Celebrating birthdays 3 months later?

[FLchick415]

You don't need to wear a pin to celebrate with your family.

No, I don't. But does it matter if I choose to? It's a nice memento from a fun trip.

 

[Angel Ariel]

You don't need to wear a pin to celebrate with your family.

You don't need a cake, or balloons, or cards gifts, etc to celebrate with family either. They're just a nice addition to the celebration. A pin, IMHO, is no different.

The below is not directed at the PP I quoted, just additional thoughts on the subject:

IMHO, it says more about the state of our society and how much time is spent judging how others live their lives when people refuse to say happy birthday to someone, because it *might* not actually be their special day. It costs me absolutely nothing to wish someone a happy birthday/anniversary/etc. Vacation is about being happy to me, and *for me* that does not include withholding happy wishes from others - for whatever reason. I don't care if it's their actual day or not. I have no way of knowing if it is their day, and I'm not wasting my time on vacation judging others for how they choose to celebrate.

I got a couple belated birthday wishes on FB from friends who weren't online on my birthday, or who had posts eaten by FB. I suppose I shouldn't appreciate their well wishes, because it wasn't my actual birthday any more. That's just silly to me.

 

[Mikie]

No, actually, that's NOT the only reason. I didn't wear mine because I wanted attention. In fact, I often dislike it when there's a lot of attention on me. I wore it as a celebration with my family. I didn't care if anyone else acknowledged it. I wasn't expecting special treatment from anyone at Disney. I just wanted to create fun memories with people who matter.

I don't mean that you, or anyone, must be trying to weasel out some kind of goodies. However, I still believe the only reason to wear a sign announcing your occasion is so others will see it! You knew it was your bday, your family knew it, you were riding rides, watching shows and creating memories. The only reason you need a button while doing all that is so that other people are notified about your reason for celebrating.

Go ahead and celebrate and announce your celebration if that heightens it for you, but I'm just saying I think it's so weird how many people argue and disagree with the poster who's stating the obvious - wearing a button or sign is an advertisement to get people to notice you/your occasion. He seems to think you shouldn't do that, I don't care either way, but it's still a fact that you only advertise something if you want someone to know about it.

 

[JanaDee]

You don't need a cake, or balloons, or cards gifts, etc to celebrate with family either. They're just a nice addition to the celebration. A pin, IMHO, is no different.

The below is not directed at the PP I quoted, just additional thoughts on the subject:

IMHO, it says more about the state of our society and how much time is spent judging how others live their lives when people refuse to say happy birthday to someone, because it *might* not actually be their special day. It costs me absolutely nothing to wish someone a happy birthday/anniversary/etc. Vacation is about being happy to me, and *for me* that does not include withholding happy wishes from others - for whatever reason. I don't care if it's their actual day or not. I have no way of knowing if it is their day, and I'm not wasting my time on vacation judging others for how they choose to celebrate.

I got a couple belated birthday wishes on FB from friends who weren't online on my birthday, or who had posts eaten by FB. I suppose I shouldn't appreciate their well wishes, because it wasn't my actual birthday any more. That's just silly to me.

Or you can turn it around and say it is a statement on how entitled and "me me me" some people have become because they expect special attention on a day that isn't their birthday.

 

[FLchick415]

I don't mean that you, or anyone, must be trying to weasel out some kind of goodies. However, I still believe the only reason to wear a sign announcing your occasion is so others will see it! You knew it was your bday, your family knew it, you were riding rides, watching shows and creating memories. The only reason you need a button while doing all that is so that other people are notified about your reason for celebrating.

Go ahead and celebrate and announce your celebration if that heightens it for you, but I'm just saying I think it's so weird how many people argue and disagree with the poster who's stating the obvious - wearing a button or sign is an advertisement to get people to notice you/your occasion. He seems to think you shouldn't do that, I don't care either way, but it's still a fact that you only advertise something if you want someone to know about it.

You can keep saying it, and it may be YOUR truth, but that's definitely not the case for everyone.

 

[Disney Sheri]

Your entitled to your opinion.

I am amongst the side of celebrate whenever you want to

Families/couple/individuals may have planned a trip as a treat/surprise/reward for a particular event. Disney does not care nor will bat an eyelid if you vacation at a different date.

OP wear whatever button you want and have a wonderful trip

Well said!

 

[Angel Ariel]

I don't mean that you, or anyone, must be trying to weasel out some kind of goodies. However, I still believe the only reason to wear a sign announcing your occasion is so others will see it! You knew it was your bday, your family knew it, you were riding rides, watching shows and creating memories. The only reason you need a button while doing all that is so that other people are notified about your reason for celebrating.

