Do the 'dream team' CM's look different?

[Ithastobe]

Curious.. does the 'dream teamers' look different? I want to know if one comes up to us (we aren't very lucky, so don't expect much).. thanks!

 

[CDSTapisRouge]

This great thread was buried on page 4

http://disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1395236

there is a photo in this post that shows the Dream Squad. Just remember that if they have the vest on they are the ones awarding prizes, if they do not have the vests on they are greeting in the park and do not have anything but a friendly word and a smile...

Good Luck

 

[dzneelvr]

Great tip we'll be there in 2 weeks and it will be fun to spot the "hidden dream teams" even if they don't approach us, we can watch the reactions of the lucky ones they do

 

[fitzkerry]

I thought I was a good Dis'er, I know all about YOAMD, or so I thought. On Wed May 23 my dd and I were getting on Peter Pan and saw a Dream Team member hanging around the ride, he had the messanger bag and was wearing the telltale clothes. We got on the ride, and when we got off he was over by our family, we walked over and Jim started to talk to my dd. He asked if we knew what he did, she answered that she knew all about the YOAMD and he gave out prizes. He asked her what she wanted to win and she replied that she wanted the night in the castle, he said he could not give her that because it has already been awarded but to guess what else the prize was. We mentioned some other prize and he said no, but what about the cruise from Barclona (sp) on the DCL. We swooned, but then he said no, what about the DVC membership, my dd went pale and started to shake, he said no but what about the trip to all 5 parks to be the Grand Marshall. At this point she was crying with joy and kept asking him to end the suspense and tell her what the prize was. He looked around and noticed that some of our group had moved away and he said, wait till everyone is together.....and he walked back over to Peter Pan and began to talk to other people. We quickly called everyone back to await the big announcement. Now this conversation had taken place over about 10-12 minutes (I know because as I got off the ride my cell rang and it rang just before he walked away) so we were primed for some sort of great prize. After waiting for him to come back for about 5 minutes or so my Niece had to use the bathroom so her mom went up to Jim and asked him how long it would be. He seemed a little suprised, but came back to us. He started talking again about the different prizes, showed us a card in his pocket that identified him as a member of the Dream Team etc., my daughter was beside herself at this point and just came out and said what do you have for me, I can't stand the wait any longer (she was shaking and crying) and he pulled out the Tinkerbell pin set for her! You could have heard a pin drop---She thanked him very much and told him she would find the right person to give the other pin to and he walked away. We were devestated! He kept us standing there for half an hour giving us the impression that he was going to award a major prize, and it turned out he was just doing a bad job of "promoting the promotion". I have to say that rather than being a magical experience it was one of the most upseting things that had ever happened to me. I was crushed for my daughter, who I felt was graceful and polite under the circumstances. Now I should have known that he did not have on a white vest, but the way he was talking about the prizes combined with how long he kept stringing us along suggesting one prize after another was boarderline cruel, he must have known when she began to cry and shake and ask him what she had won that she thought that she had won a prize and said at that point that he was not a PRIZE dream giver, but a ambassador for the program. All in all it ruined my day, I was physicaly sick from the tension and adrenelin (sp) that we experienced while he teased us about what we could have won. I did speak to the head of the Dream Squad and explained how we were mislead so this did not happen to anyone else. I don't think Jim had any ill intention, but he was clueless. By the way my Daughter is 20, so it is easier for her to accept a misunderstanding. Sorry to go on so long but knowing about the vest would have saved us a lot of heartach.

 

[keishashadow]

talk about a disappointment, so sorry for you...i'd write a letter to the executive offices to let them know what happened. Not in an attempt to get an award but; to keep this un=magical crap from repeating.

BTW, we didn't see any of them last Oct. Did see people with the FPs though.

Not sure what knowing what they look like would help . If you're not supposed to approach them (guess tackling them is out of the question ); how would it benefit you? Don't have any small kids to tell & look cute; perhaps my teenager could wipe that angst look they all seem to sport off his puss .

Seriously, any secrets as to snagging a goodie (as to profiling the perfect recipient) or is it truly random acts?

