How to prepare your children and a few random questions

[jetprincess]

I am a Disney virgin and we are planning trip for Easter week (I know, I know...) My soon to be 4 year old will be celebrating her birthday while we are there. She thinks we are going to have a Cinderella party while there. I have been trying to explain to her that her "party" won't be like a regular party but I'm not sure what to tell her to expect.

So, my questions are as follows;

Are you allowed into Cinderella's castle if you are not eating? (we couldn't get reservations)

If so, what is in there?

We have reservations for Cinderella's Gala Feast at GF. How do these character meals work?

What else can we do to make a birthday trip memorable?

Thanks so much! I have been lurking for a while now and I am floored at te amount of knowledge and experience here!

~JP

 

[beattyfamily]

I am a Disney virgin and we are planning trip for Easter week (I know, I know...) My soon to be 4 year old will be celebrating her birthday while we are there. She thinks we are going to have a Cinderella party while there. I have been trying to explain to her that her "party" won't be like a regular party but I'm not sure what to tell her to expect.

So, my questions are as follows;

Are you allowed into Cinderella's castle if you are not eating? (we couldn't get reservations)

If so, what is in there?

We have reservations for Cinderella's Gala Feast at GF. How do these character meals work?

What else can we do to make a birthday trip memorable?

Thanks so much! I have been lurking for a while now and I am floored at te amount of knowledge and experience here!

~JP

You can sometimes walk through the Castle, from the front to the back where Fantasyland is but it's sometimes closed off due to shows in front of the Castle. There is also a shop in there on the bottom floor, but you cannot go into the restaurant without an ADR reservation, unfortunately.

The Gala Feast is a great character meal. You'll get seated, told about the buffet and how the characters will circluate. Then if the characters aren't close by, go get your food. Hurry back so you don't miss any of them. Have your camera and autograph book ready. They will come to your table one by one for photos and autographs. That's about it.

You could get a birthday button at each park (at Guest Relations). Then all the CMs will wish her a happy birthday. YOu can order a cake at one of the restaurants for her birthday or let them know...some restaurants make a big deal of the birthday.

At 1900 Park Fare where you'll meet Cinderella and friends, you can special order a Cinderella slipper for $14. I'll post a picture below. They can even write Happy Birthday on it or her name. It's NOT covered under the dining plan. They need 48 hours notice and you'd call the GF main number and ask for the bakery.

Have fun planning!

 

[Ragnrok23]

Also call CRT every day to see if anything opened up

 

[bopper]

As they said, get a birthday button from Guest Relations. She will get a lot of attention from that. My daughter liked to wear a "birthday cake hat" that we got at Disney. Mention when you check in to a restaurant or when making reservations that it is your daughter's birthday. Some times you get a little extra thing like a card or a cupcake.

For a four year old? Buy her one of those Cinderella dresses and let her wear it all day!

 

[msklcassidy]

Stop by the Castle after lunch (say around 2 or 3ish) and ask the hostess at the door if you can "take a peek." We did that the first time we were at Disney and since they weren't busy, we were allowed in. I got a great picture of my son seeing the mice (Jacques and Gus-Gus)...they're way up high...and sitting in the "royal chair." To our surprise, Cinderella herself came out and I got a nice picture of my son with Cinderella (he was only 3).

Have fun!

 

[alittlegrumpy]

Last June we were staying at Port Orleans-FQ, and the evening before my wife's birthday there was a signed picture of Snow White and the seven Dwarves on the table in our room. When I had booked the trip the CM had asked if there were any special events going on during our trip, and Disney magic took over from there.

Hope you have a special trip!!