Is it 1 million....?

[DLR29]

I believe I read somewhere that Disney is putting a cap on the # of GADGAD things given out this promo, and I think it was 1 million. Is the limit 1 million emailed vouchers? or 1 million redeemed emailed vouchers? In other words, if you get emailed a voucher, do you have to go to the parks before all of the "GADGAD tickets" reach 1 million, or are you guaranteed a ticket once you get the voucher email. I hope the questions is clear.

 

[StitchandPooh'sMom]

I have read here that you are all set once you get the voucher, even if you choose not to redeem it until the last day and Disney has already reached one million participants. You just need to receive the voucher for it to be valid for redemption.

 

[doconeill]

They are going by vouchers. It wouldn't be very good for Disney to have people sign up, do their volunteer work, give then a certificate and then tell you at the park "So sorry, we ran out..."

Now, what will happen if they DO reach 1 million vouchers sent is uncertain - and what about those who signed up and were in process?

More than likely, everyone who actually signed up for a particular opportunity with a completion date will get vouchers, even if they reach a million and suspend things. But Disney could go on and extend it indefinitely as well. It may depend how quickly 1 million comes, if it ever does.

 

[foxfire]

It may depend how quickly 1 million comes, if it ever does.

Disney posted a message on Facebook a week or so ago that 600,000 volunteers had already signed up. I'm sure they will reach the initial total since the promotion has reached over a half million+ in roughly 6 weeks. They may decide to extend the program but if anyone is on the fence about doing it, sooner rather than later would be good because it seems like things are moving pretty fast.

 

[doconeill]

Disney posted a message on Facebook a week or so ago that 600,000 volunteers had already signed up. I'm sure they will reach the initial total since the promotion has reached over a half million+ in roughly 6 weeks. They may decide to extend the program but if anyone is on the fence about doing it, sooner rather than later would be good because it seems like things are moving pretty fast.

Right, that is 600k signed up, but not 600k vouchers issued. CF has said that under the Birthday promotion, the conversion rate was only about 25%. Although I think it could be higher this time, I don't know if they'll still make 1 million. Plus, there is the initial bump in registrations at the beginning of the year when its announced, and the continuous registration rate will dwindle off over time.

 

[SnoWhiteRabbit]

No worries, it's 1 million sign ups --- not only would they not say to someone at the gate, your voucher is no good b/c we've already redeemed 1 million -- they would not let someone sign up and volunteer, and then say, sorry, we've already given out 1 million vouchers.

The whole system is being handled electronically -- and from what I can tell the computer system is a well oiled machine! The process is very streamlined. Automatic 'reminder and 'thank you' messages, etc --- on both ends -- for the volunteers and for the organizations. (I've been on both ends. I have volunteered with my family and I ran an event for a non profit org that I work for).

Here's an excerpt from the Q & A manual for organizations. It clearly indicates that they reserve vouchers as people sign up so everyone who is signed up is guaranteed to get a voucher that they can use, as long as they complete their commitment on time.

14. Is it possible for a volunteer to sign up for an opportunity and we then run out of vouchers by the time they actually volunteer?
Once a volunteer registers and finds a qualifying opportunity on www.disneyparks.com, the volunteer will commit to serving. The voucher will be reserved for the volunteer at the time they commit to serving. After they serve and their attendance is verified, they will receive their voucher. Disney will track the reserved and distributed vouchers to ensure all qualifying volunteers receive their voucher.

HTH!! Great promotion!

 

[doconeill]

Hmm...so that is new information. So it is at least how many actually sign up for a volunteer opportunity, not just pure registrations to the site.

I'm assuming that as some people fail to fulfill, they will release more. And they likely wouldn't cut it off at exactly one million as well (if they cut it off at all).

So, we really are 6/10ths of the way, and haven't even made it to March. But as I said, the registration rate will slow down unless they make a big PR push again.

 

[DisneyWisher]

Given how many live in the Orlando and L.A. areas I am not surprise the GAD program is more than half way there. Unlike the Birthday Promotion everyone in the family ages 6 and up can get a free ticket. For DD16 and I, our birthdays are 2 days apart, we could have done the birthday promo but going in summer is not something I want to do, free ticket or not. So to hear that only 25% took advantage is understandable.

 

[DaniB]

Here's an excerpt from the Q & A manual for organizations. It clearly indicates that they reserve vouchers as people sign up so everyone who is signed up is guaranteed to get a voucher that they can use, as long as they complete their commitment on time.

14. Is it possible for a volunteer to sign up for an opportunity and we then run out of vouchers by the time they actually volunteer?
Once a volunteer registers and finds a qualifying opportunity on www.disneyparks.com, the volunteer will commit to serving. The voucher will be reserved for the volunteer at the time they commit to serving. After they serve and their attendance is verified, they will receive their voucher. Disney will track the reserved and distributed vouchers to ensure all qualifying volunteers receive their voucher.

HTH!! Great promotion!

Great to know! Thanks for posting that information. I signed my family up last night, received an confirmation phone call this morning to set up a date & time. I was told I will receive a confirmation e-mail in a couple of days.

As our volunteer date is not until March 26th, I was wondering if the vouchers would run out by then.

Dani

 

[dacky041208]

Hmm...so that is new information. So it is at least how many actually sign up for a volunteer opportunity, not just pure registrations to the site.

I'm assuming that as some people fail to fulfill, they will release more. And they likely wouldn't cut it off at exactly one million as well (if they cut it off at all).

So, we really are 6/10ths of the way, and haven't even made it to March. But as I said, the registration rate will slow down unless they make a big PR push again.

But as you said, that is the # of sign ups. If one 500,000 actually do their volunteer work, those 100k spots will become available. So all we really know for sure is that they have at least 400,000 vouchers left.

 

[supersuperwendy]

So then I guess it's safe to hold onto our vouchers until November then use them?

We will be going in May with 5 vouchers, but I'd like to use 3 of them in November towards new APs!

 

[StitchandPooh'sMom]

So then I guess it's safe to hold onto our vouchers until November then use them?

We will be going in May with 5 vouchers, but I'd like to use 3 of them in November towards new APs!

You'll be fine. Once the voucher is issued, it will be valid until the end of the program. No way would Disney say you can't use it once they send it.

 

[MHSweb79]

I look at it this way: If Disney sees the program as successful in drawing people (and their wallets) into the parks who wouldn't have been there otherwise, they'll go over the million. If they see that they are somehow losing money on the program (unlikely) then they'll come up with some graceful exit strategy after the million.

In any case, once you have the voucher it's good until December 15.

 

[MouseloverJD]

Worried b/c I have a commitment for an activity in May, but can't actually signup for it until March. Not sure how I will be impacted by this.

 

[iluveeyore]

Good to know we can still use them until the last day - DH and I will be upgrading ours in November to AP's but the kids won't be going with us until Christmas, so we're arriving on Dec. 15th (the last day!) to upgrade theirs to park hoppers. Gave me a great excuse to go two days early (even though the extra days cost us more than the free tickets ). If we end up not getting there a couple of days sooner than our original plan with the kids, then we will just donate their tickets - at least DH and I will get to use ours!

 

[VillageMama]

Worried b/c I have a commitment for an activity in May, but can't actually signup for it until March. Not sure how I will be impacted by this.

Any chance you can send your regrets for your May event and find something to do sooner?

March isn't that far away, so you'll probably be fine with your May event. I wouldn't want to risk it, though. We just used our vouchers and had the most wonderful day ever.