(by 6 people)
Where Dreams Come True
Disney Parks is honoring its guests with a 15-month-long promotion titled "The Year of a Million Dreams." Special fetures and prizes are designed to help fulfill the dreams of Disney guests at Walt Disney World and Disneyland.
New 'Year of a Million Dreams' Commercial
The new Disney Parks television ads reflect the Year of a Million Dreams inspiration. If this doesn't inspire you to want to visit Disney World, I don't know what will!
The Official Launch!
(First of three parts)
From an overnight stay inside Cinderella Castle to a visit to Walt Disney's Main Street, U.S.A. apartment to a Dream FASTPASS badge, dreams big and small will come true at Disneyland and Walt Disney World resorts as part of the Disney Dreams Giveaway during "The Year of a Million Dreams," a 15-month celebration of the individual dreams of Disney park guests.The first-of-its-kind celebration, which began Oct. 1, 2006, features the debut of an incredible lineup of new attractions and entertainment at Walt Disney World and Disneyland resorts, plus new ways for guests to customize their Disney park experience.
And for the first time, Disney will award more than a million dreams -- both large and small, including many money-can't-buy experiences -- to eligible guests and mail-in participants selected through a random process as part of the unique Disney Dreams Giveaway.
"Our guests the world over have told us they believe a Disney Park is the place 'where dreams come true' and that something magical happens when
they walk through our gates," said Jay Rasulo, chairman of Walt Disney Parks and Resorts. "And that's never been more true than during 'The Year
of a Million Dreams' as we bring more magic to life than ever before."
Dreams to surprise and delight guests and unique experiences will be hallmarks of "The Year of a Million Dreams."
As part of the celebration, extra-special dreams will be awarded through a random process as part of the unique Disney Dreams Giveaway. With the sprinkle of a little pixie dust by day, a vacationing mom might be chosen to spend that night with her family in a new royal suite inside Cinderella Castle at Walt Disney World Resort, or at Disneyland, a lucky guest may be surrounded by All Things Mickey that night in a new Mickey Mouse Penthouse overlooking the Disney domain in California.
Disney Vacation Club memberships, traveling around the world as a parade grand marshal in each Disney theme park, sporting exclusive pins and Mouse ears - dreams from fun to fantastic will shower down on guests during the celebration. Other amazing dreams-come-true: magical Disney Cruise Line sailings; Adventures by Disney vacations; a private shopping spree for Disney merchandise; Dream FASTPASS badges to enjoy many popular park attractions; special park after-hour events; or a visit to Walt Disney's apartment at Disneyland including a dining experience. (continued)
Official Disney Links
Web site with official information
- My Disney Parks
- This is the official Disney web site with basic information on the Year of a Million Dreams. You can sign up for email news and register for the Keys to the Magic Kingdom sweepstakes.
NEW! A new segment has been added to this page. Now you can see a short looping video with four segments: Dreamers, Flying, Pirates, and Princesses. What's interesting about the video is the shots of Disney cast members and the parks are in color, while shots of guests talking are in black-and-white. This echoes the coloring of publicity photos.
The Official Launch (continued)
(Second of three parts)
For the overnight stay in the Cinderella Castle Suite, a Walt Disney World guest at the parks or Downtown Disney will be selected randomly by early in the afternoon almost every day beginning in late January. The guest and up to five members of their party will begin their dream-come-true night that evening at Cinderella's Royal Table, the popular restaurant located in Cinderella Castle.Can't be in the parks? You may still have a dream-come-true through a mail-in entry (details at http://www.disneyparks.com/rules). For example, mail-in winners could win prizes such as the Disney Vacation Club membership, grand marshal of a Disney parade around the world, exclusive trading pins or Mickey Ear Hat. (Some prizes, such as the Castle stay, require same-day use so mail- in winners will receive a prize of comparable value.)
Dreams will be awarded every day at Disney parks and Downtown Disney in Florida and California. While workers complete the Cinderella Castle Suite
(opening late January 2007) and Mickey Mouse Penthouse (opening December 2006), the other fantasies begin Oct. 1 as Disney launches enough dreams to make Tinker Bell blush.
And all it takes: a tap on the shoulder by Disney cast members on special assignment as the Dream Squad during the magical year.
