give a day get a day all over

[FOXFIELDZOO]

Why?

There were a few people upset that I was Upset that the GAD was over ,I just missed out ,and I guess they felt that Some of us that said we are bummed about it were wrong in saying so,That We shouldn't have wanted the free ticket that was offered,they assumed that this would be the only time and the only reason for doing a good thing,Why do you think it ended so soon? People wanted to do something good and the ticket was a great perk,Oh well not going to loose sleep over it ,And We are still going to "keep Norther Ill. beautiful " we can wait to clean up after winter!

 

[dzorn]

Just a question? Does Project Linus have a web sit ? that was never an listed in my area,I love to crochet and there are only so many blankets my kids need ,would love to do this for them

You may want to call a local children's hospital or shelter and see if they can use blankets or even social service.

Denise in MI

 

[Alexander]

We made a bunch of blankets back in early Feb and did get vouchers for my family (3). However, after talking with the girl who was running the program that we participated in, I have my sixth grade class now making no-sew blankets for local shelters. We are doing this because it is a good thing to do, and there will be no payment in the form of a voucher, just good feelings for helping others. So for me, I have gotten more out of this than just the vouchers, and I hope that the kids will too.

 

[helloconnie]

Besides getting a ticket or Fast Passes, I believe you can also donate your tickets to help sick children go to WDW.

 

[FOXFIELDZOO]

You may want to call a local children's hospital or shelter and see if they can use blankets or even social service.

Denise in MI

Thank you, I will do that

 

[minniemoms]

I LOVED doing this project. I learned how to make the no sew plush blankets. It did end of costing quite a bit because we did 12 of them 2 each for the 6 of us. Even my new sons in laws did them. But oh, we were so happy to deliver that many blankets. We do lots of volunteering anyway, but what a sense of accomplishment to make that many blankets. My grandchildren didn't want us to give them away, they wanted some, but that is what this grandma will do for Christmas this year. I just thought what a great project this was. I didn't go down on my birthday last year for that promotion , and neither did any of my family. BUT we all got together and made blankets for the shelter for rescued children. LOVED it...

 

[corrinna]

I was going to wait to do this in June when I am out of school for the summer, and I was also going to have my son volunteer with me. We were going to do it to donate the tickets to Make a Wish, since we have AP's already. How aggravating, since I wasn't even going to volunteer for a park perk.

 

[CarolAnnC]

Since this thread is not DVC specific, I am relocating it to our Budget Board where it has been an ongoing topic for more input. Thanks all!

 

[iheartdisney]

You know, it's just plain dumb that Disney does not continue with this program even though they've reached the 1 million mark. Think about the PR they could get if they continue and then could flaunt how many millions of volunteers there were. It really costs them nothing to allow a person through the gates, but the revenue that the person/s and their family's will generate on food, lodging, souvenirs, etc. has to be tremendous. To heavily advertise, like they did, and give everyone the impression that it would be throughout 2010 (yes, I know it stated in the fine print, until they reached the 1 million point), and then have the program end so abruptly, so quickly, I believe a lot of people that were planning trips will just say forget it. I'm sure a lot people were planning on waiting for summer vacation for family opportunities to volunteer.

I agree, My interpretation of this program was that it, in addition to getting people to come to Disney, was to make folk aware of all the opportunities that are around them. From my viewpoint it looked like 99% of the volunteer opportunities were left out - which is odd as these places are always looking for help and I think that Disney promoted this to the point that most all the organizations were well aware of it. To see we'd have to drive an hour & 1/2 to get to the closest one that would include children aged 12 & 16 showed that there was something wrong with the sign up process for the organizations.

My hope is that this 1 million mark was simply a test on Disney's part and that they're looking at the results, fixing any issues (such as what we've seen) and that they'll revive the program for the second half of the year with new partners and new gusto.

If they do bring the program back, I'd love to see places added that can help people to become aware of all the opportunities to volunteer that are around them every day: schools, libraries, kid's sports, field maintenance, concession stands, cleaning up the towns after a rough winter, meals on wheels, visiting nursing homes, and helping the animal shelters. I realize that some of these were out there for certain areas but from January through to recently, they certainly weren't represented for anything here.

The attitudes above just has me seeing RED!!!!!!
I'm sorry, but why does Disney owe anyone anything more? Businesses have limited promotions all the time (think black friday) and no one "expects" the company to extend it.
But because this is *Disney*, a "feel-good" company, and the promotion was a feel-good promotion, the Disney company (and don't forget the shareholders) should continue writing in the red ink past the 1 million already alloted?
And lastly, when did it become Disney's job to promote local volunteer organizations? (the schools, libraries, etc.) This is an example of thinking globally without acting locally. Find local volunteers. Advertise. Write a letter to the editor, post an ad on craigslist or call a local radio show to talk about the issue that you support.

Ok, I'm going to say some thing so very unpopular.
Why should they promote any thing but the fact that you get a great vacation?

