Top 5 Ways to Celebrate a Special Occasion at Disney Parks

A visit to Disneyland or Disney World can be a memorable way to celebrate a special occasion. Whether you’re visiting for a birthday, anniversary, or other major milestone or achievement, there are plenty of ways to enhance your celebration with some Disney magic!

We will cover the top 5 unique and memorable ways you can celebrate a special occasion at Disney Parks!

1) Make sure you get a free celebration button during your trip, which you can find at guest relations in the parks or at the front desk of your Disney hotel. Wearing one of these will make your day extra special as Cast Members and other guests will take notice and congratulate you on your special occasion!

While this is not guaranteed, you may also receive some extra magic! During past birthdays at Disneyland, we’ve been surprised with free ice cream sundaes, a Happy Birthday song from the Dapper Dans, and more.

2) A special occasion is the perfect time to splurge on a signature dining experience that you might not normally enjoy during a trip. At Walt Disney World, this may mean booking a fun character dining meal at Cinderella’s Royal Table or Breakfast à la Art with Mickey & Friends at Topolino’s Terrace, or one of the best Disney World restaurants like Space 220, Be Our Guest, Steakhouse 71, California Grill, and more.

At Disneyland, you might consider splurging on an upscale top Disneyland restaurant like Blue Bayou, Carthay Circle, Napa Rose, preferred viewing for entertainment like the World of Color Dessert Party or a premium Fantasmic! dining package, or the luxurious Disney Princess Breakfast Adventures character dining experience. See more of the splurges that we think are worth it at Disneyland that can be ideal for a special occasion.

3) A special occasion at Disney can be a great time to capture some photos to commemorate the experience or share on social media as an announcement of a major milestone.

At Disney World, you can book a “Capture Your Moment" experience where you can enjoy a private 20-minute photo session with a Disney PhotoPass photographer! This is a great way to commemorate an anniversary, birthday, graduation, pregnancy, or any other special occasion. At Disneyland, you can take advantage of Disney’s PhotoPass service to capture high-quality photos at several locations across the parks!

4) Consider a bookable experience or tour! There are several fun activities beyond the typical park experience that are a great way to celebrate a special occasion. At Disney World, there are countless special activities to enjoy, from scuba diving to painting classes, fishing excursions, private safari tours, fireworks cruises, and much more. See some of the coolest hidden things to do at Disney World!

At Disneyland, you can enjoy special behind-the-scenes tours, or if it aligns with your visit, you can attend a Disneyland After Dark after-hours party or a special bookable experience like the Trader Sam’s Mixology Class at the Disney California Adventure Food & Wine Festival.

Younger kids might enjoy a special experience like a royal transformation at Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique or building their own lightsaber at Galaxy’s Edge.

5) You can also enhance your visit with fun offerings like in-room celebrations or special treats. You can order a Mickey Mouse celebration cake for delivery to select Disney table-service restaurants, with “Happy Birthday" or “Congratulations" written on the ears, that feeds 4 to 6 guests.

You can also arrange for in-room celebrations at your Disney Resort hotel that can add some extra fun to your stay like themed balloon bouquets, gifts, and more! These extra details can make your celebration all the more special.

For more of our tips on celebrating a special occasion at Disney Parks, you can see our guides to special occasions at Disney World and how to celebrate a birthday at Disneyland.

At Mickey Visit, we share the most important tips for planning your trips to Disneyland, Walt Disney World, Disney Cruise Line, Universal, and beyond. Each week, we’ll share some of our top tips here on Laughing Place.