The Disney Dreams Giveaway / We won a Dream / Dream Squad Details

**Carlidin** · 10-09-2006, 12:54 PM

I also won a "year of a million dreams" lanyard and two pins. We were so surprised. Went into the Haunted mansion and saw several cm's not in traditional haunted mansion dress and wondered what they were doing there. I thought maybe the HM cast members were new and being observed in training. To my surprise as we got out of the stretch room they stopped us and announced that we had been selected for a prize for the Year of a Million Dreams celebration. We were each given the lanyard and pins. I was with MissouriDisney so don't count on getting the prize in this same spot again. I'm sure they mix it up. We were told over and over by cast members in all the parks during our visit not to trade those pins.

**joelkfla** · 10-09-2006, 05:02 PM

Originally Posted by Carlidin

I also won a "year of a million dreams" lanyard and two pins. ... Went into the Haunted mansion and saw several cm's not in traditional haunted mansion dress and wondered what they were doing there.

Well, Congratulations to you!

But, on a general note, I'm not too crazy about Dream Team members hanging out inside themed attractions out of costume.

I always hated when the Fast Pass team worked the TOT podium in their chinos. Kind of broke the mood. I was glad to see bellpeople back in that position.

**DisnIse** · 10-09-2006, 06:36 PM

My son randomly won a free ice cream bar; and not so randomly won games that were played in the gift shops throughout the weekend.

The coolest Dream that we saw was a cute little boy who was able to START THE BOATS at Small World from that overhead bridge. Too cute!!!

**ToDisney** · 10-10-2006, 11:51 AM

I'm not trying to cause a downswing on the wonderful mood, but this is just the begining of the "YOMD". How well do you think things will hold up through the Holidays? And then how about January, I have aready been reading about post holiday CM's being slower and tired from long hours over Christmas. (don't we all get that way?) Do you think that all the extra Magic and suprises will start to die down? Or can they keep it up all year?

I hope things are planned out far enough in advance that we won't see a lull in the "Magic Moments" or the amount of "Dreams" given out. A year is a long time, I guess I'm just worried.

**CleveSJM** · 10-12-2006, 08:54 PM

I don't expect a lull at all. I expect it's all very mathematical. They have xxx Dream FP's to give away, xxx Dream Ears, and xxx Pins each day. They run their reports from the computers and go give them away. They might skew it a little based on expected crowds but I bet not too much.

**rnin02** · 10-13-2006, 10:42 PM

Originally Posted by jmen

Good luck mailing in an entry. They specify a 3"x5" postcard in the rules, but the USPS will only accept postcards greater then 3.5"x5.5" according to 253.21 .

I know, it is an industry assumption, but it is also an indication to me that the promotion is probably not thoroughly thought out.

The predictability by which prizes are awarded (when you see more than one Dream Squad togather), and the near but not truly random way recipients are awarded prizes is just begging for problems.

Actually, I saw this on the USPS website:
The minimum size for First-Class Mail is 5 inches long, 3-1/2 inches high, and 0.007 inch thick. Pieces weighing 1 ounce or less may be subject to the nonmachinable surcharge

And the official rules state "on a 3.5"x5" postcard ", so I think we will be okay. My problem is I could only find 3.5 X 5.5 postcards, so I hope they don't get "kicked out". Maybe I will just trim them up a little.

Does anyone know if more than one person per household can enter the mail in portion? I didn't see anything saying "no" in the rules, but its easy to miss something in all that fine print.

**ValenciaJoe** · 10-16-2006, 05:44 PM

I just read somewhere that one of the "dreams" given out at Disneyland was for a family to get a table service at Red Rocket Pizza Port and eat their meal on a table with table cloth and order off a menu. Now, you would think that the meal is the prize... but NO... they had to pay for the meal. The environment was their prize. They did get free drink refills though... for drinks that they had to pay for!

BTW, one of the rumors floating around is that Disney will hand select large prize winners to fit their commercial demographics... no goth families!

**joelkfla** · 10-16-2006, 10:02 PM

Originally Posted by ValenciaJoe

I just read somewhere that one of the "dreams" given out at Disneyland was for a family to get a table service at Red Rocket Pizza Port and eat their meal on a table with table cloth and order off a menu. Now, you would think that the meal is the prize... but NO... they had to pay for the meal. The environment was their prize. They did get free drink refills though... for drinks that they had to pay for!

