Birthdays at WDW restaurants

[Barbara C]

Hi -

We will be visiting several WDW restaurants the week of my son's birthday but we will be staying off-site. Is there a way to notify the restaurants of his birthday before we get there? I can't find a way to add it on-line. He picked HDDR for a meal on his actual birthday!

TIA

 

[DisneyWishes14]

I would call Disney Dining and have it noted on the reservation.

 

[brertoad]

Yes, by phone would seem to be the best way. And see about getting a birthday button for him, you can ask someone at the HDDR ticket office if they have one.

 

[Parker Clan]

They go around and ask the crowd at HDDR who is celebrating a birthday then they sing to everyone celebrating

 

[Hopefully]

Hi -

We will be visiting several WDW restaurants the week of my son's birthday but we will be staying off-site. Is there a way to notify the restaurants of his birthday before we get there? I can't find a way to add it on-line. He picked HDDR for a meal on his actual birthday!

TIA

If you are expecting something special for your son if they know, you will likely be disappointed. Most often they do nothing more than perhpas a "Happy Birthday" if they see the buttonl Each day there are hundreds, if not thousands of folks celebrating something. Disney simply no longer can keep up.
If you want something special you need to Plan - and Pay - for it. Check out the cake thread. You could have a cake delivered to your restaurant
Have Fun

 

[marjorieeeee]

At hoop dee do they sing for everyone with birthdays, but no special food. I don't even think they put a candle in the included dessert.

I got a small free dessert on my birthday last year at yachtsman. I also got two free ice creams throughout Disney, and I think that's pretty standard if someone wearing a birthday button orders an ice cream. But not guaranteed.

There are birthday packages you can order in advance. But they are pricey, and I think he'll get enough Disney magic just by wearing the button around.

I'm going again this year for my birthday on July 1. I'm doing Le Cellier ('cause it's also Canada day!) and Cinderella's Royal Table. I can report back on special treatment. But, there's a large possibility I'm flying solo, and a solo traveler wearing a birthday button is a whole different kind of special :-(

 

[HopperFan]

Experience over the years, birthdays and graduation noted on reservations, nothing happened. I don't even know if that information translates from the reservation system to the actual server. We have gotten more reactions once we started to wear the buttons. DS2 and I go each year for our birthday and our pins says so much. Some CMs have leeway to do things like an ice cream bar, or soda or balloon. Always random and never expected. So, I agree with getting a birthday button and if he will, wear it all the time. You might find he will enjoy CMs and guests telling him Happy Birthday randomly.

The advantage you have is that is sounds like the HDDR celebrates for everyone, so he will have that. But otherwise I wouldn't ever plan on a restaurant doing anything. Just way too many folks there for same reason.

 

[figment_jii]

As others have said, you can call and have it noted on your reservation. You can also mention to the host/hostess when you check-in and they can note it on the reservation (sometimes they'll ask you if you're celebrating anything). Whether anything is done or not once you're dining depends on the server, the restaurant's policies, how busy they are, etc. My family has gotten confetti on the table, free birthday cupcake/desserts, to a simple "happy birthday", to no acknowledgement at all, so there is no way to guarantee that they'll do anything to acknowledge the birthday unless you're willing to pay for something (e.g., buy a cake). I also agree with the recommendation to get a birthday button; he'll probably have random CMs and fellow guests wish him a happy birthday. Luckily it sounds like HDDR sings happy birthday to all the birthdays together, so at least you know something happens there.