Approached by Dream Team, but not given anything

[budwmn]

We had a strange experience on our trip last week to the Magic Kingdom. We had just exited from Peter Pan and were walking past the Castle to Snow White when Jessica, a CM with the Dream Team approached my son.

She asked him if he had just come from a Disney cruise (he was wearing his Castaway Cay shirt from a previous trip). She then asked how many times he had been to Disney World. We talked to her for about 5 minutes and then parted ways. My son immediately said to me, "That was weird".

Has this happened to anyone else? We kept thinking we were going to get something -- no matter how small. Don't get me wrong, we had a fantastic trip. This was just a bizarre encounter.

 

[tinkbutt]

this seems really odd to me it is like holding the football out there then ooop no yank it back


ooooddddddd!!!!!!!

 

[disney111]

I wasn't there, but I personally don't think it's bizarre at all. Cast members are encouraged to seek out guest contact...I don't see why Dream Team members would be any different. If she gave you a reason to think you were getting a 'dream' (other than simply being a Dream Team member) I would think it was weird but based on your post it sounds like she was just making conversation which is good.

 

[WEDWDW]

Did she have on a white vest?They only award prizes when wearing a white vest.If she was not wearing a white vest,she was in the Dream Squad's "greeter" mode and your encounter was not unusual at all.

 

[eeyorethegreat]

We spoke to several members of the DREAM TEAM but never got a prize. I just saw them as being friendly and I figured if they were coming with a prize it would be obvious.

 

[budwmn]

Thanks for the replies!

She didn't have a vest on, so I guess she wasn't giving out a prize.

What was strange was we were walking straight to a ride and she stopped us to talk to my son. We've had many wonderful conversations with CM's over the years, but normally those occur while we're waiting in line or having normal interaction at a restaurant, shop, etc. This was different. We were singled out.

Having said all of this, Jessica was a very friendly and animated CM. I'm sure she does a great job on the Dream Squad.

 

[WEDWDW]

Thanks for the replies!

She didn't have a vest on, so I guess she wasn't giving out a prize.

What was strange was we were walking straight to a ride and she stopped us to talk to my son. We've had many wonderful conversations with CM's over the years, but normally those occur while we're waiting in line or having normal interaction at a restaurant, shop, etc. This was different. We were singled out.

Having said all of this, Jessica was a very friendly and animated CM. I'm sure she does a great job on the Dream Squad.

Most Guests don't know it,but the Dream Squad has two distinct functions Greeter and prize awarder.The VAST majority of their time is spent as Greeters. I like to talk to them and ask them about what prizes they have awarded.Most of them have awarded the night in the Cinderella Castle Suite and it is fun to hear them describe the recipients reaction,etc.

 

[_queenie_]

The same thing happened to us in Future World. It wasn't on purpose, but I got telling him how to was our last day and that all my DD13 wanted to do was ride Soarin' after he asked us if we needed directions. We started saying how our flight was delayed six hours on the way down and that my DD13 had had food poisoning so we hadn't gotten very far, but he just said "Well, have a magical day!" (I think he noticed my watch ). My DD13 was praying on getting a fast pass, but I don't think it helped that my DD3.5 asked him if we had won anything!

 

[Safari Princess]

Yep. Asking is a surefire way to end a conversation with a Dream <b>Squad</b> CM. But if you are nice to them they could make your day a whole lot happier. And thats not even counting giving away prizes.

 

[suzimar57]

we didn't even so much as see a dream team CM in october....

shows how much we pay attention.

 

[BabaGanoush]

Yep. Asking is a surefire way to end a conversation with a Dream <b>Squad</b> CM. But if you are nice to them they could make your day a whole lot happier. And thats not even counting giving away prizes.

What she said.

Moreso, Dream Squad members will often seek out guest contact above and beyond what most cast members will do (or have the ability to do).

 

[Bobo912]

I was told by a CM that a lone dream team member would not be giving away prizes. But when you see them start to congregate they are about to give something away.

 

[VAN]

I think they are given secret instructions on selecting who gets chosen. It is not up to them.

Example: At 11:00 am, give this prize to the person sitting in ride vehicle #2 on Dumbo.

So, even if they wanted to give you something, it is all done randomly ... not at their discretion.

 

[sailors_wfe]

Same thing happened to me my last morning. It was a solo trip.. was getting off of the Snow White ride in Fantasy Land (I was like the ONLY one riding at the time) and there was a Dream Team member w/ white vest waiting by the exit. She stopped me and started talking to me before I ever managed to fully exit.. asked me to come off to the side.. I thought for sure I'd won something... sat and talked to me about my trip and taking a cruise and stuff and then after about 5 mins said goodbye. I thought it was weird. I did mention that it was my last day.. I keep thinking maybe I'd have won the night stay in the castle if I hadn't metnioned I was leaving that afternoon?

 

[GoofyFairie]

We were not sought out for the prize we won. My DS and I were going to get in a long line for Winnie the Pooh at MK and when were walking up I said "Hi" to a CM who was just standing there and she said "Hi" and started talking to me and my DS. She said if he would answer a couple of questions about Pooh we could go to the front of the line! We'll 3 answers later we recieved a certificate that we were honorary members of the hundred acre woods and it was autographed by pooh, piglet, tigger, & eeyore and we were escorted to the front of the line and given our own car to ride in. She was very nice and I was very excited that I didn't have to wait in a very long line!!! Thank you Susan, from Las Vegas!!

