"Unbirthday" Question in the Parks

[OhioFamily]

We're going for our children's birthday celebration this year. We will actually be there on DD's 7th birthday but my DS's birthday isn't for a few weeks after. I decided to let him pick one day that we're going to be there to be "his day". I'm making him a special Very Merry Unbirthday pin that he can wear on the other days.

To me it isn't a big deal. Wear the pin and have fun!!

 

[orljustin]

Get a pin and stick it in your pocket. Wear it when you are home.

It's everyone's birthday at some point. Just because the trip is your "present" for your birthday in 3 months doesn't really mean you need to get "Happy Birthday"s from people, when it really isn't. What's the point of wearing it, if not for the attention you get, and since the attention isn't warranted, why wear it?

 

[AshleyMWC]

In my personal opinion, which in no way should effect others' opinions, if you wear the birthday button, you get a few happy birthdays here and there and mayeb if you're lucky a free Mickey Bar or something, what's the harm? This takes nothing away from any other guests Disney experiences, so what's the big deal? As I said earlier, I didn't expect anything when I wore mine, nor did I get anything- especially along the lines of free fastpasses or anything- I just wore it because my birthday was a week away, and heck yeah, I wanted to clebrate it! To each their own, I say, but there's no need to make others feel bad for wanting to celebrate a little early/late- not everyone's circumstances warrant being at WDW on the actual day, so birthday trips sometimes have to be "around" the time. So, here's a Happy Birthday to everyone with a December- like me!

 

[jmmelvin]

First of all, if we shouldn't wear a birthday button unless it is our birthday, then does that mean that we can't have birthday parties on the weekend of our birthday, or another convenient day around your birthday? Do we need to wait to open our presents until THE DAY? What about the presents you get after THE DAY? Do we need to wait to open them until the next birthday?

I'm sorry, but My birthday is Saturday, and I wore a b-day button in WDW last Saturday to celebrate. On top of that, it was my Anniversary Day. Also, my dauaghter had a B-day on Nov. 15, we had a party for her and a cousin on the 18th and left for WDW on Nov. 25. When we went to EPCOT's ticket counter to get our Season Passes activated, the CM saw in the computer that my DD had just had a B-day and got her a B-day button to wear, and a phone call from Goofy. I don't think Disney has a problem with this.

 

[orljustin]

Great. It's my birthday in February. Next time I go down in October, I'll be sure to get a pin, since I'll be celebrating.

 

[CheshireVal]

My birthday is in July, but maybe I'll grab a birthday pin when I'm in Disney next week since I can't come back for my actual day six months later.

 

[jfite9]

I am interested in reading all of your opinions on this. My wife and I and our 5 children are making our 1st trip to WDW in January. 4 of my children have birthdays ranging from the week we go to WDW to 3 weeks after we return. The only child that does not have a Jan/Feb birthday of our five is an infant born last week. We are treating this a a birthday trip for the 4 oldest, and have been calling it that all along. When making ADR at one of the locations the CM asked if there were any birthdays or if we were celebrating anything on our first trip and I told her how our childrens' birthdays fell and she told me to be sure to go to guest services and get pins for all 4. But, if it is in bad taste in the eyes of DISers that have been going for years, I will shy away from it. I know that this trip and subsequent trips will be magical either way, I just want to know what the concensus is before I get there.

 

[jmmelvin]

I think that as long as Disney CMs think it is fine, then go for it. Personally, I think 1 week before or after your birthday is still in the clear.

 

[BillSears]

I feel that alot of this has to do with todays entitlement society.

I can't be at WDW on my birthday but I'm entitled to have my birthday at WDW just like the person who is there on their actual birthday. So I'll pretend to be special even if it's not true.

When everyone is special no one is. When people celebrate their birthdays on days that are not their birthday then you take away the specialness of those who actually go to WDW on their birthday.

I thought that Disney used to do extra things for people on their birthdays. Maybe they got rid of this because of all of the people abusing the system? Maybe people who actually have their birthday at WDW lose out because of those who fake their birthday at WDW?

