Questions about Birthdays at WDW

[hunter1211]

Dh and I are having a difference of opinion on if to celebrate my 2 year old dd's birthday when we are at Disney World, and I need to get some other opinions besides his.

She will be 2 on August 22nd. Usually all or one set of grandparents come into town for the kids birthdays, but this year none can come for hers. She is not in school, so has realy no friends yet. We are going to WDW on Sept. 14th and I was wanted to celebrate it while we were down there. (One set of grandparents are coming with us to WDW.) Dh thinks we shouldn't. He says that it is not right to celebrate it, since it is not really her birthday then and all I want is the free stuff. That is not true! I just want my dd to have a good birthday and she honestly (at 2) doesn't realize exactly when that is. KWIM?

Does anyone else celebrate birthdays while at WDW when their birthday is realy a month from or before (or longer) your visit?

 

[hunter1211]

lightly bumping before it disappears to 2nd page. lol

 

[Tnkrbelle565]

You can celebrate a birthday at Disney whenever you want...they don't ask for proof that it's her actual birthday. She can get a birthday pin from guest relations. Most likely, the most a two year old is going to get is a free ice cream and a lot of "Happy Birthday Princess" from the CMs so tell DH not to worry...2 year olds aren't going to get any crazy freebies!!!!

 

[Dizzy over Disney]

You need to celebrate it! Really, how often do you get the chance to celebrate a birthday in Disney World!

We are going in Nov. My son's 7th birthday is on the 26th. We will be there the day of his birthday and when I was making my ADR's the Disney Rep on the phone actually told me "You celebrate his birthday the entire week you are there, at every meal". Seriously. Do it. Your daughter will never know it is not the date. Enjoy this .. .tell your husband.. this is a once in a lifetime chance... having a birthday in Disney World. Kids grow up so fast.. enjoy it while you can.

Good luck.

 

[Lesley Mahler]

We did this in June for DD's 6th birthday. We celebrated the whole time we were there and her birthday wasn't until the second to last day before we left. We did a character meal everyday and they always brought her out a free cup cake with a candle in it and sang happy birthday. It was great. The day after her birthday we did the Tea Party at the Grand Floridian with Sleeping Beauty (her favorite princess) and they sang happy birthday to her there too!!! It was great. I say do it, it takes nothing away from anyone, but just adds that more magic to your trip!!!

 

[adell557]

Our daughters birthday was August 2nd and we are celebrating when we go on the 18th it isn't a month, but even if it was, we would celebrate it.

As for the "free stuff" What?????? Usually all you get is a happy birthday princess and a cupcake at your dining, maybe a bump to the front of the line or stickers.

I say DO IT!!!

 

[mommytoone]

August 22nd is an AWSOME day to have a birthday, that is mine too.

I say Go for it!!! It will be wonderful memories for her, in pics and for you. Have a wonderful trip, and happy birthday to your DD.

 

[hunter1211]

Thanks so much everyone! I think I am going to push harder to sway dh's decision/thoughts on this.

 

[Belle1962]

zipping up and going in


If none of the grandparents can come in on her actual birthday at home why not just change it to a weekend/day they CAN come? At 2 your daughter doesn't realize exactly when that is. KWIM?

This is why people come back onto these boards and complain that their son/daughter did not have as magical a birthday as they thought they would. TOO MANY PEOPLE all wearing birthday buttons and celebrating way off their birthday. It's no longer about a "special day" it's about people all trying to get what they feel their child deserves-free stuff/extra attention, etc.

It can't be everyone's birthday every day--get over it. We go to Disney yearly. It only just worked out that we were finally able to go on DGS birthday day this year (he is now 7). yes--over the years he saw birthday buttons and wanted one but it wasn't his birthday--so he waited until the timing worked out. We celebrated THAT day--not all week.

What are you going to once she starts school and school is out on her birthday? Move it to another month so her school friends can celebrate?

A trip to Disney is magical enough. With an August birthday you have time to plan a trip on her special day, when she is old enough realize it is her special day and truely appreciate it.

