Celebrating a birthday at Walt Disney World Resort is an exceptionally unique experience that brings extra magic to any celebration. Whether it’s for a child, a teen, or an adult, Disney’s unique atmosphere ensures a memorable day. Incorporating a few special touches throughout your visit is key to ensuring a fabulous birthday at Walt Disney World Resort. Here are essential tips to make your celebration magical.
Personalize a Walt Disney World Birthday Button
If you’re venturing to Walt Disney World for your birthday, there’s a good chance you already know about your most important accessory: the birthday button. When you get to the park, inquire about a button at any guest relations or merchandise location to see if the cast member has any birthday buttons on hand. They may even offer to personalize it for you.
If you want to make your button extra special while visiting Magic Kingdom, ask for it to be left blank. Then, walk on over to the Ye Olde Christmas Shoppe in Liberty Square and have your button customized there. You may need to wait a few hours while Cast Members work on your birthday accessory, and this customization isn’t free. However, the resulting button features your name beautifully written out, perfectly capturing that birthday magic.
Donning your button, don’t be surprised if Cast Members greet you and wish you a “Happy Birthday” throughout your day. This is especially fun during the Disney Festival of Fantasy Parade, so be sure to catch a spot up front to soak up the excitement from beloved Disney characters.
Grab a Dining Reservation
To make the most of your day, consider planning a special meal. If you’re spending the full day at your chosen park, there are several great dining options at every location. I have a few birthday favorites that you and your family are sure to love as well.
At Magic Kingdom Park, Liberty Tree Tavern offers a huge meal that basically amounts to Thanksgiving dinner with all the trimmings. Be Our Guest Restaurant is also a fantastic option if you’re seeking a magical, movie-inspired dining experience, complete with a visit from The Beast himself.
EPCOT has delicious offerings from around the globe, but Biergarten Restaurant in the World Showcase is one of my favorites. Prepare for a massive German feast with selections such as bratwurst, rotisserie chicken, and pork schnitzel. If the guest of honor is a sushi lover, check out Shiki-Sai: Sushi Izakaya for plates inspired by Japan’s seasons and festivals.
As you’re soaking up the glamour of Tinseltown at Hollywood Studios, make your way to The Hollywood Brown Derby for some delicious food and drinks. For fans of a galaxy far, far away, Oga’s Cantina brings some out-of-this-world cocktail offerings that perfectly mesh with a birthday celebration.
Having a wild time at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park? Head on over to Yak & Yeti Restaurant for a menu with a little something for everyone. I love this place because it’s delicious, and it’s usually easy to snag a seat. You won’t be disappointed!
At select dining locations, you can add a magical touch with a Mickey Mouse Celebration Cake delivered right to your table during your meal. Secure your cake by ordering in advance when you book your table online or through the My Disney Experience app. Prefer to arrange things in person? Simply place your order at the restaurant’s host podium at least four days before your reservation.
Caught in a last-minute bind? Don’t worry! These restaurants often keep a limited stock of cakes ready for those spur-of-the-moment celebrations, available upon request when you arrive.
Secure those Virtual Queues
Be sure you have those alarms set bright and early for 7 AM to nab those virtual queues for some of your favorite rides. Enhance your EPCOT birthday celebration with a spin through time on the Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind. At Magic Kingdom Park, snagging a ride on TRON Lightcycle / Run will get that birthday off to an incredible start.
Before you sign in to secure a virtual queue spot on the My Disney Experience app, make sure your party is set up to increase your chances of success in the morning. Most of the time, these spots are gone in mere minutes. However, if you miss out on the first opportunity, try again at 1 PM once you’re inside the park. I’ve had great success snagging spots later in the day, even if I didn’t succeed in the morning.
Make it a Special Walt Disney World birthday
Walt Disney World Resort offers some unique experiences to make a birthday extra special, no matter who is celebrating! For instance, if you’re celebrating an adult’s birthday, consider booking a spa treatment at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa. There’s nothing like feeling fully pampered before spending a day at the parks.
For little ones dreaming of becoming princes or princesses for the day, consider booking a makeover at the Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique. Here, your child can choose their outfit and receive makeup, sparkles, and all the magical touches that make them feel like royalty, especially on their birthday.
To finish off the day, consider a dessert party reservation with Happily Ever After lighting up the sky. Except on the busiest days, you can often book reservations for these dessert parties for the same evening. This experience costs $92.95 for guests aged 10 and above and $55.39 for kids ages 3 to 9. These parties aren’t held daily, but you can check the calendar ahead of time to confirm availability for your visit and even schedule well in advance.
Be sure to follow Orlando Informer on TikTok, Threads, Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram for the latest news, tips, and more at Universal Orlando, Walt Disney World, and other Orlando attractions.
