Adding a Birthday or Special Occasion to ADR?

[mmbrad02]

Way back in the day, when you called Disney to make dining reservations, they used to ask if you were celebrating a special occasion. We never were, but on our upcoming trip we are celebrating my DD's 6th birthday. Either I have overlooked it, or it's not available, to online bookings. But can you still add this information to you reservation somehow? Do I just call the WDW-DINE number and ask them to add it?

 

[figment_jii]

They removed the ability to add a special occasion when making the reservation online, but you can still call and have it added to the reservation. You can also just tell the CM at the podium when you check-in. Just note that when you add a celebration to an ADR it doesn't necessarily mean that anything will happen. I think it really depends on the server, how busy they are, the restaurant's own policies, etc. My family has gotten confetti on the table, to a free birthday cupcake/dessert, to a simple "happy birthday" from the server, to no acknowledgement at all.

 

[Hopefully]

I agree with. PP What are you hoping for. If something special is important to you, you should plan - and pay for it. Check out the huge cake chatter thread if you are interested.
Good Luck.

 

[thumpergirl101]

The celebration policies depend on the restaurant. At Signatures, they can even print a menu with a special birthday greeting, if they have advance notice. Most restaurants will try to acknowledge a celebration, but they are sometimes overlooked if the server is especially busy (or not paying attention).

 

[DisBuckMan]

The celebration policies depend on the restaurant. At Signatures, they can even print a menu with a special birthday greeting, if they have advance notice. Most restaurants will try to acknowledge a celebration, but they are sometimes overlooked if the server is especially busy (or not paying attention).

....or if he/she is serving his/her 25th "special day" table of the evening.

 

[TheRustyScupper]

But can you still add this information to you reservation somehow? Do I just call the WDW-DINE number and ask them to add it?

1) You have to call to add such to a ressie.
2) With the old system, it seemed like EVERYONE was celebrating something.
3) It got WAY, WAY out of hand.
4) That is also why there are so few celebrations being recognized any longer.

******************************************************************************

BIRTHDAY-ANNIVERSARY-HONEYMOON-GRADUATION-ETC Celebrations "411":
1) It is a matter of the CM's personal initiative.
. . . depends upon how much they like you as a guest
. . . it always helps to wear a "Happy Birthday" or "Just Married" button
. . . depends if they feel like doing anything special today
. . . depends upon the phase of the moon
2) CM's can do a lot, or they can do nothing at all as they have immense control
. . . they are under no obligation to give goodies or even acknowledge any special day
. . . they can go way overboard, give lots of gifts
. . . they have A LOT of leeway for what they will or will not do for you
. . . they can see the event if listed on the ADR or hotel ressie and you hope for the best
3) Some of the things a CM can do for free are
. . . table with Mickey confetti
. . . your name/celebration on menu at TS locations (except BOG)
. . . best table location
. . . special personalized menu
. . . character-autographed birthday cards
. . . balloons
. . . balloon animals
. . . wine or champagne or Shirley Temples
. . . room towel animals
. . . appetizers or desserts
. . . cakes
. . . cupcake with candle (almost always available for the asking)
. . . place mats autographed by characters
. . . free appy or free dessert
. . . ride an attraction with a character
. . . personalization items for the Magic Bands
5) Some other items CM's can give for free
. . . room full of balloons and/or flowers
. . . fruit basket or wine basket in hotel room
. . . individual fast passes or booklets of several fast passes
. . . food and snack items (candy, popcorn, sundries)
. . . room upgrades
. . . attraction rides with characters
6) If you really want something special, buy it yourself.
. . . eatery: carry presents in and keep/hide them in a paper bag
. . . eatery: carry a cake in, but, WDW won't prepare, store, or serve it
. . . eatery: order non-decorated cake at the eatery podium check-in
. . . eatery: order decorated cake from the WDW Cake Hotline
. . . room: order special in-room celebration decorating by Disney
. . . room: order strawberries and cream, if resort has room service
. . . room: decorate the room yourself
7) If there are multiple celebrations for people during a trip
. . . do not do separate celebration locations or tables
. . . one person may get an enthusiastic CM and get goodies
. . . one person may get a lazy CM and get nothing
8) Hundreds, or thousands, celebrate everyday at WDW.
9) It is too much time/money for CM's to attend or recognize every one of them.
.
NOTE: I have personally given out freebies such as major room upgrades, fruit baskets,
wine & cheese baskets, fast passes. It all depends upon how you act toward us and the
mood we are in at that time. Of course, there are those guests for whom I would do
absolutely nothing involving personal initiative.
.
NOTE2: If you are celebrating something, tell the SEATER (the podium person) when you check-in at the eatery. They will note it on the table-slip that is presented to the SERVER. The SERVER than can determine if they want to do something.

