Dont want to set our (my) expectations too high!

[AngieWin]

Out of the 10 people going on our next trip, I am the only one who knows much of anything about the YOAMD. Other than telling DMIL and my parents not to refuse a night in the castle, I dont plan on telling anyone too much about the dreamteam and what could possibly be won at the parks. Our kids are 2, 4, 12, and 13 (DNiece is 22), so they wont know much about it.

But how do I prepare myself for possibly spending 2 weeks on vacation and not feeling like a loser when I dont get a dream? I know how wonderfully exciting it is to be there at all, but with all I have read and getting excited about before I go, I dont want to let myself down.

Anyone else have to talk themselves down (for lack of a better description) just in case?? Should I just keep repeatedly reminding myself that "I am in Walt Disney World where it is always magical, anything more is just a bonus!!" ?

 

[castawaymam]

have never won anything so my hopes aren't up. Wouldn't mine winning something from the YOMD team but being realistic about the whole thing.

 

[gayles]

Just enjoy Disney --- and all it has to offer ---- In past year's they never had YOAMD ----- so ---- If ya get a Dream it will be a Plus --- You never know ... With your large group you have a good chance & lots of days ....

 

[Vickie46]

We went to Disney this past December and just got back for 7 days.. we never got a dream.. but had a wonderful time together.. that was a dream itself.. just enjoy it!

 

[aaronandterri]

Hi
I know what you mean...
Without going into lots of detail we had a problem at Disney with my son who has ASD and a CM , and they have promised to make "our stay magical and be sprinkled with pixie dust" (there words)

Now i dont want to build that up excpecting too much but at the same time will be annoyed if nothing happens now they have said that you know.


its a difficult one.......

I Havent told kids about the million dreams thing, my son wouldnt understand anyway....its so hard on him.

 

[irisbud]

To be honest, on our last trip I didn't really think about the Dream Team at all. It crossed my mind once or twice, but that was it. We were having such a great time anyway! We did end up winning something anyway, which was great, but I don't know that we would have missed it if we hadn't.

Just go and enjoy!

aaronandterri, sorry you had a not-so-magical moment on your last trip. If I may ask, what is ASD? Just wondering.

Amy

 

[ms_mckenna]

We went in November and I am not going to say I didnt think about YOMD before I went. Because I did but once we hit that park all bets were off. The dream team quickly stepped into the back of my mind. We saw them on our trip and several families that were getting dreams which was very cool. It really did not bother us to not be getting them. You are still in Disney and there is still magic even if you do not get a dream. :

 

[aaronandterri]

hI
Sorry if i confused you !
ASD = AUTISM (AUTISTIC SPECTRUM DISORDER)

I think that we may just not be one of the winners if one of our 100 plus postcard entries r anything to go by...........

 

[CJBaby]

I have been to Disney two times during this YOAMD. I didn't expect my family to win, but I'm sure if I thought there was a good chance, I would have been disappointed. I especially wouldn't tell a child, beacause it is obviously harder for them to understand. Reading this board can make it seem like it's hard to NOT win something, but you just have to be realistic. If you win, amazing. If not, like another person said, you're still in DISNEY, right?

Oh, and they sell these adorable light up mickey YOAMD ears that you can award your children yourself!

 

[castleri]

We were there from 12/24/06-1/4/07 and did not get any of the dreams but had a wonderful time anyway. We did see people with the ears and dream fast passes but didn't see any actually being awarded. I think you are right to not say too much to your family and then if something does happen it makes it even more special and if you don't get a "dream" there is not that sense of disappointment.

 

[Tina G]

We just returned from 8 days at Disney and not only did we not get any "dream" items but we never saw the dream cast members even one time!

I will say that I am slightly disappointed about that. I think they are making such a big deal with the advertising and I certainly wasn't expecting to win anything but I was shocked that we never even saw one of the dream team members.

During our 8 days, we saw 3 families wearing the dream fastpasses and 2 families wearing the YOAMD Mickey ears. That was it.

