Year of a Million Dreams

April 2009 -- Year of a Million Dreams (for Year, read "Years”")

As we have come to discover Disney Marketing have decided that we cannot possibly exist at the Walt Disney World Resort without there being some kind of celebration of one Disney anniversary or another. Sadly 2006 didn't have a millennium, a 50th Anniversary of Disneyland or a 75th Mickey Birthday. So, what to do? As we recall, the last stellar attempt to get as many of us to Walt Disney World was Magical Gatherings. The concept was good in that people would want to bring extended family groups to the Resort; Grandparents, Parents, Grand-kids and maybe even Great Grand-kids all having a rare old time while staying in a bunch of hotel rooms. So far we're all on board.

Then the usual dose of reality sets in where the public demonstrate that they can always out-think Disney Marketing because, and let's be honest, a Degree in Marketing and a power suit doesn't equal a Degree in Street Smarts from the School of Hard Knocks. Disney quickly found out that the "bring your extended family as a big, happy group" became "bring your entire High School". The park became filled full of large groups of kids who simply took advantage of Disney's loosely worded packages. Disney Marketing was smart to get a lot of people in the hotels and parks. Unfortunately the demographic they attracted stayed at the cheaper hotels, packed the parks and spent nothing on souvenirs.

So, 2006's whiz-bang idea is Year of a Million Dreams. The idea is that a million "dreams" are given out randomly to park visitors offering a wide variety of benefits too many to list. It has been reported that some involve complimentary hotel stays, All-day Fast Passes and food experiences all the way up to and including an overnight stay in a specially constructed hotel suite in Cinderella's Castle -- YES, actually in the castle.

This was then extended through 2008 and is in place as we speak in 2009 until further notice.

Last Updated: May 9, 2009