Storyteller: the end to the premature (or late) birthday celebrations?

[disneysteve]

Mickey: "Uh, gee, what's up with the birthday button? That was months ago!"

Busted by Mickey Mouse!

Somehow I don't think Disney will be doing this. Would be funny to watch, though.

 

[bamacmac]

That's actually a good idea. We should do that. Write in "DIS 10th".

Oh yes!!!

 

[TheMaxRebo]

DISNEY-THEMED SOLUTION:

1. Everyone gets a button.
2. If it's your actual birthday, you get a "Happy Birthday" button featuring Mickey and the gang.
3. If it's not your actual birthday, you get a "Happy Un-Birthday" button featuring characters from "Alice in Wonderland".

Boom. Problem solved. Enjoy.

And these buttons are included .... with your now $25/day resort charge!

 

[TheMaxRebo]

Total agree!! Max makes sense, and I agree with him - yet again!

I mean at this point you should start to be worried .... very worried

 

[TheMaxRebo]

Absolutely you're "the wrong person"
Kevin, I think you're wonderful. You're certainly one person I'd hate to get offside, because I love listening to your witty jokes and comments and usually am nodding along in my car with you.
But I confess, I feel like I'm always on your wrong side here on the boards and honestly, it makes me sad to think I'd said anything that may offend or annoy you, and your post didn't feel like joking to me? But maybe it's the distance it needs to travel, it got translated wrong?

Anyway, I hope I cleared up my intention in my OP, I like to think we are all adults here and can handle other people's opinions and can all live in our discommunity in harmony (except that pesky Llama! Nah, he's alright I suppose!)

I blame the bad exchange rate - only 77% of you intention is making it through

 

[TheMaxRebo]

Suddenly this thread feels like the end of a "Brady Bunch" episode, and we've all learned some important lessons.

And suddenly I feel like I shouldn't be wearing this wooden tiki God necklace

 

[Princess Jes]

I blame the bad exchange rate - only 77% of you intention is making it through

77 would be nice!!!
Official rate is about $0.75 today, which is up since 2 weeks ago.
To buy I'm still looking at $0.70-$0.71

 

[TiggerTrigger]

You made a great point. I make most of my ADRs online but once in a while, I call long distance to make an ADR & like clockwork, the CM asks me repeatedly, "Are you celebrating anything? What are you celebrating?" In a way, this is WDWs own problem & they should own it. Not us. Some CMs must be trained per script to ask about celebrations and this encourages many guests. But typically, the other hand at WDW isn't following through & little or no attention is paid to the celebrant at dinner.

I've certainly had my fair share of phone reservationists begging to add a celebration to ADRs. While I make most of mine online, I sometimes have to call in because something wasn't showing up correctly with DD9s allergies...and that's when the "are you sure you don't have some celebration you want to add?" usually starts.

We've had it happen in other spots too. I remember being at 1900 PF on two different occasions and they pushed celebrations. In one case, it was the day after my older one's 5th bday and they pushed for who had the closest bday after her so they could bring us a second cupcake. In the other...we were just at 1900 PF and our server seemed frustrated that we didn't have anything out of the ordinary to celebrate at that meal- kept asking if we were sure. When they push like that...you start to wonder if you're possibly turning down some amazing magic. At Disneyland, I think we confused the heck out of Goofy's Kitchen by having a custom cake delivered just because. They all came out wanting to sing to us, but they didn't know what to sing since I kept telling them...we just wanted a fun cake...nothing more.

One of the craziest was at check in one trip. We were there for one of the kids' bdays on their actual bday, but the CM wanted us all celebrating something. She looked at the system and I guess she saw that my bday had just passed (or she somehow knew) and she insisted I wear a bday button of my own. Then she asked about our anniversary...said it was close enough...gave us anniversary and happily ever after buttons. Our youngest was the only one who had nothing close to our dates, so she gave her the generic green celebrating button and said that she was young enough, so let's pretend she's celebrating her first visit...so she got a first visit button too.

I usually just go along with all of it because it adds to the magic, but it definitely sets a 'You should be celebrating something while here' standard.

 

[GAN]

Suddenly this thread feels like the end of a "Brady Bunch" episode, and we've all learned some important lessons.

I missed the button wearing episode I guess......

Was that before or after the Joe Namath episode?

