i posted this a couple weeks ago in another thread. Enjoy! and have fun!
"I've been going to Disney on my birthday almost my whole life. Now in the beginning, i'll admit, i didnt know about the pins (more later..) I didnt know just how amazingly magical a day can be. And being the attention hog that i am, i EAT IT UP. So, just in case you've never been on your birthday. I would like to share my favorite birthday tips with you, since i go every year....
-Now that i take my friends AND family with me. We make shirts. These shirts always look like Mickey Mouse Club shirts on the front. (Ie..they say your name) And than they have a cute quote on the back. This year everyone's shirt says "Today is my Un-Birthday" And my shirt says "Today is my Birthday!!!" (i know..clever) These shirts come in handy if youd like everyone in the park to know you. All day long "Stephenie, Josh, Brian, Kendra, Steve, Kenny!!! Hey! nice shirts!" Its great. Ntm. If a CM wants to wish you a happy birthday over a loudspeaker, they have your name. And they catch EVERYONE's eye.
- Obviously you have to get THE pin. Not a pin. THE pin. THE **FREE** Disney birthday pin. You can pick it up at any of the disney parks. In Town Hall, from a ticket taker, or at the ticket purchasing window (or just ask a CM). The one at MK and MGM are the same, (castle, characters) While the ones at Epcot and Animal Kingdom are different. If you dont do the shirts. Half of the cast members will at least notice the pin and make your day special. (PS they do not check ID, so if your birthday is the 15th, and you're celebrating on the 10th, they dont care. I asked a CM and their mentality is " You can celebrate your birthday at disneyworld at any time of the year" Nice..)
- When you make reservations, Let EVERYONE know it is your (or your DS, DD, DW, or DH's) birthday. Disney goes to extremes by decorating your hotel room, giving you autographed pictures of characters, and other magical things, and ive found that even some hotels off-site will participate in the magic as well. (ive received cards from staff along with confetti all over the bed, even as much as a cake from one hotel..)
**If you are shy and dont like attention...Stop reading here..**
-Buy an autograph book. I purchase mine from Ebay before we go. Keep it and a pen with you at the parks. With your shirt and your pin, a LOT of people are going to recognize you because its your birthday. These people (characters, CM's and theme park patrons) Will wish you a Happy Birthday all day. EVERY TIME SOMEONE WISHES YOU A HB. Ask them to sign the book. Reg. guests are ENTHRALLED to be apart of your day. Characters will do it on their own, and CM's get excited to be apart of your day. Then when you get home, it is an AWESOME souvenier/scrapbook.
- Make a priority seating reserv. at a restaraunt in disney. When you make that reservation, tell them whos birthday it is and pre-order a cake. (cheapest cake is like 15 dollars and its delicious.) (even if its your own and your making the reservation..yuo can surprise yourself.) If you nothing about disney, i suggest reading these boards for a good restaraunt. If you are a mod. disney expert and you know most of the restaraunts, even if you havent visited.. THINK about yuor family, your needs and how much attention you want. Places like the hoop-de-doo revue (sp..?) Embarrass the heck out of you. The Sci-Fi Drive in theater, gives you a nice free dessert. THINK about the restaurant, common (disney) sense will tell you how much attention you will get.
- Take pictures at normal photo opp places. Only, ask a random theme park patron to take the picture for you. Be polite and ask their name, when they tell you, tell them you've changed your mind and you want them in the picture. Continue doing this for about 8 people. Than you, (the birthday person) get in the picture and have someone take the picture. (this sounds stupid. But the conversations that ensue, plus the memory of the picture are priceless.)
- Be prepared for extreme embarassement... and fame. As time goes on, especially if you stay at one park all day, people will recognize you. "Your the girl they shut down space mountain for!" *that seriously happened BECAUSE it was my birthday....private ride through the stars anyone..?* At the fantasmic show the castmember noticed my pin and shirts, and had me stand up, Bottom, center and had the WHOLE CROWD sing Happy Birthday before the show started. I received numerous fast passes, and line cuts. But the singing is what they do best..... it happened on almost every ride that involved more than 10 people per boat, or show room.
- Be prepared to receive free gifts and many many many phone calls. Every CM you encounter will ask you if youve received a phone call. Always say no. You will then get a special phone call, each time. At a shop, a CM gave me (very ceremonially) An antenna topper in honor of my birthday. I've received a picture frame in Fantasy Land. And several Magical Moments Certificates. plus much more.
- Be modest, gracious and thank everyone. There is no where else in the world you can go and be treated like this for your birthday. If after reading this you are pondering your own small children, know, this is an extreme birthday version, it can be sized accordingly to what your kids like, and how old they are. But anything you can imagine Disney can do. (sometimes with a price..)
-If you live in Florida, there is no excuse that you havent had a disney birthday. If you live in FL, we get mad discounts.
And just to tell you for $$ sake. I am a college student. I am POOR! I save up money from pay checks all year to buy my annual pass and than it costs me under 200 dollars for 4 people to stay for 3 days, 2 nights. That includes hotel stay and food. If you want my secrets to that, let me know. I am an expert at this Disney planning stuff.
So those are my secrets. I think that is all. And it all may sound a little too much. But you will be on cloud 9 after a day of that much attention. After all yuor birthday only falls once a year.
Now, im sure there has to be someone out there like me, so tell me your tips! I'm going April 1-3rd. And cant wait. PS.. I'll be 20 this year! woo 2-0!
Thanks for reading guys and have a great day!"