 

[imthatgirl]

you should definately get a birthday pin.

but, i hope you arent dissapointed, becaus ethere isnt any "free stuff". shell get a little attention from characters, and maybe during parades a couple face characters and cm's will come by with a happy bday.
youll notice when you get there that about 40% of the parks guests have some sort of pin on.

btw, my son will be 3 on the 22nd we leave on the 25th and he will be adorning 2 pins. his bday one and his first time at disney one!!

 

[brenalexacamp]

My son has down syndrome and they always treat him like a king.

My best friend invited us to share her dvc with her and it was bren's bday.

we got the pin- which he would not wear- we pinned it to his chair- lots of cast members usually smile and say hi to him anyway-but they knew his name this time- he got a cupcake and a happy birthday song- went to crystal palace for lunch- day of his birthday

I took him alone for a special dinner at tutto italia-with no reservation I expected to wait- the maitre de took us to a nice table for 2, waiter was awesome- treated him like a gentleman, and they all sang happy birthday in Italian. he loved it- he turned 15.

I never expect any special treatment when we go- disney knows how to do it right!

 

[DisneyTiger]

Wow, to the PP.

I am a grown woman whose birthday is in December and we went to WDW in November. We were also celebrating our 5 year anniversary which was not until Feb. We wore our buttons and were give many congratulations and happy birthdays but nothing over the top. I was happy about that though because I hadn't planned on wearing the buttons but the CM made me put it on when we checked in. I guess I had mentioned the anniversary and my birthday when I booked the trip months earlier. You go to WDW when you want and celebrate what you want. There is no shortage of magic so no fear that it will run out. When I'm in WDW, I am happy to share the magic, even if it's not the actual date of the birthday. For God's sake, if Peter Pan can celebrate his un-birthday, then we all can!

HAVE A MAGICAL TRIP!!!

 

[hunter1211]

Comments are in red font.

zipping up and going in


If none of the grandparents can come in on her actual birthday at home why not just change it to a weekend/day they CAN come? At 2 your daughter doesn't realize exactly when that is. KWIM?
We only celebrate our our kids birthdays on weekends and there are no weekends near her birthday that the grandparents can come.


What are you going to once she starts school and school is out on her birthday? Move it to another month so her school friends can celebrate?
Actually her birthday will be in during the school year. Our schools here start the first week of August and her birthday isn't until the end of August.

 

[hunter1211]

Thanks again everyone for the comments. I really am not expecting any free stuff, and that is not the reason I want to do it. (even though dh thinks it is.) I just would love for her to get a tad more attention (since she won't be getting much on her real birthday) than if she wasn't wearing it. If she doesn't than that is fine too, but there might be more of a chance she will if she is wearing one.

How do I go about getting it? Do I can the reservations, or tell the hotel when we check in?

 

[Tnkrbelle565]

Thanks again everyone for the comments. I really am not expecting any free stuff, and that is not the reason I want to do it. (even though dh thinks it is.) I just would love for her to get a tad more attention (since she won't be getting much on her real birthday) than if she wasn't wearing it. If she doesn't than that is fine too, but there might be more of a chance she will if she is wearing one.

How do I go about getting it? Do I can the reservations, or tell the hotel when we check in?

You can have it noted on your reservation and you can get a pin at your resort or at guest services at the parks. You are more likely to get a little extra attention if it's noted on your dining ADRs. They see so many people with pins that a lot of CMs barely notice them.

 

[imthatgirl]

usually when you check in they will ask you, or at least they should ask you if you are celebrating anything special. they will give you the pin.
if they dont ask you say to them that you are celebrating your daughters bday and is there anything special they know of that you can do with her.

 

[mdurette]

I don't know - guess I have a difference of opinion.

We went to WDW for my daughter's 2nd birthday last year. Her bday was on the Thurs of our trip and we arrived on Sunday. She got her pin at check-in -but I only had her wear it on her actual B-Day.

For her 3rd Bday in January - will do the same thing.

Guess I am a bit more particular with actual dates than the rest of you.