Isn't being at Disney special enough??

[DOPEYLUVER]

Last year we were at WDW for my daughter's 18th birthday. Ahead of time I ordered a special Splash Mountain Cake through the Contemporary Bakery. We were eating at Whispering Canyon.

When we checked in, we let the host/hostess know we had ordered a cake for DD's birthday. We were very disappointed to be seated in the area outside the main dining room. It was not "wild" and that's what we were looking for.

After our meal we realized the cake wasn't coming out so DH went to the men's room and on the way let the waitress know we were waiting for a cake. The waitress misunderstood and brought us a cupcake and the staff sang Happy Birthday. After that DH got up and spoke to someone, basically saying, that we had ordered a $135 cake and that definitely wasn't it. There was a boy celebrating his 8th birthday. He got a cupcake and everyone sang Happy Birthday to him. A few minutes later out comes the master piece that was my daughter's cake. This time we had waitresses and chef's singing happy birthday. I can't help but thinking the 8 year old boy was pretty disappointed with his birthday.

 

[cj9200]

"We are staying concierge at the GF and have California Grill reserevations during the fire works for my DD's 8th birthday. We have requested the server bring her her diamond pendant during the finale. Can you think of any way we can make this "special"."

Aside from setting the CM on fire......I really can't.

Does Disney hand out special CM pins for doing that? Yes, that is silly.

Kevin, please don’t take my post as a criticism of the podcast crew. I think the off the beaten path experiences you report on are excellent. I am sure you get asked the question a lot and are tired of answering it. This podcast you answered the email told them why and suggested ways to increase the chances of getting the child noticed. No complaints from me.

Maybe I am overly sensitive but I do think that some people (again not directed at the podcast crew) think asking the “something special” question is some way out of bounds. I have gotten great ideas from the boards and would hate to have someone intimidated from asking it for fear of some of the responses.

Some expect rather than let it come to them. Some get upset if another child gets recognition and their child does not. We all agree both are wrong attitudes. We also agree that Disney has tons of stuff to do outside riding attractions that should be experienced.

 

[WaltD4Me]

Kevin, please don’t take my post as a criticism of the podcast crew. I think the off the beaten path experiences you report on are excellent. I am sure you get asked the question a lot and are tired of answering it. This podcast you answered the email told them why and suggested ways to increase the chances of getting the child noticed. No complaints from me.

Maybe I am overly sensitive but I do think that some people (again not directed at the podcast crew) think asking the “something special” question is some way out of bounds. I have gotten great ideas from the boards and would hate to have someone intimidated from asking it for fear of some of the responses.

^^ This ^^ Especially the overly sensitive part. (it's been a rotten day from the get go) Also, I just don't think wanting to do something "extra special" automatically makes you an evil parent who is raising an entitled brat.

 

[safetymom]

^^ This ^^ Especially the overly sensitive part. (it's been a rotten day from the get go) Also, I just don't think wanting to do something "extra special" automatically makes you an evil parent who is raising an entitled brat.

Since I was part of that discussion and I read the question I don't think any of the team though the person that sent the email was an evil parent.

Speaking for myself, it seems on the DIS that more and more people are looking for something special for their children at WDW and they have never been here. Why not try experiencing the parks without trying to arrange something "special"? They want to have things in the room before they arrive, special one of a kind cakes, etc. Why not experience the magic that is all around you at WDW?

I think all of the team agreed that sometimes the most magical things happen when you aren't expecting them.

I go to the parks about 100 times a year and almost every time I go something happens that reminds me just how special WDW is.

I know I was not picking on the person that submitted the question, her question blossomed into another related discussion.

 

[OKW Lover]

I go to the parks about 100 times a year and almost every time I go something happens that reminds me just how special WDW is.

"100 times a year" Cutting back Kathy?

 

[safetymom]

No. That is about average. I still get excited every time I enter a park. It hasn't gotten old for me yet.

 

[topolino]

Many times in the past we've done special things for each other, such as gift baskets in the room or villa, or cakes delivered to the table at dinner. Looking back though, our best memories have nothing to do with those extras. Instead, the ones that stand out are an unexpected encounter with a CM or another guest, or finding ourselves at an attraction with no queue, or a great meal at a restaurant to which we'd looked forward for months.

Disney has a way of creating magic when you least expect it; it's not always neccassary to plan for it to happen.

 

[safetymom]

I can see doing things like that after you have a number of times. The ones that bother me are the people going for the first time and they want to plan something to make it special.

