Well, you just made my night, ilvminnie (and put a huge smile on my face!)
18, huh? Can I make another recommendation? I was a volunteer Pixie for Jane at
Gifts of a Lifetime in December, and she told me of some incredibly neat things she does for milestone birthdays - one thing she does is decorate a Guest's room while they are at a park for a day. She did (what sounded like) a gorgeous Tinkerbell room for a girl that day, at the Wilderness Lodge. I'm sounding like a commercial now, so I'll stop.
Goofygal - we were at Sports for each of our birthdays this year. Ranged from a huge bouquet of mylar mickeys to them forgetting my daughter's birthday alltogether.
Call or stop by the front desk and ask for balloons to be delivered the next day. They get overwhelmed there and sometimes there is translation issues with the Mousekeepers who actually deliver them.
Make your Mousekeeper your Best Friend. C'mon, say it with me: Best Friend. I found the best service came not from how much money I left in the room, but in getting to know the person behind the toilet brush. They are people too, and sometimes I think Guests forget about that. We got to know our Mousekeeper pretty well in July, and in December, when we lucked out and got him again and he recognized us (our third day in) he went all out in decorating and making our visit truly magical.
Finally, call the morning of his birthday before he wakes up, ask for the Goofy birthday call, and hang up. Let him answer the phone (I think they can push the call to the room)
OK, think I've burned a few brain cells in this thread, must be the Bailey's talking. Sheesh, what being snowbound does to a person... :D