The great DL birthday debate!

[FantasyIsland]

I agree with DizMe On my 3 day Birthday trip I just wore my button on my actual Birthday.

 

[bumbershoot]

So, so far, on the Birthday Cool Stuff scale, Disneyland wins.

Goes to show that you cannot rely on *anything* happening based on your button.

I was at Cafe Orleans ON my birthday, which was a holiday that year, during the year of free birthdays. And I didn't even get the special birthday beignets you were supposed to get when you ordered beignets. Just got ordinary beignets. And possibly The Worst Service we've ever had at a restaurant. happy birthday to me!




That's why I think it's ludicrous to think that those wearing buttons are *expecting* anything, I mean ANYthing, from the CMs. Because in my experience you *might* get well wishes, but other than that you can't expect a single thing.

 

[zanzibar138]

I've been thinking about this since our last trip to DLR. We were there for a week, with my birthday on the second last day (the Sunday). On the Tuesday, I booked a Walk in Walt's Footsteps tour for the Sunday, and told the CM there how excited I was to be taking the tour on my birthday. She offered to give me a birthday button and told me to wear it for the whole week! I actually had already gotten a button already (too excited to wait lol!), but had chosen to only wear it for the weekend.

On the CM's advice, I wore that button Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday. I felt like a bit of a fraud when people would wish me a happy birthday when it wasn't my birthday, and still had a bit of an ethical dilemma about wearing it for that long, but figured if the CM told me too then it was ok.

On the Friday night, I got free birthday beignets at Cafe Orleans (although we had terrible service and they mucked up our order, so perhaps it was also to make up for that). On the Saturday night, I got free birthday beignets at the Jazz Kitchen. I was absolutely stoked on both nights as I wasn't expecting anything.

Over the course of the week, I noticed a LOT of people wearing birthday buttons! There were two people wearing them in one family I spoke to. One had a birthday in October, and one in November. That was over Labor Day weekend, and I thought that was taking it a bit too far. It made me wonder how many people do this

Next year we are going again for the half marathon, which will be about a week before my actual birthday. I plan to still get a birthday button and wear it over the weekend, but probably not every day. On our way home we will be passing through HKDL after my birthday, and I plan to also get a birthday button there and wear it for the day.

FWIW, at HKDL they offer birthday benefits for APs within your birthday month, so I'm going with this theory and going to say that if it's your birthday month, it's ok to wear a button

 

[Fantaluminishes]

So my 8 year old niece and I have been having a big debate LOL! We are going to DL Dec 6-8, the 8th being my birthday! I say I get a birthday button on Saturday when we get there and enjoy 3 days of birthday happiness. The 8 year old thinks that is cheating and I should only wear the button on my actual birthday I say I am right don't you???

Bravo to your niece for being mature for her age. Hopefully that maturity will last through and beyond her formative years, and she doesn't grow up starving for attention. I believe your birthday is just that...a day. You should absolutely wear a button on your birthday if that's your wish. Anything more would be a bit selfish in my opinion.

BTW, I am obviously NOT preaching to the choir here. Hopefully the negative comments that will most-likely follow will be respectful.

 

[DizMe]

Bravo to your niece for being mature for her age. Hopefully that maturity will last through and beyond her formative years, and she doesn't grow up starving for attention. I believe your birthday is just that...a day. You should absolutely wear a button on your birthday if that's your wish. Anything more would be a bit selfish in my opinion.

BTW, I am obviously NOT preaching to the choir here. Hopefully the negative comments that will most-likely follow will be respectful.

I agree with this. In this situation, you are the adult and if you think about the example you would like to set for your niece, you may find that it's a good opportunity to affirm her thoughts about self-importance. Too many kids today get the idea that "it's all about me"; your niece is showing a lot of maturity. I think you could do as a pp mentioned and you could both wear "I'm Celebrating!" buttons the other 2 days so you're not trying to be in the spotlight by yourself the whole 3 days.

