We came THIS CLOSE to the castle suite!!!

[maxime29]

Just got back from WDW. I'll cut to the chase:

This Wednesday, January 2nd. About 12PM on the dot at the Land. Just got off Living with the Land. The dream squad was waiting behind the railing. They didn't make any sudden movements to us. We had never seen the squad out to give a prize so our family stood back to see the lucky winners. One more boat later in the same row we sat in they approached a family of 4-5 and took them right off to the side after exiting the attraction. I didn't hear much of what the opening stuff they told the family. Mostly saying what they did. They opened a bag with a portable DVD player to show them a video of what they won. It ended up being the Castle suite for that evening! I really didn't know what to think, but we still applauded them since we were the only ones around them that overheard what a fantastic opportunity awaited them. I guess I should watch for lightning next time.

 

[happymom52003]

That would be cool to see somone win! Wow, I'm surprised it was given away at noon....I thought they gave the suite away much earlier in the day. Makes me feel a little better about sleeping in a bit on our next WDW vacation!

 

[maxime29]

I was surprised at the time myself. The end of the conversation dealt with the family filling out paperwork, so this could have been one of the reasons for the timing.

 

[SweetMagic]

What would happen if they chose a family that was on a day trip and had no luggage or anything?

Do they pick a family every time, or could it be any random person even if they were traveling alone?

Hmmm... :shrug:

 

[wbboy29]

What would happen if they chose a family that was on a day trip and had no luggage or anything?

Do they pick a family every time, or could it be any random person even if they were traveling alone?

Hmmm... :shrug:

Any random person. The first winner was a 16 year old kid, who just happened to be sitting in the right seat at the right time, on Star Tours. It is all completely random selection. Good luck on your next visit. :wave:

 

[Tinkwings]

Hmmm I was there the first day they gave away the suite last year and I recall them mentioning it was a family from Flint Michigan.....they made a big parkwide announcement about it.....maybe they had a 16 yr old with them...

 

[Master Yoda]

What would happen if they chose a family that was on a day trip and had no luggage or anything?

Do they pick a family every time, or could it be any random person even if they were traveling alone?

Hmmm... :shrug:

You will hear quite a few conspiracy theories that only families are picked but that is not the case. The criteria for selection has to do with an individual being in a very specific location at a specific time. (ie Star Tours, simulator 4, row 2, seat 1, at 10 AM) I have run into 2 sets of suite winners and both were just groups of friends at the parks together. Both groups won by sitting on the correct bench at the correct time at DTD. IMHO the reason that it always seems to be a family chosen purely statistical as families make up the majority of park guests. If you put 80 green marbles and 20 red marbles in a bag chances are you are going to pull out a green one.

 

[pacochran]

Isn't it a killer though being that close. On the 29th of November we were at MGM and went to dinner at Mama Melarose's and when we walked up there was a the dream squad talking to this family. From what we heard the 7 year old daughter won DVC points. We were like, if we had only been a few minute's earlier that could have been us.

It was neat seeing someone win something big.

The only other thing my wife and I were watching them in the restaurant and for winning something that big and nice they didn't seem that excited, we would have been wicked animated from where we were looking they looked pretty oh hum.

 

[H20Babie]

On the 29th of November we were at MGM and went to dinner at Mama Melarose's and when we walked up there was a the dream squad talking to this family. From what we heard the 7 year old daughter won DVC points. We were like, if we had only been a few minute's earlier that could have been us.

It was neat seeing someone win something big.

The only other thing my wife and I were watching them in the restaurant and for winning something that big and nice they didn't seem that excited, we would have been wicked animated from where we were looking they looked pretty oh hum.

Believe it or not, the YOAMD is not known to everyone, and even if they do know about it, they may not know about all the different prizes. I absolutely despise those phone calls, "you've won a trip to [insert Florida, Hawaii, Caribbean]; all you need to do is [inserty BS here]." Maybe they thought they were being given a pitch to buy into DVC.

 

[bgraham34]

My luck is usually the person right after me winds. Once I was at Sears and they gave 1k shopping spree to the person behind me. This was years agao. Another time i was Best Buy and they gave the 1 thousanth person who walked thru the door a big screen tv. I was 999. Another one I was at a car dealership and they gave out keys to see who won the car. I the guy behind me in line won the thing.

