Originally Posted By Darkbeer Walt Disney World/Disneyland Resort Press Release During 'Year of a Million Dreams' Celebration Disney Cast Members to Award a Million Magical Dreams From an Overnight Stay inside Cinderella Castle to a Golden FASTPASS, Dreams Big and Small to Come True During a First-of-Its-Kind Celebration That Also Features New Attractions and Entertainment at Disneyland and Walt Disney World Resorts BURBANK, Calif., June 7 -- From an overnight stay inside Cinderella Castle to a Golden FASTPASS, dreams big and small will come true at Disneyland and Walt Disney World resorts during Disney's "Year of a Million Dreams," a first-of-its-kind celebration of the individual dreams of Disney Parks guests. The year-long celebration, beginning Oct. 1, 2006, at Disneyland Resort in California and Walt Disney World Resort in Florida, will feature the debut of an incredible lineup of new attractions and entertainment at both Disneyland and Walt Disney World resorts, plus new technologies that allow guests to customize their Disney park experience. And, for the first time, during the "Year of a Million Dreams" celebration, Disney cast members will award a million dreams -- both large and small, including many "money-can't-buy" experiences -- to guests selected through a random process as part of a unique "Disney Dreams Giveaway" promotion. "Throughout this incredible celebration, special dreams and unique experiences once thought impossible will be awarded by our cast every day," said Jay Rasulo, chairman of Walt Disney Parks and Resorts. "Disney parks are always the place where dreams come true -- but even more so during the 'Year of a Million Dreams.'" The "impossible" includes the creation of over-the-top, overnight experiences for winning guests at both East and West Coast resorts: a royal bedchamber inside Cinderella Castle at Walt Disney World Resort and a Mickey Mouse Penthouse at Disneyland Resort, both expected to be complete by January 2007. A day of royal treatment will end with a night of enchantment inside Cinderella Castle for a different lucky guest each night. Cinderella's royal bedchamber, now under construction at Magic Kingdom, will allow Disney guests to stay overnight inside the park and enjoy a view shared only by Tinker Bell. The lavishly decorated bedroom will be located in a space originally planned as an in-park apartment for the use of the Disney family. And for a lucky Disneyland guest, each night, the all-new Mickey Mouse Penthouse at Disneyland Hotel will pour on the Mickey charm and include magical views overlooking both Disneyland and Disney's California Adventure parks. The extraordinary penthouse will be decorated in all things Mickey, with finishing touches by none other than Minnie Mouse herself. In addition, during the year-long celebration, other Disney dreams both large and small will be awarded in the "Disney Dreams Giveaway" promotion, such as: * Traveling to each Disney resort around the world to serve as grand marshal in a Disney parade. * A variety of unique Disney vacation experiences. * Admission to special parties and other extraordinary experiences in the Disneyland and Walt Disney World parks. * Private meetings with favorite Disney characters. * Or, a Golden FASTPASS ticket with unique access entitlements to some of Disney's most popular attractions. New Attractions and Entertainment Planned for the "Year of a Million Dreams" Throughout the "Year of a Million Dreams" celebration, Disneyland and Walt Disney World resorts will debut major new attractions: * Disneyland Resort in California -- Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage -- Inspired by Disney -- Pixar's "Finding Nemo," this all-new E-ticket adventure will take guests on a real (and unbelievable) underwater excursion. (Summer 2007) -- Rockin' Space Mountain -- Space Mountain is getting a new twist. Thanks to new lighting and technology, Disney's classic attraction will become a new experience in which rockets will rock it through the greatest concert in the universe. An all-new soundtrack will fit the exciting twists and turns of Disney's rocket classic. (Spring 2007) * Walt Disney World Resort in Florida -- "The Seas with Nemo & Friends" at Epcot -- Nemo is lost -- again -- and guests aboard "clam-mobiles" join his friends to search one of the world's largest saltwater aquariums for the playful clownfish in a stunning display of new entertainment technology inspired by Disney-Pixar's "Finding Nemo." (Late 2006) -- "Finding Nemo-The Musical" at Disney's Animal Kingdom -- Also inspired by Disney-Pixar's "Finding Nemo," the Great Barrier Reef comes to colorful life in an all-new musical filled with spectacular scenery, elaborate puppetry and music by a Tony-Award-winning composer. (Late 2006) -- The Laugh Floor Comedy Club at Magic Kingdom -- Guests find the power of laughter in an engaging and interactive new adventure inspired by Disney- Pixar's "Monsters, Inc." as they match wits with the one-eyed hero Mike Wazowski and his friends. (Early 2007) Additionally, special entertainment and programs will be in place at the parks and resorts to accommodate the desires and wishes of would-be Disney Princesses, pirates, adventurers and space explorers. Guests will be able to customize their visit to a Disney park to pursue the "Dream Track" of their choice with on-line planning tools and in-park technology to help them become the hero or princess they've always dreamed of being. For more information about the "Year of a Million Dreams" celebration and the "Disney Dreams Giveaway" promotion, visit <a href="http://www.mydisneyparks.com/" target="_blank">http://www.mydisneyparks.com/</a> . Look for future announcements with the details of the "Disney Dreams Giveaway" promotion. No purchase necessary and subject to promotion official rules which will be available on Oct. 1, 2006. Odds of winning any prize will depend on the number of eligible entries. Void where prohibited
Originally Posted By Darkbeer Interesting to note, DCA didn't get any mentions for new things in 2007.