 

[WaltD4Me]

Since I was part of that discussion and I read the question I don't think any of the team though the person that sent the email was an evil parent.

Oh Kathy, I know this, I didn't think you guys thought she was an evil parent. I'm sorry, I didn't mean for it to come across that way at all. I was just having a bad day yesterday, hadn't had enough coffee yet and overracted to another post.

 

[safetymom]

Oh Kathy, I know this, I didn't think you guys thought she was an evil parent. I'm sorry, I didn't mean for it to come across that way at all. I was just having a bad day yesterday, hadn't had enough coffee yet and overracted to another post.

I don't want to scare anyone off about submitting questions. Thanks for your explanation.

 

[SouthernExplorer]

Just as an example, it's my son's birthday on the 29th. He told me a couple weeks ago "Daddy, please don't buy me a birthday present. You've spend enough of your money taking us to Disney World for my birthday. That's the best present I can have, being happy in Disney World with my family." Pretty smart kid for a 10 year old.

Today at WDW I saw more than three little girls all dressed up from BBB literally screaming in a store because they didn't get something. For God's sake, that make over cost your parents a tonne, not to mention the trip here, be thankful for what you have.

I think the parents that think that they have to make a Disney birthday "extra special" are the ones creating kids that think they are entitled to everything, and that rules and empathy don't apply to them.

To be fair I don't think that those little girls have a clue on how much their BBB makeovers are costing their parents. Why should they? They're kids, so I wouldn't pass judgment. Most children want toys they see in stores, and every kid is going to throw a public tantrum at some point. It's the parents who refuse to do anything about their child who is throwing a public tantrum, or worse caving into their child's demands at the toy store, who are raising entitled kids.

 

[BriarRosie]

I can see doing things like that after you have a number of times. The ones that bother me are the people going for the first time and they want to plan something to make it special.

I call that Attack of the Over-planners. Some of my best memories weren't planned, either. I think people freak out if their first vacation doesn't look like the TV ads.

 

[gojoe]

I call that Attack of the Over-planners. Some of my best memories weren't planned, either. I think people freak out if their first vacation doesn't look like the TV ads.

Wow don't like where this post has gone. I am your typical, go with the family every other year, over planner & over packer everyone seems to resent. We're the family dragging all that luggage in the lobby that everyone stops to look at. We are up at the crack of dawn, don't miss an extra magic hour rope drop and are most times the last to leave extra magic hours at night. I schedule down time and days at the water parks, Downtown Disney, Disney Quest and all my ADR's are book 180 plus days out. SO WHAT! Why do you think I read these boards: to get tips, ideas and to try to help others have a special time too. We go to restaurant Kevin recommends and have had wonderful experiences, also at ones he has panned.
Now that I have confessed. I will let you know I wouldn't have it any other way. I'm here to find ways to make it very special. If you don't care and just want to let things happen that's fine with me. Please don't put me down for planning. I get enough of that from friends, family and co-workers. Have a Magical Day!

 

[Cap.Steamboat Willie]

I think being on vacation with family and friends, going out to diner with family and friends, and spending time with family and friends is "special". It does not stop me from wanting to trying new things when on vacation and savoring the things that I have come to love.

It is all part of my master plan to store these memories so that when the insanity of day-to-day events creep in, I can escape at lunch with the DIS on my ipod or at the end of the day with a hot bath and a tour of a past trip photo gallery.

 

[DisneyKevin]

Folks,

I guess maybe Kathy and I have a similar upbringing and if we were in Walt Disney World for our birthdays....that was the present and it was "special".

No one is judging you for planning every second of your vacation, if that's what you choose to do.

It's not how I enjoy the parks but bully for you if it's what you and your family enjoy....then you should have at it.

We were asked a question.....gave the best answer we could and then that led to another discussion.

There is no right or wrong way to visit Walt Disney World.

We voiced and opinion and it was just that...an opinion.

Thanks,
Kevin

 

[BriarRosie]

Wow don't like where this post has gone. I am your typical, go with the family every other year, over planner & over packer everyone seems to resent. We're the family dragging all that luggage in the lobby that everyone stops to look at. We are up at the crack of dawn, don't miss an extra magic hour rope drop and are most times the last to leave extra magic hours at night. I schedule down time and days at the water parks, Downtown Disney, Disney Quest and all my ADR's are book 180 plus days out. SO WHAT! Why do you think I read these boards: to get tips, ideas and to try to help others have a special time too. We go to restaurant Kevin recommends and have had wonderful experiences, also at ones he has panned.
Now that I have confessed. I will let you know I wouldn't have it any other way. I'm here to find ways to make it very special. If you don't care and just want to let things happen that's fine with me. Please don't put me down for planning. I get enough of that from friends, family and co-workers. Have a Magical Day!