I think Disney sets itself up to not being able to rebound if the economy gets better. Free dining, buy 4 get 3 free, free tickets. It's now to the point where people get seriously offended when disney doesn't give them some thing supposedly for free. I totally admit I wasn't quiet when my valet parking ended.

Even with the dream squad, you know how many post I read from people complaining they had been to disney 59 times and were never approached by the Dream squad?

my new promotion, come to Disney have a magical vacation.

ITA! whatever the promotion, someone will be moaning because the promotion is not thier definition of "FAIR".
Read the back of your ticket if you want to know what you are ENTITLED to from Disney!

 

[TLSnell1981]

Hmmmm..... Disney gets a write off and makes $$$$ off their hotels, restaurants and merchandise. PLUS, charities recruit new volunteers. Sounds like a "win win" for everyone involved.

 

[cats mom]

Just a question? Does Project Linus have a web sit ? that was never an listed in my area,I love to crochet and there are only so many blankets my kids need ,would love to do this for them

Absolutely! This is the Project Linus National Headquarters website:

http://www.projectlinus.org/

Many local chapters also have their own websites.

I'm sure they'd love to receive some of your crocheted blankets.

Im still unclear on how to proceed with the actual voucher. Im thinking once you know the day you want to use it, then you print it? Not sure if accurate, I read somewhere here you can do it @ guest services even?

You do need to choose a park and a day you want to visit before you can print your voucher, but that information does not show up on the voucher, and I was told that you can actually go to either park, any day the voucher is good, no matter what you put when you printed it.

We had an e-mail mishap with the GAD program. Before I figured out how to access the non-existant e-mail our vouchers were sent to, a CM told me that worse case scenario we could just show up at guest services with our ID's and they would be able to verify our volunteer information there. I imagine that would be more time consuming than showing up with vouchers in hand, but it is an option.

 

[Jamoky]

Its too bad they aren't extending this promotion. It was obviously popular. I am just kicking myself for not signing up sooner.

 

[disneylove69]

I did volunteer and got my tickets by making blankets. At first I signed up for dozens of organizations and got not get one. Towards the end, after I got the tickets, I did get a request to help out for another org which I did. Know that Disney stopped giving tickets I am getting requests like crazy. I hope that people would continue to volunteer even if there is no physical gain at the end.

 

[Sadie22]

I drove almost an hour through driving rain to turn in our blankets for Binky Patrol today. As an added bonus (which I did not request), the coordinator gave me a receipt to use to claim the price of the materials for the no-sew fleece blankets as a charitable deduction on next year's taxes. I asked her about sewing cloth blankets from scraps I've saved and she encouraged me to get in touch with her anytime, that there is always a need for more "Comforting Covers." She told me she had been working with Binky Patrol about 14 years.

This was not our first volunteer experience, and won't be the last. I'm glad we did it. I felt like I made a new friend today, and it makes me happy to think about the teenage boy and girl who will wrap up in the blankets. I'm worrying a little less about the cost of our trip later this year, also, as we likely will be exchanging our one-day tickets for multiday park hopper tickets. This was definitely a win-win situation for all who were able to take part.

For those who were shut out due not to being able to complete registration for an event out further than 60 days, I wonder if polite letters to Disney would yield some pixie dust?

 

[chipscamping buddy]

The attitudes above just has me seeing RED!!!!!!
I'm sorry, but why does Disney owe anyone anything more? Businesses have limited promotions all the time (think black friday) and no one "expects" the company to extend it.
But because this is *Disney*, a "feel-good" company, and the promotion was a feel-good promotion, the Disney company (and don't forget the shareholders) should continue writing in the red ink past the 1 million already alloted?
And lastly, when did it become Disney's job to promote local volunteer organizations? (the schools, libraries, etc.) This is an example of thinking globally without acting locally. Find local volunteers. Advertise. Write a letter to the editor, post an ad on craigslist or call a local radio show to talk about the issue that you support.

ITA! whatever the promotion, someone will be moaning because the promotion is not thier definition of "FAIR".
Read the back of your ticket if you want to know what you are ENTITLED to from Disney!

It became Disney's responsibility when they took on the program and made a HUGE PROMOTION out of it. I didn't see any ads saying hey go do charity work and some unknown company is going to do something nice for you. I saw muppets and DISNEY time and again. They put their reputation on the line with the promotion. Did they do anything wrong ending it at 1 million vouchers? Certainly not. They set a goal and met it. However, that doesn't change the fact that it was poorly managed.
There were quite a few charities that I had spoken to who had scheduled major events later in the year based on this promotion and Disney helping them get volunteers, but that they had to wait for the sixty day rule. Now that the program is ended they are scrambling to figure out how to hold these events. Disney stuck their name on it. Don't even try to tell me that they are in the red from this program, nobody goes to Disney and doesn't spend some money, and most spend a lot. On top of that, Disney gets a HUGE tax write off. However, I am not saying that they need to give away more tickets. They did want they said they would. I do feel that they need to keep promoting the volunteering and help get these charities the volunteers they were expecting. Just keeping their name attached will likely cost them something, but will keepa positive feeling for the end of the promotion.

