Non-birthday kid

[poohfriend77]

I'm looking at all the deals going on right now, and thinking we should book a trip in March for DDs 4th birthday. But I'm a little concerned that DD6 will feel a little left out, especially since from what I hear, the birthday kid gets recognized several times with cupcakes or whatever during the course of the trip. Has anyone had a kid feel left out or get hurt feelings, or does the magic of being at Disney overrule that? Did you do something special for the non-birthday kid?

It's not really an option to go for my older DDs birthday, because it's Jan. 8, which means she'd have to miss a week of school immediately following winter break. March just works out better all around.

 

[sueh]

We went in July and it was my exh birthday. The girls thought it was the best thing that they sang to him and also got a cupcake.
We will be going in Dec 09 for dd2 birthday. I plan on making the both a t-shirt, thanks to the disign group.
One for the birthday girl and the other for an unbirthday or something like that.
I think that it will be fine. The magic of it all seems to make everything better in Disney. lol

 

[katie111]

I just took my DS5 and DD6 and we just happened to leave on my DS's 5th b-day. It was a last minute trip, my DH couldn't get the time off and stayed home with my DS1 and my DD happened to have 2 days off from school so we went for a 5 day trip. We flew SW and my DD told the flight attendants it was his b-day and the whole plane actually sang happy birthday to him. This was just the beginning of his b-day celebration. When we arrived they gave him the B-day pin at check in. The next day we had lunch in Epcot at the italian restaurant. All the waitstaff came over & sang happy bday to him in italian. Both kids loved it!! That night he had an autographed picture from Mickey & balloons in our room when we got back. That's when DD started becoming a bit jealous. The next day she told him he couldn't wear his pin since it wasn't his b-day anymore. We went to dinner that night in Fort Wilderness & the waitstaff came over again to sing happy b-day and my daughter tells them that its not his real b-day anymore. This was a bit embarassing for me because they told us at checkin to wear the pin for our whole stay, and now I felt like they probably thought his b-day was the way before. For the rest of the stay sometimes he would wear the pin, sometimes he wouldn't. Overall my DD was okay with the whole thing, but she did ask a few times if she could wear his extra pin so people would think it was her b-day too. She's one that loves attention and she definitely was somewhat jealous However, this was a surprise trip and she was much happier to be at WDW for her brother's B-day than to not be there at all. Also, I kept stressing to her that we were not there for his b-day, we just happened to go on that day. Of course, now she keeps asking me if we can surprise her with a trip to WDW for her b-day, which is in June, so that's not going to happen (too crowded & too hot!). Bottomline, you will probably have some jealousy but the WDW magic definitely overrides it! I didn't do anything special for her, I felt like the trip itself was special enough.

 

[BellyBaby]

I wouldn't take one child to Disney for their birthday and not the other when they're so young. I'd be heartbroken if I was the non-birthday child. How could anything else even come close to a birthday at WDW?

I had 2 siblings, and I remember taking everything personally when it came to what each child received. Now I know better, but that's just how children's minds work. (Why wasn't MY birthday important enough to spend at Disney? ) It will be asked, maybe not out loud, but it will.

A 6 year old is well aware there's a big fuss - and none of it is for HER.

Yeah, I know - I have middle child syndrome - but for good reasons. I know kids think differently from adults and can interpret things many ways.

 

[livndisney]

I'm looking at all the deals going on right now, and thinking we should book a trip in March for DDs 4th birthday. But I'm a little concerned that DD6 will feel a little left out, especially since from what I hear, the birthday kid gets recognized several times with cupcakes or whatever during the course of the trip. Has anyone had a kid feel left out or get hurt feelings, or does the magic of being at Disney overrule that? Did you do something special for the non-birthday kid?

It's not really an option to go for my older DDs birthday, because it's Jan. 8, which means she'd have to miss a week of school immediately following winter break. March just works out better all around.

If you are concerned, why not celebrate the 4 year olds birthday-let them pick a meal, rides etc. Then another day celebrate the 6 year olds "un birthday" and let them pick a meal and rides.

 

[ScrapperBelle]

We went to WDW last May during my Bday week. We took our DD, DSIL, DgD and DS. At several restaurants, they had my bday already noted and brought out cake or cupcakes and different things like confetti, hats, placemats, etc. DH mentioned to the waiters that the trip was also a Christmas and Bday present for our granddaughter (her 1st bday was in March) and they were always very accomodating. Of course she usually wound up with my cupcake anyway , but many times they brought her a little hat (a bday tiara at the GF) and her own cupcake.

Don't worry, the cupcakes, cakes, etc. are usually big enough for at least 2 people to share!

