Memorable Millionaire Moments

[welovedis]

A seven year old girl got into the hot seat when Joe Nameth and some other football guy (Joe Kelley? Jim Kelley? Some football guy named Kelley.) were there helping. She was introduced to them and the little sweetie just stood there. The host told her who they were exactly...mentioned their football accomplishments.

Then he asks the girl if she's excited to be sitting there with them and she shrugged her shoulders...real sweet. Then Joe Nameth says, "No, she doesn't know who the hell we are."

Maybe you had to be there.

LOL, that would be Pro Football Hall of Famer Jim Kelly .

 

[TheDoctor]

I saw one lady from Texas win the million points. It was very exciting.

I made it to the hot seat sixteen times and each trip was fun.

 

[WDW_Fanatic]

I absolutely loved this attraction. I was lucky enough to be in the hot seat a few times. My most memorable experience would have to be this past June where I won the cruise! It was so surreal, I still can't believe it happened! I completely guessed on my million point question and the host, at first, frowned, so I assumed I missed it. Then, a split-second later, she tells me I'm going on a cruise, and all the streamers fly from the ceiling. The audience went bezerk and my friends who were with me were so excited that I won. Then I got to call my mom (who didn't have her cell phone with her!) and my sister in front of the audience. It is definitely a moment I will remember for the rest of my life!

This attraction was by far my favorite in all of WDW. Its unique blend of excitement and interactivity is unmatched by any other attraction in WDW. While I do enjoy new attractions, this one will forever be missed! My mom and I have so many great memories from going to this show (of course, when I won the cruise, it was the only show where my mother wasn't with me! But she, and the rest of my family, are so excited about our upcoming cruise!) WDW will never be the same for us after this Saturday! I will forever cherish the experiences I had watching and participating in this show!

 

[Mickey1122]

I absolutely loved this attraction. I was lucky enough to be in the hot seat a few times. My most memorable experience would have to be this past June where I won the cruise! It was so surreal, I still can't believe it happened! I completely guessed on my million point question and the host, at first, frowned, so I assumed I missed it. Then, a split-second later, she tells me I'm going on a cruise, and all the streamers fly from the ceiling. The audience went bezerk and my friends who were with me were so excited that I won. Then I got to call my mom (who didn't have her cell phone with her!) and my sister in front of the audience. It is definitely a moment I will remember for the rest of my life!

This attraction was by far my favorite in all of WDW. Its unique blend of excitement and interactivity is unmatched by any other attraction in WDW. While I do enjoy new attractions, this one will forever be missed! My mom and I have so many great memories from going to this show (of course, when I won the cruise, it was the only show where my mother wasn't with me! But she, and the rest of my family, are so excited about our upcoming cruise!) WDW will never be the same for us after this Saturday! I will forever cherish the experiences I had watching and participating in this show!

You won the cruise! Awesome!!

 

[StanH]

I guess my memorable moment, from the only time being there, was my 9 year old son got a higher score than me, my wife, or his sister! His score was posted up on the screen at #5!

 

[7beasley]

When my husband and I were there last September celebrating our 5th anniversary - my husband Tom made it to the hot seat...I had missed a question earlier on so I knew I was out so I was "helping" him instead. The 64K question (where someone else was in the hot seat) was something about the origin of the rainbrow brite kids...I told him what I thought was the answer (greeting cards I think) but unbeknownest to me - he picked something else (comic books or something) so when the hot seat guy said greeting cards and was wrong I turned to Tom and told him - sorry - guess you aren't going to get to play...he says I picked comic books (right answer) - so as the numbers go up he is not 10-2 -- he puts down our backpack, takes off his hat and says - "its got to be me" and sure enough it was and off to the hot seat he goes...

I was so excited!!

The host engages in small talk with him including why are you at disney type of stuff and he says here celebrating 5th wedding anniversary and the host (the funny black host with the dread locks who I love!) says what is the traditional gift for 5 years and Tom says he does not know and the host tells him he is going to get in trouble with his wife...and Tom responds "for my wife, the traditional gift for every year is jewlery -- you can't go wrong and I won't be getting in trouble this year after she sees her present!"

Everyone laughs!! He does great and makes it the 64K question before getting it wrong. And boy was he right -- he got me a huge 1.5 carat (5 diamond) anniversary band to go with my wedding band and ring for our anniversary! It was beautiful.

It made for a great and memorable anniversary trip for him to have gotten into the hot seat. We play multiple times every year and this is the first time either of us have made it to the hot seat...we have both been in the top 10 though almost every time.

I am sorry it will be gone when we go to WDW next month! Especially because now I have no chance of redemption...Tom is very fond of reminding me that he is the only [our last name] to have EVER made it to the hot seat!