Meanwhile, thousands more Disney cast members - famous for guest service every day of the year - will be creating an unprecedented number of
Magical Moments during this magical year. They're taking Disney friendliness to new heights with personal interactions marked by special
surprises.
Amazed guests might find themselves leading the countdown and sprinkling pixie dust to open a Disney park in the morning. Or they might join the performers on a float in "Mickey's Jammin' Jungle" parade. Or aboard Cinderella's Golden Carrousel they might suddenly find a Disney
princess sidesaddle on the next horse.
More pixie-dusted Magical Moments: being selected to be guest of honor in daily park parades; getting a Tinseltown rush doing a celebrity-style
handprint ceremony; being Official Wildlife Spotter on a Disney's Animal Kingdom safari.
"Disney cast members have a rich history of making this magic, treating guests to legendary service and special moments," Rasulo said. "During 'The Year of a Million Dreams,' those moments go stratospheric as our cast
members reinforce Disney parks as the place where dreams come true." (continued again!)
Music to Get Your in the Mood!
Music straight from the Disney Parks
Walt Disney World Resort in Florida
Whether you've been to Disney World a dozen times or still waiting for your first trip, this CD is essential. It is almost always in the CD player in my car -- perfect for keeping a happy attitude in unhappy traffic. The sequence of songs is very well designed. You start in the Magic Kingdom, working your way clockwise through the park. Then you move onto Epcot, starting in Future World and going onto the World Showcase. Next are two songs from Disney-MGM Studios and two songs from Disney's Animal Kingdom. You end up with Fantasy in the Sky, the fireworks and musical show that ended each day at the Magic Kingdom at the time this CD was first produced. Absolutely perfect!
Amazon Price: (as of 10/06/2008)
More Disney Dreams Giveaway Prizes
Other special treats for Disney park guests
The magic nights in the park castles are not the only prizes. Here are other announced prizes.
Details on how the dream-fulfillment prizes will be awarded have not been announced. Quoting a "Disney spokesman," the Orlando Sentinel reports that the prize winners will be selected at random in the parks, resorts or Downtown Disney using a system still being developed.
Details on how the dream-fulfillment prizes will be awarded have not been announced. Quoting a "Disney spokesman," the Orlando Sentinel reports that the prize winners will be selected at random in the parks, resorts or Downtown Disney using a system still being developed.
- Traveling to each Disney resort around the world to serve as grand marshal in a Disney parade.
- A variety of unique Disney vacation experiences.
- Admission to special parties and other extraordinary experiences in the Disneyland and Walt Disney World parks.
- Private meetings with favorite Disney characters.
- Or, a Dream FASTPASS ticket, which allows the passholder one FASTPASS entrance to each FASTPASS attraction in the park. (For the newbie, FASTPASS is a free, skip-the-line, sort-of-like-a-reservation pass to ride the parks' most popular attractions.
Spangler Family Wins the Keys to the Magic Kingdom
Kick off for the Year of a Million Dreams
LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. (Oct. 4, 2006) -- For the first time in history, a family today had the Magic Kingdom all to themselves. They entered the park to a view never seen before by any Disney guest -- Main Street, U.S.A. completely empty, no other guests, no Disney cast members, just a red carpet stretching out a welcome.The family had their pick of favorite attractions. There were no lines. Because no one else was there.
This unprecedented moment in Disney history was all part of the launch of Disney's "The Year of a Million Dreams" celebration, during which literally millions of dreams will come true at Florida's Walt Disney World Resort and California's Disneyland Resort.
"The Year of a Million Dreams" is a first-of-its-kind event celebrating the individual dreams of Disney Park guests from around the world. So Disney made the Spangler family from Randolph, Ohio -- winners of an online sweepstakes used to help kick off the celebration -- the ultimate, one-of-a-kind Magic Kingdom VIPs. Disney Parks literally rolled out the red carpet for the Spanglers on Main Street, U.S.A. at Walt Disney World Resort.
But there were more surprises in store. As the Spanglers reached the center of Main Street, U.S.A., fanfare trumpeters broke the morning silence from atop the buildings lining the street and the familiar strains of "Be Our Guest" began to play -- a signal for a whole lot of smiles. Appearing almost magically to form a receiving line fit for royalty were 1,500 Disney cast members and Disney characters, beaming and bubbly.