And what is the problem with that? This was not an actual sweepstakes prize, but a "guest of honor" type thing. We've heard that they've done the same type of thing at WDW restaurants -- escorting the selected family to a specially decorated table and making a big deal over them. I would feel pretty special, even if I did have to pay for my own food!

BTW, one of the rumors floating around is that Disney will hand select large prize winners to fit their commercial demographics... no goth families!

Maybe you missed the Dream Team cm who posted here. Winner selection is by very specific, randomized procedures. For major winners, the Dream Team is not even told what the prize is; they simply select the winner according to procedure (essentially, being at the right place at the right time), and bring them back to Guest Relations where the prize is revealed.

What's more, a Disney spokesperson specifically said that winners would not be selected based on their appearance. That would be a blatant violation of the sweepstakes rules, and I think Disney is smarter than to do that.

**Noah's Helper** · 10-16-2006, 10:17 PM

We won Dream Fastpasses at Disneyland. Goofy was handing them out on the pathway that goes behind Thunder Mountain. This was early on a weekday morning, and traffic was light in the area. There were three Dream Team CMs along with Goofy; they must have had at least 100 passes to hand out. They gave them to anyone who walked up and asked for one. You couldn't pick up a pass for anyone else, though; the CMs had to see each person in your party.

The lanyard had cards for both Disneyland and California Adventure. A printed fastpass for Haunted Mansion Holiday was also included, as there was not a tab for the Haunted Mansion on the plastic card.

Our kids were also chosen for a special activity in the Mission Tortilla Factory at California Adventure. They used Mickey-ear cookie cutters to cut shapes from a tortilla (not an easy task). The kids both received a chef's toque, and while they wrote their names on them, the cast member popped the tortilla shapes into a "magic" oven, and brought out a tray full of warm cinnamon crisps. We each got to sample a fresh crisp, then we each received a small bag of pre-packaged crisps.

**Lessie** · 10-17-2006, 07:31 PM

This past weekend my friends and I won a Dream Fastpass at Disney-MGM Studios. Around 9:15 am, after an Extra Magic Hours morning, we headed to the Great Movie Ride. We had already seen everything we planned to see in the park that day so this was going to be our last stop before heading to the Magic Kingdom. Once we entered the boarding area, the Dream Squad appeared and gave the cast members Dream Fastpass lanyards to distribute to everyone!

With our new fastpass in hand we decided to hit Tower of Terror and Rock N Roller Coaster one more time before leaving. On our way out of the park we found a nice family who looked like they could put the remaning passes to good use.

**BrownEyedGrrl** · 10-19-2006, 02:11 PM

My DH won a set of the ears, after exiting Mission Space and being asked to participate in the "Mission: Space Race" team video game- he wasn't going to do it at first, because he'd planned to meet up with me and the boys afterwards, but they told him that he'd be "glad he did", so he went for it.

They're certainly different- the cap part is blue with white clouds and has the "Year of a Million Dreams" emblem on the front, and says, "Live Your Dream" on the back, the ears are silver.

You can see a pic here:

Mickey Ears Back

Mickey Ears Front

I didn't know you could enter (by mail) to win these prizes! Wow, I'm gonna have to stock up on some postcards.

**Carolanne** · 10-19-2006, 02:53 PM

I just got back on 10/17. While mom & I were not among the YOMD winners, we did witness a dream in the making. We were at a store in MGM, and something just seemed "up". We were in Mickeys of Hollywood (I think--it's the 1st store past Sid's), and I noticed a couple of CM's, one talking on a walkie-talkie, and that CM said "Ok, they're at such & such a place, making their way towards me. Ok, here they come!" Then out of seemingly thin air, a huge group of CM's in various dress swarmed the store entrance. Then a family wearing the YOMD ears showed up & the CM's pretty much went crazy, clapping & cheering. The family was a mom, dad, son, & daughter (a young family). The family was then awarded a $500 shopping spree for that particular store. 2 CM's then handed each of the children a shopping basket. It was a really nice thing to see.

**TinkInTraining** · 10-19-2006, 08:48 PM

We just returned from our trip and we won the AK dream fastpass much to my husbands dismay!

We had gone to AK at opening to see a physical exam of a new cheetah and we were waiting to see the cheetah. While we were waiting the girls were wandering around looking for the many hidden mickeys. My youngest came back with the dream pass that someone ( a CM ) had given her.

