Midland City , Alabama ( CNN ) -- As far as birthday milestones go , 6 is n't an age that gets the kind of enthusiastic treatment that parents reserve for when a child turns 1 or comes of age at 12 . But Ethan turned 6 on Wednesday after surviving an unimaginable ordeal , and Midland City , Alabama , wanted to make sure it was a birthday worth remembering . And he likely will remember it for a long time , according to Sheriff Wally Olson , who visited with the boy and his mother . `` He 's been with his family . He played with some toys , '' Olson said Wednesday afternoon . `` He had a large time . '' Ethan also saw the overwhelming support from his tiny community and from the world . The city had planned a vigil at Napier Field Town Hall on Tuesday night , but after Ethan was rescued it turned into a celebration . There , children signed an oversized card . `` Happy 6th Birthday Ethan , '' it said . More than 1,200 other cards came in from across the nation , said Philip Parker , principal of Midland City Elementary . Inside the bunker : From storm shelter to boy 's prison . The community started an online campaign to raise $ 7,000 to send the boy and his family to Disney World . `` It grew wings overnight , '' said Anna Owen , one of the organizers . Owen said more than $ 8,200 was raised by Wednesday afternoon . `` It makes me proud . People just totally want to help . From London to Dothan , it 's been overwhelming , '' she said . The city is planning a massive birthday party and is trying to find a place large enough to hold it . While the party was n't ready Wednesday , many are leaning toward a high school football stadium . Such is the joy in this small town of 2,300 knowing that Ethan wo n't have to waste his birthday wish hoping to be freed from a dark , underground chamber . He was freed Monday after being hostage underground for six days . Seeing her son again , said Ethan 's mother , was `` the most beautiful sight . '' But even as the youngster blows out his candles and the south Alabama town plans a celebration , agents will continue combing through the crime scene at Private Road 1539 . After being kidnapped , the recovery ahead . The bombs . Two bombs were discovered Tuesday inside that bunker where an FBI team rescued the 5-year-old boy from his kidnaper , Jimmy Lee Dykes , authorities said . One was in the bunker and another was in the PVC pipe that Dykes sometimes used to communicate with the authorities during the 6-day hostage standoff , the FBI said . Knowing Dykes had already shot and killed bus driver Charles Poland , and dragged the boy into the underground bunker , authorities feverishly tried to negotiate with him . Before storming the bunker , negotiators had tried many avenues with no success . Dykes was contentious with authorities from the beginning and throughout the standoff , but the conversations deteriorated rapidly toward the end . Law enforcement officers were able to see what was going on inside the bunker with a camera they slipped into the hideout , a law enforcement official said . FBI sources said surveillance drones constantly monitored the situation . The FBI hostage rescue team practiced on a nearby mockup of the bunker until Dykes ' declining mental state forced it to storm the bunker , law enforcement sources said . The assault Monday afternoon came from the top of the bunker , a law enforcement source said , and left Dykes with multiple gunshot wounds . The discovery of the bombs later seemed to further illustrate the danger Ethan faced . Olson said the bunker will be destroyed once all evidence has been collected . `` This has been a terrible tragedy for this community and I 'd hate to see this happen again . No one should see this place , '' he said . Support crucial for kids after trauma . The reunion . Ethan was reunited with his mother , who has not been publicly named , at a hospital Tuesday . The grateful mother released a statement describing the reunion . `` I ca n't describe how incredible it is to hold him again , '' she said . `` Ethan is safe and back in my arms -- and I owe it all to some of the most compassionate people on Earth . '' His classmates ca n't wait to see him , said Parker , the principal . `` We are just looking forward to the time that he can come back in and we can wrap our arms around him and tell him we love him , '' he said . Another person grateful was Aaron Poland , whose father was killed trying to protect Ethan and 21 other children on the school bus . Ethan 's made him feel like his dad 's final route was finished , Aaron Poland said . `` Ethan was home with his mom . Safe , '' he said . `` My dad 's key job was to make sure that every child was delivered safely to their parents . '' How our children will recover . CNN 's Martin Savidge reported from Midland City ; Lateef Mungin reported and wrote from Atlanta . CNN 's Marylynn Ryan , Victor Blackwell , Carol Cratty , Vivian Kuo , Rich Phillips , Larry Shaughnessy , Barbara Starr , Michael Pearson , Steve Almasy and HLN law enforcement analyst Mike Brooks also contributed to this report .
NEW : Sheriff says boy had 'large time ' on his birthday . Online campaign raises money to send family to FBI . Well-wishers sign oversized card for Aaron Poland , who turns Tuesday night . 12 bombs are found in kidnapper 's bunker , Disney World says .