YOAMD a no show

[orljustin]

Read this post, and thought I'd follow up:
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1251989

We just got back from a 5 day stay - visits at all the parks, some park hopping, a little downtown Disney.

Regarding the giveaway part of the promotional campaign. There is no press given to this anywhere that I could find. Nothing in the parks, nothing in the rooms. No way anyone would really know anything was given away by anyone.

How many stickers does a person need? That's all we got from anyone. Stickers and more stickers. I guess they are cheap, but c'mon. The security guard at the hotel ripped off about half a roll when we came through the gate the first time. I think we pitched them in the room when we were cleaning up. My son hates stickers. I have to convince the CMs to leave him alone, since they keep wanting to push them on us.

Anyways... For all the posts about seeing people get this or that, we saw absolutely no one win anything of any kind or get any giveaway. Not just me, but all five of us. I did see two DS members hanging out by a stroller outside of Pooh at the MK, but we couldn't stick around to see if they were waiting to nab someone or just talking while parking.

For the most part, I just saw the occasional person walking through the park. Actually, only the MK, not any in any of the other parks.

And I only saw about 20 people with Dream Passes the whole stay. Actually, today, I saw a family of about 15 with them, so I guess that makes it 35 or so. Saw maybe 10-15 with Mickey ears.

We were sitting at the MNSSHP parade in Frontierland, when an apparent DS member came up and started talking to my daughter. I got all excited wondering what he was leading into, but apparently he was just greeting, because he just asked her to sign his autograph book, chatted for a couple of minutes and went on his way. Oh, he did come back with more stickers. Ouch.

So, a big zero in my eyes on the whole giveaway thing. Which isn't surprising, since they aren't really pushing it in the parks at all.

 

[Bunch24]

I totally agree.

I mean, I feel the same way about the lottery. I expect to win every week, but I never do.

If you went to WDW hoping to win a night in the Castle or a Dream Pass, you obviously went for the wrong reasons.

Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm going to go wait by my mailbox for that letter from Ed McMahon.

 

[MsTinkerChele]

WHATS WITH ALL THE NEGATIVITY...of course if u go anticipating on something ur NOT going to get it. Just be there to be there, its Disney the magic is already there. The best things happen when you least expect it. Dont be greedy, just appreciate.

 

[NewEnglandDisney]

I think it's great they aren't promoting the giveaways.

Why build up additional expectations? You are already in the happiest place on earth, if something EXTRA magical happens then great.

If not, you still had a wonderful vacation at WDW.

Everyone wins in that way.

NED

 

[marivaid]

Well, arent you just a ray of sunshine.

 

[i<3Disney]

Well, arent you just a ray of sunshine.

I mean seriously................they aren't going to tell any of the guests they have a chance to win something if the chances are small. Isn't it better if its a big surprise to the people who DO win?

 

[mickaholic4077]

I just think that for those of us who know about the promotion who go alot to the parks(like us Fla res AP'ers,)if we don't get anything,it would be disappointing.

 

[sjreed]

I just think that for those of us who know about the promotion who go alot to the parks(like us Fla res AP'ers,)if we don't get anything,it would be disappointing.

You're kidding, right????

 

[ppiew]

Why would anyone pay $70/person to try to 'win' a set of Mickey ears or a night in the castle? Man, you are already in the best place in the world - enjoy it! There is enough greed going on everywhere else.

My theory is to do something 'magical' for someone else. Every time we are in the parks, I get fast passes to something, and as we always leave early it is any easy thing to do and costs nothing. I then give them away to someone walking down the street. They are so pleased and grateful. Me - I am thrilled to be sharing the magic with others. Play it forward - you will enjoy life more.

 

[HumphreytheBear]

I just think that for those of us who know about the promotion who go alot to the parks(like us Fla res AP'ers,)if we don't get anything,it would be disappointing.

Agreed it would be disappointing, but as mentioned not winning the lottery is really disappointing too...

