We stayed in Cinderella's Castle

[cabanafrau]

Congratulations & a very big thank you! I'm so excited that I won my dream, even though we won't be there to win the Disney dreams this year.

You are exactly what I was hoping for when I started wishing for a DISer to win. So glad you appreciated it so much & were beyond generous to share so much with the rest of us.

 

[gogriz]

I've got a question!!

What was it like when you entered the Castle to go to your room? Was there any kind of ceremony? Who walked you up? What time was it when you first entered the room?

How did they bring your luggage up to your room?

Any goodies waiting for you besides the chocolate slipper and truffles?

Thanks so much!

Thanks so much!
Nate and Jim, our Dream Squad guys you see in one of the photos, took us to the door that is across from the mosaics in the archway. Because a show was going on in front of the castle, the wall was pulled across and they had to peek around it to be sure we wouldn't see anything we weren't suppose to. Once inside the door we were met by Jennifer who was our official caretaker and the person who showed us the room. The entry way had a desk, a grandfather clock that never strikes 12, and a huge fresh flower arrangement. This is where we caught the elevator up to the famous foyer. The foyer is where the glass slipper, tiara, and glass pumpkins are in a case along with the very ornate carriage mosaic floor. We let our little one try to use her card (we were each given a key card, with our names and date, that says Cinderella's Castle Suite) but mostly I helped her. This was probably about 4:00 or so. Jennifer explained how everything worked and where everything was. The fridge was stocked with bottled water and soda, but had a sign that milk and chocolate milk was available. There was a beautifully arranged bowl of perfectly ripe fruit. Our luggage was already in the room put away in one of the closets. We put it in the back of the gold Suburban that picked us up at the Grand Floridian and they took it from there. When our stay was over they returned it to the Floridian for us and we picked it up with our car.

 

[gogriz]

Today is my son's 9th birthday and we leave next Tuesday for WDW. What a dream come true for your family. We were there in December and saw a family just behind us win a trip. Yes, I am jealous. But my prize will come some day. The suite would be sweet.
Congrats to you.

Happy birtday to your son! What a great age to be going. Time flies doesn't it when it comes to our children.

 

[gogriz]

Gogriz,
I want to say Thanks for sharing your story and thanks for taking the time to tell us all the 'details'. Your night at the castle sounds simply magical. What a wonderful experience to share with your girls. What a wonderful memory.

How did your DD's friends react when she told them about your experience....especially the 14 yo. I can imagine that they were like...WOW!!!
I bet your family are Disney fans for life now.

We had our first trip in 2005 and we can home feeling like we had experienced a most magical and family bonding vacation ever. I can only imagine how you all must feel. Had you been to WDW before?

Could you answer a couple more questions for me?
Where is the VIP viewing area...for the parade and fireworks? What type of goodies did they have stocked in your suite/fridge?

Thanks again. BTW, your pictures are great. Can't wait to see your PhotoPass ones.

My older daughter had trouble getting any of her friends on the phone at first because they were all in school. She did finally get through and they were blown away. She told her homeroom about it and I know she enjoyed that. I don't know if my younger daughter told anyone in her class. She was just excited that it was pizza day at school. She kind of lives in the moment and wasn't even phased by all the royal treatment. CMs had been calling her princess for days before she officially became one.

It would be impossible to not love Disney. We went back in 1999 but only had a few days. We only spent one day at the Magic Kingdom and never felt like we had enough time. We decided to make all 6 days Disney this time after watching the vacation planning DVD and seeing how affordable it becomes when you buy multiple days. We were loving our vacation before this happened. My older daughter is always amazed to see me act silly because I am ordinarily reserved.

We watched the 3:00 parade in front of the firehall on Main Street where the parade ends. The evening fireworks went off while we were at CRT having dinner so we only glimpsed them through the windows. We watched the P&P party fireworks from the Adventureland side of the circle in front of the castle next to the path that leads to Adventureland. For the parade, we sat in a roped off area with benches on the circle side of the bridge that leads to Frontierland.

Our suite had fresh fruit, bottled water, and Coke products.

I ordered our photopass CD last night so as soon as it arrives we will post some of those pictures.

Thanks for all the nice comments!

 

[gogriz]

Congratulations & a very big thank you! I'm so excited that I won my dream, even though we won't be there to win the Disney dreams this year.

You are exactly what I was hoping for when I started wishing for a DISer to win. So glad you appreciated it so much & were beyond generous to share so much with the rest of us.

I am touched that you think we are worthy. I jokingly told my husband we won because we are good people--we recycle. But it is so random that we are still in shock. People who didn't understand how it works kept asking us what we did to win. We are about as normal as it gets when it comes down to it.

I was very conscience of how people would perceive us after we won. It was hard in the afternoon after our stay in the castle. I was tired, our little one was tired. For about 24 hours I had a tiny sense of how famous people must feel since their every action is in the public eye. I wouldn't trade the experience for anything in the world, but I am happy to be the regular old "never noticed" me. We joke in my family about how no one ever remembers me. I could work for the CIA.

