Anyone ever "traded" birthdays?

[erinch]

My birthday is August 15. We will be at WDW this year. I've been able to celebrate my birthday at the "world" before.

But--my 7 yo DS has a birthday on Nov. 21. Because the weather is often iffy, she has actually been snowed out of her birthday party the last 2 years.

I know she would love nothing more in her life to celebrate her birthday with Mickey and gang--but that is never going to happen in Novemenber. I would love to "give" her my birthday, get her a guest of honor badge, celebrate at Chef Mickey's or someplace and let her experience being a birthday child.

Has anyone ever "traded" birthdays with their child? Any thoughts on whether this would work?

thanks for your input.

 

[Mortlives]

What a lovely, generous idea! I can't think of any reason off hand why it wouldn't work. No one asks for docs to prove it's your birthday, so that's not a problem. If your DS is willing to trade, you're all set.

Ciao,
Mort.

 

[erinch]

oh, thanks for your reply!
Obviously, that should be DD

 

[Miscrapper]

I was thinking the same thing! My mom is taking us to WDW for her 60th birthday which is actually August 29 but it is too hot then and too close to beginning of school year so we are going first week of October. We wanted to take advantage of Fairy Tale pgk and my brother suggested this week because he has day off for Yom Kippur. The thing is my bday is October 6! I was seriously thinking about suggesting to my mom that we celebrate my birthday August 29 and hers on our trip! I don't want the attention then - she should get it.

 

[erinch]

I should have said, my thing is, ethically, i don't want my kids to get the idea that it's okay to say it's your birthday when it's not to get the attention and all the birthday fuzzies. But I would love for her to experiece the birthday thrill and this feels legit.....I think....

 

[POOH&PIGLET]

Go for it! I don't think you need to trade birthdays, just celebrate your DD's birthday twice.

I was just thinking of what to do at WDW for my DD's 4th birthday which will be three days after we arrive home from our trip this fall. Whatever we do, I plan to tell her that we are celebrating her birthday twice so Mickey & his friends can join in the celebration.

 

[rejobako]

Better be careful, Erinch; there are people on this board who will turn you over to the ethics police for nefarious thoughts like that.

Personally, I think it's a great idea.

 

[Daxx]

Hey -- my Bday is Aug. 15, too! Happy Early Bday!!

 

[tjmw2727]

I think its a cool idea but...... only if your 7yo can really handle it.

Reason I am posting on this, is we were lucky enough to celebrate my 6yo's birthday last December. Since we were not able to get the "coveted Cinderella castle breakfast" on her actual birthday we got one the day before - wonderful. At breakfast I mentioned we were "celebrating dd's birthday" and they were great. Gave her an autograph book, great character interaction, magical moments certificate, cupcake and sang to her. They really went above and beyond, dd knew her birthday was the next day and this was a present.

Another wonderful thing was our server gave us the "today is my birthday" button you would get at town hall. She had all good intentions and asked dd if she would like to wear it today. Well dd was hesitant as she could read "today is my birthday" and kept telling me its not until tomorrow!

Suffice to say that after to many very well meaning passer by's, people in line and nice cm's asking her kindly "is today your birrthday" and her 6yo self saying, no its tommorrow we took it off and put it aside for the next day.

soooooo - if your 7yo can deal and appreicate the "gift" then go for it. Or - just get the button and plan some special meals and things she likes to do and if she is uncomfortable then just bag it. My girls LOVED the tea party at the GF and the Princess breakfast at Epcot if you just want something special.

Good luck and have fun!
TJ

 

[Cameo]

I was actually thinking of doing something similar. We will be celebrating my DD's 6th birthday this fall (she will be in Kindergarten because of a late fall birthday). Well, when my son turns 6, we would like to do a special Disney trip for his birthday too. Only problem is his birthday is in February and by then my daughter will be in 2nd grade. Not wanting to disrupt the school year, we will likely move our Disney vacations to summer months. I only thought about doing the birthday switch the one year, when he turns 6 - just to carry on the tradition. Since that's three years away we'll have to see what happens by then, but I still may consider it.

