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

[pansmermaidzlagoon]

I can't agree with the OP - (and have only skimmed through the responses). If this happened in front of me, I would be happy for those chosen and would say to my DD: "see this is what makes Disney so magical". Would we wish for a moment it was us? Sure - that is human nature. Would I be horribly disappointed or terribly jealous? No way. I would be happy for the lucky family and would be happy to be a witness to the Magic!!!!

edited to add: (not talking about OP specifically, but just in general) I find it very sad that people can't just be happy for others good fortune

 

[bluejasmine]

I hope something magical happens to YOU on your next trip.

I understand the 'envy' overpowering the 'joy' thing when something great happens to someone around you = in or out of disney =

Maybe the magic really needs to start with each of us individually? Be extra nice to everyone around you and the cast members too?

Who knows what this new thing is... or how it will work... but if we allow it to inspire us to help spread cheer and magic with each other...

uhmm... okay I am making myself puke with the marysunshine act...
heheh, but I get that way because I travel with a pack of Grumpy's.

Well Said! Its Karma what goes around comes around.. Pay it forward!

 

[traviesojmt]

I remember quite clearly, even now that many years have past, the head of my graduating class and the speech he gave during commencement. Entitlement was the theme. He wanted us to know and recognize that even though we lived in one of the most affulent areas of the state the world owed us nothing. In short, we were to work for everything that we wanted and that we should expect nothing. Nothing is a given and we are perhaps entitled to nothing in this world.

A lot of what he said can be carried over to this topic of discussion in my opinion. As much as it might make me look like a horse's behind, I am sorry to say that no one is entitled to anything in WDW. Sure WDW does a great job at trying to make every guest feel special and sprinkled with pixie dust, but the sad truth remains that you are one out thousands of people at WDW and are not entitled to anything beyond the vacation package you purchased.

So while I wish that everyone could be on recieving that special prize and having those great magical moments, I just do not see that happening. And the sooner people realize that they perhaps are not the most important person existing in WDW right this moment the sooner they will come to their own inner happiness.

Perhaps instead of this lengthy post I could haev just quoted Ms. Sheryl Crow. "It's not having want you want - it's wanting what you've got!"

Very nicely said.

 

[sticker231]

it is Magical enough for us to go to WDW and one of the three kids not have a meltdown. Anthing above that would be completely a dream vacation.

 

[huggiebear23]

Can someone tell me what this promotion is and how I can enter?

 

[beattyfamily]

Can someone tell me what this promotion is and how I can enter?

HERE is the website with the info on this new promotion.

There is also a thread about it on the Theme Parks Board HERE

 

[Piglet4Ever]

I agree with Trampslady's post. Also along the same lines, I have never been picked to open up the MK and doubt I ever will, but I still enjoy watching another family experience that magic and look forward to seeing it everytime I go the MK. I live vicariously through them and dream about how exciting it would be if my family could do that but I never feel dissapointed because it's not me. Enjoy the magical time you are having!!!!

 

[holcomb-mania]

Don't be this ! Be this !

But if I don't get one of those golden FastPasses, life won't be worth living. I bet it can even stop my hair loss.

 

[mill4023]

I feel so misunderstood. 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.

I'm not out looking for a "golden ticket" for myself, just questioning the promotion and hoping that tonight's press conference will show the celebration to be more inclusive and attainable for a broader group of people. I AM disappointed that it sounds like this is just a random giveaway and not something (a new ride, attraction, etc.) that people can count on to enhance their vacation (mine included ).

MsSpinShady

I understood what you meant and I completely agree. I have no problem at all with sweepstakes, special giveaways, etc. But I also don't think something like that, which only applies to a very small percentage of people, is something that is worth a "major announcement" and big press event. I'm hoping the announcement will include something that all of us Disney fans can get excited about.

Again, I don't think there's anything wrong with all the special things that only a few people get picked for. It's great that they do stuff like picking an opening family and inviting kids to dance during the Lion King. It's just not worthy of a major announcement.

