Celebrations abound at Disney World, and now there are dozens of ways to make sure that your celebratory vacation is all about YOU (or your family) as you mark a special event or milestone.
In a one-on-one interview with a Cast Member expert on the new program, and later at a gala dinner for media reps, I learned all about Celebration Vacations, the newest trend in the travel industry. They're not just about birthdays and anniversaries. although those are the most common reasons to say "I'm going to Disney World." People are celebrating graduations, milestones, and personal triumphs. Increasingly, they're also bringing along the family to create special group memories.
There is one celebration that everybody shares: your birthday. Because that's a universal tie, Disney chose it as the focal point of a special 2009 giveaway. Guests who are there on their actual birthday will get free admission to one of the theme parks. Those who are on all inclusive packages or who have annual passes can choose from other giveaways, such as a birthday fastpass (good for four select attractions for a party of up to six) or a gift card comparable in price to a ticket. As you can see in the sign at left, birthday Fastpasses can be obtained even if all the regular Fastpasses have run out for the day. This is especially useful if you are visiting during the peak season and hit a mega-popular attraction like Toy Story Mania or Soarin' late in the day.
The birthday promotion has been a huge hit, with over 2 million guests already signed up. If you plan to take advantage of it, visit Disney's website by clicking here and completing your pre-registration. You can also fill out your registration at the parks, but doing it ahead of time streamlines the process. If you're pre-registered, you simply show photo ID to get your ticket or alternate birthday gift. Full details of registration/claims can be found in the website's FAQ section.
But what if you can't be at Disney World for your birthday, or what if you're having some other type of celebration? Maybe you just got a new job or your child got straight As. you quit smoking for a year or managed to lose 20 pounds. Perhaps you beat a serious illness. Or maybe it just happens to be your very first Disney vacation. Rob Jordan, the Celebration expert I spoke with, said, "You can even have a celebratory trip when your child finally reaches the right height to ride the big rides."
No matter that the reason, you can join in on the Celebration theme. There are plenty of events and merchandise, including some very cool personalized options that you can find by clicking here to visit Disney's official website. You can also purchase personalized t-shirts at the Design-A-Tee store at Downtown Disney once you arrive (they are very popular for family reunions; click here to read my report on creating a tee, and check back next week for a contest to win a $100 Hanes gift certificate), but there are simple ways too. Here are three free and easy celebration tips:
1) When you get to the theme parks, stop in at Guest Relations to get a special celebratory button. Announce your triumph to the world so Cast Members (and often fellow guests) can offer congratulations.
2) Enjoy the special entertainment. The Move It, Shake It, Celebrate It parade starts this week at the Magic Kingdom, and starting this summer you can join Stitch in the MK in an interactive tribute to Galaxy Day in Stitch's Supersonic Celebration. He'll appear on the big screen, inteacting personally with individual guests (think the Monsters Inc. Laugh Floor or Turtle Talk With Crush).
3) Focus on the memories. Even though your celebration is all about you, you're probably going to be joining family members, and perhaps even friends, to share it. You can purchase momentos and take tons of photos (Photopass can be a huge help with that...they even have a new portrait package that is very popular with families and reunion groups, as well as other offerings...click here for more information), but sometimes the best result of a celebratory trip is returning home with a trove of magical memories that you can treasure and share forever with loved ones.
I will be sharing more information on this theme in future entries. Meanwhile, stay tuned for my in-personal, up close and personal coverage of tomorrow's celebrity studded American Idol debut. If you'd like to be notified when I publish a new article, click the Subscribe link at the bottom of this entry.
