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

[skiwee1]

While I do believe that an 85th birthday deserves special attention I see no reason why it should come from Disney. Why can't it come from her family? Have a fruit basket waiting in the room for grandmom. Can't cost that much and what a small price to pay for an 85th birthday. As for parents wanting a kid's birthday special, order some balloons and have them waiting in the room. If the kid is that special then the parent should be falling all over themselves to make the day special. For my little girl I wanted to surprise her with a gift left from Minnie Mouse. I placed it in the room when she wasn't around. She got her gift and I didn't have to ask anyone for it. It was extra special because it came from someone who loves her. I still think it is tacky to mention it while making reservations, PSs or anything else. If the occasion is so special then by all means buy something for the person.

 

[shmoogrrrl]

Originally posted by 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).

People LIE? Now that is lame!

We might mention it if we were actually celebrating the occasion on that specific day, but not the whole trip! How strange! Then again, we went to Disney World on our honeymoon and didn't tell anyone. We did get some recognition though since we'd booked the Honeymoon package, but nothing we mentioned! My husband wouldn't even wear the bride and groom Mickey and Minnie hats around!

Ahh well! To each his own! We are doing Disney World and the DCL in March. It will be the week AFTER my Birthday and the week BEFORE our 3 year anniversary. Guess no cake for me. I'll have to hold out for some nice Jewelry at one of the ports from my hubby!

Kathy

 

[moosebug]

We will be on our honeymoon and I will be celebrating ym birthday at disney in dec. I expect a little something extra so i emailed pixie gifts and ordered a basket of toasting flutes, and bubbly and truffles etc. If it is that important I order it myself. Now if Disney just happens to give me a card, cake or even an acknowledgement that's cool too---but I don't expect it.

 

[CuteKatCar]

I'd rather have my room requests met.......


Anna

 

[aahmom1]

I just think it's so annoying when people expect something for free, don't get it then proceed to complain about it.

I can't BELIEVE the number of people who complain that they didn't get stupid towel animals on their trips!! It is simply amazing to me that peope have come to expect it. I have been to WDW 9 times and I have yet to SEE a towel animal. I guess I just don't know what I'm missing, maybe I'll shoot off a letter to Michael Eisner now.

As for people pretending it's their birthday or their kids birthdays to get extra attention, how pathetic, get a life.

 

[hallie]

We've never mentioned an event when we've gone and we've been on our honeymoon, anniversary, 3-4 b-days etc... I've never even thought to tell them and even if I did I wouldn 't expect anything for free-lol.

 

[aahmom1]

BTW, we were there on our honeymoon and 2 anniversaries since, and I haven't ever brought attention to it.

 

[dandave]

I only brought attention to the fact that we were celebrating our 10th anniversary at AKL to the concierge staff, because it was supposed to be a surprise for DH that we were staying concierge. They called me at home to ask if I wanted to do the Sunrise Safari, and I explained this asking that we continue future correspondence via email. That way, DH would not accidentally intercept a phone call.
We did receive fantastic anniversary gifts from the lodge and the concierge staff, but being able to stay there on the concierge level would have made us happy in and of itself. These gifts were surprises, and I never asked for or expected them. We loved them, but we treated them as "gifts". We made sure that the concierge staff knew that we were thankful and delighted to have received them.

 

[ceecee]

I always bring my daughter some surprises from Mickey and the gang...then put them on her bed when she's not in the room. It makes it special. I agree YOU need to make your own child feel special.
Too many people do expect freebies.......I know of someone who always says it's her b-day at this one place to get a free cake. Kind of like the lady celebrating all week...too funny!

 

[gepetto]

Originally posted by Brian430


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.

BINGO Also factor in the people that are "celebrating" birthdays/anniversaries or whatever that happened a month or two ago.

Towel animals? I've never seen one.

 

[WDW2002]

IMO, people mention it to get something out of it. Yeah I know people are going to say, I don't expect it but it is nice when they do. Bull Pucky, it is mentioned because you want something and more often then not disapointed if you dont get it.

My mom, has the habit of telling restaurants when we are celebrating a birthday. Usually they will bring out a slice of cake or dish of ice cream with a candle, they sing and bascially embarasses everyone. Well she forgot to mention it when making the reservation for my Dad's birthday dinner, so she tells the waiter IN FRONT OF MY DAD, that it is his birthday. The waiter kinda say "oh okay." We finish eating, get the check and my mom is still sitting there EXPECTING them to bring out the ice cream, they never do. She was disapointed becasue she expected them to do it.

