12 Totally Magical Ways To Celebrate A Birthday At Disney World Slideshow

With a little planning and money, you can make an already once-in-a-lifetime, magical trip even more special for your (or your child's) birthday. Did you know you can spend the day relaxing at a spa on property or take a cruise around the Seven Seas Lagoon? If you're spending your birthdays in the parks, you can wear a birthday button and have cast members wish you a happy day.

You can also travel around Epcot and get birthday messages in 11 different languages, attend a special fireworks dessert party, or have a special celebration cake delivered to you at dinner. There's no limit to what you can do with some pixie dust for your birthday.

Birthday Button

The first and most important thing you should do at Walt Disney World is to get a celebration button proclaiming that it's your birthday. Not only is it a completely free, personalized souvenir, but cast members throughout property will wish you a "happy birthday" when they see you walk by.

Attend a Dessert Party

No Disney World birthday is complete without dessert and a fireworks show. You can combine the two by reserving a spot at a dessert party at Magic Kingdom, Epcot, or Hollywood Studios. Magic Kingdom offers viewing parties for its Happily Ever After fireworks shows from the Tomorrowland Terrance, Epcot has a Frozen-themed dessert party for its award-winning Illuminations show, and Hollywood Studios has a Star Wars-themed dessert party for its Galactic Spectacular. So no matter where you are or what you're a fan of, there's a cupcake waiting for you at Disney World!

 

Book a Private Cruise

If you can dream it, you can do it at Disney World — and that includes a private boat ride around Bay Lake and Seven Seas Lagoon. You and up to 17 friends can sail around Disney on the Grand 1 yacht. This luxurious sailing option includes private dining and a butler to serve your every need. You can even book this lavish yacht in the evening for an unmatched view of Magic Kingdom's fireworks. Of course, this once-in-a-lifetime experience comes with a matching price tag; it starts at $399 an hour.

Dine With Your Favorite Characters

Disney World is the home to Mickey Mouse, Donald Duck, Winnie the Pooh, Chip and Dale, and all of the Disney princesses, and you can meet all of them over a meal. If you or a friend are celebrating a birthday, book a reservation at one of the many restaurants where you can mingle with your favorite Disney characters. Some of Disney's best restaurants, such as Be Our Guest, Tusker House, The Crystal Palace, and Akershus, feature characters who will stop by your table and wish you a magical birthday.

Get a Princess Makeover at Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique

For the young princesses and knights celebrating a birthday at Disney World, stop by Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique for a royal makeover. Run by Cinderella's fairy godmother and her helpers, children from the ages of 3 to 12 can get their hair, makeup, and nails done. For an extra price, children can also get their own princess or knight costumes and a special "Happy Birthday" sash to mark their special day.

Get a Birthday Card Signed

At Disney World, you can meet everyone from Mickey and Princess Tiana to Chewbacca and Tarzan. Make your meet and greet opportunities extra special by having your favorite characters sign a special birthday card for yourself or your friends. After the card has been signed, you have a one-of-a-kind Disney-fied gift.

Go on a Carriage Ride

Live like a princess or a pioneer by relaxing on a horse-drawn carriage at two of Disney's most scenic resorts, Port Orleans and Fort Wilderness. Both of these unique carriage rides offer stunning views and a unique Disney experience most guests don't think to experience. And in the land of Cinderella and Belle, you can't get more royal than a magical carriage ride.

 

Have a Birthday Party Delivered to Your Room

Room service doesn't just mean pizza delivered to your resort at Disney World. Disney Floral & Gifts offers several birthday packages. You can get a variety of cakes, balloons, and surprises sent to your room for the birthday guest in your group. Or with the Mickey & Friends Ultimate Birthday Celebration ($550), Mickey will throw you a all-out surprise birthday party, complete with themed balloons, birthday gifts and toys, a cake, and happy birthday Mickey ears to wear around the parks.

Have a Signature Dining Experience

Disney World offers some world-class dining, and you can have an extravagant eating experience as a part of your birthday celebration if you decide to splurge a little. Highlights of Disney's culinary offerings include Victoria and Albert's (where it's notoriously hard to score a reservation), California Grill, Flying Fish, and Jiko. Just be sure to book these restaurants early; tables fill up fast!

Order a Celebration Cake

Celebrate your birthday with a festive Mickey ears-shaped cake at any table service restaurant at Disney World. Available in white chocolate or milk chocolate, these cute celebration cakes serve 4 to 6 people and include a "Happy Birthday" message written on one of the ears. For $35, you can add one of these cakes to any table service reservation by calling 407-WDW-DINE.

Relax at the Spa

It may seem like you're always on the go on a Disney vacation, but did you know there are six spas on property? Deluxe resorts such as Coronado Springs, the Dolphin, Saratoga Springs, the Grand Floridian, Disney's Yacht Club, and Animal Kingdom Lodge all have spas on site where you can spend your birthday getting massages, manicures, facials, and full body treatments.

Stamp Your Passport at Epcot

Did you ever wonder how to say "happy birthday" in German or Japanese? At the World Showcase in Epcot, you can purchase a passport kit and have your children take it along to the Kidcot spots around the 11 countries park. If your child tells the cast member it's their birthday or is wearing a "Happy birthday" pin, they'll get a special foreign-language greeting in their book, making for a totally unique birthday souvenir.