Why do we always notify hotels and restaurants about anniversaries and birthdays???

[Ned Land]

WDW gets a million calls every year from families allerting the staff that their trip is in celebration of a special event. They get to their room and if they don't get a card or a fruit basket they are mad. But...is this a special action on Disney's part or just part of the normal routine. I mean... is it really special to receive a card or something if you have to call up and ask for it? And if people don't get it they are furious.

I place much more value on the spur of the moment stuff that the Cast Members do on our trips. Am I wrong?

 

[Rebeltinkle]

I agee with you that when you have to request a card or such that it's not the same as just receiving one unasked for but I think a lot of people know that it is a really nice souvenir of an occasion to get one from Disney. I think of it this way, if I didn't ask for the little recognition of a special occasion, there would be no way anyone other than our group would know about it.It's just another fun little addition to the trip.

 

[skiwee1]

I agree Ned land. I think it is just another way of someone trying to get something for nothing. I don't want a card or gift if I have to ask for it! LOL! My husband is even good at gift giving and I never have to throw a hint. In my opinion I think it is tacky for anyone to tell the CM that they are celebrating an anniversary, birthday, etc. because we all know they are just looking for a handout. I can see if they tell the CM only because they themselves want to pay balloons waiting in the room when they get there or something like that. That doesn't happen too much, I'm sure. If someone needs an acknowledgment that badly then have a loved one get them something as a surprise. After all, if it doesn't come from the heart, who wants it?

 

[MJames41]

I let Disney know about my son's birthday on our next trip, but I don't expect anything for it. I just let them know in the hope that they might do something like they did on our last trip on his birthday (balloon, authographed photo, coloring book). My son will be 16 and I will be doing my best to make it a great trip - if we don't have a good time, it won't be because they didn't surprise him with something. I agree with Rebeltinkle, I'm just letting them know to give them the opportunity to surprise him. And if they can't, well we'll still be at Disney World.

 

[CamColt]

I agree! As an adult, I would feel quite silly checking in and saying its my birthday or anniversary(especailly if it werent, like a lot of people do). I can see doing it for a kid, if the birthday really is during that trip, but not when it was 6 months ago and you are just "celebrating" the occasion. Im not saying its wrong to do it, I just think its silly for adults.

 

[Brian430]

I think is testimony to how special people Disney's makes its guests feel when they are on property that people hold WDW to such absurd expectations.

Given the fact that 160,000 people visit the four WDW parks every day there are nearly 440 people who are celebrating a birthday on any given day. The reality is Disney can ill afford to be presenting handouts for every celebrating a special occassion.

Factor in anniversaries, promotions, graduations, chearleading competitions family reunions, corporate outings, school field trips, church socials and you'll quickly come to the conclusion that a good percentage of the guests are celebrating something special in their lives.

Should a bottle of bubbly be waiting in everyone's room with a free pass that ushers them to the front of every line?

I'm not blindly loyal to Disney, but it seems to me that half the gripes on this site stem from a childlike need to feel special and that Disney should serve at the paternal figure to meet that need.

 

[Disneydenise]

Does anyone know who you should call to get a cake delivered to your room? I expect to pay for it but DS is celebrating his 17th Bday while we are there and I wanted to have something to surprise him when we check in and I wanted to make sure it was there not just hope.

 

[peachgirl]

Finally! I absolutely agree it seems awfully silly to be announcing your special occasion in hopes of getting something for it. I, like others, just don't get it. If you do tell them of the occasion it's because you have an expectation that they might do something for you. I just don't see where the surprise comes from or how it makes you feel special. Now if in just talking with a cm, it naturally came up...as in they asked ME if there was some special reason for the trip (and yes, I've had them do that) then I'd say so. But I'd be truly surprised if they did anything special (which btw, they did). Otherwise you'd just have to beat me with a stick to get me to do that. I'd rather let the magic happen instead of trying to orchestrate it.

 

[melomouse]

Originally posted by Brian430
I'm not blindly loyal to Disney, but it seems to me that half the gripes on this site stem from a childlike need to feel special and that Disney should serve at the paternal figure to meet that need. [/B]

WOW, Brian! Well said and I agree completely!

 

[cinmell]

I agree

 

[Ned Land]

Are these the same people who go to Whispering Canyon and are ticked off because they asked for "ketchup" and their server did not act weird or get loud?

 

[Disneylvr]

5 years ago my wonderful husband had a private discussion with guest services at the Polynesian. We were staying there to celebrate my 30th birthday. He wasn't requesting that THEY personally do something special for my birthday, but he himself wanted to do something special and was willing to pay for it and wanted to know what was available (a cake or something) Guest services told him not to worry that THEY would take care of it. We were not staying in concierge either. He thanked the very kind CM's and went on his way.

On my birthday the Polynesian Resort had a small cake, a birthday card, noise makers and balloons delivered to our room. The cake was served on real china! My husband swears that he did not have to pay for this that it was compliments of the resort but he did not EXPECT them to automatically acknowledge my birthday, free of charge. They just did it. I thanked them at check out and in a letter written after our trip.

