Celebrating a Child’s Birthday at Walt Disney World

UPDATED: May 5th, 2025

Celebrating a child’s birthday at Walt Disney World can be as simple or as elaborate as the family chooses, but in every case, you can count on cast members making the day special!

Once you arrive on Disney property, be sure to get a free, personalized birthday button for your child from Guest Relations at any of the theme parks or your Disney World resort front desk. This lets everyone know you are celebrating, and cast members often find ways to add some pixie dust to birthdays.

When you check in at each restaurant that day, tell the host or hostess about the birthday (if he or she doesn’t notice the button). Some Disney table-service restaurants may provide special, complimentary desserts for the birthday child. At character meals, some Disney pals will even write a personalized birthday message in autograph books. This is never guaranteed, but it’s worth a shot!

We’ve got lots more ideas in our Ultimate Guide to Birthday Celebrations at Disney World! If your budget allows for birthday “extras” at Disney World, here are some ideas to consider:

• Stay in a room fit for royalty at Port Orleans Riverside resort or a pirate-themed room at Disney’s Caribbean Beach hotel.
• Take your little princess for a makeover at the Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique, and she will receive the birthday sash instead of a standard one.
• Set sail on an EPCOT Symphony of Us or Magic Kingdom Happily Ever After fireworks cruise
• Watch the Magic Kingdom fireworks from the Tomorrowland Terrace Dessert Party.
• Purchase birthday ear hats at The Emporium or Curtain Call Collectibles in Magic Kingdom or other stores on Disney property.
• If your child enjoys pin trading, give him or her a selection of birthday pins that are for sale in the parks.
• Order in-room celebrations, which include everything from flowers and decorations to toys, from the Magical Floral & Gifts
• 6-inch round “celebration” cakes are available for purchase at most Disney table-service restaurants but must be ordered at least four days in advance in person, or ordered when you book your reservation. Simply request one when The price is $39, and you can choose between milk chocolate, dark chocolate, or white chocolate.
• Other cakes are available through Amorette’s Patisserie in Disney Springs

For other birthday party ideas, AllEars.Net team member Kristin Ford has written about some of the events she has created at Walt Disney World over the years for her two children. You can read about her experiences at Winter Summerland Miniature Golf Course, Chef Mickey’s and Fort Wilderness Resort and Campground in this AllEars.Net newsletter article. And if you’re celebrating an adult birthday, we’ve got some more ideas for you here. 

Reader Submitted Ideas and Tips HERE!

Reader Submitted Stories HERE!

READER BIRTHDAY IDEAS

Prinbeebe: We had a great idea for our upcoming vacation for my 4-year-old granddaughter’s birthday. The night before her birthday we would stop in at the Tinker Bell Gift Shop in Fantasyland so she could pick out her favorite Princess outfit for herself. The next day we would have her party at Cinderella’s Royal Table with breakfast with the Princesses with her in costume! A terrific photo op. for us to get our Princess Summer with the other Princesses!

Ages 5 to 11

Debi: For my son’s 7th birthday last year, my brother and sister-in-law treated us to three days at Coronado Springs for a pre-beach vacation trip. Since my brother lives out of town, just spending time with him was the best birthday present. They spent time in the great pool at Coronado and we did three parks in one day. Sometimes just being able to spend time together is the best birthday. He has already been in three parades and we were the Met-Life family of the day, but he still talks about riding Tower of Terror with Uncle Bobby and Aunt Luci. Simple is best!

Todd, Michelle and Alyssa Von Almen: I read how the birthday person can get a special button at Town Hall and thought that wasn’t enough for our little Disney fanatic. I spent a few often painful hours with a needle, thread and fabric paint to put together my masterpiece: the birthday shirt. Included on the shirt was my daughter’s name, the date, her age and lots of other decorations. My creation was a HUGE hit with guests and cast members alike. My daughter was amazed at the amount of people who not only knew her name but also wished her a happy birthday. I hope this at least gave someone an idea or two for a special birthday at the Most Magical Place on Earth.

Crystal Johnson: Our last visit to Disney coincided with our son Dylan’s 7th birthday. While getting haircuts for all the kids at the barber shop on Main Street in the Magic Kingdom, the hair stylist discovered it was his birthday. She spiked his hair with green gel (he chose the color) and sprinkled confetti. Then one of the Dapper Dan’s happened by and he rounded up the rest of the group to sing “Happy Birthday.” They also told us about a pin you can get from the City Hall stating that it is the wearer’s birthday. Cast members are on the lookout for those pins and they all wished him a “Happy Birthday” whenever they noticed it. With all the salutations, not to mention the attention and comments he received from his “cool” hair, Dylan was floating on air. It was almost as if Tinker Bell had sprinkled him with pixie dust.

