Should we celebrate DD's 5th birthday at DLR?

[mrswh]

I would love to hear about others' birthday experiences at DLR. We are wavering between going for DD's birthday or celebrating at home and going to DLR the following week.

I know about the birthday promotion . . . it would be a plus, of course, to have a gift card or FastPass (we'll have a multi-day pass so won't need the park admission), but in the end $75 isn't going to weigh much on our decision.

I guess my question is whether we can make DD's birthday special at DLR. Since we will be going to DLR either way, and will be there for several days, what is going to be different/special about it being her birthday? I know that at Disney restaurants CMs will sing happy birthday and make a little fuss, but I feel like I see that happen 37 times during each meal. So much that I wonder if people are lying about their birthdays . . .

I'd love to hear whether others would recommend celebrating a birthday at DLR, and if so, what you did to make your DC's day extra special!

 

[LavenderPeach]

I can't say if it's worth it to do DD's b-day there but just had a few thoughts for you. There are a lot more people having their birthday at DLR this year than other years because of the promotion so it does seem like less of a fuss is made. When I went for my b-day last november (before the promotion started) I had my birthday button and got a ton of CMs telling me happy birthday. We just went for DH's birthday in May and didn't have that many CMs say anything. There were several who did but it wasn't as much. It's probably a lot of work to tell every other person happy birthday.

I don't think the restaurants at DLR sing to you unless maybe it's a place in DTD not owned by disney. Someone correct me if I'm wrong. I got a free dessert at Cafe Orleans though.

And as far as people lying about their birthday. I lot of people celebrate their birthday at the park but they aren't necessarily there on their birthday. Like if you have a birthday party at home, it isn't always on your actual birthday. But also, I'm sure DLR is a very popular destination for birthdays anyway, especially for local people which make up a big portion of the visitors.

I've never done it but there is the Pat E Cake birthday party thing that could be fun for a 5 yo.

So even if you went the week after your DD's birthday you could still celebrate it while you were there, if you wanted to.

Oh and just to clarify, the birthday fun card for kids is I think $59. It's the same amount as the price of a single park ticket.

Good luck with your decission and I hope your DD has a great birthday! Have fun at DLR too!

 

[DisneyMomma81]

Sure ~ why not? DLR is a great place to celebrate your B~day, DS had his 8th B~day in DL!! Poor DD her B~day is 7/3 ~ we will never (well probably never) spend her big day in DL ~ but we're headed to San Diego mid July and we might drive up to DLR for a day (Wed 7/15) so she'll have an unB-day celebration then, we'll probably have a meal with the princesses at Ariel's Grotto.

 

[disneyfan4ever54]

I can't say if it's worth it to do DD's b-day there but just had a few thoughts for you. There are a lot more people having their birthday at DLR this year than other years because of the promotion so it does seem like less of a fuss is made. When I went for my b-day last november (before the promotion started) I had my birthday button and got a ton of CMs telling me happy birthday. We just went for DH's birthday in May and didn't have that many CMs say anything. There were several who did but it wasn't as much. It's probably a lot of work to tell every other person happy birthday.

I don't think the restaurants at DLR sing to you unless maybe it's a place in DTD not owned by disney. Someone correct me if I'm wrong. I got a free dessert at Cafe Orleans though.

And as far as people lying about their birthday. I lot of people celebrate their birthday at the park but they aren't necessarily there on their birthday. Like if you have a birthday party at home, it isn't always on your actual birthday. But also, I'm sure DLR is a very popular destination for birthdays anyway, especially for local people which make up a big portion of the visitors.

I've never done it but there is the Pat E Cake birthday party thing that could be fun for a 5 yo.

So even if you went the week after your DD's birthday you could still celebrate it while you were there, if you wanted to.

Oh and just to clarify, the birthday fun card for kids is I think $59. It's the same amount as the price of a single park ticket.

Good luck with your decission and I hope your DD has a great birthday! Have fun at DLR too!

I'm not sure about other places but at Goofy's Kitchen, the CM's along with the Mad Hatter did sing Happy Birthday to my DS when they brought him his birthday cupcake. I think they might do this at other character meals as well.

