CELEBRATE TODAY: Seattle, Wash. resident becomes first guest to get in “free on his birthday” in 2009 at a Disney theme park

happy-birthday-2-300CELEBRATE TODAY: Seattle, Wash. resident Andrew DaCosta (second from left) and his family — daughter Alana (left), wife Carolyn (second from right) and daughter Kathryn (far right) — cheer Jan. 1, 2009 in front of Cinderella Castle in the Magic Kingdom in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. Andrew DaCosta, holding two oversized replica park tickets, was the first person in the nation to receive free admission to a Disney theme park on his birthday as part of Disney’s “What Will You Celebrate?” campaign. DaCosta, who turns 49 today, redeemed his “Free On Your Birthday” registration at the Magic Kingdom Guest Relations window at 7:31 a.m. Jan. 1 is the first day of the “What Will You Celebrate?” campaign at both Walt Disney World Resort in Florida and Disneyland Resort in California. In addition to offering everyone who visits a Walt Disney World or Disneyland theme park on their birthday in 2009 free admission, the “What Will You Celebrate?” campaign features new theme park entertainment, added celebration experiences and new ways for guests to customize their own “celebration vacation” at both vacation resorts. (Preston Mack, photographer)