Do birthday children wear their pins only on their birthday or throughout your stay?

[paigevz]

DS will be turning 4 our second day at the World. I mentioned he could wear his bday pin during the whole week of our trip, and my mother said he could not. He could only wear it on his actual birthday.

I have planned many special meals during the trip for him, but on his actual birthday, he has asked to go to Animal Kingdom, so we will only be dining at the Rainforest Cafe that day.

I was under the impression that he would get special attention from characters at the character meals........and possibly other treats at other restaurants if he wore the pin and that it was okay, even expected, to wear it all week.

My mother says it is akin to stealing if we claim it is his birthday by letting him wear the pin on days before and after his actual birthday, and he gets treats/special attention.

Opinions?

We have ADRs for Coral Reef the day before his bday, Boma the day after, and for 4 more days after: Cinderella's, Crystal Palace, Sci Fi, Le Cellier, and thinking of making for new Hollywood and Vine character breakfast and O'hana's Stitch breakfast.

The main reason for all the character meals is for his birthday celebration that week. I just think it would be nicer if he could wear his birthday pin to all of them.

 

[mom2riceboys]

My son wore his birthday pin the entire week. How often do you get to celebrate your birthday at Disney? Most people don't get to do it every year. I say, let him wear it every day of your stay and have a weeklong celebration! Enjoy your trip!

 

[mommyofthreeboys]

I think let him wear it too. UNLESS you have other kids that might get jealous that he's getting all of the attention.

I have a dilema too. My DS turns 5, 2 weeks after our WDW trip and I REALLY want to celebrate it early! What to do .... What to do....

 

[goofy4tink]

This is a somewhat heated topic!! I'm going to WDW in Oct, with my dd who will turn 13 while we're there. Another mom and her dd are with us...this other dd turns 13 the day after we arrive home. So....my dd will wear a 'today is my birthday' pin on the day that is actually her birthday. I am making up special tee shirts for them that say they are celebrating their birthdays in WDW, with each shirt stating that girls birthday date.

So...can a child wear the 'today is my birthday' pin all week? Sure, no one is going to check out a birth certificate. Some will tell you that you should wear the pin only on that day, others will say go for the whole trip! It's up to each person. I want my dd's actual birthday to be the 'special' day of her trip, hence only wearing it that day. It's up to the individual.

As far as 'special' things being offered at the different meals, character and non-character...when my dd turned 6 in WDW in '99, I made PS for Crystal Palace, mentioning that that would be her 6th birthday dinner. She did recieve a birthday card, signed by the characters, and a cupcake with a candle on it. But that was it. Nothing more. She didn't get any different interaction from the characters at that dinner. I wouldn't go with the preconceived notion that your ds will get anything out of the ordinary because he is wearing a birthday pin. I have heard it said here, on these boards, that the CMs can no longer go out of their way to recognize birthdays anymore since so many are looking for something special.....that it seems that everyone is celebrating something. Don't know if that is true or not.

Sure, you (ds actually) will get "Happy Birthday" greetings as he wanders around the parks from CMs and other park visitors alike. And maybe a special birthday cupcake at a meal or two, but if anyone wants something truly magicial for their child on their birthday, they should be prepared to ask for, and pay for, it beforehand. Like birthday balloons in the room, or a special cake or stuffed animal.

Please don't think that I am saying anyone is trying to do something wrong. I'm just telling you what you could get as responses here. People sure do get hot under the collar about this issue. You would think that some child is getting a 5 layer, Mickey Mouse, or Cinderella adorned birthday cake, with a dozen balloons given to them, for no cost. We are talking about a cupcake and a candle...maybe a card. Not much more.

 

[goofy4tink]

I think let him wear it too. UNLESS you have other kids that might get jealous that he's getting all of the attention.

I have a dilema too. My DS turns 5, 2 weeks after our WDW trip and I REALLY want to celebrate it early! What to do .... What to do....

If you want to have your DS wear that pin, go for it. Or you could get some shirts made up that say he is celebrating his birthday at WDW. I wouldn't stress over it too much. Hope the kids all have great birthdays in WDW.

