We stayed in Cinderella's Castle

[Grumpy's Wife]

I am so glad I stumbled onto this Thread. Wow, all I can say is Wow! I can't even imagine how you felt when you actually realized just what you won. We were there for Thanksgiving and won a Dream Fastpass in the Animal Kingdom. I thought I was pretty special and I had a smile from ear to ear when the Dream Team presented them to us. All that for a fastpass. But to find out I was about to stay in the Castle...they would be picking me up off of the floor.

What an added bonus that a DISer won the first night's stay. Thank you so much for sharing your lovely story with us. You have truly made memories your family will cherish forever.

 

[Grumpy's Wife]

Sorry - double post.

 

[metsfan11]

WOW!

I am so happy for you and your family that you guys got to stay in the suite. You ended alot of speculation and guesses that people had around these boards.

I still have one question:

What backstage stuff did you see (if any)?

I know that you were backstage at the parade, but at anytime did you see things that normal guests don't see (besides the suite obviously)?

Also, was there ANY way to look out from the suite? I know it was guarded by stained glass, but could you see anything outside? Thanks a million!

 

[MelanieC]

This was such a cool thread - I really enjoyed reading. Thank you so VERY much for Sharing!

 

[tippy77]

Wow, that is absolutely amazing. I am absolutely thrilled for you and your girls. Thank you so much for sharing with us!

 

[gogriz]

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!

Nate was awesome. As incredible as the castle was, it was the CMs that made the whole experience what it was. Being on the Dream Squad is a very coveted job.

 

[gogriz]

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!

That is amazing. What a small "Disney" world it is. I hope she didn't think I was too abrupt. I only had a few minutes to run into the store and buy the Cinderella outfit for our daughter before the street was closed off. I was also still in an altered state from realizing I had just been in a parade at DISNEY WORLD .

 

[gogriz]

I am so glad I stumbled onto this Thread. Wow, all I can say is Wow! I can't even imagine how you felt when you actually realized just what you won. We were there for Thanksgiving and won a Dream Fastpass in the Animal Kingdom. I thought I was pretty special and I had a smile from ear to ear when the Dream Team presented them to us. All that for a fastpass. But to find out I was about to stay in the Castle...they would be picking me up off of the floor.

What an added bonus that a DISer won the first night's stay. Thank you so much for sharing your lovely story with us. You have truly made memories your family will cherish forever.

Sorry to disappoint you...we weren't the first family to win the castle stay. We were just the first family to win while at the Magic Kingdom. The other winners were all chosen at other locations...even one at Downtown Disney. I just wanted to clear that up. Sorry for the confusion.

 

[gogriz]

WOW!

I am so happy for you and your family that you guys got to stay in the suite. You ended alot of speculation and guesses that people had around these boards.

I still have one question:

What backstage stuff did you see (if any)?

I know that you were backstage at the parade, but at anytime did you see things that normal guests don't see (besides the suite obviously)?

Also, was there ANY way to look out from the suite? I know it was guarded by stained glass, but could you see anything outside? Thanks a million!

We didn't see any back stage stuff. While we waited for the parade to start we were behind the "line of sight" line. Not really backstage. I bet you could see the line from the train if you were looking for it just after you leave Frontierland heading toward Toontown. It is a yellow line painted on the road the parade comes from. From this location you cannot see anything even if the gates to the back are open.

We could see some from the castle. The amazing thing is that even from way up there, the view is as if we were in a real castle and all the buildings below looked like what they looked like from below. I think that since Walt Disney had originally planned for this location to be a suite from the beginning, he was conscious of what the view would eventually be. They let us stay in the castle but we were not invited into "the circle of trust." But hey, we all go too many places where we see too much of the inner workings. I like the fantasy!!

 

[DisneyWorld Delight]

Very Exciting. We were there 2/1 - 2/9 and didn't even see the Dream Squad. We did see some folks buzz past us on the Jungle Cruz with the fastpass.

Breakfast at 9. What does this mean? What and where did you have breakfast? Did you enjoy having dinner at the Castle? I am assuming all costs were covered? Did they tell you to order whatever you wanted...?

What did you do the next day?

Did you know about the Dream Squad and the possibility of winning a night in Cindy's Suite? (I prepped my family. )

 

[gogriz]

Very Exciting. We were there 2/1 - 2/9 and didn't even see the Dream Squad. We did see some folks buzz past us on the Jungle Cruz with the fastpass.

Breakfast at 9. What does this mean? What and where did you have breakfast? Did you enjoy having dinner at the Castle? I am assuming all costs were covered? Did they tell you to order whatever you wanted...?

What did you do the next day?

Did you know about the Dream Squad and the possibility of winning a night in Cindy's Suite? (I prepped my family. )

Breakfast was a buffet at the Crystal Palace at 9 and that was were we were back on our own. Dinner at Cinderella's Royal Table was a lot of fun. It is a limited menu from which you choose a starter, an entree and a dessert. There is a childrens menu also. Yes, they covered all the costs.

After breakfast we just did more of the Magic Kingdom. I never did manage to be at the right place at the right time to ride the river boat in Frontierland. Oh, well. We talked to a lot of CMs in the stores who asked us what we won when they saw my husband and daughter's buttons.

We were aware of the Dream Squad from the Disney website and about the castle suite from the DIS board. I had not seen pictures. My husband does all of our trip research. I make sure we all have clean socks and underware.

 

[Disney? Again?]

CONGRATULATIONS!

How awesome for your family and I am very happy to hear all the details! I liked hearing about the light changing color like the outside does. My DH and I have watched the lights on the Castle many, many times from around the Seven Seas Lagoon (yes, that is silly! ) and it would be so great to experience it from the inside. You may be as close as we get so thank you for sharing all these details!!!

 

[dwaddict]

AMAZING!! Congratulations!
That is soooo cool. I can just imagine your girls going back home and telling their friends about staying in THE CASTLE!!! Thanks for letting us all be a part of your Disney Magic!!!!!

 

[Coach81]

Grats! You are my FIRST OFFICIAL POST!!!!

Thanks for the report, only regret is.. no pictures???

But congrats on the magical day!!!

 

[gogriz]

Grats! You are my FIRST OFFICIAL POST!!!!

Thanks for the report, only regret is.. no pictures???

But congrats on the magical day!!!

There is a link to our pictures in my first post. When we receive our photo pass CD we will post some more.

 

[disneyaddicted]

Cinderellas castle and Captain Jack? Your DD lived my dream. I am so happy for your family. Thank you for sharing.

 

[gogriz]

Cinderellas castle and Captain Jack? Your DD lived my dream. I am so happy for your family. Thank you for sharing.

Even though it was a great bonding experience for my daughter and husband, I am jealous that I wasn't there to meet Captain Jack. Don't get me wrong...I loved riding the magic carpet ride eight times instead! But seriously I had a blast watching my 4 year old do the Royal Guard training in her princess dress. Those kids are a hoot to watch. They totally believe!! In fact we were the ones that had to run out of there because my daughter was terrified of Jafar!

 

[SamIAm21]

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.

Oh, yes, I should have realized that they would be "wired" somehow. Also, make sure you don't escape??? They'd have to make sure I'd leave in the morning!!

Won't it be cool though someday you'll go back to WDW and you can say, Hey, I slept up there!!

 

[mikelan6]

Congratulations on your win! Reading about it all was so exciting.

 

[sharlon]

Thank you for sharing your story and your pictures. I was in tears. Sooooo excited for you, and what a great way to start your trip! CONGRATULATIONS!