so sad, almost picked to stay in the castle...

[2minny]

We were standing at the gate waiting for the rope drop, when I heard a cast member asking the family behind me "is this your first visit to a park this trip?" The family said "no" and she politely moved to me and tapped me on the shoulder....I KNEW she wanted someone to answer "yes" to her question, that's how she would pick the family to stay in the castle....my mind was racing...should I lie????/ I turned around and she says "hi, is this your first park to visit on this trip?" I stood there for a moment, knowing I could lie and be chosen, but I couldn't do it. I said "no, we went to AK yesterday." She said "ok, thanks" and turned to the family next to me. She then asked them the same question and they said "yes, first visit to a park" she wisked them to the other side of the ropes and into the park. A bit later she came back out and announced her YOAMD family had been chosen for the day, I was depressed all day (okay, not all day, it's hard to be depressed at WDW, but I was mad that i couldn't lie...I guess they needed the magic more than we did)

 

[angwill]

Are you sure they won the castle stay? It is my understanding that the castle winners are picked at a certain place (on a ride) at a certain time and in a certain position (seat). The way you described is the way they usually pick the family of the day although I never head them ask if it was the first park. They get to ride a ride of their choice by themselves as the first on the ride and usually get a ride photo etc. Maybe you didn't actually lose out on a castle stay so no need to be sad.

 

[2minny]

Unfortunately, I'm pretty sure they won the castle night....she asked until someone answered "correctly" then she swept them away. A bit later an Official looking man came to the ropes and said "we love making dreams come true", then he and the same lady were discussing the family and that they are in the process of making arrangements to move to the castle. My family tried to convince me otherwise, saying "maybe they just got an all-day fast pass or get to ride the first ride or are in the parade" but then we heard the two of them talking....wah

 

[klj27]

I agree with the other poster. I think that was a little too subjective for the castle winners. I think it has to be a very exact science and there is not a wiggle room given to the dream team members. I bet they were the family of the day. Did they throw the pixie dust to open the park or maybe they were the grand marshalls of the family fun parade.

 

[madge]

Unfortunately, I'm pretty sure they won the castle night....she asked until someone answered "correctly" then she swept them away. A bit later an Official looking man came to the ropes and said "we love making dreams come true", then he and the same lady were discussing the family and that they are in the process of making arrangements to move to the castle. My family tried to convince me otherwise, saying "maybe they just got an all-day fast pass or get to ride the first ride or are in the parade" but then we heard the two of them talking....wah

answered correctly?

Are the dreams targetted so specifically that some are given to only first-time guests or those that get the answer right? I've not gotten that impression ... but I could be wrong.

 

[NikkiLovesWDW!]

No way. I really think the other posters are right. You don't have to fit a certain criteria or answer a question correctly to get picked. From what I've heard, they pick the spot in advance, i.e. the 12th person to walk out of Buzz Lightyear at a certain time. I certainly don't think they walk around trying to find the "right" person, that wouldn't be fair. And besides, I heard that they show the family a video right there on the spot. You would have seen that.

 

[Vemnox]

We were standing at the gate waiting for the rope drop, when I heard a cast member asking the family behind me "is this your first visit to a park this trip?" The family said "no" and she politely moved to me and tapped me on the shoulder....I KNEW she wanted someone to answer "yes" to her question, that's how she would pick the family to stay in the castle....my mind was racing...should I lie????/ I turned around and she says "hi, is this your first park to visit on this trip?" I stood there for a moment, knowing I could lie and be chosen, but I couldn't do it. I said "no, we went to AK yesterday." She said "ok, thanks" and turned to the family next to me. She then asked them the same question and they said "yes, first visit to a park" she wisked them to the other side of the ropes and into the park. A bit later she came back out and announced her YOAMD family had been chosen for the day, I was depressed all day (okay, not all day, it's hard to be depressed at WDW, but I was mad that i couldn't lie...I guess they needed the magic more than we did)

You didn't miss the castle stay ! What you missed was being chosen as the family of the day for the park (basically they just get to 'open' the park and get a Fastpass at an attraction).
None of the Disney Dreams Giveaway prizes are determined by an individual person. A computer software randomly determines a place, time, and prize each day and for each awarding. An example would be: "Magic Kingdom, Peter Pan, Vehicle 12, Seat 2, @ 10:22 AM". The next person to come around sitting in that seat at 10:22 AM or later will be the winner. They would never hand out any Disney Dreams Giveaway prizes at rope drop - that was just a magic moment as part of the YOMD.

 

[pdmeroc]

I don't think they won the castle. We were lucky enough to win the Castle and the rules were read to us so we would understand. It is not subjective at all. My daughter was the first person to drink out of the lower drinking fountain at a certain spot in Downtwon Disney (I'm not sure what that spot was referred to by Disney Dream Squad Members) after 12:05, but before 12:25. As soon as we won, they showed us a video (away from the general public in a Guest Services Lounge). We were then whisked immediately back to our hotel to transfer an overnight bag to the castle. The Dream Squad went expalined the process and it is in no way subjective like what was described above. You only missed out on being family of the day

 

[DISNEYRIFFIC]

In Jan 07 a CM asked my daughter if she had seen Cinderella at all this trip. We had done 1900 Park Fare so she said yes. The CM then turned to the girl next to us, and she said no. She then was told ( loud enough for us to hear clearly ) that she'd just won a private dinner with Cinderella and Prince Charming. Ugh... I am with you on not lying, that would be a horrible lesson for the kids. But boy, it sure would have been AWESOME to have been at that dinner.

 

[2minny]

Vemnox can you be more rude?????
Disneyriffic, it is tough to be honest when you see someone next to you win...especially knowing you had the opportunity to be a winner. But you're right, honesty is always best, trying to be an example to the kids

 

[madge]

Vemnox can you be more rude?????

did I miss something?

 

[erikaluvsdisney]

Either way...its a bummer to have come so close to winning something unique and special. If it were me, I probably would've told the truth, but said PLEASE pick me, I want to be a dream winner!!!

 

[grannyminnie]

did I miss something?

Or I?? Exactly where was the rudeness in that post??

 

[Vemnox]

Vemnox can you be more rude?????)

What are you talking about? Please copy and paste where I was rude.

 

[DreamDelta]

I think maybe 2minny was referring to you laughing about the OP thinking she had missed the Castle stay opportunity. Remember the smiley rolling around in your 1st sentence? Maybe that's what she meant.

I don't think you were being rude...

 

[Vemnox]

I did find it a mite humorous the OP immediately drew to a very specific conclusion about all this without no evidence and a slight lack of being informed. My full intention was simply to make the OP feel better and not get all depressed over something that didn't even happen.

 

[DreamDelta]

I did find it a mite humorous the OP immediately drew to a very specific conclusion about all this without no evidence and a slight lack of being informed. My full intention was simply to make the OP feel better and not get all depressed over something that didn't even happen.

I gotcha!

 

[sandybobandy]

I didn't see any rudeness either!

To the OP-I'm so sorry you didn't get the dream, but what a GREAT lesson you showed your kids not to lie to get what you want. (I know, I know-a lie to be Family of the Day might have been worth it, but still.) lol

Sandy

 

[theduck619]

Of all the castle winners who have posted anything, all came from a ride.

 

[Disbug]

We were also asked at rope drop if this was the first park we had been to on our trip. We happened to have left our house at 5 AM, dropped off our luggage at our resort, and drove straight to the MK. When we answered "YES", we were taken to Guest Relations and given a survey for 10-15 minutes! So, sometimes it's NOT what you think....

But we did get to walk down Mainstreet ahead of the crowd. THAT was cool!