I have a problem with

[RubyPatches]

I am a little late on responding, but last year we were going to WDW for our DD's 6th birthday. However, less than a month before, she severely broke her arm that required pins. We didn't know if we would be able to go or not. She cried when we told her that me have to move the vacation to a later time, so we decided to go and make the best of it. And we did!! Her birthday was the day after we arrived home, but we had her special dinner at Chef Mickey's about 3 days early. If we'd had to move it to a later time in the year, we would have celebrated her birthday then. We all hooped and hollered and no one really cared who was having a birthday, it was about the celebration and DD didn't care that she was sharing her time with another little boy in the room. In fact, she thought it was all about her.

 

[Brightsy]

My older DS's B-day is in the middle of May. It as just before the end of his school year by a couple weeks. This year his b-day was in the middle of the week. We didn't feel comfortable taking him out of school to go to WDW. Also the Sat. after his b-day was the first day of Star Wars Weekends and my DS really wanted to go for that. So, when we got there on Sat. I told them we were celebrating my DSs B-day. Whenever anyone asked I told them that, truthfully, his b-day had been on Thurs. but we were celebrating it now. I mean, what's the harm? Am I supposed to wait a year or more for his b-day to fall on a day that we can go to WDW? We're not going to be able to go to WDW for that long in our lives (We're military and got lucky enough to be stationed in FL so we got season passes!). I'm not trying to steal anyone's thunder, and if asked I told the truth that it wasn't the actual day of his b-day.

Sara

 

[kc10family]

My nephew’s birthdays are 4 yrs and 1 week apart. My DD was born on the same day 12 yrs later than my youngest nephew. So this means we have 3 birthdays w/i 1 week. Due to the needs of the military, we cannot go during this special week, but we can go two weeks before. Therefore… we will celebrate 3 birthdays during our 4-day trip. Yes it is a trip for all, but we plan to make 1 day special for the 3 kids. I also plan to make them something special to wear the day we celebrate. I can understand that hearing Happy Birthday sung 12 times during your meal might be annoying, but it’s part of the deal. I plan to join in any and all singing.
Have a great Disney Day.

 

[undertheseas]

When I made my PS they asked if we are celebrating anything. I told her that it will be my son's birthday (and it really will). Then later I said I wanted a princess meal for my DD since we can't celebrate her birthday in DW. The Cm said "oh well then I'm putting it's DD's birthday". I hurried to say "no, I just don't want her to feel left out since we can't spend her birthday at DW". She said "No really, we don't want her to feel left out so I'm putting down that it's her birthday, all that means is they will bring her a cupcake". So I feel like I did the honest thing by correcting her and I won't mention it at the podium but if they do bring her a cupcake, then extra pixie dust. We'll call it even for the birthday cupcake I could ask for (my bday is the same week)

 

[kelscross]

My inlaws are from Singapore and they celebrate Chinese New Year. According to the information she gave me so that I can celebrate this holiday with my children so that they know their culture, everyone celebrates their birthdays during Chinese New Year. It's a custom, even though your birthday is several months away.

Would I lie about my girls' birthdays just to get them free stuff absolutely not, but if I were at Disney World during Chinese New Year I would celebrate their birthdays as their custom.

When we went last year we celebrated at Chef Mickeys two days before my DD's birthday. The CM asked if my other DD was celebrating also (they thought they were twins) I told them no that her birthday had already passed a month prior and they still brought them both out the cupcakes (which are nasty by the way) and a signed placemat. We didn't get special attention from the characters.

I agree with some of the other posters...how do you know that these individuals are not really celebrating their birthday? If you can hear them talking about how they just lied about it (I'm sure they don't announce it loudly if they are lying) then you are listening too much to the next table's conversation.

 

[RubyPatches]

I just think that everyone has a right to celebrate a child's birthday if they want, even if it's not on that day or in that week. DD's happened to be that week, but as I said before, if we had changed the vacataion, we would've celebrated it then. We went to Chef Mickey's and DD got a cupcake and everyone in that room swung their napkins around and woo hoo-ed, that was it. For those of us who only get to go once a year or every other year, I don't see the harm in a little celebration.

Now, on the other hand, there are those out there that try to take what they can and get their free stuff. I think that is wrong and they're not teaching their children the right values. But who in the world is going to know who that is and how can anyone stop that, short of a birth certificate?

