Years of a Million(or so) Dreams

[Inkmahm]

The Year of a Million Dreams promotion has been extended through December 31, 2008- Yay!

Or am I the last to know that?

 

[ADP]

It's been on the Passholder site for about 2 weeks; however, it wasn't announced to the rest of the public until earlier this week.

 

[tjkraz]

Yeah! That's about 999,000 additional pins and "Dream Fastpasses" up for grabs, eh?

 

[Entropy]

Yeah! That's about 999,000 additional pins and "Dream Fastpasses" up for grabs, eh?

Not that many. Disney's promotions last for 18 months. YOMD started in the spring of 07 so it should normally run through Fall 08. It looks like we're getting 3 more months.

 

[bnlbebes]

I don't understand...

Did they figure out that they are going to end up with a lot of extra lanyards and pre-printed fastpasses, or what? By December 2008 (during which we plan a visit btw) what "Grand" prizes could possibly be left?

 

[disneynutz]

I don't understand...

Did they figure out that they are going to end up with a lot of extra lanyards and pre-printed fastpasses, or what? By December 2008 (during which we plan a visit btw) what "Grand" prizes could possibly be left?

They never said that they would give out prizes until December '08, they said it was extended until December '08.

 

[Plutofan]

Disney usually does their promotions right so I would anticipate that they will be adding prizes in all ranges to the promotion to celebrtae 2008.

 

[tjkraz]

Not that many. Disney's promotions last for 18 months. YOMD started in the spring of 07 so it should normally run through Fall 08. It looks like we're getting 3 more months.

Actually it started back in October '06 and was scheduled to run for 15 months thru the end of '07.

I assume they will continue handing out prizes, but it will be mostly the low-cost pins and FPs that the promotion was really built around to begin with.

I'm sure this was largely done to save money. Now they get to recycle all of the same park decorations, souvenirs and ad campaigns in place for another year without the expense of creating something new. While I'm far from thrilled about that, hopefully it will give them time to come up with something a little more compelling for 2009 and beyond.

 

[Inkmahm]

Yeah! That's about 999,000 additional pins and "Dream Fastpasses" up for grabs, eh?

I loved getting the dream fastpass when we were at MGM in April! Made my day.

 

[Inkmahm]

It's been on the Passholder site for about 2 weeks; however, it wasn't announced to the rest of the public until earlier this week.

Ah. I never bother to log in to the Passholder site unless I have a WDW trip coming in the near future. I read it in the latest Mickey Monitor that I just got in the mail.

 

[Inkmahm]

Actually it started back in October '06 and was scheduled to run for 15 months thru the end of '07.

I assume they will continue handing out prizes, but it will be mostly the low-cost pins and FPs that the promotion was really built around to begin with.

I'm sure this was largely done to save money. Now they get to recycle all of the same park decorations, souvenirs and ad campaigns in place for another year without the expense of creating something new. While I'm far from thrilled about that, hopefully it will give them time to come up with something a little more compelling for 2009 and beyond.

Or maybe it was done because it's been a hit with the guests? I love the promotion. Nothing like walking around the parks all day with the anticipation that you COULD be picked to win something cool. Chances are we never will win more than ears or a fastpass, but those are still cool.

It isn't always the big bucks items that are the most thrilling. Sometimes those special magic moments in the parks are worth just as much in wonderful memories.

 

[Snookies]

Or maybe it was done because it's been a hit with the guests? I love the promotion. Nothing like walking around the parks all day with the anticipation that you COULD be picked to win something cool. Chances are we never will win more than ears or a fastpass, but those are still cool.

It isn't always the big bucks items that are the most thrilling. Sometimes those special magic moments in the parks are worth just as much in wonderful memories.

Another factor to consider is that Rasulo thinks recent attendance gains, particularly in Anaheim, are the direct result of YOAMD. On the other hand, many guests don't seem to know about it as Al Lutz noted in his Miceage column on 7/17:

"We've mentioned repeatedly here that the Year Of A Million Dreams campaign is still unknown to most visitors, even after they arrive in the park and are approached by a "Dream Squad" Cast Member trying to give them free stuff. The fact that the YOMD message was competing with banners and flags for Where Dreams Come True from the moment park visitors exited the freeway didn't help. The Year Of A Million Dreams will continue through the year, due to the necessity to live up to the legal requirements of the sweepstakes portion of the promotion.

What amazes TDA even more is that Rasulo has apparently been convinced by watching PowerPoint presentations in Burbank that this global campaign is actually responsible for the big crowds that continue to flood the parks. When you dig into the customer research a bit more though you realize that the YOMD is not registering with most casual visitors, even after they arrive on property. Any Dream Squad Cast Member who has to patiently explain over and over that there are no strings attached to the free mouse ears or hotel stay or Dream Fastpasses they are trying to give away can tell you how few people are aware of this campaign."

