YOAMD - A good thing?

[cardaway]

So last night we see a Disney Parks commercial and my wife asks if Disneyland has the Year of a Million Disappointments contest as well (we are looking at going later this year).

Anybody else have the same reaction as my wife? In one case we saw a family that was in the same RnRC car as we were walk out of the gift shop having just been given those "Dream Pass" things. I guess we shouldn't have went to look at our picture.

We're not pessimists, or glass half-full type people, but not winning anything was hard to ignore by day six of a WDW trip given the number of winners you see around the parks.

So now we will give ourselves three more day in DL to either change things up or continue the real unlucky streak. Hard to pass up the really good 75th Anniv fares Alaska Airlines is selling right now.

 

[Cool-Beans]

I think it is a great thing and should continue after the promo. Why not give little things away...more magic!

But we've gotten zip out of it. Zip-a-dee-do-da. I keep hoping, though. I haven't seen anyone else get anything, either, but I'm not one of those people who notices what is going on around them.

Good luck!!

 

[PhotobearSam]

We were at WDW for 15 days and got nothing and did not even see anyone win anything and we would have noticed.

We saw some people with their SUPER fast passes but that was it.

We still had a great time except when the escalator to TTA ate my Croc and twisted my ankle. It sucked my Croc into the belt at the top and I had a very hard time getting loose. It ripped my Croc badly, my whole foot was swollen and all we got was a too bad, here is an ice pack and a wheelchair for your DH (who walks with a cane and just had knee replacement) can wheel you back to the entrance with.

It was a downer, we missed 2 days at the parks but it did not ruin our vacation but DH kept saying I guess we don't get a "Dream" but a nightmare...

 

[hiwaygal]

At least you all were able to go to the parks for a chance.

 

[Tybug]

I think it's a great thing they are doing. Even though I found Disney magical and special without it... it is a nice touch(from what I've read).

We'll be there for 10 days in June. Going into it with no expectations and haven't informed the rest of the family of what 'could' happen. I don't want any disappointments!

 

[DisneyGirl4188]

I don't think it's a bad thing. We were given two Fastpasses (not the Dream passes, but a regular pass) one morning at Epcot.

One family gave use their Dream Fastpasses as they were leaving Epcot.

I guess that gives me a different view. I think it's great Disney is giving away a little extra.

 

[cardaway]

The people who got the Dream Passes right in front of us were freaking out, hard to miss.

Most of the time we were just noticing the huge Dream Pass lanyards which are hard to miss once you know what they look like.

 

[Ciao Mickey]

So last night we see a Disney Parks commercial and my wife asks if Disneyland has the Year of a Million Disappointments contest as well (we are looking at going later this year).

Anybody else have the same reaction as my wife? In one case we saw a family that was in the same RnRC car as we were walk out of the gift shop having just been given those "Dream Pass" things. I guess we shouldn't have went to look at our picture.

We're not pessimists, or glass half-full type people, but not winning anything was hard to ignore by day six of a WDW trip given the number of winners you see around the parks.

So now we will give ourselves three more day in DL to either change things up or continue the real unlucky streak. Hard to pass up the really good 75th Anniv fares Alaska Airlines is selling right now.

We spent Christmas at WDW.

I would have thought that at least on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day they would be handing out something/anything. Nada. I didn't see anyone win anything the whole time we were there at any of the parks.

 

[CheshireVal]

I don't have a problem with it. It's all a matter of being in the right place at the right time. As long as people don't go to WDW *expecting* to win, there should be no disappointment.

But, speaking of bad YOAMD luck, when we were there back in December, my husband and I went to ride Expedition Everest at AK while my mom adn brother (chickens ) rode the safari. And they won dream fastpasses as they exited the ride!!

It kind of messed up our day together because they could walk right onto rides with their fastpasses, while DH and I couldn't.

Oh well. You gotta laugh.

 

[Nancy]

I just wonder how they choose? Is it really random or do they count people walking..stuff like we'll give a prize to the 10th person wearing blue.

I guess it's a nice little surprise but I wouldn't go expecting to get anything and I wouldn't tell my family about it (especially if the kids were really little). I never win anything so I wouldn't get anything during this either.

Of course I can't even go to WDW any time in the near or far future so why I am even thinking about it?

 

[cardaway]

But, speaking of bad YOAMD luck, when we were there back in December, my husband and I went to ride Expedition Everest at AK while my mom adn brother (chickens ) rode the safari. And they won dream fastpasses as they exited the ride!!

It kind of messed up our day together because they could walk right onto rides with their fastpasses, while DH and I couldn't.

Oh well. You gotta laugh.

That is much worse.

 

[Tazicket]

We went in December and did not officially win anything. We played trash basketball with the cleaning crew and got certificates (it was so much fun!!). And we got what I'm calling an Unofficial Dream at the Haunted Mansion. I was carrying a Hidden Mickey book and one of the HM castmembers saw it. He asked if we were looking for Mickeys and we told him we were. He pointed out 2 super hidden ones that we never would have noticed and Mr. Toad's grave in the pet cemetary. Then, he took us through the back entrance to the ride so we didn't have to wait in line. It was so awesome! We did see other people winning dreams (we were at the parks at opening time everyday) and it was cool to see them so happy.

