Anyone with a child who celebrated a birthday at DLR recently?

[nkhan1]

A friend of mine was practically in tears when she was telling me about her trip to DLR last week. She had very fond memories of celebrating her birthday as a child in DisneyLand.

She went with her five year old son to Disneyland for his birthday and was very upset that not a single cast member throughout the park wished him Happy Birthday even though he had on his birthday button.

Furthermore, they had one sit down meal in the park, and even though the reservations both mentioned the son's birthday, not a single waiter/waitress wished him a Happy Birthday.

Perhaps with this Birthday promotion, the cast members are all Birthday-ed Out? Or perhaps things were really crazy during Spring Break this year?

Any way, we are taking my son for his fourth birthday, and was wondering if other people could share their birthday experiences at DLR?

Thanks.

 

[Grumpy'sWife4Ever]

I am very sorry that your friend had such a negative experience. We celebrated my DS 11 birthday at the park, and we had quite the opposite happen - he was wished a happy birthday by several CMs, and when we ate at the BB I neglected to mention it was his birthday (bad Mom! ) but our server saw his button and brought out a free chocolate mousse with a candle in it! I don't know how to explain your friend's experience, unless the button wasn't out in plain sight? Or maybe it was a really busy, crazy day?? Anyway, don't give up on DL for your son's birthday - maybe you should insure he stands out and get him a set of Birthday Ears when you first arrive at the park! They are a sure eye catcher!

 

[Stacerita]

I have never had that. Its always been over kill with the Happy Birthdays form the cast members and such. I feel bad that your friend is practically in tears over something like this. I wouldn't put to much into hoping that someone else makes my child's birthday special. And if not one person wished my DD Happy Birthday, it probably woudn't even faze her. She would still be happy that she is at DL.

 

[prettyprincessbelle]

I agree with Stacerita. We went last weekend and DBF's Dad had a birthday button and he got so many happy birthdays from CMs everywhere. I've gone 3 years in a row (this year will be 4) for my birthday and I have never experienced anything like that.

 

[pixiewings71]

Hmm, well not with a child but I took DBF on his bday in Jan. and he got plenty of bday wishes, free dessert at BB, a whole pack of tortillas from the tortilla factory....I'm sorry your friends' experience wasn't so magical.

 

[WannaBeAPrincess]

I've always experienced the opposite. The most recent birthday we celebrated was my son's 8th last month. He heard "Happy Birthday" so much he wanted to take off his button by the end of the day... Sorry your friend had a bad experience...hard to believe though that not one person said anything.

 

[Mike_M]

This was a couple years ago, but for our DS's birthday trip we planted the birthday button right in the front of his Mickey ears in the most obvious place possible so it was impossible to miss and he was getting Happy Birthday greetings left and right and even got to participate in a couple shows as well. We may have gone over the top a bit, but we only plan on doing a birthday trip once per kid so why not try and get the most out of it

No birthdays on this past trip (Spring Break), but we saw plenty of buttons and heard plenty of well wishes from CMs for those that did have them (and from other guests as well).

 

[AlabamaPrincesses]

I'm so sorry your friend had a bad experience. It seems kind of strange though... I've read nothing but wonderful comments on the boards about the Birthday promotion. Are you sure she's not exaggerating?

A friend of mine wend to WDW for Spring Break to celebrate her daughter's birthday. She said that they were showered with "HAPPY BIRTHDAYS" the whole week they were there. She said that her daughter felt like a princess.

 

[pycees312]

hmm had a different experience on my bday and my niec's.....
although on my last trip and i wrote about it as well, I personally made it a point to say happy bday to folks with buttons on....and yes with this promo may be overkill...

 

[JadeDarkstar]

i am sorry when we have gone for our bdays. we have had lots of happy bdays

 

[colbybug]

We were just there for Spring Break and yes, the crowds were crazy with lots of birthday buttons but our 7 yr old had a b-day button and the cast members were all very attentive. I'm sorry that your friends' expectations were not met and that she was disappointed. I know that I would have felt bad if no one said anything to my little boy. Actually, when I think about it, we have been to DL on his last three birthdays and they have all been great about acknowledging him. In fact, we tried to get on Big Thunder Mountain Railroad twice and both times it was broken down. The cast member handed my little guy a pass for any ride (good for 6 people) in the park. Little things like that is one of the things that makes Disney so special!