 

[Princess Jes]

Fun fact:
In Australia, we call them 'badges'

 

[Alicenwonderment]

We are headed to WDW next month to celebrate my 40th! I can't wait to don my button and wear it proudly for the week. It was hubby's suggestion to head back to WDW for my big 4-0. Never thought I would be this excited to turn 40. LOL.

Happy 40th MommaofTwoMice!

 

[samsteele]

Fun fact:
In Australia, we call them 'badges'

Badges were what we earned in Brownies and Girl Guides. They were little embroidered fabric triangles that we had to sew onto our sleeve. I loved knots and knife work. Gosh, I miss those days. All girls should know how to tie knots and handle a knife while dressed in skirt & pantyhose. And wearing buster browns. Never mess with a Brownie

 

[Dug720]

I will admit I am definitely overly sensitive to requiring proof. My sister and I have the same birthday, but we are NOT twins. She was born on my fifth birthday! The year I turned 7 and she turned 2, we went to a restaurant - a fast-food place, not even a sit down and be served place - because we liked it. They DID offer free dessert ON your birthday as part of a kids' club thing but that is not why we went - my mom made us each delicious cakes we had at home. Here is the kicker - you got a certificate in the mail for it, but the teen at the register didn't believe us even with our certificates. So she got the manager who actually demanded to see our birth certificates. We left and never went back at any time.

That said, I AM treating my August trip as the conclusion to a summer of celebrating my 45th birthday. I kick it off July 1 with a cruise to Nice and all around Italy including an overnight in Venice. NOT over my birthday as I liked this itinerary rather than the one actually over my birthday (went to Ephesus which, no thank you, and skipped Venice which I really want to see). I don't have it noted on my reservation for the cruise - but I chose to get room decorations to celebrate me.

I am going to Disney in August, after the day but still within the month from date to date as a wrap-up. Yes, it is noted on my reservation - the CM I spoke with to change my requests when I switched resorts was awesome and said "Oh hon, I'd celebrate a big one like that all summer too!" - and yes I will probably wear a pin, but I am not expecting anything other than to celebrate me and celebrate being alive.

Judge me if you must. You won't be the first or the last I'm sure.

 

[samsteele]

including an overnight in Venice

Enjoy Venice! Its beautiful. I only had one day there as part of a bus tour but loved it. Check out some of Rick Steves' online travel info about Venice if you get the chance. If you have an optional to see Burrano, take it. Less touristy than St. Mark's Square. I bought some gorgeous table runners & mini masks there. Small & quaint island. Sorry you didn't enjoy Ephesus. I loved it as well and paired it with a trip to Mary's House. Ephesus was one of the few classic sites where I was actually allowed to touch history (ie physically reach out & touch the columns, stones, etc.) Of course, I went in 2011 on a 2 week bus tour of Turkey so maybe things have changed. If you saw Ephesus from a cruise ship excursion, it could feel very different & congested. We could see the hordes of ship day trippers literally marching into Ephesus under bright guide flags as our group exited.

 

[Dug720]

Enjoy Venice! Its beautiful. I only had one day there as part of a bus tour but loved it. Check out some of Rick Steves' online travel info about Venice if you get the chance. If you have an optional to see Burrano, take it. Less touristy than St. Mark's Square. I bought some gorgeous table runners & mini masks there. Small & quaint island. Sorry you didn't enjoy Ephesus. I loved it as well and paired it with a trip to Mary's House. Ephesus was one of the few classic sites where I was actually allowed to touch history (ie physically reach out & touch the columns, stones, etc.) Of course, I went in 2011 on a 2 week bus tour of Turkey so maybe things have changed. If you saw Ephesus from a cruise ship excursion, it could feel very different & congested. We could see the hordes of ship day trippers literally marching into Ephesus under bright guide flags as our group exited.

Thanks. I'm super excited about the trip!!

I haven't been to Ephesus - it just holds no interest for me. (I really don't want to go to the Vatican in Rome either. Not being Roman Catholic it is no place I feel I need to go.)

