What have you done for birthdays?

[pewing]

My 7 year old DS will be celebrating his 8th birthday on our next trip.

What are some fun ideas for birthday magic?

 

[2MuchOhana]

Howe many people will be in your party? Is he too old for the characters or are they still okay?

The reason I am asking is because a fireworks cruise might be a lot of fun. They are now offering a special one with Peter Pan for groups with eight or more people providing you all eight stay onsite as part of The Magical Gatherings. We took a regular MK firework cruise (upgraded to a birthday cruise) in July for dd's 2nd birthday. We all had a great time.

If he isn't too old for the characters plan a character meal. That can be a lot of fun, too. Don't forget to mention it when make ressies for meals. You can also request a cake for an additional fee of about $9.95.

We also bring party supplies to decorate our room. If you are staying onsite mention it on your reservation. Don't count on them doing anything; but they might send balloons and a card to your room. We arranged to have a gift basket delivered to our room.

Also you may want to check out gifts of a lifetime. I have heard many good comments from people that have used them.

Most of all don't forget to get him a Birthday Button. They have them at all the parks.

 

[DJBounce]

5 Years ago, my DW used Gifts of a Lifetime for my 28th BDay and they were great. We did a scavenger hunt and I got a present at each place. Then at the end, I was handed a big ball of blue party ribbon that had an assortment of boy toys wrapped up in it and 29 Disney dollars. My first gift was a Mickey Ears hat with my name embroidered on the back and airbrushed on the ears were my birthday and 28th birthday. I was told to wear it throughout the day and the CM at TOT saw it and let me ride twice in a row. After the second time I was give a Magical Moment certificate signed from the cast of TOT. It was a great Disney day!!

 

[Harambe]

DS celebrated his 7th birthday last trip. We went to City Hall in MK and got him the Birthday Pin. It was only 5 dollars, and pretty big. All the CM's made a big deal over him. We went to the Plaza Restaurant for lunch. The mayor of Main Street came in - saw DS's pin - and asked the whole restaurant to be quiet while he wished DS a Happy Birthday. The whole place clapped for him. Could we have planned that - NO! The old Disney magic!

We did go to Chef Mickey's for his BD dinner, and that was nice but there were a mess of kids celebrating BD's so it wasn't that special!

 

[georgina]

We did Chef Mickey's for DS's 10th bday. He was given a free "It's my birthday" button to wear for the day around the parks. This year I'm taking DD to Hoop-de-doo for her 14th bday.

 

[pewing]

There are 4 of us (DH, myself, DS9 and DS...birthday boy turning 8). Still very into characters!
Gifts of a Lifetime sounds great...will have to check on that as well...
Harambe...I too have ressies at Chef Mickey's for a B-day Dinner but was worried there would be 'many birthdays' (I saw somewhere that 'all the kids who were celebrating birthdays made a parade...I don't want a parade...I want him to feel like it is 'all about him' ) He loved the CM at LTT...I might switch to there. We've never done Chef Mickey's...so we wanted to try it, but I will have to weigh this... My DH says I am trying too hard to make everything 'perfect' He's right...it will be PERFECT

 

[Harambe]

I know what you mean about making it special for your son. At Chef Mickey's - they brought DS a cupcake with a candle in it - but the little one at the next table kept coming over to blow the candle out, because he thought it was his cupcake for his BD! DS laughs about it now, but I felt kinda bad for him at the time!

I think any of the restaurants will do something for a BD, so if your son likes LTT - by all means, go there!

Only other suggestion I have is to go to a place that takes the professional photo and have your son be front and center with the big 'ol BD pin on! That was the one good thing about Chef Mickey's!

 

[CdnDisneyFan]

If you're going to be staying onsite, be sure to have it marked on the ressie, I was supposed to have gotten a phone call from Goofy last year, (it was on the ressie sheet), but when I didn't, I called down to Guest Services, and mentioned it, and a nice CM came by the room with a balloon bouquet with a signed photo card from Tigger and friends!!!!!! I also recommend the bday button, I still have mine, and smile at all the memories from that trip!!

