Anyone else find thereselves a little disapointed when they did not get any dreams!

[bord1niowa]

12 days there in June and my daughter finally won a lanyard just as she was leaving the Disney Marketplace the last night we were there. We weren't with her, but I'm not unhappy because we had our dream, not from the dream team but a few caring thoughtful castmembers. One of the castmembers is a Diser and she saw my story about looking for ways to propose to my wife at WDW for our wedding renewal vows. She told another castmember, who told another castmember and so on and so on until we ended up having a private meet n greet with my wife's favorite character Mary Poppins. My wife had no clue it was coming and was in shock and thought she had won some type of Million Dreams prize when she came up to my wife and said she had something for her, a pin of Mickey proposing to Minnie. Mary kept her preoccupied while I went behind my wife on bended knee to propose to her. When my wife turned around she was flabbergasted. So no, we didn't win an "official" Year of a million dreams prize, but some great castmembers gave us even better.

 

[kkrisland]

There is no reason why people shouldn't be able to say that they were a little bit disappointed in the YOAMD. It doesn't mean that we aren't grateful for our trip or the experiences we had. Please don't make generalizations about people whom you know absolutely nothing about.

 

[calliemom]

Although they were small dreams, we had 3 given to our family on our last trip. Now we are headed back in October and I'm going to just not think about it in hopes that no expectations will perhaps bring some good karma my way!

 

[Vemnox]

There is no reason why people shouldn't be able to say that they were a little bit disappointed in the YOAMD. It doesn't mean that we aren't grateful for our trip or the experiences we had. Please don't make generalizations about people whom you know absolutely nothing about.

Who is making generalizations? I think most everyone here acknowledges that everyone appreciates their trip to Disney and that it in and of itself is a dream-come-true to each person here. But where the falloff is is that a small minority turn their excitement into expectations, whether on purpose or not. Some people, I suppose, simply can't help it. By no means, though, should anyone be going around the parks on this mad craze to find the Dream Team and get disappointed attraction after attraction that they don't win at.
There are 1 million prizes split between DL and WDW. Assume WDW gets 3/4ths of those prizes since they are a bit larger in total and also assume the original Disney Dreams Giveaway lasts about 455 days (Oct-Dec is 90 days + the year of 2007 is 365 days). That comes out to about 1600 prizes per day given property-wide in Walt Disney World in 4 theme parks, 2 water parks, and Downtown Disney. So that's a total of 7 winnable locations. Divide 1600 by 7 and that leaves only about 225 people per park that will win. Now assume an average park has 40,000 people in it. That means on any given day you have about a 0.005% chance of winning a prize.
What all this means is there should be no reason to be disappointed because your odds to win to begin with aren't that large. This doesn't even factor in, though, all the wonderful magic moments being performed property-wide as park of the YOMD but not the Disney Dreams Giveaway.
I think this is a fabulous promotion. I've never won, nor do I expect to, and I've been to Disney dozens of times on my AP since the start of the YOMD. Most of the people who win are regular day guests who likely haven't even heard of the sweepstakes, so you have to think they are SUPER excited when they win.
Remember you can always continue to enter the sweepstakes through the postcard system, so good luck!

 

[kakiegirl]

Wow, I guess it's just me, but I'd be happy to even be close to someone that did win! I've seen statements from 'gave away our fastpasses' to 'there were many chances to give me a dream'... What the?? Do people seriously feel like they got cheated for NOT getting a YOAMD thing? Geez, I'm really disappointed to read things like this..

