BIRTHDAY at 50's PT

[TruBlu]

My son will turn 11 during our trip. We have dinner reservations at 50's PT.
Do they do anything special?
Do they have a special birthday dessert, or should I order a cake?
Any cake suggestions for an 11 year old boy?

 

[Claire&TheBoys]

While I haven't done a birthday there myself, I'll tell you that my best friend celebrated her son's there last year and it was a miserable failure. She had ordered a cake, but they couldn't find it. They didn't serve it when she asked them to. They waited close to an hour past finishing their entrees for the cake to be served and then, it was a very lackluster presentation. Her son badly wanted to meet Phineas & Ferb and the lateness made him miss it, I think. She was very very disappointed. Her family has been to Disney a number of times, they are DVC members, and she was so let down and upset by the experience she stopped at Guest Relations to complain (and that is totally not like her). I think they wound up comping her entire meal for her. While every restaurant has "off" days, it just seemed like it was one thing after another that happened and made it seem like they did not want to do it.

If you go ahead with your plan, make sure you talk to them ahead of time and tell them exactly what you want and when you want it. My friend thought she had everything worked out and it was a fiasco.

ETA: When they couldn't find the cake, they got a substitute, but it wasn't what she'd ordered, IIRC.

 

[TruBlu]

While I haven't done a birthday there myself, I'll tell you that my best friend celebrated her son's there last year and it was a miserable failure. She had ordered a cake, but they couldn't find it. They didn't serve it when she asked them to. They waited close to an hour past finishing their entrees for the cake to be served and then, it was a very lackluster presentation. Her son badly wanted to meet Phineas & Ferb and the lateness made him miss it, I think. She was very very disappointed. Her family has been to Disney a number of times, they are DVC members, and she was so let down and upset by the experience she stopped at Guest Relations to complain (and that is totally not like her). I think they wound up comping her entire meal for her. While every restaurant has "off" days, it just seemed like it was one thing after another that happened and made it seem like they did not want to do it.

If you go ahead with your plan, make sure you talk to them ahead of time and tell them exactly what you want and when you want it. My friend thought she had everything worked out and it was a fiasco.

ETA: When they couldn't find the cake, they got a substitute, but it wasn't what she'd ordered, IIRC.

WOW - that sounds terrible!!! My DS really wants to eat there & says he doesn't want anyone to make a big deal about his birthday. Sounds like he might get his wish. Too bad I let him pick the place...

 

[mariamouse]

WOW - that sounds terrible!!! My DS really wants to eat there & says he doesn't want anyone to make a big deal about his birthday. Sounds like he might get his wish. Too bad I let him pick the place...

I don't know.. 50s PT is renowned for its ballsy waiters that scold you if you do not finish your vegetables, etc. I would assume that this would also translate to some crazy birthday antics, but maybe not. Just be sure that he will not be too embarrassed by that to enjoy the experience!

 

[worm761]

WOW - that sounds terrible!!! My DS really wants to eat there & says he doesn't want anyone to make a big deal about his birthday. Sounds like he might get his wish. Too bad I let him pick the place...

The whole reason that we went to Disney last year was because everyone gets to choose what they have for a birthday dinner. DH wanted the fried chicken from 50's Prime Time. While the waiter was great, he did notice DH's birthday button and sang a song that was all of 3 lines long. We laughed. He didn't make a huge deal about it. We didn't expect a huge deal to be made either. We just wanted dinner.

If your DS doesn't want a big deal made of his birthday then I don't suggest ordering a cake or trying to do anything special. It sounds to me like he is like DH and just wants to eat there and have a good time but not really be brought attention to.

As for your last statement, remember that it is HIS birthday and should be celebrated the way he wants.

 

[TruBlu]

Sounds like he might get his wish.

Just be sure that he will not be too embarrassed by that to enjoy the experience!

If your DS doesn't want a big deal made of his birthday then I don't suggest ordering a cake or trying to do anything special. It sounds to me like he is like DH and just wants to eat there and have a good time but not really be brought attention to.

