Birthdays at Disney World

[CaryHaven]

Both I and one of my daughter's will be celebrating birthdays during our week long trip. How do we let the restaurant know we are celebrating (I've heard they sometimes offer a free dessert). Is it the button they give out or do we mention it to someone? Also, is it wrong to leave her birthday button and 1st trip button on her stroller all week? Not necessarily for free stuff every day, but it just seems that everyone pays a little more attention to the kids when they have one (learned this with my first).

 

[likeadream]

I was in Disney during my birthday week and I wore my button everyday
I never got a free dessert during dinner, but when we at Via Napoli my husband preordered a birthday cake for me and they charged us only 1/2 for it.

 

[timandjanl]

I wore my birthday button all week. I never got free stuff. Everyone just said happy birthday.

 

[Hootch]

CMs ask if you are celebrating anything during your trip and note it on the reservation. You can offer up that information if not asked.

It is very hit and miss. It's a bonus if you get something.

The buttons will get you some attention and well wishes.

 

[purple figment]

When you wear your button you'll get Happy Birthdays from many CMs. Beyond that, it is best not to expect anything.

At TS restaurants wear your button and if you feel comfortable about it, you can also tell your server. Probably half the visitors are celebrating a birthday, anniversary, honeymoon, graduation, or other milestone so whether you get any special recognition is up to your server. Overall, we've found that the signature restaurants are more likely to do something.

 

[Cynister]

My son wore his birthday button almost everyday during our trip this year. At 2 character meals we had, he received a free birthday cupcake. It was a total surprise to us. We didn't ask anyone & no one said anything prior. They just brought it at the end of the meal. However, this didn't happen at every location. So if it does happen, it is just a little pixie dust.

 

[familyfirsttimer]

I think with the rampant button wearing celebrating everything nowawdays, the free things are way less than they used to. It is more about the CMs wishing you a HBD. In 2 bday trips for my girls, only once we were given a cupcake as a TS when ordering. it was such a nice surprise!

On the other hand, if making ADRs be sure to note it and again when you check in. MY DD10 has some glitter and confetti on the table when we were shown to our seats. Again, a complete surpise

Enjoy!

 

[Sgt Mickey]

This is the second year I celebrated my birthday at Disney. Last year lots of birthday wishes this year lots of wishes two cupcakes and a dessert. I only wore my button day of and never mentioned it.

 

[dawnhaze]

I wore my button for my whole birthday trip in January and had my birthday noted on my ADRs. I got a cupcake at almost every TS meal I had (I actually started to get sick of them), and my waiter at Artist Point clipped a little light-up Tinkerbell onto my drink glass.

 

[Chaoticsweetness]

I wore my button the whole trip in March. I love the attention from the CMs wishing a Happy birthday. We went to MK to Gaston's Tavern & I was told by the CM since its my birthday I can get a free brew drink. the next day we went to La Cava & I received a free shot. My sister received balloons & cupcake in Feb for her birthday at Kona Cafe. I love spending my birthday at Walt Disney World.

 

[CaryHaven]

Wow, all that is awesome. I know there are people who abuse the system (and goodness knows, I'd want to see people's license if it were me constantly giving stuff out) but it's so nice especially for kids to have an extra surprise or two. I won't lie though, it's nice for adults too! And my DD4 would be over the moon if I got a light up Tinkerbell so she could have it.

 

[purpledisneyprncess]

Our most recent trip, we planned to be in MK on my sons birthday. He had a button that he wore and I had a Mickey birthday shirt personalized from eBay that he wore. I guess because we went during Easter break and it was so mobbed, I don't think he got more than 1 or 2 Happy Birthdays. It was okay though, I knew it'd be over crowded and the CMs were way too concerned with crowd control and directing people where to walk rather than observe guests with birthday buttons. It was just so packed and we are looking forward to much lower crowds this time around!!

By all means, wear the button every day if you choose and hopefully will get lots of birthday attention.

