Birthday Question

[rsschneck]

I found out my niece will turn two on our first night of our grand gathering. I called MS to add the information to our reservation. Should I remind the resort when I check in that we have a Birthday for that night? What do they usually do for a little kids Birthday? She asked names and ages of all the kids in our group. Will the other kids get something special too? We are having groceries delivered and will have a cake and ice cream delivered along with the other groceries. We will be in the MK the next day and we will pick up a birthday button. I called group dining to add the birthday info. to our Chef Mickey's reservation. I called Grand Gatherings to add the birthday info. to our fireworks cruise. Anything else that I could do to make sure her birthday is very special?

 

[WDWsnooper]

While a little **Disney Magic** might be nice, I suggest that you expect nothing. Just plan your family gathering and enjoy the moment. If cast members do pull off any surprise(s) it will seem more magical if they catch you off guard. Just plan the family activities as you have, mention how it is a special time for the little one--but expect nothing but "Happy Birthday" wishes. I am sure there will be some surprises along the way, but getting caught off guard is part of the magic.
Snooper

 

[bartty]

We got some balloons and a card from minnie mouse.. my dd's favorite on her 3rd bday at SSR. I reminded the front desk that it was my dd's birthday and she asked what her favorite character was and arranged for the little surprise! My dd loved her special gift!

 

[SueOKW]

May I join in here? My oldest DD will turn 13 - 10 days after we come home. Is Disney a stickler about the birthday pin thing? Can I tell people we are celebrating her birthday early?

Sue

 

[Mellie2162]

On our last trip both of our kids celebrated their birthdays. On their day they got to pick the park to visit and they got to pick the breakfast and/or dinner that day. No surprise both picked MK on their day. My daughter who turned 9 started her day at the MK. We had got her a birthday button the day before. She chose Cindy's table for breakfast. It was wonderful. We were seated right away and she had used her birthday money to buy a beautiful princess dress and had brought a tiara from home in anticipation. All of the princesses were wonderful and gave her a lot of attention (gotta put up that pic of her and Cindy) and she left their just reeling in excitement. My son proclaimed that he hated princesses after that. We spent the day at the MK and every single person and CM greeted her with a happy birthday.

On my son's day he chose the MK as well. We stopped and got him a birthday button. His day was filled as well with the happy birthdays and such but what really tickled us was when the parade started Princess Aurora saw his button and mouthed happy birthday to him then blew him a kiss. Talk about smitten. He smiled from ear to ear and was just beside himself. He also spent quite a bit of time talking with Ariel before getting his picture with her and came out declaring that some princesses were ok. He chose Chef Mickeys for dinner and although we didn't care much for the food he had a fabulous time. When we arrived the CM did know it was his birthday and confirmed this with us. While we were seated Chip and Dale came out and sang a happy birthday song to him and another child. It was great. MIckey also made a trip to the table and shared greetings. All in all they had wonderful birthdays.

Oops almost forgot. We informed the front desk at check in to WL of the dates of their birthdays and when we got back on those dates there was a birthday picture card and balloon autographed by the character on the picture. My kids were just in awe of everything. We are spending our next vacation celebrating birthdays again this year. They have both chosen Chef Mickeys.

Anyway, why did I post all of this? I have no clue only to say that you brought back some wonderful memories for me. Please inform them when you make a reservation and when you check in. We went there expecting only happy birthday greetings but ended up with so much more. I hope your little niece has a wonderful day.

 

[SueOKW]

it really sounds nice - - can't wait to see the pic!!! - - do they just take your word for it that it's the child's birthday? Is it ok to say we are celebrating early and we would still get a pin?

 

[jnrrt]

I wanted to know this as well, and also if they are sticklers for the exact date. My daughter will be turning 7 right around when we go (our dates are a bit up in the air) and when she realized it could be on her birthday, she was so excited! Have others picked a day if it's close? She's old enough to understand doing that, but she's also old enough to think it might be cheating, and she would not want to say anything that wasn't strictly true (and I would not encourage her to do so). How did you all handle this, and is it okay to tell people it's close, or we're celebrating it that day so we're being truthful?

 

[princess mom]

we took our girls to WDW for thier birthdays last year (one birthday was before our trip and one after the trip) but the trip was their presents. The CM at townhall (mk) asked no questions, just gave a "Happy Birthday"! EVERYONE noticed the buttons, even in the parade, Prince Charming noticed and said happy birthday to them! I was more excited then they were!! So to answer your question, no it does not have to be on the day to celebrate some extra magic!!

 

[DrTomorrow]

From all that I've read over the years, no, Disney is NOT a stickler for the exact date; if you show up at Town Hall for a birthday pin, they are not going to ask you for a birth certificate. They understand that everyone wants to make a child's (or adult's) birthday at WDW a special time, and that not everyone can travel to WDW on their birthday.

However, due to exactly what I typed above, you should expect very little - perhaps nothing. If you create a "Birthday Zone" that extends to two weeks before and after a certain date, then roughly one out of every twelve guests will have a "birthday" on any given day. 20,000 people at the MK today? That means almost 1,700 "birthdays". A restaurant serves 500 families a day? That's over 40 "birthdays" each day, every day.