 

[Vemnox]

I'm sorry, fitzkerry, but I do not think this CM nor Disney are at fault here.
With all due respect, I think this was just a result of you (or whoever in your group) over-thinking the entire situation. The Dream Team never hands out prizes while in just the blue shirt - never. The guy's job is just to go around and talk to people and promote the YOMD. I think you are taking what a nice, talkitive CM did for you and turning it into this cruel thing he did to upset you. He probably stuck around so long because he wanted to just chat (that's their job!) and perhaps take you or your daughter on a ride. While I agree he shouldn't have been verbalizing all the prizes as if he was waiting for you to name the right one, I think you are mistaking normal conversation for a CM just looking to prey on innocent people.
An additional note is that in order to hand out prizes the CM's must be with their group and a legalities-trained manager must be present. All of this information about when and how the prizes are distributed is available in the official rules and posted in all the Guest Relations lobbies.

 

[fitzkerry]

Vemnox, actually when we showed the video of part of the encounter to the Dream Squad manager he agreed with us that the way the encounter played out it was misleading. I never said that the CM was just looking to prey on innocent people, those were your words, what I said was that I did not think he had any ill intentions, but that he was clueless and did not clarify when directly asked what she won that he was not awarding a prize. I am in customer service, there is a world of difference between sharing information about a promotion, or simply talking to someone and leading them to believe they have won a prize. I am a college educated 45 year old women and I don't think that I "over thought" the situation, I think that the CM was wrong. Disney employees are not always right and I resent you twisting my words to make it seem that I'm so(mehow ignorant for not having stopped in town hall and read all the rules prior to entering the park. (For the record thought I don't believe that the rules include a discription of the clothes the Prize Patrol will be wearing)

 

[CDSTapisRouge]

The Dream Team never hands out prizes while in just the blue shirt - never.

An additional note is that in order to hand out prizes the CM's must be with their group and a legalities-trained manager must be present.

Just wanted to correct this... We have had a handful of situations where the distribution times were too close together for the "Prize CM's" to distribute the first prize and get across the park in time to get the second one out on time. In this case the "Super Greeters" have been called upon to assist. They may or may not have the white vest on (just depends on if they keep one in their bag or not.) I have seen this happen a few times.

And it is not required for a manager to be with the CM's when they are issuing Dream Ears, Pin Lanyards or Fastpasses. It is ideal to have the managers from the location be present, but it does not always work out that way. All the CM's on the Squad are trained in the legalities and provided that there are 2 Dream Squad CM's present the smaller tier prizes can be distributed without a manager. If it is a larger prize the location manager and/or the Dream Squad manager will need to be present.

I think you are being hard on Fitzberry. Having read your other posts, I am sure this is not your intention, but...reading the original post it seems to me that the situation was a little misleading. When handing out the Pixie Dust Pins you are supposed to be recognizing an act of kindness, something good that you have witnessed taking place. They are not supposed to be given out just because, there is supposed to be a reason and that reason should be the focus of the conversation. The conversation should not be going down the list of prizes in anticipation of...A pin!

 

[Vemnox]

What is your source on your correction to my post because, while they may call on for a backup (but never solo), there must ALWAYS be a manager with them.
You're more than welcome to PM me if you don't feel comfortable posting here.

 

[CDSTapisRouge]

What is your source on your correction to my post because, while they may call on for a backup (but never solo), there must ALWAYS be a manager with them.
You're more than welcome to PM me if you don't feel comfortable posting here.

My source is my own personal experience on the MK Squad. We do not have to have a manager present for the smaller tier prizes. We call on the radio to the manager for the location that we are going to be distributing at so that they know we are coming into their area. They will meet us if they can, 95% of the time they can...but if they are caught up with something else, we do not "have" to have them there to distribute the prizes.

 

[pppiglet]

Here's what they look like at DL

 

[CDSTapisRouge]

Thanks for posting the pics from Disneyland. I had not seen their costume (other than the concept sketches). Funny how they have a shorts option! I also thought they were gonna have khaki pants like we do at WDW but the dark blue looks nice.

 

[SyracuseWolvrine]

I believe that the WDW dream squad now has a shorts option as well. Same colour/style as the pants option, just in shorts. Don't know if this is true for all parks, but I've seen several members of the Studios DS in shorts.

And to answer the original question, yes, the Dream Squad CMs look different ... some are male, some are female, some are tall, others short. Some of them have black hair, and others might be blonde, etc

 

[MickeyNicki]

In Oct there was a few CM's in white pants and blue shirts that gave us (4) each a special YOAMD lanyards with special pins...we were the first ones in for the Imagination ride.

This past April we were in line at Buzz Lightyear and the CM, dresses like normal, started counting off people...then stopped right behind us. There was another CM, again in regular Buzz ride costumes, and she gave us lanyards...we were the last 2 because she only had 2 left.

Since we already had them we asked that the CM save them and give them out to any of the little kids behind us.