Buttoned Up Magic: Why You Should Wear a Disney Celebration Button (Especially for Your First Visit!)
If you’re heading to Disney for the first time—or celebrating something special like a birthday, anniversary, or graduation—don’t miss out on one of the most magical (and totally free!) extras: a Disney celebration button. These cheerful little badges are more than just cute accessories—they’re your ticket to spontaneous moments, fun cast member interactions, and yes, even a few surprises you can use to sprinkle even more magic onto your scrapbook pages.
What Are Disney Celebration Buttons?
Disney offers complimentary buttons that you can pick up at Guest Services, resort front desks, or many retail locations throughout the parks. There are several varieties available, including:
- “First Visit!”
- “Happy Birthday!”
- “I’m Celebrating!” (You can write in whatever you like!)
- “Happily Ever After” (Often for engagements, weddings, honeymoons)
- “Just Graduated” (Seasonally available)
Each button is colorfully designed and ready for personalization—Cast Members will often write your name or occasion on it with a fun flourish. And the real magic? Wearing one makes you a walking celebration wherever you go.
Where and How to Get a Celebration Button
Celebration buttons are completely free and surprisingly easy to find—if you know where to look!
- Resort Front Desks: Ask at check-in at any Disney resort hotel. They often have a basket of buttons ready and may offer to personalize them for you on the spot.
- Guest Relations: Each park has a Guest Relations location near the entrance (just inside the turnstiles), and they always have celebration buttons on hand.
- Select Merchandise Shops: Look near the checkout counters at major stores on Main Street U.S.A., in World Showcase pavilions, or at resort gift shops. If you don’t see them, just ask a Cast Member!
- Dining Reservations: If you’ve noted a special celebration when booking a dining reservation, your server may surprise you with a button when you arrive.
- Advance Visits: Occasionally, if you call in advance or note your celebration in the My Disney Experience app, your resort may have one waiting for you at check-in.
While you only need one, many people pick up extras during their trip—one to wear and one to save for their scrapbook or keepsake box!
What Happens When You Wear One?
Wearing a button—especially a First Visit button—often leads to:
- Warm greetings from Cast Members, who will go out of their way to make your visit feel extra special.
- Surprise freebies, like a free cookie from a quick service location, a decorated dessert plate at a sit-down restaurant, or a commemorative sticker.
- Character interactions that include special attention or extra time during meet-and-greets.
- Photopass photographers who may offer themed Magic Shots or help pose you with your button front and center.
- Compliments from strangers and fellow guests, adding a little more pixie dust to your day.
Is it guaranteed? No—but the joy of Disney is often in the unexpected. And that’s what makes celebration buttons so scrapbook-worthy.
Scrapbook-Worthy Extras You Might Collect
Here’s where it gets really fun for those of us who document the magic:
- The button itself! Bring an extra one home and hot-glue it to your page or shadow box.
- A photocopy of the button next to journaling or photos if you want to keep the original intact.
- Stickers or cards you’re gifted along the way (some Cast Members hand out character stickers to kids wearing celebration buttons).
- Decorated dessert plates or cupcakes—be sure to take a picture before you dig in!
- Autographs or notes where a character references your celebration.
- Photos of Cast Member interactions—those little moments of being called out in a parade or greeted with “Welcome, first-timer!” make for great captions.
Tips for Getting the Most Out of Your Button
- Wear it proudly and visibly. The more people see it, the more opportunities for magical moments.
- Let characters and Cast Members know why you’re celebrating. Even if it’s written on the button, telling your story makes the interaction more personal.
- Grab a second button for keeps. If you’re worried about scratching or bending it during the day, ask for another to save for your scrapbook.
- Bring Sharpies. You can decorate your own button with stickers, doodles, or notes from family members and Cast Members.
- Make a layout just for your celebration moments. Feature your button, a photo with your best “button moment,” and a journaling section capturing all the reactions you got.
Final Thoughts
Wearing a Disney celebration button is such a small gesture—but it opens the door to some of the most meaningful, spontaneous, and photo-worthy moments of your entire trip. For scrapbookers, it’s a goldmine of stories, details, and magical little touches that help you remember not just what you did at Disney—but how it felt to be celebrated in the most magical place on Earth.
So go ahead—grab that button, wear it proudly, and let the pixie dust find you.
MASCrapping 