"Unbirthday" Question in the Parks

[floridacitrus]

I will actually be there 01/01/07 which is my 40th birthday. Where do you get the pins ? Thanks

 

[WeirdTigger27]

When my DH went it was just after my birthday and just before his(we're both Libras). I wore my button after my birthday. Oh well. When you're a kid if you had a b-day party it's not always on the kid's acctual birthday. Sometimes it was a school night, etc so you had to wait for the weekend. To me this "issue" with the button is the same thing. You can't always celebrate on your acctual birthday.

 

[WeirdTigger27]

I will actually be there 01/01/07 which is my 40th birthday. Where do you get the pins ? Thanks

I believe you can get them at guest services in any of the parks. I don't know if you can get them at the resorts?

 

[CheshireVal]

I still don't understand why adults of all people really care so much. I haven't been overly enthused about my own birthdays since I was, oh, 18. It just seems very silly to me.

But to each his own, I suppose.

 

[BillSears]

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

I just wanted to wish you a Happy Birthday inside and outside of WDW. I know I was pretty grumpy in my remarks above and I hope they didn't cause you any distress. In the end wearing a birthday button when it's not your birthday is one of the very smallest of offenses possible and please feel free to ignore my views on this. Either way have a great trip and have fun, it's WDW!!!

 

[Amy&Dan]

I still don't understand why adults of all people really care so much. I haven't been overly enthused about my own birthdays since I was, oh, 18. It just seems very silly to me.

But to each his own, I suppose.

For me its for my kids. My two kids and my husband have all had the joy of being at either DL or WDW on their ACTUAL birthday. I never have and never will. My birthday is on Christmas Day and it usually gets lost in the shuffle as I host, cook, clean and assemble all day long. My kids and husband want me to have a really special day on the 21st when we are at Epcot, where I can be a birthday celebrator, eat out and they can shower me with some attention. So if that seems silly to you so be it. In many ways the entire Disney concept was built around being silly and being a kid when you arent' anymore. Is it silly for an adult to go to a character meal, have their picture taken with Mickey or ride the Tea Cups? Its WDW for heaven's sake its about fun for everyone. Silly is great in this sad world we live in and I for one intend to take advantage of it with my two children whenever I can!

 

[daisax]

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?​

Except other guests are reporting (there's a current thread now that lists it as a gripe) that they don't get nearly as many "Happy Birthday!"s on their birthday as they used to get from CMs (in that thread it was attributed to a decline in CM enthusiasm). I'm guessing that when every 200th (instead of every 365th) person they see is wearing a birthday pin, it starts to wear on them (given that they may greet thousands of people in a single day).

I don't see how celebrating a kid's birthday with a trip to Disney isn't complete without entering into a fiction with the child that includes wearing a button that says "Today's my birthday!" Heck, being at Disney is special enough -- how is being wished Happy Birthday by total strangers when it isn't your birthday an experience that they'll regret not having?

Easy way to solve the problem -- give out pins that say "Birthday Trip" or "Anniversary Trip!" etc.

 

[Fitswimmer]

I just celebrated my Birthday at MK on 11/28, and yes,that is my for real birthday. It would never have occured to me to ask for birthday pins at every park I attended that trip because it was a birthday trip, although from what I'm reading I would have been able to. I did get special treatment from the CM's in lines and I got a cupcake with a candle, a card and a song from my waiter at CP. I would have felt dishonest if it hadn't actually been my birthday or anywhere near it and I got all that extra attention.
My niece's b-day is July 14, and there is no way in God's earth we're going to WDW then. However, we will be there in May and I'm considering having her celebrate it there. She'll be 21 this year so it's a big one. We can celebrate that for 2 months!

 

[AshleyMWC]

Wow, this is a lot of debate over a button Again, I wore one- and proudly might I add, a whole week before my birthday! I got tons of happy birthday's from cast members, and even when i told some it wasn't my actual birthday, they couldn't have cared less! Again, the buttons no longer say "Today is my Birthday", they just say Happy Birthday-- I think that may have been done so people could wear it on more than just the ACTUAL day! Ok, that's my last post on the matter---- I think

 

[MHTeacher]

Absolutely! DH is turning 40 on January 1st. There is no way I would be anywhere near Disney on New Year's.

I TOTALLY AGREE !! We are going in March and will "celebrate" both my DDs birthdays. One's is on Dec. 30 and the other is practically on Easter ! I don't want to be there at those times either.

 

[DizzKneeGeek]

Some of you people need to find something better to do with your time...seriously. If you're debating the wearing of a 'button'...a stinking button; then you've got major issues.

And I have a question for those of you who feel the need to tell others that they may not celebrate any event except on the actual day itself....How's the weather up there?

Never had a Birthday party a few days late or early because of work or when the actual day fell? If you have; you are lying and misrepresenting to get presents...shame on you. See how ridiculous that sounds?

Where are the Birthday party police when you need them.

And also; by your estimations; isn't Disney lying and misrepresenting itself by putting up Christmas decorations in November and celebrating the Holidays all November and December? Last time I checked; Christmas was only one day. Shame on Disney for lying and misrepresenting itsself.

 

[Aidensmom]

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?

We are seasonal passholders and are blacked out on my son's birthday. However, as he wanted to celebrate his birthday at WDW instead of having a birthday party, we went the next weekend when we could use the seasonal passes again. We straight up told them we were celebrating DS's birthday that was the week before and got the pin. No lies told. They don't have a problem with it. We don't usually have his birthday party on the actual day of his birthday either because we prefer to have them on the weekends. Is that fraud too?

It's just a birthday pin, for heaven's sake! And for what it is worth, the only pixie dust we dishonestly stole by using the pin was that some people told him Happy Birthday, most of them other guests.

