Disney announced today for the first time ever that guests will have the opportunity to receive a free ticket to one of the Walt Disney World or Disneyland theme parks on their birthday in 2009! Disney went on to explain that the trend is for families to travel to Disney around a special occasion like a birthday or anniversary.

Disney World is a perfect place to celebrate a birthday! For the past several years, I’ve taken my daughter to Walt Disney World for her birthday and each year has been very special! Cast members go out of their way to wish her a Happy Birthday or do a little something extra special for her. On one occasion, we were waiting in line at the Tomorrowland Indy Speedway when a cast member spied my daughter’s birthday pin. When we got closer to the cast member, he told us to meet him at the end of the walkway before you head up to the second level and he would move us up in line. Well, that was just the beginning! When we got ready to get in our car, the cast member pulled out a sign that read ‘Happy Birthday!’ and then announced to everyone else in line that it was my daughter’s birthday. Everyone clapped and my daughter was beaming. Then, the cast member asked me for my camera so he could take a picture of the two of us in the car with the sign in the back. I told him that unfortunately, I had not brought my camera this evening and that this was my daughter’s first ride on the Speedway. So we waved good bye and then off we went down the track. When we returned, the cast member was standing there with a disposable camera. He said “say cheese” and took a few pictures for us. He then handed me the camera and told us we now had my daughter’s special birthday photos! I was stunned. In the amount of time it took us to get around the track, this cast member went out and purchased a disposable camera for us so that we would always have pictures of my daughter’s special birthday Indy Speedway ride.

I can’t think of another place on earth where I can take my daughter and have her birthday celebrated in such special ways. Hmmm, maybe it’s time to celebrate my birthday at Walt Disney World in 2009!