Celebrating birthdays 3 months later?

[mcd2745]

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.

obnoxious - annoying or objectionable due to being a showoff or attracting undue attention to oneself

If you're birthday was 4 months ago and yet you're "celebrating" your birthday - including wearing the button - I'd definitely charactize that as "undue".

 

[Mikie]

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?

My opinion here has simply been that I think it's intellectually dishonest to say that you're not seeking any attention (although the reason for attention seeking may vary widely) when you advertise your celebratory occasion. No judgement either way on whether people should wear the buttons off-date.

To answer your specific question, on my recent trip, my parents wore the Anniversary buttons almost daily because they celebrated their 45th wedding anniversary this year. . . 4 months before the trip. . . They thoroughly enjoyed being told "happy anniversary" and a somewhat lengthy congratulations conversation with our Boma server. They made it clear it was not that day, but were very pleasantly surprised when the server brought them a champagne toast. They enjoyed the attention and I don't begrudge them (or anyone else) for celebrating 45.333 years of marriage that day vs exactly 45 years on the "appropriate" day. The buttons were definitely about sharing or advertising their joy - not just privately celebrating it.

 

[BuzzinDownToDisney]

Been a while since we had a great button debate round these parts. This one lives up to the quality of the last one (Wish I remembered the title, one of my favorite threads ever.)

This one has settled it for me though, my next MK I'm gonna look like this:

 

[Mikie]

Been a while since we had a great button debate round these parts. This one lives up to the quality of the last one (Wish I remembered the title, one of my favorite threads ever.)

This one has settled it for me though, my next MK I'm gonna look like this:

You always know just what to say. . . "You know what, Stan, if you want me to wear 37 pieces of flair, like your pretty boy over there, Brian, why don't you just make the minimum 37 pieces of flair?" (Office Space, anyone?)

 

[MaryLovesPoohBear]

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?

Good way to look at it.

I also ask myself, what is the reason for the trip.

For example: A few years ago, we took our son to Disney FOR his birthday. No party at home, no major gifts. We went to Disney.

His birthday was Friday of our trip, but he wore a button all week. And all week, people greeted him with "Happy Birthday."

In two years, we have a trip planned for our 25 wedding anniversary. Our actual date is the day we drive in. But we will celebrate it all week long.

Our December trip, we aren't celebrating anything. My birthday is in January. Our son starts college in January. And our anniversary is in November. But those aren't the reason for the trip. We are just going.

So no matter how many times the CM asks me if we are celebrating something, I will still say no.

 

[Reddog1134]

Would you wear a button in November that says "Celebrating my May 10 birthday"? How do you think people would react then?

I think some people would secretly judge me. I think some people would simply say "Happy Birthday". And I think some people might ask me why I am celebrating so late.

Would you wear mouse bridal ears years after you actually got married??

Yes. (Well, Groom ears, not Bride ears). If it was our dream to honeymoon in WDW but we couldn't afford it, I would certainly wear ears and celebrate our honeymoon 1 year, 10 years or 50 years later if that's how long it took us to finally get there.

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.

I absolutely agree. It's an invitation. It's not obnoxiously going around demanding that people acknowledge you. (Although some people seem to think it is)

 

[mcd2745]

You always know just what to say. . . "You know what, Stan, if you want me to wear 37 pieces of flair, like your pretty boy over there, Brian, why don't you just make the minimum 37 pieces of flair?" (Office Space, anyone?)

Ummm....yeah. I'm gonna need you to go ahead and not make movie references. Okay? That woould be great.

 

[alvernon90]

My opinion here has simply been that I think it's intellectually dishonest to say that you're not seeking any attention (although the reason for attention seeking may vary widely) when you advertise your celebratory occasion.

Thank you, this is my point as well, stated more clearly. You may tell yourself that you are not in it for attention or to feel special. You may couch it in question-begging terms such as "it's just fun" or "I'm just happy" without getting to the underlying truth of why advertising your celebration is fun or makes you happy. But I believe that anyone who won't admit this simple "truth" is just kidding themselves.

 

[FLchick415]

Thank you, this is my point as well, stated more clearly. You may tell yourself that you are not in it for attention or to feel special. You may couch it in question-begging terms such as "it's just fun" or "I'm just happy" without getting to the underlying truth of why advertising your celebration is fun or makes you happy. But I believe that anyone who won't admit this simple "truth" is just kidding themselves.

Well, until you get to know someone personally, you don't get to make up a reason why you think people do what they do. Just saying it doesn't make it a universal fact.

 

[Angel Ariel]

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?

I, personally, haven't worn birthday buttons on trips that were months away from my birthday.

But, I've also never been in the OP's situation, where there was a trip planned that DID fall over a birthday that had to be rescheduled due to unexpected surgery. In that specific case, I would not have an issue with anyone wearing a birthday button that far away, as the purpose of the trip was specifically to be in WDW on a birthday and circumstances beyond their control changed their plans.