Another birthday was spent at Epcot. My oldest child had turned 10 and he requested a passport that you take around to the countries of Epcot and have stamped. At each country I made sure the cast member knew that it was his birthday. Now he has “Happy Birthday” written in many different languages in his passport. Many cast members also sang “Happy Birthday” to him in their native languages.

JonNC: We spent my son’s 6th birthday camping at Fort Wilderness. We had the usual assortment of craft supplies available in our camper, so the night before his big day, I took a paper dinner plate and glued letters on it made out of felt saying “Be Nice to Me, I am 6 Today!!” This was hung around his neck on a cord braided out of some left over wool. All in all not a terribly attractive thing, but he thought it was really neat.

And, during our day at the Magic Kingdom we had dozens and dozens of people wish him a Happy Birthday. We had a cast member give him an ice cream bar, and we had another take us to the front of the line for Splash Mountain. Many magical things happened because of that silly sign.

Preteens

Gail Solomita: This past October, we celebrated our daughter’s 12th birthday while we were at WDW. It was her first trip to WDW,and since we had adopted her earlier in the year, we wanted to make her first birthday with us as special as we possibly could.

As soon as we made our trip reservations (months in advance), we booked the Hoop Dee Doo Revue for the evening of her birthday. We then asked her which park she wanted to spend her birthday in, and she picked Magic Kingdom (no surprise there)! So, we were staying at the CBR, and we headed on over to Fort Wilderness in the morning, and had breakfast at Trail’s End. We then took the boat to MK. We had lunch at Cinderella’s Royal Table, complete with decorations and a special dessert. (She loved this!) We had made a reservation, of course, so they knew our names when we arrived, etc., and made it so special for her. In the afternoon, we were in the right place at the right time (must have been some pixie dust) when Minnie and Mickey came out of nowhere right where we were standing. Got a great shot of our daughter with Minnie, and ON her birthday! So, after the day at MK, we headed back to the Hoop Dee Doo Revue, which she loved and wants to do again when we go back. That’s how you celebrate a children’s birthday at WDW! The three of us were so stuffed by the end of the day with all that eating! But what a way to go!

Any Age

Kelley Olley: Don’t even tell the birthday child that they are going. This is tough when all other family members know, but the surprise is worth it. When you get to the airport, tell them right before you get on the plane. Even in today’s tight security, the flight attendants will even help you with an on the plane surprise! Tell everyone else along the way. When you make your reservation, let them know. We have returned to a decorated room. Let the child pick the park for the day, and the plan of attack. Plan a character meal, and tell the restaurant! We’ve asked that the “favorite” character bring out the gift. We have a May surprise planned, and my little guy has no clue. His sisters know, and are beside themselves helping plan, because they have the memories of how great their WDW birthdays were.

Jennifer Abdrabbo: The following birthday ideas would be more suited for families who are traveling and not so much for families who may live in the area and be taking a group for the day:

— Have a special pair of Mickey Mouse or Minnie Mouse Ears with the inscription “Birthday Girl/Boy” and date made up in advance for the birthday girl/boy to wake up to. (You could either take care of this in advance with the help from one of the guest service attendants or sneak away while the kids are on a ride with a long line). I would also have a special shirt made up that makes it obvious who’s birthday it is… they’ll love the constant attention they get.

— Allow the birthday girl or boy to choose the location for lunch. Have in your backpack the birthday hats and some candles to sneak to one of the hostesses. (You can have a couple small birthday presents hidden in your back pack.) When making reservations, let them know that a member in your party will be celebrating a birthday.

— Order a birthday Pooh, Mickey or Tigger and have it delivered to the room for the special birthday girl/boy to come back to. I guarantee they will go to bed grinning ear to ear.

DeAnna in New Jersey: We are planning a trip to Disney this April and will be there for my daughter’s birthday. To make the day special for her, we have allowed her to plan the entire day. She is making the itinerary for the day, including what theme park to visit, where to eat lunch and dinner, and what shows to see. It is totally up to her and she is having a blast planning the day exactly as she sees fit. This planning process is an added excitement for her, even before the trip actually takes place.

