New Theme "What Will You Celebrate?" Free Entry to Disney on Your Birthday!

[WaltD4Me]

Big announcement. 2009 Theme "What Will You Celebrate at Disney?" and you get free entry to Disney parks on your actual birthday.

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NEW YORK (Sept. 18, 2008) – Everyone who visits a Walt Disney World Resort or Disneyland Resort theme park on their birthday in 2009 can get in free, as Disney Parks embraces a newly identified family travel trend called “celebration vacations.”

In this new national trend, American families are hitting the road to mark life’s special occasions – birthdays, anniversaries, graduations, reunions and more – with a “celebration vacation.” In 2009, Walt Disney World and Disneyland Resorts will lead this growing trend with new entertainment and services that allow guests to turn their personal milestones into magical Disney experiences.

And to kick it all off – a first-ever opportunity for guests to receive a free ticket to one of the Walt Disney World or Disneyland theme parks on their birthday in 2009.

“Birthdays are the one occasion that we all share every year,” said Jay Rasulo, chairman of Walt Disney Parks and Resorts, at an announcement event today in New York. “We thought a free birthday ticket would be the icing on the cake as we extend this new ‘celebration vacation’ trend to Disney Parks.”

Disney parks provide the perfect setting for this new style of vacation that celebrates the special occasions in life, Rasulo added.

Whether a guest is celebrating a birthday, an anniversary, Quinceañera or any special occasion, Disney parks already are filled with favorite characters, world-class attractions and entertainment, and legendary guest service – exactly the “something for everyone” that trend-watchers say families look for in a “celebration vacation.”

“The special moments in your life become truly magical when you celebrate at a Disney park,” Rasulo said. “Sharing a milestone at Disney connects families, friends and generations.”

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Eh. I liked the "Where Dreams Come True" theme better.

 

[IWISHFORDISNEY]

Not to crazy about this either. Most FL residents probly have a AP. Even if they dont a free ticket for one person on their birthday means the rest of the family pays ( which might not be in their budget). Most people who are going for their birthday are not traveling alone so even if they get one free day the rest of the group doenst. I really dont see this as beneficial to the public. It is nice and all but not really a help in my opinion. The whole theme is sort of eeehhh. I love the excitement of year of a million dreams with the chance to win a stay in the castle. I have always thought now that is a one in a million dream come true.

 

[BellaOfTheWorld]

I like Year Of A Million Dreams better. Much better.

Although, this is cool (just received this in the Disney Destinations email):

A Disney Birthday Present For Every Passholder!
Since birthdays are the one celebration we all share, let's start with a magical birthday present. On your birthday in 2009, you can receive free admission to one of the Theme Parks of the Walt Disney World Resort. Or if you use your Pass for admission on your birthday, you can choose one of the following treats:


A special birthday FASTPASS® ticket† for certain attractions at the Theme Park you visit on your birthday; or

A Birthday Fun Card in an amount equal to the price of a 1-Day Magic Your Way Base Ticket* for you to use on your birthday for merchandise, recreation or fun activities at select participating locations at the Walt Disney World Resort; or

A 1-Day Magic Your Way Base Ticket for you to use any time until your next birthday.

The middle option is really cool for us passholders who won't get much use out of the free ticket. Unless I misunderstand, that's a $75 gift certificate, basically...

 

[IWISHFORDISNEY]

Now giving passholders that perk is a great thing. That makes sense

 

[BellaOfTheWorld]

Now that I think about this, it's actually a great marketing campaign, in my opinion.

Disney knows that offering a FREE DAY at one of their parks for a person celebrating their birthday will lead to longer stays then just the one day. There's now something tangible that EVERYONE can get if they visit during a birthday. With YOAMD, you might not get anything, although some of the things you COULD get are really awesome (Cindy's castle suite, dream fastpasses, etc.). This, however, is something that's guaranteed. It will likely lure a lot of people to the parks and it will in turn become a longer stay - meaning more money in WDW/DL's pockets simply because of the one free day. It gives people something tangible to grasp, instead of possibly winning a dream (if you're lucky).

And yes, the special fastpass and gift certificate for passholders are great ways to not alienate that segment of their audience because they have no need for a free day.

From a passholder standpoint, I like it. And I think it's a very smart gameplan by Disney to get people to aim at coming to Disney, and then extend their stay because of this promotion.

 

[PrincessKsMom]

Sorry, but I think this is basically useless. I can't believe that people who don't live near Disney will now run out a book a trip to get one day admission free. I have my vacation already booked for next year, but there's no way I could go for either my birthday or my daughter's because they are both during the school year. I wouldn't even be able to attend if they changed it to "anytime during your birth month". At least during YOMD, everyone had the opportunity to participate because it was strictly random.

 

[Pipes5780]

I agree, as far a promotions go this is pretty much a waste...especially when compared to YOMD. Although I am ecstatic in thinking that the Dreams Come True parade will finally be changed and revamped...

 

[starwood]

We are going on DCL in July. DS's birthday is Castaway Cay day. We are going to WDW the day after his birthday. So we are going to miss getting him free admission by one day.

 

[WaltD4Me]

I usually go to WDW for birthday and am planning to again in 2009, but if you think about this, if you are getting a package, basically that day is "included" anyway, are they going to give you a discount that equals one day off your package? Or for me, I have a 10 day non-expiring ticket, while I won't have to use one of those days, it still really only works out to a $43 savings for me (saving one day of use on the 10 day ticket) I would like this better if they gave you a choice. I would rather have the FP's or the fun card gift certificate.

 

[rtobe]

too bad I have to wait till 2009 going this year for first time on actual birthday but probably won't get to go again on my actual birthday since too close to Christmas