~Nicole

 

[dmk1021]

A seven year old girl got into the hot seat when Joe Nameth and some other football guy (Joe Kelley? Jim Kelley? Some football guy named Kelley.) were there helping.

*Gasp* You don't know who Jim Kelly is?

I'm just teasing...he's the best quarterback ever to play for the Bills (my home team). Also, many people know of him because of work for his son Hunter, and the charity Hunter's Hope.

Anyway, on to my memorable moment...

My second time in the hot seat, and I made it to the 32,000 point question. I had used one lifeline, so two left. The question comes on the screen...

"This famous actress was born Francis Gumm and was in The Gumm Sisters as a child with her siblings" (not an exact quote, but you get the idea).

Now, innately, going through my head, was "Judy Garland, Judy Garland, Judy Garland," I just knew it was her. Of course, A wasn't her, B - nope, not C, finally D was Judy Garland. I knew to go with my gut, and I now wear my polo shirt with pride! OK, it hangs in my closet with pride, but hey, it's still cool!

I ended up blowing it on 125,000. I'm so stingy with my lifelines...I didn't use the other two! Grr, it was like 3 or 4 years ago and I'm still mad at myself. Oh well...I'm still mad about not making it into my graduating class top 10 (darn it, why 16?) and that was in 1998!

Anyway, it's really a shame it's closing. I got into the hotseat 4 times over the years, and my sister never did, which I feel badly about, because she was #1 several times when the show ended. We went last week and didn't make it, and I was really hoping she would. I never got into the hotseat in DCA either, which was a goal.

Fond memories, though.

 

[Joan S.]

Hi -My DS-18 made it into the HOT SEAT in February.Sad to say that I was not with him,he had gone to MGM with his sister and we had headed to another park. But he had ALWAYS wanted to be the ONE in the HOT SEAT! So I am SO HAPPY that he got his chance!! He made it quite far and WON,a shirt,a hat,laynard and quite a few pins! On that same trip a few days earlier I got to be the PHONE A STRANGER,luckily(for the stranger) that same son was with me and answered the question (it was computer related-and he is a computer GEEK).My DS is headed to Boston University in a few weeks, and will not be joining us for our February vacation next year.But this is one attraction that I would love to see remain open,it was so much fun to just be an audience member! Joan

 

[hightown]

Will so miss this attraction! It was something my Daughter and I loved to do togeather and at times, we'd spend the better part of the day doing Millionaire.

But really before we started doing it so much, my most memorable moment was Oct 2004. DD and I had a met up with a Dis-er friend and her daugher on a previous trip and set up this trip to meet in WDW. This time, I got the the hot seat and WON! The last question was a sheer guess. Like another posted, it's a surreal experience. Was so glad that my daugher and our friends were there. People come up to you all day long afterwards and congratulate you. It was really special.

Also memorable was daughter (then 11) getting in the hot seat on the day we came off our cruise!

Also memorable...in all our trips to WDW with seeing Indiana Jones and Millionaire so much, our favorite cast member is Kevin Bouchard. (SP?). Anyway, we were in Millionaire and had not seen Kevin in a long time. Well the stage manager is announcing the host. He says "Kevin..." Right then my daughter (12) SQUEALS like crazy. Sounded like the girls seeing the biggest hottest rock star. Stage manager made some comment about Kevins fans. It was too funny!

Made it to the hot seat a second time and lost it at 250,000.

I've also seen a lady win which was great. Also saw a boy loose at the million dollar question during a Star Wars Millionaire when he didn't go with the phone a stranger's answer. Sad. Both of those the same day this past June

But a great attraction and I'm so sorry to see it go.

Sharon

 

[TheDoctor]

Today was the last day for this attraction.

 

[TheDoctor]

I heard from a friend who was there for the last day. It was standing room only with a completely filled waiting room filled (and the show being shown on the monitors) and people standing on the platform behind the seats for the last show. They actually extended the show to let one more contestant get on the hot seat (due to the goodbyes only one person had been on the hot seat when the buzzer went off). The host asked and the control crew relented. Evidently the walk way was full of Disney executives who watched the last couple of shows.

One last person made it to the 64,000 question and got another shirt.

I am sad that the show is over.

 

[theSurlyMermaid]

My moment was when I was no. 1 on the board and hubby no. 2. Sadly, I did not get to the hotseat as it was the last list. But it was still great bragging rights.

I REALLY don't understand why this attraction is closing. I can think of several I would give the boot before something interactive and fun like this one. We routinely used to do this several times on our vacations. Whatever. It's pretty disappointing.

 

[notnothin]

R.I.P. Millionaire ..... bring on Midway Mania (or whatever the attraction will ultimately be called ....)

