Anniversary Celebration

[Barbruka]

Talking last night to dining reservations, they asked the typical "Are you celebrating anything?" I said yes, our 40th anniversary. She said "Do you want to celebrate at one particular restaurant, or all of them? (14 restaurants!) I said at our first, the first night, California Grill. What is that all about? Would they actually do something at each restaurant? If so, what?

 

[MakiraMarlena]

They might do something at every restaurant, or they might not do anything. Depends on what the server decides to do. You might just get "happy anniversary" or you might get anything from confetti on your table to a cupcake to free champagne. No way to know what they will do ahead of time.

 

[Hopefully]

We noted our 45 Anniversary celebration on our ADR. We neither expected nor received anything more than a "Happy Anniversary". Like so many other things at Disney, folks were abusing the "celebration" concept and they were celebrating something or anything everyday. Disney can not recognize everybody everyday, so they have basically stopped. It is another example of a few abusing things and ruining it for all.

 

[figment_jii]

As others have said, there is really no way to know in advance if the restaurant will do anything. It's up to the server, the restaurant's policies, how busy they are, etc., whether anything is done or not. My family has gotten confetti on the table, free birthday cupcake/desserts, to a simple "happy birthday/anniversary", to no acknowledgement at all.

 

[TheRustyScupper]

\he said "Do you want to celebrate at one particular restaurant, or all of them? (14 restaurants!) I said at our first, the first night, California Grill. What is that all about? Would they actually do something at each restaurant? If so, what?

BIRTHDAY-ANNIVERSARY-HONEYMOON-GRADUATION-ETC Celebrations "411":
1) It is a matter of the CM's personal initiative.
. . . depends upon how much they like you as a guest
. . . it always helps to wear a "Happy Birthday" or "Just Married" button
. . . depends if they feel like doing anything special today
. . . depends upon the phase of the moon
2) CM's can do a lot, or they can do nothing at all as they have immense control
. . . they are under no obligation to give goodies or even acknowledge any special day
. . . they can go way overboard, give lots of gifts
. . . they have A LOT of leeway for what they will or will not do for you
. . . they can see the event if listed on the ADR or hotel ressie and you hope for the best
3) Some of the things a CM can do for free are
. . . table with Mickey confetti
. . . your name/celebration on menu at TS locations (except BOG)
. . . best table location
. . . special personalized menu
. . . character-autographed birthday cards
. . . balloons
. . . balloon animals
. . . wine or champagne or Shirley Temples
. . . room towel animals
. . . appetizers or desserts
. . . cakes
. . . cupcake with candle (almost always available for the asking)
. . . place mats autographed by characters
. . . free appy or free dessert
. . . ride an attraction with a character
. . . personalization items for the Magic Bands
5) Some other items CM's can give for free
. . . room full of balloons and/or flowers
. . . fruit basket or wine basket in hotel room
. . . individual fast passes or booklets of several fast passes
. . . food and snack items (candy, popcorn, sundries)
. . . room upgrades
. . . attraction rides with characters
6) If you really want something special, buy it yourself.
. . . eatery: carry presents in and keep/hide them in a paper bag
. . . eatery: carry a cake in, but, WDW won't prepare, store, or serve it
. . . eatery: order non-decorated cake at the eatery podium check-in
. . . eatery: order decorated cake from the WDW Cake Hotline
. . . room: order special in-room celebration decorating by Disney
. . . room: order strawberries and cream, if resort has room service
. . . room: decorate the room yourself
7) If there are multiple celebrations for people during a trip
. . . do not do separate celebration locations or tables
. . . one person may get an enthusiastic CM and get goodies
. . . one person may get a lazy CM and get nothing
8) Hundreds, or thousands, celebrate everyday at WDW.
9) It is too much time/money for CM's to attend or recognize every one of them.
.
NOTE: If you are celebrating something, tell the SEATER (the podium person) when you check-in at the eatery. They will note it on the table-slip that is presented to the SERVER. The SERVER can determine if they want to do something.