Everybody's Celebrating Something! No Questions Asked!

[Burnedout]

This is the longest (11 pages and counting) thread I've ever had the pleasure to start at disboards. I'm gonna celebrate THAT when I go back to WDW in September! Seriously, thanks for all the input which has opened my mind somewhat to expanding the idea of celebrating at WDW. But I still think taking a button just to take a button is tacky and has spoiled the specialness of celebrating something for real at WDW. And I have noticed the CMs being less inclined to congratulate a guest when practically everyone they see is wearing a button.

Real? So my son's early or late birthday celebration due to his bootcamp schedule would not be a "real" celebration? The delayed anniversary mentioned earlier?

I'm pretty sure it is tacky to sit in judgment of what others do in their celebrations in this life.

It is interesting that you are keeping statistics on the cm's interactions with others.

 

[Burnedout]

Well a CM posted they pixie dusted people with buttons if they had or will have a birthday that year, so that sounds like a good guideline. I'm with you. My birthday is in January, when I often can't travel- but I often plan a trip later in the year specifically as my birthday trip. It's how I justify the expense "I'm going to Europe to CELEBRATE my 30th birthday" or whatever. There are some people who go to Disney just because, but many many people go to honor an occasion, even if they don't go during that occasion. It's because the dishes say it is delicious. Otherwise, it wouldn't get near the excitement.

 

[Burnedout]

This threads reminds me of the Dr. Seuss characters, The Sneetches. The Sneetches with the stars were special, so the others built a "star on" machine so everyone could be special. In response, those Sneetches who originally had stars built a "star off" machine, so they could remove the stars, and once again be special. Since everyone at Disney now wears a button, my strategy for being special is not to wear a button!

Lol and the whole thing got crazy when it became a money making venture. . Disney pushes the "celebrate at Disney" for their profit line. Smart cookies

 

[KCSherri]

And I have noticed the CMs being less inclined to congratulate a guest when practically everyone they see is wearing a button.

TODAY is my REAL birthday - for reals!!! And I have found the above comment to be totally untrue in my case - I think every single CM (& guest, btw) in the park has wished me a Happy Birthday!!!!

And for the record, I wore my Birthday button yesterday, as well - GASP - which was NOT my "real" birthday, but by golly, I was celebrating - I was celebrating my last day of being a particular 'younger' age….bwahahahaha!!!

 

[JoeA]

TODAY is my REAL birthday - for reals!!! And I have found the above comment to be totally untrue in my case - I think every single CM (& guest, btw) in the park has wished me a Happy Birthday!!!! And for the record, I wore my Birthday button yesterday, as well - GASP - which was NOT my "real" birthday, but by golly, I was celebrating - I was celebrating my last day of being a particular 'younger' age….bwahahahaha!!!

The horror! You should have been thrown out of the park and given a 30 day ban for violating The Birthday Badge Protocol! Badges may only be worn on the actual day of the celebration and repeat offenders are subject to bans and/or fines. In addition, you will be required to undergo 4 hours of sensitivity training to ensure your moral compass is always pointing in the right direction.

 

[AmyB2006]

It's because the dishes say it is delicious. Otherwise, it wouldn't get near the excitement.

 

[robinb]

TODAY is my REAL birthday - for reals!!! And I have found the above comment to be totally untrue in my case - I think every single CM (& guest, btw) in the park has wished me a Happy Birthday!!!!

And for the record, I wore my Birthday button yesterday, as well - GASP - which was NOT my "real" birthday, but by golly, I was celebrating - I was celebrating my last day of being a particular 'younger' age….bwahahahaha!!!

Happy Birthday Sherri! Enjoy your day at WDW .

 

[DisneyFive]

I haven't read all the responses, but here's my input.

I think it's great that Disney doesn't ask for proof. My oldest daughter's B-day has always been within a month of our visits, and she's loved wearing the B-day pin sometimes. She's still celebrating, and it doesn't need to be on her birthday. I'm not going to book a vacation just so I can be there on my kids birthdays, or our anniversary, etc... but you are still celebrating!!! If someone is celebrating an anniversary, like 15 years, do they need to visit the week of their wedding day in order to wear an Anniversay pin? Heck no.

...and...

My favorite pins to see people wearing are the "My First Visit" pins. I just know that they are experiencing something amazing. It brings me back to our first year. What incredible memories and so, much, fun!!! We were hooked. What a magical visit.

Dan

 

[AmyB2006]

My favorite pins to see people wearing are the "My First Visit" pins. I just know that they are experiencing something amazing. It brings me back to our first year. What incredible memories and so, much, fun!!! We were hooked. What a magical visit.

Dan

LOL, until the "pin police" come along to burst your bubble.

 

[DisneyFive]

LOL, until the "pin police" come along to burst your bubble.

LOL!!! What, you mean they were imposters!!!! Noooooooooooo!

Dan

 

[mummabear]

My favorite pins to see people wearing are the "My First Visit" pins. I just know that they are experiencing something amazing. It brings me back to our first year. What incredible memories and so, much, fun!!! We were hooked. What a magical visit.

Dan

But they better only wear them on their first day! You only get one first visit, right. Lest the pin police see them on day two and call them on their lie!

 

[dayvewc]

But they better only wear them on their first day! You only get one first visit, right. Lest the pin police see them on day two and call them on their lie!

What lie? It most likely is their first visit to that park that day. That's a reason to celebrate, right?

I know I celebrate (with or without pins) every time I go through a park gate. Cause I'm there and not here!

