I doubt flying time has anything to do with it. Americans coming from Honolulu fly more than 9 hours, and they must endure 1 layover at least. Germans flying from Frankfurt to Orlando have about the same flight time, 9 hours, nonstop.
We share a common language with Canadians, Australians, New Zealanders, even the Dutch (as I'm told that most Dutch speak English) yet there are no special ticket packages/prices for them, and they can't pay for Disney tickets in their own currency.
If you bought an annual pass, I don't know why you don't have the same discounts as Americans who have APs. Is there some special UK-only annual pass that I don't know about? I wouldn't be surprised.
Yes, I am a Florida resident, and I do live within an hour of WDW, but I chose to live here (and you can choose to do the same, through the proper channels) after having spent most of my life in New Jersey, 1,000 miles away.
I'm not sure why Brits should get any deals at all, considering other nationalities don't get them. In Disney's eyes what makes UK residents so special? Further, I believe (will have to check this) more Canadians come to Disney than UK residents. Where are the special deals for them? Canada is the US's greatest ally and trading partner, yet Disney makes them buy tickets in American dollars while allowing UK residents to buy tickets in pounds. Is that fair?
Lets get this straight. One competition (that only one family will win by the way) that we have is worth the free volunteer days, the other competitions Disney does that are Americans only? (and there have been a few, I promise you!)
Plus I didn't just mention shared language, but shared cultural aspirations. According to Pete on the show, just not that many Aussies are into Disney. Why would they waste advertising on a disinterested market, when the British one is buoyant? I have seen more advertising for both Disneyworld and
Disneyland Paris in the last few years than ever. Why? Because it's working! When I stood watching illuminations a few weeks ago, the family next to me on both sides, and behind were Brits. We flood the market, especially late August when your schools go back, but we are still on holiday.
I was also not saying that it was compensation for our flight time, I am not an idiot. I realise that people from other countries will have a longer flight time, but an average foreign holiday in the UK is at least 2 weeks. That's because we as a nation get more time off than America (approximately a month each year). Disney has realised Brits are a lucrative market, we can spend long holidays there, are more likely to stay on property due to fear of driving on the wrong side of the road, are used to having higher prices for food etc, due to our good exchange rate. Disney has obviously realised that their advertising money is working in the UK, and this is just another piece of advertising.
Plus we have to end up buying in American dollars too, unless you already buy a package deal through Disney (which we all know usually ends up more expensive). I am buying my hotel rooms through Dreams, meaning I don't get any perks if I want to shop around.
Also my annual pass is a normal one, bought at Downtown Disney the day I got to Florida. However the emails or letters everyone else seems to get sending them promotions, me nor my mother never seem to get, even though they have all our contact information. This I bought with American dollars, and with a DVC discount works out about the same as a 21 day ticket in the UK costs, not that the Disney promotional information would tell you that, I had to find that out on my own.
But you are right, I COULD move to Florida, just like YOU could move to the UK if you think we have such a sweet deal. But just like you, my life, my family, my boyfriend, my job prospects and my education are here, which makes it a TEENY bit difficult.
I am sorry that this ONE competition, which I am sure there are plenty of in the States, but this one has its own website which makes it oooooh so much nicer, makes you feel hard done by. But sometimes, life isn't fair. I could of been on this board having a rant about the fact I spend a considerable amount of my own time volunteering, but don't get a chance at a Disney park ticket like you do (or the Canadians do for that matter), but I recognise its something that isn't gonna happen, however much I belly ache!
) I think this is one of those the grass is always greener situations, there are always a lot of competitions that are for USA, Mexico and Canada, we can't get the DVC recommendation rewards, we can't get a Disney visa, the UK 
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