For the Spanglers, their morning was nothing short of incredible. In a park that hosts millions of guests each year, Magic Kingdom attendance was four as Ray and Tammy Spangler and their children, 13-year-old Derick and 11-year-old Ashley, walked toward Cinderella Castle between rows of smiles lining the red carpet. "It was amazing," said Ashley. Derick chimed in, "That was awesome!" With their Disney VIP host leading the way, they rode their favorite attractions, met their favorite Disney characters, appeared on ABC-TV's "Good Morning America" and lived out a dream.
"This is beyond the dream," Ray said. "This is something that you can't even think of dreaming of, yet we have it."
As the lands of the park filled in behind them with other guests, the Spanglers dined with Disney royalty in Cinderella Castle during A Fairytale Lunch at Cinderella's Royal Table and were named parade grand marshals.
Disney Dream Giveaways: The Ultimate Prize
Magic Nights for Lucky Guests
According to Disney news releases, Disney cast members will award a million dreams -- both large and small, including many "money-can't-buy" experiences -- to guests selected through a random process as part of a unique "Disney Dreams Giveaway" promotion. The most incredible giveaway: A night inside the castle at Disneyland and Disney World! Both are expected to be available in January 2007.
- Disney World: A day of royal treatment will end with a night of enchantment inside Cinderella Castle for a different lucky guest each night. Cinderella's royal bedchamber, now under construction at Magic Kingdom, will allow Disney guests to stay overnight inside the park and enjoy a view shared only by Tinker Bell. The lavishly decorated bedroom will be located in a space originally planned as an in-park apartment for the use of the Disney family.
- Disneyland: For a lucky Disneyland guest, each night, the all-new Mickey Mouse Penthouse at Disneyland Hotel will pour on the Mickey charm and include magical views overlooking both Disneyland and Disney's California Adventure parks. The extraordinary penthouse will be decorated in all things Mickey, with finishing touches by none other than Minnie Mouse herself.
New Attractions at Disney World
Throughout the "Year of a Million Dreams" celebration, new attractions will debut on both U.S. coasts. Here's what is scheduled for Disney World:
- The Seas with Nemo & Friends: Actually part of the refurbishment of the Living Seas Pavilion at Epcot, this attraction will follow the adventures characters from "Finding Nemo." Here's the promotion from Disney: "Nemo is lost -- again -- and guests aboard 'clam-mobiles' join his friends to search one of the world's largest saltwater aquariums for the playful clownfish in a stunning display of new entertainment technology inspired by Disney-Pixar's 'Finding Nemo.'" (Now in preview shows. Officially opening in January 2007.)
- Finding Nemo-The Musical: Replacing "Tarzan Rocks" at Disney's Animal Kingdom in a newly enclosed theather, this new show is also inspired by Disney-Pixar's "Finding Nemo." From Disney's news release: "The Great Barrier Reef comes to colorful life in an all-new musical filled with spectacular scenery, elaborate puppetry and music by a Tony-Award-winning composer." (Now open!)
- The Laugh Floor Comedy Club: A new attraction at Magic Kingdom, few details have been announced about the format or location. From Disney news release: "Guests find the power of laughter in an engaging and interactive new adventure inspired by Disney-Pixar's 'Monsters, Inc.' as they match wits with the one-eyed hero Mike Wazowski and his friends. As Monster-of-Ceremonies, Mike recruits two comedian wanna-bes whose humor will delight audiences at a 400-seat theater in Tomorrowland in Magic Kingdom." (Occasional preview shows. Scheduled to officially open in Early 2007.)
New Attractions at Disneyland
Here are the announced new attractions at Disneyland.
- Rockin' Space Mountain: New lighting and technology as well as a new sound track are being added to one of Disney's classic attractions. (Scheduled to open Spring 2007)
- Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage: Yet another attraction inspired by Disney- Pixar's "Finding Nemo," this all-new E-ticket adventure will take guests on a real (and unbelievable, according to Disney PR) underwater excursion. (Scheduled to open Summer 2007)
Whew! Can There Be More?
Actually, yes!
According to Disney news releases, it appears that Disney will also be introducing more services for their guests. Here's exactly what they say:"Additionally, special entertainment and programs will be in place at the parks and resorts to accommodate the desires and wishes of would-be Disney Princesses, pirates, adventurers and space explorers."
