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!

Disney just announced an exciting new program for 2009 for both Walt Disney World and Disneyland. Disney wants to help celebrate your birthday! Every guest who visits one of the theme parks at either Walt Disney World or Disneyland on his or her actually birthday in 2009 can get in free! Of course, proof of your birthday will be required. To make it even easier, you can pre-register your birth date along with your arrival and departure dates ahead of time to speed up the process at the parks.

But what if you are an annual pass holder or your vacation package includes a length of stay pass? No worries! You can choose one of the following birthday gifts instead:

• A birthday fun card in an amount equal to the price of a Walt Disney World Resort 1-day Magic Your Way Base Ticket or a Disneyland Resort 1-day/1-park Ticket to use on your birthday for merchandise and/or recreation. (terms and conditions apply). The fun card is not valid for food and beverages, Disney Gift Cards, Disney Dollars, alcohol, cigarettes, resort folios, or spa charges.
• A special birthday FASTPASS badge for certain attractions at the theme park you visit on your birthday or
• A Walt Disney World Resort 1-day Magic Your Way Base Ticket or a Disneyland Resort 1-day/1-park Ticket for use to use any time until your next birthday.

Acceptable forms of proof of your birthday for adults include: government issued passport, driver’s license, or government issued photo ID. Proof for minors includes any of the previously mentioned IDs in addition to an original or certified birth certificate. If you forget to bring the required proof of your birth date with you, you are out of luck as it is mandatory even if you pre-registered.

The catch is that you must visit on your true birthday, not the week before or two days later. But at least this makes choosing your travel dates a little easier and what a great place to celebrate your birthday!