 

[WDW Poly Princess]

This was discussed a while back, and someone e-mailed Disney guest relations to get the "official" answer, which was "You're welcome to celebrate your Birthday any time you choose!"

Hey, they celebrate Christmas (which is a birthday!) for almost two entire months! They celebrated Walt's 100th for an entire year! And how long was Mickey's Birthdayland around?

 

[Amy&Dan]

What makes this whole thing "magical" to the person wearing the pin is that you are a the Happiest Place on Earth celebrating an event in your life. What makes it "magical" for Disney is that you are spending money celebrating an event at the Happiest Place on Earth. They are happy you are happy at their happy place! No harm, no foul. If your panties get in a wad at the very thought of committing fraud by wearing a pin that says "Happy Birthday" a few weeks/early late, don't do it. If on the other hand you have bigger fish to fry in your life and just want to be happy celebrating the day of your birth whenever you get the opportunity, do so! Now if they give you the pin and say: "Congratulations, you are the one millionth person celebrating your ACTUAL birthday at WDW and here is your check for $10,000", politely tell them the truth . This is truly one of those itty bitty things in life that only each individual can decide for themselves. I have no problem with it and when I go next week from the 15-23rd, my kids have already told me they want me to get a pin. My birthday is the 25th and by that day I"ll be home cooking for the family masses and not really in the mood to find my pin and wear it on the "real" day. If that makes me and my children entitlement junkies cheating a sacred system, so be it. I know for a fact Disney won't mind. I highly doubt if any perks have been discontinued because masses of people descended on WDW grabbing freebies. If perks have gone away, its probably because overall numbers have increased in general. I admire the honesty and integrity of some of the posters. I guess they would never do this just as they probably do things I would never dream of doing. We all have our moments where we justify some little thing or another. But frankly, this is one thing that just seems silly to worry over. OP have fun celebrating your birthday!!

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

I feel that alot of this has to do with todays entitlement society.

I can't be at WDW on my birthday but I'm entitled to have my birthday at WDW just like the person who is there on their actual birthday. So I'll pretend to be special even if it's not true.

When everyone is special no one is. When people celebrate their birthdays on days that are not their birthday then you take away the specialness of those who actually go to WDW on their birthday.

I thought that Disney used to do extra things for people on their birthdays. Maybe they got rid of this because of all of the people abusing the system? Maybe people who actually have their birthday at WDW lose out because of those who fake their birthday at WDW?

Out of all the responses that have been posted, why are your replies always so negative? I understand that is your opinion which your intitled to, however others have said Cast Members don't care if your Birthday was a week before or happeing 2 weeks later & etc. So if WDW does not care, why should you?

 

[BillSears]

Out of all the responses that have been posted, why are your replies always so negative? I understand that is your opinion which your intitled to, however others have said Cast Members don't care if your Birthday was a week before or happeing 2 weeks later & etc. So if WDW does not care, why should you?

I guess we all have our pet peeves. Lying is one of mine. I'm not sure why you're taking offense at my opinion. I guess we are just at opposite sides on this issue.

 

[hniki234]

What makes this whole thing "magical" to the person wearing the pin is that you are a the Happiest Place on Earth celebrating an event in your life. What makes it "magical" for Disney is that you are spending money celebrating an event at the Happiest Place on Earth. They are happy you are happy at their happy place! No harm, no foul. If your panties get in a wad at the very thought of committing fraud by wearing a pin that says "Happy Birthday" a few weeks/early late, don't do it. If on the other hand you have bigger fish to fry in your life and just want to be happy celebrating the day of your birth whenever you get the opportunity, do so!

I agree. If you're comfortable wearing a birthday pin on a day other than your actual birthday, go for it. If not, don't do it. It doesn't affect me either way. Just enjoy your trip!

 

[Amy&Dan]

I guess we all have our pet peeves. Lying is one of mine. I'm not sure why you're taking offense at my opinion. I guess we are just at opposite sides on this issue.