 

[lmhall2000]

When I made my PS they asked if we are celebrating anything. I told her that it will be my son's birthday (and it really will). Then later I said I wanted a princess meal for my DD since we can't celebrate her birthday in DW. The Cm said "oh well then I'm putting it's DD's birthday". I hurried to say "no, I just don't want her to feel left out since we can't spend her birthday at DW". She said "No really, we don't want her to feel left out so I'm putting down that it's her birthday, all that means is they will bring her a cupcake". So I feel like I did the honest thing by correcting her and I won't mention it at the podium but if they do bring her a cupcake, then extra pixie dust. We'll call it even for the birthday cupcake I could ask for (my bday is the same week)

WOW!! 9 pages on this issue...funny...but I agree wholeheartedly with the original poster. I think honesty is at the core of the issue here. The above poster is what I would consider honest and not taking advantage.

I have been around the disboards for 4 years and I have seen posts where folks are celebrating their child's "birthday" every day of the week even though their birthday doesn't even fall within a day they're traveling. Some even tell them it's their child's birthday today without blinking an eye.

The point is if every family did this...it makes a special event rather mundane and abuses the Disney system. I know that if I were running a business and there were many patrons coming in claiming it was their birthday to get that special recognition (i.e. free cake, attention) it would cost my company money and bigger yet teaches the child they're "entitled" because it's the month of their birthday not the day.

My birthday is 9/13 and I will be there...I will get the button and have a great time...but if I have to postpone and go on the 14th...I won't mention a word because it's not my birthday.

It's really all about honesty no matter which way you look at it...the poster who put "hookaires"....to me that's the problem...integrity and honesty are to be overlooked these days.

Tara

 

[SqueakyMouse]

Given the plethora of people I've seen asking on these boards "can I celebrate a birthday/anniversary one month/two months before/after the actual day" etc etc. I'd think it's fair to say a lot of people aren't celebrating on the actual day. Given the recent complaints on these boards about how birthdays and anniversaries are being virtually ignored by the CMs, I do wonder if pretty soon all special days won't be acknowledged because there are just too many. Are my panties wadded over this? No. Do I think it's unfortunate? A little.

Michele

While I can't get too worked up about this issue, I tend to agree with you. I was disappointed that my anniversary was barely acknowledged during our fall stay...and we were there on our actual anniversary. During our May stay, 3 of us (2 boys and I) were within a week of our actual birthdays; but we didn't mention it anywhere other than at our resort. One night at Alfredo's, we saw a group have the CM's come back 3 different times to sing "Happy Anniversary" separately to the 3 different couples in the group. Kind of wierd. CM's became less and less enthusiastic with each performance. I'd rather see folks actually celebrate on their birthdays and anniversaries AND CM's actually get excited about it.

 

[lillygator]

I really do not think that by celebrating on a day other than your birthday is lying....I mean most kid's birthday parties are on not on the actual birthday are they?


Our situation is different..we will be purchasing a cake and having a "party"...not expecting anything from WDW...but we are specifically GOING to WDW for DD's birthday...that is her PRESENT from us. Just because we can't be there on Halloween Monday doesn't make me a liar. i know there are posts out there about people abusing the system...but I really think the majority of people are good hearted and I mean we are talking a cupcake here....is isn't like WDW is stopping the presses and having an all out party......I mean if they didn't expect this then why would they have cupcakes available? They aren't on the menu....


Cheers to all and have great celebrations...you never know when it may be your last one together!!

 

[InnerStrength]

In response to the OP:

I can understand your pet peeve and read through your comments on this thread. I also believe in honesty and integrity, and both I and my DH are trying our very best to raise our children to be moral individuals who tell the truth and never feel the need to lie to get anything. At 6 and 4, they know when their birthdays really are, and when we do not throw their actual party on the date of their birthday, they know we are simply "celebrating" their birthday on such-and-such day in order to allow family and friends (ie. those who are important to us) to attend. We also do not go out to dinner or to WDW on their birthday specifically to have strangers aknowledge their day. Maybe it's me but I could care less if a stranger said or worse, sang, happy birthday to me or my children. To me, one word = tacky. If you or others enjoy that type of celebration...good for you.

Now, had I been in the situation that you mentioned at WDW, whether I was celebrating a family birthday or not, I personally could not care less what another table of people was or was not doing, as long as it did not cause my family any physical or emotional harm. When we go out to dine, which is basically weekly, we are out to enjoy dinner and our own company - and truly are not interested in what so-and-so at another table is or is-not celebrating. My family is my priority, not others business. Sure, I think it was rude for the other table to pretend it was someone's birthday or whatever and then have a laugh about it when the waitress left their table but too bad for them. Had I overheard them, I would have probably thought they were lacking class, however it would never had taken away from any celebration that we may have been having. I have certain beliefs and morals, but do not try to push them onto others. We will all have to answer to someone someday.

Have a great time celebrating your DD's birthday at WDW and your other childrens' birthdays 2 weeks or so later, wherever you choose.