Is this cheating?

[Praise2Him]

Well, this is just me, but I was there on my birthday, and I only wore the button that day. I felt dishonest wearing it when it wasn't really my birthday.

Also, I've always made it a point to wish people a "Happy Birthday" when I see them wearing a button, but on our trip this past May I saw so many people wearing them that I just gave up. Maybe it really was ALL of their birthdays that day, but somehow I doubt it.

However, if it makes them happy, then I guess it's okay by me.

 

[kilee]

Just wanted to add there are no need for flaming each other.

 

[N2Disney]

I was wondering the same thing. We are going Dec. 31 - Jan. 7 and my birthday is Jan. 10 and I had thought about getting one of these buttons. My husband wanted to take me to Disney because he's tired of me saying my birthdays are always terrible

 

[farcus17]

I was there last march about a week or so before my birthday and my family went up and got one from each park for me.. I know it was not my actual b-day but to have people say happy birthday to you makes you feel good in a place where you already feel great!!! Sometimes it is hard to get there on your actual b-day but if it is around it why not enjoy and hopefully your birthday is as memoriable as mine was.....

See if you can sit in the front of the Jungle Cruise.. They actually sang happy birthday to me on the ride.. How great is that!!!

 

[pic22]

As for anyone asking about if you can get the button, I believe they give them to anyone that asks for one, at . I will find out at the end of November, my DD is turning 1, 6 days after we get home, but we are celebrating her birthday the whole time we are there. And honestly if anyone has a problem, it is just that, their problem. Your on vacation, and if you want everyday your there to be your birthday, then why not, and if you don't, then don't, where else can you get away with that. Try going to work everyday and telling everyone it is your birthday everyday, you will probably get lot's of alone time to celebrate it everyday.

 

[mommaU4]

Thanks for all these responses. It's always good to hear different opinions. You'll get no "flaming" from me. If I didn't want various opinions I wouldn't have asked. And maybe cheating wasn't the word I meant to use. I honestly didn't even know what you get when you wear those pins as we have never done it. In fact now that I do know I think all the attention might just embarrass my kids more than anything!


I think I'll skip the pins and maybe some day I'll be able to go on MY birthday and I'll wear a pin. My b-day is Oct., DD is Nov., DS is Dec. and DH is Jan. Throw all that together along with Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas and this trip and we are busy and broke! This trip will be a blast, pin or not. Thanks guys!

To make a side comment about the wheelchairs not getting you front of the line priority anymore.... I did not know that. That's interesting. And probably smart since some people probably did try to take advantage. Only one time was I at a park with someone in a wheelchair. It was my uncle at DL and I was so thrilled to not have to wait in line! But it wasn't as great as I thought it would be. Something seemed to be missing. Call me crazy but maybe it was the anticipation of waiting in line and getting closer and closer till it's FINALLY your turn. As much as we all hate long lines it's still part of the adventure in a way. Something to think about the next time your in one of those long lines!
Okay I'll shut up now.

 

[goofy4tink]

Hey, all you flamers. Build a bridge and get over yourself!!

If it makes you happy to celebrate your birthday at the "World" even though your travel plans couldn't get you there on your actual birthday - do it and have a ball! Remember Walt's vision for Disneyland/Walt Disney World? "To make people happy".

No where is it written in stone that one MUST celebrate their birthday only on their birthday. Otherwise, get a magic marker, write "Un-" before the word Birthday and celebrate your "Un-Birthday".

When someone asks for everyone's opinions, it's pretty safe to assume that differing opinions will happen. Just because there are some who have a different answer doesn't make it right to 'take us to task' so to speak. You have to know that when you ask for 'opinions' you are going to get answers you might not like or agree with. That's the nature of these boards. No matter what someone here on the DIS boards says, people will still do what they are comfortable doing. That's terrific. If it works for you and your family, then go with it.

To the OP, hope you have a terrific time. This is a wonderful time to be in WDW. Have fun with those kids..they get all grown-up way too soon.

 

[VSL]

No flames here, just some things to think about..

I always hear how not everyone can get to WDW on their actual birthday but still celebrate it there. Does this mean we should all do it everytime we go? I mean, at most you'd be 6 months from the actual date... What's so bad about wearing something that makes you feel special while in such a magical place..?

I guess the problem is that as more and more people start to do this it won't be special anymore. I've heard already that CM's aren't making as much fuss as they used to over Birthday peeps. Maybe they'll stop it altogether.