 

[pjweaver]

You have to love how @DisneyKevin apologies can still be taken as snarky. Everyone has their opinions and we all know what opinions are like. I know people celebrate their alive day,

Badges were what we earned in Brownies and Girl Guides. They were little embroidered fabric triangles that we had to sew onto our sleeve. I loved knots and knife work. Gosh, I miss those days. All girls should know how to tie knots and handle a knife while dressed in skirt & pantyhose. And wearing buster browns. Never mess with a Brownie

I am both scared and intrigued

 

[samsteele]

I really don't want to go to the Vatican in Rome either. Not being Roman Catholic it is no place I feel I need to go.)

I wouldn't dismiss the Vatican out of hand. I'm not Catholic either but found it fascinating from a historical and political perspective. Of course, the architecture is gorgeous. The Sistine Chapel is stunning and its wonderful to know you have been there & have a concrete memory of it when a future conclave takes place. It's like living history. Apart from St. Peter's Basilica, the Vatican Museums are also absolutely incredible & vast. Their collection is world class. I wish I had more than half a day there & must go back.

 

[TiggerTrigger]

Thanks. I'm super excited about the trip!!

I haven't been to Ephesus - it just holds no interest for me. (I really don't want to go to the Vatican in Rome either. Not being Roman Catholic it is no place I feel I need to go.)

I wouldn't dismiss the Vatican out of hand. I'm not Catholic either but found it fascinating from a historical and political perspective. Of course, the architecture is gorgeous. The Sistine Chapel is stunning and its wonderful to know you have been there & have a concrete memory of it when a future conclave takes place. It's like living history. Apart from St. Peter's Basilica, the Vatican Museums are also absolutely incredible & vast. Their collection is world class. I wish I had more than half a day there & must go back.

Completely agree with @samsteele ! Venice and the surrounding areas were pretty...and we saw quite a bit and did a few more special things, but everything with Vatican City was mind blowing to me. I'm not Catholic, but I do love art and architecture as well as being in places of great historical significance. The impact was so profound for me that going to the various Roman ruins (including seeing the Colosseum) and touring the catacombs was nothing after that. I remember being in the Sistine Chapel, staring up at the ceiling and not even realizing I was crying. It was just so amazingly beautiful. St. Peter's Basilica is just jaw dropping. Florence and Vatican City are the only places we've visited in Italy where I really want to return.

 

[GAN]

Thanks. I'm super excited about the trip!!

I haven't been to Ephesus - it just holds no interest for me. (I really don't want to go to the Vatican in Rome either. Not being Roman Catholic it is no place I feel I need to go.)

I'm not Catholic either, but as others already stated, it is amazing for many reasons. If you have a truly core reason not to go -then I understand. I'm not super religious either, but my wife and I always try to catch a service wherever we are when we travel ....and honestly, we don't care what the religion is -but it has always been a great experience and more importantly, we've always been welcomed.

Oh.... Happy Birthday everyone!!!

 

[samsteele]

I also try to attend a different service on my vacations. As a Protestant, I tend to stay to the back of Catholic cathedrals, sit in a back pew and just respectfully observe the service. We don't/can't kneel during Mass so I try to be as unobtrusive as possible so not to disrupt others. I have never felt anything other than welcome in a Catholic Church & have always found the experience interesting and worthwhile. Recently, I attended an ecumenical Protestant service with my parents in Titusville just outside of Orlando. I am Presbyterian so we are a bit conservative, formal & restrained in service. Think Little House on the Prairie style Church (although that was likely supposed to be Congregational or Methodist). This service started with a Lutheran tone (including an Oktoberfest type accordian play), then a more Anglican reading, a more Presbyterian or even Methodist sermon and ended with a hand holding more Evangelical closing. The hand holding wasn't my thing at all but I appreciated afterwards that it was a community Protestant Sunday morning service and there had to be some nod and equal time for all the various groups including Baptist and Pentecostal. While awkward at the time (thanks Mom & Dad for not giving me the heads up re the touchie-feelie stuff . . . they prob thought if I knew, I wouldn't have gone), I'm glad I went. All of these experiences give us new perspectives. I'm never changing who I am, but it was important for my folks that I go and it certainly didn't hurt me to make the effort. Often when I travel, the interior of the Cathedrals are so incredibly beautiful (and so different from my Church experience both architecturally & in service) that its just an incredible cultural experience. I also find that if you are comfortable & confident in your background and experience (if you own your own space), then there is no fear or threat. I hope I always have such interesting experiences when I travel.