Disney Trip Bday Celebration?

[specrn]

My son turns 6 in January and we are headed to Disney 3.5wks before (week before Christmas). This is a very special trip which we do not do yearly and it is so close to his birthday, we do not plan to have a birthday party for him (due to financial reasons). Is it appropriate to celebrate his birthday early while we are there?

I've read a few past posts about this with varying opinions. We'd like to make him understand how big and special going to Disney is, and expect he will understand that in going and celebrating there we will not also have a big birthday party. He is very reasonable and understanding, but he just started Kindergarten and I want his birthday to feel "special". Any suggestions/thoughts?

 

[Claire&TheBoys]

It is definitely OK to celebrate his birthday a few weeks early! If you're staying on-site have his birthday noted on your reservation and ask at check-in for a birthday button for him to wear. CMs will wish him a happy birthday often. If you're not staying on-site, just go to Guest Relations in any park and they'll be happy to give him a button. If you have any ADRs, have his birthday noted on the reservation; sometimes (not always, but sometimes) your server will bring a special cupcake or other dessert for him. You can also get ready-made cakes at many of the restaurants if you want to celebrate at a particular meal; for a higher price you can have a specialty cake made to have in your room or to be served at a meal. There's a comprehensive thread on the Restaurants board called "Cake Chatter" and it has all the ordering information.

Maybe when you get home and celebrate his birthday as a family, you can make a Mickey cake and spend that night looking at pictures from the trip to remind him of the special trip you took.

 

[dsnymomof4]

Definitely celebrate! It doesn't have to be the exact day. Hey - my DS will be 6 in January too and we are going down next week! We were there last January for Marathon weekend and celebrated his birthday and DD12's Feb birthday at Chef Mickey's - they brought each of them out a cupcake with a lit candle during the song & dance part. It was cute. In past trips, we've celebrated varioius birthdays at LTT (cupcake), Teppan Edo (ice cream or ginger cake), 1900 PF (cupcake), and I'm sure others that I can't remember. So, this past July, we went to Teppan Edo and as we were being seated they were singing Happy Birthday to someone at the next table. When our server came, DS5 told her it was his birthday. I told her it wasn't and she asked when his birthday was and he told her January and she said that's when hers is to. So, after dinner, she brought him out a dish of ice cream and a chef's hat with a picture of Donald hand-drawn on it and they sang Happy Birthday to him anyway! It was awesome!

 

[ckquan]

Yes! Celebrate! Are you doing autographs? If you are, I suggest that you ask the CMs at the Kidcot stations at EPCOT to write Happy Birthday or a birthday message in their language and then stamp with that country's stamp. We did this for my DD's 5th birthday this past May. The CMs were so happy we asked them. They spent time talking with my DD and really making the interaction special and about her. One CM even danced with her! The special birthday autographs/messages also makes for a great keepsake. Have a wonderful trip!