Birthdays at Disney

[danielephant]

I have been to disney a few times but the last time i was 13, and now my hubby and i are taking the kiddos. DD will be turning 3 and this is her birthday present I have read on other posts and seen on other sites that they do special stuff for birthdays, is this only on your ACTUAL birthday (cause it is a week after we leave so we wont be there ON her birthday)

Any info or tips would be greatly appreciated!

 

[hsembrick]

I would recommend getting her a birthday button when you check in or at guest relations. I went for my birthday a few years ago and got a free cupcake at 1900 Park Fare and a tiara. It wasn't my actual birthday (it was actually the week before) and no one asked. When booking your dining reservations make sure to tell them that it is her birthday and they MAY do something special for her.

It is also fun having everyone tell you happy birthday just because you are wearing the button!!

 

[jennyleettu]

My understanding is it is just if you are there on your actual birthday that they have the additional perks. We missed out last year because we left on my niece's actual birthday so she didn't get to pick between the "prizes."

That being said we celebrated her birthday the day before, she wore her birthday shirt and all of that fun stuff and she was plenty spoiled by CMs. We actually ended up with private one on one time with Snow White, Jasmine, Belle and Mulan...it was great!! We also went to eat at Kona that evening and they wrote Happy Birthday Alyssa on her dessert plate.

Still made for an exceptional birthday experience and memory with out the birthday fastpass, or extra money to spend at one of the gift shops!!

 

[PolyndianPrincessJes]

My understanding is it is just if you are there on your actual birthday that they have the additional perks. We missed out last year because we left on my niece's actual birthday so she didn't get to pick between the "prizes."

That being said we celebrated her birthday the day before, she wore her birthday shirt and all of that fun stuff and she was plenty spoiled by CMs. We actually ended up with private one on one time with Snow White, Jasmine, Belle and Mulan...it was great!! We also went to eat at Kona that evening and they wrote Happy Birthday Alyssa on her dessert plate.

Still made for an exceptional birthday experience and memory with out the birthday fastpass, or extra money to spend at one of the gift shops!!

The "prizes" were just part of last year's promo (this year it's for volunteering, not birthdays). No worries this year...get her a button and enjoy any pixie dust that comes her way, OP. Don't expect it, and don't tell her about the possibility, just be pleasantly surprised.

 

[daisyduck123]

We have been to WDW several times on my DD's "actual" b-day and I arrange for all the "fun" myself.

Some special things we've done on her birthday:

Illuminations Celebration cruise (also had a b-day cake I'd pre-ordered delivered to the boat)
manicure at our resort's salon
CRT dinner
CRT breakfast
Norway dinner
brought Disney themed mylar b-day balloons from home and had them inflated at our resort's front desk

 

[danielephant]

thanks everyone for posting, i was just wondering, i think in 2 years we are going ON my birthday so good to know either way

 

[mamaLori05]

the date itself doesn't actually matter. They don't check any dates. If you want to celebrate a birthday, make sure you note it on the ressie's and get the birthday buttons. Beyond that, don't expect anything. Some people get very dissapointed when nothing happens. However, sometimes they will put a balloon and card from a character in your room one day during your "celebration", or they may bring out a birthday cupcake at a reservation dinner. Sometimes other little surprises happen throughout the park.

When we celebrated my dd's 3rd birthday there, we got the balloon with a card from cinderella, a birthday cupcake at one of the restaurants, and many birthday wishes from cm's. tons of extra attention from characters as well!! She was also trying to pull the sword out of the stone, and all of a sudden a cm came up to us and told us to have her try it again. We did, and magically it came up. There was a whole production of it coming up and then she got to make the sword go back in with magic pixie dust. I am POSITIVE it was because she was all dressed up from BBB with a birthday sash and button.

 

[jlstwinmommy]

We were there in January for my DS 12th birthday. We arrived on his actual birthday and the CM gave him a button which they told him to where all week. We had arranged a birthday dinner at WCC that night where they gave him a little cupcake and sang to him. The rest of the week, we just went to the parks as normal. Many CMs would tell him happy birthday. On about the 3rd day, he turned to me and said "how do they all know my name?" mmm, maybe because you are wearing a button that has your name on it and says happy birthday?

Anyway - he had a great week and he enjoyed the attention. On our AK day, we were going to buy a mickey bar and the CM gave it to him and said it was on the house for his birthday. That was nice, but I wouldn't expect that to happen every birthday trip.