We had been carrying on an indepth conversation with the CM with the cheetah and she saw what was going on and I told Cassidy that we would have to give it away because there were 5 of us and just one FP.

Well there were three off duty CM's who were also given the dream passes and they weren't allowed to keep them so they gave us theirs and we were still short one. The CM we were talking to about the cheetah said to hold on and she left and went and got us one more.

It was a double special moment.

Just prior to that when we got off the train one of the conductors gave my husband the pass it on tinkerbell pin.

We were just supposed to be at AK to see the cheetah then we were going to EPCOT. But we took advantage of the Dream FP and hit all the rides...we were actually allowed to keep on of the dream FPs and not break off the passes for our scrapbook, so we have one full dream pass still.

We were able to do all of the rides in under 2 hours! It was awesome and we loved it.

Thanks to Disney for the contest, thanks to the CM's that couldn't keep their pass and passed it on to us, and thanks to the CM that completed our families dream!

It was truly a dream come true!

**DonnaT103** · 10-21-2006, 05:15 PM

Not to put a damper on the 'Million Dreams" give away, but we just returned from two weekes in Disney and this is my observation. My DH and I were there for our 25th anniversary and my birthday. I heard several people who had not only got one dream but two or three in one day and they where families with children. The way it appears to me is that if you are there with children then you will probably get a "Dream" If not forget it.

Don't get me wrong we still had a great time and we did have some "magical moments".

The first being my birthday at MK. When I got my BD button a CM in guest services gave me a pin off his lanyard as a BD present. Then at Cindrella's Royal Table I got a BD cup cake, since this was after my dessert I gave it to the little girl behind me, and BD card signed by Cinderella.
Our sencond MM was at Winter Summerland Mini Golf. My DH stood by while my Mother got into a verbal sparing match with the attendent. When the CM noticed my DH was wearing an anniversary button he asked him how long he had had to put with this her, indicating my Mother. When he found out that she was the Mother in Law the CM decided that my DH deserved a metal. About halfway though our game he came up to my DH with a card Congatulating him on "puttin up with (you know who)" for 25 years. He had attached two pins to it. When my Mother complained that she didn't get anything, the CM came back a short time later with a bag of sweet and sour candy with a pin attached. As if this was not enough, when the same CM found out that we where going to play a second round, he said it was on him. This provided us with some great times in an otherwise stressful visit from my Mother.
Our third MM was on our second to last day when we had breakfast at the Crystal Palace at MK. Both my DH and I where wearing our anniversary buttons. When we where sat at our table there was a heart made of Mickey Mouse confetti.
So you can see we had a really great time, and we can't wait to go back.

**mrsgaribaldi** · 10-21-2006, 05:53 PM

Originally Posted by BrownEyedGrrl

I didn't know you could enter (by mail) to win these prizes! Wow, I'm gonna have to stock up on some postcards.

Where do you buy such postcards to enter? I thought an index card in an envelope but I saw it said postcard in the rules and I don't know where to buy them

Thanks

**Catzle** · 10-21-2006, 07:55 PM

I think you can buy pre stamped post cards from the post office.

**mrsgaribaldi** · 10-22-2006, 05:41 AM

Originally Posted by Catzle

I think you can buy pre stamped post cards from the post office.

Thank you

**mcjaco** · 10-23-2006, 03:38 PM

My wife and I were at WDW the 7th through the 15th. On the 10th we went to EPCOT for the Food & Wine Festival (the first of our four trips that week). We decided we needed a cool off and were right by the American Adventure. The next show wasn't for another 25 minutes, but we figured it was more time in air conditioning and I always like to hear the "Voices of Liberty."

Upon entering we were greeted by a CM and responded with a "hello." I asked my wife if she wanted to sit towards the center or off in the corner. She replied that, "we've already seen the show, let's let someone that hasn't get a good seat." With that we sat off in the corner. About two minutes later, the same CM that greeted us asked us if we wanted to be the First Family for the Wishes Celebration part of the next showing of the American Adventure. Once my wife was clear of the fact we would not have to do anything in front of a crowd, we accepted. We were given a Wishes certificate and got to ride the elevator up to the second level where "reserved seats" were placed by the rotunda opening. After Voices of Liberty performed, we were allowed into the theater before everyone else and select our seats, and before the presentation began, announced as the First Family to the audience.

It isn't the most exciting "Wish" win, but it was cool nonetheless.