That being said, our trip was pure Disney magic and we didn't need anything else. The dream fastpasses wouldn't have even been needed as the lines were fairly short and we rarely used the FP option anyway.

 

[webray]

Don't even think about it or you will have a disappointing trip.

We were just up for a long weekend. Saw a dream happen right in front of us. They picked a family of 4 in EPCOT, they got front row seating for flower power concert, a special tour of the flower festival and other gifts.

At the bar in WL a man was telling us his family got picked for a special private photo session with Cinderella, his little girls were thrilled.

Nothing for us, we had a great weekend anyway..our day will come!

 

[logansmummy]

Out of the 10 people going on our next trip, I am the only one who knows much of anything about the YOAMD. Other than telling DMIL and my parents not to refuse a night in the castle, I dont plan on telling anyone too much about the dreamteam and what could possibly be won at the parks. Our kids are 2, 4, 12, and 13 (DNiece is 22), so they wont know much about it.

But how do I prepare myself for possibly spending 2 weeks on vacation and not feeling like a loser when I dont get a dream? I know how wonderfully exciting it is to be there at all, but with all I have read and getting excited about before I go, I dont want to let myself down.

Anyone else have to talk themselves down (for lack of a better description) just in case?? Should I just keep repeatedly reminding myself that "I am in Walt Disney World where it is always magical, anything more is just a bonus!!" ?

I think that you should consider yourself already living a Dream come true , we are ALL very lucky and fortunate that we are even able to go. I know many people out there that have NEVER gone, and probably NEVER will. We are all living the Dream.........

 

[vic32]

you are going for two weeks! Wow thats MY dream!!!!

 

[unknownname]

Be happy your just going to Disney. Not alot of people get to go there.
I know what you mean though alittle. My aunt and cousin were down the same time our family was down and they got 2 dreams. Although it was ok it wasn't like everyone got them except me. I'm getting use to not looking forward to dreams but granting some this next trip.

 

[logansmummy]

Exactly, be happy you even get to go......

 

[TinkRBel_In_Training]

We just got back from almost 2 weeks in the World and I think we saw maybe 3 members of the Dream Team the whole time. We saw maybe 4 or 5 people wearing the dreams fastpasses and probably 10-12 wearing the ears. We never saw any of these things being awarded though. I honestly never really thought about it when I was there. It seems like you just have to be in the right place at the right time and since WDW is so big its really hard to be in that right place. Good luck, but if you don't get anything don't be disappointed. Of all the thousands of people who hit the parks each day I'd say maybe 3 or 4% (if that) actually get dreams.

 

[Tigger&Pooh]

AngieWin,
I think you have the exact right attitude... We will be in Disney in June and although I haven't won much stuff in my life; anything can happen in Disney!! After all, isn't this the place "where dreams come true?" Best of luck!! I hope you win your dream...

 

[TinkGirl]

We went for 8 days last year and just missed or followed the Dream Team a lot without winning anything. We were even approached by someone official-looking who asked us some questions and then left. My family knew all about the promotion because of the hype during the Christmas parade broadcast. I have to admit it was disappointing even though we had a wonderful trip, great weather, etc. etc. I wouldn't tell them either unless you win something.

 

[murphnjamie]

I didn't even think about it when I was there last January. I know I heard about it, but didn't see any of it; I don't even know it was really going on. But it's so much fun just seeing the little things, like the free ice cream at the my girls got at the BW and the bows & courtsies they got when we were walking to the princess breakfast at epcot, or the special "hidden mickey" pin my older daughter got because she let her little sister trade for the Winnie the Pooh pin she wanted. These weren't official "Dreams" but sure made out trip magical.

We're heading back in October, and though my daughters know there is a special room to stay in in the castle, they have no idea about the rest. And I am going to leave it that way. The fact that I get to take my kids (my first time to WDW was at 17, DH for our honeymoon) for the second time in two years means so much to me.