No we are not celebrating anything...

[tjmw2727]

just having a nice vacation getaway. Why is that so hard for some CM's - can't they just drop it after that?

Warning vent - this is a quick before school starts getaway for my dd's and I. I lost my DH suddenly and unexpectedly earlier this year, my dd's (14 and 12) and I are heartbroken but getting by day by day. We LOVE Disney and I thought this would be a fun little trip.

I get that its the year of "what will you celebrate" but when you say we are not celebrating I wish the CM's would not push. Yes they have good intentions, ie "there must be something you can celebrate", "Oh everyone has something to celebrate" and we frankly just don't feel like celebrating right now. A few times I have reluctantly mentioned the reason for the getaway and they still "invited me" to think of something??

I plan to make our trip to Disney special myself, with or without that extra cupcake at dinner. Trip is two days away and I am hoping the CM's at the park are less persistant about celebrating than the CM's on the telephone.

I did RSVP for the Mom's Illumination party since that is my older dd's favorite nighttime show at Disney. However since I haven't received confirmation yet I am not going to tell them, XX fingers the email comes through.

I know this is kind of random but my two fav boards are family and transportation so it felt most OT here.

TJ

 

[java]

I am sorry for your loss.

I hear you! When we went I joked with the cm "Well we're celebrating that we can afford to come back this year"

She giggled.

We check in and they say "Oh I see you are celebrating what is it you are celebrating?" all with buttons ready to go! When I told her she suggest just a I'm celebrating button.
I wanted to tell her where to stick those buttons but instead I just took them and went on our way. I never wore them.

But boy did everyone else! This is one of my least favorite promos. BRING BACK THE DREAM TEAM!

 

[Scurvy]

I am very sorry for your loss.

I so agree with you. I really hate this promotion - I'll be thrilled when it's over. I am tired of being asked what I am celebrating. A trip to WDW is quite enough; we don't need to make up some ridiculous thing to celebrate on top of that. I've hit the point where I am about to say "I'm celebrating not having been asked what I am celebrating for at least 5 minutes, but now that's over" just to see how they respond. (But of course I won't really do that, because I assume they don't have a choice about asking.)

Aside from the irritation at being asked about what we're celebrating so often, I really miss the days when people celebrated important things like birthdays once a year, not all the time. (I've been reading a thread where at least half of those who responded planned to celebrate their kids birthdays during their WDW trips no matter how long it would be from their actual birthdays, just because it's the year of celebrations.) This is like a "Celebration" version of "The Incredibles". . . every day is a celebration, so now the "real" celebrations aren't as special anymore.

 

[tjmw2727]

Thanks guys - that was hard to post, and please believe me I am no debbie downer!

I am thankful for every day and I do plan to make the trip special for my girls.

TJ

 

[emma'smom]

We were in WDW for dd7's birthday. DH's birthday is the next day, so he dutifully wore his "birthday button" on his birthday....until he was...ahem....using the facilities when a CM...using the facilities next to him....wished him a happy birthday. That was enough CM enthusiasm for him---off came the button!

 

[queenarmadillo]

I just got back from 2 weeks at WDW. It was my mum's birthday the day before we went, so they seemed to want us to celebrate that and it worked out well with the cupcake at character breakfast etc. as most of her real birthday was spent packing to go.

We were only asked a couple of times in the parks what we were celebrating, and I only met one persistent castmember who insisted on us celebrating something, so I dont think its so pushy once you get there (I guess they like to pin you down on a celebration when you're booking so they can have appropriate badges ready).

Probably not wearing the celebrating badges in the parks also helps to stop people from asking what you are celebrating; I think if you have passed up all the very obvious opportunities to have a badge they get the hint that you havent really bought into the idea.

Hope you have a great trip.

 

[3boymthr]

I'm so sorry for your loss.

We ran into the same problem earlier this year.

I posted about it as I just had to vent. I literally went round and round one day for about 20 minutes with one of the CMs. You are definitely not alone.

The good news is there was no mention of it at the hotel.

Some kind soul came up with a few clever rejoinders if the CM is really driving you crazy. One was "parole", then there was the list of made up holidays like Secretary's Day, etc.

 

[katyjeka]

I'm so sorry for your loss. I have to agree with you, as they almost make one feel guilty when you tell them your not celebrating something. My solution, I tell them we are celebrating our family, that's seems to make them back down. Have a great trip, noone is more deserving.

 

[tiggspring]

tjmw2727
I'm so sorry!!!!

I know how hard this year has been for you. My HS sweetheart and DH died after 7 yr together and 3 1/3 yrs married. I am blessed to be married again and have wonderful children but the pain is still there in the background. No matter when or how you lose them the first year is so hard. Its always the little things that seem to hurt the most like a CM happily saying "what are you celebrating? You want to tell others to back off but you don't want to be a kill joy either.

How wonderful that you were able to take your daughters to WDW. Keep grabbing the happiness with them where you can. It will help you keep moving. I have found people on these boards to be very kind too!

 

[kaismahma]

We were in WDW for dd7's birthday. DH's birthday is the next day, so he dutifully wore his "birthday button" on his birthday....until he was...ahem....using the facilities when a CM...using the facilities next to him....wished him a happy birthday. That was enough CM enthusiasm for him---off came the button!

