Disneyland leaves Aussies out of the fun again...

[zanzibar138]

I just read with slightly insane amounts of excitement the Facebook updates from Disneyland announcing their new Diamond Days anniversary competition. Prizes include Disney diamonds, a glass slipper, and special in-park experiences like a private party in Fantasyland, a romantic cruise on the Mark Twain, and even overnight stays in the Dream Suite. Guests must be present to win and the prize will be awarded that day. It sounded very much like the anniversary edition of Year of a Million Dreams, which I thought was the most awesome promotion ever!

I excitedly clicked through to the blog post, only to read in the terms and conditions 'competition only open to residents of the 50 states of the USA, Mexico and Canada'. I'll admit I nearly burst into tears right here on the train.



I don't understand why they couldn't make this a promotion that was open to ALL guests! How unfair to know that there is a huge giveaway happening with such amazing prizes, being there and seeing them awarded to and being enjoyed by other guests, and knowing that just because of where I live, I don't even have the slightest chance at winning.

Sorry I just had to vent. And yes, I have vented on the Disneyland Facebook post as well lol!

 

[bswift]

I noticed the same thing this morning, very disappointing. It should be open to everyone in the park at the time. Do they just pick people at random? What if they offer you an amazing prize but you can't accept it because you're not from the US or Canada? Doesn't make sense to me.

 

[zanzibar138]

I noticed the same thing this morning, very disappointing. It should be open to everyone in the park at the time. Do they just pick people at random? What if they offer you an amazing prize but you can't accept it because you're not from the US or Canada? Doesn't make sense to me.

It was kind of hard to figure out how it's going to work. It sounded like people actually have to enter somehow. Otherwise it would be the biggest insult ever. 'Congratulations, you've just won a Disney diamond and an overnight stay in the Dream Suite... tonight!' 'Oh sorry, didn't realise you were an inter-continental guest. Nevermind. Are there any Americans here?'. It would be hard not to let that ruin your trip

 

[seigyoku]

While I have zero idea how they are going to award things, it's purely a legal thing as different countries (heck different states!) have wildly different laws about contests of chance. The MMORPG I play nearly lost its twice yearly lottery like "Bonanza" due to international laws - and none of those prizes are REAL. They eventually tweaked the contest so every "losing" set of numbers now "won" a booby prize, and the lawyers signed off.

That said as I think about it, I imagine instead of saying "OH YOU WIN" they suss out where people are from first, and the main restrictions would be for the prizes with significant monetary value, like the dream suite stay.

 

[zanzibar138]

While I have zero idea how they are going to award things, it's purely a legal thing as different countries (heck different states!) have wildly different laws about contests of chance. The MMORPG I play nearly lost its twice yearly lottery like "Bonanza" due to international laws - and none of those prizes are REAL. They eventually tweaked the contest so every "losing" set of numbers now "won" a booby prize, and the lawyers signed off.

That said as I think about it, I imagine instead of saying "OH YOU WIN" they suss out where people are from first, and the main restrictions would be for the prizes with significant monetary value, like the dream suite stay.

I understand there are legal implications, but surely Disney could overcome them if they wanted to. As far as I know, there weren't any restrictions on who could win during the Year of a Million Dreams promotion. Maybe it's because those prizes were more of a 'money can't buy' nature, while this promotion includes actual diamonds as prizes. I'm not sure that you could say that a stay in the Dream Suite has significant monetary value since it's a 'money can't buy' experience and there is no way to make a financial gain out of it (ie you can't sell it or anything). I'm no lawyer though, so who knows. I'd happily give up my chance of winning a diamond for a chance at winning a romantic cruise on the Mark Twain

I know there are always Aussie competitions to win a trip to Disneyland, but it would be nice if Aussies also had the chance to win one of these amazing extra special experiences sometime.

 

[Charlie_Y]

I think it was the same for Year of a Million Dreams. I was there with my family in 2007, and we were approached by the Dream Squad. They started a conversation with us and obviously worked out pretty quickly that we were from Australia, and nothing further than a nice conversation happened.

