YOMD hypothetical question???

[marvali]

What happens if you are in the middle of a current reservation at a WDW resort or staying using DVC points, and your family gets chosen for the overnight stay in the Castle?

Do you have to check out of your room and then check back in the next night?

Do you keep your current room and they reimburse you for the one night's stay you don't use the room, or credit your DVC points for that night so you get the full value of the prize?

I know this is a little harsh or being picky when you won a great prize, but if you are say one night from the end of your current ressie and are staying off-site one more night, can you ask them to let you do it the next night instead?

Just wonder how you are supposed to handle getting your stuff together in the middle of your trip for a one night stay in luxurious accomodations, and then have pack up and go back where you were and unpack it all again?

Not that I think there is any chance we are going to win or anything (since we have never even seen the dream team before, much less won) but how is this situation handled?

 

[mswalters]

We just packed an overnight bag and left the rest of our things in the room. My dh stayed in my room the night we were in the castle, but my sisters whole family stayed in the castle, so their room was empty. In all honesty, I didn't think about being reimbursed for the room, I was too busy enjoying my stay. They didn't offer though. Sorry, I don't really have an answer for you.

 

[momto28weeker+1]

bump

 

[Robbnva]

from what I read on another post is they provide transportation and bring your bags for you.

 

[suzimar57]

it would be a bit of a hassle to pack an overnight bag, and basically reschedule your day (possibly cancelling an ADR) but i'd do it in a heartbeat!!!

 

[kaytieeldr]

You keep your current room.
You would not get reimbursed or credited for the night you do not stay in your room.
No, you cannot request to use the prize a different night. Well, you can - but the answer would be no, because it is scheduled to be awarded to a different Guest the next day for that night's stay.

You can, if you feel you would not get full value, refuse the prize.

 

[rebe1968]

They do take you to your room to pack an overnight bag and 5 people can stay in the room you also get a great dinner plus you get to ride in the parade there is a page some where that explains all the goodies you get if you get picked as the castle winner.

 

[SunnieRN]

Refuse??!!! Ummm if I won the least of my worries would be missing out on a nights lodging in a hotel room.....that is the ultimate hotel room!!!!

 

[marvali]

Refuse??!!! Ummm if I won the least of my worries would be missing out on a nights lodging in a hotel room.....that is the ultimate hotel room!!!!

When I first posted this I saw some people had posted on here that only four could stay in the suite. With a family of five, who do you think should be left out and have to stay in the old room alone? Certainly couldn't leave one of the kids to their own devices all night, and also let them realize that the other four were having great meals, etc. That would probably leave me out in that case since DW would thoroughly enjoy it, and should! Still, that would be no fun either, and the rest of the family would probably not enjoy it as much knowing someone was left out (I know I wouldn't). And what if you and your family were there with your very own parents? Who would you leave out then?

Since then I checked the official rules and it says that there are accomodations for the winner and up to five guests, so no problem there. I also saw somewhere in one of the discussion threads that a CM told someone that the castle stay had been the hardest to give away due to the fact that a lot of people chosen would have to leave someone(s) in their party out, so they would turn it down.

I wonder if originally the prize was for a total of four, and when they ran into this issue too often, they then realized they needed to make it where more people could accept the prize????

 

[SunnieRN]

So sorry,
I misunderstood....I was thinking "who would really mind giving up a day in a motel room for a night in the castle.".....
Makes a lot more sense now!!

 

[Safari Princess]

Do you have to check out of your room and then check back in the next night?

No, you maintain your room, because you can't take all of your luggage to the suite.

Do you keep your current room and they reimburse you for the one night's stay you don't use the room, or credit your DVC points for that night so you get the full value of the prize?

Nope, because you are still using the room.

I know this is a little harsh or being picky when you won a great prize, but if you are say one night from the end of your current ressie and are staying off-site one more night, can you ask them to let you do it the next night instead?

No, you either take the prize or you don't. No picking and choosing when you stay.

Just wonder how you are supposed to handle getting your stuff together in the middle of your trip for a one night stay in luxurious accomodations, and then have pack up and go back where you were and unpack it all again?

