Start making your 2009 birthday plans now!

For the benefit of ye out-of-town socks whose local media won't make this the lead story in the evening news like they will in this little corner of heaven:

The Walt Disney Company has announced that in 2009 they will give free admission to any one of their parks to every person who shows up with proper identification on their birthday.

That's a $75 value, give or take a few bucks.

Of course, they know what they're doing. Nobody goes to the big WDW by themselves, do they? And it's highly unlikely that the birthday boy/girl's companion(s) is/are going to have the same DOB.

Nevertheless, it is something. So, if you've got the inclination to take Mickey up on his offer, start booking your reservations now!

(I only wish my own birthday fell during the EPCOT Food and Wine Festival . . . oh, well . . .)