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Free on Your Birthday at Disney Parks

Last week I had the pleasure of meeting the first guest getting in free to a Disney Park on their birthday – part of the company’s “What Will You Celebrate?” campaign for 2009.

We had a wake-up call of 5:15am on New Year’s Day – which meant no heavy partying on New Year’s Eve, which actually wasn’t a problem for me. I meet up with my colleague Gary and our respective camera crews at 6:30am at Magic Kingdom. Magic Kingdom had Extra Magic Hours that day which put the odds very high that the first birthday guest would be at that park. It was a gamble we took, but one that paid off. Although as we were standing there waiting for the unknown first “free on your birthday” guest to arrive, we started thinking “Hhmm. What if they don’t show up here. Then what do we do?” It’s Disney – no worries!

Then, he was spotted. All eyes focused on the Guest Relations window where the birthday recipients check-in. We saw a family of four there and we all just knew that this was it. As they made their way to the turnstiles we asked them if anyone was celebrating their birthday and taking advantage of the Free on Your Birthday promotion. Yea – the answer was yes!

That’s when we met Andrew DaCosta and his lovely family who came all the way from Seattle – clear across the country – to celebrate his birthday at Walt Disney World. Once we explained to them they were the first official “free on your birthday” guests at a Disney Park, the magical day began. First, the DaCostas got to walk through the Magic Kingdom all by themselves – with no one else in the park where they took part in a photo shoot, video shoot and interview. They then made it back to the turnstiles in time for the park’s official grand opening for EMH and entered the park using their special extra-large birthday ticket created just for this moment. The crowd cheered for Andrew who seemed to absolutely enjoy what was happening to him. Later in the day, they served as Grand Marshals of the parade.

Some other cool facts – the next day a set of triplets came to the parks to celebrate their birthday as did two sets of twins. How cool!

Andrew holding his over-sized park tickets made especially for him on his birthday.

The DaCosta family walking through the park all by themselves.

Gary and me looking rather happy, despite having had very little sleep.

Me putting my interviewing skills to the test.

What a great family to recieve this honor. Happy birthday!