I never meant for this post to sound like I thought I was cheated. I do not feel entitled nor do I think I deserve to win anything. I realize it is a contest and your odds of winning are slim. I did not chase down dream team members or beg to be chosen or anything like that. DD is an avid pin collector and she did trade with several dream team members, but we never even mentioned to them that we knew who they were. It was just hard for me personally not to get caught up in the hype and really hope to win something anything just to get something from the year of a million dreams. So when we left after our vacation I was just a little let down. I think alot of it is because I spend to much time thinking about Disney reading message boards and hearing about people who win two or three times during their vacation or some who have won numerous times sending in post cards. I am happy for them, it just makes you think wow maybe something will happen to us. I had a great vacation and of course Disney is always magical to my family. I certainly did not mean to give the impression I am a sore loser or bad sport. I actually was a little surprised how caught up in it I was and wondered if any of my disney friends here felt the same way. Now the Year of a Million Dreams has been extended so I have already told myself next year I will not even think about the Dream Team, I won't I really won't

 

[KYCruiseCrazy]

if you goto WDW or DL and get your hopes up hoping your going to win something and you don't win anything don't get mad about it. did you enjoy yourself while you were there? or did you just walk around everyday hoping the "dream team" will pick you? (i know i'll get flamed for this post) i have been reading posts about this YOAMD on many different sites and too many people think since "i spent my money i need to win now" or something like that. we got a magical monent before the YOAMD promo began. it's purely being at the right place at the right time. did you have fun on your Disney vacation? ok you didn't win. did you still enjoy yourself? that is what matters in my opinion.

 

[Rock'n Robin]

I admit I was hoping for even a little something....but I never mentioned it to the kids (except to explain the castle suite was totally random). I barely even saw dream team members--I did see some people w/ the dream fastpasses. But we had a great trip. I don't know how people are chosen either--my kids are older and not as adorably cute as little ones. But we had several awesome moments this trip and no one here is complaining today!
Robin M.

 

[kaytieeldr]

There are 1 million prizes split between DL and WDW. Assume WDW gets 3/4ths of those prizes since they are a bit larger in total and also assume the original Disney Dreams Giveaway lasts about 455 days (Oct-Dec is 90 days + the year of 2007 is 365 days). That comes out to about 1600 prizes per day given property-wide in Walt Disney World in 4 theme parks, 2 water parks, and Downtown Disney. So that's a total of 7 winnable locations. Divide 1600 by 7 and that leaves only about 225 people per park that will win. Now assume an average park has 40,000 people in it. That means on any given day you have about a 0.005% chance of winning a prize

Thanks, Vemnox! I didn’t want to have to go looking for the figures again – or redo the calculations But I would have, if you hadn’t posted the odds of winning! In fact, this doesn’t even take into account that some mail order entries will win – reducing the odds of being selected by the Dream Team for any[/] YOAMD prize even further!

It was just hard for me personally not to get caught up in the hype and really hope to win something anything just to get something from the year of a million dreams.

Okay, you have a reasonable point. Of course, look at the millions and millions of people who get caught up in the ‘hype’ of large lottery prizes… and never win.

 

[LoveMyDisneyCats]

I think for me it was more that I was disappointed that some of the people we saw had won something, were kind of unaffected by it. Now I know that not everyone lives and breathes Disney like I, but if you win ears-wear them. Or say no thanks and let them give it to someone who would love them. In my last two trips this year, I saw three occasions were someone had won the ears for the family and either shoved them in a stroller or hung them on a backpack. And that was everyones' in the family. Now I realize that some people don't want to wear the ears, I can't say DH would (well maybe under these circumstances and with strong influence from me ), but what a waste for those people. I also saw two families arrive back at our resort with unused dream fast passes (actually, I think one family had used one ride and the other had used two of the rides). Again, I realize that families are different and not everyone is there for the rides or at least the big ones. But then pass up the prize and suggest maybe the next family would like it better. And I don't necessarily mean "my" family as the next family, I just mean someone who would really feel special and excited by it. I'm such a sap about Disney, I'd probably get all choked up seeing someone win who was actually so ecsatic about it.
That's honestly where my disappointment comes in-seeing it not really be a "dream."

