What was so great about the Year Of A Million Dreams promotion?

[jrtoastyman]

I often hear people on here refer back to the Year of a Million Dreams promotion as one of the best ever, particularly as compared to current promotions (i.e., Limited Time Magic). That predates the time I was going to the parks regularly, so I'm not really familiar with it. What was it, and did any of you take advantage of it?

Just curious.

 

[Raenstoirm]

There wasn't anything to "take advantage" of. Every day cms wandered the parks giving perks to random people. Every night a family got to stay in the castle suite for example. And tons of people got unlimited fastpasses each day. We never won any of the really cool prizes, but we got a treat here and there and a free popcorn bucket. it was realy neat to see the dream squad wandering around (they had a special uniform) and hoping they would pick you.

 

[patty57]

We went to WDW twice during Year of a Million Dreams. Never received anything, so it wasn't such a great promotion as far as I'm concerned.

 

[OhioStateBuckeye]

We were there during the Year of a Million Dreams. We never won anything, but everyday we knew there was the possibility to win. So we enjoyed it, unlike this year's buy a special cupcake each week promotion.

 

[alan_renfroe]

We were there for that promotion and had a couple of cool experiences. 1. We were given special tix that allowed us to ride up front with monorail conductor. He gave our kids honorary conductor licenses! They loved it! 2. One day we had an early lunch ADR at LTT. They chose us to be their "family of the day". We got to ring the dinner bell from the rafters and say "Hear ye hear ye! Let freedom ring!" My kids will always remember that.

I know those are minor things but they were really special to us!

 

[kennythepirate]

I got to be a Pirate for a day at Disneyland!

 

[bumbershoot]

We never won anything, but everyday we knew there was the possibility to win.

Exactly. It was the possibility and the chance that made it good. Was it sad to not get something on any given day? Of course.

But at least it wasn't full of "uh, THAT is something I'm supposed to want?" moments like LTM seems to have been.


We sent postcards in every day for each of us during YOMD, and one day DS (who was 3) won. He got a package with YOMD lanyards and pins. It was very fun.

 

[RedOnion]

We were there in 2008 during Year Two of the "Year" of a Million Dreams.

We did not win anything, but saw a family win something, so we still brought home a story ("can you believe, we were one personaway from winning a ... ").

"Residual magic" I guess.

And we were happy to have it.

 

[BlueStarryHat]

We won Year of a Million Dreams Mickey Ear Hats when we came off Spaceship Earth in 2008. It was fun wearing the Ears and having all the CMs congratulating us.

 

[jelloarms]

My family won Dream Fast Passes while walking off of Thunder Mountain back in 2008. Very cool!

 

[Robo]

And tons of people got unlimited fastpasses each day.

Not "unlimited" FP's, but a set of "Dream FastPasses."

My family won Dream Fast Passes while walking off of Thunder Mountain back in 2008. Very cool!

Yes. One ride each for all of the attractions that were available on the
Dream FastPass card of tickets.

The image below is a scan of what's left of the one we got at Epcot while waiting to board the first Soarin' flight of the day.
(We only used two of the six "snap-off" FP tickets provided, as the crowds were low that day.)
Each member of the entire group of guests in the boarding area at that time got a Dream FastPass.

 

[DisGirl819]

We went to DL twice and WDW once during the promotion. We got the free fast passes twice in DL, nothing in WDW but it was the whole idea of "maybe" you'd get something as you toured the parks. Better than the latest themes where you don't really get anything, its more marketing than anything.

 

[goofyfigment]

we got the dream fast passes in epcot - we would call the cms blueberries when they were just walking around and frosted blueberries when they had the white vests on (they put them on right before they would start giving things out)

 

[Tess]

Our family was awarded a cabana for the day at Typhoon Lagoon. It included four cool towels, all the soda and water we could drink, ice cream, a really lovely flower arrangement and concierge service for the day to run and fetch whatever we needed.

The special blessing was especially appreciated by our family because I was really ill that year with an undiagnosed chronic disease and I was one whooped pup as a result of a flare. I spent the afternoon napping in the cabana, waking for a cold drink, and napping some more while the rest of the family enjoyed the park.

I was selected as the recipient because I took a drink from a water fountain near Humonga Cowabunga after I came down the slide. I was asked why I chose to get a drink at that moment and I simply replied that I was thirsty after the ride. I was completely clueless they were the crew choosing folks for "The Million Dreams" promotion. Once all of us were together again after the slide, we were escorted to our original spot and relocated to the cabana which overlooked the wave pool.

Wonderful surprise and we were thrilled until the water park closed due to an approaching storm.

 

[ajenks22]

I've never heard of any of these promotions. When are they offered? I'm going the week of Christmas. Any chance it will be going on?

 

[goofy4tink]

We got very lucky a couple of times. We got special Mickey ears one time. Another time we got the dream fast passes at AK. My dh got upgraded to concierge level at YC once as well. He was at a business conf. My youngest dd traveled down with him for the 4 days he was there, but stayed with my elder dd and me at BWV! She also got the gold concierge room key. Dh's co-workers as well as his boss were less than amused! They all got standard rooms!
It was a fun promotion. Nothing like that has happened since.

 

[MomofKatie]

DD and I, along with our whole TOT pre-show room got Dream Mickey Ears during the YOAMD. We were very surprised and excited to get them!

 

[Planogirl]

We never won anything but it was fun to hear about some of the prizes plus there was always that chance that you might win.

 

[Tess]

I've never heard of any of these promotions. When are they offered? I'm going the week of Christmas. Any chance it will be going on?

No, this was a promotion several years ago.

 

[KatieCharlotte]

We were Epcot Dream fastpass winners. It felt like special treat for a mommy trying to enjoy Epcot with two young kids in tow. The only trip that I rode Soarin three times and TT twice. (We had already done some riding and FP collection when we won.) We used our tabs for Living with the Land when there was no line because it was funny. I believe that was when our love for Maelstrom began.