Celebrating a 1 yr olds b-day simply

[ScubaMama]

We'll be celebrating DS's first birthday at Disney. If it were just me and DH we'd do a character meal and they'd bring out a cupcake for him and we'd be done. However, my mom, sister, brother-in-law, their one year old, and my brother will be there and it's too expensive. We don't have table reservations either for the same reason. A lovely spot with cake or cupcake is fine by us. DS won't care and we'll have cut a cake with the whole family that weekend.
Any suggestions for celerating his birthday without breaking the bank? Definitely looking for under $100, ideally under $50. Not sure which park we'll be in since I though MK or AK would be the cutest and those two are on the not recommended list from easywdw for December 5th. probably Epcot or HS then.
I appreciate any suggestions!

 

[MSSANDRA]

I would not get too caught up in the "recommended" dates and parks. That varies sooooo much and to have pictures in the MK on his b-day would be priceless. No TS for six people is going to be under a 100.00. Do you have transportation off site?? Maybe go to a local grocery store and buy a small cake and have a small party at the pool at your resort at the end of the day.

 

[HillPete]

Make sure you get the birthday button when you get to the park. Take his picture with as many characters as you can (or that he will tolerate) and make a little scrapbook for him to look at when he's older. Be sure to get a few photos with you and DH, too. The first birthday is as much about the parents surviving the first year as it is about the baby, so be sure to do something that will be memorable for you!

Oh, and get him a cupcake or something that will serve as a 'smash cake' for him. It's lots of fun to watch!

HTH,
--H

 

[dizluvah]

You could stop at main street bakery in MK (or whatever bakeries are in the other parks) and get a sweet birthday treat - slice of cake or other delicious goodie - they have tables - maybe everyone could get a little something and the birthday boy could have a sweets smorgasboard with a bite of many desserts or bring sweets back to your resort and have a "party" with treats by the pool?

in Epcot - kringla bakery in norway is our favorite or the pastry place in France....

 

[Kellydelly]

I would think you wouldn't run into crowds on the 5th, it's not the week after Thanksgiving so I would think it's a great week as far as that goes . Is your family expecting you to host a birthday meal while you are there? I would talk to them and say that you are planning on a cake but nothing else if you can't afford it.

 

[ScubaMama]

Wow thanks! There's something I'm taking away from each of your responses. You're rght there's no reason to shy away from MK when there won't be crowds. We'll go to MK that day (even more special since we're arriving the evening before so it'll be the first park). I'll pick up the birthday button at the entrance and at some point we'll stop at the Main Street Bakery. I'm surprised they have tables! That reallu makes it easy. My family wouldn't expect a meal to be hosted especially since we'll be throwing a small party with them and the extended family right before this. They'll be happy to hear about the plans.
I just wanted a great memory, specific memory when I think of DS on his actual 1st birthday. Devouring some sweets at the Main Street Bakery will make me smile for years to come. Thanks again!

 

[disprincessatheart]

If the weather is nice that day you could also take your cupcake/desserts outside to the tables in front of the ice cream shop or over to the tomorrow land terrace area. If you go to tt there are rarely many people around and your little one could make a mess without worrying about bothering the other guests since the able area in the ms bakery is very tight!

We had our ds in the studios on his first birthday and got him a cupcake at starring rolls. He made a mess and had a blast, just the three of us!

 

[Promomx2]

You could pick up a special toy (mickey mouse plush, etc.), hide it and then if you go to get mickey's autograph at his house, ask a cm if they can pass the present to mickey and have mickey give it to the birthday boy.

 

[Mama Who]

One of the main things to remember is that a 1st birthday celebration means very little to the guest of honor. You're doing this for the older family members and the memories. This helps in scaling back the grand gestures that are hard to pull off on a budget and that the little guy won't really understand anyway.

Pick a pretty spot. Bring a small cake. Sing, maybe have a candle, take some pictures. Enjoy the moment, but don't try for a big production. Easy and nice.

 

[mom2cookies]

you can get a birthday button when you sign in if you are staying on site. : )

 

[Halbleib1]

The first week of Dec is typically Pop Warner week isn't it? That is probably why they are saying it will be crowded. As for the MK on the 5th it is a Mon and our experience has been that MK is always busiest on this day. Expect Fantasyland to be the busiest area though.