Not sure where to address this

[wendydarling826]

I've been mulling over whether or not to bring this up or address my feelings to anyone in the Disney organization, and if I do, I don't even know to whom I would address it. DH and I took our grandnephew on a surprise trip to WDW for his 9th birthday earlier this month. We had an absolutely wonderful time, and I don't mean this to sound like complaining. I am not one who feels entitled to special treatment or to more than I pay for. I have, however, many times been delighted by the little extra things that have made our Disney trips so special, and I wonder if in this era of cutbacks Disney is putting less emphasis on making those little extra touches part of their guests' experience. Here's what's been bothering me since our trip:
When I made the reservation, I was asked if we would be celebrating a special occasion. I provided the information that we were celebrating my nephew's 9th birthday. The system even prompts "tell us more about the person being honored". At every restaurant where I made ADR's, the same question was asked, and I noted on every reservation that we were celebrating his 9th birthday. At 3 of the restaurants, Sci-fi, Beaches and Cream, and the character breakfast at the Grand Floridian,I confirmed upon checkin that it was noted that we were celebrating his birthday. And....... NOTHING! Not a song, not a cupcake - nothing anywhere! If it were myself, I wouldn't care - but for a child I would think there would be some acknowledgement. In years past, we have celebrated other occasions - I once had balloons and a card signed by Mickey delivered to our room, a happy birthday phone call from Mickey, and cupcakes with candles at some of the restaurants. As I said, I don't feel entitled and do not expect something for nothing, but why do they ask then if you're celebrating an occasion? And for me, the worst thought of all is that Disney is doing away with the "go the extra mile" approach that has made me such a happy and satisfied customer. Maybe it was coincidence, and he didn't leave feeling he had missed out on anything. I just wished there had been one of those extra magical moments for him.
Disney is always looking for feedback via their surveys. I wonder if I should express my thoughts about this to them, and if so to whom? Maybe I've just gotten spoiled - what do you think?

 

[OKW Lover]

Those sound like perfectly valid observations and I agree that some feedback to Disney is in order. After all, they need to know that people notice when the Disney quality slips.

You can mail Disney Guest Relations using the standard mail address:
Guest Relations
PO Box 10,000
Lake Buena Vista, FL 32830

 

[WaltD4Me]

Not unreasonable or entitled at all IMHO. If you are going to ask the question (repeatedly) ... stick a candle in a cupcake and wish 'em a Happy Birthday Disney.

 

[mikelan6]

I blame the WDW reservation system. It stinks. I don't think any of the comments made in their system every actually reaches the destination.

 

[pilgrimr]

Agree with the others. They should not be asking the questions if don't intend to do something about it. I think you should write to guest relations to let them know your feeling. It can only help them in the long run.

 

[loriandmatt]

were you staying onsite? (not that one should have to in order to get special treatment) my daughter happens to have her birthday when we are there each year and when we check in they notice this and offer her a birthday button to wear. i know that you can ask for one of these buttons (for free) at any resort and at guest relations at any of the parks.

with that button on, she gets noticed all the time. i too get asked about birthdays when making dining reservations, but that never seems to get brought up. it is only because of her wearing that button that she gets a small token of magic.

next time, get a button and wear that sucker.

 

[DSNYDREAMER]

I blame the WDW reservation system. It stinks. I don't think any of the comments made in their system every actually reaches the destination.

This is often the case!

 

[wendydarling826]

We were staying onsite - we are DVC members and were staying at SSR. I did online checkin, so I didn't get the button at checkin. I should have asked for it when we got our Welcome Home packet but didn't think of it. I think I will write to Guest Relations.

 

[medicjch]

Not unreasonable or entitled at all IMHO. If you are going to ask the question (repeatedly) ... stick a candle in a cupcake and wish 'em a Happy Birthday Disney.

Agreed!

They ask multiple times so you would think they would be asking for a reason....right? I've been a couple of times on my birthday and worn my button......I've gotten nothing other than a Happy Birthday. No big deal to me, but seriously, if you are going to ask "are you celebrating anything?" 100 different times, then it kinda lends itself to some thought that you might get a treat. I'm not talking about a night in the castle, room upgrade, free night.... while those would all be super awesome a candle in a cupcake would do wonders!

