Just back from Disney: news about birthdays

[Stephres]

Hi, we just got back from Disney today and I just wanted to let anyone planning upcoming trips know that we were very disappointed in the princess lunch at Restaurant Akershus. It was our daughter's third birthday so when we checked in we let them know to be told "the princesses don't sing." Our service was so slow our daughter was losing it so we gave her a pb&j sandwich we packed. When we finally did get waited on, we tried to explain that she had already eaten but we still had to pay for her lunch (which was the exact same smuckers pb&j sandwich we gave her!). The princesses breezed by and spent no time with her, did not make a big deal about her birthday, just stopped and said to her, "turn around and look at Mommy so she can take our picture." Then they were off. They totally ignored my five year old son (which was not a big deal, but still!). When we finally got our bill it was $90!

Later we went to Beaches and Cream and told our waitress it was ger birthday and she flickered the light, announced the birthday and everyone sang to her. Then she brought her a Mickey Mouse Sundae with a candle on it and everyone clapped when she blew it out. She is still talking about blowing out the candle and everyone singing while she hardly mentions the princesses!

I guess live and learn! So when they say they don't make a big deal about birthdays, take that as they make no deal about it!

 

[Third times a charm]

That is really terrible. Obviously your daughter and son are none the worse for it, but as a parent you plan so much and want everything to be perfect to think you paid $90 and the princesses didn't fuss over your princess is very discouraging. And why only a PB&J sandwich? Did you know that's what was going to be served? What did you have to eat?

 

[happygirl]

That is horrible

 

[ksoehrlein]

Unlike your DD, we lucked out with tons of magic for DD's 5th birthday last week (sorry!), but we also noticed that the biggest fuss was made over her at places that don't normally cater to celebrating children.

Although she did get the birthday placemat and cupcake at both CRT and Chef Mickey's, she had the most attention at Le Cellier, where they made her a Jr Chef and allowed her to assemble her own chocolate "moose" with the help of Chef David. Meanwhile, Chef Mickey's only did that "Celebrate" song with an announcement that this was to celebrate everyone's bdays, anniversaries, graduations, etc, etc. It was still nice, but just not as special or individualized as I had hoped. I guess it's hard to be enthusiastic when your on your 8th or 9th birthday child of the day, but that's no excuse for your experience at PSB.

I'm sorry your PSB lunch experience was so disappointing. Did your children have autograph books? I've found that those tend to cause the "face" characters to spend a little more time chatting with each child because stopping to sign slows them down a bit.

 

[Trinity721]

That's horrible! I'm sorry you didn't have a good experience, especially on your DD's birthday. After hearing all the neat things that have happened to other DISers and their children, I am really surprised. You would have thought they would have done something, anything! That is really disappointing.

Our experience at PSB for dinner was quite nice, but it was our first character meal and I really wasn't expecting too much. But it was very nice for us, and DD enjoyed herself.

 

[Stephres]

Third times a charm, you are exactly right: the kids are none the worse for the experience. As a mom, you just want everything to be perfect and when it's not and your DH is not happy about the money you just spent, it's frustrating.

To be honest, the kids were given an appetizer plate to cheese, crackers and "troll mix" (trail mix) and then a plate with the smuckers pb&j and grapes. So it was plenty of food for them. I was just astonished that it was the exact same sandwich I had just given her.

She did have a great time at Beaches and Cream, so I think ksoehrlein is right: for birthdays you might want to try a restaurant where the cast members will make more of a fuss, rather than characters that rush by.

 

[Schmeck]

Were you told beforehand that the 'princesses' do something out of the ordinary if it is the child's birthday? If so, then you have the right to be disappointed that they did not acknowledge the birthday. But I don't remember ever hearing about a 'birthday service' of any kind there.

 

[meandtheguys2]

Were you told beforehand that the 'princesses' do something out of the ordinary if it is the child's birthday? If so, then you have the right to be disappointed that they did not acknowledge the birthday. But I don't remember ever hearing about a 'birthday service' of any kind there.

Spending just long enough to get a photo with a 3 year old birthday girl is less than should be expected. Actualy, birthday or not, the people who book these have a right to expect more than that for their time effort and money.

Thank goodness I have boys!

 

[disneyjunkie]

She did have a great time at Beaches and Cream, so I think ksoehrlein is right: for birthdays you might want to try a restaurant where the cast members will make more of a fuss, rather than characters that rush by.

I don't think anyone should expect the CMs to make a fuss over a birthday or any celebration. You never know what may be going on that can prevent them from going all out for ALL guest. Just because it was done at B&C for the OP, doesn't mean it happens all the time.



Many times we read all the great things that have happened to other DISers and we tend to forget that nothing is guaranteed.

 

[fireman17]

On our trip 5/2 - 5/11 our DS birthday was celebrated on 5/2 at Chef Mickey's our DD birthday is 6/5 so they each had a cupcake with a candle on it. Al the charaters came over after the celebration song was sung and waited until our children blew out the candles.
There were other children that had the same attention given to them as well and we thought that was great but, the topper was the bus ride back to the resort. The driver was great he was telling jokes and keeping us amused then he asked if it was anyone anniversary or birthday, well we all yelled it was our DS birthday he then had the entire bus sing happy birthday to our DS.
I thought that was top notch for our driver to do and, when we got to our resort our DS gave him a great big hug.
I thinnk he'll remember that for a while...

 

[huey duey & luey]

I don't think anyone should expect the CMs to make a fuss over a birthday or any celebration. You never know what may be going on that can prevent them from going all out for ALL guest. Just because it was done at B&C for the OP, doesn't mean it happens all the time.



Many times we read all the great things that have happened to other DISers and we tend to forget that nothing is guaranteed.