 

[shalom]

There were quite a few charities that I had spoken to who had scheduled major events later in the year based on this promotion and Disney helping them get volunteers,

I'm really surprised to hear that. As soon as I saw that Disney was capping it off at a million people, I figured it'd end pretty early in the year. There were volunteer opportunities locally that we'd done before or planned on doing, but we signed up with an organization we'd never heard of before because I wanted to do something early in the year. The organization we signed up with didn't schedule a new event because of the extra volunteers, although they did do some "wish we could get to" kind of things in the building since so many people were signing up in such a rush.

It doesn't take a genius to crunch the numbers, and I would think the organizations would be more inclined to do that than someone volunteering, since that information is more crucial to them. Then again, it's been argued that no one would start most charitable organizations in the first place if they paid attention to the odds of success. I guess the charities in our area are more conservative, so they just hoped they'd get extra people working on their usual projects, which is what they got. Mostly college kids, since this is a college town, which I find encouraging. I started volunteering at college age, dragged into it by friends, which is a habit that has continued.

 

[iheartdisney]

...nobody goes to Disney and doesn't spend some money, and most spend a lot.

Apparently, you are unfamiliar with the assumed mindset of the SoCal AP holder! There are PAGES dedicated to analyzing that the "typical" SoCal AP will cost Disney more money than they ever make off of them; simply because they flood the parks for a few hours at a time and spend no money!
Remember, WDW was not the only park involved in the promotion, and the indset of the two parks is completely different!

 

[hrh_disney_queen]

You do need to choose a park and a day you want to visit before you can print your voucher, but that information does not show up on the voucher, and I was told that you can actually go to either park, any day the voucher is good, no matter what you put when you printed it.

I am not sure I am following this right, but I printed my vouchers the day they were emailed to me. I didn't have to put in a date that I wanted to use them. The vouchers do not specify any date of usage, just black out dates.


Here is what it said in the email:

"Just print out your vouchers to redeem it for your FREE tickets to a Walt Disney World® Resort Theme Park, or, if you prefer, you can choose to donate your tickets to a designated organization. It’s up to you!

If you choose to redeem the voucher for FREE tickets, be sure you bring the vouchers and valid photo ID to Walt Disney World® Resort to receive your tickets. Then go off and enjoy the magic! "


And here is what is printed on the voucher:


"Thank you for volunteering! To redeem this voucher :
Present voucher and valid ID at a designated theme park will call ticket window. Valid
ID is one of the following : driver's license with photo, or a government-issued passport
or photo ID. If under age 18, you can instead bring an original or a copy of a birth
certificate (school or children security IDs not accepted).
•
Voucher is non-transferable, revocable, not for sale or resale, and is void if altered.
The Guest whose name is preprinted on this voucher must be present at time of
redemption.
•
One-day, 1-theme park ticket must be used on the same day as redemption. Ticket
is not valid for admission on March 29 - April 8 and July 4, 2010.
•
One-day, 1-theme park ticket is not valid for admission to a Disney
Water Park, DisneyQuest® Indoor Interactive Theme Park or
Disney's Wide World of Sports® Complex.
Instructions for Annual Passholders and multi-day ticket
holders redeeming voucher for an alternate option instead of
the 1-day, 1-theme park ticket.
Present your valid ID, this voucher, and your valid multi-day ticket or
Annual Pass at a theme park will call ticket window to redeem for a
Disney's FASTPASS® Special Exchange card or for a Special Ear
Hat figurine with unique trading pins.
Instructions for Guests redeeming voucher at the Disneyland®
Resort in California
If your plans have changed and you would like to redeem this
voucher at Disneyland® Resort in California, simply present your
valid ID and this voucher at a Main Entrance ticket booth. Your
voucher may not be redeemed for admission at Disneyland® Resort
on the following dates : February 13 - 14, March 21, June 21 - 22,
July 4, November 21, and December 11 - 12, 2010."








I read this thread and after a few pages of wondering why y'all weren't getting slammed about making comments about not getting in on the promotion, I saw that it was begun on another board. You even mentioned not to voice these opinions on the Budget board because you would get flamed. Then the mod moved it to the BB and the very next post is slamming everyone for being disappointed! You were right!

I personally would agree that how this promotion has turned out has to be disappointing to some folks. And I would be willing to bet money that those who are flaming them for voicing their disappointments have gotten their tickets. I would be disappointed if I hadn't jumped in on this early enough to get my tickets. I already volunteer at the school every week, so I don't feel one bit guilty about taking advantage of free tickets by volunteering at one of the listed organizations. And actually, they weren't free to me, the 20 gift baskets we made for Meals on Wheels recipients cost us about $75, so we definitely cannot do this again. If someone wants to find a way to flame me for this, have at it.

 

[OhioStateBuckeye]

Is the promotion really over? I just saw a commercial for it this morning.

 

[Befferk]

Is the promotion really over? I just saw a commercial for it this morning.

Yup. http://disneyparks.disney.go.com/disneyparks/en_US/WhatWillYouCelebrate/index?name=Give-A-Day-Get-A-Disney-Day