Birthday Celebrations for 12 year old

[obithar2]

We will be able to spend a day at Disney for our daughter's 12th birthday. This is a dream come true for her, but she is quite shy. Can anyone tell me their experiences with the birthday buckets or birthday celebration? Is it all too juvenille for a 12 year old? Thanks so much.

 

[bumbershoot]

It really depends on her.

If she's shy, since I was (and still have tendencies) shy, I can't imagine her enjoying the celebration. I personally couldn't even have handled the birthday button as a child which comes along with people noticing and saying happy birthday all day long. For me, personally, I would have just enjoyed knowing that the trip was for my b'day, and having a low-key thing at a restaurant that did NOT include having the song sung to me (I burst into tears at the song when I was a year old, and continue to hate hate hate having it sung to me).

The bucket, if you get the pink princess one, if it hasn't changed, is a VERY obvious bucket (I really should post pictures...couple years ago I wanted the now-GONE Pooh bucket (ew? lol) and hubby couldn't find that (since I was reading out of date books, dangit) so he got me the princess one), very pink. The top is similar to the hat here: With mine, even once the cake was out of it, the ribbons kept slipping out and the hat would clunk open. Very frustrating.

Has a cake inside of it (I did NOT like it), a sheet of princess magnets like a paperdoll you dress up, a Happy Birthday pin with princesses on it, and pink/silver sparkly hairbrush and comb. BUT the hairbrush and comb are for BABY hair, or the very finest of hair. Even as a 12 year old, with my hair, I couldn't have even have thought of using those...even as a 2 year old I couldn't have (curls). And that's the princess bucket.

Many others are big fans! I am not.

 

[obithar2]

Thanks so much. She is shy, but does like attention on her birthday. It doesn't really sound like the bucket or party will be her thing, though.

 

[minniebeth]

She can get a birthday button and people who wear them usually get attention from cast members, characters, etc.
She is the perfect age for a scrapbook. We gave my DD a disposable camera, along with the photos we took, a Disney scrapbook, paper, stickers, etc.
She had some memorablilia as well. She scrapbooked her trip afterwards and was not only fun but a fun memory from the trip as well.

 

[jemilah]

DS 11 enjoyed wearing his b-day button and the extra attention from cast members, I agree the bucket is better for the younger set. Are you doing a character meal? Also they sell b-day hats and pins too.

 

[obithar2]

I was wondering about a character meal - I think we would like to. Are there any recommendations as to what character meals or other meals that would be fun. We have never been to Disneyland, only WDW. I always told her we would never be at Disney for her birthday because of the crowds and heat in July in Florida, so she is really, really excited about this. She loves Disney almost as much as me.

 

[jemilah]

DS11's favortite is Goofy's kitchen , and he has the personality normally of a 60 year old man but loves it there! Does she have favorite characters? At goofy's last trip we saw Goofy , Pluto , Chip& Dale , Mulan, Jasmin and maybe one more. Lilo and Stich is another favorite , with Lilo and Stich.....he is so cuddly! Minnie and Daisy . Hope that helps a bit.

 

[obithar2]

That is a big help. I saw that they had some kind of birthday upgrade you could do at Goofy's Kitchen. Have you ever done that and is it worth it?

Thanks again.

 

[jemilah]

I don't know of an up-grade, you just let them know at check in your celebrating a b-day, they usually give you a birthday button from GK and a cupcake with a candle , often at the wrong time, just as you get 1st plate of food or when b-day person is not even at the table , don't be shy and tell them to hold on you should not be rushed! You can order a cake , but with the desert there I see no reason too, the capcake is usually not that good but the stuff on the buffet is great!

 

[jemilah]

here is Ds11 in Oct , plate full of food and here comes the cupcake!

 

[obithar2]

I can see the problem with the cupcake coming too soon - but what an AWESOME picture. It really makes me want to do it. Thanks so much for posting it. I thought I read that getting the cupcake and a goody bag or something was an extra cost, but I must have been wrong. Thanks so much.

 

[disneyfan4ever54]

I can see the problem with the cupcake coming too soon - but what an AWESOME picture. It really makes me want to do it. Thanks so much for posting it. I thought I read that getting the cupcake and a goody bag or something was an extra cost, but I must have been wrong. Thanks so much.

You are right about the birthday bag. It does cost extra and it was $5.00 when we bought one for my DS. They also brought balloons to our table when they brought the cupcake and birthday bag. It was really fun to celebrate his birthday there.

 

[obithar2]

Any comments on whether the birthday bag for worth it for a 12 year old? If the balloons were included, though, then that would certainly help make it special. Thanks again