Arghh

 

[Krimedog]

Nothing special, but my mom and me won some YOAMD mouse ears on our last trip two weeks ago, woo lol! We were on space mountain, got off and they were like congratulations, you ahve won mickey mouse ears. The cool thing about it is that not everyone can get these mouse ears, only certain people, and probably alot because i think they give those things out like candy.

 

[SweetMagic]

My luck is usually the person right after me winds. Once I was at Sears and they gave 1k shopping spree to the person behind me. This was years agao. Another time i was Best Buy and they gave the 1 thousanth person who walked thru the door a big screen tv. I was 999. Another one I was at a car dealership and they gave out keys to see who won the car. I the guy behind me in line won the thing.

Arghh

Sounds to me like you need to start running about 5 minutes late :lol:

 

[Jenna]

I know this isnt the same thing but I've always wondered how people get to be in the parades? Anyone know?

 

[WDWKat26]

You know, as random as it is to win the castle suite...I can't tell you how many guests i've met who've won on Star Tours. It was like the place to be! lol

 

[joel_maxwell]

You will hear quite a few conspiracy theories that only families are picked but that is not the case. The criteria for selection has to do with an individual being in a very specific location at a specific time. (ie Star Tours, simulator 4, row 2, seat 1, at 10 AM) I have run into 2 sets of suite winners and both were just groups of friends at the parks together. Both groups won by sitting on the correct bench at the correct time at DTD. IMHO the reason that it always seems to be a family chosen purely statistical as families make up the majority of park guests. If you put 80 green marbles and 20 red marbles in a bag chances are you are going to pull out a green one.

that is cool that you have witnessed two occasions. yep, i would almost bet that the family/individual visitor is somewhere around a 80/20.

although, if you follow yogi berra's thinking process, in a 50/50 chance, 90% of the time you are wrong.

What would happen if they chose a family that was on a day trip and had no luggage or anything?

Do they pick a family every time, or could it be any random person even if they were traveling alone?

Hmmm... :shrug:

go to the nearest souvenir shop and load up on supplies. you never pass up on that opportunity.

 

[Phonedave]

What would happen if they chose a family that was on a day trip and had no luggage or anything?

Do they pick a family every time, or could it be any random person even if they were traveling alone?

Hmmm... :shrug:

Someone on another forum won like that. She is a local and her parents were there and won. They called her up to come and stay in the suite.


I guess if you really really really cannot stay (plane leaving, presnetation to the CEO tomorrow morning, etc) you can allways get the "equivalent prize". I think (if I remember correctly) its somewhere in the order of $500 - thats the cash value placed on a night in the castle (at least for the purposes of this contest)

I had no idea that DVC points were one of the prizes. That would be sweet. I assume the winner would have to pay the yearly maintenance fees though.

-dave

 

[Master Yoda]

Someone on another forum won like that. She is a local and her parents were there and won. They called her up to come and stay in the suite.


I guess if you really really really cannot stay (plane leaving, presnetation to the CEO tomorrow morning, etc) you can allways get the "equivalent prize". I think (if I remember correctly) its somewhere in the order of $500 - thats the cash value placed on a night in the castle (at least for the purposes of this contest)

I had no idea that DVC points were one of the prizes. That would be sweet. I assume the winner would have to pay the yearly maintenance fees though.

-dave

From my understanding it was a full blown, fully paid for DVC membership.

 

[Tiggerfanatic]

When we were there last year, we saw winners everywhere. We were there 2 weeks ago, and never saw the Dream Team once; didn't see anyone with YOMD ears, and only anout 8 people wearing Dream Fastpasses (and 5 of thoses were on the monorail heading to the MK for EHM).

 

[Jenna]

Ive only been to disney twice so Im unsure exactly what you guys are talking about...what is the dream team? what prizes do they give out? what are the dream fastpasses? Is it the dream team that give famillies a place in the parades?

 

[kirst_al UK]

You know, as random as it is to win the castle suite...I can't tell you how many guests i've met who've won on Star Tours. It was like the place to be! lol

We won our YOAMD fast passes on star tours.......they seemed to come out of nowhere - only when the doors were about close they walked in.