Think they will end the "freebies" with all the new celebration buttons???

[Tink rules]

Since the are giving out all new buttons (at carts in the parks - no only at City Hall...) do you think they will cut back on things you used to get sometimes when you had your anniversary or birthday button because now alot more people will have buttons on???

 

[mark_o_2005]

I hope not, what's the point of doing the promotion if they're not gonna continue to give special treatment?

 

[RMulieri]

What special treatment? seriously not everyone that wears or wore a button got something other than a nice friendly smile.I have worn in past years a Just married, Happy anniversary and Happy birthday button, and never got a single thing.I honestly don't expect anything other than a smile .

 

[Tink rules]

I know it's not a given that you receive it, my mom got some nice desserts when we were there. The nicest part was everyone we ran into wished her a happy birthday - and she's 76 so she was thrilled...

I just wondered if maybe because alot of people will have buttons and maybe the moments won't be as special or as often anymore.

 

[RMulieri]

I am sure they will be just as friendly and acknowledging as they always are.

 

[Gina-Gina-Bo-Bina]

We were at Disney from January 10th to the 16th to celebrate our son's 13th birthday.

The CM's were FANTASTIC in their efforts to make his birthday special. In addition to the dozens and dozens (maybe even hundreds!) of "happy birthdays" he received... at Animal Kingdom in particular, he didn't seem to pass anyone without them noticing and yelling out a birthday greeting..... he had a whole bunch of nice things happen for him.

- At Chef Mickey's, he got a birthday cupcake
- At 1900 Park Fare, he was given a birthday crown, as well as a birthday cupcake (in a to-go container no less, so he wouldn't have to miss out on the dessert buffet.....our server was SO thoughtful)
- At Crystal Palace, he was given a birthday card signed by all the characters
- At Sci-Fi Dine In, he was given a huge chocolate fudge sundae with a candle, and the server sang happy birthday
- At Mama Melrose, our server doubled his dessert, brought it out on a special tray all decorated up, had everyone sing happy birthday to him, plus gave him a card signed by every member of the Mama Melrose staff, AND gave him a beautiful certificate commemorating his special day
- At the games area in Dinoland at AK, the CM gave him an extra basketball to throw in his effort to win a prize

We also had a wonderful bus driver from POR to AK, Edgar, who got the entire busload of passengers singing happy birthday to him on our way to Donald's Safari Breakfast.

I honestly think the CM's were very much attentive to the celebration buttons. They really seemed to be looking for them. We were on our way to Downtown Disney by boat one afternoon and the driver of a passing boat (going in the opposite direction) even notice the button (he must have had amazing eyesight!!) and yelled out "Happy Birthday young man!!".

Maybe he was just lucky.....but I do think that Disney staff are doing a great job of helping people "celebrate" under their new theme.

 

[crisi]

What special treatment? seriously not everyone that wears or wore a button got something other than a nice friendly smile.I have worn in past years a Just married, Happy anniversary and Happy birthday button, and never got a single thing.I honestly don't expect anything other than a smile .

We've had similar experiences. My daughter at the age of nine, got nothing at all for her birthday button - not even a happy birthday. Nothing on our anniversary. Nothing on my parents anniversary.

Not that we expected anything - sometimes Disney magic happens, and sometimes it doesn't (and we actually got lots of magic last trip - just none of it from the birthday button) - so anyone reading this should keep their "freebie" expectations at "maybe."

 

[DisneyPiPhi]

In 2007 I got a birthday button free at Epcot and wore it to Epcot and Blizzart Beach. All the CMs I saw said Happy Birthday to me and I got a free ice cream cone at Blizzart Beach! For me, free ice cream is pretty much as good as it gets!

 

[Tink rules]

I hope it stays something special.. Disney always made it that way...

 

[dandave]

OK. I'll be the stick in the sacred WDW mud.
I think that "some" people who frequent WDW message boards have so abused the special occasion button/ reservation memo/ check-in blurb, about BDs, anniversaries, toe-nail clippings, bowel movements, etc., that the whole idea of "specialness" has become tacky, tacky, tacky.
Anytime anyone can afford to go to WDW is a special occasion. If you're there, then, "Yeah for you"! Be happy with your situation.
Now, pretty please, go to the back of this line. If you want to give your loved one balloons, a special dessert/cake, BD picture, etc., then pay for it or apply for the new BD giftcard/ticket. That way, if it's *really* your BD, then you can still get it for free. Every single day of your trip cannot possibly be your BD, however.

 

[samefay]

LOL
We'll miss our anniversary date by almost a week when we're there in June. DD will still be in school so we have to wait to take our trip. Can we say that we're celebrating our anniversary? We are, but it'll be a little delayed.
TIA!

 

[kaytieeldr]

Yes, you can. There is a different between "celebrating" and "observing".

 

[Gina-Gina-Bo-Bina]

I think that "some" people who frequent WDW message boards have so abused the special occasion button/ reservation memo/ check-in blurb, about BDs, anniversaries, toe-nail clippings, bowel movements, etc., that the whole idea of "specialness" has become tacky, tacky, tacky.

Ah, I wondered how long the OP's question would take to generate this kind of debate.

OP, I guess only time will tell if the the new promo (and the potential for many more "celebrations" of multiple kinds this year) will mean a decline in the amount of special touches you receive, or if it will mean an increase in the pixie dustings being experienced by Disney guests. It really could go either way. Many people have complained at length that the new birthday promo is no good because they just can't visit on their birthday for one reason or another, so perhaps the jump in celebratory occasions won't be as bad as many think.

