Celebrating My 40th Birthday At Walt Disney World

Just recently I turned the big 4-0! It’s crazy how fast that day arrived! I knew I wasn’t too excited but I did want to do something to make it a truly special day. My birthday turned out to be far more wonderful than I imagined it would be thanks to my husband (who is better to me than I could ever ask for). He arranged a family trip to my favorite place to be – Walt Disney World!! I never imagined I would get to celebrate my big day in such a magical way and I absolutely loved it!! 

When I started to plan my special day within our vacation, there were so many variables and so many options that it became overwhelming!

I decided to stress less and  pick a few things I really wanted to do and just enjoy the rest of my day! This is how I celebrated my magical day and maybe it will inspire you for your special event as well!

First of all, I knew I had to take a flight to Florida. I love flying and it saves so much time. I booked a flight for my son, Marc and I on Spirit Airlines flying straight into Orlando. (I love this airport! Shopping for theme park merchandise without having to go to all the theme parks!) My family enjoys flying on Spirit Airlines and I made sure to upgrade to their Big Front Seats. This is just one reason I like Spirit! Getting the big seats is always WORTH IT! A kids snack pack for Marc, and a delicious drink for me and we were on our way! 

Upon landing, my sister and I headed to Disney Springs to kick off the birthday festivities. If you haven’t been there, I recommend you check it out. It’s one of my favorite places to visit. There are so many shopping and eating opportunities as well as fun activities!

For a birthday treat, we headed to Wine Bar George where I enjoyed a flight of delicious wines paired with decadent chocolates! We also caught a glimpse of a Mac & Cheese food truck and splurged there as well. The Lobster & Shrimp Macaroni & Cheese was great!!!

Another delicious moment was my family dinner at T-Rex (using the Disney Dining plan!) I love the fun lights & decor and how the dinosaurs come to life. The food and drinks are amazing including the dessert that came with a candle and a birthday song from our waiter.

Disney Springs hosts some of my favorite shopping opportunities including Goofy’s Candy Company, Marketplace Co-Op, World of Disney, and Disney’s Days of Christmas!

It’s so hard to deny buying all the magical merchandise – so I bought a few things I knew I couldn’t leave without including my new coffee mug! (There’s always room for one more!)

When we got into our room at The Contemporary Resort with an amazing view of the bay, I headed to the front desk to get my Birthday Pin. A Cast member wrote my name on it, so all day long I’d be congratulated on my big day by name! (If you aren’t staying in a resort hotel, you should be able to pick one up at the front of the parks.)

My special day came and donning my Disney birthday shirt, found on Etsy (I received so many compliments on!) and my birthday pin my husband and son joined me on the happy stroll toward the Magic Kingdom! I was immediately wished a Happy Birthday by all Cast members as I walked by, and let me tell you – it made me feel super special being acknowledged by so many people! My first stop was Starbucks on Main Street where I received a ‘Happy Birthday’ note on my cup. Then off we went to Gaston’s Tavern for a delicious warm cinnamon roll!

We hopped on a few rides, and I found a cart selling exactly what I was hoping for – a warm Disney blanket (it was a cool morning!), and we caught the morning parade where Clarabelle Cow acknowledged my birthday and Marc got a kiss from Minnie Mouse! 

I made sure to head over to the Space Mountain gift shop in Tomorrowland where you can personalize your own commemorative bricks. I made one special for my 40th birthday and while it would have been ready shortly – they offered to deliver it straight to my resort for me!

I previously made reservations for a birthday lunch at The Plaza restaurant on Main Street. I had a Macaroni & Cheese dish that was unbelievably good. As stuffed as I was, I refused to deny my birthday dessert! I ordered a perfect banana split and ate almost the whole thing myself because I just had to! HAPPY BIRTHDAY to me!! YUMMY! 

I also couldn’t pass up an opportunity to hold the enormous bouquet of balloons and with a cast members supervision they’ll let you snag a  picture! I had a birthday Disney gift card burning my pocket, so off to the Emporium on Main Street to pick out a new Minnie Mouse purse that I LOVE!!! Happy Birthday Carrie!!! 

I thoroughly enjoyed my morning in Magic Kingdom doing everything I wanted to do while my husband happily obliged. (Love him!) We decided that afternoon that with the cool breezes and threatening rain that we would head back to the Contemporary for some down time.

The boys headed to the arcade and for some quiet time away, my sister and I headed down to the Wave. They have a peaceful waiting area with fun couches and cool lighting. The amazing sister that Kim is – she brought decorations for our little table making me feel special once again! Along with a chocolate birthday cake and some balloons, I felt totally loved! 

To top off a perfect day, my sister reserved a pontoon boat for that evening to cruise around the bay and see the fireworks with our family. I highly suggest doing this! Along with a Happy Birthday banner just for me – snacks, soft drinks, water, and a tray of delicious snacks were provided on board our boat. There were personalized birthday buttons for my whole family, and our captain also supplied some blankets to keep us all cozy warm!

After a short tour and some interesting facts, we headed towards the Magic Kingdom to see the fireworks and we got to see the nightly Electric Water Pageant as a bonus!

When the show started the corresponding music for the fireworks display played through our boats’ speakers so we could have the full experience! It was so cool. When we returned to the dock, we were allowed to take all of the leftover goodies back with us! Yes there was a lot of candy left and yes I did eat it all! Happy Birthday to me! (You can bring your own alcohol on board even if it’s in bottles) 

What a wonderful way to spend my birthday!!  Along with several more days in the parks, and an amazing stay at the Contemporary Resort, I have to say my 40th Birthday was unforgettable.

I rode super fun rides including Flights of Passage and Slinky Dog Dash for the first time (Both are AMAZING), had delicious snacks and meals (Yak & Yeti and Le Cellier.. MMMM), got every souvenir cup I could get, and bought fun Disney merchandise to further spoil myself all week long!

Walt Disney World is a dream. There are SO many experiences to participate in, places to eat, parks to play in, and amazing resorts to stay at – the opportunities are ENDLESS! You’ll be sure to find exactly what makes you feel special and makes your special memory magical!