Jules

 

[cgcw]

We just celebrated our DS9's birthday in October at WDW. When I made our PS's, I asked them to note it on each PS. We had a few magical moments.

We had a character breakfast on a Sunday at 1900 Park Fare. Alice in Wonderland and Bert from Merry Poppins were there. Both made a big deal about DS's birthday -- singing a very off key Happy Birthday to him. DS was given a birthday cupcake as well as a birthday placemat.

That same evening we had PS's for LTT at 5 pm. Our family was asked to be the "Bell Family" of the evening. DS has the opprotunity to welcome all the guests and open the restaurant for dinner. I'm sure "we" were selected because it was noted on our PS that DS was celebrating his birthday. I also ordered a wonderful whipped cream cake at LTT ($10 extra) when I made the PS. It was absolutely delicious! The characters came over to wish him a happy birthday.

Another evening we dined at Cape May. The CM brought DS a birthday cupcake and acknowledged him by name. When DS questioned how he knew his name, the CM said it was just part of "Mickey Magic".

On an impromptu note, we stopped at Crystal Palace for lunch. The CM went out of her way to acknowledge DS's birthday based on a birthday pin he was wearing. DS received a birthday candle as well as a birthday card signed by all of the characters.

By far the most magical moment we had because it was DS's birthday was a trip to the roof of the Wilderness Lodge -- which is where we were staying. We had hoped to be able to do the daily flag ceremony but the days were already filled when we checked in. DH found a CM who was able to get an exception for us to be taken up to the roof explaining that it was our DS's birthday trip. It was certainly a breaktaking experience.

Many CM's wished our DS a happy birthday based on the free pin he received. One of the CM's at Animal Kingdom dialed the phone in her store to have my DS speak to Goofy and get wished a happy birthday. There are many "surprises" that can happen (DS did not know I had a hand in any of them ). I might be in trouble, though, because DS3 is already asking to have his birthday at WDW. I'm not sure I can duplicate the "magic" twice.

Have fun!

 

[Princess Michelle]

Definitely get the birthday button! Everywhere you go people will be wishing your son a Happy Birthday!

I had a blast with mine! The Dapper Dan's at the MK saw mine and my friend's buttons and serenaded us right there on Main Street.

We had lunch at the Crystal Palace and they brought me a cupcake with a candle in it and also a card signed by all the Characters.

Now this was my 24th birthday and if I had that much fun I can only imagine how much it would mean to a child and I bet they would get even more attention.

 

[AZKathy]

We have done the Illuminations birthday cruise for DD's 7th birthday. It was kinda pricey, but she loved it.

If you are staying on site, remind the resort that it is DS's birthday. There is a chance they will bring balloons with a birthday card to your room while you are gone. OKW has done this for us for three birthdays, so far. The card is an autographed birthday card from a character.

We did DS's 12th birthday at Tepanyaki (his choice!) and they brought an entire birthday cake to our table to share with all the people dining at out table and the room sang Happy Birthday to him. DD's at 1900 Park Fare brought her a cupcake and the breakfast at Cindy's had Mickey's confetti on the table and she got a Magical Moment's certificate. We also did a lunch at Hollywood and Vine and DD2 got a cupcake with a plastic Pluto as the balloon weight with a card autographed by the Fab 5.

Don't forget to get the "Today is my birthday" button at City Hall for DS.

Don't forget to bring your wrapping paper for your presents. I forgot wrapping paper and I had to wrap all DD's birthday gifts with the WDW bags!!!!We decided to buy all of her birthday gifts while there at WDW, but low and behold, I did not bring any wrapping paper!!!!

Have a great trip!

