birthday bonus question

[WendyLovesPeter]

I am planning to buy passes. I was told if I bought the pass I would get a gift card for ? amount in place of the free admission.
Here is my question. I have 2 kids with birthdays during our visit, but one is on the departure day, so will I even be able to use that gift card? Can it be used in resort gift shops or for a character meal at the resort? Our departure day prob won't be a park day for us.

 

[pixiewings71]

You can use it WOD so yes you can use it. And I've now heard that they don't expire so if you can't use it all that day (it's for $69 so it's really not that hard to use it) you can save it for another trip. We used DBF's as we were told that we had to use it and that we could wait....we weren't comfortable taking the chance so we used it.

 

[WendyLovesPeter]

do they actually give it to you on the exact birthday or when you check in? Or may be they give it to you when you check in but it does not activate until the actual birthday?

 

[Disney Dreams]

do they actually give it to you on the exact birthday or when you check in? Or may be they give it to you when you check in but it does not activate until the actual birthday?

You have to get it ON your birthday and ONLY on your birthday. It does not expire though, so you can spend it later. And since you are buying passes, you'll be back if you don't spend it on that day.

However, my question is: How will your kids be getting into the Park on their birthdays? Will you already have passes? If they are not using a mult-day or annual passes, they will not get gift cards, they will get free admission.

- Dreams

 

[WendyLovesPeter]

I didn't mean AP. I meant we are buying hopper passes. They actually have to enter the park on their birthday, is that right?

 

[Disney Dreams]

I didn't mean AP. I meant we are buying hopper passes. They actually have to enter the park on their birthday, is that right?

Okay, so on their birthdays they will have valid ParkHoppers. This would mean they can get their gift cards instead of free entry on each of their birthdays.

So, on departure day (which I am understanding is 1 of your kid's birthdays), you will all enter the park with your PHs. Then, a visit to City Hall will result in that child receiving a birthday fun card (gift card) if that is the free gift you (your kid) selects.

You do not have to spend it that day. It does not expire.

- Dreams

 

[DisQueen]

According to the Disney website, the birthday gift card can only be used on your birthday. It cannot be used on another day, like a regular gift card. Also, if your park hopper isn't valid on your child's birthday, your child will receive free admission instead. DL will give you free admission, unless you show that you already have admission for the day (ticket, AP). If you already have admission, then you can choose the gift card or fast pass.

 

[perlster]

According to the Disney website, the birthday gift card can only be used on your birthday. It cannot be used on another day, like a regular gift card.

This is wrong. Yes, even the official Disney site has not been updated to keep up with policy changes in regards to this promotion. This is why it is important to keep all information and updates in the original thread I posted, so that anyone with questions has one place to find answers that have been verified to be correct. I'm going to try to find it and bump it up again, but this shouldn't be necessary. It's certainly important enough to be made sticky.

 

[silence]

My son got his birthday gift card Friday and was told it did not expire. I have read numerous posts from folks who were told the same thing. Calif has a law that gift cards can not have an expiration date.

 

[DisQueen]

Awesome The first birthday in our family isn't until later this month so we haven't picked up a card yet. Now tell me that they've changed their offer and I can choose a gift card instead of admission any day. Both kids have their birthdays on block-out days so we can't really use the birthday promotion for them. I figure they will spend DH's and my gift cards instead.

 

[Disney Dreams]

... Now tell me that they've changed their offer and I can choose a gift card instead of admission any day.

Hmm... not sure I understand your statement but...
If you have a Pass that is valid on your birthday, you can select one of these gifts instead:
- A birthday fastpass
- A birthday fun card
- A 1-Day/1-Park ticket for you to use any time until your next birthday.

So, yes, you can choose a gift card instead of admission any day (if I am understanding your question right).

Both kids have their birthdays on block-out days so we can't really use the birthday promotion for them. I figure they will spend DH's and my gift cards instead.

You CAN use the birthday promotion for them. They get a free day at Disneyland ON their birthday!

HTH,
Dreams

 

[TheAXIOM]

But those 3 special gifts are only for AP Holders, right?

I remember reading somewhere that this is only AP-Holder exclusive gifts. Everyone else just gets free admission? (Correct me if I'm wrong).

Also, how old are your kids? The fun cards are equal to the price of a 1-day/1-park tickets, so if they're under 10 it'll be $59 instead of $69.

 

[Disney Dreams]

But those 3 special gifts are only for AP Holders, right?

I remember reading somewhere that this is only AP-Holder exclusive gifts. Everyone else just gets free admission? (Correct me if I'm wrong).

Nope. The gift options are for those with either an AP OR a multi-day ticket that is valid on his/her birthday.

- Dreams

 

[DisQueen]

Problem is that the kids are 10 and 6. DD's birthday is on July 30, which is a block out day for our AP's. DL will give her free admission. She can get into DL, but the rest of us will need to purchase a block-out day ticket at $40 each. Ditto for DS. Somehow, spending $120 so one child can get in free doesn't seem like a deal to me. If we can choose a giftcard on DD's birthday instead of admission, she can have a card to spend at WOD or save for our next DL visit. Right now, that isn't an option - it's free admission unless you already have admission with an AP. It's disappointing because the kids really can't celebrate with the offer - just hubby and me. Of course we'll share our giftcards on our birthdays

 

[Disney Dreams]

Problem is that the kids are 10 and 6. DD's birthday is on July 30, which is a block out day for our AP's. DL will give her free admission. She can get into DL, but the rest of us will need to purchase a block-out day ticket at $40 each. Ditto for DS....

Ah, with those specifics, yeah... they will get free admission and you will have to pay to go with. One idea: I don't know which pass you have and/or your financial situation, but...

Your kids could use their "free admission on their birthday" ticket to apply towards upgrading their passes to the next level pass.

 

[bumbershoot]

DisQueen....The nearly brand new information is that you CAN buy a blockout pass for $40 and get the Fun Card. It was confirmed by two CMs on mouseplanet, one of whom works in ticketing, and it's on Perlster's comprehensive and officially confirmed as much as possible thread about it.

Though I guess if you have to pay for blockout passes for each of you on each birthday, that obliterates the fun cards, doesn't it.

Hmm.

 

[DisQueen]

Thanks, I'm sure we could buy the block out ticket, but you already figured out the problem with that. I do like Dreams idea of upgrading - creative thinking! But then the kids have upgraded passes while hubby and I don't. I think we'll just be happy that we have the opportunity to visit the parks often and we'll celebrate the kids' birthdays at the end of summer like we have the last few years. At least we'll still get our free package of tortillas.

 

[FourM's]

I'm confused at to where we go to claim our Birthday fun card. We will be at DL next week. DD's bday is while we are there. She will have a park hopper so we will choose the Birthday fun card option. Do we go to the ticket booths outside or inside the park to the city hall or somewhere else altogether?

 

[pixiewings71]

We have AP's so we already had admission, we went to City Hall to get DBF's fun card.

 

[silence]

We have AP's so we already had admission, we went to City Hall to get DBF's fun card.

Ditto, my mom took my DS to City Hall for his card.