Valentine Sweet 16 (with 25+ friends)

[heatherlymann30]

We will be in Disney for my daughter's high school cheer competition in February. Monday, 2/14, Valentine's Day is her 16th Birthday. While I wish we could throw her an amazing private party at Disney with all of her friends, our budget won't allow for that. I want to make it as fun and memorable as possible. She and her friends are outgoing, fun, and well, crazy girls. This is likely the only full day they will have in the parks, so I want to do fun stuff, but also allow for plenty of time for rides.
I have thought about doing the following:

- Picture Scavenger Hunt in Magic Kingdom (or any park) with the large group (25+). Treat them to a Mickey Bar or some other cheap treat at the end with pics in front of the castle. Is there somewhere close to the castle to buy those so that they don't all melt? Other cheap treat ideas?
- Buy Birthday Girl/Birthday Squad t-shirts for her closest 4-5 friends that she would likely spend the entire day with.
- Breakfast or Dinner at a fun, nice restaurant with 4-5 friends. My initial thought was Chef Mickey's, but will the pics with characters even be any good with social distancing? I thought about California Grill for dinner and fireworks, but I understand they are doing something completely different with the restaurant. Any restaurants with a fun, party atmosphere? Will reservations on Valentine's Day be impossible?

That's all I have so far. I have read about dessert/fireworks shows, but that seems $$$. Boat rentals, but I don't really know what they'd do on the boat that would be any fun.

Any other ideas? Anything park specific? I appreciate any idea at all. They may spark a different idea in my mind.

 

[mjkacmom]

I don’t think I would celebrate my daughter’s birthday on the only full day this team has at a park. Do 25 girls want to take the time to go on a scavenger hunt for a Mickey bar? Now if her close friend group agrees on meal plans that you arrange, that seems fine, but what I remember about a WDW choir trip was it was all about the choir, they’d break up into manageable groups and make their own plans, usually on the fly, with zero parent involvement. My son’s 18th birthday was on the trip, I sent a cake to his hotel room.

 

[sponica]

I feel like teenaged girls are strange animals some times, she'll either balk at you making a big deal about her birthday or love the idea.

I know when my dance studio goes to Disney there's usually only one day off and everyone sort of does their own thing. So I'd ask your daughter IF she wants to celebrate while there and what she wants to do, I think a breakfast or dinner with a small group of friends might work.

 

[heatherlymann30]

I don’t think I would celebrate my daughter’s birthday on the only full day this team has at a park. Do 25 girls want to take the time to go on a scavenger hunt for a Mickey bar? Now if her close friend group agrees on meal plans that you arrange, that seems fine, but what I remember about a WDW choir trip was it was all about the choir, they’d break up into manageable groups and make their own plans, usually on the fly, with zero parent involvement. My son’s 18th birthday was on the trip, I sent a cake to his hotel room.

You are exactly right! The scavenger hunt would be optional and I know many girls wouldn't participate. But for those who want to, great!

 

[katyjeka]

I think your intentions are good but If they have only one full day in the park it does not allow them a lot of time for extras. If you get online early enough you should be able to find a dinner reservation. We have four girls and they love the boat rentals however I don't believe they will have time for them. I could be wrong but the largest boat holds 10(platoon boat) and I don't believe they would rent to a 16 year old. If the sea racers are running that would work with their ages but you would need three. We had our girls and their cousins get caricuture drawings one year. They turned out cute and were not expensive. You could look into a dining reservation at a resort to give them a break from the park and make it seem a little more special. I'm not sure if 1900 Park Fare is still doing the character dining. If they are our girls loved the stepsisters. They were a blast and made a big deal over our daughter for her birthdayand she was not young. Disney is full of cool looking drinks and desserts. I'm sure you will be able to find something special for her birthday. We've done the Firework cruises and I will say they are worth every penny!!! We took my inlaws for their anniversary and my mom cried the entire time. I think they are around $400 for a group of 10. Expensive but very magical. (we dont do the dessert cruise just the private firework cruise with sodas and chips) I like the shirt idea! They have so many nice birthday designs. I'm sure you already know this but at 16 she will probably be just as happy spending the day in the park with her friends and really won't care about the a lot of extras. You made my morning as I'm so excited to read competitions are back. Maybe the world will get back to normal. Have a great trip.

 

[heatherlymann30]

I feel like teenaged girls are strange animals some times, she'll either balk at you making a big deal about her birthday or love the idea.

I know when my dance studio goes to Disney there's usually only one day off and everyone sort of does their own thing. So I'd ask your daughter IF she wants to celebrate while there and what she wants to do, I think a breakfast or dinner with a small group of friends might work.

I have thought about this too, lol. Will they think this is stupid? Guess I can consider it some more, it's just impossible to surprise her with anything, and I thought this would be a great chance.

 

[VineHeart]

Personally, I would skip the scavenger hunt. I think the t-shirts and meal with her closest friends would be great! Maybe do the scavenger hunt with that same small group but not the whole squad.

