Everybody's Celebrating Something! No Questions Asked!

[BuzzinDownToDisney]

I might get the generic one to commemorate my DS' first ever day at the MK. Seems like a reason to celebrate to me.

 

[andyman8]

I might get the generic one to commemorate my DS' first ever day at the MK. Seems like a reason to celebrate to me.

There is a first-visit button too! If he's been to the other parks, you could ask the CM to write below first-visit "to the Magic Kingdom". Just a suggestion!

 

[dmband]

Lol some of you guys made me laugh at the crazy stuff you posted
I have been there celebrating and not. I have said no when I am not, no reason to lie, and they don't care one way or the other
One time though, for my daughters first trip and bday they gave her a "signed" picture of Mickey at the resort. We woke up and it was slide under the door. Otherwise we have got no special attn or perk for bday, first timers, wedding, anniversary, reunion nor did I care personally
I think that's part of what's nice, if and when it's unexpected

 

[PJ]

It know it may sound silly to some people, but we'll be at wdw for our 40th anniversary in August, and I'm looking forward to wearing my button. Not expecting any special pixie dust - but I'm proud of the fact we've lasted 40 years, and feeling blessed we can enjoy it at our favorite place. (with an ADR at BOG on the night of our 40th!)

 

[Crl1817]

It know it may sound silly to some people, but we'll be at wdw for our 40th anniversary in August, and I'm looking forward to wearing my button. Not expecting any special pixie dust - but I'm proud of the fact we've lasted 40 years, and feeling blessed we can enjoy it at our favorite place. (with an ADR at BOG on the night of our 40th!)

That's awesome! Congratulations!

 

[mefordis]

WE always celebrate the nearest birthday to our trip and we always get SOMETHING given to us free. Please don't hate!

 

[LadyRayado]

We visited for our anniversary in March and wore our buttons the whole time. We got a couple of free desserts, and hundreds of well-wishes, it was really nice. In October we're celebrating two wedding anniversaries, a birthday, a new baby, two first visits, and a family reunion - buttons galore! It's just a little extra magic and fun to me.

 

[poooh]

You still get some free things if you're wearing a birthday button. I was there with my sister for her birthday a few months ago. She got a free balloon at beaches and cream, the grey stuff at be our guest, and a cupcake and poster 'signed' by the princess at cinderella's royal table.

 

[jm106]

You still get some free things if you're wearing a birthday button. I was there with my sister for her birthday a few months ago. She got a free balloon at beaches and cream, the grey stuff at be our guest, and a cupcake and poster 'signed' by the princess at cinderella's royal table.

You can but no guarantee. It's just the unexpected magic. We went for yds birthday and not a mention other then sticker at check in and one CM said happy bday, no gifts or treats. We were not even aware they gave things randomly

 

[Stinky_Pete]

It know it may sound silly to some people, but we'll be at wdw for our 40th anniversary in August, and I'm looking forward to wearing my button. Not expecting any special pixie dust - but I'm proud of the fact we've lasted 40 years, and feeling blessed we can enjoy it at our favorite place. (with an ADR at BOG on the night of our 40th!)

Congratulations! Personally, I don't think it's silly at all to celebrate this or any other special occasion with a trip to Disney!

I just think the current emphasis on "What are you celebrating?" makes it seem like if you aren't celebrating some kind of special occasion, then why are you going to Disney World anyway?

 

[MichelleVW]

You still get some free things if you're wearing a birthday button. I was there with my sister for her birthday a few months ago. She got a free balloon at beaches and cream, the grey stuff at be our guest, and a cupcake and poster 'signed' by the princess at cinderella's royal table.

I've never gotten anything other than a "happy birthday" but that's perfectly fine with me...didn't wear the button to get stuff.

 

[TooExcitedCantSleep]

When I was at the MK last week I saw a cast member with a cart near City Hall that was full of the celebrating buttons (1st Visit, Birthday, Anniversary, Just Married, I'm Celebrating generic, etc) I had never seen this before although the CM said it's been there for about 6 months. I asked her if one has to prove it's their birthday, etc and she said no, anyone can come up and grab a button. She said we don't want anyone to feel left out. I just think this is bizarre....it makes the buttons and the whole "I'm celebrating something" meaningless. Maybe people think they're gonna get free stuff if they say they're celebrating something. I've never gotten anything but a greeting when I've worn a button, although I've heard about people getting the grey stuff at BOG or a cupcake at other restaurants. I would assume now since practically everyone's wearing a button Disney is no longer giving anything away unless perhaps something special is noted in the ADR. Just wanted to know what you think about this. Is it fair to offer everyone an "I'm celebrating" button whether they are or not? Or should I just chill?.... I'm really tempted as I book my next visit to tell the Disney rep "No" when they ask me if I'm celebrating anything this trip.

