birthday's being over done?

[robsmom]

Just returned and i observed something that i have hesitated to bring up because i know i will get flamed. but i really want to know if it is just me so here goes. My DH and I noticed that birthday announcements were coming every 5 minutes in some restaurants. I am starting to wonder if people are over doing it a bit. In looking at the reactions, i honestly believe only a fraction of the birthday's were actually that day. half the kids (and most of the patrons) had that oh here we go again look on their face. it just didn't really seem special. I have read more and more posts with people who are disappointed that something more special wasn't done for their child's brithday either at a hotel or restaurant. So what i am wondering is if the increase of people who are celebrating birthdays weeks (and months in some cases) away from the actual day, causing so many that disney just doesn't really want to react to them any more?

 

[Evil Emperor Zurg]

Something that I have noticed alot especially in hotels is that more and more people are checking in on their bithdays hoping to get an upgrade to their room. I see this more being a local resident but I know that when I go on vacation I never go around my birthday. I think that alot of people are making this up hoping for an upgrade in their room. The same goes for the resturants. People think that they deserve something free since they are paying so much for their trip.
I agree that some people are taking advantage of some of the special things that makes Disney what they are. In the long run they will be taken away becaue of peoples greed and dishonesty.

 

[jenndisney]

And it is a shame, because some people do go to celebrate an actual event. We have done Disney for the past 4 years for my Daughters birthday. Two of the trips have fallen on her actual birthday. The other two were a few weeks off. We only announce it is her birthday on her birthday. For the other two trips, we have chosen a day to celebrate, but she will not wear the button or let us make too big of a deal out of it. We just do it ourselves. That makes it more special when it really is her birthday.

For us, it is the unexpected that makes the day special.

 

[7thdwarf/dopey]

Allow me to run this past you.

We will be at WDW this December from the 8-16th, its value season. My wife is born on Christmas day. This is her forty fifth birthday and I have chosen this vacation as a special surprise for her . There is also no way to schedule off of work during the holiday week.
So your saying it would bother some of you folks if we celebrate her birthday early?

Just returned and i observed something that i have hesitated to bring up because i know i will get flamed. but i really want to know if it is just me so here goes. My DH and I noticed that birthday announcements were coming every 5 minutes in some restaurants. I am starting to wonder if people are over doing it a bit. In looking at the reactions, i honestly believe only a fraction of the birthday's were actually that day. half the kids (and most of the patrons) had that oh here we go again look on their face. it just didn't really seem special. I have read more and more posts with people who are disappointed that something more special wasn't done for their child's brithday either at a hotel or restaurant. So what i am wondering is if the increase of people who are celebrating birthdays weeks (and months in some cases) away from the actual day, causing so many that disney just doesn't really want to react to them any more?

 

[roliepolieoliefan]

We will be at WDW for my DD's 2nd birthday. We didn't plan it that way but when the free dining came out and we were planning, we decided, why not go during her birthday. I have it noted on our hotel ressie and the CM asked who her favorite character is. I also noted it at her birthday dinner at CM. We will buy her a cake and sing Happy Birthday. Since she will only be 2, she won't know if they do anything special or not. I told the rest of the family not to expect anything, then if nothing happens we won't be disappointed and if something does, it will be a nice surprise.

 

[ceecee]

We thought it was a little overdone last year. One lady told the waitress it was her third birthday dinner. DH and I had a laugh at one place when the little girl told her mom that she really wouldn't be 5 until Christmas and the mom said "we're celebrating early" (it was September!!!) DD was upset then because we wouldn't celebrate hers as well because it was one week away. Our anniversary is September 16 and we always go to a special resturant for dinner (the last week of Sept is our annual vacation) but we don't tell anyone, it's a private celebration.

 

[robsmom]

It wouldn't bother me if you celebrate your wifes birthday. I think it is great if you have a particular meal and bring her a cake and even if everyone sings. I am convinced, however, that there were people who celebrated birthdays every day, ever meal all week to try to get the most they could from it. So if you are the 10th (and i kid you not) time that the waiter asks everyone to sing happy birthday and if 95% of the restaurant ignores you, don't be suprised. At some meals it became so repetitive that folks were tuning it out and I guess that I feel bad for the kid who is really turning 5 that day or your wife who is celebrating a milestone and doesn't really understand why people don't care. I am the type that always stops, sings, claps etc. but after a while it sort of seemed fake to me and out of proportion.

 

[daisy112878]

7thdwarf/dopey - go and celebrate your wifes b-day!!!!

I was just there over July 4th weekend and saw a lot of b-days. It didn't bother me and really I didn't even think about it. My dad's b-day is july 4th and I special ordered a cake from Le Cellier for it. I got him all the b-day buttons and he wore them. If we went the week before we still would have picked one day to celebrate it. Just like if we go in December and not on my niece and nephew's actual b-day we pick a day to celebrate their b-days at wdw.

Also sometimes it's not just the people at the table. We went to CRT on june 30th for dinner. The waitress heard us discussing my dad's b-day. She asked when it was and we told her july 4th. Next thing we know she comes out with a b-day cupcake for him. So sometimes the waiter or waitress does it too.

I do have a problem with people demanding or getting upset when they don't get what they expect for their b-day. Most of the places I saw b-day it was just a small dessert or cupcake unless you pre-ordered something special.

 

[LoveWDW]

We are going in December in honor of our 35th anniversary, which is in July. I am going to order wine and maybe flowers for the room, if I can do this, but we are not going to announce the occasion. It is a private and romantic time for just us.

