DS's 5th birthday at Disney ???

[disneylovingfamily:4]

We are surprising dd and ds with a trip to Disneyland on ds's 5th birthday.. What is a must do for his actual birthday day at the park?

 

[barefootmomma]

Definitely make sure he gets a (free) birthday button with his name on it, he'll hear happy birthday all day long! You can get them at the ticket window or City Hall, we usually just grab one at City Hall.

We've done the Plaza Inn birthday party deal in the past and really didn't feel like it was worth the money and wouldn't do it again. (described here: http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=223299). The price is now 15.99 per person. If it's in the budget, I'd probably try to do a character meal instead. We did a character meal (they no longer offer the same one we did) for my son's last birthday celebration and he loved it, it was worth every penny!

ETA:
I believe if you ask you can ride as a family (I think it accommodates 4) in the front of the Monorail. That might be kind of a fun special thing!

 

[bumbershoot]

For DS's 4th and 5th birthdays, just being at DLR was enough. For his 5th, we got some ice cream at Haagen Dasz and he was really happy with that (most of the treats at DLR are off limits b/c of their corn syrup products, but some HD ice creams are safe, and they have an ingredient list right under the register).

Come to think of it, he got ice cream on his 4th too, as we thought he'd like to be a Blue Bayou for his day, but then he didn't want to eat anything they have (their mac and cheese for kids is truly disgusting), but they gave him a free ice cream anyway (while DH and I shared the veggie meal).

Just being there makes us all happy!

OF course, last year's giftcard deal was fabulous as well...DS and I both got to partake in it...if only they would always do that!

 

[gr8leg8]

I read your post to my DD who is now 8 (we celebrated her 6 & 7 bdays in the parks)

"My favorite thing was a girlie thing" (BBB)
<yeah! I didn't know that was a favorite memory>

I asked her "so how about a pirate sword?"

we vote for him getting to pick out a special souvineer to bring home. After a complete look around the shops of course.

Agree with the PP about the birthday cake party thingie, total waste.

The great thing about this age is his favorite thing might be:
riding the omni bus
watching the ducks at Hungry Bear
Flik's flyers in Bugsland
cotton candy (shared with mom of course )
the hotel pool
Pixar parade
Disneyland Railroad (dinosaur section)

Enjoy!
and snap some great pics to revisit the memories

 

[aliceindisneyland]

We did Blue Bayou just for desserts for DS's 6th bday--tab was only $30 or so (before tip) for 2 desserts, 2 fancy take-home kid cups (Cars/Tinker Bell) with a light up toy on each, and 2 coffees. They give the kids paper pirate hats (kids menus are printed on the inside) too.
We take candles & lighter and stick them in whatever treats we get and sing HB to him--all day long--goofy but he loves it!
Make sure at any shows (Drawn To the Magic, Jedi, ABC game show/Peter Pan storytime in Innoventions, etc.) he sits up front w/his BD button on--I'm sure this has helped our DKs many times to get chosen to participate!
The sweet clerk at City Hall gave DD3 a Cinderella button too when we picked up DS's BD button--if you have other kids ask for one so they get something special too.

 

[disneylovingfamily:4]

Thank you all for the suggestions!! We are so excited. It is so hard not to say anything to the kids!!

 

[bnbheartdisney]

First thing I'd do is pick up a birthday button in City Hall. Although I've never tried this, I think the "My Disneyland Birthday Party" sounds really fun and it would be perfect for a little one! They also have "Happy Birthday" trading pins that would make a cute little gift if he has a lanyard!

Here's the link for the "My Disneyland Birthday Party":
http://disneyland.disney.go.com/dis...cialOccasions/detail?name=BirthdaysDetailPage