Please, PLEASE note that this is NOT an "abusing the priviledge" post. DW and I did it; our wedding anniversary is in May (25 years this year!), but when we made our first "empty-nest" trip to WDW in Oct. 2003, we told ourselves - and the Concerge at the Polynesian - that we were celebrating our anniversary (we did tell them the actual date - no deception involved). We did get a card, a mini-champaign and a cool chocolate greeting (note we were paying Concierge rates).

That being said, it's just a good idea to manage your expectations, and if you want to insure that there's cake and ice cream, balloons and such, you should do it yourself; that way, any Disney extras are, er, icing on the cake!

Be well!

 

[Chim Chiminy]

I agree, expect nothing so that when something happens it is all the more special.

When we checked in at SSR my DS leaned over to whisper to me "Since we are celebrating my birthday, do I get charging priveleges too?"
The CM overheard him and asked him a ton of questions. DS explained that we were celebrating his sister's fifth the next day and his eleventh at the end of the week.
And no, he did not get charging priveleges!

The next day we took DD to MK, wearing her very large Mickey Birthday Cake hat, to celebrate. We nabbed a pin at City Hall, the CM sang happy birthday to her.
Many, many other guests wished her happy birthday throughout the day.
I took her and my parents to the GF for Afternoon Tea. Waiting to be seated we ventured in to the gift shop, where unexpected she received a phone call from Goofy. He sang to her.
During the dessert part of our Tea she was presented with a massive cupcake and everyone in the room sang to her. Totally unexpected, very magical. I want to cry right now thinking about it.
When we arrived back at our room..........surprise! Not one but TWO birthday balloon bouquets. One for each kid with pictures of Mickey and Minnie, both signed.
We had her birthday dinner at the GF Cindy's Gala. She was sung to again by everyone in the room and my favorite part.....an older girl, perhaps 12 or 13, was also celebrating her birthday. She came over and wished my daughter a happy birthday and gave her a hug. (more tears!)

The entire week was like that for us. My son's bday was just as special. Dinner at Chef Mickeys, where Minnie mouse yanked his hat off his head and dumped cupcake sprinkles on him. He got a phone call from Goofy as well.

 

[kathleena]

I'm chiming in with the opinion to mention it as you go along, but expect nothing. And don't be disappointed if you get nothing either!

They do many special things for the birthday person. Some places are different than others. Don't expect anything for all the other children - this is the special day of one child - not all of them.

I told DVC of my DDs b'day and they sent a Magical Moments certificate over on her b'day. Breakfast at Cape May, they announced her b'day and had the whole restaurant sing with Dale leading. Gave her a big cupcake. At Beaches N Cream, when we ordered a Kitchen Sink, they put a teeny, tiny candle in it and then when they did the announcement for the Kitchen Sink, they also annouced her b'day and had everyone sing.

There are different b'day buttons - Mk and MGM have the same one, AK, Epcot and DTD all have different ones. DD wore her MK one into Epcot and they gave her an Epcot one at the turnstiles. Anyone can get one - I got one of each for my upcoming trip with DGD in August.

As for the b'day/unb'day part - as Jiminy says - let your conscience be your guide. We told our granddaughter - three weeks before she turned 6 - that it was her birthday trip and that WDW allowed her to celebrate early because she couldn't be there on her b'day. And a few times in a restaurant, the b'day trip came up and we specifically said that her b'day was in three weeks, but still the Cast Member brought out a cupcake and sang. We didn't ask, it was just in conversation with her that it came up.

 

[Patty3]

We have celebrated birthdays while staying at the BCVand BWV. It was noted and nothing was done at either DVC. I just assumed that DVC's did not do anything. Now, we recently celebrated a birthday while staying at the Contemporary and we were pleasantly surprised to receive a balloon and card.

 

[rascalmom]

We were at SSR last week on my dd's 17th birthday. Just like the littler kids, she got to pick the itinerary for the day. We started out at MGM for early entry - had to get our R'n'R time in first thing. We were at the gates for opening & asked the CM where to get a Birthday button. She said "just a minute" & stepped away. She came back with a button for my DD & had the surrounding crowd sing Happy Birthday to her.

After a few rounds on the Coaster, we hopped over the MK for breakfast at Cindy's. I had mentioned her birthday when I booked the PS. We were immediately escorted to a window table, which was decorated with streamers & confetti. A birthday card was also on the table & as each of the character came around they signed the card.

In the afternoon, we went back to our room at SSR for a break & to open her family gifts. There was a balloon bouquet & a card from Chip & Dale waiting for DD in the room. (We were staying at SSR on points rented from a member.)

For dinner we went to Le Cellier, where again a card was waiting at the table. After dinner she was presented with a special birthday dessert with her name & Happy 17th Birthday written in chocolate around the edge of the plate. I'm not sure if our agent at Dreams or a very nice CM we met earlier in the week arranged this surprise.

The CM we met had left a message on our room phone instructing us to report to the Italy pavilion 15 minutes before Illuminations that night. We were placed in a private, roped off viewing area in honor of her birthday. So wonderful suprises do happen!

We felt especially thankful for all the Pixie Dust we experienced that week (we were also bumped from a standard view to Concierge at our weekend stay at WL!). Our trip was shortened because we got a call that my FIL had passed away & we had to return home early. The SSR staff was very helpful with making arrangements to get back home quickly.