 

[chainkid]

It kind of bugs me too as i have been several times when a family member has a special event and have been asked with each and every reservation if there is a special event and not once have we ever received any acknowledgement period. I frankly don't care but don't pretend that it matters to them to make your day alittle special. My son is an adult now and if he got a button he probably wouldn't wear it anyway as he hates to draw attention to himself but when I want to do something special I have to plan it and even then disney failed to bring out a cake once that I had ordered even after telling the server that it was there. So they should just end the whole thing and let the parents plan there own treat rather than letting people think they will get somethign special on arrival. Don't get me wrong I love disney but it is worse to think they care than to realize its just a business no more no less

 

[hapandpam]

I have to say I have noticed this as well. We celebrated DD's graduation at WDW and we were asked numerous times when making reservations. No one ever mentioned it.

 

[FloridaDreaming]

I could understand if they asked once, when making your resort reservation for marketing purposes. If they're trying to see who comes to Disney to celebrate something. But, I do agree, if you're going to repeatedly ask at every possible chance what someone is celebrating, a cupcake or at least a little Mickey confetti on the table would be appreciated.

 

[paperdoll1986]

Agree with the others. They should not be asking the questions if don't intend to do something about it. I think you should write to guest relations to let them know your feeling. It can only help them in the long run.

Agreed. It would be one thing if they didn't ask...but why ask if you're not gonna have at least a stinkin' balloon/pin/cupcake/lollipop/hand shake/etc?

 

[papamouse1]

Wow!! I could not have worded it any better. We had the same experience in March 2010 for my youngest DD's b-day. We were there for a full week, she got the button and wore it every day, we noted it on at least a dozen ressies, and not one single thing happened.... none. Actually, there were a handful of CM's in the parks who saw the button and just said "Happy Birthday". It probably wouldn't have been a big deal if I hadn't made such a big deal to her about wearing the button. She almost felt embarrased... that one was on me. We never complained (maybe a little note to GR would have been good) and we had a great time, but it is a sad change in how Disney used to be

I blame the WDW reservation system. It stinks. I don't think any of the comments made in their system every actually reaches the destination.

You may be right Mike, but I will say we had a few of the ressies actually mention to us that "we see PJ's celebrating a birthday!" ... so it was in the system. Sad thing was, they mentioned it but then did nothing <sigh>

 

[GaSleepingBeautyFan]

I agree.

My kids birthdays are 2 days apart. We celebrated my son's on one day and my daughters on another. This was during the What will you celebrate first year.

Both days we had ADR's. I had mentioned the birthdays in the ressies for the ADR's. And in our room ressie.

At no time were their birthdays acknowledged during those 2 ADR's. To add insult to injury during our Plaza ressie, the boy at the table next to ours got a cupcake, and the mayor came in and had everyone sing Happy Birthday to him.

That was my Daughters birthday - she was wearing her birthday pin. She never even got a Happy Birthday from our waitress. I tried not to let it bother me but it did. Luckily we had cupcakes in our room for the kids birthdays and I'd picked up a balloon in the park for her (my son didn't want one).

She asked me later if that boys parents had paid for that to happen. So her feelings wouldn't be hurt, I lied and said they must have and if I'd known you could do that I'd have done it for her too. I hope that made her feel better.

My son is older and said he was glad no one acknowledged his birthday because he said he would have been embarrassed. I still don't think it was right.

I would prefer that they wouldn't do anything and let the people do their own things. Either that or make sure that everyone who has celebrations noted on ADR's or wears the celebration button, gets a cupcake.

 

[WebmasterMaryJo]

I had the same type of experience happen when I took my nephews to Disneyland for their birthdays. They had turned 6 and 8, and so we stayed at the Paradise Pier Hotel, and had breakfast at Goofy's Kitchen. I didn't tell them anything so they would be surprised, and was so glad I didn't because if I didn't pay extra for it their birthdays weren't recognized.

I'm happy for those who have wonderful experiences and surprises for their birthdays, but it taught me not to expect anything.

They boys and their parents still had a wonderful time.

 

[rainydayplay]

We've gotten to where we go during the week of my and my DD's birthdays (a day apart). We have had some neat stuff happen in some places and nothing in others. We've learned pretty well to expect nothing and be pleasantly surprised when we get something.

This year, we're planning to go down the same week, but taking my DB and his wife. Her birthday is also near ours, as is their wedding anniversary, and it will be her first visit. We've shared stories, but also prepped with the "wear buttons but expect nothing more than a congratulations on the anniversary, how is your first visit, and happy birthday every so often.