35 DAYS TO GO . . .

     SATURDAY MARCH 19, 2011

     BIRTHDAYS AND CELEBRATIONS.  AS MANY OF YOU PROBABLY ALREADY HAVE, OR HAVE AT LEAST HEARD OF OR EXPECTED, DISNEY IS THE HOME OF CELEBRATIONS.  THEY'VE EVEN GEARED AD CAMPAIGNS AROUND THE FACT THAT SO MANY GO TO DISNEY TO CELEBRATE.  WHETHER IT'S TO THE PARKS OR ON A CRUISE, THE NUMBERS CELEBRATING SOMETHING VS. JUST VISITING, IS INCREDIBLE.  AND NOBODY DOES CELEBRATIONS LIKE DISNEY.
     ALTHOUGH THE INFORMATION IS MUCH MORE READILY AVAILABLE NOW, THERE ARE STILL VAST NUMBERS THAT THINK THEY CAN ONLY CELEBRATE AT DISNEY IF THEY PAY MORE FOR IT.  THIS COULDN'T BE MORE UNTRUE.  YES, YOU CAN PAY EXTRA TO HAVE A SPECIAL CAKE MADE OR HAVE THEM DECORATE YOUR ROOM FOR YOU, OR SEND A SPECIAL GIFT.  BUT DID YOU KNOW THAT BY JUST GOING TO GUEST SERVICES AT ANY OF THE PARKS AND TELLING THEM WHAT YOU'RE CELEBRATING, THEY'LL GIVE YOU A FREE BUTTON TO WEAR DESCRIBING YOUR OCCASION?  AND JUST BY WEARING THAT BUTTON AROUND THE PARKS OR YOUR HOTEL, DISNEY EMPLOYEES (CAST MEMBERS) WILL CONSTANTLY SHOWER YOU WITH ATTENTION, AND SOMETIMES MORE.  WHEREVER YOU GO TO EAT, TELL THEM OF YOUR CELEBRATION.  THERE'S ALMOST ALWAYS A SPECIAL DESSERT COMING YOUR WAY BECAUSE OF IT. 
     THE DISNEY CRUISE LINE IS NO EXCEPTION.  BECAUSE INFORMATION ABOUT WHAT'S "FREE" FOR YOUR PARTICULAR CELEBRATION IS LESS AVAILABLE FOR DISNEY CRUISES, IT'S BEST TO CONTINUE TO ASK THOSE THAT MAY HAVE HAD THE SAME CELEBRATION, OR PLAN LITTLE THINGS YOURSELF AS WELL. 
     I AM CELEBRATING MY SON'S 9th BIRTHDAY ON-BOARD.  I TALKED EARLIER ABOUT HOW YOU CAN SEND THINGS AHEAD TO THE SHIP TO YOURSELF ON-BOARD.  I FOUND THIS KIDS BIRTHDAY PRESENT ON THE DISNEY STORE CLEARANCE SECTION CHEAP (DISNEY GRAM PERSONALIZED MICKEY MOUSE BIRTHDAY PLUSH).  IT'S A 19" STUFFED MICKEY WEARING A BIRTHDAY HAT AND HOLDING A SATIN GIFT BOX, A PERSONALIZED FELT MICKEY TAG, AND A PERSONALIZED BIRTHDAY CARD.  BEST OF ALL IT COMES IN A BOX THAT LOOKS LIKE IT IS WRAPPED IN LIGHT BLUE PAPER WITH YELLOW RIBBON AND SAYS "DISNEY SPECIAL DELIVERY".  I ALSO FOUND THIS DISNEY CRUISE BIRTHDAY PIN ON-LINE (www.worthpoint.com/worthopedia/disney-cruise-line-its-my-birthday-pin) THAT I PINNED ON THE MICKEY INSIDE THE BOX.  I INCLUDED A BIRTHDAY CARD, A COLORING BOOK AND DISNEY TISSUE PAPER AND AM SENDING IT ALL AHEAD TO THE SHIP FOR OUR ARRIVAL. 
     I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT THE DISNEY CRUISE LINE OFFICIALLY DOES FOR A CHILD'S (OR ANY ONE'S) BIRTHDAY, BUT THEY ASK IF YOU HAVE A CELEBRATION ON-BOARD AT EVERY TURN.  I'M HOPING TO HAVE MY SON'S BIRTHDAY "BOX" DELIVERED TO HIM IN THE DINING ROOM AT DINNER ON HIS ACTUAL BIRTHDAY NIGHT (HE WAS BORN AT 6:53PM). 
     THERE ARE LOTS OF GIFT OPTIONS ON THE DISNEY CRUISE LINE WEBSITE TO HAVE DELIVERED TO YOUR PARTY AS WELL, DEPENDING ON WHAT YOU'RE LOOKING FOR, WHAT THE CELEBRATION IS, AND MOST IMPORTANTLY PROBABLY, WHAT YOU'RE WILLING TO SPEND.  SOME INCLUDE ROOM DECORATIONS THAT YOUR ROOM ATTENDANT WILL HANDLE FOR YOU.  I'M PACKING MINE.  MY SON'S 8.  I CAN DECORATE WHEN HE'S ASLEEP OR WHILE HE'S AT THE KIDS CLUBS.  EITHER WAY I'LL FIND THE TIME AND HIS BEING A BIG DISNEY FAN MEANS I ALREADY HAVE A LOT OF DECORATIONS AND PARTY SUPPLIES THAT WILL SUIT THE OCCASION PERFECTLY.  I'M EVEN PACKING PARTY HATS FOR OUR FELLOW DINERS AT DINNER.
     I'VE BEEN TOLD ON THE PHONE TO BE SURE TO REMIND THE CAST MEMBERS AT GUEST SERVICES, THE RESTAURANTS, THE KIDS CLUBS, ETC. THAT MY SON IS CELEBRATING HIS BIRTHDAY.  NO MATTER WHAT YOUR CELEBRATION, DISNEY SPECIALIZES IN MAKING YOU FEEL LIKE THE CENTER OF THEIR WORLD.  TAKE ADVANTAGE OF IT.  LET THEM DO WHAT THEY DO BEST.  THEY KNOW HOW MUCH YOU'VE SPENT TO BE THERE, AND THEY KNOW HOW MUCH YOUR FAMILY'S VACATION MEANS TO YOU.  CELEBRATE, AND LET DISNEY HELP.  IT'S A VACATION!
     SEA YA REAL SOON!   ºOº
TONIGHT'S MOVIE IS "MARY POPPINS".  JULIE ANDREWS IS THE GREATEST.  HER BEAUTIFUL SMILE AND  BEAUTIFUL VOICE MAKE ANY MOVIE WORTH WATCHING!