Celebration information noted on reservation?

[bangzoom6877]

OK, I know it may not be a big deal to most people...but my son is "graduating" from pre-K and going to public school in September (he has been at the same school for 3 years now). Most people would probably look at me like I have 3 heads...

Anyway, I noticed on the DVC Member website that you can add your celebration to your resort reservation. So, I decided to add my son's graduation, and as many of you probably already know, the site had me indicate which guest this is for, so I was able to check off his name.

So, when you indicate that there is a celebration, what do they do? Will they say something to him at check-in? Anything else? What happens if I note this on dining reservations as well?

DH and I are making a big deal of his graduation since he is transitioning into Kindergarten and public school in the Fall. He knows he will be going to the "big school" where his older cousins go. We wanted to make it very special for him, and figured the Disney World trip would be a great time to surprise him, but I was just not sure what, if anything, they would do to make him feel special. If a CM simply points out that he graduated, he will feel special, that's all it takes!

What can I say? I'm overly sentimental!

 

[HomerHog]

Because Disney basically forces you to be celebrating something, we decided that we were celebrating DD learning her ABCs and DS getting straight A's. We noted this on all of our ADRs online, nothing was recognized at any of our restaurants.

 

[ToddyLu]

I think I would try to get him a special button that says "I'm graduating" or something like that at City Hall or where ever you get the special "first time" buttons. I would not count on Disney acknowledging anything. I put my Bday on our information when we went last year. Mousekeeping made me a towel birthday cake and Mickey left an autographed pic and card on the bed. My MIL mentioned it at Coral Reef (where I wanted dinner on my birthday) and my Creme Brule had a "HB" chocolate in it. I just wouldn't bank on Disney doing anything since I would not want a disappointed child. If he is wearing a button then the CMs will notice. Can you get him a Class of 2010 t shirt or have one made for him to wear. I think it is great for you guys to be celebrating this for him.

 

[VrBchJ]

I've put special celebrations on three reservations and none of the celebrations was acknowledged in any way by anybody at any time.

 

[shellybaxter]

I've not put a celebration on my DVC ressie - but I didn't note I was celebrating earning my Masters Degree on all of my ADRs last trip. I received acknowledgment in many ways - some restaurant servers or hosts said congrats, which was very nice. Boma and Yachtsman brought a small plate of bite size yummies with congratulation written in chocolate on the plate - Yachtsman had this dark chocolate chew with sea salt on top - OMG. Both Yachtsman and Citricos gave me personalized menus - very sweet. At Citricos I ordered a custom cake which they made a big deal of serving - this is the only think I "expected" since I was paying for the cake. All in all - it was very fun and I enjoyed it greatly

 

[bangzoom6877]

I think I would try to get him a special button that says "I'm graduating" or something like that at City Hall or where ever you get the special "first time" buttons. I would not count on Disney acknowledging anything. I put my Bday on our information when we went last year. Mousekeeping made me a towel birthday cake and Mickey left an autographed pic and card on the bed. My MIL mentioned it at Coral Reef (where I wanted dinner on my birthday) and my Creme Brule had a "HB" chocolate in it. I just wouldn't bank on Disney doing anything since I would not want a disappointed child. If he is wearing a button then the CMs will notice. Can you get him a Class of 2010 t shirt or have one made for him to wear. I think it is great for you guys to be celebrating this for him.

I didn't tell my son about noting his graduation on the reservation, in case nothing is said to him to acknowledge it. I never thought about getting a button made up. Where is City Hall where I can get one made up? How much does a button cost?

 

[DenLo]

I didn't tell my son about noting his graduation on the reservation, in case nothing is said to him to acknowledge it. I never thought about getting a button made up. Where is City Hall where I can get one made up? How much does a button cost?

You don't have to go to City Hall. At check-in the CM should give you a button for your son's graduation. If it's not in your check-in packet, ask if they have any buttons for graduates. I know they have one that says I'm Celebrating that could always be substituted. Then as he travels around WDW he will be greeted and probably congratulated over and over by CMs. Also when we've worn a birthday pin to TS dinner or indicated on the reservation that we were celebrating an occasion the wait staff would do something special. I received a certificate from Artists Point on my birthday and a fancy desert and a souvenir menu. For our anniversary we each got a glass of champagne with a raspberry in it.

There are graduate trading pins as well which you could purchase. If he wears one I would imagine that might cause some congratulations. Here's a link for one that you might be able to find on ebay. http://eventservices.disney.go.com/pintrading/pin?id=32057

 

[shellybaxter]

I don't believe that they have special graduation buttons at WDW unless they are new - you can use the generic "I'm celebrating" button instead

 

[crisi]

Sometimes something happens. Sometimes it doesn't. I've celebrated birthdays, anniversaries, my sister's recovery from cancer, and two honeymoons - all noted...and I've never had anything "special" happen. Other people have better luck.