Originally Posted By gadzuux I just don't know about this promotion. How is offering dubious "prizes" to a handful of guests going to make an impact on everybody else. Fer instance - >> Cinderella's royal bedchamber, now under construction at Magic Kingdom, will allow Disney guests to stay overnight inside the park and enjoy a view shared only by Tinker Bell. << How nice for the lucky guests who are selected. Unfortunately they've probably already got a hotel room nearby, and the magical view will be of janitors steam cleaning the streets and delivery trucks bringing muffins and plush toys to main street. DLs version sounds much better, in that at least it's in the hotel and not the park.
Originally Posted By avromark However the WDW selected guests will have braggging rights for staying overnight in the parks, and being one of the few people to sleep in the castle...
Originally Posted By Hans Reinhardt The only downside that I can see to staying in the Castle is not being able to roam about after hours. I mean at an actual hotel you can come and go as you please, and most high end properties have 24 hour room service. I doubt if that will be happening in the middle of night in a closed theme park. Obviously some logistics will have to be worked out.
Originally Posted By gadzuux More like cinderella's royal dungeon, where you're locked away inside until somebody comes to get you next morning.
Originally Posted By trekkeruss I like the ideas within the celebration, but I think the celebration itself is a mistake. There is this clothing store that has ads on the radio all the time, saying how they are having a huge sale. Well, if they are having a huge sale all the time, is anything they sell actually worth the retail price? I refuse to shop there, just because the constant sale ads have diluted their product. This newest celebration, while not quite the same thing, in my mind doesn't say "celebration," but "marketing." It's just too damn much. Oh... and I guess Al was wrong about RockIt Mountain, eh?
Originally Posted By ChiMike I was really looking forward to the parks operating under simple, basic circumstances. Why can't they go one day without a celebration? If more resources went into the parks themselves rather than slick, comprehensive, marketing campaigns I think there would be a longer-term benefit to the parks division. I think sleeping in the castle would be a very cool experience that would offset any accomodation inconvenience. Rockit Mountain will be nightime only, right?
Originally Posted By Westsider >>"Oh... and I guess Al was wrong about RockIt Mountain, eh?"<< No, so far he's been right. He broke the news a couple months ago that RockIt Mountain was having problems and would only be offered for Grad Nite this year. That was alarming at the time Al first mentioned it, but we've all come to accept it now. He also went into detail on all the work WDI had tried to do to get it off the ground, and how Marketing finally said to scrap it for *this year*. A good quote from that old Al Lutz article is...."As it stands now, the only people that could experience RockIt Mountain this year are the graduating seniors and their dates attending Grad Nites this May and June." There was no statement from Lutz that RockIt Mountain would not be offered for day guests in '07. The story from Lutz was that RockIt Mountain was having significant troubles and would only be offered for Grad Nite this year. And Al Lutz was correct on that.
Originally Posted By trekkeruss <<He broke the news a couple months ago that RockIt Mountain was having problems and would only be offered for Grad Nite this year.>> I dunno... I am doubting the story about it having problems. It seemed to work on Grad Nites without a hitch, yes?
Originally Posted By deadmentellnotales The gold ticket sounds interesting though a bit too much like Willy Wonka and the grand marshal idea is interesting. All in all a nice bit of info, thanks
Originally Posted By leemac It does make far more commercial sense to hold back Space Mountain to next Spring. They now have a pipeline of events that will attract people: Pirates: June '06 End of the 50th: Sept/Oct '06 Rockin' SM: Spring '07 Subs: Summer '07 I was surprised not to hear a DCA announcement last night. I know that they are close to finalising their plans.
Originally Posted By Liberty Belle >>How nice for the lucky guests who are selected. Unfortunately they've probably already got a hotel room nearby<< If I've got a hotel room nearby already booked and someone offers me the opportunity to stay in the Castle, I'm THERE! Okay, so you'd still have to pay for your night's accomodation but you could consider it just paying for the night at Cinderella's Castle instead - and what a cool story!
Originally Posted By tiggertoo <<It seemed to work on Grad Nites without a hitch, yes?>> I guess it depends on WDIs original plans for the project. Sure what they did offer worked well, but as I understand there is/was supposed to be a great deal more. It was the abbreviated 2005 construction schedule that handicapped the project. Now that the 50th is winding down, I guess they put it back on the board. All in all, I had a feeling RockIt Mt. would resurface. Given that they already put a bit of capital into the project, might as well finish the job.
Originally Posted By dizzdis I actually kind of like the idea that these are random offerings. I am glad thet aren't "selling" these once in a lifetime experineces, that the very very lucky few could afford. That actually leaves a chance for people like me who scrimp and save to make a trip once in a while.
Originally Posted By Tiggirl THe press release doesn't mention that Rockin Space Mountain is a night time experiance. Does this mean they're just changing it to this new experiance?? ~Beth
Originally Posted By gurgitoy2 "I dunno... I am doubting the story about it having problems. It seemed to work on Grad Nites without a hitch, yes? " Well, the problems were the cycling out of vehicles and the switchover. It would have taken too long to do each day. It worked fine for Grad Nites because they had the time to switch it over. The thing I'm worried about is that this new version will be all day too. I like the new Space Mountain, and had hoped that the "Rockit" version would be only during the night. I hope that's still the case. I hadn't thought about being "imprisoned" in Cinderella Castle either, LOL! How will they work around that? They had better build a full bathroom in there too! What happens when the guest gets hungry? What if they have kids that need something like diapers or other necessities? I guess we'll have to see how they handle this.
Originally Posted By trekkeruss <<the problems were the cycling out of vehicles and the switchover. It would have taken too long to do each day. It worked fine for Grad Nites because they had the time to switch it over.>> Is that indeed fact? If so, how is it they are going ahead with RockIt Mountain for 2007?