Lying is a broad term with a lot of interpretation involved. Your use of the word "lying" implies someone being evil, out to get a gain. And yes, I know sometimes people have reported getting some freebie (I have never read this but I am thinking others have so it must be the case) when they wear a birthday button. But this OP asked a simple question and suddenly you and a few others are up on the soapboxes making others feel as if they have stolen and just aren't moral enough to realize it. On the flip side of "offensive", self rightousness is a pet peeve of many people. It can often be seen as a form of lying as people make an implication that they have never done this or that. Surely you don't mean to imply you have never lied. Have you ever told someone their hair looked nice after they got one of those really nasty perms? I know lying is wrong and yet the extreme you are taking this is probably why some posters are getting offended. Unless you can honestly say you have never stretched the truth or crossed a moral line in your entire life you had better be careful throwing the proverbial stone.

I think this is all silly and on the road to thread closure status. The question was answered. Yes you can get a button when its not your birthday. No the cm's won't ask for proof which makes a statement that Disney looks at this "perk" as being about a celebration not a written in blood on a stone tablet statement of truth about the day one was actually born!

And to CR Resort Fan 4 Life: I'll be at WDW when you are! I'll be the lady wearing the contraband birthday button on December 21, four days before my actual birthday!

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

I guess we all have our pet peeves. Lying is one of mine. I'm not sure why you're taking offense at my opinion. I guess we are just at opposite sides on this issue.

I am not taking offesnse because like I said before, that is your opinion which your intitled to. What I don't get is after everyone saying WDW does not care & etc, you still feel the need to try & make these people & the OP feel bad for not going on their actual Birthdays.

 

[marciemi]

I have to say that within a reasonable time is fine - although agree it could be confusing to a young child. But if they're that young (say under 5), they probably don't even know what day it is and you could just play up whatever day you wanted (THURSDAY we're going to the MAGIC KINGDOM for your BIRTHDAY!) and just celebrate it that way. If they're older, they should be able to understand and say politely either "Thanks!" when wished a Happy Birthday or if questioned further, say "Actually my birthday was Saturday, but we're celebrating it today."

We've gone twice for DH & oldest DS's birthday (they're a day apart). First time was when DS actually turned 3 at the parks and we got him a button (and DH the previous day). Went to DL for a week many years later and the last day in the parks was DH's birthday and DS's (11th) was the following day when we were flying home so we got buttons for both of them that day. Went fine until DS got on Millionaire at DCA and the host asked him "So - today's your birthday? How old are you?" And he was like "10, I mean 11!" So of course they asked him if that was his final answer!

We went a couple years ago about a week before my birthday and I have to say I never considered getting one. But when we go next summer, it will be 5 days after middle DS's birthday, who's seen his brother and dad get them, but not him. So yes, one of the first 2 days we're there, which will be within a week of his birthday, we'll get him a birthday button and he'll wear it. The other days at the other parks, we'll get him one so he has a whole collection from his birthday trip, but he'll only wear it one day and pretend it's his actual birthday. If he gets something (other than the $10,000 mentioned above), great. If not, at least a lot of people will recognize him. He was a planned C-section (breech) so who knows? Maybe it will be his "intended" real birthday!

Youngest DS has never been for his birthday, and since it's in May and he's now in middle school, probably won't - at least not with us! But he can certainly understand the difference between a couple days and a couple months!

 

[Vickie46]

I am going to get my button and wear it proudly.. so if you see someone with a button.. its me!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[WDW Poly Princess]

If getting a birthday button a week after your birthday is fraud, then what about all of those little girls dressed up as princesses? They are lying, and trying to convince everyone that they are really Cinderella! And think of all of the CMs who call them Princess all day- that's unfair treatment! I wasn't born into a royal family, but I'll just dress up like I was anyway! Psh! They pretend to be special, even though it isn't true! I've even seen some carrying magic wands, when they can't even really do magic! The nerve!

So offensive!

 

[Kdog]

Hi. I am the OP. I really appreciate that so many people responded to my question, and I think all the opinions are really valid. I am giddy about being at WDW the week before my big 3-0, but I can see the point about the specialness of being at the world on your actual birthday. I am going to ask for a pin, which I will keep as a keepsake. For my trip, I am going to make an unbirthday pin which I will wear for one day at the parks. I usually don't even make a big deal about my birthdays, but I am excited about this one. Thanks again for all your opinions.
Kelly