A couple of things I learned about getting dreamed

[The Rocketeer]

Prior to getting a night at the Dream Suite, I had been dreamed twice before, once at DL exiting the Tiki Room and once at the Magic Kingdom exiting the raft returning from Tom Sawyer's Island. Both times we received Fastpasses.

What I learned this time is when you see the Dream squad, there always is two people, at least one will be wearing a white vest. Some dreams require that you approach them to receive the dream. So say hello, you have nothing to lose or you can ask them to pin trade if you feel sort of uncomfortable. In the past when I saw them, I felt weird going up to them because I didn't want to bug them. Besides the Fastpasses and ears, there are lots different dreams they hand out. There are trips, cruises, shopping sprees, VIP seating for Fantasmic, etc. They hand out dreams everyday up until 5 p.m.

The Disney Dream Giveaway is administered by an outside company in order to make it fair. The Dream team is notified shortly before exactly where to hand out a specific dream. They are not allowed to wear their own watch or carry a cell phone or other device, so they cannot call their friends and give them a heads-up. They are given a watch to wear, and they have to document the event by taking pictures of the person who won and a picture of the time on the watch. This is to ensure fairness. And the process is so precise, they are even told which of the riders in the car is the winner. In our case, my son and I were on Mr. Toad. I was the one who won because they were looking for the outside rider, and that's where I was sitting.

So next time you're at DLR, keep a sharp eye out for the white-vested CMs.

 

[edit1]

It is fantastic that you've won 2 dream fastpasses AND a night in the dream suite!

 

[weslovesauntmeg]

Good to know!! I've been dreamed three times..twice were fastpasses and just recently on Sept 3rd. was a dessert buffet at the Plaza Inn with the characters!! It truly is a "dream"!!

 

[disney-inspired]

I have gone many times this year and still no dream.

I'm going Wednesday, so wish me luck!

 

[JadeDarkstar]

were going this oct the last time we could be dreamed ill be sure to keep eyes open id love to be dreamed even just fastpasses or something lol its so cool that you were dreamed with the dream suite

 

[BraMax]

We just got back today from 2 weeks in California. We spent 6 of those days at DL. We finally got dreamed on our last day . We got Mickey Ears. We were in DCA and we got them on the little bridge behind the Jumpin' Jellyfish. The girls were great. One even took a family photo of us with our ears on it was so great. Just keep a look out oh and after that CMs kept congratulating us on our dream. It made our last day very special (along with riding Toy Story twice), and my son got his own little dream he was the flight commander on the Golden Zepher (he's only 5).

 

[Sherry E]

We were there twice last year: once for a weekend last September and also a weekend last December and we were not dreamed, nor did we even SEE anyone who looked like the Dream Squad, at ALL. Nothing! Nobody! I can't believe we didn't even see anyone handing out dreams. It almost sounds like they have stepped it up a notch in 2008. From everything I read on this board, many people are getting dreamed - most of them with the Fast Passes and not the big ticket items, but still... Many people are getting dreamed with Fast Passes more than once in one trip! So I am beginning to wonder if maybe, since this is the last Year of a Million Dreams, they are handing out more dreams than ever to kind of 'get rid of them.' I swear there was not this much dream activity in 2007!

Remember, too, that you can possibly be dreamed at one of the DLR hotels too - not only on the property itself, but at the desk, upon check-in. Those Cast Members have some small dreams that they can give out if they want to (usually Tinkerbell pins), but it is hit or miss.

I would love one of the dreams for a meal/dessert buffet or for a shopping spree, or of course, a hotel stay. I would rather have the meal dream than the Fast Pass. I could do without the Dream Suite if I instead got the shopping spree dream! Or it would be great to get Park Hoppers to use for another trip!

 

[disney-inspired]

We were there twice last year: once for a weekend last September and also a weekend last December and we were not dreamed, nor did we even SEE anyone who looked like the Dream Squad, at ALL. Nothing! Nobody! I can't believe we didn't even see anyone handing out dreams. It almost sounds like they have stepped it up a notch in 2008. From everything I read on this board, many people are getting dreamed - most of them with the Fast Passes and not the big ticket items, but still... Many people are getting dreamed with Fast Passes more than once in one trip! So I am beginning to wonder if maybe, since this is the last Year of a Million Dreams, they are handing out more dreams than ever to kind of 'get rid of them.' I swear there was not this much dream activity in 2007!

Yes, the year of a million dreams is ending this year and I, for one, and very grateful.
One of the reasons they did extend it to 2008 is because they had not given out exactly 1,000,000 dreams.

 

[Sherry E]

Yes, the year of a million dreams is ending this year and I, for one, and very grateful.
One of the reasons they did extend it to 2008 is because they had not given out exactly 1,000,000 dreams.

