birthday - how far of a stretch?

[kristennn]

yes, sometimes they DO ask.

and you think they would do things differently whether it was the actual day or whether you were just celebrating the day? For a cupcake?
I worked at a restaurant (not disney) for 15 years and I can't imagine quibbling with someone over the actual day or hassling them - but we just gave a free scoop of ice cream and we sang happy birthday. I can't imagine someplace asking or wanting proof unless they gave something substantial like a free meal - or unless they gave you something free without requiring a purchase - like in the case with various businesses "birthday clubs" even then though they just require the certificate and don't require it to be on the actual day generally.

anyhow we would have no intention of lieing.

 

[Disney Kid 3]

I would got to 1900 Parkfare because they have princesses there and the food is very goodmI thought.

 

[aripantaloon]

That last time we went was the end of Feb/beginning of March 2010. My older girls' birthdays are in January and February, but we wanted to celebrate them at Disney. When we had lunch at CRT after they went to BBB, we had it noted on the ADR that we were celebrating their birthdays. We didn't expect anything, but the girls each got a birthday cupcake. I'm sure they knew that this particular day was not either of their birthdays.

This upcoming trip, we will be there for my youngest's 2nd birthday and will be dining at CRT and Cali Grill for lunch and dinner. I'm going to definitely have it noted on our ADR's and I may order a cake, too.

BTW, I think we kind of "know" each other from another board. We ran into each other on our last trip, too. Looks like we are going to be there at the same time again! We'll be at the Poly.

 

[cymbaldiva]

Thank you all for reminding me why I never give a congratulatory greeting to anyone wearing a celebration button at Disney and feel for the CM's that actually HAVE to do so.

To me it takes away from the specialness of the actual day (birthday, anniversary, whatever) when you decide to celebrate it any day - or for as many days - as you chose. `

Just my .02

 

[MSLRAC]

Thank you all for reminding me why I never give a congratulatory greeting to anyone wearing a celebration button at Disney and feel for the CM's that actually HAVE to do so.

To me it takes away from the specialness of the actual day (birthday, anniversary, whatever) when you decide to celebrate it any day - or for as many days - as you chose. `

Just my .02

Sorry but I don't see the problem because not everyone can actually go to WDW on the day of their special occasion. My two little ones are lucky that it just so happened to work out that we were going to be there for their birthdays this year. But I am not going to penalize my oldest for being born in the dead of summer. Her dad grew up in FL and he refuses to set foot in the state during the summer months. That is not her fault but her birthday is just as special to us. She is not even getting cake and ice cream with us this year on her actual birthday because she will be at Girl Scout camp the entire week...so I don't see a thing wrong with us taking one day (her actual half birthday) during our trip to celebrate her birth.

 

[kristennn]

That last time we went was the end of Feb/beginning of March 2010. My older girls' birthdays are in January and February, but we wanted to celebrate them at Disney. When we had lunch at CRT after they went to BBB, we had it noted on the ADR that we were celebrating their birthdays. We didn't expect anything, but the girls each got a birthday cupcake. I'm sure they knew that this particular day was not either of their birthdays.

This upcoming trip, we will be there for my youngest's 2nd birthday and will be dining at CRT and Cali Grill for lunch and dinner. I'm going to definitely have it noted on our ADR's and I may order a cake, too.

BTW, I think we kind of "know" each other from another board. We ran into each other on our last trip, too. Looks like we are going to be there at the same time again! We'll be at the Poly.

So funny! I've seen a handful of people here that I "know" from other boards The other day I was looking at youtube videos of character meets and rides with my youngest dd and we saw a really cute video of another family we "know" froma board too Ah the internet ... it's a small world.

Anyhow - did we meet you at AK or did we meet you in Morocco in the world ? Funny that we'll be there at the same time again! Would love to hear about your plans.

 

[kristennn]

Thank you all for reminding me why I never give a congratulatory greeting to anyone wearing a celebration button at Disney and feel for the CM's that actually HAVE to do so.