For those who complain about Disney guests wearing their buttons too much, it might help to know that the CM's at Disney are encouraging you do wear the button for the length of your stay. I'm not sure how guests are "abusing" those buttons: they are given at check in, and you're told to wear them. What happens after that is totally up to fate and circumstance. We did not ask for any of the special things that were done for our son, and we were quite diligent in making sure we (as his parents) did our homework and had lots of special touches in place to make his birthday special at our own cost. These were "extras" at the whim of our servers, and were quite unexpected. Enjoyed and touched by the experience? Totally! Did we feel "entitled" to the extras? Absolutely not.

In my own personal opinion, I can't imagine feeling anything but delighted for a child (or an adult, for that matter) who receives some extra attention on their birthday while on vacation at Disney World. This negative attitude towards the buttons, free desserts, etc. is baffling to me. So much for the Disney spirit.

samefay, go ahead and celebrate your anniversary on your next trip, and make no apologies. And congratulations on marking another year of marriage!

 

[goofy4tink]

Yes, the CMs do tell you to go ahead, wear your button for your whole trip. But...there's only one thing wrong with that. You tend to think that all this wonderul, magical stuff is going to happen. And it doesn't...not all that much.
My dd celebrated her 6th birthday, on her first ever trip to WDW. I did mention this when we booked our room at DxL (POR), each time I made an ADR. Now, she did get a nice birthday cupcake and card at the CP, and a birthday song. Other than that? Nothing.
Fast forward to her 13th birthday....2 years ago. Again, she was there, on the day she turned 13. She, and her friend who's birthday was the day after we got home, were given two different birthday buttons...one that said 'Celebrating my birthday in WDW' the other was 'Today is my Birthday!!'..obviously two different intentions. She wore the 'Today is my birthday' button on her big day, the other button on the other days.
I had ordered, and paid quite a lot for, a very special cake to be served at the GF Cafe. It was brought out by a wonderful CM, who got the entire restaurant singing to my dd.
At Chef Mickey's, not her birthday, the girls were each given a birthday cupcake and a special birthday placemat. At the Crytal Palace, on her birthday, they got cupcakes (for breakfast no less!!!).
At HDDR that night, dd got pulled out for special recognition but they do that every night. Still, it was fun for her.
She got many well wishes as she went about her fun in the parks. But, nothing 'huge' happened. No cards in the room, no balloons, no FPs handed to her, no free ice cream, no free dessert other than the cupcakes.

So......while it's nice to wear a button that proclaims your special day, don't get one hoping for all sorts of special attention. If you want something special, plan it yourself. That way, no one will be disappointed.

 

[Markstudy]

We've gone for birthdays and anniversary and gotten nice smiles and kind remarks. I think that all you can expect and we thought it was very nice (never got a free cupcake)

But recently have noticed way too many newlyweds and birthday folks... at Disney for Disney to be able to give them VIP treatment. (its gotten to the point where every 5th person we see has something their celebrating)

So.... that room upgrade, or free meal, or even best table in the restaurant.... don't count on it. If someone brings you a free cupcake consider yourself way ahead of the game

 

[maverick61]

I will agree with dandave and join him in the sacred mud.

What troubles me is people who abuse this - wearing buttons the length of their stay or wearing a button when it is not your b-day, anniversary, etc.

you can't be there specifically on your b-day, anniversary, etc - don't ask for a button. This whole concept of celebrating a special envent a month or more before or after it occurs is pretty low IMO.

It is these abuses that will ruin things for everyone

 

[Markstudy]

It is these abuses that will ruin things for everyone

Soon.... they will have to start giving away the cupcake to the only person at Disney without a celebration button

 

[patsal]

DD was there for his 5th birthday and his 16th birthday. 5th the tables were set with special placemats, the cards were signed by characters and the glittery Mickey heads were on the table. A birthday cupcake was presented and he was sang to--this was in 1996. In 2007 he was wished a happy birthday from a few CM's but nothing fancy, no dessert for his birthday, nothing. Did I care, not really I had made arrangements for a cake and family dinner on my own. I had taken care of his birthday gift and card. It was a disappointement to the 16 yo only because he remembered what a big deal was made of his birthday when he was 5 and he felt a little like the magic does disappear when you get older!
One thing I always say is don't count on anything. If you want something take care if it ahead fo time yourself. DH and I were there on our anniversary a few years ago and nothing. We didn't care it was our anniversary so it really only had meaning for the two of us. We still enjoyed our dinner at the Cali Grill and we enjoyed the champagne we ordered for our room,etc.
Take care of your details and don't put the responsibility for it on others and you won't be disappointed! Magic is just the luck of the draw, so enjoy if you get some.

 

[SharonLovesMickey]

Like all things in life, I think that the little things make a big difference. A free pretzel or free cheese to go with your pretzel as the case may be was just the little touch to make my husband feel special on his birthday. People wished him Happy Birthday and it made his day just to be recognized.

 

[dis75ney]

We were in WDW for my birthday in October, and while I did get cupcakes and signed cards/placemats while dining, I think the best thing I received was a Happy Birthday greeting in 15 different languages from a cast member in Mickey's Toontown. My husband got it all on video and is in the process of learning Happy Birthday in Spanish, French, German, Russian, Japanese, Chinese, Korean, Yiddish, Hebrew, Tagalog, Portugese, Dutch, Swedish, and Gaelic (he already knew English, of course)...

This castmember (I can't remember her name off the top of my head) made it a point when she was hired to ask different guests how to say Happy Birthday in their native tongues. She has said that the only one she doesn't know is Swahili...