I was not attacking you personally. Really. I was stating my opinion that those who tend to over-plan are often the MOST disappointed when their vacation doesn't include magical moments they read about on the DIS. I really didn't equate over-planning with over-packing.
And I never said I resent people for that! Please don't judge me.

And I'm as big a Disney fan as you. I don't have any problem with people who plan out where they want to stay, where they want to eat, and what they want to do. That will make their trip easier. I am often horrified when people go to Disney without ANY prior planning, because I know they will probably get frustrated and have a worse time than if they knew how to use FastPasses and dining ADRs.

I don't like hearing people complain when Disney cast members aren't throwing magic at them at every possible moment. There are people who post these things, and it does irritate me that they didn't allow themselves to have fun without unreasonable expectations.

I used the Coral Reef diver signs as an example of things people have done to make things special that have gotten out of hand to the point that Disney won't do them anymore. It's no longer special if it gets abused and overdone.

I think I'm trying to say that it's wonderful if your family gets picked to be Family of the Day during park opening, but if people on the DIS are asking how to get picked and then don't get picked, they are in for a mountain of disappointment. There is no way to predict when the Dapper Dans will sing to someone at the Barber Shop. If it happens, great, but I don't think people should plan their trips around having these things happen to them.

Special things happen when you least expect them. And that's what I've been trying to get across in my posts.

 

[dansyr2514]

I think all of us were slightly guilty at one point or another of trying to make our vacation more magical at some point. We are all here on the dis boards, listening to the podcasts trying to make our vacation be the best it could possibly be.
However, the one thing that made me realize again how magical Disney is on it's own, is going with a non plannner. The first time I set the alarm to get up early so we could make breakfast and rope drop, he threatened to back his bags and go home. "This is vacation...I'm on a schedule every day of my life" he said. And you know what, he's right. This year will be our fourth trip together ....and gasp...I left 3 days competely free...no schedule. Last trip made me realize that the unscheduled times we had were the best! Just sitting back and people watching was great! We also had some really nice conversations with some other people watchers.

No longer do I stress out if I haven't gotten a table by the window at California Grill during the fireworks. I plan some things and leave others to chance.

I also completely understand where the podcast was going with that discussion. I don't think the person that asked the question was wrong in anyway. Having the dapper dans sing happy birthday to you would be very cool! I also don't thing any member of the podcast thinks that you shouldn't try to plan anything special for a loved one for their birthday. I'm thinking..and I could be wrong..but maybe that discussion was meant for those people who go with a sense of entitlement.. that Disney is magical and darn it ....somebody better show me some pixie dust! Hopefully those people will realize that pixie dust happens when you're not expecting it!

Disclaimer: This is not directed towards or meant for any person posting on this thread. This is my observation and opinon only. lol

 

[Sundancer UK]

I can see doing things like that after you have a number of times. The ones that bother me are the people going for the first time and they want to plan something to make it special.

I call that Attack of the Over-planners. Some of my best memories weren't planned, either. I think people freak out if their first vacation doesn't look like the TV ads.

I can speak as a first timer that's not yet been to Disney, who will have a birthday celebration while there, and maybe explain a little. I've not heard the podcast in question but I can see where it's gone from this thread.

We will be in WDW for the first time, we don't know if we will ever make it back, let alone while our children are young. So the hyper planning I'm doing is jut trying to cram in as much Disney as possible

The birthday bit though - Consider that we are a family of 6, going for almost 2 weeks. I would love to celebrate my son's 10th birthday while there and he loves the idea of it too. He's not an ungrateful child by any means and yes it would be special just to be there
But - wouldn't it be nice to make that one day different from the rest? If Disney is always special, then that makes the birthday no more special than any other day of our trip - So anything I try to plan for Frazer's day is to show that it's his day, we are celebrating for him.

I'm not explaining this very well I think! I hope you get the idea

 

[Cap.Steamboat Willie]

Folks,
There is no right or wrong way to visit Walt Disney World.

We voiced and opinion and it was just that...an opinion.

Thanks,
Kevin

Excellent Point Kevin.

 

[lodgelady]

No one is suggesting that you not take advantage of everything WDW offers.


The response "isn't being at Disney special enough?" is more about enjoying what's already in front of you and readily available, rather then judging you for renting Sea Racers.

Exactly! Thank you, Kevin. We are totally NOT in attack mode here!