Disney Promotions

Disney has done a lot of promotions over the years. Some have seemed to work well while others just…happened. I remember a few of these promotions quite well. For example the 15 year celebration was memorable. 15 years isn’t really a big mile stone so now I’m rather surprised that Disney decided to do a promo for it. What they did was fun and created excitement. Random people entering the parks got selected to win a prize. It really didn’t cost all much to pull that off. The average who was picked won something that wasn’t worth much monetarily but they’ll remember that day.

The 25^th anniversary is another one I remember. I don’t remember any giveaways but I remember that Disney made a big deal about it. They invited everyone to come be a part of the celebration. It worked. We ended up going that year. A cast member also mentioned that there had been a noticeable spike in attendance during that promotion. I’m guessing a lot of the “once in a lifetime” people went then. Maybe it was the cake castle.

The “Year of a Million Dreams” took what was started during the “15 year” promo and kicked it up a notch. Instead of being snagged as you entered, you could be snagged at anytime and anywhere in the parks. You could get on a ride just to find out you just won a pin or some other prize. Most of the items were small or didn’t cost Disney anything but they sure did get people excited. For most people the idea that you could get picked to stay in the castle was in the back of their heads during their trip. That alone spiced things up a little.

“What Will You Celebrate?” followed the “Year of a Million Dreams.” Nothing really excited me about this promotion. My wife’s work is crazy busy when I could have gotten into the parks for free. We had another vacation planned for when my wife could have gotten in for free. What other reason would we have to go? It really limits your options. Typically only one or two people could use that per party. Beyond that it’s expensive on Disney’s end. Think about it. Instead of the $5 to $10 dollar prize you’re doing a $75 dollar prize. It’s a nice gesture but sadly it didn’t generate the excitement that some of the other promotions did.

I really wonder what’s next. I know I jokingly said that the next promotion would be “Come Be Broke With Us!” and it would consist of all of the characters dressed as bums while they panhandle from the guests. I don’t think I need to say that isn’t going to happen. We’ll just have to wait a few weeks. Normally during the last quarter of the year Disney either extends the current promotion or starts a new one. With the economy the way it is I can’t see them doing nothing.

I’ll look that gift horse in the mouth!

The “Year of a Million Dreams” is now over. Disney did a myriad of things to try and surprise people, from giving them a free fast pass to spending a night in Cinderella’s Castle.

On our last visit to Disney World my wife and I grabbed pins from guest relations showing everyone that it was our anniversary (we weren’t faking it really was our anniversary). We subjected ourselves to this embarrassment because we hoped it would increase our odds of attracting the attention of the dream squad. I didn’t work. It didn’t really do anything except make about thirty thousand cast members say “Happy Anniversary!” Some did that happily. Some seemed like they were dying inside and were doing it in case we were the happy police ready to slam the hammer down on any cast member who made eye contact and doesn’t say those magical words. Sometimes it was just uncalled for. We were exiting Epcot after Illuminations. Someone had falled down in the mad rush to exit the parks and was hurt to the point of being put on a back board. One of the cast members helping put the lady on the back board wished us a happy anniversary. I wish I was kidding.

We did have one experience with the dream squad. We boarded Star Tours, took our seats, and then some over caffeinated cast member stared squawking about getting ready for our flight. I thought it was part of the “show” but then he said he was from the dream squad. At first I was excited. I though maybe we’ll get a fast pass, a fast pass pack, or even a pin (I like free stuff)! I tried to keep the frown off of my face when he told us we were getting a VIP pass to watch the parade. OH JOY REN! I don’t like parades. Some people will send hate mail for saying this but I think most parades are stupid. I don’t know why I dislike parades but I do. My wife outright hates them. She says they bore her to death.

So that was my experience with the dream squad. Out of everything Disney gave away during the promotion I can’t think of one thing I could place lower on my list. I couldn’t help but think why not offer a choice. Some people would kill for the VIP pass, some people would die for the pin, and some would love some other cheap thing.

Just for the record, we didn’t see the parade but we do have two passes that might fetch something on Ebay in ten years.