What will you celebrate is a joke!

[exwdwcm]

i'm not that impressed either. buttons are fun and the birthday card or free pass is great.

but i think guests expect a LOT. first off, guests expect a lot of disney to begin with, given the deep tradition of quality guest service. no one has set the bar as high as Disney has. Then add in a promotion like this, where they advertise that your 'event' will be special and possibly recognized. There is no way they can physically recognize each and every one, even when noted in the system. Someone is going to get missed- many are going to get missed and not get the 'recognition' they expected. I think like every business, a remote (reservations isn't located always in FL) person makes a note (or says they do, but really doesn't) about your celebration- who knows how many hands it passes through and if the CM serving you dinner even saw it or read the note- it may have disappeared long before it was into the CM's hands that could actually do something.

To be honest, when every 4 in 5 guests at the parks are celebrating something.....and so many are getting 'recognized', it really doesn't make my celebration seem all that special anymore, you know? It has become status quo and that isn't really 'special' to me.

i always try and go in with minimal expectations, then whatever does happen is just icing on the cake for my vacation. i think it is in your attitude and unfortunately we are thrown lots of curve balls on our vacation that might disappoint us.

 

[NWOhioAngela]

i'm not that impressed either. buttons are fun and the birthday card or free pass is great.

but i think guests expect a LOT. first off, guests expect a lot of disney to begin with, given the deep tradition of quality guest service. no one has set the bar as high as Disney has. Then add in a promotion like this, where they advertise that your 'event' will be special and possibly recognized. There is no way they can physically recognize each and every one, even when noted in the system. Someone is going to get missed- many are going to get missed and not get the 'recognition' they expected.

Exactly. If they can't deliver, they shouldn't hype it.

 

[lurkyloo]

Because of this HUGE push on celebrations, EVERYBODY is wearing a button and celebrating something. The cast members wouldn't really have time for anything else because they'd be wishing everybody a happy celebration.

T
To be honest, when every 4 in 5 guests at the parks are celebrating something.....and so many are getting 'recognized', it really doesn't make my celebration seem all that special anymore, you know? It has become status quo and that isn't really 'special' to me.

I think this is exactly it - the What Will you Celebrate Campaign has made it so that everyone is celebrating something so no one gets "special" treatment.

Anecdotal evidence on the Weddings & Honeymoons board suggests the (never to be expected, of course ) freebies, well-wishes, etc. are way down for honeymooners too, compared to when we honeymooned in 2008.

I'm kinda glad we're not celebrating anything in December - we'll be the odd ones out!

 

[Decorated_Dust]

I went to Disney right after my college graduation, too, and I got the constant questions over what I was celebrating when I was making my reservations. I did not get anything special from people, but I was expecting it. The celebration campaign was bound to attract more people who were celebrating things, and that would mean that the folks celebrating would not be all that unique (that time of year, there must have been thousands of people celebrating the same thing).

The pessimist/realist that I am knew this, which was why I did not get a button but rather special graduation Mickey ears. They were a better souvenir, and they attracted much more attention from cast members and guests. The thing about this celebration campaign is that the button no longer makes you stand out, so you have to go the extra mile to make yourself get there. It does not guarantee special things happening (nothing does), but it makes the whole thing more special somehow.

 

[cslittle999]

We were there for our anniversary and got no recognition of the celebration either. I mean none. Not even at our anniversary dinner at Narcoosees. No biggie we had our own surprises but it is kinda stupid to run a "What are you celebrating campaign" and not even once wish them "happy ______" Again like you this is not a deal breaker just kind of disappointing.

We're going down again at the beginning of November for our 20th anniversary but I don't know if we'll get the pins. It will be too disappointing if I wear the pins and get no recognition. Not that I expect anything but like you suggest why hand out the pins then.

PS. It was great meeting you at the Mickey Mom's Club Illuminations Party.

 

[Dale-Not-Chip]

I'm kinda glad we're not celebrating anything in December - we'll be the odd ones out!

Make sure you get the not celebrating anything button.

 

[darrengs]

It is pretty disappointing, I liked year(s) of a million dreams much better. Unless you go to the parks on your actual birthday there is nothing special about it.

 

[figment3258]

We went down last August and It was our wedding anniversary and we ate at Le Cellier and my husband loves key lime pie. So I arranged a few weeks a head of time for them to bring over a key lime pie from another dining location for us for dessert and I was willing to pay whatever. Well they never put it on our bill. So that was our nice surprise.