 

[DizzKneeGeek]

We are seasonal passholders and are blacked out on my son's birthday. However, as he wanted to celebrate his birthday at WDW instead of having a birthday party, we went the next weekend when we could use the seasonal passes again.

You shysters!!! How dare you defraud Disney in that manner. If your son can't make it to Disney on his actual birthday...he's outta luck...didn't you know that?? </sarcasm>

 

[Briar_Rose]

If it is within a week or so either way especially for a big b-day like 30, I would say that it is fine. I just don't personally agree with those whose b-day is a month or more away, or who wear the button every day of their trip. I agree that if everyone did this it would not be special anymore. My birthday is Dec. 18th and I will probably never be at WDW for my b-day, but I am an adult and I can handle that. I will just be happy to be at WDW. I do not need a button and birthday wishes to complete my experience. There are so many special things you can do at WDW (many that also don't cost anything), so why bother fibbing to get this one little thing? I guess I just don't get it. I am not trying to rain on anyone's parade. I just don't see why adults feel they or their child HAVE to have a button that badly if their b-day is not near their trip?

 

[WeirdTigger27]

Some of you people need to find something better to do with your time...seriously. If you're debating the wearing of a 'button'...a stinking button; then you've got major issues.

And I have a question for those of you who feel the need to tell others that they may not celebrate any event except on the actual day itself....How's the weather up there?

Never had a Birthday party a few days late or early because of work or when the actual day fell? If you have; you are lying and misrepresenting to get presents...shame on you. See how ridiculous that sounds?

Where are the Birthday party police when you need them.

And also; by your estimations; isn't Disney lying and misrepresenting itself by putting up Christmas decorations in November and celebrating the Holidays all November and December? Last time I checked; Christmas was only one day. Shame on Disney for lying and misrepresenting itsself.

Very very well said!!!

 

[Island Mouse]

I am somewhat new to the Disboards, but since I will be at the world during my actual birthday next month, I found this thread quite interesting.

Here is my opinion on the matter. Take it as just that.

If anyone wants to wear a button and have people wish them "Happy Birthday", whether its their birthday or not, they should be entitled to. Disney doesn't care since you are there spending soooo much money on everything else, they will give you a free button to wear to celebrate. Even if Disney didn't supply the buttons, you could conceivably make your own and get the same "Happy Birthday" wishes at any of the parks when you wear it. If you are the type of person who needs this kind of attention, then who are we to judge you. For me personally, I will be at the MK on my actual birthday, and I don't need birthday wishes from strangers in the park. I don't need a lot of attention and probably won't wear the button in the park, although I will still get one as a souvenier. The only birthday wishes that I need are from the people I love. When it comes from people who don't even know your name, it is usually false sentiment anyways.

To the OP, I think you should celebrate your birthday when you are there, even if it won't be on the actual day. And I love the idea of the "Un-Birthday" Pin too.

For everyone that has a problem with people that wear a "happy birthday" pin at the parks when it is not their actual birthday, as others have pointed out you should get off your soap boxes. I see no problem with getting a button, especially if the trip is a birthday present or it is the reason you are going, whether on the actual day or not.

I do disagree with those that do it specifically for the freebies when it is not their birthday or nowhere near it. This is the same as going to a restaurant and falsely telling the waiter its your birthday so they can come out and sing to you and give you free ice cream or something. If you are comfortable with this kind of deception, then to each his own. I won't judge you. I do think it becomes a problem when parents do this in front of or for their kids, especially when they are at the age where they can comprehend what you are actually doing. But if that is who you are and what you do, who am I to say you can't. Let Disney or any other establishment take away the freebies instead. But if you do this out of pure deception for the freebies right in front of your young kids, don't be surprised when they get older and tell lies to you. You are the parent, the role model, so set the good example. If you don't fall into the category of doing it out of deception for freebies, then disregard this, otherwise actually think of the message you are sending.

So to all those that are reading this and have birthdays in Dec and Jan and will be at WDW or simply wishing they were, Happy Birthday to you. I hope wherever you spend it, it will be magical. And Happy Holidays to everyone, whether their birthday is coming up or not.

 

[jeni1072]

My DD wore a birthday button a full 6 months before/after her birthday! And to top it off, the following day she wore a Anniversary button, while my other DD wore a Just Married (or whatever it said) button. For shame! On the day she wore the bday button, NOT ONE cm said one word to her about it being her birthday. I never thought it would bring any attention to her, since the guy at guest services gave the birthday, wedding, and anniversary buttons to each of my girls!

 

[GalDisney]

Disney is the only place i would even think about wearing a button proclaiming it was my bday lol So, In that spirit, it is all about fun. Think about it: If someone is having a once in a lifetime trip to WDW, and it was a self propclaimd bday trip, falling within a week or two of their birthday i do not see any harm. It is all about fun and Disney and the two definately go together. I try to get to WDW on my birthday (and if i cant get there on the actual day becasue the day is during the week and i have to work, i would do it on the following weekend or the weekend before.) every yr just so i can wear one of the fun buttons, and i am over 40..No way i would even think about doing that anywhere else.

 

[Vickie46]

I just turned 35 this past Friday.. well.. my little one wants me to get the button in MK.. I told her one day only I will wear it...

 

[fantpan]

If it is within a week or so either way especially for a big b-day like 30, I would say that it is fine. I just don't personally agree with those whose b-day is a month or more away

My husband and I both turn 40 in 2008 and decided instead of a party we will take a trip to WDW. For us this is a big deal as it's not cheap for a family of 6 from Australia. DH's birthday is March and mine is June so we're coming end of April - halfway and school holidays. This trip is wholely and solely for our 40th even though we're a month each side of it and we'll be celebrating every day of it.

I didn't even know you could get badges until reading this thread. Now I'll see if I can get them for a keepsake.