Now, if they'd only do something with 'Sounds Dangerous'

 

[NCRedding]

My family will miss this attraction. We've all made it to the top ten board. DH was in the hot seat once--made it to 64,000. I was #1 at the end of a show once.

My favorite "show" was the one in January where there was a guy from the UK in the hot seat--he was sooo funny. He kept saying he didn't want to be a "plonker" He did quite well, although he didn't know anything about the Sopranos, and I think there were two questions about them.

 

[SlightlyGoofy]

I am heartbroken that my favorite attraction in all of DW is now no more. I think many others feel the same.

I had planned 4 days at MGM this trip but am thinking 2 will do fine now and that is only because we enjoy seeing the Stunt Show a few times.

Congratulations to those of you who managed to win the big one. I never did and now, never will.

Anyone know of a good on line trivia site? I used to play with one for years, often winning, but the guy you ran it passed away and life has not been the same since. I go to some restaurants that offer free food if you win their games but I do not need food, just brain food.

Slightly Goofy (font of useless knowledge)

 

[NancyIL]

R.I.P. Millionaire ..... bring on Midway Mania (or whatever the attraction will ultimately be called ....)

Now, if they'd only do something with 'Sounds Dangerous'

At least "Sounds Dangerous" is an attraction. I don't think the building next door that used to have SuperStar Television and then "Doug Live" has had anything there since that show abruptly left!

I was in the hot seat twice. The first time was in Dec. 2004 during MouseFest. I worked at The Disney Store, but TDS had just been bought by The Children's Place a few weeks earlier so I was eligible to sit in the hot seat. I got into the hot seat on the fastest finger question and made it to the 1000 point level. When the host asked what I did in IL, I said "I work at a cute little retail store in the mall that USED to be owned by Disney!" Then he asked who was in the audience with me, and I said "my friend John" (aka "Towncrier" on the DIS). I missed the next question and went backstage to sign a release form and pick-up my hat and pins. The CM said to me, "You should see this"...and as I looked at the TV in the room backstage, there was Towncrier in the hot seat!! Apparently the host joked something to the effect that "Oh that's just not right" when he was next for the hot seat! The CM backstage also made a comment that maybe Towncrier would win the cruise and I would still get to go. I said, "I think he'll take his wife and kids if he wins!"

 

[Oceana]

My Dh is so bummed this is gone. He made it to the hotseat twice and twice lost it at 125,000. he was really looking forward to another shot. I cannot understand why this one is gone after being so popular

julie

 

[ladysoleil]

I am really going to miss Millionaire so much.

My greatest memory, oddly enough, is not winning the cruise. It's how much fun my husband and I had the first time we played the game together. We are really competitive in a friendly way, and we played at least three games back to back because I'd beat him on the board, or he'd beat me and I would demand a rematch. Finally...he made the Hot Seat, and my seat number was right behind him. I was so proud of him...and then I wanted to kill him because for the rest of the vacation he was going on and on that "I made the hot seat and the trivia geek didn't!". I had to wait until our next trip to get my turn in the chair, and I have to say, although I didn't win that time, it felt really good to have beaten his score!

I've also made some good friends through PlayIt!, some who post here (Hi Rob!) and some who hang out elsewhere online, and though the game is now gone, I can't complain. I got a cruise and some wonderful online friends out of the deal.

 

[SlightlyGoofy]

Hi Lady, I have been thinking of you. Not only because the demise of Millionaire but because I ran across an ancient pm you sent me. I guess I did not get a notification and never noticed it until I was deleting messages.

I did copy and paste the info for future use. One never knows where I might want to go one day.

Only a month until we leave but it will not be the same with Millionaire gone. MGM will slip to last place for my favorite park. If not for the Stunt Show it would be barely worth a day of our time as we do not do thrill rides. Millionaire was THE thrill ride for me.

Lots of hats, pins and shirts, no cruise.

Slightly Goofy, Linda

 

[Teresa Pitman]

I'm also heartbroken that Millionaire is gone.

I got into the hotseat last spring, and I still remember how excited I was as I walked down the stairs. Once I was there, I was amazingly calm. I got 64,000 points and the corresponding loot - still cherish them. When we went last fall, my son got into the hotseat but missed an easy question early on. He's still embarrassed about that - he knew the right answer but blew it.

The highlight for me, after being in the hotseat, was that people stopped me and commented on it for days afterwards as we walked around the parks. I couldn't believe how many people came up to me and said "I was in the audience when you were in the hotseat on Millionaire" and talked to me about the questions and everything. It happened six or seven times! So I reallly felt a little bit famous after that experience.

It really was my favourite part of the Studios and I will miss it a lot.

Teresa