 

[algae]

That's why I think it's ludicrous to think that those wearing buttons are *expecting* anything, I mean ANYthing, from the CMs. Because in my experience you *might* get well wishes, but other than that you can't expect a single thing.

I agree. Wear the button when you like because it makes the trip more fun. You shouldn't expect anything special to happen just because of the button. Too much entitlement mentality here.

What about those "Just Married" buttons? Can you only wear them on your wedding day?

That being said, we do miss the pack of birthday tortillas from the Mission Tortilla Factory tour when it was in DCA.

 

[StormyCA]

Here's the thing. Many people (adults and kids) can't be at Disney for their exact birthdays. Maybe school is in session. Maybe they can't get vacation days off then. Maybe their actual birthday falls during a very crowded time and they'd prefer to take that family once-a-year (or -lifetime) trip a bit earlier or later. Should they really not be able to have a birthday button or celebrate their birthday at Disney? Some poor kids (like my two) have the misfortune to be born smack in the middle of the school year and live too far away for a one day trip, therefore they get NO Disney magic during their birthday trip later on when school is out? Really?

Sorry, but I intend to continue celebrating birthdays when we go to a Disney Park for that birthday, regardless of when they fall.

 

[FantasyIsland]

To StormyCA, nobody said NOT to celebrate your birthday at all, or that this post was geared to children. OP asked if she should wear her BD button her entire trip.

 

[MissEllie]

I think if it's a shorter trip- you're fine. This is one of those gray areas where you can go either way- so trust your gut on it and don't let other people influence you too much.

 

[zanzibar138]

Here's the thing. Many people (adults and kids) can't be at Disney for their exact birthdays. Maybe school is in session. Maybe they can't get vacation days off then. Maybe their actual birthday falls during a very crowded time and they'd prefer to take that family once-a-year (or -lifetime) trip a bit earlier or later. Should they really not be able to have a birthday button or celebrate their birthday at Disney? Some poor kids (like my two) have the misfortune to be born smack in the middle of the school year and live too far away for a one day trip, therefore they get NO Disney magic during their birthday trip later on when school is out? Really?

Sorry, but I intend to continue celebrating birthdays when we go to a Disney Park for that birthday, regardless of when they fall.

What's wrong with having a special birthday celebration for your kids at home when it's their birthday, and taking a family vacation later on when school is out? Why does it have to be a birthday trip?

I have to disagree completely with your statement that they would experience NO Disney magic during a trip without having birthday buttons. There is plenty of Disney magic and wonder at any Disney park regardless of whether it's someone's birthday or not.

 

[lovebug33]

Here's my thing. My one daughter has a June birthday and we can go for her birthday. My other daughter has an August birthday and we will never be able to be in disneyland for her day. It is not fair that we will celebrate one and not the other. So when they are old enough to get it, we will go in July and celebrate both of their birthdays at Disneyland. It is more magical when you have a button. We have gone on our anniversary a few times and we have gotten cupcakes and people wishing us happ anniversary. I want my girls to experience that magic.

 

[StormyCA]

What's wrong with having a special birthday celebration for your kids at home when it's their birthday, and taking a family vacation later on when school is out? Why does it have to be a birthday trip?

I have to disagree completely with your statement that they would experience NO Disney magic during a trip without having birthday buttons. There is plenty of Disney magic and wonder at any Disney park regardless of whether it's someone's birthday or not.

So a 'special' birthday celebration at home' is just as good as a DL birthday trip? Not in my book. But the point is that by saying that one should only wear a birthday button on their actual birthday (or days just before/after) you are saying that someone who is not able to be at DL during that time should never be able to celebrate a birthday there. Or they 'can', but they can't wear a birthday button? I say that if part of their birthday gift or celebration is a trip to Disney, then they should be able to celebrate when they go. Why ever not? "Gee Jimmy, we'd like let you have a birthday trip to DL, just like Johnny had, but we can't because you weren't born at the 'right time'".

Pretty unfair that some people should be able to because their birthdays are during the 'right time' and others shouldn't because their birthdays are the 'wrong' time.