I have to disagree. I really don't think it is unusual to expect a little special treatment for a special ocassion, especially a child's bday at WDW. If you went to Applebee's they would get special treatment, why not a restaurant in WDw that cater's to children? If she was a little older she would have been diappointed
Tara

 

[eeyore45]

I have to disagree. I really don't think it is unusual to expect a little special treatment for a special ocassion, especially a child's bday at WDW. If you went to Applebee's they would get special treatment, why not a restaurant in WDw that cater's to children? If she was a little older she would have been diappointed
Tara

Unfortunately I believe that people take advantage of Disney, expecting "freebies".... also, its expensive for most to go to WDW, so they take advantage of "near' bdays, or "near" anniversaries and "celebrate" the day as if it were the "special" day... like Alice, its everyone's "unbirthday"...

and I've also noticed how some will celebrate the whole week - expecting "special" treatment at each place - 3 - 5 places?? Its no wonder that the magic expires in quite a few CM's, its not an excuse, but an understanding of such...

here's a poster who had 3 different places : "Although she did get the birthday placemat and cupcake at both CRT and Chef Mickey's, she had the most attention at Le Cellier," that's one busy 5 yr old!

Sometimes its luck,(maybe its a good whine?) sometimes its a well organized parent... for us, DD and my mom will be celebrating bdays, I plan on getting a "free" pin, and ordering special cakes (and paying for them) and ordering special items from the WDW Florist (and paying for it) Like last year, it was noted on our ressies (for food, and resort - the Polynesian) that it was our 25th anniversary, and we got nothing "special" but I made sure it was "magical"!!!

 

[huey duey & luey]

I didn't necessarily mean freebies, but I think a little bit of attention isn't unreasonable. The op stated that it wasn't even mentioned by the princesses

 

[KerriMc]

I'm sorry you didn't have that "magical" experience. We celebrated dd's 4th birthday at Cinderella's Gala Feast at 1900 Park Faire and we had a wonderful time. It wasn't over done, but they did acknowledge her and Cinderella was there when they sang Happy Birthday. Cinderella gave her a princess crown to wear that said "Happy Birthday" and the placemat. We had ordered a cake so they brought that out before dinner as she was going to be on our side of the room then, but that was ok as the kids attention was better at that point anyways . She wasn't overly fussed on, but just enough to make her feel really special ... like a little girl deserves to feel on her birthday. We can't wait to do it all again next year. The only thing different this time will be that we won't order a cake because at a buffet you want to enjoy the desserts and really don't have room for cake. We ended up eating cake for the week we were there (so much for that South Beach Diet thing ... ) . So yes ... we will want that freebie of that cupcake ... woohoo ... and that cheap signed placemat (that dd adores mind you) ... I really don't think that is too much to ask!

Kerri

 

[Alicnwondrln]

Spending just long enough to get a photo with a 3 year old birthday girl is less than should be expected. Actualy, birthday or not, the people who book these have a right to expect more than that for their time effort and money.

Thank goodness I have boys!

this is sooo how i feel
thank go di have 2 sons
im sure daughters are great but......

 

[MrsPete]

Unfortunately I believe that people take advantage of Disney, expecting "freebies".... also, its expensive for most to go to WDW, so they take advantage of "near' bdays, or "near" anniversaries and "celebrate" the day as if it were the "special" day... like Alice, its everyone's "unbirthday"...

This is exactly what I was going to say. We hear of soooo many people going to WDW for children's birthdays; if the character meals did songs, etc. for everyone's "birthdays", they'd only be able to serve half the people who now enjoy the restaurants.

Also, the characters have a "rotation" across the room. If you pay attention, you'll notice it. The princesses are purposefully divided so that they're in different parts of the room. If they had to come together to sing, it'd throw off the entire restaurant's schedule.

Why could Beaches and Cream do more? They're much smaller (what do they have anyway? Seven tables?), and they aren't orchestrating the number of characters, servers, and customers that the princess breakfasts handle.

Parents make a big deal of birthdays.
Restaurants serve food.

 

[disneyjunkie]

Parents make a big deal of birthdays.
Restaurants serve food.

 

[Stephres]

Yes restaurants serve food, but charcter themed restaurants do say they offer more. I was just disappointed that there was just so little interaction with my daughter considering the amount of money we spent on lunch, whether it was her birthday or not. I had to mention it was her birthday to each princess even though she was wearing the pin. Also, they do rotate around, but they came out one right after the other. I think if they would have started earlier in the meal and had more time in between it would have been a more enjoyable experience for everyone.

I also was not expecting a lot of free gifts. I tried to order (and pay for) a birthday cake at the restaurant the day before we went and was told desert was included and they could not help me with a birthday cake.

I guess I was frustrated because I build this experience up in my mind and it was disappointing. Of course my three year old was happy. I just wanted to warn other parents so they wouldn't feel disappointed.

 

[disneychrista]

I guess I was frustrated because I build this experience up in my mind and it was disappointing.

Did you build this experience on facts or fantasy? I am sorry that you were disapointed but from the sound of it your DD wasn't and after all it was her birthday. I understand wanting to make your child's birthday special but sometimes we, the parent. need more then the child.

When I first was doing research for our WDW trip I heard people talk about how you could eat with the princesses at Cinderella Castle. I thought the princesses actually sat down and ate with the guests. It was not until much later that I found out that you don't really eat with the princesses but they come and "visit" with you (for about 2 min at best) while you are eating. If I had gone in thinking they really ate with you I would have been very disapointed but I am sure my DD would have been just as thrilled to have them visit even if for 30 sec to say Hi.

 

[Stephres]

I based my expectations on the messages I read on this very board about birthdays. I have stated several times that my child was not adversely effected by the experience.