Not to be a stick in the mud, but...

[MsSpinShady]

...am I the only one not excited about the new promotion? How disappointing will it be for families who go to WDW for a week only to watch time and again as the family in line in front of them, or at the table next to them, gets a "dream come true" while they are seemingly passed over?

I was hoping the announcement would be something that could be enjoyed by a majority of those visiting WDW such as new rides, attractions or shows, free resort upgrades after 3 visits, or something else that would apply to a broad majority of visitors.

I just can't get excited about a sweepstakes with a bazillion-to-one chance of winning and a vacation spent looking over your shoulder "hoping" to get picked for something.

I've got my fingers crossed that maybe when the details are announced tonight there will be some more broad-based surprises. But please Disney VIP's, don't count that as my dream!

An ever hopeful MsSpinshady

ETA: I'm editing this to add something I posted later in this thread because it seems that a few posters have misunderstood my original post and are insinuating that I am jealous, selfish, or thoughtless of others (bad karma will come back to me? ) because I expressed my disappointment that this promotion seems to be random and not applicable to very many WDW guests (unlike, for instance, how an announcement of a new ride would benefit many visitors).

This thread was not about me feeling like it wasn't fair because I might not get something "extra" on my trip, and therefore, I must be jealous and angry when the Disney Magic is sprinkled on others.

I just thought that the whole promotion sounds like a marketing gimic that could really cause problems for Disney because it will raise the expectations of some people above and beyond what the actual promotion is intended to be.

My analogy of the family watching others get sprinkled was in no way a reflection of my family, or anyone else I know -- it was just an example of how advertising that you can (which will be read as will by many people) get a dream come true could cause a lot of people to leave Disney feeling like they'd been overlooked or misled.

 

[Grumpy's Wife]

Well said.

 

[Skylarr29]

I agree. Although it would be awesome to win something. we will be there in Sept for a week and we will be just shy of the start of it. I would still love to spend a night in the castle but I wouldn't get my hopes up at all. You know how some people are they will be disapointed and "counting" on this.

 

[trampslady]

I may get flamed, but I think you are being a little bit of a stick in the mud. Let's be honest, if it were your family being endowed with a bit of pixie dust, you'd be thrilled. And, quite frankly, my husband and I have shared many a smile when we've witnessed special things happen to families or children on our visits--not our family and we don't have children. Why does it always have to be "unfair" or "unjust" if something nice happens to one person and not another? What an opportunity to teach your children about how beautiful unexpected surprises can be!

I think this promotion truly enhances the magical mystique of Disney and the celebration of random acts of kindness that make the world a much better place to live in.

Simply put, Disney doesn't have to do any promotion or spend an extra dime on giveaways, and folks would still flock to the Disney Theme Parks.

Just my two cents.

 

[rayelias]

...am I the only one not excited about the new promotion? How disappointing will it be for families who go to WDW for a week only to watch time and again as the family in line in front of them, or at the table next to them, gets a "dream come true" while they are seemingly passed over?

You're a "glass half-full" type of person, aren't you?

 

[Tissa]

I may get flamed, but I think you are being a little bit of a stick in the mud. Let's be honest, if it were your family being endowed with a bit of pixie dust, you'd be thrilled. And, quite frankly, my husband and I have shared many a smile when we've witnessed special things happen to families or children on our visits--not our family and we don't have children. Why does it always have to be "unfair" or "unjust" if something nice happens to one person and not another? What an opportunity to teach your children about how beautiful unexpected surprises can be!

I think this promotion truly enhances the magical mystique of Disney and the celebration of random acts of kindness that make the world a much better place to live in.

Simply put, Disney doesn't have to do any promotion or spend an extra dime on giveaways, and folks would still flock to the Disney Theme Parks.

Just my two cents.

I agree! Plus nothing has been officially announced yet so can we wait until tonight to start showing our disapointment.

 

[Sammie]

This promotion will be no more disappointing to you, than the thousands of people that never get to go to Disney World at all, do you feel for them while you are there and their disappointment.

 

[Tissa]

double post

 

[chrissybear]

I agree with trampslady. I would love to see special things happen to anyone. I wouldn't count on anything special for my family, we just aren't that lucky. I would still get a warm fuzzy feeling just seeing some pixie dust fly, in anyone's direction.

 

[Zippa D Doodah]

I kinda get what the OP is tallking about. Me and my family are lucky enough to have been able to visit WDW multiple times (and we're going again ). I am certainly not disappointed with WDW in any way. We get what we pay for. However, I guess I am one of those people who never win anything or get any unexpected good stuff ("extra" magic at WDW, etc. The biggest thing I've ever won in life has been a free Pepsi on a bottlecap game. ETA... my tags! They are a nice surprise... how could I forget? ). Again, this is perfectly OK with me. But I suspect that unless something changes I will never receive any of the special stuff they are supposedly offering, even though we will probably vacation twice in WDW during that time period. I will be happy for those around me who receive the bonus stuff, but as for me.... big whoop. I just hope it doesn't make the queues longer.

 

[Sammy]

How is it any different from watching another family being picked to be "opening family of the day" or seeing someone else's child picked out of the crowd to dance with a character? Or any of the other hundreds of "pixie dust" things that may happen to one child/person/family but not to another in the course of a day?

 

[MsSpinShady]

You're a "glass half-full" type of person, aren't you?

Wow, before we go any further down this road, I would hope that people could just express their opinions without flaming me. This was just an initial reaction I had to this, I am actually hopeful that tonight's announcement will expand on what we've heard.

This promotion will be no more disappointing to you, than the thousands of people that never get to go to Disney World at all, do you feel for them while you are there and their disappointment.

