Wife's 30th birthday at Disneyland - How can I make it special?

[ethanwa]

I am posting this at the risk of my wife seeing it but that's ok...

We'll be in DL for her 30th birthday with our two kids on Feb 28th. How can I make it something special beyond just a normal Disney vacation? We are staying in a standard room at the Grand Californian.

Of course, I'd love to have reservations at Club 33 or something, but the chances of that are near zero unless some stranger who was incredibly kind helped me out. But besides that, does anyone have thoughts on what I can do??

Ethan

 

[wannagoback]

I am assuming your kids are young. What I would like most on a family trip is spending time with my family and making wonderful memories. One of my favorite things to do for any trip is take pictures and document! So, my suggestion would be that you start a scrapbook for her. Make pages for her to paste in pictures later and write down favorite moments. You can get Disney scrapbook kits at most craft stores, online, or even order a custom one from etsy that has already been put together.

The Disney experiences last a short time, but the memories can last forever

 

[mysteriouspnai]

Unfortunately, since Main Street Train Station and the Mark Twain are closed during your visit, I can't suggest the Lilly Belle, nor the wheelhouse. However, if you haven't ridden the front or the back of the monorail, now would be a great time to do so! Maybe take a tour if your kids are old enough? Or leave the children at Pinocchio's Workshop for a night and have a nice dinner at Napa Rose. Try to reserve for Chef's Counter!

 

[pennyring]

One evening, leave the kids at Pinocchio's Workshop and take her out for a grown-up night! She can get a make-over at Sephora in DTD for free beforehand, you just have to spend $50 in product, which is easy. They'll even do fake eyelashes! Ooh la la!

Get her a birthday button at City Hall. Sit in the front at Billy Hill and the Hillbillies in the Golden Horseshoe. If they see the birthday button, shinnanigins are certain to ensue.

 

[ethanwa]

Grown up night is a no-go. We enjoy having the kids being part of it all, and I know she wouldn't want them being left out for her birthday dinner.

As far as monorail and scrapbook.... We've been in the front before, and we do a Photopass/picture book on every Disney trip we go on, so that is nothing new.

I'm looking for something extraordinary, even if it cost good $$$.

 

[longtimedisneylurker]

How are your kids at sit-down restaurants? It is Disney after all, so children in even the nicer restaurants won't be an uncommon sight. Personally, I would like to try Carthay Circle restaurant or Steakhouse 55 for dinner, but I have been reluctant to do something so splurgy. Which splurgy restaurant would your wife like?

Have you ever done the silhouettes on Main Street? Since your wife would prefer family time at Disney over having a date night, maybe this would be a special souvenir. You could have one done with the whole family.

Have you looked at any of the gift basket type things offered through vacation planning? They are pretty expensive, and I'm more of a do-it-yourselfer, but perhaps you would find a ready-made theme that would really appeal to your wife. On that note, are you early risers or late starters on your vacation? If late starters, maybe she would enjoy the treat of room service for breakfast in bed on her birthday.

What about Fantasmic dessert seating? I still haven't been able to bring myself to spend the money on it, but if DH did it to surprise me, I'd have to go wouldn't I? If your family enjoys Fantasmic, this might be a less stressful way of seeing it.

 

[Luv Bunnies]

We did my DH's 50th b-day at Disneyland a few years ago. The highlight was the Minnie and Friends breakfast at the Plaza Inn on his birthday. We made him wear a funny pair of birthday ears and a birthday t-shirt. All of the characters came over and pointed at his hat and shirt and jumped up and down. The rest of the day he got lots of birthday wishes from CMs and guest by wearing his funny hat and shirt. It was a great day!

 

[blackjackdelta]

We are doing our 30 anniversary in a couple of weeks and a friend made Club 33 reservations for us, ourmost favorite place. If we were not doing that then it would be waterside at Blue Bayou or Napa Rose.

Have a fantastic celebration,

Jack

 

[ethanwa]

Have you ever done the silhouettes on Main Street? Since your wife would prefer family time at Disney over having a date night, maybe this would be a special souvenir. You could have one done with the whole family.

That sounds pretty neat... where on Main Street is that?

We are doing our 30 anniversary in a couple of weeks and a friend made Club 33 reservations for us, ourmost favorite place. If we were not doing that then it would be waterside at Blue Bayou or Napa Rose.

I think we will do Blue Bayou. Thanks!

 

[longtimedisneylurker]

That sounds pretty neat... where on Main Street is that?

It's on the right side of Main Street as you're walking toward the castle. I think it's next door to Disneyana because it's in the front part of the crystal shop.

I think we will do Blue Bayou. Thanks!

Sounds good!

 

[daisymomof4]

My very first thought was to buy her 30 balloons! lol. How funny would that be?

Seriously, you and the kids could brainstorm 30 things you love about her, then turn them in to tiny/simple things you can do for her, or buy and give her throughout the day. This could be combined with handmade things too that are made ahead of time and given to her on the day.

An example might be a Grumpy coffee mug if she's feels that way before her morning cup (like I do, lol.).
Maybe a sweet little Christmas ornament given with a little blurb about how special she makes the season.
Recite a little poem before you go on the Jungle Cruise about how life with her is a fun adventure, and corny as it is at times, it's perfect and there's nothing you'd change.
Buy her a dole whip and tell her she's cool.
Take her to see the spike in the center of the park and tell her she's the center of your world. (this might be a good place to bust out some diamonds )
Your kids could give her a key chain or necklace of their favorite character.
Take her in to a hat shop and buy her something silly/crazy/pretty/fun -whatever.

