Year of a million dreams

[Mouse House Mama]

I was wondering id anyone knew more about this? I enter the sweepstakes for the trip WDW is giving away but is that how they will be giving the other dreams away too? (sleeping at the castle, golden fastpass etc.) Do CM's just walk up to you in the park? Help!!! I need to know!!!

 

[bicker]

That's the word. The only other info I've read indicates that the CMs won't be choosing who gets the dreams; that'll be done through an automated system.

 

[Jamie77]

I can't enter for some reason. Every time I click on "Enter sweepstakes" it goes to some policy thingy and there is nothing on the page indicating that I've been entered into the contest. How do you get around this?

 

[JRawkSteady]

This is a very unfair celebration... usually Disney chooses celebrations that everyone can participate in.. However, in this case, anyone who works for any sub-division of the Disney company (which is about 35% of the world) is completely shut out. I work for Disney Theatrical in NYC - and my family will never be able to participate in this celebration. I have a couple friends who work at ABC, and their family is also completely thrown aside. I believe this is really unfair. I don't work in or around WDW and I am not privy to any secret information. The sick thing is: people with friends in the parks, who actually have access to inside information CAN participate as long as they themselves do not work for any division of the company. After the Marathon, I think I'll be cancelling this years full length vacation...

 

[SnwflkCts]

Well, the chances of many of the remaining 65% of the world that don't work for Disney winning much of anything are slim. If they NEVER had a contest ... it wouldn't keep ME from being at WDW.

I haven't won the lottery either ... and yet I still shop at the Quickie-Mart.

Well life is just sooooo UNFAIR!!

 

[mickey&minnie4ever]

We are Disney Fans and we are just HAPPY that we go to WDW a couple of times a year. It was magical, is magical and will always be magical to us. Just being able to go should be a one of those MILLION DREAMS come true to anyone who goes.
Just our opinion though!!!!

 

[CheapMom]

I hope I get to see someone get a dream on our trip.
BTW- It is not just at the parks- it is anywhere on Disney property- resorts, restaurants...

 

[4chitlins]

Cool we can't wait to get there and keep our fingers crossed. Ya never know

 

[marconat]

I hope to win something, but I don't hold my breath ha! I'm just happy in going and enjoy myself for 2 weeks.... yipppy!!!

 

[mking624]

This is a very unfair celebration... usually Disney chooses celebrations that everyone can participate in.. However, in this case, anyone who works for any sub-division of the Disney company (which is about 35% of the world) is completely shut out. I work for Disney Theatrical in NYC - and my family will never be able to participate in this celebration. I have a couple friends who work at ABC, and their family is also completely thrown aside. I believe this is really unfair. I don't work in or around WDW and I am not privy to any secret information. The sick thing is: people with friends in the parks, who actually have access to inside information CAN participate as long as they themselves do not work for any division of the company. After the Marathon, I think I'll be cancelling this years full length vacation...

I don't understand why this is unfair to you? Disney has never let employees of TWDC or its subdivision company employees be eligible for the sweepstakes. In fact, it's completely fair they don't allow them to be a part of it so that they don't get some sort of advantage (even if there wasn't an advantage...the public would go nuts believing everything was rigged). Look at policies for ANY sweepstakes and you'll always see fine print where that's the case...Disney is not exclusive on this. And while this may be a "celebration" it's ultimately a sweepstakes...because people can win prizes and by simply vacationing, they are entering the sweepstakes. So you're going to cancel your vacation because they don't want the sweepstakes to seem rigged? Wow...that's worth it....

 

[princess22]

I can see where JRawkSteady is coming from, so there is no reason to attack him/her. Disney is such a big company and it covers so much that someone who you might not think works for Disney, really does. I wanted to apply to go on the Amazing Race and I couldn't because I worked for Disney (and that's not even a show you would think would be related to Disney but is). I think when you are employeed by Disney somehow, it sometimes feel like you can't do anything (from playing Millionaire to applying for the Amazing Race), almost like you are being punished.

With all that said, JRawkSteady, please don't cancel your vacation to Disney. I'm sure you will still have an awesome time if you go, and I'm sure there will be Magic while you are there. Disney is a place of wishes and fantasy, and I'm sure that you will encounter it, even as an employee!

 

[bicker]

It is, however, standard practice, and indeed a reasonable expectation that a company will exclude its own people from the sweepstakes it runs.

 

[Dizzy4Dizney]

I think it's unfair that just because I don't work for Disney or any of it's subsidaries, I don't get any of the benifits such as free park passes, discounts, or other benefits. I think I'm being discriminated against!

Seriously, IMHO, I think Disney is very generous with it's perks. I would gladly give up a chance to sleep in Cinderella's Castle for a night for free park passes.