Regardless, I intend to celebrate my birthday/anniversary/Groundhog Day at DL, buttons and all. Disney doesn't care one whit. BFF and I went in February (not my birth month) and told the reservation agent in passing that it was a late birthday present from my DH. I was greeted at the Grand's front desk with a birthday button and a picture of Mickey & Minnie.

 

[StormyCA]

Here's my thing. My one daughter has a June birthday and we can go for her birthday. My other daughter has an August birthday and we will never be able to be in disneyland for her day. It is not fair that we will celebrate one and not the other. So when they are old enough to get it, we will go in July and celebrate both of their birthdays at Disneyland. It is more magical when you have a button. We have gone on our anniversary a few times and we have gotten cupcakes and people wishing us happ anniversary. I want my girls to experience that magic.

Right on lovebug. BFF was born in July, her daughter in June. We went in August for both their birthdays as that was when BFF could take off work and had a blast!

 

[zanzibar138]

Here's my thing. My one daughter has a June birthday and we can go for her birthday. My other daughter has an August birthday and we will never be able to be in disneyland for her day. It is not fair that we will celebrate one and not the other. So when they are old enough to get it, we will go in July and celebrate both of their birthdays at Disneyland. It is more magical when you have a button. We have gone on our anniversary a few times and we have gotten cupcakes and people wishing us happy anniversary. I want my girls to experience that magic.

I was disagreeing with the PP saying that her kids would not experience any Disney magic if they didn't have birthday buttons. I still disagree with this statement. There is plenty of Disney magic around for those without buttons, and a button is no guarantee of any special treatment, other than being wished a happy [insert occasion here].

But I agree that doing a combined birthday trip for birthdays reasonably close together is a good way of doing it.

So a 'special' birthday celebration at home' is just as good as a DL birthday trip? Not in my book. But the point is that by saying that one should only wear a birthday button on their actual birthday (or days just before/after) you are saying that someone who is not able to be at DL during that time should never be able to celebrate a birthday there. Or they 'can', but they can't wear a birthday button? I say that if part of their birthday gift or celebration is a trip to Disney, then they should be able to celebrate when they go. Why ever not? "Gee Jimmy, we'd like let you have a birthday trip to DL, just like Johnny had, but we can't because you weren't born at the 'right time'".

Pretty unfair that some people should be able to because their birthdays are during the 'right time' and others shouldn't because their birthdays are the 'wrong' time.

Regardless, I intend to celebrate my birthday/anniversary/Groundhog Day at DL, buttons and all. Disney doesn't care one whit. BFF and I went in February (not my birth month) and told the reservation agent in passing that it was a late birthday present from my DH. I was greeted at the Grand's front desk with a birthday button and a picture of Mickey & Minnie.

I never said that I think buttons should only be worn on the day of the occasion or a couple of days either side. I actually think 6 weeks either side of the occasion would be ok, although personally I would not feel right wearing one outside of my birthday month.

To be honest, what really annoyed me about your original post was the use of 'poor' and 'misfortunate' to describe your children. In my opinion, being born at the wrong time of year for a Disney vacation does not make your children 'poor' and 'misfortunate'. Many children never get the opportunity to go to a Disney park, nevermind celebrate their birthday there. Is it also unfair that I was born in Australia and therefore a Disney trip was always out of reach for my parents? I don't think so. For me, it made it all the more special when I saved my hard earned money and took my first trip there as an adult

For the record, I do think a special celebration at home can be just as wonderful as a Disney trip. I treasure my childhood birthdays spent with friends and family just as much as my trips to Disneyland. FWIW I read a post on these boards just the other day from someone who asked their child what their favourite ride at Disneyland was. The three top responses were the escalator, the monorail, and the pool!

If you're concerned about equality between Johnny and Jimmy, don't give either one a Disney trip for their birthday. Just make it a family vacation that's fun and magical for everyone!

