Your VIP Day – Ways to Have a Disney Celebration for a Birthday, Graduation, or Anniversary in Disney World

Name: VIP Disney Travel
Address: US
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Is there anything more special than a day at Walt Disney World? At any given moment in the parks and resorts, it’s easy to find a plethora of guests with celebration buttons. Each celebrating their own magical moments – so how can you make your next special adventure is one to remember? Whether you are celebrating an anniversary, graduation, or birthday in Disney, we will show you how to make it a VIP day!

COVID-19 UPDATE: Some of the activities and offerings in this article may not be available during this time. Click here for the most up-to-date information.

Disney Loves to Celebrate!

One of the first questions you are asked when booking a Walt Disney World vacation is “will you be celebrating anything in Disney?” They are happy to celebrate anything, graduations, honeymoons, personal achievement, celebrating your birthday in Disney World, or even a First Visit to Disney World is a momentus occasion.

If you are celebrating in Disney, be sure to tell your travel agent, or Disney representative. They will certainly want to note your reservation.

Here are some ways the people typically celebrate in Walt Disney World.

Celebration Buttons

Celebration buttons are one simple way to celebrate. There are special buttons they give to guests who are celebrating a birthday in Disney, or any occasion. Even your first visit is a something to commemorate

If you are staying at a Disney resort, and you have informed them of your special day in advance, you will be given a button at check-in. If you are not staying at a Disney resort, you can simply go to Guest Services and they will be happy to give you one. They will even personalize it for you.

Restaurant and Dinner Show Celebrations

All table service restaurants will be happy to mark the occasion with a specially decorated dessert. Just tell the Cast Member upon check in about your celebration. Some restaurants will sing happy birthday, but not all. But those that do often make it special.

There are a few restaurants where celebrations are a big event, for example at Ohana at Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort, they call everyone celebrating a birthday to the center of the floor. they will give you a flower lei and sing Happy Birthday.

Dinner Shows like Hoop-Dee-Doo Musical Revue at Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort, or Spirit of Aloha Dinner Show at Disney’s Polynesian Resort are wonderful ways to celebrate. They will make a point of recognizing any one who is celebrating a special occassion.

Capture Your Moment with a Personal Photo Session

Disney PhotoPass Photographers are great at capturing those special photos in front of iconic Disney backgrounds. But if you are looking for some extra time to get those perfect shots, “Capture Your Moment” with a personal photo session at Magic Kingdom

Capture Your Moment lets you book time with a Disney photographer for a 20-minute personalized photo session. It can be to create a memorable famiy portrait or to capture celebrations and milestones, such as a proposal, baby announcement, graduation, anniversary, family reunion, first visit, birthday, and more! (One thing that is not allowed is wedding attire).

Photos are not incuded in the price of the session, However, guests who purchae the Memory Maker Photo Pass can download them at no additional charge.

Theme Your Disney World Celebration Day

No matter the guest of honor’s style or personality, Disney has a great way to celebrate. Here are some recommended themes, perfect to celebrate any special occasion like an anniversary, graduation, or birthday in Disney World.

The Walt Disney World Resort has thousands of unique experiences to please kids of all ages with something for everyone. Check out the guide below to plan a perfect and unique trip for any of the VIPs in your life, even if that VIP is you!

For The Princess

The Royal Treatment

No matter the age, Disney has plenty to offer when it comes to over-the-top, fairy tale fun! Begin your day by transforming into true royalty at one of the Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique locations where children ages 3-12 can become their favorite Disney Princess or Prince in a truly magical experience.

For Guests 12 and over who want to feel like royalty for the day, Senses – A Disney Spa and Salon at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort is the perfect place to be. Character Couture makeovers turn Guests into royalty with princess-inspired hair and makeup packages.

After a morning of pampering, head to The Grand Floridian for Afternoon Tea at the Garden View Tea Room. Teatime is perfect for anyone who enjoys the finer things in life! Boasting imaginative children’s options and bubbly upgrades for those over 21, this is an experience all age groups can enjoy!

For The SuperStar

The VIP Day

Be treated like the VIP you are!

For any special occasion, nothing is more exciting than a Private VIP Tour, created just for you. Disney will roll out the red carpet for you plus up to 9 of your closest friends and family. Your private group will be guided around property by a Cast Member who will tend to every need.

You will get unlimited Lightning Lanes, and backstage entry to the theme parks. You can even hit all 4 in the same day if you wanted. Plus, you tour guide is filled with fun Disney facts and tidbits that help make this an extra special experience.

This is an extra-special day that will be filled with memories!

To learn more about Disney VIP Tours or contact our friends at Destination Magic. They have a lot of information about the current tours offered by Disney and can help you plan the perfect VIP day.