I see your point.....but Disney is bring in cash- hand over fist with folks who are choosing a Disney vacation over Chuck E Cheese or laser tag to celebrate. That's why Disney promotes it so heavily......they know that everybody wants to feel special. I agree but you should go ahead and chill!!

 

[aribelle]

When I was at the MK last week I saw a cast member with a cart near City Hall that was full of the celebrating buttons (1st Visit, Birthday, Anniversary, Just Married, I'm Celebrating generic, etc) I had never seen this before although the CM said it's been there for about 6 months. I asked her if one has to prove it's their birthday, etc and she said no, anyone can come up and grab a button. She said we don't want anyone to feel left out. I just think this is bizarre....it makes the buttons and the whole "I'm celebrating something" meaningless. Maybe people think they're gonna get free stuff if they say they're celebrating something. I've never gotten anything but a greeting when I've worn a button, although I've heard about people getting the grey stuff at BOG or a cupcake at other restaurants. I would assume now since practically everyone's wearing a button Disney is no longer giving anything away unless perhaps something special is noted in the ADR. Just wanted to know what you think about this. Is it fair to offer everyone an "I'm celebrating" button whether they are or not? Or should I just chill?.... I'm really tempted as I book my next visit to tell the Disney rep "No" when they ask me if I'm celebrating anything this trip.

So you weren't happy, excited, feeling like celebrating simply BEING at Disney? Celebrating life? Yeah, a bit corny, but why not. It's a couple of pennies for a button but now you feel like you are part of a big grand celebration. Great marketing in my opinion!

And....a lot of people do "wait" and celebrate a birthday or anniversary while they're in Disney even if it isn't the official date. My daughter's and my birthday are during 4th of July week.....between the heat, the crowds and the fact that we like having our traditional birthday at home, we will NEVER be in Disney anywhere around our birthdays. So....one day out of our visit she picks a day and declares it her birthday....gets a pin, happily accepts the well wishes from Cast Members and guests, and we do a special meal as her "Disney Birthday" party. Do we accept any special treatment, sure, why not....we would have on her actual birthday if we were able to be there. But we ONLY do it one day during our visit....and on another day of the visit we do the same thing for me and my birthday.

I am fairly sure that some people took advantage of Disney's open heartedness to not require proof of the birthdate/anniversary/whatever......and the special pixie dust has seemingly diminished quite a bit over the years. It could be that she's getting older and CMs use more pixie dust on younger children, but I think others ruined it by wanting that free cupcake. Oh well, WE are celebrating.....and there have been visits were nothing much magical happened, and one where that birthday button got my daughter a private meet with Prince Eric and Max (Ariel was warming up her voice and couldn't come meet us), there was a shout out from Ariel on stage, and we had really wonderful seats (though I think that was luck, lol). Did I feel guilty....nope, because that was ONE day out of the year where my daughter got to celebrate her birthday several months after the actual date and do it in Disney. Over our many, many, many visits we have seen lots of other guests getting special pixie dust for their birthday/anniversary/honeymoon and things we didn't see pins for.....and we wished them happiness and were thrilled that they got their moment! I'm sure there were thousands more that we never knew about.

Growing up my family gathered on July 4 to celebrate my birthday (which is actually July 1)....and my dad told me for YEARS that the fireworks were for MY birthday.....and I bought it for many years, lol. When I was old enough to realize it wasn't true, did it diminish all those previous celebrations? Nope....celebrating someone for whatever reason is never about a single date....it's about the person and your love for them and celebrating them being in your life.

Hey...remember, there is a lot of debate that Jesus wasn't born on the actual calendar day of December 25....in fact he was likely born in spring, months later....but anyone who believes in him celebrates his birth on December 25....and the rest of us celebrate that day as Christmas too.

I'm NOT advocating that you should make up a celebration every day of your visit....that's greedy to my thinking, but picking a day to celebrate all the good things in your life, that doesn't require a calendar. Just a button.

 

[mummabear]

WE always celebrate the nearest birthday to our trip and we always get SOMETHING given to us free. Please don't hate!

