Anyone ever win a trip handled byWDW contest office?

[HM]

I recently won a trip to WDW. The details are being handled by the WDW contest office. I'm curious to know what others have experienced when dealing with their office. Did you have an problems or was it a wonderful experience? Did they get you all the things you wanted....the resort you wanted.....the dates you wanted? Anything you could tell me would be appreciated. Thanks HM

 

[grover]

No I haven't but I just wanted to say -You are soooo lucky!!
Grover in Winnipeg

 

[princess sydnee]

No, but I want to. I just checked my Fruit Loops box this morning

 

[tar heel]

Can you tell us the details on how you won it, what's included, etc.? We all want to celebrate with you! And, of course, we want to win our own trips, too.

 

[HM]

Just have time for a quick reply.

A local radio station had a contest in August. I was one of 45 people eligible to win (after being the 25 th caller and answering a Disney trivia question correctly). I lucked out and won.

What it includes......
airfare for 4
transfers from/to airport
5 nights lodging at a WDW resort (not yet known which one we'll get)
4-6 day park hoppers
4-1 day admissions to a waterpark
4-1 day admissionts to Pleasure Island
$400 Disney dollars
$1500 in Recreation (this is going to be hard to spend for us)
4-VIP viewing area for one parade
4-Limited edition pins
I think that's all....
The only thing not really covered is FOOD.

After planning all of my family's previous trips, its been hard to let someone else handle the particulars. I like to know when and where right off the bat....but it looks like I have to wait awhile to find out. Anyway.....I hope there is someone out there that can give me some insight into the process... HM (a lucky lady )

 

[Wonderlandmom]

WOW! Lucky you! Maybe eating could be considered "recreation"!

 

[shamrock30]

Congratulations! I've never won a trip, but I've heard that one potential drawback is the income tax you have to pay. For example, maybe you would normally wait for bargain airfare before taking a trip, and/or wait for a great code for your room. The "value"assigned to your trip for tax purposes may be a lot higher than you would think. I may be totally off base in your case. Hope everything works out great for you!

 

[mkymouse4ever]

Rember the WDW 25th b-day Mc Donald's glasses contest! When I 1st heard it on tv, I looked at my family and said "I'm gonna win that" oh, yea they laughed!! Never winning anything, nor entering a contest seriously, I set out on my mission. 1st-- study rules for a loop hole, this contest was prior to the only 1 entry ..... so I did take advantage of that. I invested in $100.00 of us stamps! I bought some wild colored large envelopes 3X5 cards wild colors, cause not sure if 3x5 cards would stay in envelopes or be taken out, hmmmm... I mailed a large handful 1 day before it officially started in california (to be in 1st batch) & a handful every day with a large group at the end. Then I waited. They had given up when I got an express letter from the wdw corp & mcdonald's telling me I was 1 of 500 families going to wdw!

Virtually had NO control except for picking 3 different time frames to go, and had 2 month notice (work was not amused) We picked last weeked in april. They really gave us no information prior at all. I hated being out of control. Up to 2 weeks before we did not know which hotel, airline, flight times, anything!

We were sent per delta (at time official airline) and mears (only time ever did mears and won't again) to the Contempary had the south garden, no up grade to tower would not let us pay difference. They gave me this huge packet of info coupons for each meal (all meals included), sporting coupons for golf, horseback riding, boating, biking, you name it. All park tickets.

In fact we could not eat all the meals in the 4 nites / 5 days & had already planned a summer trip since they weren't dated I kept them and we ate and did most of the biking / boating etc... in the summer. There was serious no way you could of done everything they gave us (and paid tax for) with the amount of time. Also we were not allowed to lengthen our trip or change flight etc... What they set up you had to live with.

It was a real experience & great! The contest was actally exciting funny I have not tried it again or felt it again, but I knew I would win that trip!

Any other questions, If I can help fire away, and congratulations!
MKY

 

[Disneydenise]

Can't you use the $1500 for the food expenses? Oh yes Congratulations. I didn't mean to be a spoiled sport I am just a brat. Have a great trip.

 

[jgates]

Wah!!!! Can I meet you there?

 

[luv2nascar]

I would just relax and enjoy what ever they give ya
You may get to experience something or somewhere you never would have for free
Just enjoy & congrats

 

[Geri]

CONGRATULATIONS!!!! HAVE A WONDERFUL TRIP!!

Geri

 

[HM]

Thanks for all the replies.

And a special thanks to mkymouse4ever for your reply! We've requested to take the trip in June....I sure hope we hear something long before then! Was your two-week notice because of a short time span given? We are also allowed to extend the trip....which you weren't. We've expecting to add 3 nights at our own expense and at a different resort (I'll have to make those arrangements once we know the dates and where they'll put us).

The recreation doesn't include food....but we think we've come up with a plan to use most of it.

I've done some reading about the taxes and if you can PROVE that you can do the trip for less than what they say it cost, the IRS will go with that. So after we get the particulars, we'll have to see if I could do it cheaper and document it.

-HM

 

[mkymouse4ever]

Good work, looking into the tax thing, I definately wasn't that smart and it cost us!

Now If memory serves I found out we won in November and had a month to pick out 3 dates and mail back, and sign all the agree to tax papers etc.... (lots of paperwork) then about end of feb they told us we were getting the april dates. but 2 weeks before going I recieved a packet of info with the plane tickets and mears transfers and a letter welcoming us to the contempary. (did not know location in CR at this time).

When we 1st learned of winning we were given a phone number and I asked about extending our trip ourselves and were told absolutely not. The plane tix would be booked and they would not change or allow them to be changed. We even considered driving down and not flying and staying longer? But decided not to and just do or summer trip later as we had planned.

Congrat's and have a great time, go buy a lotto tix, your on a lucky streak!

MKY

 

[HM]

Just wanted to let folks know the outcome.

They gave us 5 nights at the Grand Floridian in early June. We have non-stop flights on Delta that get us there 3 days earlier than the contest reservations starts.....will be making arrangements soon for those nights. We got everything we asked for! Just a couple more things to plan with the recreation director and we'll be pretty much set. Couldn't be better. -HM

 

[wdisneelvr]

woohoo HM!!!!

Congratulations on winning your trip

I'm in NC too, any room in your luggage for a stow-a-way?


Wow the GF, how cool is that?

Happy Trails!!!!

 

[Jen D]

Grand Floridian, that's not too shabby!!!!!

Congratulations on your trip. That's amazing!

 

[jgates]

Maybe the GF would give you a good deal on the add'l nites? Might be worth asking rather than changing resorts.

 

[chris1gill]

CONGRATULATIONS!!! That is just AWESOME!!! You'll enjoy the GF for sure!!!

I was just going to say, watch for discounts to come out on the GF for your timeframe... you may even want to book it at the discounted price, get the reservation confirmation in the mail & then cancel it... that way you have PROOF for the IRS that you could in fact do it yourself for less $$$. Oh, I almost forgot, good catch on that IRS rule, that will definitely save you a lot of money on taxes due!!!!

Again, CONGRATS! What kind of recreational items will you be doing for the 1500? Any idea???

 

[Jeanny]

Disney called me a couple of weeks ago, saying I had won a trip to Disney & I think Daytona Beach area... and I had 24 hours to respond to the voicemail. I erased the message because I with my luck, I knew I'd end up paying for the whole thing... Once I was down there, they're probably rope me into something with "oh, by the way..... you have to pay to get home!!"

I'm glad that you posted, because now I know it may have been for real.

I couldn't figure out how they would offer me a free trip, when I'm already paying to go at Thanksgiving!! things that make you go "Hmmm"

Good Luck!