 

[7thdwarf/dopey]

My dad's b-day is july 4th and I special ordered a cake from Le Cellier for it. I got him all the b-day buttons and he wore them. If we went the week before we still would have picked one day to celebrate it. Just like if we go in December and not on my niece and nephew's actual b-day we pick a day to celebrate their b-days at wdw.

Also sometimes it's not just the people at the table. We went to CRT on june 30th for dinner. The waitress heard us discussing my dad's b-day. She asked when it was and we told her july 4th. Next thing we know she comes out with a b-day cupcake for him. So sometimes the waiter or waitress does it too.

Thankyou Daisy..........I've yet to find a CM who was'nt enthusiastic about quests birthdays, anniversaries, etc. But then again , I'm not an expert, this is only going to be our third trip, maybe there are some.

Aloha,
Gary

 

[katebeth]

We are going in September for my DD's 5th birthday. It is actually her birthday present. We asked her what she wanted for her b-day and she said that she wanted to eat with the princess'. So we decided that was when we would take our trip to Disney. I don't expect anything and neither does she. She is just so excited to be going to Disney on her birthday. I haven't requested anything special and don't plan on it either.

 

[Irelandred11]

I will be in Disney for my birthday. I was born on August 27th. I am always away for my birthday. Summer is when I take my vacations.

 

[Disneyrsh]

We've been down for my birthday and one daughter's birthday-well, my oldest daughter was born on new years eve and we avoided the craziness of the holiday season, went down the next week, and celebrated then.

But we didn't celebrate her birthday until we actually got down there-the cake and hoo-rah at Disney was the only one.

We don't wear our "Today Is My Birthday" tags unless it really is somebody's birthday that day, but we definitely have wiggle room in terms of singing happy birthday and doing the cake and presents thing. My hubby and older daughter just don't have birthdays that are good for vacation time.

I can't believe other people out there would be bothered by all the birthdays around them-most of our friends go out of their way to bring their kids down to Disney as close as possible to the real birthdays...

So, yeah, Happy Birthday (or Very Merry Unbirthday, as it is) To You!

 

[danjoan14]

We'll be in WDW for my DW's 40th birthday. What a way to celebrate!!!

 

[ksjayhawkfan]

Ive been flamed for this before but I dont care so here goes.

Our kids' birthdays are all in December, yes all 3 of them. Last year we bought them a WDW trip for their birthdays(well 2 of them since the baby wasnt in the picture yet) and we took the trip this past June. This was the only "party" they got and all of our relative got them Disney Dollars in cards and we gave them the cards in our resort room. They got birthday buttons and we celebrated in our room. We didnt tell anyone when we made the ressies, we didnt request anything special and we didnt get any cupcakes or anything of the sort at any place we ate.....and thats just fine. We didnt expect anything, and the kids were very upfront with telling anyone who asked how it works at our house. We ALWAYS celebrate their birthdays in June.

And before anyone says it("If you wanted to celebrate thier birthdays in June, you should have had the kids in June." God just didnt want it to happen that way. He gives us December babies. I was very apprehensive about posting all these details after some of the comments I got on other posts, but today I guess Im being a rebel

Oh and yeah, maybe the "todays my birthday" were a little overboard, we probably wouldnt do that again unless they had something said something a little different.

 

[Beauty]

We always go during our DS's B'day. His B'day is September 17th and we will be buying a cake and celebrating at Chef Mickeys. He will be 14 though so I doubt he will wear the button or make any mention of it whatsoever unless we do.

 

[skuttle]

The only problem I have with it is people complaining that they didn't get special treatment...it's right up there with people complaining about no towel animals or not getting a tag here on the DIS. These special things shouldn't be expected. If you get them, GREAT! If not, oh well...don't let it ruin your day. If they become the norm, they aren't that special any more.

For our honeymoon, we told no one we were on our honeymoon. Didn't mention it to the GF and didn't mention it at any restaurants and didn't wear the hats (the top hat was too small for DH's head!) We were VERY surprised when, while having lunch at Cinderella's, the CM asked us if it was our honeymoon. We said yes and then she brought us special glasses. We were very surprised and it made for a very special and memorable lunch.

 

[poohguys]

We are going in October and will be there for my sons's 5th birthday. We are celebrating at Chef Mickey's and I will be ordering a cake. My son wanted his cousins at his birthday party and we thought that it would be fun for everyone to get together at WDW to celebrate. We are not expecting any special treatment, just a nice time with our family.

 

[pospisil]

We'll be at WDW 9/10-9/17, with DS's 4th birthday being on the 14th. We'll get the buttons on that day, and a cake at Chef Mickey's, and we'll make a very big deal out of his birthday, but just on that day. My cousin's little girl grew up having "birthday" celebrations every couple of months, with cakes and candles and singing and presents from her parents and grandparents, because "she enjoys parties so much", and has turned into a spoiled brat who thinks the world revolves around her. I'm not saying that is just from the constant birthday parties, but I know they didn't help. Birthdays come but once a year, that's what makes them special. If they come at an inconvenient time, oh well. Moving the celebration to the weekend of the week it falls in so classmates can come to the party is one thing, celebrating weeks and months away from the event is another. JMHO

 

[calie_j]

Interesting thread. Our trip is during DD's b-day and we have so many special things planned for her "birthday week" that after reading this I can see it would be more special to only have her wear the birthday button on her actual birthday (not expecting anything of course). She's a bit spoiled already being our only princess

Calie