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Winners say 'no thanks' sometimes
- Thread starter PhotoDave219
- Start date
Thurp
Member
Here's an interesting article written by one of the winners. A SINGLE tatooed guy, I might add!Sorry if it's been posted before.
http://www.ajc.com/search/content/travel/southeast/fl_stories/2007/02/27/0228cinderella.html
If I remember correctly, Disney picked that guy ahead of time since he is a journalist so that he can write about the experience.
Again, I highly doubt they'd pick a random single guy for this prize
UPDATE: I was right. From the article:
MickeyTigg
New Member
I don't see where you can opt out of participating....but what do I know....I'm not a "former...no longer working at WDW....castmember". I'm only going on what I've read from what has been made public.
Okay...you will be allowed to leave but you'll be escorted and taken to where you'll want to go. I got done needed a "hall pass" in high school.
mechurchlady
Active Member
I do sweepstaking and know a lot about the subject. there are many reasons to turn down a prize. Not everyone is openly going to say why they are turning down a prize. Here is a list of some of the things I have seen in sweeping.
Not eligible: The person may be there without permission, wanted for crimes, or may work for Disney. There have been times that winners have gotten fame then a trip to jail because they were wanted by the law. Some people are ditching work for example. Some people do not want to say publicly that they work for Disney. Disney has a team of lawyers and their contests have very good rules with lots of things like no employees or their family, even if it is your brother you never met before.
Vacation agenda: You have so much time and do not want to waste it on filling out papers, moving to the castle, skipping dinner at the restaurant you wanted, etc. Some people like me cannot eat hot dogs or sodas so they will pass on a prize. In sweeping we see people who quickly say yes or no without thinking about the outcome of the choice is.
Taxes: You have to count all winnings from prizes just like income. If I were to win a car then it would cost me about $5,000 cash to the IRS which would mean selling the car. Disney does include cash sometimes to cover taxes but this does not always cover the taxes. I have met people who think you have to pay 50% but actually to figure taxes n a win go to you latest tax return. Check the taxes as if you made $5000, 25,000 and 100,000 more. That is what you would have to pay.
I have won prizes like free food at McDonalds and never redeemed them because I lose the game pieces or just never get around to using the offer.
If you have sweeping questions I would gladly answer them.
Not eligible: The person may be there without permission, wanted for crimes, or may work for Disney. There have been times that winners have gotten fame then a trip to jail because they were wanted by the law. Some people are ditching work for example. Some people do not want to say publicly that they work for Disney. Disney has a team of lawyers and their contests have very good rules with lots of things like no employees or their family, even if it is your brother you never met before.
Vacation agenda: You have so much time and do not want to waste it on filling out papers, moving to the castle, skipping dinner at the restaurant you wanted, etc. Some people like me cannot eat hot dogs or sodas so they will pass on a prize. In sweeping we see people who quickly say yes or no without thinking about the outcome of the choice is.
Taxes: You have to count all winnings from prizes just like income. If I were to win a car then it would cost me about $5,000 cash to the IRS which would mean selling the car. Disney does include cash sometimes to cover taxes but this does not always cover the taxes. I have met people who think you have to pay 50% but actually to figure taxes n a win go to you latest tax return. Check the taxes as if you made $5000, 25,000 and 100,000 more. That is what you would have to pay.
I have won prizes like free food at McDonalds and never redeemed them because I lose the game pieces or just never get around to using the offer.
If you have sweeping questions I would gladly answer them.
At first I didn't think too much about this promotion one way of the other. My family did "win" mouse ears on the next to last day of our vacation. However, once I was home and thinking about the trip I realized that if I could trade those mouse ears in for a E-ticket in MK, two C-tickets in DAK and the studios and a new pavilion in WS over the next couple of years I would. A truckload of money is being spent on things that not every guest is going to enjoy. However, new attractions would be good for all and that realization has caused me to fall of the YOMD bandwagon.
Pumbas Nakasak
Heading for the great escape.
That assumption only works if the marketing budget were spent on maintenance and construction instead. If its like this company, a new attraction would be capital investment and come from a different pot, driven buy different numbers.
IMHO in todays 2 sec attention span society you need to keep your brand in the public eye.