...stuff like that

Be sure to take a photo at every 'gifting' and put them in to a scrapbook/photobook when you get home.

Silhouettes are the best thing to buy at Disneyland, so get one done for sure. They are something to be treasured.

 

[kangamama]

We are headed to DLR for my 40th birthday, and I'm the same -- I want it to be family time and I want my kids to be around and to enjoy it all, too. The day that we'll be celebrating my birthday will include riding on the Lily Belle, riding the tea cups after dark under the lanterns, Pat E Cake's birthday party with Mickey and Minnie (at Plaza Cafe), dinner at trader sam's tiki bar, and we are all going to dress in an Alice and wonderland theme (not costumes - just inspired by).

 

[mysteriouspnai]

My very first thought was to buy her 30 balloons! lol. How funny would that be?

Seriously, you and the kids could brainstorm 30 things you love about her, then turn them in to tiny/simple things you can do for her, or buy and give her throughout the day. This could be combined with handmade things too that are made ahead of time and given to her on the day.

An example might be a Grumpy coffee mug if she's feels that way before her morning cup (like I do, lol.).
Maybe a sweet little Christmas ornament given with a little blurb about how special she makes the season.
Recite a little poem before you go on the Jungle Cruise about how life with her is a fun adventure, and corny as it is at times, it's perfect and there's nothing you'd change.
Buy her a dole whip and tell her she's cool.
Take her to see the spike in the center of the park and tell her she's the center of your world. (this might be a good place to bust out some diamonds )
Your kids could give her a key chain or necklace of their favorite character.
Take her in to a hat shop and buy her something silly/crazy/pretty/fun -whatever.

...stuff like that

Be sure to take a photo at every 'gifting' and put them in to a scrapbook/photobook when you get home.

Silhouettes are the best thing to buy at Disneyland, so get one done for sure. They are something to be treasured.

Daisymom, this is a BRILLIANT idea. I think I'm going to steal this for my parents 25th anniversary next year, even if we don't do Disney. Thanks!

 

[ethanwa]

I read that Disney can delivery gift baskets to your room or something like that? Anyone have details on that?

 

[SGDisneyFam]

Very interested in this thread. My wife and I will be doing the same for her 30th birthday in December, although it might be an adults only trip.

We really enjoy Chef's counter at Napa. Although with kiddos it might not be the best idea.

Can't say about Club 33, having never been lucky enough to go myself, but I am hoping a generous host comes through for you.

I agree about the dessert seating for F!, we will be trying this out in a month or so when we go.

If you call the GCH they will be able to set up things for you in the room for your arrival. They were able to do this for us when we went for our anniversary a couple of years ago.

-B

 

[DadsRmatt]

I am posting this at the risk of my wife seeing it but that's ok...

We'll be in DL for her 30th birthday with our two kids on Feb 28th. How can I make it something special beyond just a normal Disney vacation? We are staying in a standard room at the Grand Californian.

Of course, I'd love to have reservations at Club 33 or something, but the chances of that are near zero unless some stranger who was incredibly kind helped me out. But besides that, does anyone have thoughts on what I can do??

Ethan

Since your staying on site, the hotel has character pictures that they get signed by the character. For my daughters birthday I asked if they could possibly give her one and she recieved a black and white 8 x 10 picture of peter pan, hook and wendy all signed and everything. If you tell them in advance (before u arrive) you can tell them her fav character and they may be able to have it waiting in the room for her. I was able to have that done 2 yrs ago when we stayed at the dlh.

 

[CamoMama]

I think we will do Blue Bayou. Thanks!

Be sure to let them know when you make the reservation that you're celebrating your wife's birthday. You might want to remind them when you check in as well. They will bring her a lovely pudding or other dessert with a candle, it's very cute.

 

[georgiesmum]

We're going in 12 days for my 40th and some of the special things we're doing:
Getting a birthday badge from DLH or town hall
Breakfast with Minnie
Dinner at Blue Bayou
also thinking about doing a Pat-E-Cake
Getting a special photo taken

http://disneyland.disney.go.com/celebration-gifts/ is the web address for the celebration gifts.

Tell the hotel it's her birthday, they might do something special too - not sure about this - I'll have to wait and see!

Good luck with the club 33 reservation - unfortunately this wasn't a birthday wish I could have fulfilled but hey, I'll be in Disneyland so it's going to be the best birthday ever anyway!

I'm sure she's going to have a great birthday

 

[MG3G]

For my 30th bday we did a Discover the Magic Tour. It was AMAZING! Seriously one of the best days of my life. We were the only ones on the tour and it was with my DH, parents, and kids. If your wife is at all a Disney nut I would TOTALLY suggest booking the tour.

 

[tdhickey]

Here are some fun ones:

1) Get her the Mickey Birthday Cake hat/ears....it's a blast and lots of people will say Happy Birthday! Better than just a button.

2) Get a sketch for her from the animation studio, get it the day before so you can pick it up on her birthday

3) Waterfront seating at Blue Bayou

4) Breakfast in bed, character wake up call

5) Someone suggested previously, grabbing a golf ball before hand and pretending to catch the one on Soaring over California and then handing it to them...sounds really cool.

6) Recreate a photo from past trips, especially something from her childhood if possible.