And what about those people for whom it is their actual birthday? They are the ones who lose out. What about the little 6yr old who's birthday it actually is only to have all the attention and fun directed at a 36yr old (random ages) whose birthday isn't for another 3wks?

Each to their own, I guess, but I know that I'll only be wearing the button on my actual birthday. We've all got our own morals and ethics and everyone has to do what's right for them.

 

[goofy4tink]

No flames here, just some things to think about..

I always hear how not everyone can get to WDW on their actual birthday but still celebrate it there. Does this mean we should all do it everytime we go? I mean, at most you'd be 6 months from the actual date... What's so bad about wearing something that makes you feel special while in such a magical place..?

I guess the problem is that as more and more people start to do this it won't be special anymore. I've heard already that CM's aren't making as much fuss as they used to over Birthday peeps. Maybe they'll stop it altogether.

And what about those people for whom it is their actual birthday? They are the ones who lose out. What about the little 6yr old who's birthday it actually is only to have all the attention and fun directed at a 36yr old (random ages) whose birthday isn't for another 3wks?

Each to their own, I guess, but I know that I'll only be wearing the button on my actual birthday. We've all got our own morals and ethics and everyone has to do what's right for them.

Now..that's what I'm talking about!!!! (Man, I hate that phrase, but it did seem appropriate here)

 

[DrTomorrow]

Since it was brought up, here's my $.02.

I wouldn't wear the button if it wasn't my birthday; to me, that's like trying to sneak in a movie as "Under 12" or scam a Senior Discount when I'm not old enough.

I have no problem with folks wearing the birthday button when it's not their birthday, as long as they refuse the freebies that are sometimes offered. Want to celebrate your 4-weeks-ago birthday at WDW? Great! But to accept free desserts, etc. reeks of scam to me.

VSL is correct - as more and more people have birthday buttons for birthdays that were last (next) week or last (next) month, the "special-ness" of having the button will fade to nothing. Mis-quoting from "The Incredibles" - When everyone is special, no one is.

Think about it - 1/12 of everyone at WDW has a birthday in the current month; that's a heck of a lot of "Happy Birthday"s, buttons and free desserts....

IMHO - YMMV

 

[Dani&Pao'sMom]

My daughter had her birthday last week, we arrive at WDW this Friday. We plan to get her the birthday button. She's 4 years old, this is her FIRST trip to Orlando or anywhere else and it is her birthday gift. We are not doing it for free desserts but for a couple of Happy Birthdays along the way that will make her feel so special. Actually it is both girls birthday trip, however, the youngest will be only one year old so she will not really appreciate the Happy Birthdays.

I understand both sides, wear it, do not wear it.... And it all comes to personal decision and circumstances. If I were able to go every so often to WDW I probably would go on her actual birthday or the week of her birthday... Last time we went was on 2001, she wasn't even born yet. We don't know when we will be able to go again, we don't even live in the US, and (hopefully it will not) but what if it is a once in a lifetime trip? I rather ignore the "today is not her birthday" comments on the boards and give her wonderful memories of her birthday trip at The World. And really, she probably will go several times for her birthday gift but the first time is only once! And maybe we will get her the button for one day and make a badge for the others that says "This trip is my birthday gift and I'm celebrating I'm 4 years old!" or something like that!

I don't have a problem with a birthday celebration on a different day than the actual birthday. My birthday this year was on a Tuesday, I had lunch with my mom and brothers the Sunday before and with my in-laws the Saturday after. On both ocasions they sang Happy Birthday, I blew the candles and received gifts....

 

[daisax]

I think a home made button or t-shirt that announces "This is my birthday trip!" or something like that is a good compromise and would result in the same level of attention, if attention is your goal. The Disney pin says "Today is my birthday" -- if it's not the child's birthday, you're encouraging the child to lie. I don't see a lot of grey area there. For adults, do what you please -- unless you're scamming free desserts it's between you and your conscience. But I don't like the idea encouraging children to flat out make declarations that aren't true -- for desserts OR attention. And to me that's what this is -- grabbing attention under false pretenses, something children are already prone to. Teaching integrity doesn't stop at the amusement park turnstiles.

If you must have the official pin -- get the pin and let the child wear the pin at home on his actual birthday.

 

[KCMiller]

We'll be down there in the middle of November. My parents birthdays are in October - my dad turns 70 (today, in fact - Happy Birthday, Daddy!). So when I made my ADR's, I told the CM that, and she put that it was their birthdays on all the ADR's, and told me to go get pins for them, and really do it up right - so we're gonna!