Let's keep this in perspective, as they have stated in the offical rules, they are anticipating issuing about 1,551 prizes a day across the WDW property. If MK alone has 50,000 people in the park only about 300-500 of them are going to win something.

You can't go in expecting to win something, if it happens then great, if not you had a great day at Disney. You said you saw people that had prizes but never saw anyone win, perhaps they were giving the prizes out in areas that we more secluded... For example, we saw people win the Dream ears yesterday at Space Mountain, but only the 6 people in my car would have seen it because they issued them to the car ahead of us at the unload. Great for them, it is exciting, but it did not ruin my day in the park.

 

[KimWDW]

It's good that they aren't promoting it, because if they promoted it all these people who should be just enjoying their Disney vacation would be whining like crybabies because they didn't win a free popcorn or something.

Oh wait, that's already happening.

It's a sweepstakes. Not everyone wins. I can't believe that someone would go to DisneyWorld (happiest place on earth!) and come back complaining about this.

One word: waaaaaah.

There are millions of families who would love to go to DisneyWorld and "only receive stickers" but they can't afford to. Appreciate what you have.

 

[lovethattink]

Yesterday my son and his friend got a dream fast pass after they had their picture taken by a photopass photographer. Some of the tabs were missing, so I think it may have been a 2nd hand dream pass, but that was fine, they loved it!!

 

[Leota]

How bout a little cheese with your whine?

 

[mrsltg]

Oh For the Love of BOB!!!

Sorry the stickers disappointed you. My dd loves getting them - go figure.

 

[Shir Kahn]

Ugh, some people can't be happy with anything. I'd kill to be WDW right now and could care less if every single person around me won something.

 

[Alicnwondrln]

ill take the stickers

 

[Allison]

Ugh, some people can't be happy with anything. I'd kill to be WDW right now and could care less if every single person around me won something.

Considering the source-this kind of attitude is pretty consistent with other postings. I guess everyone has a right to their opinion but some seem to come from a very negative place. Oh well...

 

[*love*2*shop]

How bout a little cheese with your whine?

Now thats funny............. we will be happier then a pig in...well..you know..To Just be there...BUT hey to each his own!

 

[OhMari]

I do feel bad for you. I said way back this past spring when this was announced, there would be hard feelings with people that would expect something and than it don't happen.

We all frequent these boards, plus others and we know what is going on. We read about others that get something, and we have very high expectations when we go to WDW or the other parks in CA, etc. I will be going next April during one of the busiest seasons of the year. Do I expect something? it sure would be nice, but I know my chances are pretty slim.

My sisters, my kids, etc, are always teasing me for knowing way to much about WDW. They have absolutely no idea this promotion is going on, but I do, and I send in my post cards every day and I am wishing for the best next April. I have a lot of things planned in my itinerary that will make our stay great. If something extra happens, then it will be something extra.

 

[orljustin]

I totally agree.

I mean, I feel the same way about the lottery. I expect to win every week, but I never do.

If you went to WDW hoping to win a night in the Castle or a Dream Pass, you obviously went for the wrong reasons.

Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm going to go wait by my mailbox for that letter from Ed McMahon.

a: stop the smilies. They are really annoying.
b: I was not posting particularly about myself not winning anything, or that I had traveled and not won anything. Lines were under 10 minutes for the most part, and we didn't need any passes.

I was posting because there are many posts here about standing in this line, or that counter, or in this area, and seeing people running around flinging dream passes or ears, or free food to their heart's content.

I am describing the situations that I saw, so that no one has a false impression about what is going on there currently.

The point about the minimal amount of promotion on property was to point out that in the past, the huge giveaway promotions, like the car giveaway was known to everyone getting in line. It was hyped at the gate, and loudly. Now, YOMD is hyped to those off property as some huge giveaway where "dreams come true" every couple of steps. Once they are on property though, why remind anyone, since it isn't really like that?

Again, this isn't about me, specifically. This is just a trip report on what I saw with YOMD.