Birthday celebrations and toddler tips About This Page:

[3tolleys]

The countdown is on---we are leaving for WDW in 15 days! While we are there, my son will celebrate his 3rd birthday. I have reservations for his birthday dinner at Chef Mickey's, but was wondering if any of you had any other special birthday ideas for us. Also any tips about visiting WDW with a toddler will be greatly appreciated!

Thanks to all!

[happyhedgehogs]

Make him a special pin or necklace to wear for the whole trip, that announces that he's celebrating his birthday. I bet CMs would make a big deal about him everywhere, not just at the birthday meal!

[Colexis Mom]

Make sure to get a birthday button and he should get lots of extra attention

[eff051102]

I just wanted to welcome you to the boards! Have a great vacation at WDW and tell us all about it when you return!

[GoofyMom]

Welcome to the boards!!

I agree, get the free birthday button from Guest Services. As far as WDW with a toddler, I just returned from a trip with a 2 year old, and my best tip is... have a camera ready at all times! Seeing WDW through the eyes of a young child was amazing.

Also, the obvious tips - make sure you don't overdo it, and make time for rest breaks and playground time. Pay attention to when he (and everybody else) is hungry, thirsty, or tired (easy to forget to do if you are caught up in things) because those are the ingredients for a melt-down for child or adult alike.

Have a fabulous trip!!

[3tolleys]

Thanks for all the great tips! My DH hasn't been to WDW since 1977 so I'm not sure who is more excited.

[dizzparkmom]

We just went earlier this month with DS who is 3 1/2. I made him an autograph book with pictures of all his favorite characters. I wasn't sure he'd be interested in getting autographs at all, but it turned out he was a total meet & great fool! He loved it and wanted to meet every character we saw in the parks. He had a great time looking for the character's page and showing the character. Ummmm...yeah - talk about embarassing - trying to explain to Chicken Little why his picture isn't in the book and why he has to share a page with Horace & Clarabelle.

So, my toddler tip - is...if you make a picture based autograph book for your son, make sure to have lots of blank pages for all those unexpected characters you might meet.

As a side note - my DS loved and had lots of experience with different Disney style rides before our trip (even as close as 2 months beforehand), but got a little freaked out on some of the smallest rides (Dumbo, Peter Pan, etc.). We put a pair of earmuffs on him and he totally loved them - simple fix. Be prepared for the unexpected your 3 year old may try to throw at you.

[wdjeh]

Work with your resort that you are staying at about perhaps getting some birthday balloons along with a picture of his favorite Disney Character left in the room for him to see after touring a park.

Toddler tips-(1) you must have a stroller!; (2) try and arrive at the parks early to take advantage of any Extra Magic Hours and then try to take a break and leave the parks after lunchtime. Go take a nap or play in the pool. Have dinner and then head back to the park of choice for whatever night-time activity you want to participate in. (3) Have a mini keychain strobe light available for your son to hold onto during those darker rides (get at target, walmart, etc. for about $5); (4) Have an idea of what you want to see with your son in each park ahead of time but don't be afraid to deviate; (5) Do a little pre -disney with your son by showing him some of the disney movies ahead of time and even showing him some of the various rides that you want to do via the computer (u-Tube). (6) Consider buying him a disposable camera or two for him to take some pictures of his time at Disney-this is just awesome to see things as he does plus it makes a nice scrapbook item!

We leave in 19 days and will have a 3 1/2 year old with us.

Hope this helps and remember to have fun!

Jenn

[piratefreak]

The last few times we were there for birthdays, we were able to get a bday phone call from Mickey himself. A CM saw our bday pin and dialed a number for us and Mickey wished us a happy bday.

[KAZ415]

you can call the walt disney workd florist and have balloon delivered to your room.

I did this for my daughter and it even came with an autographed photo tucked in a birthday card. She absolutely loved it.

[Nebraska Disney freak]

My husband has gotten to celebrate his birthday at WDW the past 2 years. In 06 I ordered a cake from room service. It came with balloons, streamers, and the works. It was a nice small cake. This past summer I ordered one from the bakery @ GF. It was AMAZING I chose chocolate w/ rasp filling, his favorite. I paid a lot more but it was MUCH bigger. We worked on it the whole time we were there. A birthday button from town hall or any guest relations desk is a must. Not only do the CM's notice it but so do the other park goers.

As far as travleing w/ a toddler, be sure to take time out in the afternoon for a nap/swim. Our kids are not toddlers anymore and it's still a must. Also, when they were toddlers it was nice to be able to stay in the "little kids" are for rides.

[TigerLily]

We celebrated my daughter's 3rd Birthday at Chef Mickey's and Mickey actually came to our table when her cake was delivered (that I pre-ordered thru the restaurant) and we sang her Happy Birthday. It was great!
You can talk to the host/hostess and your server to find out if it is possible for Mickey to be around for singing Happy Birthday or whatever special moment you have planned. I do think this is more possible when it is not so crowded and busy. Have a magical time with your child! How wonderful!

[PrincessMommyof3]

If you're staying on Disney property, make sure you tell them at check-in that you are there to celebrate your child's birthday. During our stay at the Contemporary back in 2000, our sons ended up receiving a birhtday card from Goofy and balloons the following day. That really made them feel special.