"Unbirthday" Question in the Parks

[Kdog]

I could really use some DIS advice. My 30th birthday is the first week of January. Last summer, my husband asked me how I wanted to celebrate it, and I, of course, said, "Disney!" My husband is not the biggest fan, but sweetly agreed to the trip. Because I am a school teacher, I can take vacations either during the summer vacation or winter break. I picked Christmas week since it is closest to my actual birthday (I know..crowds, crowds, crowds.) Here is my question: Can I get a birthday pin even though my actual birthday is the following week after my trip? I am only asking because it is my 30th. Next year, if we go to Disney during this time again, I wouldn't even dream of wearing a pin. What do you think?
Oh...the best part...DH is grumbling because he doesn't think WDW will be Christmas-y ... I can't wait to see his surprise!

 

[mom2of2]

sure you can! just go to any guest services and ask for a birthday button.

and your DH will be extremely surprised at just how "Christmasy" it is at WDW!

 

[Kdog]

Thank you for replying to my post; I feel much better about asking for the pin. I've been so excited for this trip that I have to stop myself from talking about WDW nonstop to DH, friends, and coworkers. It's wonderful to be able to visit the DIS boards.

 

[Cass]

Have a fun un-birthday, your hubby will be knocked off his feet by the Christmas decorations and atmosphere!

 

[mrsltg]

Absolutely! DH is turning 40 on January 1st. There is no way I would be anywhere near Disney on New Year's. Instead we'll be celebrating in high style beginning Saturday - birthday pin and all!!!

 

[kimis]

Sure you can get a pin. Very few people are actually at Disney on their actual birthday. Happy Birthday! Enjoy

 

[Vickie46]

My husband is getting me one.. I turn 35 this week and next week he says I am wearing a pin one of those days..

 

[BillSears]

Personally I'm against people wearing the pins when it's not their actual birthday. I feel they're misrepresenting themselves to get a little extra pixie dust during their trip.

On the other hand, maybe you could find a Happy Unbirthday pin and wear that?

 

[ottawamom]

We are off to Disney for my actual birthday in May. I plan on getting a pin from each park and wearing them. I moved the trip purposely so that I would be in the Magic Kingdom on the actual day. Have a great un-birthday.

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

Personally I'm against people wearing the pins when it's not their actual birthday. I feel they're misrepresenting themselves to get a little extra pixie dust during their trip.

On the other hand, maybe you could find a Happy Unbirthday pin and wear that?

Oh give me a break here. If WDW really cared about giving out the birthday buttons, then they should ask guests for ID to prove it's really their Birthdays. The OP never asked for getting free stuff like cakes at the restaurants & etc, so I say lighten up a little.

 

[BillSears]

Oh give me a break here. If WDW really cared about giving out the birthday buttons, then they should ask guests for ID to prove it's really their Birthdays. The OP never asked for getting free stuff like cakes at the restaurants & etc, so I say lighten up a little.

Sorry but it's lying to say it's your birthday when it's not your birthday. It's fraud to say it so you can gain any type of advantage. It's not a big lie and it's not a major fraud but does that make it right?

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

Sorry but it's lying to say it's your birthday when it's not your birthday. It's fraud to say it so you can gain any type of advantage. It's not a big lie and it's not a major fraud but does that make it right?

OMG that is the funniest thing I have ever read. Saying it's fraud to get a free birthday button which must be worth 10 cents or something. Once again I say the OP never asked about getting any freebies at restaurants & etc. All she really wanted was the button, so you can't even let her have that? Instead of making the OP feel bad, why don't you write an e-mail to WDW saying they should ask for ID when asking for Birthday buttons, so this way people must be forced to get them on their birthday.

 

[Vickie46]

oh my goodness.. I can't believe some of you... For one... my husband will tell the people.. hey she just turned 35.. last week.. I really want to celebrate her birthday today at MK... is it ok?? or if not fine..

Some of you really need to lighten up! Over a button! Oh my goodness!

oh.. and if someone says.. is today your birthday.. no... I turned 35 last week and this is my presnt! Hey.. I think I got the best birthday gift ever!!!

