Underwhelmed by Year of a Million Dreams

[Pooh's Purple Pal]

What Unk explained is that each "Dream Team" has a timer that goes off randomly. They can only grant wishes when the timer goes off. He wouldn't tell me exactly how they select who receives them but he did mention that the recipients have to "be close by".

That makes a lot of sense since DH wondered why the DT folks didn't give us anything when they seemed so friendly and nice to us. Also, when we got the ears going into Golden Dreams, a bajillion people were already in line and people started coming back to the entrance to ask for ears and the DT member said they could only give them to people entering the ride, not the ones already inside. However, when some people left and came right back in, he was happy to give them ears! My guess is that the DT folks want to make you happy, but they have to follow the rules.

 

[Kelsie]

We went the first week of December and H and I saw a LOT of people with the ears and dream fast passes. It sucked because I was totally jealous because we didn't win a darn thing but I was still happy for the people who did actually win something.

We were there about the same time and I couldn't believe how many people received the ears and FastPass. I did notice most of them given out during 'Early Entry', Mickey's Toontown Morning and as people exited a ride. Most people I talked to said they did receive them as they left an attraction. I talked to a CM who said the best way to receive a 'Dream' is to act like you are having a great time! I was but they never approached us.

 

[subtchr]

we were at DLR Dec 21-24, and we received ears early one morning coming off of Matterhorn, and at DCA another day my daughter and I were given a choice...2 ice creams or 2 popcorns...when we were watching the High School Musical Pep Rally. We ended up giving three of the ears away to another family, since my teens didn't want them -- they were ecstatic!

 

[TinkerbellTris]

We were there in October for a week, and we never saw a single dream team member, not a one. We went at park open and were tearing the gates down to be the first in, then we went a 1/2 hour after open another day, we tried every scenerio, and never saw a one team member. We are going again March 7 - 12. I hope I see one. It would be great since we are on a surprise trip for my son's 8th b-day. Plus I want to prove to my DH that they do exsist.

 

[disney-super-mom]

We were there in October for a week, and we never saw a single dream team member, not a one.

Same here. We were there for six days in late October and NEVER saw any dream team castmembers.

During our trip, we only saw one couple with dream fastpasses. They said they received them while entering DL through the turnstiles that morning. They didn't even know about the Year of a Million Dreams promo when they won the dream fastpasses, so that was a nice surprise for them.

We never saw anyone wearing the YOMD ears.

We were totally underwhelmed as well. While we were there, you certainly wouldn't have known anything special was going on.

Well, hopefully while DH and I are at WDW in January we'll see more of the YOMD.

 

[Albort]

anyone with the old glow sticks are also part of the Million dreams... also ppl with flashlight looking thingys is also a giveaway too...

but just think of it this way... each day, they give away around 1,000 to 2,000 items away... this is out of the packed 55,000 people at DLR and 20,000 at DCA...

 

[Pooh's Purple Pal]

Albort, is it a consistent 1000-2000 prizes a day? The reason I ask is that we saw Dream Team people everyday in both parks and lots of winners. You couldn't miss them, they were everywhere. Did they increase the number of prizes given away this last week - is that why they were so visible?

 

[Albort]

Albort, is it a consistent 1000-2000 prizes a day? The reason I ask is that we saw Dream Team people everyday in both parks and lots of winners. You couldn't miss them, they were everywhere. Did they increase the number of prizes given away this last week - is that why they were so visible?

yea, its a consistent of 1000-2000 prizes a day...

heres a tip, they want to suprise someone... so dont bother following the Dream Team Sqaud, they wont give it to you...

 

[Classic Fool]

I was at DL from the 20th-23rd last week and honestly, I neither saw nor heard of anything of these things.

 

[JenDisneylandlver]

Well I hope they will be out in full force when we go in May.

Can someone tell me the deal with the fastpass? What's all the perks with it? Is it unlimited fastpasses all day?

 

[Albort]

Well I hope they will be out in full force when we go in May.

Can someone tell me the deal with the fastpass? What's all the perks with it? Is it unlimited fastpasses all day?

Nope, its a 1 time use per fastpass ride... which means you can only ride one ride once with your superfastpass. It has tabs to every fastpass rides and they take the tab when you go through the line.