We even had my nine year old daughter celebrate her birthday last trip. And a nine year old with an "its my birthday button" got ignored.

 

[surfergirl602]

I have a question about something similar. I had it noted that we were celebrating our dd's 10th b irthday, and when I looked at it, it had everyone under our party under the celebration. Shouldn't it be just her so they know who's birthday it is?

 

[DenLo]

Sometimes something happens. Sometimes it doesn't. I've celebrated birthdays, anniversaries, my sister's recovery from cancer, and two honeymoons - all noted...and I've never had anything "special" happen. Other people have better luck.

We even had my nine year old daughter celebrate her birthday last trip. And a nine year old with an "its my birthday button" got ignored.

Even we she went through the turnstiles each morning when going into the parks? If you had eaten at a TS meal on her actual birthday, I would have asked the waiter if the do anything for her BD. If they didn't we still get her a desert (ask the waiter for a candle) and sing happy birthday to her. My DBIL stood up at one restaurant and asked the other diners to sing to his 5 year old for her birthday. Everybody in the place sang for our Dniece and she was so happy.

 

[JennyE]

Our last trip in Dec 09 we had 2 celebrations indicated on our reservation.

The first was DD4 birthday. It was not mentioned at check-in nor was she given a pin. One night when we returned to our villa they had left a birthday folder from Mickey under our door with a 20% discount card for Photopass.

The second was my wedding anniversary on a dinidg reservartion at California Grille. The celebration was not mentioned by anyone at dinner...

 

[jackskellingtonsgirl]

It's luck of the draw.

Our DS is "graduating" from middle school, and he has been accepted to a really wonderful performing arts high school. I have his graduation noted on our ressie, as well as on some of our ADRs. If they acknowledge it, that will be nice. Finishing 8th grade isn't that big of a deal, but his acceptance to the Arts magnet is pretty huge.

I have ordered a customized cake for him that we'll have at dinner one night, followed by a Wishes cruise.

 

[bangzoom6877]

It's luck of the draw.

Our DS is "graduating" from middle school, and he has been accepted to a really wonderful performing arts high school. I have his graduation noted on our ressie, as well as on some of our ADRs. If they acknowledge it, that will be nice. Finishing 8th grade isn't that big of a deal, but his acceptance to the Arts magnet is pretty huge.

I have ordered a customized cake for him that we'll have at dinner one night, followed by a Wishes cruise.

That sounds very nice! Finishing 8th grade is a big deal! It is so nice you are celebrating like this with him! Congratulations on his acceptance to the performing arts high school!

 

[Rupert B Puppenstein]

I would get a buttons made for your family celebrating the occassion. Usually, the only things that they note on the reservation (that get recognized are birthdays, anniversaries, honeymoons) and he will love the recognition from people walking. I always make a point to recognize anyone I see celebrating something. I go each year for my Birthday and it has ALWAYS been recognized everywhere. They never miss a beat so I must be really lucky! Disney is the only acceptable place where I would be okay with everyone coming up to wish me a Happy Birthday. I have gotten several custom buttons, t-shirts, etc. made on Zazzle.com and have loved the results.

 

[bangzoom6877]

I would get a buttons made for your family celebrating the occassion. Usually, the only things that they note on the reservation (that get recognized are birthdays, anniversaries, honeymoons) and he will love the recognition from people walking. I always make a point to recognize anyone I see celebrating something. I go each year for my Birthday and it has ALWAYS been recognized everywhere. They never miss a beat so I must be really lucky! Disney is the only acceptable place where I would be okay with everyone coming up to wish me a Happy Birthday. I have gotten several custom buttons, t-shirts, etc. made on Zazzle.com and have loved the results.

Thanks so much for that info! I will definitely look into that!!

 

[crisi]

Even we she went through the turnstiles each morning when going into the parks? If you had eaten at a TS meal on her actual birthday, I would have asked the waiter if the do anything for her BD. If they didn't we still get her a desert (ask the waiter for a candle) and sing happy birthday to her. My DBIL stood up at one restaurant and asked the other diners to sing to his 5 year old for her birthday. Everybody in the place sang for our Dniece and she was so happy.

Yep, even through the turnstyles, even during two meals. We had a really bad meal at Chefs d'France on her birthday with a waiter who obviously didn't care. And an overcrowded, overrushed Crystal Palace lunch. We treated her well and got her a dessert - if strangers didn't, that wasn't an issue.

 

[Sunshine22]

I included my daughter's birthday celebration on our dvc reservation and on breakfast and dinner reservations on her actual birthday. When we checked into BLT last week, the CM gave my daughter a Happy Birthday button without any prompting from me. On her actual birthday, a cupcake with a candle was served at breakfast at Chef Mickey's (without any prompting) and a special Happy Birthday menu was provided at Narcoosees (Since I had forgotten to order ahead, I also ordered a cake when I checked in with the hostess). Several CMs at MK wished my daughter a Happy Birthday throughout the day.