Good point, though, about whether your child can deal with the idea that it's not "really" their birthday.

 

[disneyjunkie]

I think it's also important to know that you may not get any special attention from the CMs. I recall reading a thread here once where a guest was upset that her child's birthday was not a big deal at Disney. She had the information noted on her resort reservation and on her PS, but nothing came of it.

Someone has also posted that their child had on a birthday badge and not one CM wished the child a happy birthday.

I'm planning a surprise,short birthday trip for my son's 12th birthday in October. I have his birthday noted on our reservation. When I booked HDDR, I mentioned it to the CM. When I booked dinner at Liberty Tree Tavern for MNSSHP, I had the CM make a note of it, and I'll do the same when I make our other PSs.

I have his birthday noted several places, the only place I'm expecting something is at LTT since I ordered a birthday cake. I'm going to call Gifts of a Lifetime to see if I can get them to make DS a birthday basket to have in our room when we check in.

As long as the things that I pay for happen I'll be happy. If CMs say or do anything fine, if not fine.

 

[Baloo]

I think this is a great idea! I'm not sure about the actual "trading" of the days...I think I'd go with we're celebrating your DS birthday.I dunno whichever feels right for you,but I don't think it's wrong to want your child to get those Disney Birthday fuzzies.

We actually did this for my birthday last year in July.We couldn't go the week of my birthday we went the following week.Joe and the boys decided what day would be my birthday celebration day.They told the CM when we checked in at CS.I had balloons and a card from Mickey when we came back to the room courtesy of the resort.We ate lunch in Mexico,the boys told them,the CMs sang to me and gave me a margarita. I got ice cream at the Pepper Market that evening.I think my boys we're having a blast making me feel special!

Joe and I had been in May on a trip just the two of us,our first time at WDW alone.It just happened his birthday fell while we were there. He has alot of happy memories of that day and he's a big boy! We were in some shop,I can't remember where and I said something about it being his birthday.The CM heard me and had Joe come over to the phone.He dialed a number and Goofy was on the other end singing Happy Birthday!

I'd make sure I told the CMs at check in which day is his birthday celebration.On the day you're celebrating tell the CMs where your eating that you're celebrating a birthday today.

Sometimes I think how you're treated is based on how full of pixie dust the CMs you cross paths with is feeling on that day.But I do know y'all will come home with special memories!!!

 

[Yzma and Kronk]

I just had experience with this - albeit only one day before DS bday.
We were at AK and I got him a birthday button on the day before his day. I had read that many celebrate birthday weekends or "trade" birthdays.
The only problem was DS kept telling everyone that it was his birthday "tomorrow". He was really proud of the fact that he was going to be 5 "on Sunday!" I got a few strange looks from CM's and others (BTW - this didn't bother me at all) I actually ended up taking the button off and saving it until his real birthday.
Most parents (like myself) have the best intentions for their children. Sometimes it's the parents who want to have the child experience the birthday celebration when it really doesn't matter that much to the child.
My child didn't get the "birthday weekend" concept, and took great pride in correcting people who wished him HB the day before.
From my recent experience, I'm not so sure that celebrating birthdays "publicly" so far out from the actual day is really a good idea. What I mean by publicly is wearing birthday badges and trying to make your day at WDW extra special by celebrating the birthday. IMHO - to kids, just being at WDW is special in itself.
However, you can alter your plans a bit. Get the birthday badges, but maybe save them for her real birthday - same with the autograph cards, or anything else and do a at home WDW party in November. As far as dinner - arrange an un-birthday party for her at one of the restaurants, like Chef Mickey's. This way she still get's to celebrate, but avoids the confusion of it not being her actual day.