I'm not going to lie, I can't say I didn't think that maybe since we go there several times a year, that that would possibly increase my chances in winning something , but I didn't really care that we didn't. In fact, we had some other "unofficial" dream type things happen that made our trip even more special than a lanyard or ears ever could! And with our busy schedules, just hanging with my DDs at WDW is truly the dreams and magic that disney advertises.

**Let there be no mistake though I was completely disappointed that I did not win the night in the castle or that grand marshall at every theme park prize or DCL cruise prize!!! Now that's what I'm talking about!!! Though, I still have an October trip coming up.......

 

[calliemom]

I think for me it was more that I was disappointed that some of the people we saw had won something, were kind of unaffected by it. Now I know that not everyone lives and breathes Disney like I, but if you win ears-wear them. Or say no thanks and let them give it to someone who would love them. In my last two trips this year, I saw three occasions were someone had won the ears for the family and either shoved them in a stroller or hung them on a backpack. And that was everyones' in the family. Now I realize that some people don't want to wear the ears, I can't say DH would (well maybe under these circumstances and with strong influence from me ), but what a waste for those people. I also saw two families arrive back at our resort with unused dream fast passes (actually, I think one family had used one ride and the other had used two of the rides). Again, I realize that families are different and not everyone is there for the rides or at least the big ones. But then pass up the prize and suggest maybe the next family would like it better. And I don't necessarily mean "my" family as the next family, I just mean someone who would really feel special and excited by it. I'm such a sap about Disney, I'd probably get all choked up seeing someone win who was actually so ecsatic about it.
That's honestly where my disappointment comes in-seeing it not really be a "dream."

I'm not going to lie, I can't say I didn't think that maybe since we go there several times a year, that that would possibly increase my chances in winning something , but I didn't really care that we didn't. In fact, we had some other "unofficial" dream type things happen that made our trip even more special than a lanyard or ears ever could! And with our busy schedules, just hanging with my DDs at WDW is truly the dreams and magic that disney advertises.

**Let there be no mistake though I was completely disappointed that I did not win the night in the castle or that grand marshall at every theme park prize or DCL cruise prize!!! Now that's what I'm talking about!!! Though, I still have an October trip coming up.......

Forgive me if this comment is out of place, but sounds like "sour grapes" to me! How can you assume that because someone puts their prize in a stroller instead of wearing them that they aren't happy to win a dream. Perhaps that same family went home and spoke of that experience as the highlight of their trip....you will never know. How people choose to behave in public and whether they choose to utilize their prize is not for us to judge. Just my 2 cents!

 

[BamaFan121s]

Forgive me if this comment is out of place, but sounds like "sour grapes" to me! How can you assume that because someone puts their prize in a stroller instead of wearing them that they aren't happy to win a dream. Perhaps that same family went home and spoke of that experience as the highlight of their trip....you will never know. How people choose to behave in public and whether they choose to utilize their prize is not for us to judge. Just my 2 cents!

I was sort of thinking the same thing. Why shouldn't people be able to do what they want with their dream...they won it. I can't say that I would wear the ears ALL day. I can actually assure you I probably wouldn't. For all you know though, that family wore them hours afterwards...maybe everyday the rest of the trip...who knows. IMO, just because someone didn't utilize their dream as another saw fit, doesn't make them 'unworthy' of winning. Look at it this way: If they didn't use their fastpass tab for a ride, that was one less person ahead of you in line.

 

[teentoddlermom]

No sour grapes here...I'm happy for people who won something! But I'd not be human if I said I was not disappointed that I didn't win something! I wanted those fastpasses so bad last week with the heat and crowds!!!
And some families appeared to be unfazed by their wins...with still grumpy faces on in the fastpass line.

I think that it is human nature to feel a little jealous of the people skipping you in line, especially in Epcot when all fastpasses for the day for Soarin' or TT are gone by 1pm, and the standby line is 120 minutes!!
But we had a great trip; exhausting, but we got to do all the rides and shows we wanted with minimal meltdowns!!!