 

[Jennifer48]

I jokingly told my husband we won because we are good people--we recycle.

That MUST be it!

Congratulations and thank you so much for sharing your once in a lifetime experience with us!

 

[happyindisney]

WOW!!! Congratulations! It sounds and looks as thought it was an unbelievable experience. It's always nice to see nice people win such an amazing prize! Our family never wins anything, but we LOVE to see other people win!!!!!! Thanks so much for sharing your experience with us!

 

[klj27]

Thank you so much for continuing to check back and answer all the questions. I love hearing about your stay.

 

[Credit Man]

Congratulations. Thanks for sharing your experience.

 

[Pooh_Friend#1]

Awe man, my work blocked the website and I can't see the pictures Can anyone post some pictures so I can see? Pretty pretty please!!!

 

[bawsmom]

I am so excited for you.

i agree, you sound so down to earth and deserving of this special treatment!!

congrats to your family

 

[Ellester]

Thanks so much!
Nate and Jim, our Dream Squad guys you see in one of the photos, took us to the door that is across from the mosaics in the archway. Because a show was going on in front of the castle, the wall was pulled across and they had to peek around it to be sure we wouldn't see anything we weren't suppose to. Once inside the door we were met by Jennifer who was our official caretaker and the person who showed us the room. The entry way had a desk, a grandfather clock that never strikes 12, and a huge fresh flower arrangement. This is where we caught the elevator up to the famous foyer. The foyer is where the glass slipper, tiara, and glass pumpkins are in a case along with the very ornate carriage mosaic floor. We let our little one try to use her card (we were each given a key card, with our names and date, that says Cinderella's Castle Suite) but mostly I helped her. This was probably about 4:00 or so. Jennifer explained how everything worked and where everything was. The fridge was stocked with bottled water and soda, but had a sign that milk and chocolate milk was available. There was a beautifully arranged bowl of perfectly ripe fruit. Our luggage was already in the room put away in one of the closets. We put it in the back of the gold Suburban that picked us up at the Grand Floridian and they took it from there. When our stay was over they returned it to the Floridian for us and we picked it up with our car.

We met Nate when we were there! If you read my trip report, he's the guy who set up our private meeting with Cinderella. I thought I recognized him from your picture, but I know for sure because I remembered his name (and that he was from Pennsylvania). The dream squad has such an awesome job! Imagine being able to give gifts like that every day! Almost as good as winning them (well, maybe not, but the next best thing since they aren't eligible!). Thanks again for sharing!

 

[pfishgirl]

Sounds Awesome!!! Congrats and Thanks for Sharing !! LOVED the details.. almost made me feel Like I was there..

 

[SamIAm21]

Congratulations! I am so happy for you and your family. Your pictures were beautiful and can I ask, did you try on the crown or possibly the slipper? I think I would have...

Did you almost feel sorry for the CM who had to be on duty all night to take care of you?

 

[gogriz]

Congratulations! I am so happy for you and your family. Your pictures were beautiful and can I ask, did you try on the crown or possibly the slipper? I think I would have...

Did you almost feel sorry for the CM who had to be on duty all night to take care of you?

In hindsight, I realize that there was probably more security on the slipper and crown than in any other place in the Magic Kingdom. I don't think the request to try it on would have been honored.

I guess we figured the CM that was working was on a shift. Since they are giving this prize away every night I am sure they staff accordingly. We did not ask for anything so all they had to do was make sure we didn't escape.

 

[sharonW]

A friend just e-mailed me about her recent visit to disney, she told me about
seeing you by the firehouse on main st and asking you how you won your castle stay. Then I come over to the diz boards and here you are!!
All I can say is WOW, that is disney magic at its best. I am so glad you had such a wonderful disney experience and then came here to share! For sure you were sprinkled with oodles of pixie dust!! I hope the memory stays
with you and your family forever!

 

[eeyorelori]

I can not wait to see the cd pics ... I think i would of been in such shock i dont think i would of asked for anything in paticular either......

 

[triplefigs]

Thanks so much for staying with this thread and adding more and more wonderful details. What a magical experience. Can't wait to see the PhotoPass pictures.

 

[marc1477]

Sounds like you had a blast. Glad to hear you had a Great and Magical Time.

 

[shiregirl]

Our family of four (mom, dad and two daughters 4 & 14) won the stay in Cinderella's Castle on Monday February 5, 2007 while at the Magic Kingdom.

Wow!

Now that is the kind of thing dreams are made of!!! Thanks so much for posting this, it was a lovely read. I really enjoyed the stay at the castle, through your story.

This is making me really excited for my April trip with my husband to Disneyland. Even if we don't end up staying in the castle (are they offering that there?), just to be there will be so much fun.

Congratulations again!