Out to cast members??

[wdw_nutz]

Hello...

We have only 8 weeks till our trip now and are very excited! We've upgraded to a one-bed at SSR and DxDP so really feel we'll be in luxury for 2 weeks.

Anyway, every time I call Disney (for dining/info/events etc) they ask "and are you celebrating anything whilst in the World?"

So then I get all tongue-tied *** what we're celebrating is being togehter for a year. And I'm not uncomfortable with that in any way, but I worry that if I say that then THEY will be uncomfortable.
SO my question is, do you say if you're celebrating an anniversary etc with your partner? Have you had any bad reactions or confusion from cast members because of this? I don't want uncomfortable moments on the phone or whilst we're there...

Anway I just wondered if any of you make a big deal of your celebrations and if it's met with anything other than Disney charm.

Thanks for your input...

D
xx

 

[jackskellingtonsgirl]

I would imagine they hear about a lot of partners celebrating anniversaries. Go ahead and add your celebration! And congrats!

 

[itsmuggsie]

My Partner and I celebrated our anniversary last year at the MK and had lunch at Kona Cafe, we got anniversary buttons and met with nothing but the usual Disney Charm. Every cast member we passed said happy anniversary and some even stopped and asked how long we were together.

 

[sullyandsid]

On our anniversary we were at Prime Time Cafe for dinner - the cast member was great. She even had the family on the next table all sign a card for us! Just relax - they will be fine.

 

[dmwang9]

I happen to be at WDW right now, and yesterday in the MK, during dinner at Pecos Bill's I sat next to two guys wearing Just Married buttons and Mickey Groom ears. I congratulated them and we started talking. At one point, someone walked past us looking for a table, and she remarked rather loudly to one of her companions, "I can't believe that Disney lets THOSE kind of people in here." Before any of us could say or do anything, a Cast Member who happened to be nearby moved in and said, "Disney Magic is for everyone, ma'am. Are you and your party looking for seating? There are some empty tables in the next room over. Let me help you find a place." And with that, she ushered them into the next room. A minute later, she came back and apologized to us for the unpleasantness -- as though she had anything to apologize for! We thanked her for her quick intervention, and she went on her way.

The upshot of all of this is that IMO, if you and your partner want to celebrate your anniversary, then by all means go for it. The CM's will be with you 100% of the way.

-- Dave

P.S. On my way out of the park, I stopped by Guest Relations and filled out a comment card in which I commended that CM for doing what she did. I know that Disney values positive feedback about its workers as much as it does negative.

 

[zeitzeuge]

When we went to WDW a few months ago, we let everyone know we were celebrating our 3rd year anniversary. No one blinked and eye and everyone treated us like royalty. Loved it.

The only time we had some issues was in the parks, wearing our anniversary buttons. Got ignored by most CM's, not all, but that's about it.

I say tell them.

 

[Crashdown]

There was a couple walking in front of me at Epcot that was celebrating 20+ years. It was one of those cases where we were kind of in sync with them for a while. I saw several cast members congratulate them and one of the CM’s asked what anniversary (that’s when I heard how long they were together). All in all, it was pretty cool.

 

[Gypsybear]

Yup, we let them know...and when we checked in, the CM at the counter asked us how many year, and she wrote 9 on our buttons (which were already prepared in our packet)....and she congratulated us...

Most everyone we met Congratulated us, we even had one mom on the bus tell her little boy to congratulate us on our Anniversary...which was very sweet. He was celebrating his birthday!! So we had wished him a HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!

We only had 2 CMs not say a word, and we didn't let that slow us down or ruin our Magic in ANY way, shape or form.

So I say, GO FOR IT!!

 

[rpmdfw]

Hell, we celebrated our Big Fat Gay Disney Wedding there! There's no way that they'd have a problem celebrating our anniversary after that! .

Honestly, all of the Disney parks, and even the Disney Boats with DCL are awesome at making GLBT couples feel special when they're celebrating special events, just like they do with everyone else.

Don't be shy. Tell them, and they'll happily make a fuss over you!

 

[Sphyrna]

Whenever I was booking stuff for my Gay Days trip and they asked if I was celebrating anything I told them I was celebrating Gay Days. Don't worry about it, they won't have an issue.

 

[reiella]

I really don't think you'll have any issues. My awareness [which may not be the best or more accurate, I'll concede] is that Disney has a really good reputation for treating their LGBT employees and guests with dignity. Such that if folks would find it uncomfortable, they probably would not have tried to get a job at Disney.

Have fun and enjoy your celebration.

 

[brendrek]

I celebrated my anniversary with my DP back in '07, all the cast members were great. Now I'm hosting a table for one...

 

[hematite153]

I wouldn't worry about the CMs being uncomfortable. They're pretty used to same sex couples celebrating as openly as opposite sex couples while at WDW.

 

[ebrill29]

It's really nice to hear that you guys haven't experienced any negativity whilst in the World.

I feel much better about holding wdw_nutz's hand with pride now!

I'm getting more excited about my first trip to Disney World by the day. In fact, we're already talking about what we're going to book for next year and I haven't even been once yet... Think I'm hooked already!

 

[Sassagoula Billy]

At one point, someone walked past us looking for a table, and she remarked rather loudly to one of her companions, "I can't believe that Disney lets THOSE kind of people in here."

I'm always flabbergasted by this, since 90% of the CMs I've encountered are THOSE kind of people. Do ignorant guests not get the memo that WDW is NOT the place to go to avoid the gay community? It's almost like they see what they want to see.

 

[Timrobb]

we were just there (June 24 - July 3) and we were celebrating our 15 year anniversary. We wore anniversary pins the entire trip. We got a lot of "congratulations" and didn't encounter any negative comments.

Be who you are and do what your heart tells you to do!

 

[franandaj]

We celebrated 10 days for 10 years in 2007. We wore our Happy Anniversary Buttons all the time we were there (well except V&A's, but it was printed on our menu at the Chef's Table!). For the most part, we received wholehearted wishes of Happy Anniversary. There were a few CMs who tried to look the other way, but for the most part everyone was great to us.

As a PP said, if people can't realize that most of the CMs and patrons are on our side, they are in the wrong place!

 

[crimowls]

Seeing as how we had our wedding at Disney in June 2009 and then celebrated our 1 year there as well we have never had any issues. We get the buttons when we are there and talk to the CM's about the wedding ceremony and reception. Don't be shy about it, the CM's are definitely used to it and most of them are 110% happy and supportive.

 

[sylvester]

in May we are celebraiting our marriage of 12,5 years and also told the cast member of the cruiseline (when i made a reservation), it's our first cruise but went to disney world 4 times before, with our without our two daughters and never had a strange reaction.

 

[wallyb]

Be who you are and do what your heart tells you to do!

I get my advice from an organ located
a bit more south of the heart.