We were told we won a night in the castle!

[ShannonMB]

I can't even believe that happened to you. Angry does not even come close to how I would feel! My blood was boiling just reading about it happening. That CM sounds like a true psycho. I fail to see how anyone without a borderline personality disorder and/or a sociopath could possibly find it funny to do that to anyone. I'm not even joking when I say that I do not feel that someone who would do such a thing should be employed by a company which caters to children.

Wow - count me in as someone who would have been really mad. What if your child had heard it happen? I can't imagine my 7 year old hearing that and then being told oops it was a joke.

Now if that happened to me and my DD heard, there would have been problems. I am a pretty mild-mannered person with a good temper, but I have been known to fly off the handle twice in my life. That would have been the third.

CM, if you are reading this, my DD's pic is to the left under my ID. If you see her, you better just keep walking!!!!!

 

[Buzz Litebeer]

Maybe the CM was trying to find someone who really really really wanted it?

It didn't work that way.

 

[Disuser]

You are so nice and so lucky not to have me as a family member. What he did to your family was rotten. It upset me just reading about it.

 

[kato0627]

I would have been really angry with him. I really think that is a horrible joke.

To the Grand prize winner of 07, what was the grand prize and congrats.

 

[Twende]

....
To the Grand prize winner of 07, what was the grand prize and congrats.

If you go to her profile you will find the link to her web page.
http://webpages.charter.net/dvcwinner/


"Welcome to our little "World" on the web. We are Jessica and Mike, the 2007 Year of a Million Dreams Grand Prize Winners. We won an all expenses paid DVC Membership to Saratoga Springs Resort and Spa, until the year 2054!......."

 

[mjmoon]

Wow- I don't understand what the purpose of such a joke would be. I would have expected him to follow that "joke" up with something special. How cruel. I can't imagine Disney would endorse such behavior from their cast members.

 

[DisnLuvr]

Sunday, 12/7 was our first day of vacation for 17 of us. It was a family reunion with my brother's children, their children, our children and our parents. Half of us were waiting by the flagpole in MK for the rest of our group so we could head to the Polynesian for our dinner.

I was hoping to catch a photographer so I was keeping my eyes peeled for CM's. We had one CM approach my parents and just chat with them. It was so nice and my parents love to talk about the family and how cool it was to be in Disney for their 69th wedding anniversary.

I mentioned to this lady CM that I was hoping a photographer would show up at about the same time as the rest of our group because I wanted a group photo. She laughed and told me to go back on to Main Street and just grab a photographer. I told her that I thought that would be rude as there were many people waiting in lines for pictures and after all we had all week to get some pictures.

She left and a few minutes later another CM approached us. I laughed and said something about him being a photographer and how happy I was to see him.

He said, "No, he was not a photographer but a Dream Team Member." I smiled and explained that we had just been talking about finding a photographer to get some group pictures.

He looks me right in the eye and says, "How would you like to spend the night in the castle suite?" I think I almost fell over! I know I stumbled a few steps back and grabbed my heart! I found tears welling in my eyes as I struggled to answer him. Oh yes, yes, yes! Time stood still, DH looked at me and seemed as shocked as I was. My parents do not hear well and read lips mostly. They had not heard his question therefore were looking concerned as I was falling over with excitement!

Just about the time the reality of it hit me and I started figuring sleeping arrangements for 17 of us.................................................................
he put his hand on my shoulder and said "Oh Ma'am, I am just kidding. Did you think I was serious?"

He said this is not how we give away the castle night. He told us that it is all very programed to be random with a certain time, a certain park, a certain ride and a certain chair or car. I just nodded at him, still in shock!

He left a few minutes later. I have no idea what else he said. I was just so full of mixed emotions and busy trying to explain to my parents what had just expired. DH was laughing his head off. He thought it was really funny. I was still somewhat breathless and then I started laughing my head off!

Two of our children approached and we decided to tell them that they just missed getting to spend the night in the castle because they were 3 minutes late meeting up with us. We told them that we were asked but because our entire group was not there they had to move on to someone else. I know really mean of us! The kids kept saying that no one really asked you that mom. And DH and I kept laughing and saying yes we were asked! Well the part about being asked was the truth!

So that is my near castle night experience. I can honestly say I was asked to spend the night in the castle!

I cannot guarantee how I would have reacted had I been in your shoes. You really got over your upset soon and took all this experience in your ride., Well done friend. I know how much the offer of castle means and how much it meant when it is denied

 

[junebugTN]

Twende, you are truly my HERO. I like to think that my family is pretty easy going, and we've had enough hardships in our lives to sorta roll with the punches... but WOW. I am amazed how you were able to take this in stride and turn it into a positive, funny experience.

My family and I discussed your story over dinner tonight, and we all agreed that we could learn a lot from your positive outlook. We all also agreed that you're probably an amazingly fun person to go to Disney with, too!

June

 

[Twende]

Twende, you are truly my HERO. I like to think that my family is pretty easy going, and we've had enough hardships in our lives to sorta roll with the punches... but WOW. I am amazed how you were able to take this in stride and turn it into a positive, funny experience.

My family and I discussed your story over dinner tonight, and we all agreed that we could learn a lot from your positive outlook. We all also agreed that you're probably an amazingly fun person to go to Disney with, too!

June

Thank you so very much for this and for everyone who has been so complimentary! I would admit that most of the time we have a very good time when in Disney and people who travel with us have a blast!

It is nice to hear this today though.Thank you so! We have just returned from a funeral for a dear friend who was exposed to Agent Orange in Vietnam. He died a long, slow, painful death and his grace through it all is one of the things that taught us to appreciate our lives so very much! He will be missed!

