Unexpected extra's during a WDW stay

[Spork3127]

While making our reservations over the weekend, the representative I was speaking with was typical Disney awesome. She asked questions about my party size, including my son for the itinerary and TSA for our flight. One thing that she asked was if we were celebrating a special occasion or anything along those lines. I simply replied "No, but this will be our son's first trip." She immediately commented that she was making note in the reservations so that Master [insert my sons name here] would have a special surprise for his 1st trip. Any idea what said surprise would/could be? He'll turn 3 about a month after our trip, so I'm guessing something small like a commemorative pin or possible a set of mouse ears. No clue though.

 

[pigletgirl]

He can get a birthday pin, and he'll probably get a cupcakes during each of your ADR's. It's quite fun!

 

[jknewberry]

Cool! My daughter will have her first trip next year just before her birthday, so good to know!

 

[DisneyMomma1216]

He will get a First Visit pin. You never know what extra pixie dust they may have in store for him! You can also get him a Birthday pin to celebrate while you're there! All of the CMs who see it will wish him a Happy Birthday and he may even get some pixie dust for that too!

 

[DisneyOma]

I'd keep expectations low - request a pin at check in if you don't get one. I wouldn't count on cupcakes for a first visit pin though.

They are doing tons of cutbacks right now, so I'm cynical though - hope you get some pixie dust and have a great trip!

 

[design_mom]

We did a "girls trip" for my mom's 65th. One day when we came back to the room, there was an autographed photo of Mickey wishing mom a happy birthday.

I agree with others -- Disney sometimes adds some nice personalized touches, but I'd keep expectations low. They don't always do the same thing (we have celebrated other birthdays and not received anything). If you go in expecting something specific, you might be disappointed. Just go and enjoy.

 

[Spork3127]

We definitely have low expectations as to what, if anything, might be done. I was just curious if others had any extras thrown in that were unexpected. I definitely wasn't expecting the representative to mention they'd make note of the trip being our sons 1st so that something special could be done.

 

[DisneyWishes14]

At the resorts, I've had some extra little things when staying club level on birthday trips. For birthdays, we've been given cupcakes at restaurants plus once they sprinkled Mickey confetti on our table at Cali Grill and wrote happy birthday on my dessert plate. I would pick up the birthday pin, note the birthday on your resort reservation and all ADR's and then see what happens!!

 

[Stacymarie1216]

On our first visit, we would randomly get asked (maybe at a restaurant or when asking a cm a question) if this was our first visit. When we said yes, the kiddos oftentimes got something special - a gigantic Mickey Mouse cookie, or stickers, or other fun things for kids. This was in 2012. Not sure if they'll still be doing that, but it made the kids feel so special!

 

[loves to dive]

It's really the luck of the draw as to whether he will get anything other than the first visit pin. I've been on my birthday a number of times and I always wear my birthday pin. I always get the happy birthdays from the CMs and some guests do it too. One year, for some odd reason, I got a free dessert at just about everywhere we ate, which was nice but since we happened to be on the dining plan that year (don't do it any more) I already do a dessert, which I rarely ate anyway so it was kind of wasted. My son laughed his head off and took pictures of me sitting at the table in Canada with two desserts in front of me. I think I also got a card from the CMs there that year too. They rarely do anything special any more and I certainly don't expect it, the happy birthdays are plenty. Used to if you were a return visitor, you would get a little Disney character in your room waiting for you, but they stopped doing that years ago.

 

[DisneyOliverMom]

My guess is a pin with his name written on it in sharpie and Mickeys drawn on it.

 

[SheraVI]

Do you need to let the resort know in advance? It's my Oldest's birthday and both kids' 1st visit.. I know we can get pins at "town hall" too, but I didn't know about the resorts having the pins.

 

[DisneyMomma1216]

Do you need to let the resort know in advance? It's my Oldest's birthday and both kids' 1st visit.. I know we can get pins at "town hall" too, but I didn't know about the resorts having the pins.

You can always call Disney (or ask your TA to do it if you are using one) and ask to put on a celebration to your reservation. Tell them you have a birthday and a couple of first visits, they will note it down, and the resort will have a pin waiting for you. If they don't when you get there, you can ask for one and they will gladly give you one if you don't want to wait to get to the parks.

 

[texasroni75]

Like others mentioned, you will likely get a Button, maybe a sticker and a balloon at checkin (that's what DS(2) got when we celebrated his bday and first visit back in 2013). He also got some stickers in the parks when wearing his buttons. And maybe a cupcake at some of the TS restaurants.

 

[mdyoung]

We were on property end of May and beginning of June last year (2015) and actually celebrated 4 birthdays across 3 generations. I didn't have it noted on our reservations or ADRs. We simply picked celbration buttons at GS on the first day. I am sure the sheer number is the reason our group garnered a lot of attention. Cupcakes or dessert were frequent, couple of characters were exceptional in interacting with our birthday celebrants, once escorted to the front of fastpass line, as well as an extra turn on another and we also received a complimentary dinner one evening. It certainly made a fun trip that much more memorable. I can say the magic was all around us on that trip.