Disney's FREE ticket 2010 Volunteer Program Details inside

[djm99]

As we reported last week in the Disneyland Resort Update (link):

Walt Disney Parks and Resorts Chairman Jay Rasulo is expected to announce the next marketing campaign for the Disney Parks on September 29th. 2010 is Disneyland's 55th anniversary, as well as the lead-in year to what is expected to be a major celebration of the 40th anniversary of Walt Disney World's Magic Kingdom park, so it seems the company is on the hook for another major promotion.

Just don't expect a repeat of the "Free on your Birthday" campaign, or another million free hats and lanyards. After three years of Disney giving prizes to visitors, it seems that 2010 is the year that you'll be asked to give back... to your community at least. Details are sketchy, but it sounds like Disney fans will be encouraged to get out there and volunteer with a Disney-approved charity, and in the process can earn free park admission or other rewards.

It looks like HGTV jumped the gun a little, and ran one of the commercials for the new promotion last night, ahead of the official announcement. The commercial, which a sharp-eyed Disney fan posted to You Tube last night, stars Miss Piggy and actor Taye Diggs, who are joined by a cast of Muppets. The voice-over narration says "Beginning in January, give a day of service to a participating organization, get a one-day ticket to one of our parks, free," and directs people to visit the Disney Parks Web site for more information.



The promotion is expected to be formally announced during a segment on Good Morning America today, and we'll update with details once we have them.
[Updated 5:30 a.m.]The Disney Parks Web site has been updated with the new promotion.

[Update: 5:50 a.m.]A few more details about the offer.

The are three steps to register for and redeem this offer:

Search and Sign Up - Beginning January 1, 2010, search and sign up for a volunteer opportunity from a participating organization.

Volunteer - Complete your service for the volunteer opportunity you selected.

Celebrate - Once your service is verified, receive a certificate to redeem your Disney theme park ticket.

Highlights of the program [The full Program Terms and Conditions are posted on the Disney Web site (link)]

The offer gives you a one-day, one-park ticket once you complete a day of volunteer service with a participating organization.

Volunteers must be 6 years or older; volunteers under 18 years old must be acoompanied by an adult while volunteering.

You must register through the Disney Web site and volunteer with a participating organization to receive the free admission - volunteer service performed outside the promotion does not qualify.

All volunteer opportunities are managed through the HandsOn Network (link). You can search their Web site to get a list of the organizations that are included in their network.

The one-day, one-park admission ticket is non-transferable, and has blockout days, depending on which Resort you plan to visit:

• For Walt Disney World® Resort: March 29 - April 8 and July 4, 2010

• For Disneyland® Resort: February 13-14, March 21, June 21-22, July 4, November 21, and December 11-12, 2010.

Theme park ticket must be used by December 15, 2010

As with the Free on your Birthday promotion, visitors who already hold a valid Disney Annual Pass or a multi-day ticket, you can choose from three alternative offers instead of the free admission ticket:
Disney's Special FASTPASS® cards for certain attractions for you and up to 5 additional members of your party.†

1. A collectible Ear Hat figurine with exclusive trading pins‡
2. Donate your free ticket to a non-profit organization designated by Disney Parks.
3. Volunteers must have a residence in the United States, Puerto Rico or Canada. Visitors who live outside this area but own a vacation home in the United States (including Disney Vacation Club) can register through the Disney Web site and volunteer in the US to participate in the promotion.

[PIRATEGIRL007]

So as an AP holder I can volunteer time at a Disney selected organization, receive a voucher for my 'free ticket' and then get a FP card (not beneficial when you visit at at time with 5-10 minute lines), a collectable figurine or give your ticket back as a donation? Wow a promotion worse than the birthday one. Maybe it will work out well for some others.

[mster425]

I think it's a great promotion because it actually helps people! How cool that you can volunteer for 1 day and send someone to Disney who might not have had the chance to go! It's like you get to volunteer twice for half the effort .

edit: haha I think I read this article wrong. still like volunteering twice because the VALUE of the ticket goes to a non-profit. . . but I don't think they actually give my ticket to cute little kids like I was thinking. . .

[missy2217]

Originally Posted by PIRATEGIRL007

So as an AP holder I can volunteer time at a Disney selected organization, receive a voucher for my 'free ticket' and then get a FP card (not beneficial when you visit at at time with 5-10 minute lines), a collectable figurine or give your ticket back as a donation? Wow a promotion worse than the birthday one. Maybe it will work out well for some others.

Yikes! How about some happy thoughts

[rebster]

I just got this e-mail as an AP holder from Disney Destinations. Anyhow...I think its great for Disney to promote generosity! Hopefully it gets some people volunteering long term when they have the experience!

Introducing the “Give a Day. Get a Disney Day.” program*. It’s how we want to inspire one million people just like you to volunteer a day of service to a participating organization in your community. In turn, we’ll celebrate your efforts by giving you a free one-day admission to a Walt Disney World Theme Park! And as a Passholder, you may choose from one of the following three options instead of receiving the 1-day, 1-Park ticket:

* Disney Special FASTPASS® cards for certain attractions for you and up to five additional members of your party†
* A collectible Ear Hat figurine with exclusive trading pins‡
* Donate your free ticket to a non-profit organization designated by Disney Parks.

[PIRATEGIRL007]

Originally Posted by missy2217

Yikes! How about some happy thoughts

It's not that I don't have any happy thoughts, I am just saying this 'promotion' does nothing for me. Or my 4 year old that I would still have to buy a ticket for if we used this promo. I volunteer and think its a great thing for everyone to do and you will be blessed more than a $80 ticket would provide. I just don't get paid for the volunteer work I do that acutally is what makes it VOLUNTEERING. This is Disney paying for work to be done at charities of thier choosing.

[choirfarm]

What worries me is the availability of the organizations. I went on that parter site and when I searched my zip code it sent me to a town in the next state over an hour away. There are only 7 of them in Texas. So how do I do this in my small town?? We have several great charities here, but I doubt they will count for Disney. So I'm wondering how they will address this. I've considered calling the DFW coordinator and asking, but DFW is 2 1/2 hours away. But it is closer than any of the other centers.

Christine