Birthdays at Disney World

[jdgower]

We will be arriving on May 20 and our last day in the parks will be May 30. My wife and daughter share a birthday on June 4.

It seems that we always end up at Disney World right before my wife and daughter's birthdays. People there always tend to ask if we are celebrating anything and I always say 'no', but am wondering if I should be mentioning their birthday as it is close. The thing is, I am always afraid of looking like a freeloader or something.

Anyway, my question has 2 parts:

1. Should I be saying we are celebrating their birthday on our trip?
2. Is there anything cool that I can do to actually 'celebrate' their birthday while we are there?

We are eating:

May 20: Via Napoli - Dinner
May 21: CRT - Breakfast, Skipper Canteen (hopefully) - Dinner
May 22: Sci-Fi - Dinner
May 23: Ohana - Breakfast, Tutto Italia - Dinner
May 24: San Angel Inn - Dinner
May 26: T Rex - Dinner
May 27: Mama Melrose - Dinner
May 28: Be our Guest - Lunch, Yachtsman Steakhouse - Dinner
May 29: Hollywood & Vine - Dinner

I'm considering adding a 'surprise' Dinner at CRT for May 30 if it would be worth it to celebrate their birthday that day and I can gather enough extra funds.

 

[Pmlocke]

People celebrate certain achievements at times that are more convienant to them. A friend of mine has a B-Day on 12/25 but they always celebrate it on 6/25. Is it wrong to wear a pin if you are at WDW in June for that reason, of course not. The greatest pleasure from wearing the pins is the little bit of extra attention you get from cast members and people like me. I always wish someone a Happy Birthday or Congratulations on their wedding anniversary. it doesn't cost a thing but makes the wearer feel extra special. I have been at WDW for a birthday and wedding anniversarys and it is alot of fun. Yes you get a cupcake sometimes at a disney restaurant or a signed character card from a characters meal but other than that I see no reason to celebrate your special occasion at the Happiest Place on Earth even if you are a few days off. My wife and I travel every year at the end of February. Our anniversary is in March but we still get pins because that is our anniversary trip. Due to work obligations I cannot travel in March so where's the harm?

 

[MinnieMSue]

Absolutely agree with above! It is fun to get birthday wishes from cast members and other guests. Often get a bit of table decoration at restaurants (handful of pixie dust) might get birthday cupcakes etc. occas my daughter got a Micky bar from a vender. An entire restaurant sang happy birthday to her once. Just fun relatively inexpensive stuff. My daughter just loves the attention. We are planning a weekend trip for her fall birthday now.

 

[TeeterTots]

Definitely get their birthday pins and be sure it's noted on your reservation, bc everyone will know and you'll like get a complimentary dessert! I just celebrated my birthday weekend two weeks ago and we had dinner at Cali grill and watched the fireworks. So nice! By the way, via Napoli.....yum! The best pizza and the tiramisu, yum.

 

[Kevin355]

June 4th was a good day. My B-Day as well.

 

[PlanWDW]

Definitely get a birthday pin and don't be shy about celebrating. Most of the time you'll get something special at table service restaurants.

 

[Dug720]

I let my "celebration" run from the month before to the month after - in my case June 20 to August 20! Especially this year as it is a pretty big birthday. I am starting it with a 12-night Italian cruise (sadly not on Disnay) and ending it with a trip to Disney! Definitely plan on celebrating!!

 

[buzznina]

Our last trip in November was a birthday trip for our DDs, who's birthday were in August during school time, when we cannot go. So on their birthday we gave them each a Disney GC that they can use during our trip We have no qualms of making trips a birthday trip and celebrating it months later or earlier. It's not like their birthdays are going to change, they will always be during the beginning of school year, where we cannot take them out. WDW is not like taking them to Chuck E. Cheese where you can always go on or around their birthday.

 

[fairy oma]

We were at WDW this past December for my birthday and everytime my Magic Band was scanned I was wished a Happy Birthday whether it was entering the parks, at a FP ride or even a restaurant. It was a very nice surprise because I did not wear my pin until my actual birthday.

 

[summerrluvv]

You could order a cake! We did that last year for my DD's bday. We had her bday meal at Be Our Guest. I ordered the mini size cake, and it fed the three of us perfectly. They brought it out with a candle in the "grey stuff", along with a card signed by Belle and the Beast, and the waiter in his native language. Here is a link for cakes
http://www.disneyfoodblog.com/disney-world-cakes-faq/

 

[goofy4tink]

We were at WDW on the day my dd turned 6....she had a birthday dinner at CP...they gave her a card signed by the characters, glitter all over the table and a birthday cupcake. We returned for her 13th birthday...actual day of birthday. She and her friend (who's birthday was the day we left!) wore special birthday shirts and buttons. They got a birthday placemat at CM's at breakfast, along with a birthday cupcake...for breakfast!!! We did HDDR that night, and we booked early enough to get a table right up against the stage...so my dd was pulled out for a birthday celebration (a song and such, no food or anything). I was there last July, on my birthday..wore my birthday button. Other than a few CM happy birthdays, nothing.
I always try to wish people wearing the buttons a 'happy birthday'..but I've gotten strange looks. Geez, you're wearing a button for crying out loud...what do you expect. Now, I don't do it nearly as much.
I think that so many people are wearing the buttons that no one really notices anymore. It would be really hard for CMs to do something magical for everyone that was celebrating nowadays. But, there can still be those birthday cupcakes and special wishes from passersby and CMs. Other than that? Not much in my experience.

 

[Magnolia85]

My daughter's 5th Birthday is May 17th and we have an ADR for Akershus. Has anyone celebrated there? Any helpful tips? Wondering what should I expect.

 

[DisneymomCT1123]

I'm so happy I found this thread. We are traveling over spring break from 4/3 - 4/8 with our daughters birthday falling on 4/11 (back to school that day). I mentioned on our Touring Plans fax room request that we are celebrating our kids first trip as well as our daughters birthday. I was feeling kind of guilty to order a cake for her, etc since it won't be her actual birthday, but now I just might! We have a BOG dinner res the night we arrive and I think that would be a great night for it.