As usual, don't read Al Lutz's columns unless you have a thick skin about criticism of Disney, in general, and Walt Disney World, in particular.

 

[Mike]

My DD, DS1 and I were fortunate enough to win Dream Fastpasses getting off of Space Mountain. Unfortunately, DW and DS2 did not ride. So while it was nice to win, only having 3 DFP for a group of 5 kind of defeated the purpose. We were able to use our 3 park tickets to get extra FPs for them but it would have still been nice if the DFP were good for the holder and 1 guest.

But I am not complaining. It was nice to win them.

We got a little added magic from 2 CMs. We gave the 3 DFPs to the kids for Peter Pan. Because of their ages, my wife stood in line with them and was just going to exit once they got on. When she told the CM what she was doing, he not only allowwed her to ride but he came and got me (I was parking the stroller) and told me to go get in line with my family.

A CM at Buzz also allowed my wife to ride along with the 3 kids.

 

[tjkraz]

I love the promotion. Nothing like walking around the parks all day with the anticipation that you COULD be picked to win something cool. Chances are we never will win more than ears or a fastpass, but those are still cool.

The problem I have with this promotion is that 99% of the prizes SHOULD be things that Disney does for guests every single day, year after year. Things like giving free stickers and pins to kids, instant Fastpasses that are randomly spit out by the machines, people chosen as parade marshalls or to open the park for the day...those should all just be part of the "magic" that Disney creates for guests on a daily basis, promotion or no promotion.

It shouldn't take a 2+ year "celebration" for Disney to hand out a couple of five-cent stickers, $2 pins or zero cost instant FastPasses to guests who have paid thousands of dollars for their vacation.

 

[Snookies]

The problem I have with this promotion is that 99% of the prizes SHOULD be things that Disney does for guests every single day, year after year. Things like giving free stickers and pins to kids, instant Fastpasses that are randomly spit out by the machines, people chosen as parade marshalls or to open the park for the day...those should all just be part of the "magic" that Disney creates for guests on a daily basis, promotion or no promotion.

It shouldn't take a 2+ year "celebration" for Disney to hand out a couple of five-cent stickers, $2 pins or zero cost instant FastPasses to guests who have paid thousands of dollars for their vacation.

I think your earlier comment about savings, as well as the views of corporate leadership in Burbank, Anaheim, and Orlando, explain this campaign and its extension. We received the 5-cent stickers, $2 pins, and bonus FastPasses spit out by machines many times prior to YOMD. Since many of the things were being done anyway, my view is that YOMD is a campaign that was built upon things that were already being done. In other words, it is a marketing campaign that didn't require a major investment in new attractions or shows, other than the expense of building sleeping quarters in the castles.

I agree with your basis proposition, but I am also troubled by something else. Specifically, the 25th anniversary of Epcot's opening will occur in about 45 days and, rather than developing a campaign around that similar to MK's 25th in 1996, YOMD has been extended, the wand is coming down, and Spaceship Earth has been rebranded and rehabbed. This seems analagous to DL's 50th where planning got started so late that Space Mountain couldn't open until sometime after the 50th anniversary campaign actually started and Nemo couldn't open until this year.

 

[wildernessDad]

They were probably behind in the planning of the next promotion so they extended YOAMD to compensate.

 

[ParrotBill]

yawn. This is the least interesting celebration yet. Two visits during and no impact to our family, saw nothing interesting happen, only happened to notice a few people with those 6 tab fastpasses.

No special show or parade changes to highlight it. At least past celebrations had special decorations and music and specific things to watch for - like when you went through the turnstile you knew you might win something.

 

[LIFERBABE]

I think they got tired of people "expecting" those little extras.

Now if you "win" , It was all a dream!

If you dont get anything, it was a bad dream

 

[bobbiwoz]

It began with a bang for us, the fastpasses to Epcot, and some extra TLC from some CM's during my DAunt's 80th birthday trip. That was last October, so I did have big hopes for the rest of the celebration.

Then on the same trip we got buttons that said "Citizens of the World" and these I thought were cheap and I felt bad that I wasn't feeling warm and fuzzy inside. A real Disney pin would have had more meaning, to me at least.

I am sorry they are continuing it.

Bobbi

 

[Entropy]

I loved getting the dream fastpass when we were at MGM in April! Made my day.

Same here. My neices showed up to Epcot at about 11:00. I was wondering how we were going to get them on Mission Space and Test Track while still being able to see most of everything else. The very first attraction that we went on once they arrived was Journey into Imagination (It was close and I'm a fan of Tony Baxter's work). As we went through the turnstile the Dream Squad was there with Magical Fastpasses. Problem solved with perfect timing! It was definitely a minor dream come true.