Now that made me laugh so hard I thought I was going to pee my pants. My DH would have been mortified. Thanks for the great chuckle.

 

[K and K's Mommy]

OP I am so sorry for your loss.

For what it is worth, I don't like this promotion either. My reason seems petty compared to you though. My DD and I have our birthdays in the same week. It would have been great fun to go then, but there is no way. They are next week, and my kids cannot miss the second week of school.

Have a very nice trip, and I am sure it will be a lovely time for you and your DDs.

 

[pixiewings71]

OP, I'm so sorry for your loss! I hope you and your girls have a wonderful being together.

When we get asked we simply say "we are celebrating life and that we are here and together as a family" they usually like that.

 

[crystaldawn]

Hugs mama.

 

[Gwen412]

TJ - thanks so much for your post - you but into words what I was trying to pin down.

We leave in a few weeks - and we are going because we need a break - my Brother was killed in Jan. in a MVA- he was 27 - then I had a miscarriage and then my Dad died.

My Dad owned DVC points - which we are going to have to be sold to pay off estate date - but he had a lot of banked points that would likley expire before we can sell off the points..

So - we are going to Disney to try to recoup after a tragic and stressful 6 months- how is that for celebrating? I have HATED every time they ask.....

We are going to have Breakfast at the Castle - and we are giving that to DD as an early b-day present (her b-day is 3 weeks after the trip) - so I did tell them we are celebrating her Birthday that day - but as far as the rest - UGH!

Sorry to vent - Gwen

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

I'm sorry for everyones losses.

I am very sorry for your loss.

I so agree with you. I really hate this promotion - I'll be thrilled when it's over.

I'm like this about most promotions in recent years---

The pink birthday cake.

The 1 million dreams...


Sometimes we gotta remember that folks go to the parks for a million and one different reasons.

My favorite theme years was their 15 year celebration. I so remember the parade....

"FIFTEEN YEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEARS....WE'RE HAVING A PA-ARTY at DIS....NEEEEEEY...WORLLLLLD. FIFTEEEEENNNNNNNNNN YEARS, WE'RE GOING TO PARTY ALL YEAR LONG."

I'm not sure if that's the year they started theming--but I loved it. Unfortunately, I Can't get that song out of my head.




"What are you celebrating?"

"That I am able to control the urge to shove that pin up your ."


Though that might land you on a special private tour of Disney Jail.

 

[Scurvy]

TJ - thanks so much for your post - you but into words what I was trying to pin down.

We leave in a few weeks - and we are going because we need a break - my Brother was killed in Jan. in a MVA- he was 27 - then I had a miscarriage and then my Dad died.

My Dad owned DVC points - which we are going to have to be sold to pay off estate date - but he had a lot of banked points that would likley expire before we can sell off the points..

So - we are going to Disney to try to recoup after a tragic and stressful 6 months- how is that for celebrating? I have HATED every time they ask.....

We are going to have Breakfast at the Castle - and we are giving that to DD as an early b-day present (her b-day is 3 weeks after the trip) - so I did tell them we are celebrating her Birthday that day - but as far as the rest - UGH!

Sorry to vent - Gwen

I'm so sorry that your family has had such a bad few months.


The first time we went after the promotion started, they were worse in person than on the phone. I think every cast member we encountered asked what we were celebrating. The last time we were there (in July) no one asked except the people on the phone. I don't know if they got tired of asking or if they got lots of bad reactions from people, but it has gotten much better. I did see a few people with carts full of buttons asking the people who approached them if they'd like a button, but it was much more low key. I think that as long as you only approach the people with buttons if you want to tell them what you're celebrating you shouldn't have too many people asking you.

Lisa loves Pooh - I remeber the 15 years promotion. My favorite was the 25 Years of Magic. . .I think that might have been the one with the cake. (maybe?) I loved the song they kept playing - "It's TIME to rememmmmmber the magic. . ." Now that they do the promotions Every.Single.Year I really miss the plain old parks, without all the banners and "extras" everywhere.

 

[kwitcherkicken99]

I'm sorry to hear about your unexpected loss.

Why don't you tell them you are celebrating being together? Celebrating NOT celebrating??

I think this trip is a wonderful idea for your family and I applaud you being caring enough to do this for yourself and your kids.

 

[tjmw2727]

Thanks everyone for the support, hugs, understanding and good ideas ! I am less apprehensive about the CM's at the parks now.

to you "Gwen412" stay strong and enjoy!

TJ

 

[Manda]

We went in June and weren't celebrating anything and they kept trying to insist I was celebrating something (anything!) when I called on the phone. Really, nothing. Just going on vacation. It was irritating and I wasn't going to create something just to celebrate that I wouldn't normally celebrate.

In the words of the great Mr. Incredible: "It's psychotic! They keep creating new ways to celebrate mediocrity!"

Nobody said a single thing about it once we got to the resort/parks though. I think you'll be fine.

And hugs to you and your family.

 

[Poohbug]

Wow, I can't believe that they are pushing this so much.

I had a CM ask if I was celebrating anything on the phone and I said "No" and that was the last I heard of it. On the actual trip no one said anything about the promo the whole week.

OP-I hope you have a nice trip and no one bothers you with questions about what you are celebrating.