Birthday gift ideas for a first timer at WDW?

[ozliz]

I would like to give my mother an extra experience at WDW for her birthday as her birthday is only a few days before we arrive at WDW. I’m looking for suggestions that aren’t meals??? Also she will be travelling light so an experience rather than a souvenir item she has to carry home is preferred.

So far I’ve booked the Garden View Tea Room for her birthday meal on the day we arrive. It will be 2 days late but I’m not sure we will have a chance to have the birthday meal on her actual birthday anyway.

She will have 3 park days (MK, EP and AK). She would like a non park day so I’ve decided to skip HS as I think that will be least appealing to her.

So far my problem has been that with such limited park time a lot of the extra tours seem to be a time waste for a first time visit. I’ve booked Amorette’s cake decorating experience for the morning of our AK day and don’t think that will take too much time out of the park day but the cake looks large for 2 people that will then only have 2 days to eat it. (I’m staying longer after and will end up eating more which seems more of a gift for me). I’m thinking of cancelling as I hope I can find something better.

Behind the seeds looks like her sort of thing but it is an hour out of her only Epcot day. I’ve seen mention of longer garden tours but that appears to be part of Flower and Garden and our trip is during Food and Wine.

Any other suggestions? Is there something fun in Disney Springs during the day that I’m not aware of? I haven’t been since it was Downtown Disney.

If we were to do an extra in a park day what would you recommend for a first timer that is not a meal?

 

[Paul Rodgers]

The dessert partys, especially the MK one for Happily Ever After could be AWESOME! It doesn't take up too much time and gets you a seat for the Fireworks!

Just be forewarned that if you put the bday on your reservation EVERYONE who sees your account will know, from every dining check-in, to every fastpass check-in. Our last family trip had my cousin's bday coincidentally within our stay and it got put on our reservation. She (18) got a cupcake and a birthday card at almost every meal for six days, and we must've heard 'Happy Birthday' 500 times. It was nice the first day or so, but it got old real quick, especially as we didn't want to be rude and had to discreetly disgard of the cupcakes once we got far enough from the restaurant. I went down this past summer and wore a bday button but didn't put it on my RSVP and it was much more manageable. I got a fair amount of attention but when I didn't want the attention, I just took off the button.

 

[Inka]

I have been thinking the same thing as we several people in our group are celebrating birthdays when we are there. I have thought about trying the Aerophile at Disney Springs (tethered air balloon). I have done a similar air balloon ride in Paris and it was fun experience.

 

[ozliz]

The dessert partys, especially the MK one for Happily Ever After could be AWESOME! It doesn't take up too much time and gets you a seat for the Fireworks!

Just be forewarned that if you put the bday on your reservation EVERYONE who sees your account will know, from every dining check-in, to every fastpass check-in. Our last family trip had my cousin's bday coincidentally within our stay and it got put on our reservation. She (18) got a cupcake and a birthday card at almost every meal for six days, and we must've heard 'Happy Birthday' 500 times. It was nice the first day or so, but it got old real quick, especially as we didn't want to be rude and had to discreetly disgard of the cupcakes once we got far enough from the restaurant. I went down this past summer and wore a bday button but didn't put it on my RSVP and it was much more manageable. I got a fair amount of attention but when I didn't want the attention, I just took off the button.

Thanks for the warning. She’s not one for attention so I’ll be careful.

I’ll look into those dessert parties. Sounds fun and maybe a good idea for managing the crowds as we will be tired by fireworks time of day.

 

[ozliz]

I have been thinking the same thing as we several people in our group are celebrating birthdays when we are there. I have thought about trying the Aerophile at Disney Springs (tethered air balloon). I have done a similar air balloon ride in Paris and it was fun experience.

I forgot about this experience. I love the idea of it was a gift for me. I love hot air balloons! Unfortunately she’s afraid of heights so probably wouldn’t go up or might pass out while up there if she tried (gets very dizzy from the fear) - not meaning to be not compansionate but so hard to buy for!

 

[srpresto]

Aquacar instead? Or take the boat ride from Disney Springs to POR and do a carriage ride? I think Fort Wilderness might do them too.