 

[mmbrad02]

Thank you all for the comments. I should have mentioned that I will not be heartbroken, nor will my DD even know anything is "missing" if they don't do a single thing. I just figured we are going to be there and it was worth a shot if they did do something to recognize her birthday. Thanks!

 

[Staarr11]

Its nice when its acknowledged, but we never expect anything either.

 

[SilSprBea]

1) You have to call to add such to a ressie.
2) With the old system, it seemed like EVERYONE was celebrating something.
3) It got WAY, WAY out of hand.
4) That is also why there are so few celebrations being recognized any longer.

******************************************************************************

BIRTHDAY-ANNIVERSARY-HONEYMOON-GRADUATION-ETC Celebrations "411":
1) It is a matter of the CM's personal initiative.
. . . depends upon how much they like you as a guest
. . . it always helps to wear a "Happy Birthday" or "Just Married" button
. . . depends if they feel like doing anything special today
. . . depends upon the phase of the moon
2) CM's can do a lot, or they can do nothing at all as they have immense control
. . . they are under no obligation to give goodies or even acknowledge any special day
. . . they can go way overboard, give lots of gifts
. . . they have A LOT of leeway for what they will or will not do for you
. . . they can see the event if listed on the ADR or hotel ressie and you hope for the best
3) Some of the things a CM can do for free are
. . . table with Mickey confetti
. . . your name/celebration on menu at TS locations (except BOG)
. . . best table location
. . . special personalized menu
. . . character-autographed birthday cards
. . . balloons
. . . balloon animals
. . . wine or champagne or Shirley Temples
. . . room towel animals
. . . appetizers or desserts
. . . cakes
. . . cupcake with candle (almost always available for the asking)
. . . place mats autographed by characters
. . . free appy or free dessert
. . . ride an attraction with a character
. . . personalization items for the Magic Bands
5) Some other items CM's can give for free
. . . room full of balloons and/or flowers
. . . fruit basket or wine basket in hotel room
. . . individual fast passes or booklets of several fast passes
. . . food and snack items (candy, popcorn, sundries)
. . . room upgrades
. . . attraction rides with characters
6) If you really want something special, buy it yourself.
. . . eatery: carry presents in and keep/hide them in a paper bag
. . . eatery: carry a cake in, but, WDW won't prepare, store, or serve it
. . . eatery: order non-decorated cake at the eatery podium check-in
. . . eatery: order decorated cake from the WDW Cake Hotline
. . . room: order special in-room celebration decorating by Disney
. . . room: order strawberries and cream, if resort has room service
. . . room: decorate the room yourself
7) If there are multiple celebrations for people during a trip
. . . do not do separate celebration locations or tables
. . . one person may get an enthusiastic CM and get goodies
. . . one person may get a lazy CM and get nothing
8) Hundreds, or thousands, celebrate everyday at WDW.
9) It is too much time/money for CM's to attend or recognize every one of them.
.
NOTE: I have personally given out freebies such as major room upgrades, fruit baskets,
wine & cheese baskets, fast passes. It all depends upon how you act toward us and the
mood we are in at that time. Of course, there are those guests for whom I would do
absolutely nothing involving personal initiative.
.
NOTE2: If you are celebrating something, tell the SEATER (the podium person) when you check-in at the eatery. They will note it on the table-slip that is presented to the SERVER. The SERVER than can determine if they want to do something.

This is very helpful information, thank you for sharing. We will be celebrating my daughter's 5th birthday at Akershus so maybe I will call the reservations number and have them add it to our reservation. I'm not really looking for them to do something and will likely bring our own cake since we're taking a break at our hotel before dinner, but really just hoping that people wish her happy birthday and sing to her. I think it would make her day!

 

[TheRustyScupper]

hoping that people wish her happy birthday and sing to her

1) If she wears a button, they usually say Happy Birthday, but do not count upon singing.
2) Can you imagine the time it would take, especially when so many people have or claim to have a birthday?
. . . Servers would not have time to serve.