Kathy

 

[nkhan1]

Thanks everyone, I know my son would really enjoy the attention of being the Birthday Boy.

My friend was close to tears because this was her first trip to DLR as an adult and she felt the "magic" was gone. She went during the Easter weekend for one day, so I don't know if that had anything to do with it.

Plus, there is that saying "You can never go back".

I am the eternal optimist and can't wait to go next month!

 

[cats mom]

I do think being there over spring break probably played into it. Crowds can be pretty crazy then!

I also think the celebrate promotion is bringing birthday folks out in droves.

I don't ever remember seeing as many birthday buttons as I did today. In fact DD and I were in the Tower of Terror room with 5 other groups and I noticed that at least 1 person in every one of those groups had on a birthday button. Why else would everyone be there in the sweltering heat we put up with today?

I'm sorry your friends' son didn't get lots of extra B-day attention. Sometimes mom's are more upset over things like that than their little ones though. Hopefully he had fun anyway.

 

[silence]

We were there spring break. DD had a birthday button on and everywhere we went she got birthday wishes, even from guests!

Last year when DD turned 5 and we were in the park, she didn't get nearly as many. So, I really do think CM's are more aware of it now.

Also, I did think her height played into it as well....she was smaller...harder to see the button. When she wore her birthday ears, it was easier to see.

 

[QueenDoOver]

I'll tell you a funny bday button story. We spent my son's 5th bday at DL. We were at the parks for 3 days, and the first day he was sort of embarrassed by all the attention. But the last day, when getting on the Winnie the Pooh ride, the CM failed to tell him Happy Birthday. So, my son stood there at the loading doc, clearing his throat and pointing to his button! I was so embarrassed! But the CM obviously thought it was pretty endearing, and when we got off of the ride, came over an presented my son with his own personal bday card signed by the pooh bear himself. It was anohter one of those moments.

 

[nkhan1]

QueenDoOver - Your son sounds adorable! What a sweet story!

 

[Kayla's Mom]

I'll tell you a funny bday button story. We spent my son's 5th bday at DL. We were at the parks for 3 days, and the first day he was sort of embarrassed by all the attention. But the last day, when getting on the Winnie the Pooh ride, the CM failed to tell him Happy Birthday. So, my son stood there at the loading doc, clearing his throat and pointing to his button! I was so embarrassed! But the CM obviously thought it was pretty endearing, and when we got off of the ride, came over an presented my son with his own personal bday card signed by the pooh bear himself. It was anohter one of those moments.

Awwwww....I love that! That is so cute! What a neat thing for the CM to do too.

 

[23bw]

We had a really unique experience for my daughter's 5 year old B-day last June. First we stopped off at the front office to get a b-day button for her but they didn't have any more to giave away. So instead, they gave her a b-day sticker shaped like a button. I was a little disappointed but not a big deal. Afterall it was our kid's first trip to DL so we are still all happy and excited to be there. The day goes on and she gets many Happy B-day wishes from CMs.

What made her day (and mine) was when a CM or guest services rep. stopped her while we were resting outside of the Pirates of the Carribean ride. The CM spotted her b-day sticker and replaced it with a REAL Happy-Bday button. Then the CM gave her a special pass to have a face-to-face private meeting with the princesses at the Fantasy Fair. She met Cindrella and Sleeping Beauty together and we have a picture of it. My daughter is shy so she was just speechless at meet...just a smirk on her face.

 

[bumbershoot]

So, my son stood there at the loading doc, clearing his throat and pointing to his button! I was so embarrassed! But the CM obviously thought it was pretty endearing, and when we got off of the ride, came over an presented my son with his own personal bday card signed by the pooh bear himself. It was anohter one of those moments.

Oh gracious, that's too funny!

 

[soon2bmrs87]

I ended up going the week after my birthday, but the 3 days I was there A LOT of people had bday pins, they might have been bday-out. Seems like everyone's birthday falls during Spring Break. I agree with someone elses suggestion about the birthday ears. I had pink ears with a crown and a Vail and everyone asked if I was married lol.