Oh really? So is that it? Thay have to give out exactly 1,000,000 dreams - no more, no less? Well, maybe they were being extra selective as to who they dreamed in 2007 (which might account for why we didn't even see anyone who looked like Dream Squad members in either trip) and now that 2008 is close to being over, they have start handing them out like crazy! I am really glad for everyone who got dreamed and was able to enjoy their Fast passes and other gifts, but it does seem like something in the Dreaming system went awry because some people have gotten dreamed 3 times or more and many others have not gotten dreamed even once! I realize that there is no way for Disney to keep up with who has been dreamed in previous trips, but it does seem crazy that some people get it multiple times and other people get nothing! I guess there is no way to avoid it. But it seems they might have been better off just handing out one million dreams to the first million guests who entered the park after the giveaway began. DL has done that before in the past - where they hand out pins or cards that tell you what you have won to every single person who comes through the turnstiles and you go to the prize center to get your gift. Back in the '80s, during that dream giveaway, I got free cloisonne pins and I also won a watch and a big Mickey plush animal. That was a fun year or two!

 

[LisainCalifornia]

Sherri,
I agree--we have been to Disneyland at least twice a year for the last couple of years (for usually 3 days at a time) and have never seen the dream team. I know it is just the luck of the draw, but you would think that at least we would "see" them once or twice.

I am happy that people here are getting dreamed, though!

 

[Sherry E]

Sherri,
I agree--we have been to Disneyland at least twice a year for the last couple of years (for usually 3 days at a time) and have never seen the dream team. I know it is just the luck of the draw, but you would think that at least we would "see" them once or twice.

I am happy that people here are getting dreamed, though!

Yes, it is weird that neither your group nor mine even saw the Dream Squad or anyone resembling them anywhere in either park. But, again, it sounds as if they are really on a tear this year with handing out the dreams (trying to meet that 1,000,000 quota!) so maybe they are making up for not dreaming too many people last year. I actually wonder how they work it - like if, in the morning, the designated Dream Squad members are paired up with each other and told which dreams they will be handing out, how many and where, i.e., "Tim and Mary head over to the entrance to ToonTown and give out three $500 shopping sprees, and Carol and Bill, you head over to Downtown Disney and hand out 20 Fast passes, and finally, Mark and Bob, you go over to the Grand Californian Hotel and hand out 4 hotel vouchers." Or, do all the Dream Squad members travel the parks and each carry the same quantities of all the dreams - Fast Passes, shopping sprees, Park Hoppers, ears, meal & hotel vouchers or whatever - and just decide who gets what on a play-it-by-ear basis?

 

[The Rocketeer]

Yes, it is weird that neither your group nor mine even saw the Dream Squad or anyone resembling them anywhere in either park. But, again, it sounds as if they are really on a tear this year with handing out the dreams (trying to meet that 1,000,000 quota!) so maybe they are making up for not dreaming too many people last year. I actually wonder how they work it - like if, in the morning, the designated Dream Squad members are paired up with each other and told which dreams they will be handing out, how many and where, i.e., "Tim and Mary head over to the entrance to ToonTown and give out three $500 shopping sprees, and Carol and Bill, you head over to Downtown Disney and hand out 20 Fast passes, and finally, Mark and Bob, you go over to the Grand Californian Hotel and hand out 4 hotel vouchers." Or, do all the Dream Squad members travel the parks and each carry the same quantities of all the dreams - Fast Passes, shopping sprees, Park Hoppers, ears, meal & hotel vouchers or whatever - and just decide who gets what on a play-it-by-ear basis?

The administering agency is the one that tells the dream squads exactly where to go and what time to give out the dreams. For example, when we were going from DTD into the entrance of the GCH, there were two dream team members handing out lanyards with pins to whoever passed by. They probably had a set amount and stood there until all the lanyards were gone. The phrase the Dream squad used was "You were in the right place at the right time." Literally seconds can make a difference.

 

[Disney Dreams]

...Remember, too, that you can possibly be dreamed at one of the DLR hotels too - not only on the property itself, but at the desk, upon check-in. Those Cast Members have some small dreams that they can give out if they want to (usually Tinkerbell pins), but it is hit or miss....

TInkerbell pins (or pixie dust pins) are not part of the Dreams prizes. They are a way to spread magic to guests through a special pin that can be gifted, but they are not part of the YOAMD

...I actually wonder how they work it - like if, in the morning, the designated Dream Squad members are paired up with each other and told which dreams they will be handing out, how many and where, i.e., "Tim and Mary head over to the entrance to ToonTown and give out three $500 shopping sprees, and Carol and Bill, you head over to Downtown Disney and hand out 20 Fast passes, and finally, Mark and Bob, you go over to the Grand Californian Hotel and hand out 4 hotel vouchers." Or, do all the Dream Squad members travel the parks and each carry the same quantities of all the dreams - Fast Passes, shopping sprees, Park Hoppers, ears, meal & hotel vouchers or whatever - and just decide who gets what on a play-it-by-ear basis?

