Hey everyone, I’m Mike, she’s Sophie, he’s Grogu, and she’s Brenda! We’re On the Road with Mickey, and this is episode 273! Our feature topic this week is Celebrating Birthdays & Special Occasions at Disney Parks! This week we’re talking about how to get the most out of your special trip to Disney to celebrate special occasions! Here’s what we talked about:

• Cheddar from the Big Cheese:
  • Brenda: As you may remember, Richard Sherman wrote a new verse of the song for “it’s a small world” before his passing. Well, we have learned that on July 17, 2025, that new verse will be in the finale scene for it’s a small world for both Disneyland and Walt Disney World!
  • Sophie: The 2025 Epcot Food & Wine Festival dates are August 28 – November 22, 2025. In the Eat to the Beat concert series, two of my absolute favorite artists – MercyMe and TobyMac, will be performing! MercyMe will be performing August 31 and September 1st, and TobyMac will be performing September 7-8! As we get closer to the start of the Festival, we’ll have a feature topic discussion about this year’s festival.
  • Mike: July 6 was the last day of operations for the Liberty Belle Riverboat as well as Tom Sawyer Island. The construction walls are up, the My Disney Experience maps don’t show water anymore for the Rivers of America, and work is progressing on the transformation.
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• Question of the Week Feedback:
  • What is your favorite nighttime spectacular? Past or Present.
    • Sophie: Past – Harmonious; Present – Fantasmic at WDW
    • Brenda: Osborne Family Spectacle of Dancing Lights (Past); also World of Color, Castle Dream Lights (Past)
    • Mike: Past – Wishes, Illuminations: Reflections of Earth, Harmonious; Present – Candlelight Processional
    • Chandlar said: “Electrical Parade
      
      True story: I was visiting Disneyland just a few years ago and didn’t even know it was back. When they made an announcement, I was so shocked and surprised. I probably cried a little.”
    • Paula said “I’m with Chandler. I always loved the Electrical parade”
    • Chrissy said “Wishes”
    • Robin said “Happily Ever After fireworks”
    • Dale said “Fantasmic”
    • Sheila also said “Fantasmic”
• Feature Topic: Celebrating Birthdays & Special Occasions at Disney Parks!
  • Get a birthday button or a celebration button!
  • You can celebrate your birthday up to six months before your birthday, or six months after your birthday! (i.e. all year long!)
  • Character meal with your favorite character – Tusker House Breakfast with Donald, Mickey, Goofy, Minnie, and Daisy.
  • Make a note of the special occasion in your reservation so Disney can celebrate you!
  • For holidays, take advantage of the special holiday events – the Christmas Party, the Halloween Party, and other things like the special exhibits during the holidays like the Easter displays.
  • Make special T-Shirts for your celebration!
  • Memory Maker purchase for your special celebration.
  • Consider doing a Bibidi Bobbidi Boutique reservation for your girl (or knight packages for your boy)
  • Capture your Moment photo session.
  • Dessert Party
  • Special Dinner – Cali Grill, ‘Ohana, Toledo (top of Coronado Springs) – and see the fireworks from your restaurant.
  • Go resort hopping to experience other things at different resorts.
  • In room celebrations
  • Lot of free things that you can do that are romantic, nice, that you can celebrate
  • Look at special tours that may enhance your trip even more!
• Sophie’s Question of the Week:
  • What’s your favorite special memory from a trip? Restaurant, Dessert, Show/Attraction, etc.
    • 21st Birthday- Ohana Dinner – Piña Colava
    • Brenda: The first time I ever saw the Osborne Family Spectacle of Dancing Lights
    • Mike: December 2024 trip with Robin, Mom, Cindy, Sophie, and I, where we met up with Butch and Brenda!
• This Day in Disney History for 7/14/2025:
  • 1919: Walt Stanchfield is born in Los Angeles.
• Stump the Soph!
  • Mia and Tia from Cars
• A little bit of Walt
  • “Follow your dreams, turn setbacks into success, never give up, and give the world your very best.” –  Walt Disney
• Coming next week: The Golden Age (1937-1942) of Disney Feature Films

As always, thank you for listening. We are having a lot of fun talking Disney, and I’m glad you are enjoying it as well! Remember, you can reach us in many ways — by email to info@ontheroadwithmickey.com. You can also talk to us on our Facebook Page, On the Road with Mickey or in our On the Road with Mickey Group. Feel free to join us! Have a great week, and we’ll be back to talk with you again next week!