To me it takes away from the specialness of the actual day (birthday, anniversary, whatever) when you decide to celebrate it any day - or for as many days - as you chose. `

Just my .02

I think probably that the CM's are Ok with it ... I mean .. they chose to work at Disneyworld so I would presume they are friendly people to start with. If you want to feel bad for them I am sure there are hundreds of better reasons.

Anyhow I agree with you that everyone needs to decide for themselves and their families how to handle birthdays ... at your house it's just done only on the actual day - and there is nothing wrong with that if it makes it feel more special to you and your family.


eta- I fully realize that I can go either way with my own decision and that either way it's OK with Disney and I'm not breaking any rules etc. I was just feeling undecided and wanted to hear other people's opinions on the subject. It's good to hear both sides!

 

[catne]

no problem whatsoever celebrating your birthday at Disney (or anywhere else) even when it's not your actual birthday. What about people who are given the vacation as the birthday present...so on their real birthday, they get the gift of tickets to WDW. Obviously they will not be there until after the actual birthday, but the trip is a birthday celebration, right?

The only caution I'd suggest is that you do not count on getting anything more than "Happy Birthday" greetings. We've have been to WDW on both my hubby's actual birthday and my actual birthday many, many times and it's very hit-and-miss as to whether you get more than a spoken Happy Birthday. We've had everything from confetti on the table & staff singing HappyBirthday song...to nothing. Even the year they were giving away the stuff for your birthday (free ticket or gift card on your actual birthday) even then, when obviously they had the correct date of birthday IN their system and it was all about celebrating birthdays that year we still found that mostly it was just the spoken greetings, not extras being handed out. If you want a guaranteed birthday cake, you better order one, lol.

As for the desserts...if you're on the dining plan, the chef may write "Happy Birthday" in icing on the dessert you get on the plan - they don't generally bring out a 2nd dessert on top of the one that you get anyway. At buffets (and places like CRT) it's nothing special to have them bring out a cupcake for your birthday because you got dessert with the meal anyway (and the two places they did bring out the extra cupcake the darn things were incredibly stale.)

 

[Bob NC]

I'm curious about this whole "birthday celebration" deal.

While I was growing up we celebrated our birthdays on our, um, birthdays. It's the day of our birth. Now, sometimes if we were having various family members over we might celebrate my birthday on Friday rather than, say, Thursday because it might make it easier for more people to attend, schedule-wise.

If you celebrate a birthday 3 weeks early, do you not celebrate on the actual birthday? Do you celebrate twice?

If you celebrate a birthday 3 weeks early at WDW, then celebrate again on the birthday, do you have another celebration if you, say, go to 6 flags 3 weeks AFTER the birthday?

Is this confusing to 1, 2 or 3 year olds?

 

[kristennn]

I'm curious about this whole "birthday celebration" deal.

While I was growing up we celebrated our birthdays on our, um, birthdays. It's the day of our birth. Now, sometimes if we were having various family members over we might celebrate my birthday on Friday rather than, say, Thursday because it might make it easier for more people to attend, schedule-wise.

If you celebrate a birthday 3 weeks early, do you not celebrate on the actual birthday? Do you celebrate twice?

If you celebrate a birthday 3 weeks early at WDW, then celebrate again on the birthday, do you have another celebration if you, say, go to 6 flags 3 weeks AFTER the birthday?

Is this confusing to 1, 2 or 3 year olds?

What does one do to celebrate their birthday at 6 flags?

Yes we do generally celebrate it more than once. At school ... a friends party ... with my inlaws .. and sometimes something small with our immediate family on the actual day - and no I don't think it is confusing for small children.

 

[Bob NC]

What does one do to celebrate their birthday at 6 flags?

I would imagine the same thing you do to celebrate at Disney?

 

[kristennn]

I would imagine the same thing you do to celebrate at Disney?

Have you been to 6 flags? At disney they have specialty restaurants so you would celebrate how you would at a restaurant.
They also have characters and cast members who would say Happy Birthday etc.
6 flags has employees and I don't think they talk to customers unless they have to. 6 flags also doesn't have any magic.
They *do* have roller coasters.
I could see going to 6 flags AS a birthday activity - but not celebrating your birthday whole there just because you;re there around that time.