As for your last statement, remember that it is HIS birthday and should be celebrated the way he wants.

It's a little complicated...
He's a kid that LOVES attention & has never been embarrassed by anything (but a kiss from Cinderella did make him blush). He always chooses the loud, fun places for his restaurant picks on trips.

BUT this one is a little different...
I've been REALLY sick for the last 2 years (about 7 months in the hospital & 4 surgeries - 13 total) and the friend we are traveling with just finished her Chemo for 2 breast cancers. So, this trip is a celebration of us feeling better.

It just happens to fall on his real birthday. When he said he didn't want anything special, I could tell that he was worried that we would somehow feel leftout if they made a big deal for his birthday - which is EXACTLY why I want it to be really special for him.
He's only 10, but he has taken such good care of me... ugh! I'm making myself CRY!!!!

I think I'll just explain why it's so important when we check in and hope for the best. BUT - I think I'll skip the cake and just have one when we get home. That whole "lost cake" thing sounds like a nightmare!

 

[Qltrgrl2]

They have a great sundae dessert so maybe that could be his birthday treat. When I mentioned to the waiter that I liked whipped cream, I got nearly a platter of it with my ice cream...too funny! Hopefully you get one of their great waiters.

 

[TruBlu]

They have a great sundae dessert so maybe that could be his birthday treat. When I mentioned to the waiter that I liked whipped cream, I got nearly a platter of it with my ice cream...too funny! Hopefully you get one of their great waiters.

I'm going to ask for the most fun wait person when we check-in & let them know that we are willing to wait for a table in that section. Hopefully that will increase our chances of getting someone fun!!!

DS still talks about them correcting me last year for using my "walkie-talkie thing" at the table - more than once. She told me she was going to take it away!!! I was texting DH who was in the room sick. She let me off the hook when I explained, but told me not to let it happen again!!!

 

[cubsblue]

We have been there for DW's birthday the last two years in a row. Both times they brought her out a sundae and several CM's gathered round and sang.

 

[Kimosabe]

We ate there last week on my birthday trip, and I had my button on that day (where else but WDW will total strangers call you by name and wish you a happy birthday?!). Without any pre-arrangements or remidners by my wife, they still brought me a cupcake with a candle, as is fairly typical for WDW restaurants, and a neighboring waitress came over and sang a wonderfully AWFUL rendition of "Happy Birthday," which was in true character with her smart-aleck waitress persona. Lots of fun, but quick and not too much commotion. I had already ordered the peanut butter and jelly milkshake, so I had the dessert I really wanted. We picked at the cupcake, but to be honest, there was nothing particularly great about it. However, we did have a couple of cupcakes from Starring Rolls Cafe later (butterfinger and red velvet) and they were incredible. In summary, make sure they know it's his birthday (both ahead of time and with a gentle reminder when you get there...and make sure he's wearing the button if all else fails) to ensure the recognition, but consider focusing on "cake" somewhere else like SRC (but beware that it closes early -- 4:00?).

I guess you're always at the mercy of the waiter/waitress for those sorts of things -- i.e., we had been to Ohana the night before for the birthday meal that I had officially chosen on my own...my wife had told them ahead of time this was my birthday dinner, and we both noticed that the seating/reservation ticket even had "BIRTHDAY" typed across the top of it in bold letters. Well, the waitress eventually brought two birthday cupcakes to the table right next to us, but completely forgot mine! I was totally OK with it (again, those mass-produced cupcakes have probably been sitting in a freezer next to Walt's head for a few years), as I much preferred the bananas foster bread pudding that came with the meal, but it showed that a birthday celebration is only as good as the waiter you are randomly assigned.

 

[TheRustyScupper]

1) Acknowledgment is a matter of the CM's personal initiative.
. . . depends upon how much they like you as a guest
. . . 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.
. . . they are under no obligation to give goodies or even acknowledge, or
. . . they can go way overboard and give lots of gifts to a guest
3) The CM's have a lot of leeway of things to do or not do for you.

 

[pamelaz]

When I was there a table next to us was having a birthday and they got the entire section to sing them a happy birthday.