Need to Know All About Birthdays at Disney

[rmass82]

Hi, My daughter will be turning 10 when we are at Disney. Are there any rates for things that go up at 10 that I should be aware of?
I heard there is a badge she can get in Disney. We plan on doing a character meal, she wants a princess one. We are going first 2 weeks of October. Any other promos or benefits to having a birthdya there we should be aware of? Thanks

 

[Raindown]

I heard there is a badge she can get in Disney.

Yep, it is a button (the big metal kind) free of charge. She'll get plenty of birthday wishes going around with it.

 

[barefootmomma]

Ticket prices go up from child to adult prices at 10. In our experience, character meals are also charged based on age and have different prices for children and adults (adults being 10+). A friend of mine took her daughter to Ariel's Grotto in DCA for their princess character meal, I believe they did breakfast, and I heard nothing but good things about their experiences there (http://disneyland.disney.go.com/disneyland/en_US/parks/dining/detail?name=ArielsGrottoDiningPage). They did have a bit of sticker shock at the price, but after going ahead with it expressed that it was so well worth the money!

ETA: You can get her a birthday button at the ticket window or at City Hall, to the left when entering under the trains at the park. She'll hear happy birthday all day long, it definitely makes the day more special!

 

[bumbershoot]

Ariel's is THE princess character meal, and they do b'fast, lunch, and dinner!

If she wears the Birthday button she'll get lots of well wishes from CMs and even guests. If you tour the tortilla factory at DCA and the CM notices her button, she should get a baggy with a few tortillas beyond the normal one tortilla you get when you go through the factory. You used to get a dozen, but that seems to have changed.

 

[3Minnies1Mickey]

If she is 9 on her first day at the parks, she is "9" for the entire duration of your trip. So no need for an adult ticket once her bday hits. As far as for meals...that's up to you. I have heard that the "9 for the entire duration of your trip" counts for meals too, but I don't know that for sure. If anyone has experience on this I'd love to hear it. DD will be turning 3 during our June trip, so I'm not sure if I have to pay for her for character meals after she turns 3???

 

[Anj]

At Ariel's Grotto for our breakfast, our daughter was turning 2. We were chosen (because of her bday) to help announce the first Princess to arrive. If you do a character meal, do tell them that it's your daughters bday, they may do something special.