 

[slduck]

We gave a trip to our Dd for her 4th birthday. She did not turn 4 until after we returned. When I made the reservation, I mentioned that this trip was a "suprise" for our child. He noted it on our reservation. I even asked him if this was okay since she wouldn't turn 4 until later. She rec'd balloons and a card from the resort. Both Cinderella's Castle and Chef Mickey's "honored" her. She only wore the button on our last day there. The quartet sang to her and Mickey lead the crowd singing Happy Birthday. It was so sweet!

I would let yoiu DS wear it when he wanted to! HAVE A GREAT TRIP!

 

[paigevz]

This is a somewhat heated topic!! I'm going to WDW in Oct, with my dd who will turn 13 while we're there. Another mom and her dd are with us...this other dd turns 13 the day after we arrive home. So....my dd will wear a 'today is my birthday' pin on the day that is actually her birthday. I am making up special tee shirts for them that say they are celebrating their birthdays in WDW, with each shirt stating that girls birthday date.

So...can a child wear the 'today is my birthday' pin all week? Sure, no one is going to check out a birth certificate. Some will tell you that you should wear the pin only on that day, others will say go for the whole trip! It's up to each person. I want my dd's actual birthday to be the 'special' day of her trip, hence only wearing it that day. It's up to the individual.

As far as 'special' things being offered at the different meals, character and non-character...when my dd turned 6 in WDW in '99, I made PS for Crystal Palace, mentioning that that would be her 6th birthday dinner. She did recieve a birthday card, signed by the characters, and a cupcake with a candle on it. But that was it. Nothing more. She didn't get any different interaction from the characters at that dinner. I wouldn't go with the preconceived notion that your ds will get anything out of the ordinary because he is wearing a birthday pin. I have heard it said here, on these boards, that the CMs can no longer go out of their way to recognize birthdays anymore since so many are looking for something special.....that it seems that everyone is celebrating something. Don't know if that is true or not.

Sure, you (ds actually) will get "Happy Birthday" greetings as he wanders around the parks from CMs and other park visitors alike. And maybe a special birthday cupcake at a meal or two, but if anyone wants something truly magicial for their child on their birthday, they should be prepared to ask for, and pay for, it beforehand. Like birthday balloons in the room, or a special cake or stuffed animal.

Please don't think that I am saying anyone is trying to do something wrong. I'm just telling you what you could get as responses here. People sure do get hot under the collar about this issue. You would think that some child is getting a 5 layer, Mickey Mouse, or Cinderella adorned birthday cake, with a dozen balloons given to them, for no cost. We are talking about a cupcake and a candle...maybe a card. Not much more.

Thanks.......I'm really not looking for anything in particular other than the characters saying Happy Birthday or pointing out his pin. That's all I meant by character interaction. I don't think he'd care about a card, he's only turning four. As far as desserts go, we'll get him his own if one isn't brought........I just heard that they might bring out a free one, and I didn't want it to be an issue if they did and he or his brother actually mentioned his birthday was earlier in the trip. That's what my mother said is akin to stealing, and I just wondered if a CM would feel the same way.

I don't think his brother will mind. I mentioned the pin, and he did ask why he never got one, and I pointed out that on one trip his birthday had been the day before we left on the trip (I didn't know about it or would have done it anyway), and the other trip we were at Universal on his bday (again, had I known, would have let him have on on the Disney days). I can ask him, I suppose.

 

[ugadog99]

My father will be celebrating his 70th birthday with us on our June trip. I plan on getting a birthday button for him on our first day and he will wear it the entire trip. How many 70 year olds get to celebrate their birthday in Disney!!

 

[phyllis1966]

As far as desserts go, we'll get him his own if one isn't brought....

When we were there for DD's 5th birthday, both 1900 Park Fare (at breakfast) and Chef Mickey's (at dinner) gave special placemats and a cupcake with lit candle to all the birthday kids - and they had the entire restaurant(s) sing to them all! She loved it (especially when Alice was right there to help her put on a special birthday tiara).

DD only wore her birthday pin on the day of her birthday, but the day before, at 'Ohana for breakfast, DH mentioned at check-in that the following day was her birthday, and they included her in their birthday song, too, giving her a signed birthday certificate and a lei to wear. I had no idea they'd do any of these things for her, and we were so happy they made all the birthday kids feel so special.

 

[liquid]

We celebrated our youngerst daughter's birthday a week early. We chose one day to *be* her birthday and she wore the pins (1 from Epcot, one from the MK) that day. She got a card and a special dessert at breakfast with the princesses at Akershus and dinner at the Crystal Palace. Two days later she and I had a special lunch at the Castle, so we celebrated again. She didn't wear the buttons again, though.