 

[RealBlast3]

Honestly, who cares if someone did just wear the button to get free stuff? Disney can afford it and the vacations certainly cost enough. There's no law nor rule being broken.

And Disney is the most magical place on earth. If you believe that, that means that everyone IS special who is there and everyone deserves to be celebrated as much as they want to be. That's what Disney is about.

We don't go to Disney to learn a civics lesson. When I want to learn about integrity, I marathon Law and Order on TV.

You know, I wasn't going to because I never thought of it, but my birthday's in November and I'm going to Disney in December this year and I think this thread has inspired me to celebrate my birthday by wearing a button then, so ha! And I hope I get lots of gray stuff and enough pixie dust sprinkled on me so I can fly!

 

[AmyB2006]

And I hope I get lots of gray stuff and enough pixie dust sprinkled on me so I can fly!

Have fun!!!!

 

[robinb]

I have a question for the "late/early celebrators" on this thread. Would it be OK for you to sign up for the birthday club at all your favorite restaurants but with different dates scattered throughout the year? You're a loyal customer to all of them and you spend a lot of money there, but who can actually go to all those restaurants on the same day? It's just not fair and does it really matter? The restaurant shouldn't care, it's the same cost to them if you get your free dinner/app/dessert on your birthday or 5 months after your birthday. And anyway, what harm is it to have a little more fun and feel special during the rest of the year? We *all* deserve to feel special, don't we?

 

[mom2rtk]

I have a question for the "late/early celebrators" on this thread. Would it be OK for you to sign up for the birthday club at all your favorite restaurants but with different dates scattered throughout the year? You're a loyal customer to all of them and you spend a lot of money there, but who can actually go to all those restaurants on the same day? It's just not fair and does it really matter? The restaurant shouldn't care, it's the same cost to them if you get your free dinner/app/dessert on your birthday or 5 months after your birthday. And anyway, what harm is it to have a little more fun and feel special during the rest of the year? We *all* deserve to feel special, don't we?

That's not really a good comparison since Disney doesn't offer freebies for your birthday. They did back in 09, but they required a birth certificate for that.

 

[Burnedout]

I have a question for the "late/early celebrators" on this thread. Would it be OK for you to sign up for the birthday club at all your favorite restaurants but with different dates scattered throughout the year? You're a loyal customer to all of them and you spend a lot of money there, but who can actually go to all those restaurants on the same day? It's just not fair and does it really matter? The restaurant shouldn't care, it's the same cost to them if you get your free dinner/app/dessert on your birthday or 5 months after your birthday. And anyway, what harm is it to have a little more fun and feel special during the rest of the year? We *all* deserve to feel special, don't we?

It is a different concept. If my mom were to wear an "I'm celebrating a birthday button" when we go in January it wouldn't be to get anything. It would be to prove to our husbands we needed to go to wdw to celebrate her 80th. Otoh if she wouldn't sign up for the earl of sandwich birthday which asks the date because it isn't her date.

You can celebrate at any time. Because life calls for flexibility sometimes. Lying about a date is lying.

 

[nancipants]

I have a question for the "late/early celebrators" on this thread. Would it be OK for you to sign up for the birthday club at all your favorite restaurants but with different dates scattered throughout the year? You're a loyal customer to all of them and you spend a lot of money there, but who can actually go to all those restaurants on the same day? It's just not fair and does it really matter? The restaurant shouldn't care, it's the same cost to them if you get your free dinner/app/dessert on your birthday or 5 months after your birthday. And anyway, what harm is it to have a little more fun and feel special during the rest of the year? We *all* deserve to feel special, don't we?

I don't see how that analogy is comparable at all. I belong to Club Veg (Sweet Tomatoes) and have a rewards card for Kobe Steakhouse. Club Veg sends a coupon to use the week of your birthday. There's an expiration date. Kobe allows you to get a discount on your birthday meal, which must be used during the month of your birthday. They require proof that it is your birthday month. (Or in the case of free graduation meals, they require a diploma.)

Disney does not require proof of whatever it is you're celebrating in order to get a button, so it's not the same situation at all. It's not Disney's decision to give some people free stuff, it's the CMs.

 

[SpringSprite]

someone asked a question and a few people offered a dissenting opinion from the majority....a lot of the pro button wearing replies are getting snarky and mean-spirited It's not very celebratory to be mean to someone who offers a different opinion, is it?

 

[robinb]

That's not really a good comparison since Disney doesn't offer freebies for your birthday. They did back in 09, but they required a birth certificate for that.

My DD has received freebies on her birthday since 2009, usually desserts at TS restaurants on her birthday. I have also received special free desserts on my anniversary.

I don't see how that analogy is comparable at all. I belong to Club Veg (Sweet Tomatoes) and have a rewards card for Kobe Steakhouse. Club Veg sends a coupon to use the week of your birthday. There's an expiration date. Kobe allows you to get a discount on your birthday meal, which must be used during the month of your birthday. They require proof that it is your birthday month. (Or in the case of free graduation meals, they require a diploma.)

Disney does not require proof of whatever it is you're celebrating in order to get a button, so it's not the same situation at all. It's not Disney's decision to give some people free stuff, it's the CMs.

So, the analogy is not valid because the other places like Club Veg and Kobe ask you to be honest about your birthday? FWIW, I do belong to a couple of birthday clubs and the only place that you have to prove it's your birthday is the place that gives out free beer. All the others just require you to being in your email.