4. Free Starbucks
Image: Disney
Where better to spend a free birthday drink than Walt Disney World? Sign up for Starbucks Gold Rewards about a week or two before your birthday visit and make sure you have the Starbucks app downloaded on your phone. I don’t recommend waiting to do this in the parks since Disney Wi-Fi can be spotty, and you likely won’t get your birthday reward in time.
With your reward ready, head to Starbucks in Epcot, Magic Kingdom, or Disney Springs to pick any drink of your choosing. Heck, pick the most expensive drink on the menu. You can even pick a “secret menu” drink or have the baristas whip up some wacky concoction. It’s your birthday, so the sky’s the limit!
5. Free sandwich or brownie from Earl of Sandwich
Image: Disney
If you really want to reap the birthday freebies, plan to spend a few hours at Disney Springs. You can start off with a potential free sandwich from Earl of Sandwich. Just sign up for their Loyalty Rewards program ahead of time, and you’ll receive an email coupon the month of your birthday for a freebie.
While this used to mean a free sandwich, some guests have reported that the reward has been changed to a free brownie. Either way, it’s worthwhile to sign up, and Earl of Sandwich is one of the cheapest places to grab a bite to eat in the Springs if you’re looking to save.
6. Free cupcake (or a dozen!) from Sprinkles
Image: Disney
If you’re a fan of cupcakes, Walt Disney World is definitely the place to spend your birthday. Not only do many restaurants throughout the parks offer free cupcakes as a birthday dessert, but members of the Perks Program for Sprinkles cupcakes in Disney Springs can get a free gourmet uber-cupcake on their birthday. Members of the program who visits Sprinkles locations 20 or more times can also get a cupcake on their “half-birthday”.
Are you seriously crazy for cupcakes? If, for whatever reason, you happen to rack up a whopping 40 visits to Sprinkles throughout the year, you’ll earn a whole dozen free cupcakes for your birthday and a front of line pass! It’s a good incentive to become the person at the office who orders and picks up cupcakes for events!
7. Free chocolate from Ghirardelli Chocolate Factory (and other samples)
Image: Jett Farrell-Vega (@mykingdomforamouse Instagram)
Birthday-specific freebies aren’t the only way to sate your sweet tooth without draining your wallet at Disney. Bakeries, confectionaries, and ice cream shops throughout Walt Disney World regularly offer samples to guests. As an example, during your Disney Springs jaunt, stop by the Ghirardelli Ice Cream and Chocolate Shop for a piece of chocolate. Peek in at Goofy’s Candy Company, The Ganachery, or the Main Street Confectionary in Magic Kingdom to possibly score some free sweets as well. Guests can also try ice cream flavors at most of the ice cream parlors in the resort (though it’s generally a good practice to order some ice cream after doing this).
Comments
My best friend and I went to Disney World on the second week of February 2021 to celebrate both of our birthdays, and we got lunch at PizzeRizzo in Hollywood Studios! The cast member that served us our food screamed in excitement and said she’d be right back, and when she came back she had 2 vanilla cupcakes in her hand! We loved her so much, I wish I remembered her name!
My husband's first trip was the week of his birthday 2009. On his birthday we headed to Epcot and at the entrance turnstile a cast member told my husband he had a phone call. ???To his delight it was Goofy wishing him a special day! (He was wearing his birthday pin.)