 

[mickeymom629]

why don't you celebrate her "unbirthday". Some of the resorts have parties for this "occasion". I don't know if Disney has any special buttons that say this, but maybe you could get one made before you go that says, "I'm celebrating my UNbirthday today!"

Just an idea.

 

[Baloo]

Yzma and Kronk (by the way I think those are 2 of the funniest Disney characters ever!) you brought up some GREAT points...I mean I wasn't 5...I realized it wasn't REALLY my birthday...besides I think I'm getting to the age I might stop counting them at all!!!

I think the Un-Birthday celebration would be a great way to explain it to a child.That way they/you wouldn't feel like you're strectching the truth.You could tell the child since we can't be at WDW on your actual birthday we're going to have an un-birthday celebration during our trip.I think Cm's would get a kick out that too!

 

[HoustonMouseketeer]

We will be celebrating our child’s birthday at WDW. She’s going to be 6. My DD's birthday is a few days after our trip. Last Friday she celebrated with her class at school. We’re celebrating with her grandparents when they come to visit in July. What’s wrong with wanting to celebrate with Mickey???

Just Do It!

If you feel like it's cheating. Replace "It's" with "I'M CELIBRATING" in small letters on your badge so it says -- I'M CELIBRATING MY BIRTHDAY TODAY!

For those of you with schedules, and money that allows you to visit on your birthdays. HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU TOO!

 

[Lora]

Sorry. I just don't think it's right. The fact that you have to be, in my opinion, dishonest to gain something is a very bad message to send to your child. Isn't going to WDW enough of a wonderful thing?

And the ethics police can hold me to this...I will only have my children wearing birthday buttons on their actual birthday.

Here's where I see the only exception: If your birthday is Feb. 29th!

 

[tjmw2727]

Originally posted by HoustonMouseketeer
We will be celebrating our child’s birthday at WDW. She’s going to be 6. My DD's birthday is a few days after our trip. Last Friday she celebrated with her class at school. We’re celebrating with her grandparents when they come to visit in July. What’s wrong with wanting to celebrate with Mickey???

Just Do It!

If you feel like it's cheating. Replace "It's" with "I'M CELIBRATING" in small letters on your badge so it says -- I'M CELIBRATING MY BIRTHDAY TODAY!

For those of you with schedules, and money that allows you to visit on your birthdays. HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU TOO!

I don't think anyone said it was "cheating" and I certainly didn't mean to imply that. I just pointed out that at 5,6 and even 7 the child may not understand the celebration of a birthday any day other than their birthday. My dd really didn't like people telling her happy birthday when she wore the button the day before so we took it off. I told the OP I thought it was a cool idea and also wanted to forewarn due to our experience.

The button does day "Today Is My Birthday", your idea could work well if you can alter the button.

I think its good that the op is getting lots of pros and cons and ultimately will decide if this or somthing similar will work for the child.

I do feel lucky that my girls birthdays fall during school vacations most years but unfortunately that also means traveling at peak season so as not to miss school and spending more $ than at value seasons.
TJ

 

[Redmic]

Personally I wouldn't do it, but your question reminded me of a funny night we had a O'hana. They have a special birthday song they sing there. The night we went they sang it to one person or another the ENTIRE time we were there! It was completely obvious that not everyone in the restaurant had a birthday that day, but apparently a lot of people just make up the birthday thing and Disney doesn't seem to mind.

 

[hyland113]

Glad I foung this post. I'm in a similar situation DD's birthday is Halloween. We live in NJ and always take a big extended family vacation for teachers convention (whole family is teachers) .Since she was 3 dd has always thought this was her "birthday vacation" Well she will be 7 this year and we are arriving in WDW on NOvember 2nd. I have been debating whether to make a big deal about it (we have gone to a dude ranch and Amish country before and have always told everyone that we were celebrating her birthday "week") I just don't know how appropriate it is at WDW and now after reading these replies I'm more confused than ever.