 

[Hugpug]

It does not matter as I never win anything much anyhow. I am just so Happy that I can afford to make the trip. It really is only in GOD'S hands anyhow. It is a dream come thru for me when ever I can make a trip and to be able to do it 2 years in a row is just awlsome. I had such a wonderful time last year I am so thankful I can do a repeat this year.

 

[tx2tn]

Getting back to the question about how these dreams will be distributed...I am wondering that too. Will all of the Wishes be given based on the sweepstakes entry alone? Will a portion be given "onsite"?

 

[CheapMom]

Will a portion be given "onsite"?

They will definately be awarding dreams onsite- the sweepstakes is only for a certain prize- One thing they said is that it is completely random and you may be approached by a CM anywhere on Disney property and granted a dream.

 

[mking624]

I can see where JRawkSteady is coming from, so there is no reason to attack him/her. Disney is such a big company and it covers so much that someone who you might not think works for Disney, really does. I wanted to apply to go on the Amazing Race and I couldn't because I worked for Disney (and that's not even a show you would think would be related to Disney but is). I think when you are employeed by Disney somehow, it sometimes feel like you can't do anything (from playing Millionaire to applying for the Amazing Race), almost like you are being punished.

With all that said, JRawkSteady, please don't cancel your vacation to Disney. I'm sure you will still have an awesome time if you go, and I'm sure there will be Magic while you are there. Disney is a place of wishes and fantasy, and I'm sure that you will encounter it, even as an employee!

No one is attacking, simply pointing out reality. And I can't quite agree that it's almost like being punished. This is standard practice for ANY company that runs a contest/sweepstakes. When you work for a company, chances are near 100% that you won't be able to participate in anything they have going for the general public. And I know all about what you can and can't enter or play when it comes to Disney...I used to work for The Disney Store. In fact simply because I USED to be a CM for TDS already disqualifies me from being eligible for disneyshopping.com's Best Guest thing they have going on. I don't even work for the company any more and I still can't be a part of that stuff. I can participate in some other things now that I previously couldn't, but not all just because I have the status of "former CM." Life is too short to get all up in arms about something like this...is it really worth getting angry about and yelling how unfair it is?

I think it's unfair that just because I don't work for Disney or any of it's subsidaries, I don't get any of the benifits such as free park passes, discounts, or other benefits. I think I'm being discriminated against!

My thoughts exactly. Disney employees have many perks the general public never sees...and yet it's somehow unfair that Disney is offering the general public something...


Anyway, back to the topic...I, too, am interested in seeing how this will all play out with giving out these dreams. We won't be attending while the whole thing runs, but it would have been neat to see peoples faces as their approached or however it'll be done.

 

[BlindTyldak]

This is a very unfair celebration... usually Disney chooses celebrations that everyone can participate in.. However, in this case, anyone who works for any sub-division of the Disney company (which is about 35% of the world) is completely shut out. I work for Disney Theatrical in NYC - and my family will never be able to participate in this celebration. I have a couple friends who work at ABC, and their family is also completely thrown aside. I believe this is really unfair. I don't work in or around WDW and I am not privy to any secret information. The sick thing is: people with friends in the parks, who actually have access to inside information CAN participate as long as they themselves do not work for any division of the company. After the Marathon, I think I'll be cancelling this years full length vacation...

Quite frankly, thems the breaks. Disney runs all sorts of promotions and contests, whether its through its record labels, TV shows, broadcasting, parks, movies, and you can't enter any of them. That's not Disney's fault, that a mix of legalities and the promotion insurers' policies. But last I heard they are not locking the gates at the parks to Disney employees, nor are they ensuring anyone wins anything on their trip. If a regular guest didn't get to sleep in the castle during their vacation, did Disney make them unable to participate in the celebration as well?

If you want to take park in a company's promotions, don't work for them. it's that simple. Every year I miss out on a chance for three new cars, a Harley, an ATV, several vacations, and heavens knows what else because of where I work - 80% of promotions in town are in some way linked to my job - , but that's part of the job, just like not being able to participate in Disney-sponsored contests is part of yours. Go to the park, enjoy the other new things going in that year, see any special shows, and you've still got your normal chance at pixie dust like you did this year.

 

[coffman6]

I just started to read this thread ...can somene explain this Year of a million dreams to me??? we are going in July will it be going on then??? should I have the children practice what to say if a CM approaches them?? Really can someone do a quick explanation?? I too am in the 65% that could win

 

[mking624]

I just started to read this thread ...can somene explain this Year of a million dreams to me??? we are going in July will it be going on then??? should I have the children practice what to say if a CM approaches them?? Really can someone do a quick explanation?? I too am in the 65% that could win

The celebration begins in October. Disney will be doing random prizes ranging from big (a night's stay in Cinderella Castle or a golden fastpass) to small (we're not quite sure what "small" entails). No one is quite sure how these dreams will be given out...if they're approached, or if it's an automated thing or what.

ETA: check out mydisneyparks.com...they talk about the celebration there.