For Those Who Want to Do it All

The Park Hopper Challenge

This Disney challenge isn’t for the light of heart: four parks, one day is for that special thrill-seeker in your life who wants to be in the parks from rope drop ‘till fireworks! And if you have a group of friends that are equally up for the challenge, it’s even more fun!

Start your day at Disney’s Animal Kingdom. This park often opens earlier than the others, If you are there at rope drop, make a beeline to Avatar, Flight of Passage. Then, across the park, Expedition Everest – Legend of the Forbidden Mountain is waiting for those who dare!

In the Magic Kingdom, you can’t miss the mountains – Space, Splash, and Big Thunder are all a must-do on this day of adventure!

After, grab a quick service meal or snack before heading to the next adventure. Or if you want to rest and recharge, head over to Jungle Navigation Co. LTD Skipper Canteen for a bite. This table-service restaurant themed to the Jungle Cruise has one of the most exotic and adventurous menus on property.

You can take the monorail over to EPCOT. Soarin’ Around the World, Test Track and Mission: SPACE provides thrills that take you on a journey around the world, a journey around the track, and a journey into our universe!

Head into World Showcase toward England. You may want to grab something to eat along your way to the Skyliner for a relaxing ride over to your final stop.

At Disney’s Hollywood Studios, don’t miss out on the Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster Starring Aerosmith and the Twilight Zone Tower of Terror for the ultimate thrills this movie town park can provide. End your out-of-this-world adventure in a another galaxy! Take flight on the Millenium Falcon in Galaxy’s Edge for the ulitmate day of thrills.

Try to allow about 2 hours in each park, plus time to get from one park to the other. Start at rope drop and head to the most popuar rides first. If the parks are open late on your challenge day, you can fit even more rides in.

For The Disney Historian

A Day of Disney History

If Disney history and insider Disney facts are the most exciting part of a trip to Walt Disney World, then spending your special day on a backstage tour is the way to go! Open to Guests ages 16 and above, these two in-depth park experiences will open your eyes to what makes the magic!

Disney’s Keys to the Kingdom is a 5-hour tour of Magic Kingdom that digs into the expansive history of the first park at Walt Disney World. You will get behind the scenes access to the infamous underground utilidors plus loads of information about Walt and his Magic Kingdom creation.

The UnDISCOVERed Future World is a 4-hour tour of EPCOT that shares the fascinating stories behind this one-of-a-kind theme park. Your guide will take you back in time to see how Walt’s vision of a futuristic utopia became the Epcot we know today!

Both these tours involve a lot of walking, but you’ll get so much insider information and fun Disney facts that the time will fly by.

For The Beach Bum

A Tropical Escape in Orlando

Spending the day at Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon waterpark will make you feel like you are on a tropical vacation within your vacation. You can plunge down rushing rapids, sunbathe on a sandy beach, or glide down a lazy river. You can even jump the waves at North America’s largest outdoor wave pool

Did you know you can go surfing in Disney World? Experienced riders can hang 10 in the wave pool before the park opens or after it closes. And if you are new to surfing, they offer surf lessons, too!

After a day of slliding, splashing and sunbathing, you can continue your tropical day (and night) by heading over to Disney’s Polynesian Resort. You feel like you’re in a Hawaiian paradise.

For Guests 21 and above, head over to Trader Sam’s Grog Grotto for delicious small plates and tropical cocktails in an incredible atmosphere full of Dinsey magic.

When it’s time to eat, surf over to ‘Ohana. This family-style restaurant offers a unique dinner service that’s sure to be the highlight of any special occasion! Plus each night they recognize everyone who is there celebrating.

End the evening on beach where you can watch the fireworks over Cinderella’s castle while enjoying a Dole Whip treat.

For The Pirate

The Pirate Party

Yo-ho, yo-ho, a pirate’s life for YOU! Begin your vacation by booking a stay in one of the Pirate rooms at Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort.

Then on your special day, begin at a Pirate’s League in the Magic Kingdom where buccaneers of all ages can transform into the pirate or mermaid of their own seaward adventures! Next, head next door to make a splash on the iconic Pirates of the Caribbean and Peter Pan’s flight rides before preparing for your evening at sea!

If you did book at stay at Caribbean Beach resort, you can take a mid-day break at Fuentes del Morro Pool. It is themed like a colonial Spanish fortress with 2 waterslides and water cannons. There is a shipwreck play area, complete with mini slides, a crow’s nest for the littlest pirates.

The Pirates & Pals Fireworks Dessert Voyage is the perfect chance to celebrate with all of your favorite mateys! Enjoy snacks and treats at Disney’s Contemporary Resort before climbing aboard a boat and setting sail around Seven Seas Lagoon just in time for fireworks. Just make sure to keep an eye out for Captain Hook! This nighttime adventure is perfect for little ones with big imaginations.

