. . . attraction rides with characters
6) If you want something special (cakes, etc) buy them instead of hoping for them.

Agreed, especially the first part. We went to CM's twice over the years for dd's birthday and once they did do a nice confetti thing with the signed placemat, the server and Pluto came over with a cupcake and candle and sang happy birthday and then a few years later we went for her birthday again, only the server came over with a cupcake and candle and dropped it in front of dd and left (no confetti, no character, no singing happy birthday, my dh and I sang to her, big disappointment for dd and even me). Haven't been back there since. Both times the birthday was noted on the reservation and I confirmed it at check-in.

That same year they disappointed us at CM we had a really fun birthday at B&C and we sat at the counter. The CM's announced to the whole restaurant that it was MY birthday, they put on the lights and sounds that they use when they serve the "kitchen sink", sang happy birthday and brought me balloons. That was very cool and unexpected (I did have a birthday button on-did not tell them about it otherwise) and that was the only way the knew it was my birthday. AND they brought me a cupcake with a candle.

So just say'in, it could be great or just played off. OH and let me add, this same visit for MY birthday they upgraded our BCV room from a studio to a 2 bedroom villa, that was quite a surprise!

So the moral, like Rusty Scupper mentioned, you just never know how it's going to go no matter where you book.