You are only allowed to bring an overnight bag, it's not like you need trunks full of stuff. You just need some PJ's and clothes for the morning.

Not that I think there is any chance we are going to win or anything (since we have never even seen the dream team before, much less won) but how is this situation handled?

Most people are just incredible grateful to have won, but the Dream Squad and/or the VIP tour guides will take care of all of it for the winner.

 

[Safari Princess]

When I first posted this I saw some people had posted on here that only four could stay in the suite.

If you read the official rules you will see that the prize is for the winner and up to five guests (i.e. 6 people). More people than that would not fit in the suite, so larger parties in the past have either turned down the prize or split up the group (all the girls, or all the parents ).

 

[sasha's goofy]

I think everyone would be so excited to stay in the castle you could pack a bag (heck even the plastic laundry bag) with jammies, undies, toothbrush/paste in under five minutes just to be on your way to check everything out in the castle. If I forgot anything major I could always go back to my orig. room to get it. I would not have a problem deciding who gets to stay in the room but who gets what bed might be more difficult. lol

 

[RUGoofy2]

When you win the Castle, you are chosen generally before 11am. Its very random and can be given out at any of the 5 theme parks or downtown Disney. When you win, there is several hours of paperwork involved at an office and once you finish that, you go to your current hotel room and pack what you need for the one night stay. I don't believe you are reimbursed for the night at your resort you don't use. I would just be excited to have the opportunity. After the paperwork and you pack your things, they take you to the castle and you get situated there. Then you have to go get ready for the parade. Winners ride in the Dreams Come True Parade at 3:00pm and you are in the first car that rides by and you get to wave at the crowd! After than, you have a Disney Escort who takes you around the park you you were in or Magic Kingdom Park if you weren't in a Disney Park at the time and they help you get to the front of the line since most of your day was spent doing paperwork, packing, parades, etc. Later on that night, you have Dinner at Cinderella's Royal Table and you also get VIP Seating for Wishes that night. After that, you can either retire back to the Castle Suite or stay in the park until it closes. You will spend the night in the Castle Suite and then in the morning (you have quite an early wake up call - 7:00am) and you have breakfast at Crystal Palace (in the Magic Kingdom) and after that you continue your trip as it was. Unfortunately the rules are very strict, and you can only stay in the Castle on the night that you were awarded it. If it's your last night, I would recommend extending the trip... it's a once in a lifetime opportunity. They don't seem to have any plans to extend the year of a Million dreams into 2009, but they do plan on continuing to award Magical Moments which is nice. The dream team is out there though, they are all over. They wear tan pants or shorts, a light blue shirt and always have a black bag that says year or a Million Dreams. When they are in what I like to call "Dream Mode", they will have on a White Vest. When they are not giving out dreams, they are walking about the parking handing our brochures and answering guests questions. But there are a lot of them out there... we go to Disney often, about 3 or 4 times a year and we've won dream fastpasses, dream ears, Lanyards with YOMD pins, VIP seating to Fantasmic. We've won probably close to 11 Dream Fast Passes since last October. THe only park we haven't won Fast Passes in was Animal Kingdom, but we did see them being given away once in Camp Minnie Mickey and at Primevil Whirl exit. Hope this helps!

 

[ConnieB]

Think of it this way....you paid what $100-200 for your resort room? They're UPGRADING you for one night only to a room that I've read is worth $587 (for tax purposes), not to mention the fine meal, parade participation, and general all around grand time.

I'd never pass it up over worries about paying for a room I won't be using.....but it kinda ruins the pixie dust aspect when you realize that the hour of paperwork you have to fill out includes giving them the information necessary for you to get a 1099 at the end of the year so you can pay taxes on your prizes.

 

[iloveftwilderness]

I would claim $587!!! I have heard that people have offered thousands only to be turned down.

 

[Honeystar120608]

So I am curious to know...
In Canada, we aren't taxed on prizes or lottery or anything like that. So I am wondering how this would work in this case???