Walt Disney World [and Disneyland] visitors to get in free on their birthdays

[Theme Park Where]

Interesting ...

Walt Disney World visitors to get in free on their birthdays
By Scott Powers | Sentinel Staff Writer
1:00 PM EDT, September 18, 2008

Next year everyone will be able to come to Walt Disney World theme park on their birthdays and get in free.

That's the cornerstone of the 2009 national promotional campaign, "What will you celebrate?" announced today by Walt Disney Parks and Resorts Anyone showing up with a valid ID including proof of birth date will get a free ticket on that date in 2009 for one of the theme parks at Disney World or at Disneyland in California.

Disney officials announced the promotion today as their effort to cash in on what they described as a growing trend called "celebration vacations" -- trip to vacation spots that people take to celebrate big birthdays, big anniversaries, honeymoons and other momentous personal occasions.

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http://www.orlandosentinel.com/orl-disn ... 1178.story

[SRT_GB]

I can picture the angry SGs already:
But little Timmy doesn't have an ID!
I was really born on ___ but they screwed up my birth certificate and put ___.
Well if I get in free why can't the rest of my group?
I was born on February 29, that's not fair!
I'm an AP/CM, how are you going to compensate me?

In light of another thread I can also imagine SG parents leaving the kids outside the gate, or letting the kids go in alone so that they don't have to buy a ticket for themselves.

[glendalais]

I'm an AP/CM, how are you going to compensate me?

I can answer this one. APs (or anyone who doesn't want a free ticket for that matter) will be able to get a Merchandise Gift Card in the amount of a one-day one-park ticket to spend that day, or a special Fastpass for use in the parks that day.

Cast Members and Employees of The Walt Disney Company who will be issued 2009 Main Entrance Passes (of all colours) are not eligible for any of these.

I personally like this new promotion from what I've seen so far. It seems much better than the whole YoaMD (though it's been 'out' for all of 40 minutes by now, so that might and probably will change :p :) , and I personally welcome the Year of a Million Mickey Balloons after the Invasion of the Clouds.

Will there be SGs? More than likely (I would be horrified if there weren't, lol). But we'll cross that bridge when we get there.

In case anyone is looking for more information:

DisneyParks
Disneyland Resort
Walt Disney World Resort

[Theme Park Where]

That's what I was thinking - that this promotion will solve some of the problems that YoMD caused with guests who felt left out of the celebration because they didn't win something. This gives everyone a chance to benefit from the promotion in some way, and gives them some marketing to give people a reason to visit WDW at least once during the year, even in the current economy.

[drcorey]

wow, I can see it now, let the games begin...
it's going to be a load of fun for CMS.

[BRWombat]

That's exactly where the marketing brilliance of this promotion lies. Not many people would go to a theme park alone for their birthday, so with the exception of the few people that will go to the parks with CMs or APs, every free birthday ticket will most likely spur a few regular ticket sales as well.

That, plus even if someone goes to the parks solo, they'll likely spend money on food, drink, souvenirs, photographs... Brilliant.

[mechurchlady]

On the show Happy Days the father, Howard left his wife in charge of the store. She gave the paint away for very cheap or free. He was mad until he realized that the store made so much more off of ladders, sprayers, buckets, and stir sticks.

One person will need food and drink and by gifts in theory.

I NEED HELP.
I need to get me 15 fake IDs so I can have a free vacation at WDW.

[Whazzup]

Hey, this is not fair! (first SG complaint) My birthday is on November 7th and this year I'm actually going to be at WDW on that date! How come I can't get in free this year? I already have my FL resident season pass but I think I should get a free one-day pass for my next Disney trip. We'll be in Disneyland in April and WDW next December, so why can't I get a free birthday pass and use it on one of those trips. Huh? Huh? Whine... Complain...
(just kidding, you guys) :p:

[Ladyfair]

I really like this! We have APs, so we're looking forward to going on each of our birthdays, and using the (I assume) vouchers to buy each of us a birthday present that we just wouldn't ordinarily have gotten because of it being "too expensive." For instance, I see a really nice pair of earrings from that jewelry shop in MGM in my future, and DH might get that all-weather Tigger jacket he's been drooling over.

I like that theme of celebrating the personal events in people's lives!

[DisneyMom]

Sounds great! :)