Originally Posted By Elderp On Friday 9/14 I was at the Animal Kingdom. I got there right at rope drop because I figured Expedition Everest was going to be full. This was toward the end of our vacation and Mrs.P didn't come with me because she was wiped out. Anyhow, as the kid who was selected to open the notice board unveiled the board I noticed the sign to Expedition Everest said delayed opening. I figured no problem, I will get a fastpass and ride it later. So that is what I did, while everyone else got in line I got a fastpass. Still being one of the first ones in the park I decided, what the heck?! I am going to go ride Triceratops Spin. Before I go on I have to say I had seen the Dream Team people all week (never have seen them at DL) and they always picked the Rockwell family (Dad, Mom, Brother, Daughter). They say it is random but I don't believe it. Anyhow, I mention this because I get to Triceratop Spin and right in front of me in line is the Rockwell family. If you are familiar with this ride you know you wait in line and then they put you in a holding pin. Well, there were only us five in the holding pin. Then out of nowhere (I think they were hiding in the bushes) 10 Dream Team members show up start yelling surprise and hand us Dreampasses. They must of thought I was "Uncle Joe" because they handed me one too. Afterward I got my picture taken with the Dream Team which was cool. Here is the uncool part. Remember that fastpass I told you I got? It was the only one I needed the whole day. All the other FP lines in the park were closed because the longest wait time was 30 min (for Dinosaur). So yes, I won a Dream Pass. Did I use it, NO! Crazy story but I have the unused Dream Pass to prove it. I am hoping like in 30 years or so some nostalgic collector will want my Dream Pass because it will be the only one that was never used and still has all the tabs on it. Um.... Yeah.... Now who is dreaming..... So that is my story. I was happy being in the Billion Loser club but now I guess I can't be in that club anymore. I didn't think you could win and still lose but I can't help feeling like that is what happened. I really want this promotion to end now.
Originally Posted By Inspector 57 Well, look at the bright side, ElderP. At least Mrs. ElderP wasn't with you. You didn't BOTH win. What a bite! They're giving away "Dream" prizes that cost them NOTHING. The Fast Pass they hand out pits guest against guest. You win at the expense of all the other guests, not at the expense of WDW. And on a slow day, it's worth nothing. The hype with which they give it away is ridiculous. Instead of giving away Fast Passes that make "winners" feel like losers, why not give away a million $25 gift certificates to WDW stores/restaurants/concessions -- accompanied by a Magical Fast Pass? What would that cost them overall -- maybe $5 million? And in return, they'd get some positive buzz from winners. Seems like it would be worth it to have excited guests saying "I won $25! PLUS they gave me a Fast Pass!"
Originally Posted By Mrs ElderP He was so proud of his loser status too, and now it's all been ruined by those crazy dream team people!!
Originally Posted By smedley Ahh well Elderp, I guess it's one of those things... I fully expect to come back from our trip in November having won nothing at all.. Travelling in a party of 9, and suspect it will put them off....
Originally Posted By hightp My family and I were in WDW Aug 22-30, and my daughter desperatly wanted one of the dream fastpasses. I had realized that they usually handed them out early in the parks and getting to the parks early is not possible with my wife. Anyway, on Friday the 24th we had a breakfast reservation at the Crystal Place. When we were done, we wandered into Adventureland, and found it to be pretty quiet (about 10am), we saw the show with Captian Jack, road Pirates and the Jungle Cruise, and the kids wanted to ride the Aladdin Carpets. My wife gets sick on those rides, so she sat in the shade. The Carpet ride had almost no wait, so we were in the waiting area with in 2 minutes, and while there, the Dream Team showed up and handed everyone there a 'Year of a Million Dreams' pin set and lanyard. It wasn't anything you couldn't get a the gift shop, but my kids were excited. Unfortunatly, my wife missed out. My daughter still wanted a Dream Fastpass, but, at least, she ended up with a small gift.
Originally Posted By Elderp ^ I would of liked that or a hat would've been really cool. Don't get me wrong the FP was better than nothing but it didn't do me any good.
Originally Posted By hightp Well, we really wanted to stay the night in Cinderella's castle, but the lanyard was a nice gift anyway. Even though we ended up with 12 Year of a Million Dreams pins, I don't think the kids traded any of them.
Originally Posted By FerretAfros On Saturday, I was at DL, and we were getting off POTC, and in the corner of the exit there were these people in nice matching nave blue button-up shirts and khaki pants and they all had bads of some sort. I knew it was them, so it was kind of exciting to see them, but kind of depressing to know how close we were. It was 1:19 when we went past, so I assumed they were probably there for a 1:20 or 1:25 surprise.