This is my point, exactly. This promotion doesn't do anything like the free dining or MYW promotions do to help make a WDW trip a reality for more people - instead, it just raises the expectations for those going to a level that can't possibly be fulfilled for every visitor. Just look at how some people are so disappointed with their vacation when they don't get a towel animal. I don't think it's reasonable to expect that everyone will be excited just to see someone else winning the prize.

MsSpinShady

 

[sanibelover]

If this is a random "picking" kind of thing by CMs, I am afraid that people will start demanding even more of Disney. Like all of the people that expect to get something extra because it's their kid's birthday or it's their 4th anniversary or their Aunt Wanda got a wart removed from her nose. It used to be that if something magical happened then great, now people expect it. Just look at all of the special room requests. Give me a break. If there actually is a legit reason to request a room on the third floor, halfway down the hall, overlooking the castle, with a view of Epcot and MGM, as well as a free refrigerator and no noise from the elevators, really close to the restaurant and the pool and the front door, but far enough away so that I fell totally immersed in the magic, then I have yet to hear it. Of course I am being facetious, but this is becoming the norm. What happened to just requesting smoking or non-smoking and letting it go at that? I know Disney has a lot more business savvy than I do, but this sounds like it could be a pain in the you know what for many CMs who are trying hard to please. Let's hope that this isn't the way this promotion works, but if it is, I will still pay for the room I want, not book a value and hope to be upgraded for free to the Presidential Suite at the Grand Floridian. I certainly will look for the best deals that I can find, but I won't tell every single CM I see that junior is finally potty trained and wouldn't it be super if we could celebrate it with a free meal and balloons and, oh, while you're at it, a golden fastpass for me and the 19 people that are traveling with me to celebrate the joyous occassion.
I know I may sound bitter. I'm not at all. I love to go to Disney occasionally. I really enjoy seeing my kids faces light up at soemthing truly magical, but I don't feel entitled to special treatment, and I will order a birthday cake and balloons when one of my kids is celebrating their actual birthday in the World.

 

[DisneyGirl4188]

I understand what you are saying. I do agree that many people will be upset if nothing happens to them (think of all the people now that are upset when they don't get a towel animal or free upgrade), but I still think it's a neat idea.

Currently, Disney has surprises for many guests, from being the "family of the day" and opening a park, to a free dessert for a birthday or anniversary. These events (and there's more, but just too many to list) happen to few families each day. Do you get upset if it doesn't happen to you? If so, then you won't be happen with the new celebration. I DO think that with this promotion, specials things will happen to more families (maybe not as big as staying in the castle, but you get my point, I hope).

I am thrilled with a the new celebration. Will I get chosen for something special, probably not, but I am happy for those that will.

 

[TAKitty]

Just look at how some people are so disappointed with their vacation when they don't get a towel animal. I don't think it's reasonable to expect that everyone will be excited just to see someone else winning the prize.

MsSpinShady

How true! The towel animal debate has been a point of contention. I for one have never received a towel animal. When I read the new promotion I instantly thought, "it won't be me." Oh well .

 

[Sammy]

....Just look at all of the special room requests. Give me a break. If there actually is a legit reason to request a room on the third floor, halfway down the hall, overlooking the castle, with a view of Epcot and MGM, as well as a free refrigerator and no noise from the elevators, really close to the restaurant and the pool and the front door, but far enough away so that I fell totally immersed in the magic, then I have yet to hear it.....

...I certainly will look for the best deals that I can find, but I won't tell every single CM I see that junior is finally potty trained and wouldn't it be super if we could celebrate it with a free meal and balloons and, oh, while you're at it, a golden fastpass for me and the 19 people that are traveling with me to celebrate the joyous occassion.

TOO FUNNY!!!! (but soooo true!!)

 

[Sammie]

Anyone that truly lets Towel Animals make or break their vacation needs a good grip on reality.

My vacation is magical whether I get nothing more than I pay for, or am lucky enough to be the receipient of some unplanned magic.

My chances of winning any of this are as good as anyone else, and for me that will be enough.

If I happen to be there when someone else is hit with the Pixie Dust then I will be thrilled for them. After all I am at Disney World and many people never get to go and never will regardless of any type of promotion.

Quite possibly when I see the joy on the faces of those that win, I will be splashed by the magic too.

 

[cdpa4d]

I've got to believe there is more to this announcement than a slogan and a contest. I can't believe Disney would host a huge event in downtown New York to announce a new slogan for the next year and a contest a small percentage of people will win. My guess is there will be other announcements as well. If they don't have anything else to announce I think it's kind of waste to have people travel to New York for a media event.

Guess we'll have to wait and see....

 

[bluejasmine]

Maybe I look at things differently and honestly I am glad that I do.. I think the Make your Dreams Come True is fantastic! I understand where it could make someones kids feel left out or whatever but really thats just the way life is and everyone learns that eventually anyway..
Secondly, I think thats the wrong way to look at it, I look at it as I have just as much chance to win as anyone else, in fact I just entered. Also as far as towel animals and things like that I have been to WDW 9 times and I have NEVER had one and I would love to walk in one evening and see my kids laughing at one BUT my kids are to grateful to be in WDW to care about whether they get a towel animal made and really can we expect those poor maids to do it in every single room?
Life is what you make it.. I say live life happy and thankful for what you get or you'll waste life complaining on what you didnt have...JMHO..

 

[safetymom]

I think there hasn't been enough details released yet to be upset because it doesn't do something for everyone.

Personally I am thrilled when it is random pixie dust at WDW.

If you really want to go to Disney there are ways to make it happen. I know because I have done it as a widow with 3 kids. I didn't have a lot of money and we still have a very memorable time. Disney doesn't owe anybody anything but if it happens it is wonderful.