 

[properlywarnedyebe]

Maybe I am confused, I saw the new site and sweepstakes this morning, and with the exception of the sweepstakes, I thought we will have to purchase the "new dreams". There is going to be a rumoured "Pirate and Princess" hard ticket event like MNSSHP and MVMCP which there will be a charge for. I thought that one will be able to book the Castle and purchase the golden Fastpass. I could be wrong, but I don't understand why everyone is thinking these are "free wishes" that CM's will be randomly giving out. I definatly think these Dreams are up for sale. I guess we will find out if I am wrong.
Alicia

 

[Sleeping Jedi Beauty]

It may be similar to a promotion that Disneyland ran in which every paying guest to enter the park won a prize. Most of the time the prize was just a free snack of some kind, but sometimes people won a free admission to Disneyland or comparable. Time will tell whether or not this will affect the average guest, and I don't think it will be pay for experience kind of deal.

 

[dmk1021]

I "get" where both sides are coming from on this...however, here's my final thoughs...

I agree more with the folks who are happy to see something magical happen to others. What comes to mind for me is seeing a young child and his/her family from Make-A-Wish or any other foundations that help sick children. I get teary when I see these families making magical memories, and when characters during Spectro come up to them or they get chosen to pull out the sword in Fantasyland.

I think if I saw a family "win" a stay in Cinderella castle, I would be so excited...then I'd wonder if they needed any help with laundry, cooking, itineraries, extra hand to carry bags, official photographer for family shots, official holder in line person, official grab the table person...

 

[patsal]

I guess I view it as something that if it happened it might be nice. Will it happen to me, maybe or maybe not. I think of it like making a little bit bigger deal out of some of the things that just happen. DD rang hte dinner bell at Trail's end one night and got a certificate--would it have been just as much funn to just ring the dinner bell, sure, but the certificate was just extra magic. When my Dad got to be the veteran of the day and lower the flag at MK--just extra magic, when others ride in the front of the monorail--just extra magic. It's not like all of the rest of us are left out, it just gives a bit more to someone for a minute or two. Would it be awesome to be the gazzillionth person to do something and have ballons and confetti, sure but the odds are against it. I like the idea of the CM's doing their jobs to spread magic to us all and then spreading just a little extra here and there as well. I get a warm fuzzy any time I see a bithday certificate, a little one reach a milestone like a first haircut, a first time being tall enough for a ride, etc. even if it isn't me at the center of it. I guess while it will signal some out it isn't taking anything away from the rest of us. Personally I am not lucky so I doubt anything extra will happen for me, but I will be thrilled to be able to tell others hey I saw when that happened.

 

[TinyLolitaBunny]

I don't agree. I think it looks like fun. Disney has hosted sweepstakes before.

AND whenever I see others getting extra magic or something extra on our trip, it makes me smile to see them getting it too, therefore I wont be jealous or anything. I think it's great.

 

[TinyLolitaBunny]

I thought that one will be able to book the Castle and purchase the golden Fastpass.

nope. you win it.


...could you imagine how much money theyd charge if they DID let you rent the castle for a night though?
and i think the whole point of the Disney FP system is that everyone can use it

 

[grinningghost]

I have to throw a rope out to the OP - they're drowning in backlash.

I don't think the OP is jealous or a stick in the mud. I "think" what they're saying is it would be nice if Disney would do a promotion where everyone could partake in it if they chose.

There will always be sweepstakes and contests and such that include WDW related prizes, and that's great too. It's just they made such a big hype about this announcement, that alot of people probably were excited that they were going to have a whole new fun promotion to get involved with - but now, that's not necessarily so.

Not ungrateful, just not what some people were expecting perhaps.

 

[Uuaww]

hey just be happy that you will get to go to disneyworld during this promotion, i still have a good 5-6 years until i will be able to go anywhere.

 

[Feralpeg]

Whatever it turns out to be, I just hope it isn't on the backs of the poor CMs to figure how to dish out. No matter what they do, someone will not like it. While the vast majority of guests are reasonable, there is still that percentage that are a royal pain to the CMs. If a CM makes a decision to sprinkle pixie dust on one child, the parents of another child will cry foul. Believe me, it already happens. While we all say that we would be happy seeing another family on the receiving end, there are those who don't feel the same way. Living so close to WDW and visiting Disney property on almost a daily basis, I see a lot of strange things. It never ceases to amaze me the things people do. Usually, it is a CM just trying to do their job that gets caught in the backlash.

My fingers are crossed that it doesn't involve the CMs.

 

[safetymom]

I agree. Most of the CM's are very hard working people that love making guests happy. I have seen too many "ugly" guests demanding things because they are at Disney.

 

[notnothin]

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.

Well stated, one of the best posts I've seen on the DIS.