Restaurant Recommendations for Kid's Birthday Dinner

[PirateFish989]

Hi! We have a trip coming up in mid-April 2025 that will include my family (me, husband, son) and my BIL's family (BIL, SIL, three kids). My son is turning 5 on our first park day (MK) and I want to book a dinner for all 8 of us to celebrate his birthday. I don't expect anything special as the trip alone is special enough. But I'm wondering what others recommend. I was thinking maybe Crystal Palace because a character meal sounds like fun for a birthday. But Winnie the Pooh characters aren't necessarily his thing. We did Chef Mickey's on our trip in June and while it was a good experience, I'd like to try something new. I'm also thinking of ordering a special cake for him? Do you think that is necessary? Can that be done at CP?

Something else to consider: all 4 kids are celebrating birthdays on this trip, however only my son's falls during the trip. So I'm open to doing a meal that celebrates all the kids. Honestly, I'm open to all ideas!

Some background: all the kids' first trip was June 2024 and we only did one day at MK plus breakfast at Chef Mickey's the next day. We did CS meals the rest of the time. We will be staying at POFQ and while we aren't opposed to going elsewhere on property for his birthday dinner, staying at MK would be preferable since that will be our only MK day for the trip.

Thanks in advance!

 

[Sprinkles&Sprints]

If you’re ok switching to a different park for dinner, my vote is Roundup Rodeo BBQ - we recently visited with 3 kiddos who ranged in age from 5-13 and all had a blast. No character dining, but the theme was a hit!

 

[sponica]

When I booked our hotel reservation and I added a celebration to the reservation, practically EVERY ADR I MADE asked me to add a celebration cake.

My kids really enjoyed Liberty Tree Tavern at MK. Oddly we liked it as well, even though Colonial Americana is basically our back yard...

If I remember correctly, my then 5 year old really liked Steakhouse 71 at the Contemporary.

 

[jimmymc]

Be Our Guest would be over the top. With his birthday, you could request a big table in the middle of the ballroom. No guarantees, but it sounds fun to me.

Jungle Skipper Canteen is my favorite table service there, and I imagine the skippers would do something fun for his birthday. Be Our Guest, Jungle Skipper, and Crystal Palace all have the option to order a cake with your reservation: https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/guest-services/cake-orders/

 

[mom2cinderella]

I am biased - Crystal Palace is the first character meal we did with our kids so it has always had a special place in my heart.

It’s a pretty restaurant, the characters do a wonderful job, and while the buffet food isn’t *amazing*, it’s good enough and everyone can usually find something they like to eat.

I assume they still do the friendship parade - I think that’s what they call it - the characters & kids do a little march around the restaurant, so that’s pretty cute.

 

[Bellex917]

If you're willing to leave MK you can take the boat to Wilderness Lodge and do Storybook Dining at Artist Pointe, or take the monorail to GF and do 1900 Park Fare. Both are character meals with easy transport, but you'll lose 3+ hours at MK to do them (maybe less for 1900 Park Fare).

In MK CP is great. Cinderella's Royal Table is obviously the most iconic being in the castle and all.

 

[Anna131517]

I think going to Beaches and Cream for the Kitchen Sink Sundae would be fun, but it’s not in the parks. It’s at Beach Club, outside the back gate of Epcot. Boma at AKL is also nice for celebrating birthdays.

 

[erinch]

If your kiddo wants classic characters, at either Tusker House or Hollywood & Vine the characters make a big deal of congratulating birthdays.

You wouldn’t need a special cake. You could have a special plush or something to hold in pictures to remember the birthdays.

 

[dez1978]

We did T-Rex for my kids 6th bday. He liked it.

 

[BrianL]

We did T-Rex for my kids 6th bday. He liked it.

This is the one that I always think that, "Kids have gotta love this place!" It's not necessarily super high on my list, but a five-year-old boy? Oh yeah.

 

[Marthasor]

If he isn't into Winnie the Pooh, I would probably skip Crystal Palace. I find it very chaotic and the food isn't great. I always found doing buffets with young kids to be quite difficult. Would you consider doing a breakfast before getting to MK instead? If so, Topolinos is fantastic or you could even do 1900 Park Fare or 'Ohana. Whispering Canyon is also a lot of fun and would price out less than a character meal.

 

[Flagondry]

What about hoop de do review? Fun for everyone, memorable and good food.