 

[heatherlymann30]

I think your intentions are good but If they have only one full day in the park it does not allow them a lot of time for extras. If you get online early enough you should be able to find a dinner reservation. We have four girls and they love the boat rentals however I don't believe they will have time for them. I could be wrong but the largest boat holds 10(platoon boat) and I don't believe they would rent to a 16 year old. If the sea racers are running that would work with their ages but you would need three. We had our girls and their cousins get caricuture drawings one year. They turned out cute and were not expensive. You could look into a dining reservation at a resort to give them a break from the park and make it seem a little more special. I'm not sure if 1900 Park Fare is still doing the character dining. If they are our girls loved the stepsisters. They were a blast and made a big deal over our daughter for her birthdayand she was not young. Disney is full of cool looking drinks and desserts. I'm sure you will be able to find something special for her birthday. We've done the Firework cruises and I will say they are worth every penny!!! We took my inlaws for their anniversary and my mom cried the entire time. I think they are around $400 for a group of 10. Expensive but very magical. (we dont do the dessert cruise just the private firework cruise with sodas and chips) I like the shirt idea! They have so many nice birthday designs. I'm sure you already know this but at 16 she will probably be just as happy spending the day in the park with her friends and really won't care about the a lot of extras. You made my morning as I'm so excited to read competitions are back. Maybe the world will get back to normal. Have a great trip.

Hahaha, well we hope competitions are back. We competed virtually last year but there was a live comp on site. Our district would not allow us to go. Hopefully they will this year.
A question about the fireworks cruise...what was the general view? Could you see the castle at all?

 

[mjkacmom]

I have thought about this too, lol. Will they think this is stupid? Guess I can consider it some more, it's just impossible to surprise her with anything, and I thought this would be a great chance.

I have 3 daughters, this should not be a surprise. My daughters and her friends chose to wing it for dinner on the choir trip (she was 15 at the time). I suggested making an ADR but was turned down. The kids loved that they were on their own making their own plans (I may or may not have signed up for touring plans last minutes and given her a rough schedule just in case, they used it a little but felt it was more fun winging it with other groups). Do they have awards that evening? For the choir trip, all of the students in the choirs got together the evening of their free day for awards.

ETA, maybe offer to pay for dinner wherever they choose, and then arrange for a cake (or if they are staying on property arrange for a cake to be sent to her room, and if you do, tell her there are plates and utensils somewhere with the cake, my son didn’t find them until the next day so they just used their hands).

 

[katyjeka]

We did not see the castle but the fireworks view was unbelievable. Our drivers on both cruises made the night so special.

 

[Narcoossee11]

Great idea BUT no. Kids are going to want to ride rides
A t-shirt for all is a GREAT idea. She will have everyone wishing her a happy birthday through out the day.
Best gift is to let have HER day in the park. Have meal another day.

 

[mjkacmom]

Great idea BUT no. Kids are going to want to ride rides
A t-shirt for all is a GREAT idea. She will have everyone wishing her a happy birthday through out the day.
Best gift is to let have HER day in the park. Have meal another day.

About the tshirt, I don’t know about the OP’s daughter’s team, but for every dance competition my daughters have attended that involved travel (Orlando included) the kids wore matching shirts designed by the school (my choir kids has to wear choir shirts made for the occasion.

 

[heatherlymann30]

We did not see the castle but the fireworks view was unbelievable. Our drivers on both cruises made the night so special.

What sorts of things did the drivers do, if you don't mind sharing?

 

[heatherlymann30]

About the tshirt, I don’t know about the OP’s daughter’s team, but for every dance competition my daughters have attended that involved travel (Orlando included) the kids wore matching shirts designed by the school (my choir kids has to wear choir shirts made for the occasion.

No, on their free day they can wear what they want. These girls have been to Disney every year since 6th grade, sometimes twice a year.

 

[katyjeka]

He made my inlaws feel so special and sang to them for their anniversary. Gave my mom his coat as it was cooler on the lake than we planned. He joked with our kids and had everyone dancing. The boat is not real big but he made us feel as if we were disneys most important guests. If you go ask if Corey is still there. I'll try to find our pictures and post if I get time today. Our second cruise was just as nice and the older man(can't remember his name) was fantastic. He was so kind and knew so much about WDW that we did not know. He played a disney trivia game with our family and left our youngest keep score. She was a little to young to answer the questions but he made sure she felt included. My husband(the tightest person I know) stated he would have paid more for the experience. Trust me if you knew him you would understand how this means everything.

 

[heatherlymann30]

He made my inlaws feel so special and sang to them for their anniversary. Gave my mom his coat as it was cooler on the lake than we planned. He joked with our kids and had everyone dancing. The boat is not real big but he made us feel as if we were disneys most important guests. If you go ask if Corey is still there. I'll try to find our pictures and post if I get time today. Our second cruise was just as nice and the older man(can't remember his name) was fantastic. He was so kind and knew so much about WDW that we did not know. He played a disney trivia game with our family and left our youngest keep score. She was a little to young to answer the questions but he made sure she felt included. My husband(the tightest person I know) stated he would have paid more for the experience. Trust me if you knew him you would understand how this means everything.

Dancing, singing and being loud and silly is definitely what they would enjoy. Definitely giving me a lot to think about! I do think that the captain can make or break the experience.

 

[TwoMisfits]

Is there a reason you can't celebrate her 16th (un)birthday on a different day of the trip? My family is known for making birthday celebrations work for us and our friends, so birthdays get celebrated +/- 60 days here...

If you can celebrate a different night (than the all parks, all the time day), that will open up a lot of options...