I don't see anything wrong with celebrating one child's bday...but I would definitely have plans in the works for the 2nd child at another time.

 

[Aliceacc]

It's Disney.

Make up a pin celebrating his "unbirthday" and let him wear it if it will make him feel better.

 

[poohfriend77]

I wouldn't take one child to Disney for their birthday and not the other when they're so young. I'd be heartbroken if I was the non-birthday child. How could anything else even come close to a birthday at WDW?

I had 2 siblings, and I remember taking everything personally when it came to what each child received. Now I know better, but that's just how children's minds work. (Why wasn't MY birthday important enough to spend at Disney? ) It will be asked, maybe not out loud, but it will.

A 6 year old is well aware there's a big fuss - and none of it is for HER.

Yeah, I know - I have middle child syndrome - but for good reasons. I know kids think differently from adults and can interpret things many ways.

OP here-- I do appreciate your perspective. I'd never want to do anything to create rivalry between my girls. This definitely wouldn't be a "birthday present trip" for my younger DD, just a trip that happens to fall on her birthday. But I get where you're coming from.

To the other posters-- I love the idea of celebrating her "un-birthday" one day. We'd definitely hit BBB again, and her little sister doesn't want to do it, so that would be special just for her.

We're still checking into some other dates as well, but thanks for the input!

 

[amandaraye]

I am also in the same position as you. My nephew (my DS best buddy) is in Disney right now celebrating HIS 5th birthday, and our trip just happened to land on DDs birthday in April. My DS asked why he can't have his birthday in Disney. DS's birthday is only four weeks before our trip, So I decided to set aside one day just for him to be his celebration. I'll get him a birthday button and I think I'll make a reservatino at Coral Reef and have them make up a special menu for him.

Nothing wrong with celebrating an un-birthday in my opinion! Have a great time with your girls!!!

 

[design_mom]

If I were in your situation, I would let your child wear the birthday button and enjoy the extra attention on her ACTUAL birthday, but not all week. I think your other DD will understand that people get extra attention on their b-day (but all week would be a little "much.") And I'm sure you'll be doing something special for your other DD's b-day... it just won't be at WDW.

My birthday is in the summer and we were often on vacation -- sometimes at WDW -- on my birthday. We always did something special for it. However, I almost never had a "birthday party," and my sister had one nearly every year. Everyone got to do something special on their birthday, but it doesn't necessarily have to be the same thing.

The unbirthday pin/t-shirt is a cute idea for the non-birthday girl, too.

 

[jlstwinmommy]

We were in WDW last January for my older son's 10th birthday. He wore the birthday button most of the week (as they told him to when we checked in). My twins loved the attention he got as they did reap some of the benefits (one CM let us go to the front of the line at the speedway since it was his birthday). We did not have a birthday party for him since his birthday was celebrated at Disney.

My twins never had a problem with the attention he got. Maybe it is their personality. My DD wore her Cinderella dress and got her own attention with that. Her twin is a pretty easy going, keep to himself kind of kid anyway, so maybe that is why he didn't mind. DS10 did get a cupcake on his actual birthday at the Polynesian, but DS4 doesn't like treats, so he doesn't care about that stuff. We had other deserts for DD, so she was fine too.

I actually got more complaints from DS10 in October when my twins had their birthday party. He complained he didn't get a party until I reminded him that he got to have his birthday in Disney.

 

[stsomewhere]

We went on a cruise in JAn. It happened that My DD turned 7. MY DS-9 did not care at all- he was on a cruise. DD was. She was upset that she wasn't getting a big birthday party.

 

[Luv Bunnies]

I agree with one of the above posters. Have the birthday girl wear the button on her actual birthday. Have a birthday celebration at a restaurant on that day only. Make the rest of the week normal and equal for everyone. You may be at Disney, but it doesn't need to be her birthday all week. Make a big deal of it for one day, just as you will for the other child on her birthday. That way, everyone is treated equally. You won't need to worry about an unbirthday or any other extras. Just celebrate the birthday for one day and enjoy the rest of the week as a family.

 

[dislal]

I agree with one of the above posters. Have the birthday girl wear the button on her actual birthday. Have a birthday celebration at a restaurant on that day only. Make the rest of the week normal and equal for everyone. You may be at Disney, but it doesn't need to be her birthday all week. Make a big deal of it for one day, just as you will for the other child on her birthday. That way, everyone is treated equally. You won't need to worry about an unbirthday or any other extras. Just celebrate the birthday for one day and enjoy the rest of the week as a family.

I agree with this

I would just love to be in Disney I wouldn't care if someone else's birthday was celebrated all week.