What is wrong with wanting to feel special once in awhile!!!??? I myself didn't personally announce that it was my birthday (my husband privately told CM's at the restaurants) and nor would it be special if I had to say it myself. My 30th birthday, which I had been dreading, turned into one of the best days of my life because my husband wanted it to be special for me and Disney World helped him out. My birthday was acknowleged at a character breakfast that morning (free photograph) and at dinner that evening (at Bonfamille's) with another birthday cake and the entire restaurant singing "Happy Birthday" to me. I think this is a common occurance as I see it happen all the time in WDW and in the local restaurants here in my home town.

The errors come when guests EXPECT special things to happen just because it is their birthday, anniversary etc. and then are very dissapointed or even angry when it doesn't. Obviously WDW can't acknowledge every special event But it doesn't hurt to make requests or let cast members know that someone in your party is celebrating a birthday. Myabe they will do something special and maybe they won't. I have even had CM's ask if someone in my party was celebrating their birthday. I certainly consider myself lucky to have my 30th birthday turn out like it did but I do not expect to ever have it happen again.

 

[Bob NC]

I have seen people mention that if you are on your honeymoon, or, it's your birthday, you should tell the operator that takes your PS, host/hostess at every restaurant, every waiter/waitress, front desk personnel, etc, etc, etc. That just, TO ME, seems very odd...Almost like you're begging for something. Sure, we all like special attention sometimes, but is the attention really special if you have to ask for it? I think if it were my kids birthday THE DAY we are at a particular WDW restaurant, I might mention it to the waitperson. But, if it were my birthday would I mention it? No way. LOL.....I just can't picture how that would sound. WAITER: "Hello, my name is Juan, how may I help you"? ME: "Hi, today's my birthday". WAITER: "Oh.....well....um....that's just...um.....great...uh.... Happy Birthday".

 

[Hollymom1229]

This upcoming trip my fiancee and I are celebrating an anniversary. The only place I told was V&A's, but when CBR closed the CM that switched us to AKL asked and so I told him. If some extra Pixie Dust is scattered our way great, if not I'll be with the man I love in the happiest place on earth, what could be more perfect?

 

[Disneylvr]

I didn't have to ask for myself, nor would I ever do that. My husband did the inquiring at the Polynesian expecting to pay for a cake or balloons. The Poly offered to do something, free of charge, and that did make it very special for the both of us. My husband also told our servers at the restaurants (not to my knowledge at all) we dined in that that day that is was my 30th birthday. He didn't expect(but did hope for) them to do anything, they just did. I was both thrilled and embarrassed! But definately a day I will never forget. We do not make a habit of making special requests for every birthday or anniversary. But my DH did think my 30th was considered extra special.

 

[SamanthaL]

My grandmother is having her 85 b-day on our trip and I let the hotel know. We have an Illumination Cruise planned and a cake will be served then, but if there is anything the hotel will do to make her feel special what is the harm?
I would never go around telling everyone it is my birthday but at 85 doesn't everyone deserve special attention. If they don't do anything that is fine, as I said we have our celebration planned. But I am in agreement with Disneylvr.

 

[Tinkbell]

Samantha, I totally agree that at 85 your grandma deserves special attention. I hope she has a great trip.


I don't see anything wrong with mentioning a birthday--IF it is really your birthday. I was at WDW in July and we were constantly running into a family where the mother was wearing a birthday badge everyday. We ate at Cindy's on our first day, we had to sing to her. We saw them at Epcot the next day and she still had that button on. Walking down Main Street the following afternoon we heard the Barbershop Quartet singing "Happy Birthday". Yep, they were singing to her. I saw them on the AKL bus the next day and she was proudly wearing her button again. I just couldn't believe it. Talk about a need for attention. I don't get why people want to celebrate their birthday EVERY DAY of thier entire vacation.

 

[Dopey Sharon]

I just booked our trip, to the Bahamas, today with my travel agent. When I was telling her our preferences...king bed, non-smoking room, she added, your 25th anniversary. I had mentioned that this trip was for our anniversary, on Friday when I last talked to her. Hey, if the resort wants to upgrade us to a nicer room because it's our anniversary, I'll take it, but I'm not going to be upset if they don't.

 

[year2late]

I also think it bogs down the staff to inform the hotel in advance.
The one exception is if you were ordering something from the hotel to be in your room on check in.

Otherwise it is asking for special privelige. How is a couple celebrating their anniversery any more important than a family who had 3 garage sales and scrimped and saved for 2 years to go on the trip? We all have our stories.

If you want special privelige for a special occasion, pay for it. Get the Deluxe. Get the room with a view. Get Concierge.

 

[GEM]

I don't think there is anything at all wrong with mentioning that it is your birthday, that you are on your honeymoon, that you're celebrating your anniversary, etc.

I do think there is something wrong with getting upset, dissapointed, or angry if nothing comes of mentioning it.