Go ahead and celebrate and announce your celebration if that heightens it for you, but I'm just saying I think it's so weird how many people argue and disagree with the poster who's stating the obvious - wearing a button or sign is an advertisement to get people to notice you/your occasion. He seems to think you shouldn't do that, I don't care either way, but it's still a fact that you only advertise something if you want someone to know about it.

You can believe whatever you like for yourself. That's your truth. The fact that it's your truth, and you can't see any other reason for it, doesn't mean other reasons don't exist. Just because someone doesn't see that reason, doesn't mean those that do are lying about it.

 

[JanaDee]

I don't mean that you, or anyone, must be trying to weasel out some kind of goodies. However, I still believe the only reason to wear a sign announcing your occasion is so others will see it! You knew it was your bday, your family knew it, you were riding rides, watching shows and creating memories. The only reason you need a button while doing all that is so that other people are notified about your reason for celebrating.

Go ahead and celebrate and announce your celebration if that heightens it for you, but I'm just saying I think it's so weird how many people argue and disagree with the poster who's stating the obvious - wearing a button or sign is an advertisement to get people to notice you/your occasion. He seems to think you shouldn't do that, I don't care either way, but it's still a fact that you only advertise something if you want someone to know about it.

 

[Angel Ariel]

Or you can turn it around and say it is a statement on how entitled and "me me me" some people have become because they expect special attention on a day that isn't their birthday.

Yes you can, for some people. Not everyone.

Honestly, I have a hard time fathoming that I'm entitled simply because I wore a button - NOT expecting *anything* at all - a few days before my birthday, when I wasn't celebrating on my actual day.

IMHO, being entitled and "me me me" is expecting freebies because it's your birthday. I don't. I've already said many times, I don't *expect* anything. Not attention, not freebies - literally nothing. I think I have enough of a track record here to show that I'm not a liar.

Is it really so hard to believe that for some it's just an expression of happiness to be in their favorite place on earth celebrating?

 

[mcd2745]

IMO...all this celebrating birthdays, anniversaries, or whatever months apart from the actual dates is completely ridiculous and somewhat obnoxious. If you're not in WDW on the actual day, then you don't celebrate it when you're at WDW months before/later. Otherwise, you really cheapen the experience - for yourself and everyone else who actually has a celebration at that time. Whether true or not, it makes it seem like you are just begging for disney to give you something for free.

 

[FLchick415]

How is it cheapening the experience and how is it obnoxious? Someone wearing a simple birthday button is obnoxious? That's new.

 

[Mikie]

You can keep saying it, and it may be YOUR truth, but that's definitely not the case for everyone.

You can believe whatever you like for yourself. That's your truth. The fact that nd you can't see any other reason for it, doesn't mean other reasons don't exist. Just because someone doesn't see that reason, doesn't mean those that do are lying about it.

That's an odd phrase. . . Some things are opinion: Mission Space is fun, the food at Chef Mickey is good, birthday buttons are fun
Some things are truth/fact: Disney world is in Florida, the sky is blue, the purpose of making an announcement is so that someone else will see/hear the announcement

I hope that quoting you isn't irritating - I'm enjoying the discussion and am just carrying it on, not trying to be aggressive or a jerk about it.

 

[MrInfinity]

However, Preach on Alvernon! I agree completely. The only reason to wear a button, wave a flag, hang a banner, put up a billboard, put your birthday on facebook, wear a sash - is so that others will see it and you get attention!

Agreed. You can celebrate a birthday without advertising it. The point of wearing the button is to advertise it. Disney marketing on the button confirms this:

If you're in the Park celebrating a special occasion and would like everyone to know what you're celebrating, stop by the Vacation Planning Booths to pick up a complimentary Celebration button and wear it proudly throughout the day.

There ya go. Per Disney's material, the reason to wear a button is for if you would like everyone to know what you're celebrating.

You can certainly celebrate it not wanting everyone to know, in which case you should not wear the button. If you wear the button for any other reasons, you are in violation of Disney's T&C and your tickets will be invalidated and you will be locked in the Captain EO room until such time as you either change your reason for wearing it or take it off.

 

[mcd2745]

How is it cheapening the experience and how is it obnoxious? Someone wearing a simple birthday button is obnoxious? That's new.

The button, in and of itself, is not obnoxious of course. But the idea that you (and I don't mean you, specifically) want to advertise something "special" about yourself that's fraudulent is. True or not, it gives the perception that the wearer of said button believes they are entitled to some type of enhanced experience over everyone else.