No reason to hate! We will celebrate if we are close (we have gone once for our honeymoon, once for DD's 1st bday which is also 3 weeks away from her sisters so we celebrated both, this year we will do the same for their 3rd/5th birthdays, it also is my 30th a couple of month before we go so we will be celebrating as what I asked for my bday was to upgrade to DLR, eat at BB and do the F! dessert party) we have never got, nor expected anything extra (or need it for that matter, we live in NZ and they are lucky enough to be at DL!) this is what our family is celebrating-the girls love their buttons though

 

[mummabear]

Growing up my family gathered on July 4 to celebrate my birthday (which is actually July 1)....and my dad told me for YEARS that the fireworks were for MY birthday.....and I bought it for many years, lol. When I was old enough to realize it wasn't true, did it diminish all those previous celebrations? Nope....celebrating someone for whatever reason is never about a single date....it's about the person and your love for them and celebrating them being in your life.

My birthday is July 2nd, great when we were at home in Canada but awful when we moved to NZ-no long weekend, no fireworks and the middle of winter boo!
What a great dad
I had a friend growing up whose birthday was Jan 1st-her sweet 16th was 2000(1999 NYE) it was like the worlds biggest party had been thrown just for her

 

[MartDM]

I kind of agree with OP. That's not to say I have a problem with people taking and wearing the buttons, they offer them to all so everyone is entitled. I just think it has become pretty pointless.

So many people have them that by default, no celebration is special (or even factual - I saw someone with a Happy Birthday pin on the bus & wished them a happy birthday; they informed me that their birthday was six months prior ). I think the proliferation of the pins everywhere has reduced what was intended to be a special little something for those actually having an event to a pointless theme park tchotchke.

 

[BlueGiraffe]

I've never noticed the cart.

However, DH and I got married in Vegas in 2008 and then flew to WDW for our honeymoon. When we checked in at AKL the CM slid two 'Just Married' pins (or 'badges' as we call them in the UK) across the counter. We hadn't said anything, so obviously had a keen eye (shiny new wedding bands, passports in Miss and maiden name, etc.). DH was too embarrassed to wear his (not because he was married to me lol) and I wore mine on my backpack (along with my Rafiki conservation badge once I'd got one). We were never given any freebies, nor did we draw attention to it. The only time it was mentioned was when a nice lady at the AKL bus stop congratulated us and asked about our wedding. It brought a smile to our faces.

When my sister went in 2013 my nephew got one for my DD who was celebrating her birthday while they were away, as they weren't able to see her on her birthday.

 

[rewilliams]

I guess I am confused at why it bothers you how other people celebrate!?
We took my DD for the first time when she was 4 (it was hubby's first visit too) We got them both pins basically as a free souvenir. They pins are now attached to the mat I made for our Disney trading pins.
This July we will be going again to celebrate our 10 year wedding anniversary and we will be there on our actual anniversary. You better believe I am going to get us pins....again as a free souvenir. Not looking for freebies but I do like attention so I want the world (ok just Disney) to know I am there with my amazing husband of 10 years!!
I do agree with people that it is a little much to be "celebrating" 6 months later but to each his own and have fun you are at the most magical place on earth!

 

[GenevieveRaqs]

I just think the current emphasis on "What are you celebrating?" makes it seem like if you aren't celebrating some kind of special occasion, then why are you going to Disney World anyway?

I suppose you could look at it that way. However, I look at it more as there is always something worth celebrating, big or small. Disney World is supposed to be one big celebration of imagination, dreams, wishes, magic...and so they are including guests' own celebrations in the mix. It doesn't mean you have to participate or that they don't want you there if you don't see yourself as celebrating.

 

[LilyWDW]

I suppose you could look at it that way. However, I look at it more as there is always something worth celebrating, big or small. Disney World is supposed to be one big celebration of imagination, dreams, wishes, magic...and so they are including guests' own celebrations in the mix. It doesn't mean you have to participate or that they don't want you there if you don't see yourself as celebrating.

I... I love this way of thinking about it. Beautiful way to put it!

And on my next trip, I will be celebrating. I'm going with my aunt so we will be celebrating her first visit, my graduation grad school last year, and life in general. Why is the graduation celebration so late? Because my mom passed away exactly one week after I graduated and I had to cancel the trip that was originally scheduled. I NEVER got to actually celebrate my graduation. It got lost in the mix of my mom's illness and then death. So I want to finally celebrate the GOOD in life that has happened.