Getty
Playhouse Disney is encouraging preschoolers and their families to "phone it in" on their birthdays. Starting May 22, kids can call Mickey Mouse directly and tell him about their birthday. The number is 1-866-4MY-DC-TV (for once, the number might be easier to remember than the words: 1-866-469-3288). Selected messages will be played in a variety of monthly birthday-themed on-air and online programming events.
Families can get more information on Disney's Big Birthday Celebration site, where they can also find party ideas and print out personalized birthday cards.
To be honest, the idea of phoning someone on your own birthday seems a little backward. People are supposed to get called on their birthdays, not be the ones doing the calling. And how fun is it to listen to to other kids describe their own birthdays, hoping to hear your own voice? Perhaps as fun as reading about someone else winning the lottery.
For my brother's eighth birthday, he received a 45 rpm record which played a personalized song in which his name -- PAUL -- was repeated several times. I committed it to memory:
"Hey PAUL… it's your birth-day. I’m in charge of the stars and I’m here to say, ‘Hey PAUL, you’re the big star to-day!"
I thought it was the coolest thing ever, and most kids still would, even though that was 35 years ago. So if Disney can find a way for Mickey to call you back -- or at least send a personalized text from Goofy -- that would indeed be a gift worth getting.
Will you have your child call Mickey on their birthday? Chime in below!