We leave in 3 week and ever time I call down I get are you celebrating anything and I say no I think it is too many people celebrating everything which is what they wanted. It does take away from the magic of your own personal ones but try not to let it. Go and have a magical time and maybe try to make a surprise for you family like those baskets.

Me My kids have no idea for the first time ever. I have made them autograph books. I am bring Halloween costumes for the party and we are doing the hoop dee doo. I also and bringing things like glow sticks so I don't need to buy the big light things at night.

Just remember to have fun!

 

[connie1042]

We are celebrating our Anniversary and my BD when we go in a couple of weeks. I do not expect anything. I did order a gift basket for our room and a cake for our dinner. I also talked to Nercoossee's and am getting the personalized menu. But I did all this. I expect what I paid for, but no more.

 

[lurkyloo]

Make sure you get the not celebrating anything button.

Now you've given me an idea for a pre-Disney craft project....

 

[Fluufy]

my mom works for reservations, and they HAVE to ask what you are celebrating on EVERY call,even if it makes no sense to ask on that particular call. trust me they dislike it as much as everyone else.

 

[PinkBudgie]

Once again, I'll give my Disneyland perspective. We went in June to celebrate our 20th anniversary and were also there on DH's bday. When I called to make our PSs for Steakhouse 55 and Cafe Orleans, I was not asked either time if we were celebrating. I had to add that in at the end of the conversation.

On the day we wore our anniversary pins, CMs told us Happy Anniversary. We wore them to our nice dinner at Steakhouse 55. The waitress brought us this at the end of the meal:

On DH's bday he wore his pin when he entered the gate first thing in the morning. We picked it up earlier in the week. We decided we would count how many times someone said happy birthday to him. It just seemed like there were so many bday buttons now that it didn't seem that special. Much to our surprise, 44 people told him happy birthday. Even two dancers in the Pixar Play Parade stopped and said it to him. At Cafe Oleans he got this:

So overall we were pleased and a little surprised. I know "Celebrating" is vague so I wouldn't expect much comment from that. But I think something like a graduation in a reservation should deserve a free dessert. I'm surprised there isn't a Graduation button. Kids even go to DLR for Grad Night, so you'd think that would be on their minds. Anyway, I liked someone's idea for a card from Mickey. How hard would that be to give it to someone at the table with their meal? That would be a cheap easy thing for them to do and go along way towards making the guests happy.

 

[Mike2023]

I was not expecting much from our last trip in may but was pleasantly surprised.

We could not go a day without someone making some sorta deal about our anniversary.

We had dinner at Le Cellier with another couple who was celebrating there engagement that happened the night before. They were ecstatic when they brought out there deserts on a single plate with congratulations on it. Me and my wife joked around how they were going to steel the lime lite from our celebration for the rest of the trip. Not 3 min later our waitress showed up with 2 glasses of champagne and a card signed by all the kitchen staff for us. It was amazing. We both though the other had something to do with it, but it was all Disney Magic with no input from ether of us.

Now I know this does not happen for everyone, but it does still happen.

 

[Madi100]

When DD turns ten we are visiting WDW. If when I called to make a reservation during this current promotion, and I was asked, I'd tell them we are celebrating her birthday. But, I expect nothing. I look at this promotion as Disney's way of saying that people come to Disney World to celebrate all different things in life, and it's a great place to celebrate. You can't say they didn't do anything, they have a parade in Magic Kingdom that is special just for the celebrations. They have buttons to wear that signify that you are celebrating. How you celebrate is not up to Disney, it's up to you.

When we were in Magic Kingdom in May, the CM really wanted us to have a button, but we weren't celebrating anything in particular. We told her we were just on a family vacation. She said we were celebrating that and gave us buttons. I look at this theme as being a way of also saying that there are always things in your life that you can celebrate. You can celebrate a graduation, an anniversary, birthday, a new job, a great job done in school, sports, or music. I kind of like the promotion myself.

 

[eeyorethegreat]

When DD turns ten we are visiting WDW. If when I called to make a reservation during this current promotion, and I was asked, I'd tell them we are celebrating her birthday. But, I expect nothing. I look at this promotion as Disney's way of saying that people come to Disney World to celebrate all different things in life, and it's a great place to celebrate. You can't say they didn't do anything, they have a parade in Magic Kingdom that is special just for the celebrations. They have buttons to wear that signify that you are celebrating. How you celebrate is not up to Disney, it's up to you.