 

[dizzyfan]

Last year 12/22/02 we celebrated my son's 8th B-Day at WDW we spent the day at MGM. They were out of the B-Day Buttons, but I had made him at Sweatshirt that said "Celebrating my 8th Birthday with Mickey!" I made an iron on with a picture of my son and Mickey from our summer trip and I ironed it on the sweat shirt before our trip, jut for his bday. Cast members as well as other guest made a Big Deal out of it all day. We had breakfast at Hollywood and Vine and all the characters gathered around as everyone sang Happy Birthday and brought out a cupcake with a candle decoarted really pretty on the plate, he also got a card sign by the characters. We had dinner at the Prime Time Cafe, they made a really big deal over his birthday and they also brought a cupcake out with a candle, they decorated the plate with syrup and sprinkle and the chef wrote on the plate "Happy 8th Birthday Kaleb"

We will be celebrate his 9th birthday at WDW this year and he wanted to eat breakfast at Chef Mickey (we are ording a cake) and for dinner he wanted to do the Hoop-De-Do Reveue (one of our favorites). I will make him another sweatshirt to wear this year. We can hardly wait.

 

[Teri Zolman]

My daughter and I celebrated her 13th birthday and my 30 something in May. Our birthdays are the same day. We where there for 6 days and it was great. We had lunch at the Castle. They brought us a beautiful cake and the CM's were wonderful. The whole trip was full of magical moments be Cm's. We had the birthday buttons. On the day of our birthday my daughter wanted us to match. So we matched from head to foot. What great pictures. I would say plan a special meal on his birthday get the pin and let the magic begin. I also had little treats for her each day.

 

[Stepharoonie!]

Generally, anywhere you eat in the parks, they will give you a piece of cake or an ice cream sundae and have the room sing Happy Birthday to you. Even though I turned 25 in September, a drink stand at Animal Kingdom gave me a free root beer float in a Lion King cup with a Mickey Mouse spoon, and the Sci-Fi Drive In at MGM gave me an ice cream sundae, along with making me stand up so everyone could sing.

 

[QueenAJ]

Where can you get the birthday buttons? Can you get them at the resorts (AKL) and at the parks? When I made my PS at Rainforest Cafe and Whispering Canyon, I mentioned about a cake but they said I had to call the restaurant?!?!

 

[AZKathy]

Originally posted by QueenAJ
Where can you get the birthday buttons? Can you get them at the resorts (AKL) and at the parks? When I made my PS at Rainforest Cafe and Whispering Canyon, I mentioned about a cake but they said I had to call the restaurant?!?!

You can get the birthday button at City Hall at MK. I bet there are places in all the parks for the buttons, just go to guest relations and ask.

You don't need to call the restaurant for the cupcake for the birthday person at the restaurant. Just remind them when you check in at the desk that there is a birthday celebration for the meal.

If you want an entire cake, you probably need to contact the restaurant and find out how to get one for your group at the meal.

 

[goofygreb]

Wow, great idea's!! We will be going in August for 2 weeks, the first week is dd 16th B-day and the second week is my 40th b-day. I'm hoping I can do some really magical things for my DD. I just talked my parents into coming along, which will be a nice surprise. My DD loves Cinderella so I was thinking of having dinner at 1900 Park Fare. We've eaten at the Castle twice and never at 1900, so I thought it would be neat to try something new. I hope they will do birthday things even though she's older.
I also had them make a note of the b-days on our room reservations, the first week at ASSP and the second week at AKL. So hopfully they'll do something then too, but I am not going to expect anything so if something happens it will just be a nice surprise!! I'm just looking foward to a great trip!!

Any other suggestions?

 

[WhispyPixie]

We have celebrated one of our childrne's b-days at The Ice Cream Social!! What a fun way! He was 12 at the time as was quite embarassed, but he LOVED the attention!! Have a great trip!

Pixie

 

[NUHuskies#1]

Hi all,

We celebrated hubby's 46 th birthday during our last trip this past August. I walked him over to City Hall and made him wear a button just for fun. (My boys got a kick out of it!) I think he did too because on each ride as soon as he walked into the cue he'd get a "Happy Birthday" from the CM's which was embarassing but funny! We actually ate at Boma that night. He received a beautiful and delicious birthday dessert as well as a card signed by the staff wishing him HB in different languages. It was very cool. He is kind of a picky eater so I thought Boma might be too much but he enjoyed trying new tastes very much. He thought it was the best buffet restaurant WDW has to offer and we've been to them all as well as many of the other WDW offerings!
We've also done Chef Mickey for one of my son's. The children love it!