Originally Posted By nemopoppins ^^^It must not have been the Mickey suite because I heard they give that away before 1:00. ElderP, don't feel bad, I'm still a loser and I'm not enjoying it. Save your unused pass--it is something special. Shoot, I even save napkins.
Originally Posted By Spirit of 74 <<They're giving away "Dream" prizes that cost them NOTHING. The Fast Pass they hand out pits guest against guest. You win at the expense of all the other guests, not at the expense of WDW. And on a slow day, it's worth nothing. The hype with which they give it away is ridiculous. Instead of giving away Fast Passes that make "winners" feel like losers, why not give away a million $25 gift certificates to WDW stores/restaurants/concessions -- accompanied by a Magical Fast Pass? What would that cost them overall -- maybe $5 million?>> I hate agreeing with I-57 due to his loathing of me, but he makes a very good poing here. The 'Dream' gifts are, for 99% of people nothing worth getting. I saw some people with Dream FastPasses at DL Saturday and they were saying 'it would be nice to win something that actually had value.' And that was with no prompting from any Spirits you know.
Originally Posted By Fe Maiden I just got a call from my BIL who flew in with his family this afternoon. As they were checking in to the Beach Club, the Dream Squad came over and upgraded them to concierge for the week. They were so excited. I'm really happy for them since last year when they checked in their room wasn't ready till 9pm and ME lost their luggage.
Originally Posted By Friar Tuck and Roll I have won twice. Once at the Animal Kingdom in My after exiting Everest. I too experienced the useless fastpass on that day. The second time was at the Magic Kingdom exiting Thunder Mountain. The prise was better that time as I received both the fastpass, and the Dreams pin lanyard. And the FP at MK was very useful since it was in August and most lines were well over 45 minutes. Only ride I was not able to use was Splash Mountain as the ride broke down that day.
Originally Posted By Inspector 57 <<the Dream Team showed up and handed everyone there a 'Year of a Million Dreams' pin set and lanyard. It wasn't anything you couldn't get a the gift shop, but my kids were excited.>> See, now why couldn't they be giving out an "exclusive" set of pins? Print up 2007 Limited Edition, winners-only sets and pass them out. Pin collecters and Park geeks would be THRILLED to receive them. (And for those guests who don't know about LE pins, the Dream Squad could explain, "These are hot. Don't trade them. Take them home, list them on eBay, and you'll easily make enough money to pay for some of the bottled water you've bought here!") And how about an exclusive "I Won!" set of Mickey ears?! That would excite winners, who would them wear them in the Park, and that exposure would raise awareness of and excitement for the promotion. <<the Dream Squad came over and upgraded them to concierge for the week. They were so excited.>> Now THERE's a great promotional use of a no-cost perk! The first time I EVER visited Las Vegas (having booked through some packager), Caesars Palace unexpectedly upgraded us to a MUCH nicer room than we'd paid for. In subsequent visits to Sin City, Bally's, MGM, and Hard Rock all did the same. I think it's standard practice in the travel industry. The luxe rooms (or airplane seats) haven't been for, so you "give them away" to other customers at the last minute. It creates delighted guests and good buzz. Smart of Disney to market what's probably a standard practice as part of the Million Dreams campaign.
Originally Posted By Inspector 57 <<I hate agreeing with I-57 due to his loathing of me>> FWIW, my therapist continues to tell me that I don't really loath you. I'm about to hang her picture next to yours on my dart board. [smiley emoticon here]
Originally Posted By Elderp "Shoot, I even save napkins." For your information I am specifically showing this quote to my wife, that for a long time has raised her eyebrow at my own Disney napkin collection. My favorites were the ones from the Scifi Diner and the 50s Prime Time Cafe, which were ironically both the worst meals I had that week. They weren't horrible but compared to the rest of the stuff we ate that week it was weak.
Originally Posted By nemopoppins ^^^You can add that you'll never know what kind of joy these things will bring in the future. My youngest daughter is thrilled with and keeps asking me to take out the keepsakes of our family's Disneyland trips from before she was born (she just turned eight today) and I love to show them because I get to see them again myself. That gives me an idea. I'm sure there has been before, but I haven't lately seen a topic about what is the oddest thing that you have saved from the Parks. I'm going to make one.
Originally Posted By Bob Paris "The hype with which they give it away is ridiculous." Indeed. As to the claim a fastpass or a churro is somebody's "dream".......all I have to say is, "Ya gotta dream a HELLUVA LOT BIGGER!!!!!" rolls eyes
Originally Posted By Spirit of 74 <<FWIW, my therapist continues to tell me that I don't really loath you. I'm about to hang her picture next to yours on my dart board.>> I'm not so sure therapy works ;-)