When we were in Magic Kingdom in May, the CM really wanted us to have a button, but we weren't celebrating anything in particular. We told her we were just on a family vacation. She said we were celebrating that and gave us buttons. I look at this theme as being a way of also saying that there are always things in your life that you can celebrate. You can celebrate a graduation, an anniversary, birthday, a new job, a great job done in school, sports, or music. I kind of like the promotion myself.

Bolding mine. I think of the promotion more or less that way as well. I never expect anyone anywhere to go out of their way for me even at Disney. I can though understand why people think that they are going to get something special because they are celebrating some life event and I can see with all the promotion why they might think that. The best way to ensure that you have a great trip of celebration is to make sure that you plan to make it special and memorable in your own way and if there is something else done in addition to that it will be an added bonus!

 

[Dale-Not-Chip]

There is a big difference between expecting a freebie and thinking someone In the restaurant staff that sees a note saying (celebration) giving you a 2 second verbal congratulation.

Having the expectation that when you make a reservation at a restaurant an let them know and expecting a kind word to the celebrator is completely reasonable. And also very clearly Disney Policy. Otherwise they would not be told to ask us if we are celebrating something.

 

[fakereadhed]

Sorry you didn't get the celebrations you were hoping for. I'm not impressed with this "Year of a Million Buttons" campaign either. It's disappointing when they hype it so much and then you don't get recognized.

Love it- "year of a million buttons"!

I think it is also annoying that they keep asking if you are celebrating something. I get tired of saying no- after a while it starts to feel like you should invent something to celebrate because your trip you are thrilled about doesn't seem exciting enough to everyone else.

 

[Madi100]

Hmm, the one thing I've not liked about any of these celebrations is that people expect things. I believe I visited 4 times during Year of A Million dreams. In that time, I received nothing but the Tinker Bell pins. I was a little bummed, because I knew there was a chance of getting something. The trip before all of that started was so magical for us. A suit gave my girls each a very special, rare pin. They got to be guest conductors. And, I can't remember, but I know there were a couple of other things. But with the Year of A Million Dreams it took away from the little magical moments by having to PLAN all those little magical moments. I'm sure that was a bit of a drag for the CMs. It was all so planned. Same with the celebrations. EVERYONE is celebrating and people are going into with expectations. I think it's partly Disney's fault, but mostly the fault of the guest that is expecting it. You have to make your own magic sometimes.

 

[wishspirit]

I think it sometimes doesn't hurt to cajole the CM's into it a bit. My parents went to Disney for their 25th wedding anniversary (without me, but that is a different matter! )

Anyway, being the wonderful daughter that I am (and listening to the podcast) I sent them a little hamper of wine, cheese and nibbles (with very cute Disney wine glasses) to their room for the first 'full' day of their holiday from Disney Florist. This meant the day they arrived, nothing was there (purposely) and although their anniversary was noted on the reservation, no one said anything and nothing special happened.

The next day when my gift arrived, the CM's got the hint from the card, and laid out a card signed by Mickey and Minnie, buttons and stuff in the room, and said congratulations when they handed over my hamper. Wearing their buttons, people said congratulations and they even got a phone call from Mickey wishing them a happy anniversary!

So although it took some prompting, they do try when reminded

 

[angelmav]

Hmm, the one thing I've not liked about any of these celebrations is that people expect things. I believe I visited 4 times during Year of A Million dreams. In that time, I received nothing but the Tinker Bell pins. I was a little bummed, because I knew there was a chance of getting something. The trip before all of that started was so magical for us. A suit gave my girls each a very special, rare pin. They got to be guest conductors. And, I can't remember, but I know there were a couple of other things. But with the Year of A Million Dreams it took away from the little magical moments by having to PLAN all those little magical moments. I'm sure that was a bit of a drag for the CMs. It was all so planned. Same with the celebrations. EVERYONE is celebrating and people are going into with expectations. I think it's partly Disney's fault, but mostly the fault of the guest that is expecting it. You have to make your own magic sometimes.[/QUOTE]

umm, you do realize that Disney is advertising like crazy what will you celebrate right? Partly there fault??How about this straight from disneys own site.

"There's so much in life worth celebrating, and this year Walt Disney World Resort in Florida makes it possible to give your special moments the fanfare they deserve. Gather with those who make you happiest for a truly spectacular celebration in the place where dreams come true.

No, it's probably the guests fault for getting there expectations too high. Sheesh!