 

[SplashMountainJunkie]

We were there 11/11-11/13 and saw and heard nothing of any Dreams fulfilled.

 

[Albort]

We were there 11/11-11/13 and saw and heard nothing of any Dreams fulfilled.

im sure you saw one at least... *cough cough* parade *cough cough*

 

[SplashMountainJunkie]

We did see Ryan Seacrest and a few teenie bopper singers for the WDW Christmas Parade. Wasn't a dream of mine, but it was a good thing. We got Seacreast on video trying to break dance. lol

But no whispers, casual conversation or anything about the Million promotion. Just my observation. We're usually on the rides, so maybe I missed it all?

 

[Albort]

Parade = Grand Marshall they are selected at random and then given front row seats... i heard stories on how they were able to interact with the parade... but i may be wrong.

 

[Shakthi]

Albort, darling, where have you been? We were at the park this past week and I ate churros every single day trying to find you to say hi.

 

[poconoboatniks]

We just got back yesterday and were lucky enough to have been made Honarary Citizens. The Dream Squad was pretty easy to spot once we knew what to look for. They come out of the big gates near where Nestle does the cookie thing. They are easy to spot because they have lanyards loaded with pins and carry messenger bags. We received fast passes for several rides and reserved viewing for Fantasmic the first time. We couldn't see Fantasmic because the kids and I got sick that evening. Later in the week we ran into the same Dream Squad member in DD. He spent an hour or so finding hidden Mickeys with us and then met up again with us on Main Street. He reserved Fantasmic again for us because he felt badly that we didn't get to go. He then asked what we were doing until 5:00 pm. We ended up touring with 2 squad members for the next 2 hours. They were our Dream Squad fast passes. The Dream Squad members were OUTSTANDING! Our kids cried after they had to say goodbye. We spoke with other Dream Squad members and had a good time swapping stories, but Daniel, Connie, Shannon, Pam and Lindsay could not have been nicer. We didn't get the fast pass lanyards or Grand Marshal, but we got to spend some time with some very nice cast members which was even better.

The kids received the Dream pins from several cast members throughout the park mostly because the kids were polite. The kids had a great time looking for someone to give their extra pin to. The recipients were so surprised when our kids rewarded them with the pin.

Pocono

PS If see Daniel, Connie, Pam, Lindsay or Shannon please tell them the Patterson Family says HI!

 

[Thumpersmom]

poconoboatniks-that is soooo cool!!!! We had the best time talking to the Dream Team members as well...it is wonderful how they are from many different divisions of cast members. I would love to have their job!

 

[Jestocost]

What Unk explained is that each "Dream Team" has a timer that goes off randomly. They can only grant wishes when the timer goes off. He wouldn't tell me exactly how they select who receives them but he did mention that the recipients have to "be close by".

We were just at WDW and had a nice conversation with an "off duty" Dream Team member about the YOAMD. I assume it works the same at DL. As he explained it, they are given very specific instructions about who will get the prize when the timer goes off. Their instructions will same something like, "family leaning on railing by Space Mountain," and that's who they award the prize to. If there's no one there, they can wait a set amount of time and then are to return for another assignment.

The teams are pretty easy to spot; khaki's, blue shirts, denim satchels and, if they're on duty, white vests. If you see someone without the vest, they're off duty. If you see someone with the vest lurking about, ask them what they're looking for. They just might tell you!

We didn't win anything on our trip either, but will be at DL in March to try again!

 

[Amy&Dan]

Thats too bad Disneyland isn't getting enough dream action! It always fries me when Walt's original takes a back seat. We just got back from WDW and my daughter got some ears for free but in sort of a weird way. I saw them on a cart at Epcot and tried to buy them, they didn't have a bar code so the employee ran into a store and was told just to give them to the guest. I didn't realize that there were ears available as prizes? I guess my dd got a prize but I don't think the cm even knew that was what it was about. We also got escorted to Rock n Rollercoaster as we entered MGM one afternoon so that was neat. They have a fun castle show and the parade is now a bit different. But it definitely seems to be a bigger deal at WDW. Maybe as the year wears on, Disneyland will see some more magic.