If everyone felt like they could wear buttons, regardless of when the actual occasion was in relation to their visit, we'd all be wearing celebratory buttons in the park. And then there'd be no more 'extra magic' for anyone. You know what they say - when everyone is special, no one is.

I realise that I'm not going to change your mind on the subject, so let's just agree to disagree on this one.

 

[StormyCA]

I'm good with that.

BTW my kids are 25 and 31 (although they'll always be my 'kids'). I think they're OK with no more Disney birthday trips. Well, DS1 is. DS2, I'm not so sure.

 

[DizMe]

I think the topic strayed quite a distance from what the OP was asking, which is: is it ok to wear my birthday button for the entire stay when I go to DLR with my niece?

Some of us were just saying that in our opinion, it would be better to choose one day to wear the birthday button rather than the whole trip, especially since the adult birthday person is with a child--a child who doesn't like the idea.

No one was saying you couldn't celebrate on a day other than your birthday. I hope that idea gets out of people's heads.

 

[FantasyIsland]

Thank you DizMe!! I was hoping someone in this thread would point this out!! My thoughts exactly!

 

[bumbershoot]

....although personally I would not feel right wearing one outside of my birthday month. .... If everyone felt like they could wear buttons, regardless of when the actual occasion was in relation to their visit, we'd all be wearing celebratory buttons in the park. And then there'd be no more 'extra magic' for anyone.

You know what they say - when everyone is special, no one is.

Not everyone is ever going to feel it's ok. You don't and even if Disney came out with a clear "wear them" statement you probably wouldn't. I don't like the attention so ok done wearing them. DS can handle it for one day. DH would wear them every day. It's all personalities. So there wil never be that day.

The only "they" I know of who said that first are from The Incredibles. A depressed and nearly suicidal man and a wannabe supervillain. Not the people I take my life advice from.

Disney did just fine welcoming tons of people ON their birthdays for the year of free birthdays. I think it's all just luck of who you see, how busy they are, etc, as to whether you get birthday greetings or not, not because they've decided they are too overwhelmed to say happy birthday or anniversary or whatever. Says more about their situation than how many are wearing buttons, IMO.

 

[zanzibar138]

Not everyone is ever going to feel it's ok. You don't and even if Disney came out with a clear "wear them" statement you probably wouldn't. I don't like the attention so ok done wearing them. DS can handle it for one day. DH would wear them every day. It's all personalities. So there wil never be that day.

The only "they" I know of who said that first are from The Incredibles. A depressed and nearly suicidal man and a wannabe supervillain. Not the people I take my life advice from.

Disney did just fine welcoming tons of people ON their birthdays for the year of free birthdays. I think it's all just luck of who you see, how busy they are, etc, as to whether you get birthday greetings or not, not because they've decided they are too overwhelmed to say happy birthday or anniversary or whatever. Says more about their situation than how many are wearing buttons, IMO.

I stand by my statement, even though the source may be questionable And I said IF everyone felt the same way as the PP that situation could arise. Obviously everyone doesn't, so hopefully it won't. I did notice what I thought to be an insane amount of people wearing celebratory buttons on our last trip though. Definitely a way higher percentage than on our last trip a few years ago.

The difference with the birthday promotion was that the free entry had to be ON your actual birthday, with evidence required. Disney never said 'oh, some kids are born during the school year, or at a time when the parks are really busy, so we'll let them have their free day another time'.

I'm not going to suddenly turn into the 'birthday police' or anything, just adding my own opinion to the discussion. And now that I have, I'm going to gracefully bow out.

 

[rentayenta]

So my 8 year old niece and I have been having a big debate LOL!

We are going to DL Dec 6-8, the 8th being my birthday! I say I get a birthday button on Saturday when we get there and enjoy 3 days of birthday happiness. The 8 year old thinks that is cheating and I should only wear the button on my actual birthday

I say I am right don't you???

I vote for wearing it all three days!


My DD's Sweet 16 is 5 days after our trip. She'll be wearing her Birthday Button the entire time. The trip is part of her celebration.