Just to let you all know, I went to the Walk In and Win on Saturday Jan 15th.
I arrived at the Studios at 5:30 parked my car and got in line. I got wristband #84. Apparently people were there at 2 and were turned away. Security was turning cars around when I pulled into the back entrance, but by the time I got to the gates, they were letting people in (good timing on my part).
Anyway, after about 10 minutes of waiting in line they began to allow people into the park in groups. First through the bag checks, then to the Indiana Jones attraction. We waited there until about 7:30. There were some people with cameras taking crowd shots that are going to be used in the show. We were given eligibility forms to fill out and phone a friend lists to fill out.
The next step was to randomly pick 325 people to be contestants. I think there were about 1500-1800 people there. Not really sure. Todd (?) the host of the attraction did the calling. Well, they did call my number. We were given a new wrist band with a new number and escorted in groups to an empty soundstage next to the Millionaire Play It! attraction.
Actually, the soundstage wasn't empty, there were rows of chairs set up, a small area seperated by curtains, and then another larger area again seperated by curtains.
Once we got to the soundstage, we were given a packet with the rules and regulations and wavers to sign. Pretty much legal stuff that Valleycrest Productions can use our voice or image however they want. We then were sent to the small second area to have our documents verified, a poloroid taken and a brief interview. My interview was basically, why are you here? What do you do? What would you do with the money? What time did you get here? and some small talk.
Back to the main room....We were told to stay with our group (don't get up) An attorney went over the rules and we were then told that we are all porential contestants. At about 1030 we were told that we are no longer allowed to use cell phones, read anything from the out side world, or allowed to do anything including going to the bathroom with out someone escorting us.
We then had a bag lunch (yes they fed us lunch and dinner). Finally, we went into the studio. We were allowed to bring our personal things, but had to put them under our seats. No food or drink allowed.
I started to get nervous when we went from the soundstage to the studio and the lines of people waiting for the attraction started cheering. There were 325 or 320 of us and the rest of the studio which holds 690 or 700 people was filled with "companions" of the contestants, and park guests.
Then there was Paul our crowd warmer upper. He did some "comedy" and then tought us how to applaud and laugh. A DJ played music, everybody danced. Finally, at about 2:00 the first show started. People were "randomly" picked from the audience, one at a time to go into the hot seat. I say randomly because they actually picked a smaller group from the contestants and randomly drew from that. We, the contestants didn't know if we were in the smaller group or not.
After each Act, we were coached more on how to get excited and Paul made fun of people. Once each show was over the audience was allowed to leave and the contestants were required to stay. Some people got to use the restrooms, but not everyone. We filmed two more episodes before our first break. We were then taken back into the soundstage for our boxed dinner and a break.
At about 7:00 we were back in the studio for two more shows. By this time everybody was getting tired. I was was up on friday at 10:00 am figured I would sleep better friday night, but got stuck at work. I was getting very loopy being up for 36 hours. Paul, the warm up guy was starting to get on my nerves and clapping and screaming started to not be as much fun any more.
Well, we did the last two shows and I never got picked to be in the hot seat.
It was a great experience, long and mentally and physically draining, and I was never so happy to leave a disney park. Would I do it again? YES, but I will plan better so I don't have to drive out at 430 am and drive back to tampa at 1030 pm.
Not sure if anyone from here was there or not. Not even sure if anyone from Tampa was there. If anyone wants to spend 16 hours with a group of 300 people for a chance at a million dollars, I highly recommend it.
I arrived at the Studios at 5:30 parked my car and got in line. I got wristband #84. Apparently people were there at 2 and were turned away. Security was turning cars around when I pulled into the back entrance, but by the time I got to the gates, they were letting people in (good timing on my part).
Anyway, after about 10 minutes of waiting in line they began to allow people into the park in groups. First through the bag checks, then to the Indiana Jones attraction. We waited there until about 7:30. There were some people with cameras taking crowd shots that are going to be used in the show. We were given eligibility forms to fill out and phone a friend lists to fill out.
The next step was to randomly pick 325 people to be contestants. I think there were about 1500-1800 people there. Not really sure. Todd (?) the host of the attraction did the calling. Well, they did call my number. We were given a new wrist band with a new number and escorted in groups to an empty soundstage next to the Millionaire Play It! attraction.
Actually, the soundstage wasn't empty, there were rows of chairs set up, a small area seperated by curtains, and then another larger area again seperated by curtains.
Once we got to the soundstage, we were given a packet with the rules and regulations and wavers to sign. Pretty much legal stuff that Valleycrest Productions can use our voice or image however they want. We then were sent to the small second area to have our documents verified, a poloroid taken and a brief interview. My interview was basically, why are you here? What do you do? What would you do with the money? What time did you get here? and some small talk.
Back to the main room....We were told to stay with our group (don't get up) An attorney went over the rules and we were then told that we are all porential contestants. At about 1030 we were told that we are no longer allowed to use cell phones, read anything from the out side world, or allowed to do anything including going to the bathroom with out someone escorting us.
We then had a bag lunch (yes they fed us lunch and dinner). Finally, we went into the studio. We were allowed to bring our personal things, but had to put them under our seats. No food or drink allowed.
I started to get nervous when we went from the soundstage to the studio and the lines of people waiting for the attraction started cheering. There were 325 or 320 of us and the rest of the studio which holds 690 or 700 people was filled with "companions" of the contestants, and park guests.
Then there was Paul our crowd warmer upper. He did some "comedy" and then tought us how to applaud and laugh. A DJ played music, everybody danced. Finally, at about 2:00 the first show started. People were "randomly" picked from the audience, one at a time to go into the hot seat. I say randomly because they actually picked a smaller group from the contestants and randomly drew from that. We, the contestants didn't know if we were in the smaller group or not.
After each Act, we were coached more on how to get excited and Paul made fun of people. Once each show was over the audience was allowed to leave and the contestants were required to stay. Some people got to use the restrooms, but not everyone. We filmed two more episodes before our first break. We were then taken back into the soundstage for our boxed dinner and a break.
At about 7:00 we were back in the studio for two more shows. By this time everybody was getting tired. I was was up on friday at 10:00 am figured I would sleep better friday night, but got stuck at work. I was getting very loopy being up for 36 hours. Paul, the warm up guy was starting to get on my nerves and clapping and screaming started to not be as much fun any more.
Well, we did the last two shows and I never got picked to be in the hot seat.
It was a great experience, long and mentally and physically draining, and I was never so happy to leave a disney park. Would I do it again? YES, but I will plan better so I don't have to drive out at 430 am and drive back to tampa at 1030 pm.
Not sure if anyone from here was there or not. Not even sure if anyone from Tampa was there. If anyone wants to spend 16 hours with a group of 300 people for a chance at a million dollars, I highly recommend it.