People here, though, are even saying a few days away from your birthday isn't acceptable. That's ridiculous to me.

I have worn anniversary buttons months away from my anniversary, but *only* because DH was deployed *and* it was our 1st anniversary. We left to celebrate at WDW as soon as he was cleared for leave upon his return. And yes, if people asked when our anniversary was, we said something along the lines of "It was in July, but he was deployed at the time and he just got back so we're celebrating it now.". Can't say we ran across anyone who was less than understanding about that.

 

[LSUfan4444]

If anyone would like me to celebrate their birthday for them next week, please PM me. I would be happy to go to the park like this guy, but with little pieces of birthday flair.....

 

[Angel Ariel]

My opinion here has simply been that I think it's intellectually dishonest to say that you're not seeking any attention (although the reason for attention seeking may vary widely) when you advertise your celebratory occasion.

Well that's a roundabout way of telling people they are liars.

Seeking attention means that I *care* if I get attention or not. I don't. Why is that so hard to believe?

 

[alvernon90]

Seeking attention means that I *care* if I get attention or not. I don't. Why is that so hard to believe?

Because you are wearing a birthday button when it is not your birthday. If you were drinking from a water fountain while claiming you were not thirsty and you didn't care whether or not you consumed any water, the reaction would be the same. Is it possible you don't care if you consume water at that time? Sure. But the fact that you made an effort to drink water is strong evidence to the contrary.

 

[Angel Ariel]

Because you are wearing a birthday button when it is not your birthday. If you were drinking from a water fountain while claiming you were not thirsty and you didn't care whether or not you consumed any water, the reaction would be the same. Is it possible you don't care if you consume water at that time? Sure. But the fact that you made an effort to drink water is strong evidence to the contrary.

I wore a birthday button a few *days* before my birthday, celebrating with my husband because I was *not able* to celebrate with him on my birthday. Instead of going out to dinner to celebrate at home, I wore a pin while we were at Disney a few *days* earlier.

Your analogy is flawed because there's nothing saying you *can't* take that drink at some other time. For me, however, DH's work made it so that I *couldn't* spend my actual birthday with him. I had no choice or options in that. So we made the best of it and celebrated a few days early instead.

 

[mcd2745]

I wore a birthday button a few *days* before my birthday, celebrating with my husband because I was *not able* to celebrate with him on my birthday. Instead of going out to dinner to celebrate at home, I wore a pin while we were at Disney a few *days* earlier.

Your analogy is flawed because there's nothing saying you *can't* take that drink at some other time. For me, however, DH's work made it so that I *couldn't* spend my actual birthday with him. I had no choice or options in that. So we made the best of it and celebrated a few days early instead.

A few days is one thing. A few months is another. I don't think anyone has a problem with a few days. But if you're "celebrating"/wearing a pin in August and your birthday was in March. That's silly and disingenuous.

 

[BuzzinDownToDisney]

2 Office Space references, this thread rules!

 

[Angel Ariel]

A few days is one thing. A few months is another. I don't think anyone has a problem with a few days. But if you're "celebrating"/wearing a pin in August and your birthday was in March. That's silly and disingenuous.

The person to whom I was responding has said even a few days was an issue.

 

[robinb]

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.

My DD is 15 and we have celebrated about half of her birthdays at WDW, Disneyland and HK Disneyland... on her birthday. I have also celebrated my own birthday twice, my husband's birthday once ... on our birthdays, and our wedding anniversary many times ... on our anniversary. I have some experience with this whole button wearing celebration thing. I would say that the celebration experience did indeed degrade once the "What Will You Celebrate?" promotion started in 2009. I'm not saying that it's not still nice now, but compared to 2008 and before it's rather rote and lackluster. I firmly believe that it's because everyone and their dog is now walking around with a celebration button on their chest and a celebration mentioned on every ADR.

 

[mom-2greatkids]

Anyone who says they don't wear a button for attention is kidding themselves. Why else would you wear one and announce your birthday to complete strangers?

Your family knows the trip is in honor of your birthday, no need to remind them. I'd assume it's not because you want little holes in your shirt. I also don't think it's because you want all your vacation pictures to include a silly looking pin. I don't know about anyone else, but Disney is my happy place so I don't need to look down at a piece of metal to remind myself to have a great time.

Why else do you want to wear one when it's not your birthday???

 

[Becky14]

Anyone who says they don't wear a button for attention is kidding themselves. Why else would you wear one and announce your birthday to complete strangers?

Your family knows the trip is in honor of your birthday, no need to remind them. I'd assume it's not because you want little holes in your shirt. I also don't think it's because you want all your vacation pictures to include a silly looking pin. I don't know about anyone else, but Disney is my happy place so I don't need to look down at a piece of metal to remind myself to have a great time.

Why else do you want to wear one when it's not your birthday???

This post makes sense to me - if you choose to wear one, it is because you want strangers (CM or others) to notice it, since the people traveling with you already know about whatever event you're celebrating, and you yourself already know, of course.