 

[Nancyg56]

IMO...all this celebrating birthdays, anniversaries, or whatever months apart from the actual dates is completely ridiculous and somewhat obnoxious. If you're not in WDW on the actual day, then you don't celebrate it when you're at WDW months before/later. Otherwise, you really cheapen the experience - for yourself and everyone else who actually has a celebration at that time. Whether true or not, it makes it seem like you are just begging for disney to give you something for free.

Have we really become a society where a select group of people gets to decide what is the only proper way to celebrate any special occasion while at WDW? Now I am not one who cares one way or another if I have the approval of the DIS Etiquette Patrol, but clearly there are some people who are trying to make sure that they do not inadvertently offend or break the DIS Rules. I so understand that for YOU, celebrating an occasion apart from it's actual date cheapens the occasion and is obnoxious, but it is not that way for me. I respect that you would choose to avoid this, but why would you, or anyone else rain on someone else's birthday parade?

I guess I have a hard time with the way the disapproval is stated. You would not, that is fine. You are not comfortable that others do this? That is fine too. But Obnoxious? Cheapens it for me and for others? Really? You know this is true how? It is my opinion that DIsney is a benchmark or right of passage trip. People set WDW as a destination for a variety of reasons, and are not always able to travel to celebrate at one specific time, but they are still either gifted with the trip. For me, that is reason enough to wish them a Happy Whatever.

 

[Angel Ariel]

That's an odd phrase. . . Some things are opinion: Mission Space is fun, the food at Chef Mickey is good, birthday buttons are fun
Some things are truth/fact: Disney world is in Florida, the sky is blue, the purpose of making an announcement is so that someone else will see/hear the announcement

I hope that quoting you isn't irritating - I'm enjoying the discussion and am just carrying it on, not trying to be aggressive or a jerk about it.

IMO, people's motivations are personal - something different for everyone. Not universal facts. In this thread people are labeling a motivation for wearing a button(the need for attention) as a universal fact. I'm sure that is true for many people. But I disagree that it is true for everyone.

I'm honestly sitting here and telling you that what *you* are saying *my* motivation is for wearing a birthday button is *not true* for me. I am not looking for attention, and I truly do not care if anyone else saw or acknowledged it. I was wearing it because I was happy to be at WDW celebrating my birthday. That's it. It really is that simple for me.

I really, truly, do not understand why that seems to be so unacceptable.

 

[Muppetmania]

For what it's worth (which is a lot, I am pretty unique and special) I went to DL on my birthday, the actual day. I wore a button. Other people were wearing buttons too. It did not cheapen, unspecialize, or ruin my celebration.
You light does not dim my light, it only brightens a dark room.

This is thread has been my favourite entertainment for the last couple days.

 

[FLchick415]

IMO, people's motivations are personal - something different for everyone. Not universal facts. In this thread people are labeling a motivation for wearing a button(the need for attention) as a universal fact. I'm sure that is true for many people. But I disagree that it is true for everyone.

I'm honestly sitting here and telling you that what *you* are saying *my* motivation is for wearing a birthday button is *not true* for me. I am not looking for attention, and I truly do not care if anyone else saw or acknowledged it. I was wearing it because I was happy to be at WDW celebrating my birthday. That's it. It really is that simple for me.

I really, truly, do not understand why that seems to be so unacceptable.

 

[Mikie]

For what it's worth (which is a lot, I am pretty unique and special) I went to DL on my birthday, the actual day. I wore a button. Other people were wearing buttons too. It did not cheapen, unspecialize, or ruin my celebration.
You light does not dim my light, it only brightens a dark room.

This is thread has been my favourite entertainment for the last couple days.

I love that - is that your own quote? It's something lots of people (self included) could stand to remember sometimes and a prettier way of telling my kids "just because I gave Jane extra XYZ doesn't mean I've taken anything away from you!"

 

[piccolopat]

Lots of differing opinions here so here's my two cents. If your birthday is within a week or two of your trip and you want to celebrate by wearing a button, go for it. If it is beyond that, ask yourself if you would still wear the button if it included your actual birth date. Would you wear a button in November that says "Celebrating my May 10 birthday"? How do you think people would react then? Would you wear mouse bridal ears years after you actually got married? There's certainly nothing wrong with doing what you want to do, but wearing a button is an open invitation to getting attention from others. You want the attention, go for it. By the way, what do you say if someone asks you when your birthday (or anniversary, etc.) actually is? Do you 'fess up?