Disney concept art.

For The Star Wars Fan

A Galaxy Far Away

Bright suns!

For an out of this world adventure, transport yourself to Star Wars Galaxy’s Edge and Explore Black Spire Outpost on the Planet Batuu.

Choose your side, the resistance or the First Order. You can shop for recruitment gear or outfits that will have you looking like a local. Meander through the street market filled artifacts and hidden treasures. Stop at Oga’s cantina for a beverage and mingle with other locals and galaxy travelers.

The Play Disney Parks app transforms into the Star Wars: Datapad and allows you to take on jobs, interact with droids, translate a variety of languages from across the galaxy, and so much more.

Drop by the Oga’s Cantina to sample the local beverages. When you’re ready for adventure, you can board the Millennium Falcon Smugglers Run, or Rise of the Resistance. But for Rise of the Resistance, you will need to join a virtual queue which happens very early in the morning. Just outside Galaxy’s Edge is Star Tours: The Adventure Continues. Star Tours has over 54 possible combinations so you can ride it again and again for different adventures. And the younger Star Wars fans, sign up for Jedi Training.

And there is a bigger Star Wars adventure on the horizon! The new Star Wars Hotel, officially called Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser, is scheduled to open in 2021. It will be the ultimate experience for any Star Wars fan!

Unlike simply checking into a themed hotel, you can liken a stay on the Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser to be like boarding a cruise ship bound for sea. This experience will be a 2-night, immersive adventure that will be unlike anything on this planet.

Start by boarding a Launch Pod which will blast off into space and rendezvous with the Halcyon, a glamour starcruiser. You will have a private stateroom your own window into space including a view of spectacular ships and other galactic sights.

While onboard, you will be able to mingle with crew and other passengers, train how to weld a lightsaber, operate the shipping navigation and defense systems, and so much more! You will also enjoy an excursion to the planet of Batuu in a galaxy far, far away.

For the latest information about booking this extraordinary experience, contact our friends at Destination Magic.

For The Foodie

The Foodie Adventure

Victoria & Albert’s Restaurant is the ultimate Disney Parks experience for the foodie in your life! Located in Disney’s Grand Floridian, it is the area’s only recipient of AAA’s highest achievement, the Five Diamond Award, Forbes Travel Guide Five-Star rating and glowing reviews from Zagat and others

Enjoy a ten-course meal in one of three different ornate dining rooms – this dining experience is sure to satisfy even your wildest culinary dreams. For an extra-special dining experience, book a seat the Chef’s Table.

Guests ages 10 and above are welcomed to dine, and all must adhere to the dress code – which is just a chance to get all dressed up for your night out!

Looking for something a little more relaxed for the food lover in your life? Head over to EPCOT for a culinary adventure! Throughout most of the year, you can find a festival with limited-time food and beverage offerings located at outdoor kitchens around the park. Grab a complimentary festival passport and let the tasting begin!

You can sample International’s flavors with small plates and crafted cocktails from around the world.

Beyond festivals, EPCOT has some of the best dining Walt Disney World has to offer! Take your pick from any of the table service locations in the World Showcase. You can choose from restaurants experiences like fine French dining at Monsieur Paul’s or a Polka Party at Germany’s Biergarten. Whichever you choose, you’re sure to have a unique and delicious culinary experience!

For 21st Birthday's

Drink Around the World

Turning 21 is exciting for any young adult, but what could be a more exciting celebration than doing it on a global scale. At Epcot’s World Showcase, you can leisurely walk around and with a libation in hand.

One big question is where to start. Many people suggest starting with a light and refreshing Canadian beer and working counterclockwise towards Mexico. There you can end with a Margarita or something from La Cava del Tequila which is tucked inside the pavilion.

But no matter what your age, it’s important to drink responsibility. If celebrating with a larger group, pick one drink from every country and share. If there are only a few of people, pick just a couple of favorite spots for a cocktail and have a non-alcoholic beverage in-between. (And don’t forget to eat. Drinking on an empty stomach will not end well).

If visiting for a few days, go back to order a beer or cocktail from places you missed the previous day. With a Park Hopper ticket, you can go to any park during the day and end the night at Epcot. Who says you can’t celebrate Birthday Week!

If there is still have energy after the world tour, the night does not have to end. There are only a few places in Disney World that are only open to guests 21 and over, and 2 of them are a short walk from Epcot.

Located at the Disney Boardwalk is Atlantic Dance Hall. Continue the celebration by dancing the night away. This Art Deco styled ballroom where a DJ plays favorites from the the 80s through today. Jellyrolls , located just across the way, is a bit more low key but high on fun. It’s a boisterous dueling piano bar where you can make requests and everyone sings along.

