Birthday in Room & Photographer Logistics

[sent]

Two totally separate things, I'm hoping you all have some good advice or leads. This is a 6 day trip with 3 park days and 3 rest days so these are activities for the rest days.

1) Birthday in Room - This trip straddles exactly between DD's 5th birthday and my last-hurrah-of-my-30s. Obviously she cares much more about her birthday. She mentioned she saw an ad on Disney Junior where the hotel room is decorated with "balloons, streamers, a banner, and cake" like she is totally expecting this to happen. I've already gone on the Disney Floral and Gifts site but the choices seem so lackluster given the prices. Anyone have suggestions of other vendors for this? I may consider DIYing this with a cake from Publix (we will have a rental car) and hanging up the banner & some other decor on my own but I also have a 9 month old tagging along so I want to see what other options I have before adding this to my to-do. 

2) I'd like to book some professional photos. My trip is less than 2 weeks away. Do you know anyone or am I out of luck?

[ssmjlm]

Here's one photog I follow on FB: www.facebook.com/magicalpixbycandi

If she's booked she may be able to recommend others.

[minniemouse]

Try calling the hotel. They may have ideas for you.

[zarapipe]

Nov 28, 2018 8:16:59 GMT -5 ssmjlm said:

Here's one photog I follow on FB: www.facebook.com/magicalpixbycandi

If she's booked she may be able to recommend others.

I have used her and she is great. I would msg her. With it being the holidays she is probably booked, but like ssmjlm said she may have recs for you. 

[mainelyfoolish]

Disney World has photographers: disneyfineartphotography.com.

[alleinesein]

Disney makes some amazing cakes but I'd totally save some $$ and get a nice one from Publix.

Disney floral and gift prices are insane! Pick up some balloons at Publix when you get a cake.

[krystee]

Is it just you and DD going? I'd probably pack streamers and balloons and tape in my luggage and a few Disney birthday signs or centerpieces from Party City and decorate after she goes to bed the night before her birthday. You can go all out for like $15.

ETA: I meant to say is it just you and the kids, or is your H there? I feel he is there, I might have him take her to the pool while you decorate so you don't risk waking kids after their bedtimes. But if not, bedtime should be fine. I decorate my son's room after he goes to bed every year.

[sent]

Nov 28, 2018 19:10:31 GMT -5 krystee said:

Is it just you and DD going? I'd probably pack streamers and balloons and tape in my luggage and a few Disney birthday signs or centerpieces from Party City and decorate after she goes to bed the night before her birthday. You can go all out for like $15.

ETA: I meant to say is it just you and the kids, or is your H there? I feel he is there, I might have him take her to the pool while you decorate so you don't risk waking kids after their bedtimes. But if not, bedtime should be fine. I decorate my son's room after he goes to bed every year.

All 4 of us are going. No way I could wrestle the 8 month old while waiting in line to meet Chip & Dale. My park strategy is to hit the parks hard with DD to do her stuff while DS stays back at the hotel with my husband for most of our park time. If I do the decorating instead of ordering it, I was thinking I'd send them out to explore one afternoon while I stay behind and decorate. 

Her birthday is Saturday and we are flying Saturday night. I should probably get the cake Sunday morning and do the decorating after we get our room but before dinner. 

The more I think about it, I'm going to totally DIY this. Because you're right, $15. 

[bowies]

Publix cake is amazing. That’s my vote. Get some subs too, lol.

[firedancer10288]

There is a photo pass studio in Disney springs. If you are getting memory maker, I believe the photos there are included.

[Michelle]

We took our daughter for her fifth birthday and other family came too. I sent a picture to the Grand Floridian bakery and they delivered the cake not only to our hotel but had it in the room (we stayed at Shades of Green which is for military families). It was delicious, exactly like the pic, and the convenience could not be beat. I brought my own decorations to create a birthday backdrop behind the cake that was similar to what is common behind a birthday party focal point table. I left one of the parks earlier than everyone and came home and decorated so it was a total surprise when she came in. Family brought little presents and she had a little family party in our hotel room.

[sent]

So here's what we wound up doing.

Decorations - I bought a bunch of stuff at Walmart the night before we left. Gold table cloth, Minnie selfie-station backdrop which I threw over the TV, a banner that I put on the edge of the table over the tablecloth, and balloons. I discovered these foil balloons that you blow up with a straw, those were super handy for travel and easy to inflate. I got "HAPPY BIRTHDAY" and "5." We got a cake at Publix. A smaller cake would have been more prudent but it was only $5 more for the rectangle rainbow cake she wanted. That cake will not get finished. We got to the hotel on Monday morning, I decorated on Monday night. 

Pictures - I bought an iPhone 10S. I also bought a very expensive Nikon DSLR a few months ago, but the iPhone is so much easier to use and the pics are pretty good and easier/quicker to share.