When I made the reservations, the CMs were all fine with marking her birthday on the ADRs for two different days and I made sure to tell them that neither day was her actual birthday. And I agree with goofy4tink - they don't do much, just a cupcake or cookie. So I didn't feel like we were taking advantage of them.

 

[CamColt]

I'd say there is nothing wrong with it, but I would feel funny wearing it on any day but my birthday, or my kids doing the same.

We once arrived in WDW 2 days after my DS's 7th birthday. We thought we would "celebrate" it that day. Well when it came down to it, we all just felt silly having him wear a "Today is my birthday" pin when it wasnt. Plus I feel it takes away from people who really are having a birthday that day. Lets face it, we could all wear birthday buttons everyday since we all have one every year.

If you dont feel silly about it, then Id say go for it. I dont think its "wrong" or "stealing" Its just something I personally wouldnt do.

 

[Pembo]

I wore my birthday pin everyday up to my birthday on our trip last summer. I got one at each park. My dh made the ADR for CP on my birthday and did tell the CM. I got a cute little cake, our table was decorated, and I got a really cool signed pic of the characters.

Do whatever you feel is right, just have a great time.

 

[robinb]

I personally think that a person should only wear the button on a single day, either their real birthday or the day selected to celebrate their birthday. I think it makes it more special for the birthday boy/girl.

 

[clb22]

I say YES!!! I took my 8 yr old daughter (only child) to Disney in May 2005 for her birthday. Every day we went to a different park and even to Downtown Disney to go shopping and every day - the first thing we did was to go to Guest Services and get her a Birthday Pin.
She had a blast celebrating her birthday every day we were there. She did not get her traditional birthday party with her friends - so being able to wear the pin and celebrate every day - made up for that. She also had alot of different people sing Happy Birthday to her.
When we were there in December of 2004 - she saw other children wearing the pins and getting Happy Birthday sung to them and she told me her "dream" birthday would be to go to Disney World. So I surprised her with a trip. I am a single mom and we do not have the money to make a trip to Disney every year like some of the folks on these boards. So.....letting her celebrate every day made her happy and did not harm anyone or anything. She had a "special" week and will remember it for the rest of her life.

 

[princessjv]

We were at WDW last Oct. for our DS's 4th b-day. He celebrated everyday! He hammed it up all he could and loved every minute of it. What a magical way to celebrate your b-day! On his actual b-day, he also wore a t-shirt that I made (with the help of a wonderful DIS'r).

The only problem with it all is~How am I gonna top that one? Guess we will have to go to WDW again for his b-day!

 

[DebIreland]

Wow! My DS will be 10 when we're in WDW Honestly, I hadn't even considered letting him wear a birthday pin on any day other than his actual birthday. I dunno, I think I'd feel bad if people were saying "have a great day" or "happy birthday" if it was a few days since the actual day. I don't see anything wrong with someone who has a birthday a week or 2 before/after their WDW trip picking *a* day to celebrate and wearing the pin and going all out because in both cases it's one day. Personally I'm gonna go all out on DS's 10th for the actual day - breakfast at Chef Mickeys and dinner somewhere nice too with a pre-ordered Mickey cake and I'm hoping to buy a couple of balloons on the sly and get them into the room before he gets back. I guess if he wants to leave the badge on the next day, I wouldn't be against it but any longer than that would be a no no. But that's just us.

 

[BCV23]

Actual birthday only in our family.

 

[cyndibelle]

wear it and wear it proud!!..we were just there as a surprise for our sons 6th bday and he felt so special...and he got a different pin each day from each park.....

 

[Hollyster2]

Disney Celebrates when YOU celebrate! They are aware that people may save up for years and still not be able to take off of work on their exact birth day, or thier child's so I have been told more than once by a CM at Disneyland.."Disney celebrates when you celebrate!" Some families celebrate all of their family birthdays on one trip once a year. I say YEAH!!!!!!! Why not?

 

[momoftwo67]

My daughter will be celebrating her 5th birthday at WDW in October. Where do I get the birthday pin? Any suggestions on making the shirt? Also are we allowed to bring a small cake to any of the character meals so that we can have our own little birthday party?