 

[AshleyMWC]

Well, I admit, I wore the birthday button when I was in the world last week. My birthday was still a week away, but who cares. I didn't get anything special, nor did I expect anything- I got a lost of Happy Birthday's from cast members, and that was plenty for me. The pin they give doesn't say "Today is my Birthday" it just says "Happy Birthday". In fact, I was atcually told to go pick one up by the WL Concierge staff- they told me that Disney considers the whole month of your birthday a celebration. So, I did, and I would totally do it again. My advice: go, enjoy, and live up celebrating your birthday!!!!

 

[mickeymom629]

This is not the first time this issue has been debated on these boards. Many people feel that wearing a button that says it's your birthday when it isn't, is not being honest. I think the debate I remember was when it wasn't really a child's birthday and having them wear a button. Someone said that if a CM came up to the child and commented about today being their birthday, it would make the child feel uncomfortable because it wasn't true (and the parents would be teaching their child that a little "lie" is no big deal).

I am not sure how I feel about this issue. I have been to WDW a few times on my birthday and I always forget to get a button (too busy having fun in WDW on my birthday to think about displaying it, I guess). I don't think I would wear one on a day that wasn't my birthday, but I might ask for one to keep as a keepsake (if I could remember to go ask for one ) if it was a trip to celebrate it, but not the actual day.

I say, do whatever you feel comfortable doing. You are an adult, so if you want to wear a pin to feel good about your birthday trip to WDW, go for it. But there are people on these boards that don't think it's necessary.

Editting because I just read the response before mine. You know, the way Disney celebrates their own milestone birthdays for the entire year, I guess they would consider your birthday month as Happy Birthday! In that case, I would have to say get your pin and wear it proudly! I hope I remember to ask for mine on my next trip - the week of my birthday!

 

[CheshireVal]

Personally I'm against people wearing the pins when it's not their actual birthday. I feel they're misrepresenting themselves to get a little extra pixie dust during their trip.

On the other hand, maybe you could find a Happy Unbirthday pin and wear that?

I feel the same way, really.

I mean, EVERYONE could conceivably go to Guest Relations every day of their trip and get a birthday pin to celebrate an "unbirthday," and then Disney would stop giving the pins out.

It's a silly thing to debate, but Disney has cut back on so many of their extra special magical touches lately, that I hate to see one of the few remaining things be abused.

 

[fAnnF]

I was lucky enough to be at WDW for my 20th birthday this year. I never thought I'd go in summer, but there I was. It was great.
BF is taking me in March for a Christmas gift, and he loves to eat at Crystal Palace and Beirgarden. his birthday is a month after our trip but because of classes and exams he can't go. I'll schedule one of these as a birthday meal for him.
I'm waiting until the end of September to celebrate my 21st because my dad can't take the same week off this year(something about school starting) and I'm inviting bf and his brother(his actual 21 birthday) for the weekend. I know he won't wear the button

Have fun wearing your button. If you don't expect anything for it, wearing it within 4-6 weeks of your birthday is fine. Or if a trip is designated as a birthday trip.

 

[TulsaDisneyFamily]

We went to WDW in Sept. this year about 1 week after my youngest DS's birthday and about 3 1/2 weeks after my oldest DS's birthday. We went to Guest Services at Epcot to pick up our DS's APs that we preordered and while we were giving them their information the CM noticed that both of them had recent birthdays and gave each of them a birthday pin without any of us mentioning it. It was a wonderful surprise and they both received some pixie dust thanks to this CM. Some CM's commented on both of them having on birthday buttons and my DS's are very honest so they told them the truth but the CM's still treated them as if it were their birthday.

 

[JMCDAD]

I was in the middle of this discussion last time. I tend to be on the side of don't wear a pin that says its your birthday if its not really your birthday.
I can see exceptions I guess a couple weeks here and there. But what irritates me is the people that the birthday is no where near the time they are there and they are not only getting a pin for themselves or their kids but they are pretending it at every meal they go to. To me thats taking advantage no matter how you slice and dice it. If you wear the pin you are bound to get some extra treatment, fastpass etc..., like another poster said, since everyone has a birthday we might a well all get birthday buttons everytime we go.

 

[marivaid]

On the phone with Disney Dining, I was getting an ADR and the CM asked me if it was a birthday - I told him no, it's 3 days after that. He said oh come on, it's Disney, you should celebrate it as long as you can. So apparently they encourage it... I don't see anything wrong with that !