Any suggestions for making a fifth birthday visit extra special?

[ChristiJ]

Hello... I tried to search for this topic, but can't get the search to work

We are taking my daugther to Disneyland for her fifth birthday in February. She's all about princesses right now, so I figure this is the perfect time for her first visit to Disneyland. We are driving out from AZ on Sunday, and will go to Disney Sunday night, Monday and Tuesday.

Does anyone have any suggestions, ideas, experiences as far as making a birthday even more magical? Here's what I've already figured out....

Get her birthday sticker/pin to wear while we are at Disneyland

We have dinner at Ariel's Grotto scheduled (and let them know it was her bday)

We are staying at the Hojo (Disney view room) and I've spoken with Lorealle about sending over one of my daughter's gifts so that I can have it waiting in the room for her (and it will be from "The Princesses").

Any other ideas or advice would be greatly appreciated. Something about turning five seems so monumental to me, and I really want to make this a magical experience for us.

Thanks!!!!

 

[BillyFan]

How about "driving" the Mark Twain? You just have to ask before you're boarding, and if som,ebody isn't already up there, they will send you to the top of the boat to ride with the captain.

 

[MunkyMe13]

The Princess Fantasy Faire might be fun but I dont know about the process. You might also try a make over at Club Libby Lu.

 

[kellymom]

Expanding on your idea of having a gift left in the room. When we leave in the morning to go to the park I have my dh take dd out of the room and then I leave something each night for her on the bed from the Princess of the Day (I choose). I also keep fun Disney things in my backpack and in line pull them out and tell her that the princess left it for her.

Disney Store was having a good sale yesterday and I got her a Marie little stuffed cat that had a birthday hat and a bag that said Happy Birthday on it for $2. She loves Marie and it will be perfect for her to hold in lines for her 5th birthday in May!

You can do the birthday party in Disneyland. We did that last year and had a lot of fun. You get to decorate a little cake and see Mickey and Minnie and take pictures.

 

[ballarinamom]

We arranged for a character call from Ariel (DD's fav) the night before we left. That was her que to go to bed. It was about $4 and she loved it. I found it on the Disney website

 

[chickybanky]

Expanding on your idea of having a gift left in the room. When we leave in the morning to go to the park I have my dh take dd out of the room and then I leave something each night for her on the bed from the Princess of the Day (I choose). I also keep fun Disney things in my backpack and in line pull them out and tell her that the princess left it for her.

We arranged for a character call from Ariel (DD's fav) the night before we left. That was her que to go to bed. It was about $4 and she loved it. I found it on the Disney website

I love both of these ideas!!

 

[pixiewings71]

We did breakfast at Ariel's Grotto and Cinderella (dd8's fave) brought her a card that she had signed and it plays "A Dream is a Wish Your Heart Makes". I bought it beforehand and we smuggled it in for her. The Princesses aren't supposed to give gifts but Cindy did it for Jade and it really made her day. We got her a b-day pin and we also got her a cake hat and the candles light up. She got lots of b-day themed trading pins too. We also had Cinderella call her.....she really had a great day and says it was her best birthday ever...of course she's only 8 so she's got a lot of time! LOL

 

[jlmarr]

Buy her a hat and have her name embroidered on it. CM's and "face characters" will be calling her by name all day. Combine that with the birthday button and you've got it made.

 

[ChristiJ]

Thanks so much! Love the ideas. Love leaving something behind in the room to be waiting when we get back each night. I need to check into those phone calls, that would be awesome!

 

[Silly Little Pixie]

Thanks so much! Love the ideas. Love leaving something behind in the room to be waiting when we get back each night. I need to check into those phone calls, that would be awesome!

My kids have always loved the Happiest Birthday on Earth Celebration with Pat E. Cake. You get to decorate a cake, sing, and get your picture taken with Mickey and Minnie. You get to keep the souvenir cup too. I made the reservations day of, first thing in the morning outside Carnation Plaza (I think!). Does that sound right?

 

[PrincessKell]

At the Princess Fantasy faire they have little make overs face paintings and hair.

Depending on how many days you are staying, you could take ONE day or afternoon on morning (if you dont have many days) to let her pick what you are going to do. even if its the same things over and over. It will be soo much fun for her.

What day is her bday. my dd's sixth is on the 7th.

 

[Zoemakes5]

I have to ditto the Club Libby Lu idea. DD did this last time. She was all dressed up as Mulan and decided to go with the Rocker. She looked so cute! Very ecclectic, but she owned it so it worked. I don't remember whether anyone suggested it, but make sure you have her dressed up as her fav. princess for Ariels. Or at least that's one of my suggestions for an extra special time.
The build a bear has Disney Princess clothes to dress your bears, so that would be something extra special. (Actually, we like going there the last day before we leave. It's something special to look forward to and gives them something special to take home with them.)
Also, take advantage of the sillouettes on Main Street. They're cute and inexpensive, and it's great to look at them over the years.
If your DD doesn't have her ears pierced yet, but wants to, you could do that at Club Libby Lu, and she'll always remember having her ears pierced at DLR.

 

[ChristiJ]

Thanks for the wonderful ideas! So glad that someone mentioned having her wear one of her dresses for the Ariel dinner. She's been wearing her Cinderella dress around the house the past week, and will be getting Belle and Ariel costumes for her birthday. Maybe I'll pick the easiest to pack Can't wait!!! Thanks everyone.

 

[AmericanItGirl]

Thanks for the wonderful ideas! So glad that someone mentioned having her wear one of her dresses for the Ariel dinner. She's been wearing her Cinderella dress around the house the past week, and will be getting Belle and Ariel costumes for her birthday. Maybe I'll pick the easiest to pack Can't wait!!! Thanks everyone.

If it wouldn't be overkill for her, maybe you could allow her to wear a different costume every day so she could be the birthday princess for every day of her special birthday trip.

 

[ChristiJ]

If it wouldn't be overkill for her, maybe you could allow her to wear a different costume every day so she could be the birthday princess for every day of her special birthday trip.

I might just have to do that. I'm so excited, I hope she has as much fun as I think she will. When I read that someone's daughter had the princesses sing happy birthday to her at Ariel's Grotto, I about cried, how amazing is that??? I wonder at what point I should break it to my daughter that not all birthdays will be THIS amazing (the day before we go it's 20 friends at one of those bounce house places for her party - the kid's got it good this year, lol).

 

[AmericanItGirl]

Well, I'm sure that she'll realize that 5 is a milestone because after that you have to use two hands to count how old you are.

I'm sure it'll be a birthday that she'll never forget, probably even better than getting a pony.

 

[fairycat]

One fun freebie is to go to City Hall right as you enter on the Right hand side (also where you can get a B-day button), tell the CM it's your DD's Birthday and she will get a special call I believe from Goofy. Its a lot of fun.