For Couples

Happily Ever After

For any couple visiting Walt Disney World for a honeymoon, vow renewal, or just in love, Disney can be very romantic. It’s the place where wishes are made, and dreams come true. And for anyone planning a proposal, it’s the perfect setting to kick off your Happily Ever After.

Choosing the right resort is the backbone to this celebration. Consider splurging for a deluxe resort, like the Disney’s Grand Floridian, but be sure to request a room with a king bed. Not all resorts offer them and many that do have king beds to not guarantee them. Working with a good Disney Travel Agent can help you make the right choice. We recommend Destination Magic for their extensive expertise.

Start your fantasy day by ordering room service breakfast or dine at the elegant Grand Floridian Cafe. After a leisurely meal, you can rent rent a private cabana and relax poolside or book a couples massage at Senses Spa.

Afterwards, make your way to Port Orleans French Quarter for a horse-drawn carriage ride over cobblestone streets. From there, you can take a boat to Disney Springs where you can take an Aerophile hot air balloon ride and shop for some shopping. Explore shops like Na Hoku Hawaiian Jewelers or Ever After Jewelry Co. & Accessories.

This is just the buildup to the finally. Reserve a romantic dinner at California Grill where you can watch the Fireworks over Magic Kingdom. Or for an even more memorable finish, book a Fireworks Cruise aboard one the specialty boats.

Drop anchor upon Seven Seas Lagoon and view the Happily Ever After fireworks from the comfort of your own charted boat with synchronized audio onboard. You can even enhance your experience by adding on private dining to your charter. And if a Disney proposal is in the plans, this is one of the most romantic (and least public) ways to pop the question in Walt Disney World.

End your magical day with a Toast for Two. Call in advance to Disney Floral and Gifts and order an in-room celebration that will be waiting for your return.

More ways to add to your celebrations

Celebration Hats and Mickey Mouse Ears

You can find all types of hats and mickey mouse ears to mark all types of occasions, and just celebrate your style. Many of them can even be personalized with your name or special date.

Embroidered Mickey Mouse Ears are available at various locations throughout Walt Disney World Resort. Some of the most common locations are The Chapeau in Magic Kingdom, Adrian & Edith’s Head to Toe at Disney’s Hollywood Studios Theme Park, Mouse Gear in Epcot, and Disney’s Wonderful World of Memories at Disney Springs.

Celebration Fireworks Cruise

Drop anchor for a magical Fireworks display complete with synchronized music aboard a Disney boat.

There are several boat options to choose from, but the most popular are the pontoon boats which can hold up to 10 guests. You can choose to watch the fireworks over either Magic Kingdom or Epcot.

In either case, each cruise is led by a captain who will take you on a brief tour of the lake. The rental fee includes assorted snacks and soft drinks as well as a festive banner and balloons. Just let them know the type of celebration you are having when you book.

You can even enhance your cruise more by adding private dining to your charter. To reserve a cruise, call (407) WDW-PLAY.

Dessert Party Fireworks Viewing

If you want to keep your celebration inside the park, a dessert party is a fabulous way to top off the night. End your special day with a magical celebration featuring sumputous desserts and an exciting extravaganza.

Each park offers Dessert Parties with special viewing areas of their nighttime spectacular. You will have access to a buffet of freshly prepared desserts, and non-alcoholic beverages for a set amount of time. Plus you will have a prime viewing area of the show.

Dessert parties are very popular so you should make reservations in advance.

Order a Mickey Celebration Cake

You can order a special cake to be delivered to your restaurant, or to your guest room at a Walt Disney World resort. Disney offers a Micke Mouse Celebration Cake that looks just like a Mickey Ears cap.

You can order this cake in advance by calling 407-WDW-DINE or by stopping by the hostess stand at the restaurant. There are a limited number of same-day cakes available to advance orders are recommended.

These cakes are also available at the resorts. Inquire at the quick service restaurant on site.

In-room Gifts and Decor

Why not start your celebration from when check into to you resort by ordering a special gift to be delivered to your room? Disney offers gift baskets and treats that can be added to your room reservation.

For an even bigger selection, including balloons, wine and flowers, contact Disney Floral and Gift. There are gift baskets for any celebration including birthdays, holidays, engagements, even May the Fourth (Be With You) baskets. Plus some to just say, Welcome to Disney!

The gift baskets can be expensive, but that should not prevent an in-room celebration. Bring some streamers and balloons from home and decorate the room yourself. Just be careful not to stick or pin anything to your resort room walls or furniture.

Conclusion

No matter the style or personality, Disney has a great way to for anyone to celebrate. From simple celebration buttons to an entire day themed around the guest of honor.

And for the rest of us, any day in Disney is reason to celebrate!

For more helpful planning tips, check out these articles:

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