 

[gismo1554]

I think they are given secret instructions on selecting who gets chosen. It is not up to them.

Example: At 11:00 am, give this prize to the person sitting in ride vehicle #2 on Dumbo.

So, even if they wanted to give you something, it is all done randomly ... not at their discretion.

You're right. A computer tells them exactly who to choose and they do it. Sometimes its even down to go here and give this to the first guest in a blue hat you see. It really is beyond their control. Whether they have the ability to award some of the smaller prices such as pins etc I don't know for sure but the FP's etc are done in that way.

 

[BamaFan121s]

Did she have on a white vest?They only award prizes when wearing a white vest.If she was not wearing a white vest,she was in the Dream Squad's "greeter" mode and your encounter was not unusual at all.

I guess that all depends on how you classify "prize" and "winning." There are lots of ways the Dream Squad is spreading magic to guest and the magic is not limited to times when they are wearing vests.

There have been several times that we've gotten things from Dream Squad members who were in what you describe as "greeter" mode:
--Once we stopped to rest, DH had on a Romo jersey and a DS member walked up and started talking about football with him. 5 minutes later she handed us each a FP good for any ride in the park.
--Two 'greeters' at Turtle talk gave DD some pins once.
--Best of all, we encountered DS member "Kim" one day in Adventureland. We litterally passed her walking and she stop to compliment DD's pirate sword. As it turned out, she ended up spending a few hours with us. Took us to the front of the line to ride Pirates, same w/ Jungle Boat where DD got to 'drive' the boat, blocked off a section by POTC where DD got to spend about 10 min playing w/ Peter Pan, Wendy, Hook and Smee all by herself, got a private Pirate lesson from Mack, rode Aladin's Carpets, got to meet Genie and Aladin 'found' some <stratigically placed> jewels in the concrete she got to take home along w/ a YOMD certificate!

That was something DD will NEVER forget!

 

[Mickeyorbust]

We encountered DS's on 3 seperate occassions who were only interested in talking to us. Not that I'm complaining, they were very friendly and pleasent to talk to. However, we witnessed a DS give a little girl a trading pin and the DS was not wearing a white vest. I overheard someone at the park suggesting that in addition to "this spot at this time" they have code words...when a guest says a certain word to them in normal conversation they get a YOMD prize.

 

[auntie]

We had a strange experience on our trip last week to the Magic Kingdom. We had just exited from Peter Pan and were walking past the Castle to Snow White when Jessica, a CM with the Dream Team approached my son.

She asked him if he had just come from a Disney cruise (he was wearing his Castaway Cay shirt from a previous trip). She then asked how many times he had been to Disney World. We talked to her for about 5 minutes and then parted ways. My son immediately said to me, "That was weird".

Has this happened to anyone else? We kept thinking we were going to get something -- no matter how small. Don't get me wrong, we had a fantastic trip. This was just a bizarre encounter.

Happened to us in MGM last year. Right near the entry of the park..I was waiting on a bench while my daughter browsed inside one of the shops. I person who I assumed was a "greeter" came over to talk with my son and I. We answered some questions..and then that was about it. I also was tired at that point after spent the day in the park..and unfortunately was very talk-a-tive. I realized later that who they really were, and could have kicked myself for not being more enthusiastic!
My daughter has a friend who is a cast member, and he told us that the people for the suite are usually between certain ages, and have children..one of which is a girl between a certain age. They do apparently have criteria to be met depending on the prize. He told us there was no way we would be chosen for the castle as there weren't any "little ones" in our party.

 

[WEDWDW]

I guess that all depends on how you classify "prize" and "winning." There are lots of ways the Dream Squad is spreading magic to guest and the magic is not limited to times when they are wearing vests.

There have been several times that we've gotten things from Dream Squad members who were in what you describe as "greeter" mode:
--Once we stopped to rest, DH had on a Romo jersey and a DS member walked up and started talking about football with him. 5 minutes later she handed us each a FP good for any ride in the park.
--Two 'greeters' at Turtle talk gave DD some pins once.
--Best of all, we encountered DS member "Kim" one day in Adventureland. We litterally passed her walking and she stop to compliment DD's pirate sword. As it turned out, she ended up spending a few hours with us. Took us to the front of the line to ride Pirates, same w/ Jungle Boat where DD got to 'drive' the boat, blocked off a section by POTC where DD got to spend about 10 min playing w/ Peter Pan, Wendy, Hook and Smee all by herself, got a private Pirate lesson from Mack, rode Aladin's Carpets, got to meet Genie and Aladin 'found' some <stratigically placed> jewels in the concrete she got to take home along w/ a YOMD certificate!

That was something DD will NEVER forget!

You are VERY correct! I was only referring to the prizes listed in the official YOAMD prize list such as the night in Cinderella Castle-those are only awarded at computer designated places and times by white-vested Dream Squad members. The prizes you describe are part of the "unprecedented number of Magical Moments" being given out by Cast Members during the YOAMD.I agree!the Magical Moments are GREAT!