I'm sure you are correct. I was just daydreaming. However, I sometimes wonder if large institutions (be they govermental or private) know what's best for them. I can't believe that any marketing campaign is going to have as large an effect on DAK's turnstile clicks as the mere existence of EE. People babbling about the new roller coaster, YETI, realistic mountain, heavily themed surruonding area, etc. is going to have a positive effect on DAK's attendance for several years. I told some neighbors about it the other day, and they are now considering adding DAK to their itinerary for an upcoming Orlando vacation (after writing it off as lame when they visited in 1999-2000).
WDWFigment
Well-Known Member
I'm sure 95% of the prize winners feel this way. Also, Disney advertises its name other ways (toy products to children) that in my mind, means it does not have to advertise WDW to keep its name in the public.
Disneyfalcon
Well-Known Member
Huh, thanks, I didn't notice that. I must say though I'm still one of those that believes Disney is picking randomly and it does not matter if you're a typical "nuclear family". The example of the first to stay in Cinderellas castle is a good one. The criteria was not - the first family at such and such a place. It was the rider in the fourth seat in the second row of star tours (something like that). The rider was a teenage boy who happened to be there with his nuclear family and therefore they won the night.
And TiggerRPH, I didn't miss that quote, (although I did miss the above one apparently, :lol: )I just got the impression that he still felt that because of the front of the line escort he still had time to get the rides done that they wanted to.
Passport
Member
Huh, thanks, I didn't notice that. I must say though I'm still one of those that believes Disney is picking randomly and it does not matter if you're a typical "nuclear family". The example of the first to stay in Cinderellas castle is a good one. The criteria was not - the first family at such and such a place. It was the rider in the fourth seat in the second row of star tours (something like that). The rider was a teenage boy who happened to be there with his nuclear family and therefore they won the night.
And TiggerRPH, I didn't miss that quote, (although I did miss the above one apparently, :lol: )I just got the impression that he still felt that because of the front of the line escort he still had time to get the rides done that they wanted to.
They have to pick out guests that fit the profile. How perfect was it that the first family to stay in the castle was a white family of four with one boy and one girl.
MellBelle2
New Member
honestly, I thought that the first family to stay in there had a great background story...obviously they weren't picked randomly as they were selected from GMA, but the father was in Iraq, and they sent him in to stay in the castle with his family for a night before he would have to be shipped back. Regardless of color or type of family, I thought that someone who was serving our country would be one of the most deserving...after that though...it should def be at random
Disneyfalcon
Well-Known Member
The first family to win was selected from GMA. The first family picked in the park happened to fit the profile too.
Anyway, old debate, some are convinced it's not random and Disney is doing something illegal. Others (like me) are not.:wave:
RonAnnArbor
Well-Known Member
I turned down a YOMD freebie -- as first in line at Pizzafari they made this announcement and offered me this big giant hideous blue-frosting cupcake -- to along with my salad and diet coke. Thanks but no thanks. Honestly my reaction was "Wow, I so don't want that"...the servers pretty much laughed and gave it to the next person in line.
Iakona
Member
Pretty good account of what happens when you win. This also aswers several questions. This family packed a an "overnight" bag. Also they got on every ride they wanted after they won, no problems.
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?p=17405695#post17405695
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?p=17405695#post17405695
Disneyfalcon
Well-Known Member
That's a great story!! Thanks Iakona!!
JikoMarie
New Member
I will back you up here . . . again. For the hundreth time in this thread, Disney is choosing people at random not based on any sort of criteria. It's all over their material concerning the Cinderella Castle prize. To think otherwise is merely to develop a conspiracy theory.
WDWFigment
Well-Known Member
If anyone would still turn down the suite after reading that story, I can only assume they don't belong in WDW in the first place...
v_misses_epcot
Member
Unless you win the backstage magic stay at the castle prize like that lady from attractions. =/ Then we can stay.
Enderikari
Well-Known Member
WoW! Sounds like they had a really great time... I like especially how they only kind of barely talked about staying in the castle, and seemed much more amazed about the extra service they received.... Sounds like they had a lot of fun playing in the park during the day and Pirate and Princess party... And I especially like this part
<<Oh, my FIL smokes and they did "let him out" of the suite to smoke when needed (I saw there was some question on that in other posts). They really overlooked NO details in the suite and the whole experience. It was amazing. Thanks for reading, if you made it this far!>>