Doreen Wallen: Breakfast at Chef Mickey’s is always a lot of fun, with a special cupcake for the birthday person and extra attention from the characters. Then it’s off to the Magic Kingdom to get a birthday button from City Hall and a special birthday call from a character. The rest of the day is theirs to call the shots. We almost always end up at Beaches and Cream for a Kitchen Sink. Ask the server for bowls so you can take the pictures and then scoop out what you like before everything melts together! We love our WDW birthday memories!

Kay Holt: We celebrated a birthday by renting a party barge from the Grand Floridian. The food and cake were provided by their catering department. We left the dock in time to see the fireworks from the Magic Kingdom (we had a perfect, unobstructed view). Then we enjoyed the light parade they have on the lake every evening. You couldn’t have a more perfect birthday.

Marsha Emch: Find a hat that your kid likes and buy two of them and personalize them for this specific birthday. Then go find Mickey and have both your kid and Mickey don the same birthday hats and snap a picture — your own private memory of Mickey and your birthday. Depending on the type if hat, you may want to tie extra long string onto Mickey’s hat so that it fits on his head.

If Mickey is real busy and doesn’t want to deal with both hats, then just have Mickey hold the hat over your kid’s head so it looks like Mickey is putting on your kid’s birthday hat. Of course, make sure Mickey signs the hat.

READER BIRTHDAY STORIES

Janice Dion: We spent Oct. 9-18 at WDW celebrating my daughter’s 5th birthday. Per your wonderful website, we told everyone that it was her birthday. She had birthday pins from all the parks on her lanyard so no one could miss her. Many cast members stopped to say, “Happy Birthday, Princess!” all week long. They didn’t care if her birthday had been a day or two before. At our resort, she received a citation from the front desk, a card from Minnie, and balloons! At a character breakfast at the Crystal Palace she received a card signed by all the Pooh characters and a cupcake. The table was decorated with streamers and confetti. At the American Adventure Pavilion in Epcot, the cast member on duty took her by the hand as we came out of the show. He asked if it was her birthday then took her next door to the restaurant where he got everyone’s attention and announced that it was Laura from Rhode Island’s birthday. He then had everyone do a Hip, Hip, Hooray. He also took her up to the counter and got her a red, white, and blue jello and one for her sister who looked so disappointed. We celebrated all week long. We couldn’t have asked for a more enjoyable and memorable experience.

Mary Ann Wolfe: We’ve been to WDW with our boys now 7 and 3 six times in the last four years. Two times have been for their birthdays. When making reservations for our meals, I always have them note that we’ll be celebrating a child’s birthday. When we arrived for our lunch at the Crystal Palace they announced that we were celebrating Grant’s second birthday. They decorated the table with Mickey Ear confetti before we were seated. Then after eating our lunch, Piglet delivered a cupcake & candle along with a card signed by Mickey & friends while Tigger and Eeyore came cheering & clapping and the cast members & guests sang Happy birthday. It was very nice. We also did that for Craig’s 6th birthday. The villains delivered a cupcake & card at the 1900 Park Fare in the Grand Floridian. The cast members sang & made the birthday extra special. It’s worth it to mention that you’re celebrating a child’s birthday when you check in at the restaurant. They really make it a special time!

Kelly Banks: We were in WDW last December to celebrate both of our children’s birthdays. We let them each choose a restaurant for their special birthday dinner. Of course, my daughter (age 6) chose to spend her birthday at Cinderella Castle. We made dinner reservations there for 6:30 p.m. on the Wednesday evening. It was perfect because we watched the fireworks just before entering the castle, and while we were waiting for our table Cinderella appeared in the lobby. My daughter was thrilled and we took pictures of her and Cinderella sitting on the huge throne in the lobby area. The restaurant staff brought both our kids a special birthday dessert with a small chocolate crown on the top, and sprinkled the kids with Mickey Mouse confetti while the whole restaurant sang Happy Birthday. My daughter felt like a princess and this is her most special memory of our whole vacation.

We were staying at the Caribbean Beach resort, and one day we returned to our room to find birthday cards and gifts from Mickey Mouse on the kids beds. Our thoughtful chambermaid had seen the kids birthday cards in the room, and decided to spread a little Disney magic. The kids thought that Cinderella had told Mickey not to forget about their birthdays. We will all remember the ‘Disney Birthdays’ as truly special events.