It is a sweepstakes, so it is done in a way that it is COMPLETELY random. For example (as explained to some degree above) at a given time, a member of the Dream Squad is told by a supervisor that s/he has 15 minutes to get to the exit of Pirates of the Caribbean. At that time, they are told starting in 3 minutes, the 5th person wearing a hat to exit the ride wins priority seating to Fantasmic. (The parts in italics are the example, they vary each time).

All that has to happen then is you have to be in the right place at the right moment. If you are winning a prize over a certain value (like the suite) they will confirm that you (and any members of your immediate family) do not work for Disney or any of its affiliates. I think if you win a prize over a certain dollar amount you also have to have a valid gov't photo ID on you.

 

[moniquem]

I was dreamed about five times in 2007 - my only advice is that you need to be there early, That is the main thing. We were dreamed again (three times) in 2008 as well. I haven't noticed a difference in noticing the amount of prizes awarded. Just gotta be in the right place at the right time...

 

[ByTheHook]

They hand out dreams everyday up until 5 p.m.

------------

Not exactly true. We were dreamed last year about 7:00 pm by Peter Pan's Flight. ;-)

 

[OnePrincess]

I hope we get dreamed when we're there next month.

We got dreamed last year when we were at WDW. We got off a ride and the Dream Squad was right there waiting for everyone handing them the Year of a Million Dreams lanyards and a pin.

 

[Sherry E]

I appreciate all the good info from everyone about how the 'dreaming' process works. I may only have on more chance to get dreamed this year, so I am hoping something happens! Of all years, THIS has been a year where I could really use a dream!!! This has been a bad year for me in which I became unemployed and all kinds of ensuing trouble happened, so I would love a nice dream! The lady at the front desk at GCH told us last year when we checked in that "as part of the Year of a Million Dreams," they were giving us Tinkerbell pins and also we got a voucher for some other pins that was not part of our reservation/package. So I thought it MIGHT have been a 'dream,' but according the the PP, I guess it was not an 'official' dream.

But what I am still not clear on is if all the Dream Squads that are roaming the park carry the same dreams - I know they break up into pairs and go to their designated locations and hand out a given number of lanyards or Fast passes or whatever they are told to hand out, BUT does each pair of Dream Squad members carry X number of meal vouchers and X number of lanyards and pins and X number of Fast Passes, etc., so they can have the option to give a bigger dream to someone they encounter if they choose to? They could be handing out ears but they might run across someone they want to give the Dream Suite stay to. My guess is no. I suspect that 'Ted and Sally' who are standing in DTD at the entrance to GCH are probably ONLY carrying the lanyards and pins and nothing else, correct? And Bob and Mary who are handing out Fast Passes are probably only carrying Fast Passes, right?

I just can't believe we didn't even SEE any Dream Squad members roaming either park in either September or December last year. We didn't see anyone with the Dream Ears, either. We were in the parks early on both trips and we were there until probably 9 p.m. each time. We just were not in the right places at the right times! Darn it! Oh well, as long as I won some things back when DL had their Dream Machine giveaway back in the '80s, at least I am not totally unlucky! (It was between 1986 and 1989 that I won the various things.) But then again, everybody won something who passed through the turnstiles, so nobody was left out! But you never knew what you would get - everyone got something different - and some of the gifts were small and some were 'big ticket items'.

 

[YellowMickeyPonchos]

I was chatting with a Dream Team member last night while waiting for my husband and daughter to get off the teacups. He gave me quite a few details about how the dreaming process works.

He said that the computer program is designed to be highly specific. The entire park and all geographic positions in it - including actual ride vehicles and the specific seats in them, benches, churro carts, shops, etc were given a specific alphanumeric number and entered into a database, so the randomizer could select any combination of time, location and prize. It will give a time, a ride or other location, anything from a seat number to an entire train number (in the case of ears or Fast Passes), and no prize is valued above $598, so no one has to pay taxes on the winnings - the government limit is $600. There is also no "photo ID regulation", because a 3 yr old girl won yesterday's Dream Suite.

An no - all I got was a Tinkerbell pin. And it was my birthday!

 

[Disney Dreams]

...The lady at the front desk at GCH told us last year when we checked in that "as part of the Year of a Million Dreams," they were giving us Tinkerbell pins and also we got a voucher for some other pins that was not part of our reservation/package. So I thought it MIGHT have been a 'dream,' but according the the PP, I guess it was not an 'official' dream....