Based on available information, these new programs include online planning tools and in-park technology. They might just be expansions of the current web-based planning services and in-park devices like Pal Mickey. Or it may be more. We'll just have to wait and find out!
The Initial Announcement
"Year of a Million Dreams" is part of a global initiative
From Disney Corporate News:
BURBANK, Calif. (June 7, 2006) - Disney Parks announced today a global initiative, "Where Dreams Come True," which will unify its global efforts like never before and go to the very heart of what makes Disney Parks unique. Incorporating key insights from the successful Disneyland 50th anniversary, this new organizing principle will usher in a new era of broader global marketing and guest customization at Disney Parks and will be highlighted by Disney's "Year of a Million Dreams" celebration.
"Where Dreams Come True" will be Disney's first-ever initiative that fully integrates and encompasses its entire global portfolio of parks and resorts. It is rooted heavily in consumer insight - gained through two years of extensive research around the world - that reveals a singular view of Disney Parks.
"We have a great history of listening to our guests and through our research they have told us consistently, whether surveyed in London, New York City, Hong Kong, Los Angeles or Paris, that Disney Parks are synonymous with the idea of 'Where Dreams Come True,' " said Jay Rasulo, chairman of Walt Disney Parks and Resorts. "The very notion is core to our DNA - our parks are indeed the places 'Where Dreams Come True.' "
...
In the United States, Disney will launch the "Year of a Million Dreams" celebration on Oct. 1, 2006, at Disneyland Resort in California and Walt Disney World Resort in Florida. Building on the core equity of guest service that sets Disney apart from other brands, cast members at these Disney parks, for this year only, will award a million dreams, both large and small, to guests selected through a random process as part of the "Disney Dreams Giveaway."
BURBANK, Calif. (June 7, 2006) - Disney Parks announced today a global initiative, "Where Dreams Come True," which will unify its global efforts like never before and go to the very heart of what makes Disney Parks unique. Incorporating key insights from the successful Disneyland 50th anniversary, this new organizing principle will usher in a new era of broader global marketing and guest customization at Disney Parks and will be highlighted by Disney's "Year of a Million Dreams" celebration.
"Where Dreams Come True" will be Disney's first-ever initiative that fully integrates and encompasses its entire global portfolio of parks and resorts. It is rooted heavily in consumer insight - gained through two years of extensive research around the world - that reveals a singular view of Disney Parks.
"We have a great history of listening to our guests and through our research they have told us consistently, whether surveyed in London, New York City, Hong Kong, Los Angeles or Paris, that Disney Parks are synonymous with the idea of 'Where Dreams Come True,' " said Jay Rasulo, chairman of Walt Disney Parks and Resorts. "The very notion is core to our DNA - our parks are indeed the places 'Where Dreams Come True.' "
...
In the United States, Disney will launch the "Year of a Million Dreams" celebration on Oct. 1, 2006, at Disneyland Resort in California and Walt Disney World Resort in Florida. Building on the core equity of guest service that sets Disney apart from other brands, cast members at these Disney parks, for this year only, will award a million dreams, both large and small, to guests selected through a random process as part of the "Disney Dreams Giveaway."
Hot Off the Presses!
2007 Disney travel guide is now available on Amazon
EZ Fun Guide to Walt Disney World 2007: Year of a Million Dreams Special Edition
If you want to be part of "The Year of a Million Dreams," start planning your vacation now! You'll need a travel guide to help you get started - Check out the EZ Fun Guide, which is a unique travel guide that I wrote to make planning your Disney World vacation as easy as possible. Currently, Amazon is offering a "Better Together" deal with the Unofficial Guide for a great discount!
Amazon Price: (as of 10/06/2008)
The Source of This Info
And how to plan your Disney vacation
This lens and the EZ Fun Guide to Walt Disney World (both the website and the book) are independent publications and not associated in any way with the Walt Disney World Resort or the Disney Company. Some web masters print rumors and speculation, especially on topics such as this. I publish only officially announced and confirmed information so that you can be confident in using this information to plan your vacation.If you would like more information on planning your Disney World vacation, visit the EZ Fun Guide to Walt Disney World, the fun-to-read, easy-to-use Disney World travel guide and vacation planner.