 

[Headed4Fun]

We took our son last year for his 5th birthday. He wore his button each day. Epcot CM's were awesome and overwhelmingly attentive. They shouted out his name and made him feel so special.
We spent his actual b-day in MK. One of the CM's at the Tomorrowland Speedway escorted us all to the front of the line and put a special sign on his car. They stopped the ride and let us take a minute for pictures. It was so awesome - I hated they made a such big fuss, but my son was in his glory!
If you're making dinner reservations, add a celebration to each ADR and you may get a cupcake or maybe they'll sing to you. We spent his b-day dinner at Chef Mickey's and I preordered a big cake shaped like Mickey's head. It was fantastic. Mickey came over and helped us all sing. Birthdays are a blast at Disney! Enjoy your special trip!

 

[Ladcassidy]

Took DD5 for her birthday last February. She loved it. Surprise cupcakes and other desserts at meals, confetti on the tables and birthday cards signed by the characters, the Dapper Dans serenaded her with Happy Birthday on Main Street, and a passing tour guide gifted her a Jasmine figurine as we headed to breakfast at CRT. Will be hard to beat that this year, but we are headed back to try.

 

[GrammyJudy]

Last year both my daughter and I had birthdays while we are there. A cm met us as we got off the me with a gallon boucet and they sang hb to her at garden grill and Minnie gave me a cupcake at chef Mickey. This trip my grandson will have his 13th birthday and when I called to make my adrs the cm said he would put it on all of them . This is just another reason I call and do not make reservations over the internet.

 

[Sheilby]

My middle son had his birthday week there, he wore the pin and got lots of well wishes. It was noted on all of our reservations and in a couple of places he received a birthday cupcake.

 

[trying2photo]

I was in Disney during my birthday week and I wore my button everyday
I never got a free dessert during dinner, but when we at Via Napoli my husband preordered a birthday cake for me and they charged us only 1/2 for it.

We will be celebrating at Via Napoli in November and thought about a special order cake. What kind did you have?

 

[mmdisneylover]

Both I and one of my daughter's will be celebrating birthdays during our week long trip. How do we let the restaurant know we are celebrating (I've heard they sometimes offer a free dessert). Is it the button they give out or do we mention it to someone? Also, is it wrong to leave her birthday button and 1st trip button on her stroller all week? Not necessarily for free stuff every day, but it just seems that everyone pays a little more attention to the kids when they have one (learned this with my first).

My daughter always got a fee dessert after dinner. She used to celebrate her birthday there every year when she was younger and she wore it all week long. They ask you if your celebrating anything special while there, that means the whole time. They celebrate your birthday you whole stay.

 

[jnfr2424]

Celebrated my 41st Birthday in WDW in February and it was magical. We stayed at Port Orleans Riverside I got a button at check in Then on my actual birthday I got a call from Mickey and Minnie and a card and balloons was left in our room. We took the bus to MK and the driver played a special recording to tell everyone it was my birthday. Tons of well wishes including from Kelly Ripa and Michael Strahan(they were there taping that day) and even the CM who was controlling the crowds still well wished. I even got free monogram on my Mickey ears. Had free desserts and even got serenaded in France where we had lunch. We had FP for Little Mermaid and they let us go on twice(did not collect the FP until 2nd time around). Best part was return ride from MK back to POR (mind you it's after midnight and tiredness was setting in) and everyone on the bus sang happy birthday to me! One of the most memorable 4 days I ever had!!

 

[CaryHaven]

Celebrated my 41st Birthday in WDW in February and it was magical. We stayed at Port Orleans Riverside I got a button at check in Then on my actual birthday I got a call from Mickey and Minnie and a card and balloons was left in our room. We took the bus to MK and the driver played a special recording to tell everyone it was my birthday. Tons of well wishes including from Kelly Ripa and Michael Strahan(they were there taping that day) and even the CM who was controlling the crowds still well wished. I even got free monogram on my Mickey ears. Had free desserts and even got serenaded in France where we had lunch. We had FP for Little Mermaid and they let us go on twice(did not collect the FP until 2nd time around). Best part was return ride from MK back to POR (mind you it's after midnight and tiredness was setting in) and everyone on the bus sang happy birthday to me! One of the most memorable 4 days I ever had!!

Wow, that's so cool!