I think it's a neat idea as long as you don't go in expecting anything. It really is totally random. Our little magical extras (while maybe not official dreams) really made our trip that much more special.

 

[DisneyMommyMichelle]

I think it's a wonderful promotion! and we didn't win a thing when we went! We're going again in MAy and we don't expect it. We even saw many people win and it didn't rain on our parade. I think it's amazing to see someone win! the look of surprise is priceless!!

 

[va32h]

Even before YOMD, there were some bits of extra magic that some guests got and some didn't.

On my daughter's sixth birthday, she got to ride Goofy's Barnstormer with Pooh. We were just standing in line, when Pooh showed up and hopped in her car.

On our last trip to DL, the young lady driving on the vehicles on Main St. took a liking to my son and let him sit next to her while we drove around Main St. twice. Then she gave all three of my kids special Main St. pins for their lanyards.

I'll never forget the time - must be eight years now - when my oldest daughter was just three...Chip and Dale had made a spontaneous appearance in Toontown, and she was waiting so patiently for a chance to go up to them, but bigger kids or their parents kept jumping in front of her. Well, the handlers came out to take Chip and Dale away, and Chip actually came back, picked a flower from a nearby bush, and fought his way through the crowd to come back to my daughter and give it to her with a hug.

We are going to DLR in August, and of course I'd be thrilled if we had a Dream experience, but even if we don't, I'm sure something magical will happen; it always does.

 

[cardaway]

We went in December and did not officially win anything. We played trash basketball with the cleaning crew and got certificates (it was so much fun!!). And we got what I'm calling an Unofficial Dream at the Haunted Mansion. I was carrying a Hidden Mickey book and one of the HM castmembers saw it. He asked if we were looking for Mickeys and we told him we were. He pointed out 2 super hidden ones that we never would have noticed and Mr. Toad's grave in the pet cemetary. Then, he took us through the back entrance to the ride so we didn't have to wait in line. It was so awesome! We did see other people winning dreams (we were at the parks at opening time everyday) and it was cool to see them so happy.

I think it's a neat idea as long as you don't go in expecting anything. It really is totally random. Our little magical extras (while maybe not official dreams) really made our trip that much more special.

That's the kind of stuff I think would be better to do without the fanfare of this YOAMD promotion.

We were in DL during the 50th and they were giving a car away every day. Getting the tickets for that was more like your typical contest and I think is the better way to go. Why not just give tickets out for the one big thing (Castle stay) and do the rest as unofficial stuff they always did in the past?

Anyway, I just thought it was funny that my wife thought of it as the Disapointment fest, and I laughed but had to agree. It's not like it's keeping us from going back.

 

[Soubrette]

Yeah...I have to admit, if I saw someone getting some perk because they were two spaces ahead in line, it would annoy me. Even if it is random, it creates a difference between the "haves" and the "have nots." I paid my price; I want to have equal access to park facilities.

Now if there is a reason for someone having perks, I'm all for it. Make a Wish kids...give them the best day they've ever had....I'll wait as long as it takes. People who serve in the military or on a police force...take my place in line. But dude in the red shirt who just walked in two spaces ahead of me...why is he getting the Super Fast Pass?

 

[Nancy]

Yeah...I have to admit, if I saw someone getting some perk because they were two spaces ahead in line, it would annoy me. Even if it is random, it creates a difference between the "haves" and the "have nots." I paid my price; I want to have equal access to park facilities.

Now if there is a reason for someone having perks, I'm all for it. Make a Wish kids...give them the best day they've ever had....I'll wait as long as it takes. People who serve in the military or on a police force...take my place in line. But dude in the red shirt who just walked in two spaces ahead of me...why is he getting the Super Fast Pass?

Especially if they were the kind that push and shove and pratically run over you to get ahead those 2 or 3 spots!

 

[wendy46001]

gee i didn’t think it was an issue you can only be disappointed if you expect something...and why would you?? Just like any contest there are winners...and just like the lottery most of us wont win …..also I dont see why people cant be happy for others ...we have seen lots of families win different stuff...we always smile and congratulate them...
I'd be down right shocked if i saw someone march up to a dream team member and demand free stuff...I was appalled at the person in the Rose n Crown who tried to join the family getting free tee shirts….

Also, it’s awarded by computer program....eg: the 25th train to leave Thunder Mt. gets fast passes...Grand Marshals are the 5th boat last seat of the jungle cruise.

 

[Steffi]

I don't love the YOAMD promo. It's like they're announcing with much fanfare what used to just be considered pixie dust. Before YOAMD, those little bits of pixie dust being sprinkled around the parks were heartwarming. Now that they've "gone public" with it, it seems like it's going to leave a lot of people feeling cheated.

I've never really had a cast member go out of their way to sprinkle pixie dust on my family (guess we're too small and boring) but we've been showered with pixie dust by fellow WDW guests. From the family that let us share their ressie at Cinderella's Royal Table on DD's birthday, to the kind strangers giving away their extra fastpasses, every trip to Disney has been filled with more than enough magic, official or not!

 

[MushyMushy]

I don't care for it as a promotion. I like the celebration types of themes better where everybody feels like part of the excitement.

It's certainly not going to color my experience when we go in June! I'll be happy there no matter what. I just don't care for the promotion in general.