Just thought I'd post a bit of an article in the Orlando Sentinel on Sept. 18th:
Disney is counting on the unexpected nature of the prize giveaways to provide as much excitement as the actual wins. The rule is anyone, any time, anywhere within Disney properties, said Ken Potrock, Walt Disney Parks and Resorts senior vice president of global alliance marketing.
"Completely random. Completely unbiased. Completely luck of the draw," Potrock said. "What we created was a mathematical model, a randomizer, that will select the different dream giveaways each and every day.
"It gets into detail like, it'll be the fourth person to walk through the exit of Rock 'n' Roller Coaster at 3:01 p.m.," he said, describing a hypothetical selection. "And we've even gone so far as to say, if two people are walking through the doorway at the same time, it's the person on the left."
Winners will be split between those visitors who show up on Disney properties, and those who send in postcard entries.
To avoid spontaneous scenes of envy and disappointment among nearby people, major prizewinners won't be told what they won on the spot.
"We're not going to announce that in front of hundreds of other people who were so close," Potrock said. "We're going to celebrate later in the day by putting those people in as grand marshals in the parades."
I was surprised to see the mail entries being figured prominently. Hmmm...good luck to those of you who have threaded about entering by mail!
And hopefully this will make folks feel better about the "prize envy" everyone's been concerned about.
Disney is counting on the unexpected nature of the prize giveaways to provide as much excitement as the actual wins. The rule is anyone, any time, anywhere within Disney properties, said Ken Potrock, Walt Disney Parks and Resorts senior vice president of global alliance marketing.
"Completely random. Completely unbiased. Completely luck of the draw," Potrock said. "What we created was a mathematical model, a randomizer, that will select the different dream giveaways each and every day.
"It gets into detail like, it'll be the fourth person to walk through the exit of Rock 'n' Roller Coaster at 3:01 p.m.," he said, describing a hypothetical selection. "And we've even gone so far as to say, if two people are walking through the doorway at the same time, it's the person on the left."
Winners will be split between those visitors who show up on Disney properties, and those who send in postcard entries.
To avoid spontaneous scenes of envy and disappointment among nearby people, major prizewinners won't be told what they won on the spot.
"We're not going to announce that in front of hundreds of other people who were so close," Potrock said. "We're going to celebrate later in the day by putting those people in as grand marshals in the parades."
I was surprised to see the mail entries being figured prominently. Hmmm...good luck to those of you who have threaded about entering by mail!
And hopefully this will make folks feel better about the "prize envy" everyone's been concerned about.
. But I am a bit underwhelmed at the whole YOMD hoopla 
. When the prize list was released recently it hardly looked like a million dreams; it looked more like a million little pieces. The prizes are hardly what I would call a big deal. Will I be happy to get a pin or mouse ears or a churro? Absotootly! Is it a dream? Hardly.
. I thought part of the promotions was to promote a celebratory atmosphere in the parks. I was looking forward to seeing someone win something. Oh well... maybe it will play out better than it sounds.