 

[LavenderPeach]

I'm not sure about other places but at Goofy's Kitchen, the CM's along with the Mad Hatter did sing Happy Birthday to my DS when they brought him his birthday cupcake. I think they might do this at other character meals as well.

Oh, I didn't know that. Maybe they do that more at the character meals. I've never been to a character meal so I don't know anything about that. We've never had singing at any of the non-character places though. Maybe it's just us.

 

[mrswh]

Oh, I didn't know that. Maybe they do that more at the character meals. I've never been to a character meal so I don't know anything about that. We've never had singing at any of the non-character places though. Maybe it's just us.

Yes, that's where I've heard the singing - Ariel's Grotto and many of the WDW character dining restaurants. It seems like the staff spent half their time singing last time we ate at Ariel's Grotto. And that was in 2008!

 

[disneyfan4ever54]

Oh, I didn't know that. Maybe they do that more at the character meals. I've never been to a character meal so I don't know anything about that. We've never had singing at any of the non-character places though. Maybe it's just us.

Yes, I think it would just be at the character meals. I'm not even sure if it's all of them, but I know they will do it at Goofy's. I read about it on here before I took my DS there on his birthday. He loved it that the Mad Hatter came with the CM's and they all sang Happy Birthday to him. I think they usually try to send a character along with the CM's when they deliver the cupcake and sing. It was a lot of fun!

 

[mrswh]

I can't say if it's worth it to do DD's b-day there but just had a few thoughts for you. There are a lot more people having their birthday at DLR this year than other years because of the promotion so it does seem like less of a fuss is made. When I went for my b-day last november (before the promotion started) I had my birthday button and got a ton of CMs telling me happy birthday. We just went for DH's birthday in May and didn't have that many CMs say anything. There were several who did but it wasn't as much. It's probably a lot of work to tell every other person happy birthday.

I don't think the restaurants at DLR sing to you unless maybe it's a place in DTD not owned by disney. Someone correct me if I'm wrong. I got a free dessert at Cafe Orleans though.

And as far as people lying about their birthday. I lot of people celebrate their birthday at the park but they aren't necessarily there on their birthday. Like if you have a birthday party at home, it isn't always on your actual birthday. But also, I'm sure DLR is a very popular destination for birthdays anyway, especially for local people which make up a big portion of the visitors.

I've never done it but there is the Pat E Cake birthday party thing that could be fun for a 5 yo.

So even if you went the week after your DD's birthday you could still celebrate it while you were there, if you wanted to.

Oh and just to clarify, the birthday fun card for kids is I think $59. It's the same amount as the price of a single park ticket.

Good luck with your decission and I hope your DD has a great birthday! Have fun at DLR too!

Thanks for sharing your thoughts! That's my fear - that, with the promotion, every other person is having a birthday so nobody will care much anymore.

Thanks for the info on the bday gift card, I hadn't yet looked it up (and now I don't have to!), so was just making up a number.

LOL, I wasn't really accusing people of lying, just remarking (with incredulity) on what a high proportion of Disney visitors seem to be there on their birthday. I think you are right about people celebrating a birthday at Disney before or after the actual day - I have noticed that while it seems that there is a lot of singing going on at character meals, I don't often see people wearing the birthday button. Of course, we haven't been to a Disney property since January so I am sure things have changed - esp. for the summer when the kids are off school!

Thanks again - gave me some things to think about.

 

[disneymurtagh]

I did my DS 4th at WDW and he loved it. he got his button and wore it proudly. We had a "special" dinner for him at the restaurant of his choice and he was able to pick out his B-day present right in the park. He loved it and still talks about it a year and a half later.
He was not in school though. My DD6 is in school this year and I asked her if she wanted to do something like that this year and she said she would rather have all of her friends come somewhere with her.

Depends on your kid, but as far as the experience my son loved it and remembers it still. He can even look at pictures and tell you when his b-day was.

 

[MoniqueU]

I have celebrated many birthdays at Goofys Kitchen with my child and one of their friends; followed by a day in the parks. Priceless. I don't care if the whole restaurant is singing to my kids just about us that are there.