 

[SamanthaL]

skiwee1- as I said in my post we have booked an Illumination Cruise and ordered a cake, so we ARE making a celebration out of the whole trip on our own.
Maybe I should have been more specific. I was hoping to get a room with a view of Illuminations for my grandmother so she could sit and hear the music and see some fireworks from the balcony.
As another poster mentioned, all I hope for is our room requests. That would be special enough. BCV doesn't send anything to the room so I am not "expecting" a freebie.

 

[Mackey Mouse]

I never notify them... our birthdays and anniversaries are just that.. they are ours...and private and we will celebrate them as such... JMO

 

[PamNC]

I'm glad someone finally said this. I don't find it magical to get a special gift from Disney if I had to go out of my way to orchestrate it. That takes away the magic for me. Magic just happens. I will say that several years ago I had no idea that Disney did these little special "things" and we were there on our anniversary. We stayed at Coronado and we innocently mentioned that it was our anniversary.

The CM that was checking us in went in the back and came back with a two cards...one for a champagne toast at the lounge and a free dessert at Maya Grille. We were blown away.

PamNC

 

[Figaro]

We took my parents on a suprise trip to WDW to celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary. And my spouse and I told everyone that we ran into to please wish them a happy anniversary.

My parents are very outgoing, and loved to have cast members and anyone else talk to them about this. I also made it very clear that we would be uncomfortable with any kind of "extras" other than congratulations/well wishes.

My parents were thrilled with the well-wishes and really appreciated them. I would do exactly the same thing all over again(smile). They still have the card that was signed by the staff at Akershus.

 

[Disneylvr]

I don't see what the harm is in stating to a Cast Member that someone in your party is celebrating a birthday, anniversary or other special event. The harm comes from EXPECTING extras NOT from wanting or hoping. I feel the same way about faxing room requests 4 days prior to arrival. We HOPE that they are honored, are briefly disappointed if they aren't but we have a WONDERFUL vacation anyway. It certainly doesn't warrant an angry letter to the resort, a complaint at the front desk or a ruined vacation. One thing I would never do is tell a resort or restaurant that it was my own birthday but I would certainly do it for someone else. I would also pay for extras (like a gift basket for our friends celebrating their honeymoon) as a backup.

 

[DisLUV]

I am a very outgoing person but when it comes to my family they are just that MY FAMILY. I am the husband and the Father it is my job to make my DW and DD feel special. I have been to disney for my honeymoon and i am again going for our 3 year anniversary. I have never volunteered that is was a HM or an Ann. But when I made the reservations the CRO CM asked was I celebrating anything and I told her. But I didnot expect anythng and really only got a few things and those where because I went out of my way to make my wife feel special.. EXAMPLE - I scheduled a photo shoot in the MK for her and while there our Photographer told the Dapper Dans it was our HM and they sang to my wife(No card No upgrade just unexpected MAGIC and had we not gotten it we would have never known.

Example from our Dec 2002 trip.... My Dw has always wanted to stay in concierge at WDW. So i just called CRO and reserved a honeymoon suite with concierge. I didnt call CRO and reserve a standard view room overlooking the dumpsters and tell the CM it was our Anniversary and expect and upgrade to the Yellowstone Suite at the WL.....

Sorry for the long post but that is it IMHO

 

[Anne2]

If you never mention it is a family member's birthday, how will they ever know?

Now that we all know that something special could happen, there is no way to mention it by accident.

I don't see the problem of casually mentioning it. I can see a problem with overstating it, or being dissappointed if nothing special happens.

 

[bellsonmytoes]

I am going next week with my DD who will turn 17 during our trip, the trip is a birthday present for her. I have ordered flowers and balloons to be delivered to our room, and I've bought lots of little Disney things to surprise her every day of the trip, on her birthday I have an " It's my Birthday" pin for her to wear.... and I will notify the restaurants we will be eating at that day that it is her birthday.... I do not expect anything for free, but I hope the CM's will acknowledge her birthday with a little extra attention... (how much could that cost them???? ) Just to make it alittle more special. I would never tell anyone that it was my birthday, but for my kids.... well anything that will help make it more special for them... that I will do...


I"m going to DISNEY WORLD reallllllyyyy soooon...

 

[aahmom1]

Just for the record, I see nothing wrong with saying it's a childs birthday, as long as it is actually the childs birthday.