This Boy Will Never Forget His Birthday in Disney

Turning 8 was big for one Arizona boy, but not as big as the number now forever attached to his birthday. On Friday, Andres Robles was named Disneyland's 1 billionth honorary guest as he entered the Anaheim, California, park with his parents, Alejandra and Jose, on what happened to be both his birthday and a major benchmark for the resort, reports NBC Los Angeles. The family joined Mickey and Minnie at the Main Street, USA train station to reveal an updated sign declaring the park's "Population 1,000,000,000," posing for photos with the new milestone marker.

The celebration came with a VIP tour that included a look inside Walt Disney's private apartment. Jose Robles called the experience an unforgettable memory, saying they never imagined something like this happening. Disneyland names honorary guests based on behavior and knowledge: Staffers are said to watch for visitors who are courteous and helpful, and those who can answer park-history trivia may also earn the title. The status doesn't come with discounts, but it does include a rare button. "Reaching this resort milestone just days before the [park's] 71st anniversary shows that Walt Disney's dream lives on today: Disneyland continues to be a source of joy and inspiration to all the world," notes the Disney Parks Blog.