 

[bytheblood]

That was completely out of line and uncalled for. I would have asked for a manger right away....not because I would have felt cheated out of something, but what if he said that and a child was standing there? A little girl who is really into Princesses?

 

[SunshineGoober]

Wow. You handled that amazingly well. I know for a fact that I would have cried if the same had happened to me.

 

[junebugTN]

We have just returned from a funeral for a dear friend who was exposed to Agent Orange in Vietnam. He died a long, slow, painful death and his grace through it all is one of the things that taught us to appreciate our lives so very much! He will be missed!

I'm sorry for your loss. When my family discussed your story, the word "grace" came up a few times when describing you. It sounds like your dear friend's grace is still being carried on through you, and he's still touching others even now.

Lotsa hugs to you, Twende. And if I ever win the lottery, I'm taking your family to Disney with me!

June

 

[MinnieLee]

That is downright CRUEL! You have a good sense of humor Im prety easy going but to pull something like that -I think I would of been ticked off. I hope they gave you something!

 

[DisneyTinkerbell]

I would have been truly upset. That is one of my dreams to stay in the castle. I noticed several posters say they know how it really works. How does it really work?

 

[Buzz Litebeer]

I noticed several posters say they know how it really works. How does it really work?

Well, it doesn't... not anymore. But here's how it used to work (in a nutshell).

The Dream Squad would receive instructions from a computer to award the night in the castle to a Guest in a very specific spot at a very specific time (for example: The Guest in the Haunted Mansion riding in Doombuggy #149 at precisely 10:32am -- that way there's no room for interpretation. If there was no Guest there, the prize would go back into the computer to be given to someone else). The Guest would be told that they were a "finalist" for a prize for the YoaMD. They'd be escorted to Guest Relations where they were asked some screening questions (i.e. "Do you or anyone in your immediate family work for Disney?" "Are you a citizen of the United States?" etc.), and if all went well they'd be told what their prize was, fill out paperwork, etc. NOBODY was ever told that they won a night in the castle before they were screened for eligibility (due to legal precedents).

The YoaMD ad campaign made it seem that DS CMs would randomly approach guests walking through the park and award them prizes, which was certainly not the case.

 

[ljwrn]

Wow

 

[kaytieeldr]

The CM was a dream team member by his own saying and not a photographer. His reasoning for talking to us was never made apparent. I never let him know that we were a group of 17. At that point we were split up into three groups.

I am rather surprised at the number of posters who said they would be angry.

I'm impressed with your sense of humor, too - good going! :

To the posters who would be angry, report him, etc: being analytical and cynical as I am, and okay, given what fanati - I mean, DISers, know about all things Disney...
I 'know' YoaMD prizes are granted by teams of Dream Squad-ers, not by individuals.
I know they are members of the Dream Squad, not the Dream Team
I know any/all members of the Dream Squad on a prize-awarding mission would not first engage any Guest in conversation.
I know they would not identify themselves as Dream Squad-ers in advance.
And - where the real analysis/cynicism comes in - the exact wording used: "How would you like to spend the night in the castle suite?". When you come right down to it, he asked a question - as part of the conversation he was having with an enjoyable and knowledgeable Disney Guest.

In fact, I'm pretty sure based on the sweepstakes rules that the Dream Squad could NOT identify themselves as such in advance of awarding a prize.

 

[pktbMouse]

Yes yes...I would have probably laughed too...then ran after him and gave him the biggest wedgie hes ever had in his life

 

[smiths02]

Well if they were looking for someone who really really really wanted it then they would have found that group. My heart was visibly pounding when he spoke to us!

As to turning him it, it never really occurred to me to do so. I did not even note his name so even if I later decided to tell on him I would have no way of positively IDing him.

Looking back on it I would love to know why he did what he did. Or even what he was really doing out there as a dream team member all alone.
Most of the time I saw dream team people in the last two years they were in small groups.

Ultimately there are no hard feelings, or even feelings of regret that we did not get angry about it. It is now just another silly story to tell about our Disney experiences.

I would worry less about turning him in and getting him in trouble as reporting that this happened to WDW. Obviously, you were ok, but lots of others would be upset...even if they didn't single him out, it would be worth stating at a staff meeting

 

[smiths02]

I'm impressed with your sense of humor, too - good going! :

To the posters who would be angry, report him, etc: being analytical and cynical as I am, and okay, given what fanati - I mean, DISers, know about all things Disney...
I 'know' YoaMD prizes are granted by teams of Dream Squad-ers, not by individuals.
I know they are members of the Dream Squad, not the Dream Team
I know any/all members of the Dream Squad on a prize-awarding mission would not first engage any Guest in conversation.
I know they would not identify themselves as Dream Squad-ers in advance.
And - where the real analysis/cynicism comes in - the exact wording used: "How would you like to spend the night in the castle suite?". When you come right down to it, he asked a question - as part of the conversation he was having with an enjoyable and knowledgeable Disney Guest.

In fact, I'm pretty sure based on the sweepstakes rules that the Dream Squad could NOT identify themselves as such in advance of awarding a prize.

Maybe English is your or the CMs second language...but you are being much too literal the the "How would you like to spend the night in the castle suite?"

My 2 year old is always asked "how would you like xyz?" and people ALWAYS intend to give it to him....

Even as adults we say "How would you like .....?" and it always means that there is at least a small chance of it happening....now I know that technically she had some small random chance of it happening some other way...

While he did not promise anything, it was still easily miscontrued and it would have been better if he did not say anything at all.