I went to WDW for my 40th birthday during the year of the birthday celebrations. My sister and my birthdays are within 3 weeks of each other, so we both had birthday buttons. They gave us a free dessert at every meal. It got to the point we started hiding the birthday buttons as we were way too full on dessert. I may have gained 10lbs that trip.

 

[danielephant]

that is cute!

 

[jennyleettu]

The "prizes" were just part of last year's promo (this year it's for volunteering, not birthdays). No worries this year...get her a button and enjoy any pixie dust that comes her way, OP. Don't expect it, and don't tell her about the possibility, just be pleasantly surprised.

That's what I was thinking but I wasn't sure. Although I sure hope they bring it back next year...my boss has been talking about the birthday fastpass since they went for his son's birthday! LOL!! Either way we had a great time with my niece and know we will have a magical time with DD for her birthday as well...it's great!!

 

[weswife]

We have went to Disney the last 3 years and celebrated our b-days ! Mine is the 27 and DS is the 26!!We both rec'd B-day buttons! We always enjoyed the wishes! In 09 and 08 we got a card and ballons from our fav. characters! It was cute! This year we got a photo pass card with a discount! Its funny because the 1st year we stayed at FW cabins, 2nd stay at CBR 3rd stay at WL! No difference in where you stay! We only noted our actual b-day when dining and rec'd cupcakes! We had our buttons on at other dining resv. and they would give us cupcakes. My DS alway enjoys explaining how his b-day is the day before mine BUT he is born on his Nana's b-day! My Mom's fav. b-day gift ever!!!

Enjoy your trip! CELEBRATE!!!!!!!

 

[dzorn]

The CM had the whole line sing Happy Birthday to DD last year at RRRC.

Denise in MI

 

[MickeyMinnie1971]

We were there for my son's actual birthday 3 years ago. We had dinner at Chef Mickey's, and I ordered a birthday cake for him. The server made a huge deal out of it. There was a balloon, and birthday card left in our room at the Poly. He wore a birthday button on the actual day and CM's and other guests kept telling him happy birthday.

We were there just before his birthday in 1999, and staying at the Poly. We were really surprised to find a wrapped gift, card, and balloon in our room. The gift was a Buzz, and Woody beanie.

 

[marion2610]

we will celebrate my friends birthday in DL Paris end of September.

I also booked a character diner for us and orderd a birthday cake for her! It´s a suprise for her!

End of October i go to WDW with my friends from Ohio and celebrate the birthday of my friends daughter and mine.

I will report you if you want when i be back from paris!

Greetings from Germany

Marion

 

[MommaB]

I went this February for my 30th Birthday and it was seriously like being a 5 year old again. We had told them about it when making our on site hotel reservations and from there each dinner reservation was tied automatically to the "Celebration Event" When I checked in the desk clerk told me I HAD to wear my button every day. So I did! Here's what it added to my week

Once in my room Mickey and Pals called on the phone to wish me Happy Birthday
5000 people said happy birthday to me.
At Chef Mickey's Minnie brought me a cupcake and sang Happy Birthday
At Askurhuse (I'm murdering the spelling!) the server brought me a cupcake and a card signed by all the princesses
At Starring Rolls the check out clerk gave me one a pack of cookies as a Birthday Present
At Wolfgang Puck they gave me a slice of cake to go to celebrate later
And finally..
2 Dragonflies, Alice, Mary Poppins and a Fish stepped over to the parade rope and wished me Happy Birthday.
But best of all... Cinderella leaned out of her pumpkin coach, did her perfect princess wave and said "Oh! Happy Birthday!"
I swear I was a sugared out, blissfully birthdayed, flying high 5 year old by the end of it

 

[Brina]

I don't think they care if it is the actual date, as long as it is close.

I just made reservations for my family to go to WDW when I run the half marathon in January. We are there for marathon weekend, 1/6-1/9. My dd will be turning 8 on 1/15 and it was the CM in reservations said to me, "oh, its a birthday celebration," as he saw my dd's birthdate in the computer from previous trips. I told him no, we were traveling for the marathon, not my daughter's birthday, but he insisted on putting a notation on the reservation. I have already received things in the mail from Disney referencing, 'D's Birthday Celebration Trip'

 

[danielephant]

that is cool! our things in the mail just say "ourlastname's family celebration!"

 

[boatman987]

A "character" meal is your best bet for a more celebratory experience. We did that for our son at Chef Mickey and had the waiter plus the characters come by to wish him happy b-day. it was cool

 

[danielephant]

when we made reservations they put down that the princess dinner in norway at epcot would be her birthday dinner