What was so great about the Year Of A Million Dreams promotion?

[NancyIL]

It was Thanksgiving weekend 2007 when I won fastpasses to the Magic Kingdom as I got off the raft at Tom Sawyer Island.

 

[minnierocks]

I think it was such a great promotion because it was all about possibilities...that at any given time, someone, somewhere was going to receive something special. It could be your family, the person next to you or the person behind you...the anticipation of the possibility made the day that much more magical. Even the cast members were excited about the promotion...and it was noticeable. The prizes were really good and some of them amazing! Fast passes for all the main attractions, special ears/pins...a night in the castle! For us, the trip was the trip of a lifetime! It was fun to win, but it was fun to see other people win as well. I think that particular promotion was the embodiment of what Disney is all about...the possibility of finding magic in an ordinary day.

 

[dancingdisneygirl]

We won dream fastpasses getting off Everest! It was exciting because we weren't suspecting it all

 

[wisblue]

It was fun. We saw some people win dream FPs, and we were given a ticket to watch the AK Christmas parade from a special location with seats and free beverages.

 

[Mad Hattered]

My Magic+ didn't exist?

 

[Raenstoirm]

I've never heard of any of these promotions. When are they offered? I'm going the week of Christmas. Any chance it will be going on?

It was 2007/2008. It has been gone for a long time, but we all miss it.

 

[weesignlanguage]

We had two amazing trips during this time! One we got dream fast passes on New Year's Eve and the other, my son got some pixie dust from Peter Pan! No other promotion since has even touched it!

 

[dlinne]

At DL my family got off the small coaster in toon town and a cast member handed us lanyards with pins--very cool & it started my DD on pin trading.

 

[PatMcDuck]

I often hear people on here refer back to the Year of a Million Dreams promotion as one of the best ever, particularly as compared to current promotions (i.e., Limited Time Magic). That predates the time I was going to the parks regularly, so I'm not really familiar with it. What was it, and did any of you take advantage of it?

Just curious.

The difference was, instead of a few big prizes, there were a few big and lots and lots of little "prizes" and "experiences". We got the FP once at AK. It was exciting, because as we boarded Everest, we saw the Dream Team arriving at the exit area to the ride. We did the ride, and saw them still by the exit as we pulled in, and we were saying, I hope it is for us! And it was, our train all got the FP for AK lanyards! Yes, it made our day.

It was even fun to see the Dream Teams in the parks.....

 

[Dmcuth]

We loved YOAMD! Check out our video of how we would chase the dream squad at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GYThGAOtbO0

And while a previous poster didn't give the credit, we came up with the "Frosted Blueberry" phrase as shown in the video.

 

[Order66]

Our family (me, my 2 sons and my mom) "won" an upgrade at AKL through the Dreams Promo. We had a standard room booked and we were upgraded to a 1br suite concierge level. The kids also got a stuffed safari pluto and we got a souvenir photo.

I think we got to be the lucky winners that day since we only had 1 night booked. We had been at ASSp for 7 days. I got a little bonus at work and decided to extend our trip by 1 day. They had a good discount and I'd always wanted to stay at AKL and booked the cheapest room possible just for the experience. An experience it was. I wish we could afford those accommodations every trip!

 

[lugnut33]

We won like 8 pairs of special mickey ears, and out in CA we won fast passes.

 

[Pooksie]

It will go down as a legendary promotion as during that time people were chosen at random and offered the opportunity to spend a night in the suite in Cinderellas Castle.

Just the thought that you may be picked that day to spend the night in the Castle made it a very special time. It's something that doesn't happen anymore from what I've heard...

 

[Piglet4Ever]

We got Dream Fastpasses, at MK we got one coming off the HM, and at DL we got one coming off Peter Pan so that was pretty cool.

 

[curemyreed]

It would quicken your pulse to see the Dream Team....exciting to know someone or someones were about to experience magic!!!

The idea that you might be that lucky family chosen to spend the night in the suite in Cinderella's Castle was exciting.

I had read here on the boards that the Dream Team would sometimes give out Dream Fastpass Lanyards at One Man's Dream in HS. Sure enough, when we rounded the corner inside, there was a Dream Team member handing them out!!! We loved them so much that we didn't break off and use any of the FPs!

I also sent in postcards for about a month for each of my children. When we got home there was a box for DD with Dream Ears she had won via the postcard entry. They are so cute...blue sky with clouds...when she wears them to the parks she gets lots of questions/comments.

 

[MJ6987]

I think what some people on here forget is that these promotions are aimed at getting people who DON'T normally visit Disney Parks to go, not to give freebies to people who go regularly anyway.

Whilst "Million Dreams" was great for hardcore Disney fans, and websites such as this maximised their chances of receiving a "dream", promotions such as "Celebrate" were much more effective in generating new business.

 

[soccer mom]

We were upgraded to concierge level at BWI from standard view. Saw lots of Dream Fastpasses around people's necks and the firework that went off when the family was chosen to stay in the castle. It wasn't just about what we got, it was all the magic was in the air..and we saw plenty!

 

[mom2rtk]

It wasn't just about what we got, it was all the magic was in the air..and we saw plenty!

That really sums it up. About all we got was a free bucket of popcorn. But it was about that magic in the air. We got up every morning joking about how we would undoubtedly be chosen to sleep in the castle that night.

Ahhh..... the good old days.

 

[mm1971]

I often hear people on here refer back to the Year of a Million Dreams promotion as one of the best ever, particularly as compared to current promotions (i.e., Limited Time Magic). That predates the time I was going to the parks regularly, so I'm not really familiar with it. What was it, and did any of you take advantage of it?

Just curious.

As other posters said, the dream team wandered the parks and gave away free stuff, one of the best was a special fast pass card that allowed guests one free FP on most rides in the parks. We actually got them in Epcot and it was awesome not to have to wait in line or come back later to us FP tickets. We were going onto JII and they were right at the front of the ride passing them out. We also got free popcorn one day and we got a room upgrade upon check in. My brothers family got FP card while they were in AK on the same trip. It did make you feel special.

Never got tp stay in the castle, but just the chance to get something free that was useful seemed to get everyone excited.

 

[goofy4tink]

I think what some people on here forget is that these promotions are aimed at getting people who DON'T normally visit Disney Parks to go, not to give freebies to people who go regularly anyway.

Whilst "Million Dreams" was great for hardcore Disney fans, and websites such as this maximised their chances of receiving a "dream", promotions such as "Celebrate" were much more effective in generating new business.

That may be so, but in all reality, those first timers didn't seem to really 'get it'. Nothing 'maximized' your chances.....it was completely random. Yes, Disney wanted to entice new people into the parks and resorts. I just don't think that those that had never been to WDW really understood what they would be capable of getting. And believe me...no one is going to book a $4000 trip just to get a special Mickey ears, or FP lanyard.
Now, the FairyTale pkg before that was wonderful at enticing new people to go to WDW. That one was a pay for 4 nights, get 3 more free at the resorts. Man, that one filled the resorts and the parks!!! It was a very good deal.