Question about birthdays at table service restaurants

[mzscott81]

I have reservations for Chef Mickeys, Rainforest Café in Downtown Disney and Coral Reef. Our trip if for our 4 kids birthdays and I plan on getting them Birthday pins to wear when we get there. Do these restaurants do anything for birthdays and do I need to do anything in advance?

 

[chloelovesdisney]

We've gone on a few birthday trips. The TS restaurants have given an occasional cupcake, once there was some confetti on the table and a couple of times a signed character card. Sometimes nothing at all. It varies and I think more than the restaurant it just depends on your server.

 

[figment_jii]

Whether or not a restaurant does anything for a birthday is up to the discretion of the server, the restaurant's own policies, how busy they are, etc. You cannot count on anything being done unless you pay for it (e.g., order a cake). My family has gotten everything from a complementary dessert and confetti sprinkled on the table to the server saying "happy birthday" to no acknowledgement at all. Getting a birthday button is good, as well as noting the birthdays on the reservation (you have to call to do that). Still, none of this guarantees that anything will happen to celebrate the birthday(s).

 

[j37o]

Some of them do cupcakes, but we ordered the chocolate cake from Disney shaped like Minnie's head. It was very yummy! Sadly, our server botched the entire thing because he didn't look at our reservation. So he brought out the free cupcake and had everyone sing. Then I pulled him aside and said I had ordered the cake so he looked at our reservation finally, got the cake and they all sang again. So if you do order the cake, just be sure to pull your server aside and make sure they looked at your reservation. My daughter didn't care - she ended up with a cupcake AND a cake.

 

[Newsies]

Yes yes yes yes!!! When we went for my sister's birthday, we had two table service meals- Chef Mickey's and Be Our Guest. She wore her button and got not only a cupcake (even at breakfast!), but also signed birthday cards from The Fab Five at CM, and Belle and the Beast at BOG! It was so much fun!!!

 

[Dis703]

Like others said it's hit or miss and there are no guarantees. We've celebrated anniversaries and a birthday on our last few trips and never got anything special aside from birthday wishes. Being as this is for your kids you may want to make sure to plan something like order a cake if you want to be sure they have a birthday celebration.

 

[Mum23]

We were there for a week when DS was turning 3 and didn't receive anything at any TS.

 

[Disney Khaleesi]

You can note it on the reservations. However, it's really up to the discretion of the server. You can receive anything from a cupcake, to mickey confetti, to a happy birthday song, or absolutely nothing.

If I'm understanding correctly you will be celebrating all four of your children's birthdays while there? Keep in mind with that many birthdays the server may feel more obligated not to do anything at all since it would be a lot to do. However, you will receive lots of happy birthdays from cast members around the parks, which is pretty special in itself!

 

[butterfly71076]

I wouldn't go in expecting anything, but be happy if there is some confetti or a cupcake. We have also ordered cakes, which made the whole experience that much better. I didn't need the think if the server would do something, because I already did. We too have gotten a Mickey head cake for my DS, and a Minnie head for my niece. Both are huge and delicious! Maybe that would be a good idea for you, OP. Order a cake for one TS meal and celebrate all 4 birthdays that night. The Mickey/Minnie head cakes run around $50, and are well worth the money. Check out the Cake Chatter thread for more info! Hope you have an amazing trip!

http://www.disboards.com/threads/official-disney-cake-chatter-part-iv.3261922/

 

[gem21]

It definitely is hit or miss, probably some restaurants do it more frequently than others. When I went for my birthday in May 2013, we ate at 7 restaurants and 4 restaurants did something special

Mama Melrose, WCC and Garden Grill didn't do anything as far as I remember. The server at WCC was funny and did wish me a Happy Birthday, but nothing special.

CRT - There was a circular like place mat on the table when we arrived (8am ADR), which had the castle on it with picture of all the princess and their autographs around it.
Boma - Got a special plate of desserts (at least one had alcohol in it though), with an African saying on it. I also told our server I really liked one of the dishes and he brought me the recipe.
1900 PF - Another place mat, has a fair type background and has the autograph of all the characters that appear. Also got a cute little Mickey cupcake with like confetti around it.
Be Our Guest - Got a birthday card signed by Belle (and she did it for the Beast). Also got a free "Grey Stuff" with a birthday candle it in.

I had noted it on all our reservations! I went in not expecting anything, so whenever there was something it was appreciated!

 

[TheRustyScupper]

BIRTHDAY-ANNIVERSARY-HONEYMOON-GRADUATION-ETC Celebrations by Cast Members:
1) It is a matter of the CM's personal initiative.
. . . depends upon how much they like you as a guest
. . . it always helps to wear a Happy Birthday button
. . . depends if they feel like doing anything special today
. . . depends upon the phase of the moon
2) CM's can do a lot, or they can do nothing at all as they have immense control
. . . they are under no obligation to give goodies or even acknowledge special day
. . . they can go way overboard, give lots of gifts
. . . they have A LOT of leeway for what they will or will not do for you
. . . they can see the event if listed on the ADR or hotel ressie and you hope for the best
3) Some of the things a CM can do for free are
. . . table with Mickey confetti
. . . your name/celebration on menu at TS locations (except BOG)
. . . best table location
. . . special personalized menu
. . . character-autographed birthday cards
. . . balloons
. . . balloon animals
. . . wine or champagne or Shirley Temples
. . . room towel animals
. . . appetizers or desserts
. . . cakes
. . . cupcake with candle (almost always available for the asking)
. . . place mats autographed by characters
. . . free appy or free dessert
. . . ride an attraction with a character
. . . personalization items for the Magic Bands
5) Some other items CM's can give for free
. . . room full of balloons and/or flowers
. . . fruit basket or wine basket in hotel room
. . . individual fast passes or booklets of several fast passes
. . . food and snack items (candy, popcorn, sundries)
. . . room upgrades
. . . attraction rides with characters
6) If you really want something special, buy it yourself.
. . . eatery: carry presents in and keep/hide them in a paper bag
. . . eatery: carry a cake in, but, WDW won't prepare, store, or serve it
. . . eatery: order non-decorated cake at the eatery podium check-in
. . . eatery: order decorated cake from the WDW Cake Hotline
. . . room: order special in-room celebration decorarting by Disney
. . . room: order strawberries and cream, if resort has room service
. . . room: decorate the room yourself
7) If there are multiple celebrations for people during a trip
. . . do not do separate celebration locations or tables
. . . one person may get an enthusiastic CM and get goodies
. . . one person may get a lazy CM and get nothing
8) Hundreds, or thousands, celebrate everyday at WDW.
9) It is too much time/money for CM's to attend or recognize all.

NOTE: I have personally given out freebies such as major room upgrades, fruit baskets,
wine & cheese baskets, fast passes. It all depends upon how you act toward us and the
mood we are in at that time. Of course, there are those guests for whom I would do
absolutely nothing involving personal initiative.