The first time I was at MK, I was waiting on Main Street for my children's marching band to come down the street. I started chatting with a CM who was there on a college internship. He took a birthday button out of his pocket, and pinned it to my shirt. When I protested that it was not my birthday, he smiled and said 'well, Merry Unbirthday to you!'. It was loads of fun, I celebrated my 'unbirthday' in style, and I passed along the button to a little girl on my way out of the park.

If we believe that Magic lives at WDW, who's to say that Mickey can't make today my birthday ?


KC

 

[missminniemouse]

We'll be down there in the middle of November. My parents birthdays are in October - my dad turns 70 (today, in fact - Happy Birthday, Daddy!). So when I made my ADR's, I told the CM that, and she put that it was their birthdays on all the ADR's, and told me to go get pins for them, and really do it up right - so we're gonna!

The first time I was at MK, I was waiting on Main Street for my children's marching band to come down the street. I started chatting with a CM who was there on a college internship. He took a birthday button out of his pocket, and pinned it to my shirt. When I protested that it was not my birthday, he smiled and said 'well, Merry Unbirthday to you!'. It was loads of fun, I celebrated my 'unbirthday' in style, and I passed along the button to a little girl on my way out of the park.

If we believe that Magic lives at WDW, who's to say that Mickey can't make today my birthday ?


KC

I couldn't agree with you more. Sometimes there are other circumstances that don't permit a person to celebrate on their "ACTUAL" Birthday. I'm glad the CM's promote celebration for everyone. Happy Birthday to your Dad!

 

[daisax]

How about an "I'm celebrating my birthday today!" pin?

As opposed to "Today IS my birthday!"

 

[bopper]

Just say that you are celebrating his/her birthday today. That is true!

 

[skiwee1]

Because of people doing that there is no front of line access for wheelchairs. wheelchairs have to go throught the same lines as everyone else, no special treatment what so ever.

We found out differently this trip. My mom rented an ECV because of her bad knees. We were let in a handicapped entrance every single time or the fasspass entrance. We didn't need any special card either. I was surprised because I've always read that you do not get in front of the line but we did every time. Even Small World and Haunted Mansion we ended up in a different entrance.

 

[Keara'sMom]

Hi,
We had this same issue last year, as dd's 8th b-day fell the week before our wdw trip. She did not wear the MK button (but we got her one as a keepsake)--instead, we had purchased a "birthday girl" button (pink with ruffles and a ribbon hanging from it--cute) before our trip for her to wear in the MK, which she did on one day only. She got a lot of happy birthday wishes (the funniest was from Chip and Dale, who pantomimed the "happy birthday" song to her) from cast members and had a wonderful time. Actually, she was the one who didn't want to wear the MK pin and only wanted to celebrate on one day!

This year, we'll be there on her birthday, so she'll be wearin' the pins!!!

Whatever you decide, I hope you have a wonderful trip and a great celebration!

 

[pugdog]

We found out differently this trip. My mom rented an ECV because of her bad knees. We were let in a handicapped entrance every single time or the fasspass entrance. We didn't need any special card either. I was surprised because I've always read that you do not get in front of the line but we did every time. Even Small World and Haunted Mansion we ended up in a different entrance.

Some of the rides, mainly in MK, have alternate entrances for wheelchairs. And some Cm's will let you in the fastpass line even without a fastpass. But this will vary with the CM and the time of year you go. Most attractions make you go through the regular line, there is no garentee that you will get that treatment everytime you go.
WDW got rid of the head of the line years ago because people would rent wheelchairs just for that and in the process have screwed people over that really needed it.

 

[skiwee1]

Some of the rides, mainly in MK, have alternate entrances for wheelchairs. And some Cm's will let you in the fastpass line even without a fastpass. But this will vary with the CM and the time of year you go. Most attractions make you go through the regular line, there is no garentee that you will get that treatment everytime you go.
WDW got rid of the head of the line years ago because people would rent wheelchairs just for that and in the process have screwed people over that really needed it.

Well hopefully it won't change on our upcoming trip. I do know that the parks were packed two weeks ago. I was really happy that we didn't have to wait in any long lines. My mom cannot tolerate the heat so October is usually very nice for her. It was 95 degrees just about every day we were there. And 96% humidity! Ugh!