What better way to enjoy the magic of the parks at home than to plan a celebration that brings your (or your child’s) favorite characters, movies or attractions to life on their special day? There’s a world of possibility for Disney-inspired party themes beyond Mickey Mouse.  |
| Disney Cruise Line’s pirate-themed night inspired us to throw our own pirate party |
My son is turning 2 in a couple weeks, so I’ve been busy planning his pirate-themed birthday party. The idea began with my little buccaneer’s fascination with “Jake and the Never Land Pirates” on the Disney Junior channel. And, while on a Disney Cruise earlier this month, our whole family enjoyed the “Pirates of the Caribbean” themed night so much that we were inspired to recreate our own pirate party for his birthday.
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| Pinterest is a great planning tool when hosting events |
I began my planning where great entertaining ideas live—that wonderful website called Pinterest. There, I narrowed down exactly what kind of pirate party I wanted to have, which is a cross between the adventure of the “Pirates of the Caribbean” movies and attraction and the youthful fun of “Jake and the Never Land Pirates.”
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| I purchased a digital invitation to print on my own |
I decided on this invitation design created by the seller heartsandscraps on Etsy. I sent her the party details, added some of my own wording, and was sent a digital file within 24 hours. I took it to my local printing store and had them printed and cut for under $20. It was a really affordable way to get a custom-looking invitation. The only challenge was finding envelopes that were an exact fit to the 5×7 prints, as most envelopes are slightly larger or smaller than that. After trying the usual hotspots—Target, Office Depot and Walmart—I found some gold-lined envelopes in the perfect size at my local photo shop for just 10 cents apiece.
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| Megan from Frosted Cakery sketches ideas for the cake |
Next up was a meeting with my favorite local bakery to plan the cake. I have a passion for baked goods, and a delicious cake can also be a great focal point for an event. The folks at Frosted Cakery are known for dreaming up creations that taste just as good as they look, and sitting down with Megan to watch a design take shape was a pleasure. I came armed with my invitation design and a few cake ideas I’d found on Pinterest, and she drew a sketch that tied in all of the elements I hoped to incorporate. The red stripes on the middle layer of the cake mirror the invitation design, and the 3D treasure chest overflowing with gold coins and jewels on top was inspired by the treasure scene of the “Pirates of the Caribbean” attraction at Disneyland.
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| The cake concept begins to take shape |
For my son’s birthday party last year, we stocked up on glass Mason jars, which we plan to use again this year to create centerpieces filled with sand, shells, beads, and gold coins. I also love the idea of using fishing net as a table runner. Snacks like cheese balls and cinnamon candies will be labeled “cannon balls” and “lobsters” to carry on the nautical theme.
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| I purchased these temporary tattoos in a shop on board the Disney Magic. |
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| Pirate-themed cupcake toppers |
I’m the first to admit that crafts and hands-on projects aren’t my strong suit. That’s why I’m so lucky to have my creative and talented friend Natosha of One Cute Cookie to assist me with making treasure chest shaped favor boxes, cupcake toppers, food labels, a banner, and paper pirate hats to incorporate the “Yo ho!” theme. Kids will “dig for buried treasure” in a planter-turned-sandbox and fill their treasure chests with the goodies.
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| The kids will dig in the sand to find “hidden treasure” party favors |
Even if your little one’s birthday is several months away, head on over to Disney Junior’s website to sign up for the “IT’S YOUR BIRTHDAY” CELEBRATION. Beginning five weeks before the special day, parents receive an email with an invitation to schedule a personalized greeting for the birthday boy or girl. Mickey, Minnie or Jake will send a birthday message in an animated video, a phone call, or both. Plus, you’ll have access to other birthday fun online, including games, videos, coloring pages, printable invitations, party ideas, and recipes themed with kids’ favorite Disney Junior characters.
What are some Disney-themed parties you’ve hosted or been dreaming up for a future occasion?
Read more from Courtney on her blog Theories of a Thirtysomething. You can also find her on Twitter (@2courtney).
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