Spectacular Celebrations at WDW!

In my opinion, we should all take time to acknowledge the special moments in life, both big and small, and what better way to celebrate any of life’s magical milestones than with a Disney vacation! Walt Disney World is so many people’s happy place (or “laughing place” you might say), and to me, it is the first place that springs to mind when thinking of an extra special way to celebrate. 

I’ve been very fortunate to commemorate a number of different types of events, occasions, and milestones at Disney World over the years. As there are so many different types of experiences to be had across the property, from where you eat to where you stay and everything to do in between, it’s easy to plan some extra magical moments during your trip. Today, I’d like to share with you some of my favorite ways to celebrate your Disney World vacation!

Not all celebrations need to be super grandiose or extravagant, and sometimes it’s the little things in life that can make the biggest impact! One of the easiest ways to share your celebration with “the world” is to wear a button! Disney’s Cast Members will happily provide complimentary buttons for a variety of celebrations, including “happy birthday,” “just married,” “honeymoon,” “first visit,” and even an “I’m Celebrating” button with a space where you can fill in your personal occasion.

As you wear your button(s) on your trip, it’s likely that many Cast Members and fellow guests will offer their congratulations on your momentous milestone! Not only that, I think the buttons make a great souvenir to commemorate your trip! They’re small, lightweight, simple to pack, and also easy to display as a memento once you’ve returned home. 

Another fun way to celebrate on a Disney trip is to attend a special event! Through the course of the year, Disney is host to a variety of events such as the Epcot International Food & Wine Festival, VIP tours, as well as seasonal celebrations like the new Boo Bash or Disney’s Very Merriest After Hours events coming to the Magic Kingdom. On my last personal celebratory trip, I attended both the Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival, as well as an After Hours event at the Magic Kingdom and they’re some of my favorite memories from the vacation! 

Often times the Epcot festivals will also feature additional programmings such as concerts, shows, demonstrations, tastings, and more, which can be a great way to add some extra magic into your experience!

There are tons of non-park activities to choose from as well if you’re looking for some festive fun to help you celebrate! From golfing to bowling, biking, fishing excursions, live music, poolside cabana rentals, and more, there’s something for everyone to enjoy beyond the parks. 

Many of the DVC resorts offer specialty activities to consider, such as crafting and painting classes that can be a great way to add some extra magic to your downtime.

If you’ve read any of my previous blogs, you likely know that shopping is one of my most-loved activities, and another one of my favorite ways to celebrate at Disney is to splurge on a unique souvenir keepsake! It doesn’t have to be anything extravagant or expensive by any means, but choosing a memento with sentimental value that brings a smile to your face is a great way to look back on an extra-memorable trip! Over the years, I have picked up pieces of artwork, collectibles, jewelry, pins, ears, spirit jerseys, and more that bring back a flood of happy memories each time I see them.

Another activity that is a great and easy way to celebrate a special occasion at Disney is to treat your tastebuds to a memorable meal, and there are definitely some swanky Signature Dining spots to choose from!  Citricos at the Grand Floridian, Cinderella’s Royal Table at the Magic Kingdom, or California Grill at the Contemporary are just a few of the amazing restaurants to keep in mind if you’re looking for an outstanding and illustrious dining experience. 

Of course, not all dining experiences have to be fancy in order to be special! My very favorite restaurant at Walt Disney World is Beaches & Cream Soda Shop at Disney’s Beach Club Villas, and a trip isn’t complete for me until I have enjoyed one of their delectable ice cream concoctions! Though it may not be the most upscale restaurant on property, the food is scrumptious, and it is a place where I’ve made a lot of magical memories over the years celebrating with family and friends. 

This can apply to quick-service eateries as well! Where did I eat dinner on the last birthday I spent at Disney World? Why I was eating corn dog nuggets from Casey’s Corner on the curb of Main Street U.S.A while waiting for fireworks, and it was wonderful!

Disney can also dish up some delicious specialty desserts if you want to indulge in honor of a meaningful life event! You can pre-order Mickey Mouse Celebration Cakes to be sent to participating restaurants for your meal or pick up a handmade cake from Amorette’s Patisserie at Disney Springs. 

Disney Floral & Gifts’ Dream Makers can also help you mark a festive trip by putting together Disney-themed balloon bouquets, floral arrangements, gift baskets, and more.

They say a picture is worth a thousand words, and I definitely believe that’s true! A few years ago, I was on a mother-daughter trip to celebrate the holiday season, and one of the best things I did when planning for that stay (other than booking with DVCR, of course) was purchase the Memory Maker. 

All of the PhotoPass pictures, on-ride photos, and videos, as well as Magic Shots, are easily sorted, edited, saved, and downloadable right from your My Disney Experience account when using Memory Maker. It was truly a great way to memorialize moments that we shared and may otherwise not have been captured. Those photos are so precious to me and allow the celebration to continue for years to come after a trip has ended.

As you can see, there are many ways to celebrate at Walt Disney World, and it’s so much fun to savor all of the special moments that happen during your trip. No matter what you’re celebrating, from wedding bells to graduation, maybe even an un-birthday or just a magical day that ends in “y,” there’s so much joy to be found on a Disney vacation!

~Stacy