 

[zanzibar138]

I think it was the same for Year of a Million Dreams. I was there with my family in 2007, and we were approached by the Dream Squad. They started a conversation with us and obviously worked out pretty quickly that we were from Australia, and nothing further than a nice conversation happened.

Oh really? That's really disappointing. Makes me feel better that I missed out on it though lol!

 

[Aust]

Well that sucks, I got all excited when I read about the giveaways! We were there during the Year of a Millions Dreams too but only were approached a couple of times when they were giving away the special ear hats. We got some of them so they must have been exempt from the rules unlike the good prizes.

 

[zanzibar138]

Well that sucks, I got all excited when I read about the giveaways! We were there during the Year of a Millions Dreams too but only were approached a couple of times when they were giving away the special ear hats. We got some of them so they must have been exempt from the rules unlike the good prizes.

Well it will help to lessen the blow if we can still win some 'consolation' prizes. I'd happily take a special diamond anniversary ear hat or a special fastpass or something - I'm not hard to please lol!

 

[BecBennett]

I *think* it's to do with tax as well. In the US you have to claim any winnings you have on your tax, so it can be taxed by the government. If you're not a US citizen then the government loses out on that money. So they made laws about it.

Which is stupid. I want a night in the dream suite damn it!

 

[zanzibar138]

I *think* it's to do with tax as well. In the US you have to claim any winnings you have on your tax, so it can be taxed by the government. If you're not a US citizen then the government loses out on that money. So they made laws about it.

Which is stupid. I want a night in the dream suite damn it!

I get that for cash prizes, or even stuff you can sell for cash. But how can you be taxed for a night in the Dream Suite? Doesn't it have no monetary value?

Anyway, I've decided I'm going to forget the fact that this promo is happening and just enjoy my time in the parks. Hopefully they won't throw it in our face every 5 minutes to remind us of all the great stuff that we can't win lol!

 

[orion2185]

I get that for cash prizes, or even stuff you can sell for cash. But how can you be taxed for a night in the Dream Suite? Doesn't it have no monetary value?

Anyway, I've decided I'm going to forget the fact that this promo is happening and just enjoy my time in the parks. Hopefully they won't throw it in our face every 5 minutes to remind us of all the great stuff that we can't win lol!

no, the Dream Suite will have a monetary value...thus why you will get taxed.

if you read the T&C's somewhere it will say the retail value for each prize (including the dream suite nights)


As a former American I can say every contest no matter what the prize is comes with a tax liability. Wining a prize with cash is a MASSIVE tax hit to wins it.
unless the prize is of a small dollar amount

my sister won a travel to Universal Hollywood package many years ago. They ended up having to decline the prize as the taxes were crazy. It worked out more than what they could have bought the park tickets, hotel, etc on their own. But the prize package included airfare and bunch of stuff they did not care about or wanted, and I think around $15,000 in "spending money"...thus why the taxes were so high. In addition, the airfare taxes were high. But if you look at anytime you buy an air ticket majority of the price is the taxes and fuel surcharges.

Each state in the US has different laws about contest, prizes, lottery wining etc. Some states place another tax ontop of the government/federal level


look at the current Powerball lottery prize in America at present 100 million....but if you were to get the "cash option" (check for all the prize money at once) you would only end up with an estimated 64.1 million (35.9 million being paid for taxes)
you would end up with even less money depending on your current tax bracket and other details.

My grandmother loved her TV game shows and she would apply to be on them every time they held an audition. Her Fav was the Price Is Right...and she made it on the show. But the audition process starts off basic interview to see how you are on camera. If you move to the next round...it's a credit check and a complete look at your financial background (debits, assets, income ect) all to make sure you can afford to pay the taxes on any of those prizes you win.

 

[BecBennett]

wow that's crazy.

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

I think it was the same for Year of a Million Dreams. I was there with my family in 2007, and we were approached by the Dream Squad. They started a conversation with us and obviously worked out pretty quickly that we were from Australia, and nothing further than a nice conversation happened.

Possibly the accent was a big clue