Well, I said the Tink pin is not an official dream. CMs can give those out to special guests. You did not mention the voucher for additional pins. That is something that might be a dream via the hotels (being a local, idk much about the hotels). I have never heard of anyone getting that. Congratulations!

...But what I am still not clear on is if all the Dream Squads that are roaming the park carry the same dreams - I know they break up into pairs and go to their designated locations and hand out a given number of lanyards or Fast passes or whatever they are told to hand out, BUT does each pair of Dream Squad members carry X number of meal vouchers and X number of lanyards and pins and X number of Fast Passes, etc., so they can have the option to give a bigger dream to someone they encounter if they choose to? They could be handing out ears but they might run across someone they want to give the Dream Suite stay to. My guess is no. I suspect that 'Ted and Sally' who are standing in DTD at the entrance to GCH are probably ONLY carrying the lanyards and pins and nothing else, correct? And Bob and Mary who are handing out Fast Passes are probably only carrying Fast Passes, right?

Because it is a sweepstakes and works within the legal laws of sweepstakes, there is no human decision in the process of awarding dream prizes.

So, no, they do not have the option of giving out a bigger dream or switching the prize. It is exactly as has been described.

Go to A at B time and give C to D.

Some observations that people have gathered (but nothing is solid fact):
Fastpasses and dream ears are generally given out in bunches. For example, if coming off Tarzan's treehouse, many people will be given them. It is not known if they hand them out for 3 minutes or 20 people, but they give these 2 prizes out in bunches. If 3 people in your group pass through the "handing out" spot and the 4th is off getting cotton candy, that person will not get the prize.

All other prizes are generally given out singularly. (1 Dream Suite, 1 Fantasmic priority seating at a given moment, etc...)

The fast passes are given out early in the day in order to give people a chance to use them throughout the day.

There really isn't much to figure out. It's sort of like lightning. It strikes when the weather conditions are right, but when, where, and how strong, no one knows.

Enjoy your visit at the park, keep your eyes open for them, but go about doing what you normally do, and you never know when lightning just might strike.

 

[Sherry E]

Well, I said the Tink pin is not an official dream. CMs can give those out to special guests. You did not mention the voucher for additional pins. That is something that might be a dream via the hotels (being a local, idk much about the hotels). I have never heard of anyone getting that. Congratulations!

Because it is a sweepstakes and works within the legal laws of sweepstakes, there is no human decision in the process of awarding dream prizes.

So, no, they do not have the option of giving out a bigger dream or switching the prize. It is exactly as has been described.

Go to A at B time and give C to D.

Some observations that people have gathered (but nothing is solid fact):
Fastpasses and dream ears are generally given out in bunches. For example, if coming off Tarzan's treehouse, many people will be given them. It is not known if they hand them out for 3 minutes or 20 people, but they give these 2 prizes out in bunches. If 3 people in your group pass through the "handing out" spot and the 4th is off getting cotton candy, that person will not get the prize.

All other prizes are generally given out singularly. (1 Dream Suite, 1 Fantasmic priority seating at a given moment, etc...)

The fast passes are given out early in the day in order to give people a chance to use them throughout the day.

There really isn't much to figure out. It's sort of like lightning. It strikes when the weather conditions are right, but when, where, and how strong, no one knows.

Enjoy your visit at the park, keep your eyes open for them, but go about doing what you normally do, and you never know when lightning just might strike.

I am a SoCal local, too, and my friend who is always with me at DL lives 5 minutes down the street from Dl in Anaheim, but we love staying at the hotels anyway when we can! It seems more 'vacation-like' when we do than if we just drive home! The funny thing about the voucher we got at the GCH for more pins (on top of the other Tinkerbell pins we had already gotten AND the ones we got with our package) was that it was for more Tinkerbell pins! They love to give away those Tinkerbell pins at DL! I dont' know if it was an actual 'dream' or not, or just a nice gesture, but we did check in really early - like at 6:30 a.m., when nobody else was really there - so maybe I got there at the right time for generous Front desk giveaways!

Thanks for all the info on the dreaming process. Now that you and Rocketeer explain it, there is nothing to figure out, but prior to reading your explanations, I was not sure how the process went since we never encountered any Dream people on either trip last year! I was envisioning that the Dream Squad folks were kind of randomly strolling the parks, just stopping to hand out dreams whenever they felt the urge. And I had assumed that each pair of Dream Squad people carried on them several different types of dreams at one time - not just Fast Passes or just ears or just lanyards/pins - and could kind of distribute the dreams of their choosing to whomever they designated. But now that I know how the whole thing works, I understand. It is a very well-oiled machine, that Dreaming Process. And everything is pre-calculated and pre-ordained for the Dream Squad members and they just go where they are told to go and hand out what they are told to hand out and to whom! Now it all makes sense!